Bloodlust
by bubblytokki
Chapter three
If only I had been stronger...
~~~~~~
He's late, Shikamaru thought absentmindedly. He was lying on his back on a soft patch of blue-green grass, lazily observing the hazy clouds leisurely make their way across the evening sky. Brilliant hues of red and orange blended to create a landscape any painter would die to be able to imitate. A gentle breeze tickled his nose and he repressed the urge to sneeze. It was bothersome to expend energy that way. He thoughtfully chewed on a sheaf of what, contemplating nothing and dwelling in the sweet and rare moment of absolute silence.
Seconds ticked by, and then minutes, and then a brilliant array of glittering stars danced upon the velvet blanket of the night sky. Shikamaru shivered and spat out the sheaf of wheat he had been chewing on for hours.
That idiot better show up, Shikamaru frowned, disgruntled. For Naruto was never late, it just wasn't his ninja way. He froze as a shadow moved along the edges of his eyes. Someone was here... someone who was limping badly and if anything, smelled of blood. Shikamaru threw himself up to his feet.
"Naruto?" he queried almost fearfully. Naruto never got hurt. He was just too fast for anyone to actually do any damage on him. Soo... what the hell happened then?
Naruto limped into view, a mangled grin on his face. "Gomen, Shika... I'm late..."
Upon closer inspection, Shikamaru noted that the blood was dry, but Naruto's clothes were mangled. Wisps of black cloth hung at the tears and rips revealing quite a bit of Naruto's skin. There was blood caked on Naruto's hand and if anything... the blood hadn't been Naruto's and that was enough for Shikamaru.
"You look like shit," he commented dryly, avoiding the clumsy punch. Naruto fell on top of him, unable to maintain enough strength to stand. "Naruto, what's wrong?" he asked urgently as he gently shook his friend. This was one of the few times he had seen Naruto lose so much composure. He felt something wet his upper body. The cocky bastard was... crying? He didn't move as Naruto clung to him as if he was a lifesaving buoy. A rare expression of sympathy flitted across Shikamaru's face as he gently patted Naruto. He would learn about what happened in time.
"Oy..."
"..."
He patted Naruto's back awkwardly. He knew that Naruto didn't have anyone to really call family. Sure, there was the Hokage, Jiraiya sama, and perhaps Iruka sensei as well. But Naruto really didn't have any siblings to tousle with. Perhaps that's what I am... his brother, thought Shikamaru, allowing concern to show in his gaze as he looked upon the mess that was Naruto.
"Itachi..." a barely discernable voice rasped at his chest.
Shikamaru's eyes widened in response, No way... if that was the case... he tightened his hold on Naruto. He would not lose his friend again.
It had been the night of their return from the battle with Orochimaru. Shikamaru had been despondent on the pointlessness of his crush on Ino as he watched her run to Sasuke's prone body. In that particular night, Naruto had been unable to maintain his smile because no matter how hard he strived to prove his worth to the village, it seemed to be all in vain. Especially when Sasuke, who had been a missing nin when he deflected to Orochimaru, was welcomed back with fireworks and praise whereas Naruto, who had sacrificed himself for the good of the village more times than he, the brilliant genius could count, received nothing. No praise, no compliments, no looks of adoration, absolutely nothing.
No one had really paid attention to them, Shikamaru thought painfully. No one except the Hokage rushed to their side, concern marring her beauty. The focus was on that bastard who they had risked life and limb to retrieve. And no one had thanked them.
Naruto had lost consciousness when they had arrived home. Shikamaru had carried him out of loyalty and perhaps understanding, knowing deep inside that it would turn out like this. Amazingly, Naruto regained consciousness in a few hours and if Shikamaru wasn't as observant as he was, he would've missed the pained gaze Naruto threw at the adoring crowd centered on Sasuke.
He offered to Naruto that they go star gazing that night, reaching out to someone else for the first time. He had allowed... no requested someone to bother him during his most sanctified times of quiet relaxation. Strangely, he didn't regret it and was relieved when Naruto hesitantly nodded. They retreated silently, for if they made noise, someone would silence them abruptly.
Shikamaru led them to his not so secret cloud-gazing spot near the training grounds where he knew Naruto took his genin examination. He ignored Naruto's glance at the three wooden poles and led him deeper into the forest, stopping at a small clearing where there was an opening between the trees, allowing a perfect view of the sky. Gesturing for Naruto to lie down, he preceded to do the same, feeling relieved as his body made contact with the soft grass. He heard rather than saw Naruto sigh as they both gazed blindly at the shimmering lights far above them.
"Ne... Shika..." a soft, vulnerable voice interjected. Shikamaru refrained from turning his head. Naruto was out of character, depressed, and unable to hold that annoying cocky smile. It was strange hearing him like this.
"What..?"
"Are we really unnecessary?" this Naruto was subdued, and reflective. It was strange, and Shikamaru was hard-pressed not to yell at him to be normal again. "Ne... I killed to save Sasuke. Even if that weird snake guy was evil and all, I felt something rush through me when I killed him. It ... it was fun..."
Shikamaru looked at the stars and softly answered, "It's all a part of being a shinobi, Naruto..."
Naruto shook his head adamantly, confusion and pain marring his genki countenance. "That's not it Shikamaru... remember Gaara? How he craved blood? It was something like that. Where I just wanted to see blood rain..."
"..."
There was a soft rustle, and Shikamaru wondered why he didn't feel the breeze. He looked over at Naruto lazily and was surprised to see him tense and on his feet. 'What the hell?'
A stoic voice intruded coolly, "Naruto... "
"Who are you?!" A frantic Naruto demanded. Shikamaru jumped to his feet to face the stealthy perpetuator. 'Sasuke? No... He looks older... shit...'
"You know who I am Naruto..."
"Why did you come again? Leave me alone!"
"You will come with me..." this voice was seductive, enticing and Shikamaru shuddered.
"Shika... don't look into his eyes!" Naruto yelled out, fear sharpening his voice.
The Sasuke look-a-like reflectively gazed at Naruto and then straight at him. Averting his eyes as soon as he could, Shikamaru shivered. This guy... was creepy.
Before they could respond, he felt a cool kunai against his neck. 'When did he move?!'
He felt Naruto's apprehensive eyes on him rather than saw, as he strove not to swallow the sudden knot at the back of his throat, afraid to be cut. 'Why didn't we bring any weapons?! Not that it would do any good...'
There was a strange dialogue going on between Naruto and the strange person holding Shikamaru's life in his hand. It was garbled, and in his panicked state, he couldn't make out the words.
"All right... I'll go with you, on the condition that you don't harm Shika... that person you are holding..."
Shikamaru's eyes opened in shock. 'Naruto!' The kunai was removed as the stranger nodded in acquiescence. The Sasuke look-a-like grabbed Naruto's wrist and they both disappeared, while he stood shaken, knowing that Naruto was doomed.
...
It had been months before Naruto was retrieved. The Hokage had been angry, disappointed in the village and almost resigned from her position. She was desperate to learn anything about Naruto's whereabouts. Even the great Jiraiya halted his writing spree to search for his precious second student. The Hokage had suppressed the information of Naruto missing while Jiraiya and a few others, surprisingly even Ebisu sensei, pursued Itachi. Time was of the essence and when they had succeeded, Naruto returned changed.
He didn't smile that easy-going smile except for a select few. Shadows darkened his normally bright dancing cerulean eyes... and he had a serious expression that didn't belong on his face.
Shikamaru had embraced his friend when he saw him walking up the road to Konoha village. He had volunteered to watch the entry to the village to wait for Naruto. He wanted to be the first to welcome the friend who was willing to die for him. Naruto had smiled tremulously, relieved to see Shikamaru alive, but it wasn't the same blinding cocky smile. He saw shadows that shouldn't have been in those once dancing eyes. The dullness that greeted him was depressing and it was then that Shikamaru decided that he would be Naruto's constant friend to bring out those constant smiles.
Naruto's transition back into normality was difficult to say the least. He rarely if ever displayed the blinding smile and became withdrawn... quiet. Shikamaru had been driven to make a fool out of himself... something that was really bothersome to even crack a smile out of him.
Naruto tugged on his shirt, as if he was trying to get free. Shikamaru frowned as he was startled out of his thoughts and noticed the netting on his clothes was caught on Naruto's bracelet. Naruto pulled some more. He's really going to rip my shirt if he continues to do that... Shikamaru stopped Naruto's fumbling as he skillfully removed the offending netting.
"Ahh... gomen..." There was a slight sniffle and the gross sound of Naruto inhaling his snot.
"Disgusting..."
"Ehehehe.."
"Oy... Naruto... if it happens again... if he returns like last time, I'd rather die," Shikamaru said seriously, staring into Naruto's eyes. He couldn't live with himself if Naruto sacrificed himself a second time.
"..." He frowned as Naruto turned away, mumbling incoherently.
A disturbingly familiar cold drawl cut the tranquility, rendering both shinobis motionless, "Then I suppose, Nara Shikamaru kun, it's a good day for you to die."
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Uah... another chapter is finally out... I thought I wouldn't be able to keep updating because time was soo chaotic..
Response to reviewers (note... from now on, I will only respond to signed reviewers):
Shadow Eclipse-thank you very much for reviewing.. I'm glad you like the story.. ^^
RuByMoOn17-teehee... hope you like this chapter!
Ravens Quill- Wow... thanks for your comments and I hope you will continue to read my story
(If I missed anyone.. I apologize.. ^^;;;)