Chapter 76

Lack of Trust: A Protective Shadow

Shikamaru was soaked.

Rain poured off his drenched body, slicked his skin. Left him colder and wetter than a submerged glacier. But, despite his waterlogged sandals squelching with every step, despite his clothes and hair sticking awkwardly to his skin, two silver linings pierced through the storm clouds surrounding him.

First off, he hadn't suffered alone through the shiver inducing rain. His cousin clung to his back, or was possibly suctioned to him because of their soaked clothes; he really wasn't sure they could unstick themselves at this point.

He loved 'Risu, but it would be a total drag to be stuck together like this. She'd get all antsy not being able to train, and then he'd have to work twice as hard.

It would just be troublesome.

Regardless, 'Risu's presence gave him a buddy to ride out the storm with, even if he was technically the one here to save her. Which brought him to his second silver lining.

Finally made it, he thought, sighing in relief as he climbed onto the front porch of his home. Even here they were still too exposed to the storm, which alternated between calm and furious faster than practically every woman in his life. The unending sea of clouds darkened the sky, making it feel as if it were hours later than it truly was. Gusts of wind lashed at them with cold rain.

But they made it safe and sound. Not dry, but safe nonetheless.

Shikamaru approached the door of his house and used his knee to knock loudly; his mother wouldn't like that. However, with this raucous storm, he wanted to be certain she heard. Walking in unannounced, bringing the rain in with him, risked earning his mother's ire—no intelligent man ever risked that.

She would already be angry he stayed out in the storm. Waltzing in with a waterfall of water pouring off of himself and his cousin would only take that fury to the hundredth degree.

Before his mother came to the door, Amari nuzzled into the crook of his neck. "…Thank you, Shika."

He didn't need an explanation for her gratitude. He looked back to her with a smile. "Couldn't just leave you in the rain, could I?" he offered lightly.

She offered a weak giggle and hugged him tighter. He may not look the part, but he was glad to be her pillar of support and comfort. Playing the support role was just his style. 'Risu was the fearless front-line fighter between the two of them; she fought to protect what she held dear with unmatched fierceness, but…

"You have an exceptional grasp of tactics, Shikamaru, but you still look at real life combat too one-dimensionally," he recalled an old lesson from his dad. "You believe because you're greatest strength is support and tactics that it is all you will ever have to perform. Combat and war are not constrained by the rules of shogi. Shinobi do not wait patiently for you to think through a strategy then make your turn.

"Don't look at me like that. Don't complain about this being troublesome. I want you to think about this seriously, Shikamaru. You will encounter allied shinobi who possess great strength, who you will see as front-line protectors. Chōji, for instance. 'Risu, as well.

"However, ask yourself this: Who protects the protectors? If the Hokage faces an opponent who exploits their weakness, will you shout tactics at them from the sidelines because that's the role you believe yourself fit for? When the dust settles and the battle ends, when your front-line warriors have given all of their strength to protect you, will you ask them to pick themselves up? Or will you aid these fearless warriors in standing again?"

At the time, Shikamaru hadn't really understood the point of the questions. He was still fresh from graduation, certain in his goal to be an average shinobi, stubbornly maintaining his position in the shadows while others fought on the front-lines. What was he supposed to do, right? He was a minor support piece, a tactician who relied on powerful comrades like Chōji and 'Risu to protect him as he gave commands.

But who protects the protectors when they need help, Shikamaru repeated the question, finally grasping what his father tried to teach him. Who helps them stand up again when they fall down? Or when the burden they carry becomes too heavy to bear?

People weren't shogi pieces. They weren't restricted to specific movements or roles in battle. And the wounds gained in battle did not fade away when the dust settled. People's hearts and minds didn't work that way.

Shikamaru had known that. He'd seen it in 'Risu and Mimi after the Invasion, how their minds lingered elsewhere sometimes, eyes lost in the past. Again, though, he had listened to the lesson, but hadn't heard it. Not immediately, anyway.

Better late than never, I guess. I may not ever be as strong as her. Still, I can do more than stand in the shadows on the battlefield and off of it.

It meant more work, but he could handle it.

Critical work still demanded his attention today, and on a tight schedule, too. But first he needed a warm shower and a dry pair of clothes.

The front door flew open without preamble. The suddenness and rough movement snapped Shikamaru to attention, startled by the second giant storm about to blow him away. His body stiffened under a Shadow Paralysis Jutsu—a really bad sign. His mother looked on the verge of popping several blood vessels; a few Shadow tendrils lashed violently at the air around her.

"Shikamaru!" Yoshino bellowed.

Here we go. Time to face the music. He wished he could've braced himself better.

"Do you have any idea how worr—" His mother's lecture stopped short as she noticed the soaked girl on his back.

Perfect. Her second of hesitation blessed him with an opening to turn the tables.

"Sorry I'm late."

Beginning with an apology was the best tactic. People—Ino, for instance—tended to switch into a defensive-attack strategy when a voice was raised at them, even when they had made a mistake. By apologizing first and remaining calm he opened up his mother to reason, affording him the opportunity to steadily work towards his explanation and seal the victory.

"I planned to take shelter at 'Risu's, but we ran into a complication. Going to her house wasn't an option," he said with a shake of his head.

"It's my fault we're soaked, Aunt Yoshino. I…" Amari trailed off, her quiet voice barely being audible over the storm.

His mother's eyes examined them, seeking any information she could find from their current state, but Shikamaru noticed her eyes linger on 'Risu's sad, drenched form longer. He couldn't quite explain the premonition, but he sensed her somehow piecing together what happened without a word being spoken. Maybe it was a parent thing. The one's he knew seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to kids.

She met his eyes for a brief second, and in that brief second she communicated the discussion they'd have sooner rather than later. That was fine. He could handle explaining all that before his 'Risu was even out of the shower.

"You two will catch a cold if you stand out there any longer," she finally spoke, relinquishing her Shadow Paralysis. The tendrils slunk back to the floor into the natural state of her shadow. Shikamaru internalized his sigh of relief. Why did his mom have to be so scary? Sheesh.

Yoshino stepped out of the way and motioned for them to come in. "I'll get you both some dry clothes and towels while you're in the shower. When you're done with your showers, wrap your wet clothes in your towels and bring them to the washer. I'll take care of them."

"Are you sure you don't want to lay out towels or something?" he asked. "We'll drip over everything in our path."

Yoshino shook her head. "Don't worry about that, Shikamaru. I'll clean it up. Just get yourselves inside."

With a shrug, he entered his house with 'Risu still on his back. The cool temperature of his home exacerbated the chill racing through his body. The shivers increased. He could feel 'Risu trembling, too.

He quickly dropped his cousin off at the master bathroom then made his way to his bathroom. It was a struggle to get his sopping wet clothes off; they clung to his skin, fighting to stay on his body.

It was a real pain.

After his fight he jumped into the warm shower, got clean then hopped out to dry off with the towel his mother left on the counter. Shikamaru made quick work of brushing through his hair and getting dressed in a comfortable grey t-shirt and dark shorts.

He only paused to consider putting his hair back up into a ponytail. Of course leaving his hair down meant the inevitability of long strands brushing against his face now and then, which could be annoying. Honestly, though, he couldn't find the necessary motivation to tie it up again.

Raising his hands above his head was just too much of a drag right now. All he wanted to do was eat a quick snack before getting back to business. Taking all that extra time to tie his hair up meant forfeiting what could be a pivotal turn in this mental game of shogi.

Leaving the bathroom behind, Shikamaru entered into the kitchen where he found his mother in the midst of making tea. Before he could even announce his presence, she spoke. "Feeling better, Shikamaru?"

"Yeah. Nice not to be wet anymore." His hair was still a bit damp from being too lazy to dry it fully, but it was nothing compared to being soaked. The dry clothes were also a nice addition. "Anything you need help with, Mom?" he asked as he made his way to the pantry.

"No, just make sure you don't eat too much or you'll spoil your dinner."

He hummed in acknowledgment and opened the pantry. There were an assortment of snacks to pick from, but he chose to grab one of the health bars his mother had been nagging him to start eating. Quick and easy.

As he turned around, he found his mother diverting her attention away from the stove top to him with a compassionate look on her face. "How is she?" she asked.

Her question drew out a sigh.

How's Amari?

Is your cousin doing okay?

People had been asking him that a lot since the Akatsuki incident. Then again, he'd asked himself the same questions. Some days he could answer easier by lulling himself into a false sense of security. Other days he forced himself to face the reality that his cousin was no longer facing down hordes of fangirls or bullies; it usually left him with an uncertain feeling tying his intestines in knots.

What insanely powerful opponent would she face on the next mission? Would she be okay? Would she end up in the hospital? If so, what kind of injuries would it be from?

Most didn't realize how often he asked himself the same questions they all asked him. But the fact of the matter was he didn't have an answer. Not a concrete one. The questions sounded so simple, yet they were as complex as a game of shogi against his dad.

Was she okay? Yes and no. 'Risu's situation wasn't black and white. There were shades of gray that, if one didn't analyze carefully, could be passed off for a single block of color.

To understand her situation, one had to understand 'Risu at every level. They had to be able to see through the shadows she casted around herself and listen intently to everything she said, and analyze what she didn't say. They had to understand that underneath the armor she wore on the outside was a girl who had been betrayed, who had held loved ones in her arms as they died and to this day remained locked in a struggle with the nightmares and demons in her heart.

Few people would ever be able to grasp the complexity of her internal struggles. Most would never know. They would never understand how strongly she felt emotions like happiness, sorrow and anger or what family meant to her. They would never understand the burden she carried or the anxiety it caused her.

Luckily, his mom did understand all of that. If he hadn't already calculated this conversation into his equation, it might have been an impassable brick wall between him and his plan. But he had known this was coming and prepared for it. He just had to stay focused, keep to the plan and everything would play out exactly how he needed it to.

"She's better now," he began. It wasn't a lie or even a half-truth. Although she wasn't at peak capacity, her emotional state had improved. The trip back had, as he hoped, given her time to get her thoughts straight. Eventually she opened up on all the details of the situation. "Before, though, was pretty bad," he finished.

"What happened?" Yoshino asked.

"Sasuke approached her to talk about the Uchiha Clan and their shared past. Everything was going fine until the massacre was brought up," he explained.

The mention of the Uchiha Clan massacre caused his mother to shut her eyes briefly and exhale a sad sigh.

"'Risu told him about things Atsuko and Shisui explained, the stuff we heard from Dad and Kurenai-sensei. About how things with the Uchiha Clan spiraled out of control. How Itachi and Aimi weren't responsible for Shisui's death. How someone else pushed them to decide from a path where nothing they loved was left or nothing they did was right."

He didn't know how to feel about all that yet. 'Risu had asked him which path he would've chosen…and it left him conflicted. It was an impossible scenario, a lose-lose.

"I don't know. I'd like to think I could make my own path, but sometimes we don't have that option."

"…We can still try. We should try."

"Yeah. I agree."

His mother's eyes flashed dangerously for a moment. She knows who it is. Or has a good assumption, Shikamaru noted. The look vanished as quickly as it came.

"Sasuke snapped at her, didn't he?" she half-stated, half-asked.

Shikamaru nodded despite the rhetorical nature of the question. "Yeah. It led to a pretty nasty fight from what she told me. It continued to escalate until Sasuke barely managed to stop himself from calling her a half-breed."

Instantly the aura around his mother changed. "He what?" Yoshino seethed.

Worried curiosity shifted into outright fury. Not that he blamed her. He was pissed off. More than pissed, honestly. He drew a very fine line in the sand for that idiot back at the hospital. He warned him as a courtesy. Now this?

That hatred-addled idiot shoved her off the edge of a bottomless pit of darkness. Went to call her a derogatory slang. Sasuke made 'Risu cry.

Yet, although it'd be his pleasure to punch Sasuke in the face, Shikamaru kept his emotions in check. He couldn't allow them to impede higher thought. For 'Risu's sake, and the sake of Team Seven, he had to be the levelheaded one here.

Hence the plan he was concocting.

"Try not to be so angry," he pleaded. "I'm pretty sure he and the rest of Team Seven are on their way here now."

Or they better be. Shikamaru could maybe excuse the fight. Maybe. No guarantees. However, terrible storm be damned, he would not excuse letting their teammate run away without trying to find her.

"Angry? Oh, they haven't seen angry yet!" Yoshino declared passionately, hand clenching into a fist. "A half-breed, huh? He'll regret even thinking of calling our little shadow that!"

Oh man, why does my mom have to be so hot-tempered? This is such a pain.

Shikamaru raised his hands, health bar included, to try to diffuse the situation. "I get how you feel, Mom. I do. But hear me out. After Sasuke said that, 'Risu went off. Badly. I think she was nearing the same level of hatred Kurenai-sensei mentioned when her chakra turned black."

Instantly, again, his mother's features switched from fury back to concern. "For her emotions to escape her control like that… It must've felt like the ultimate betrayal."

He nodded. "Yeah. I'm not entirely sure, or I don't have any single piece of evidence I can point to at least, but I think this entire argument is linked to that whole Curse of Hatred thing Dad and Kurenai-sensei were talking about. 'Risu's next evolution of Sharingan activated when she lost her temper, unconsciously. The way she described it, it makes me think it's like a blackout on their rationality."

Like when she unleashed that killing intent on Neji in the preliminaries, and when Sasuke snapped at me in the hospital.

He left the latter detail out. Managing to keep his mother calm after his latest revelation was a miracle. Informing her that this wasn't the first time Sasuke had done something incredibly stupid would end with his head caved in by a roller.

"When she saw her team arrive, the lights came back on. Mix in an awakened memory involving Shisui saving her from Uchiha members trying to hurt her with the hurtful things Sasuke said and she did the only logical thing she could think of—she ran. She didn't want them to see her break down into tears."

Or deal with the consequences of showing Sasuke those memories through a genjutsu.

"And that's when she ran into you?"

"Sort of. I saw her running so I chased after her. Followed her to the Uchiha District and a hill overlooking the Nakano River."

"Nakano River…" Yoshino repeated the name and lowered her eyes to the side.

Her response made him quirk an eyebrow up in surprise. "Is there something special about that place?"

He had wanted to ask 'Risu about it, but he didn't want to push and prod so soon. If his mother could explain why his cousin had chosen there of all places to go, then he could put the final piece of the puzzle together regarding her trip to the Uchiha District.

His mother gave a small, solemn nod. "Yes. Shisui spent his final moments there before his…death."

Shikamaru's eyes widened at the revelation. So that's why 'Risu chose to go there. She was going to the last place her cousin was, maybe as an attempt to be closer to him? It was a possibility.

Whatever her reasons were, though, they were not his to pry into. He also sensed a lingering hesitation in his mother's voice to speak on the death of an extended family member, so he decided to drop the conversation and get back to the task at hand.

"Mom, can you keep an eye on 'Risu for the time being? I need to get ready for Sasuke and the others to arrive."

She nodded. "Of course. Make sure you prepare towels and dry clothes for them. I'll clean their clothes so they can wear them when they leave."

He gave a nod and opened the wrapping of his health bar. It wouldn't take too long to prepare everything. He ate his bar quickly and trashed the wrapper once he was done. With his stomach satisfied by the bland bar, it was time to execute his plan.

Shikamaru moved with haste around his house. He prepared several towels near the door then set out extra clothes he was sure would fit the three members of Team Seven. Finally, the Nara placed the shogi board out in the living room. During that time the rain increased and decreased in intensity at random intervals. Wind picked up now and then, but none of it distracted him from his tasks.

While listening intently for a knock on the door, he set each piece on the board. Of course there was a possibility that Team Seven would not arrive at all. The storm was pretty intense and they might have chosen to wait it out before searching for their teammate.

To Shikamaru, though, the possibility was too slim.

Each member of Team Seven was ridiculously hardheaded and stubborn. They would keep moving in a storm like this, and, as 'Risu's cousin, it was his duty to wait for them.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The corner of Shikamaru's lip pulled into a triumphant smirk as he placed the final piece on the board. Right on time. He didn't waste energy by shouting that he was on the way. Let them marinate in the suspense of whether or not someone was home as he strolled to the door. They were now on his turf, his battlefield, and he wasn't about to give them any sense of security.

Sakura and Naruto were just unfortunate casualties of a greater war this time, so he would have to go easy on them. They weren't his real target. No, his real target was the idiot who couldn't control his anger. The one who should have known better than to cross the line Shikamaru had drawn in the sand.

Thud! Thud!

Shikamaru opened the door, forcing the soaking balled up fist of Naruto to hit nothing but air. "Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first time," he greeted lazily.

All three members of Team Seven stood before him, soaked and panting from what was possibly a desperate rush to get here. Internally, Shikamaru smiled. Good. They'll be off balance then. "Oh, it's you three. What's up?"

He could have easily ushered them in and informed them he was aware of the current situation. But where was the fun in that when he could make them squirm a little bit. "Shika- Shikamaru. Is Amari here?" Naruto was the one to ask.

It made the Nara boy flick his irritated eyes to the Uchiha of the group flanking the blond a few steps back. As he saw it, it should have been Sasuke asking the question since he was involved in the conflict.

It was Sasuke's second strike today.

Shikamaru returned his eyes to Naruto. "Yeah, she's here."

The three brightened at the news, but again Naruto was the first to speak. "Is she okay? Can we talk to her?"

"She's in the shower right now. Don't know why you're asking if you can talk to her. She's your teammate."

Playing dumb would give them the illusion that they had more knowledge then him on the matter. He wanted to see what they did with that leverage. Would they come clean to her protective cousin? Or would they try to hide it for as long as possible?

He pretended not to notice the guilty silence that followed and shrugged outwardly to keep up the appearance of a lazy boy who didn't know or care about what was going on. "Anyway, I'll grab you three some towels and clothes. My mom would kill me if I just shoved you off back into that storm. Be right back."

Shikamaru went to grab the towels he prepared and gave the first to Sakura, informing her where the bathroom was and giving her the same instructions his mother had given him and 'Risu. While she was getting redressed, Sasuke and Naruto decided to start stripping themselves of their tops and sandals before drying off as best as they could right outside his front door.

He appreciated the gesture. They wrapped their still clothed lower halves with towels and were ushered in so he could shut the door. It didn't stop them from dripping on the floor, but he would deal with that soon.

Sakura came back out of the bathroom a little while later in the blue kimono he had set out for her, her pink hair still slightly damp and pretty disheveled. The kimono was one of his mom's from back when she was a kid, although he had no idea why she kept it. Maybe it was an adult thing to keep stuff from their past. He shrugged it off and gave Sasuke permission to go next so Sakura didn't get a nosebleed.

It also gave him a chance to single out the most honest member of the team to test out what he was willing to say. "Never hosted a team outside of my own here. Kind of weird if I'm honest," he said nonchalantly.

"Sorry for barging in like this, Shikamaru. But it's really important that we talk to Amari," Naruto said, his voice completely serious.

"Couldn't wait until the storm passed? I mean, you guys could have caught a cold out there, or worse."

Naruto shook his head. "No, it couldn't wait. This is important."

Playing the aloof, lazy role again, he shrugged and said, "All right. If you say so."

Had he pushed harder, he was sure Naruto would have spilled everything. He was too kind and honest to hide that sort of information when pressed. But he didn't want to force Naruto to do it. He wasn't responsible for this, and Shikamaru wanted to get everyone dry and comfortable before continuing.

Naruto left to get changed as soon as Sasuke returned. Shikamaru took the opportunity to start cleaning up all the water. As he went around with a towel cleaning the floors, his ear caught the distinct sound of the master bathroom shower shutting off. He frowned. Time was against him, but he could make do with what time he had. It wasn't like he had an hour long speech prepared for this. Talking that long would be a total drag.

By the time he finished, Naruto exited the bathroom and sat down on the couch with his team. Shikamaru noticed warm glasses of tea set out on the table set out for them as he made his final walk to the laundry room with a wet towel in hand. He had to admit, he was impressed by his mother's restraint in not threatening Sasuke when she had the opportunity.

As he passed through the room, he spoke up. "Hey, Sasuke. 'Risu told me she's trying to teach you shogi." Shikamaru dipped his head towards the shogi board. "Sit down. Let me teach you a thing or two so you don't get beaten so easily."

Fortunately for Sasuke, he realized it was less of a question and more of a demand. The Uchiha moved to get up, but not without a reluctant sigh. The uncomfortable sigh brought a smirk to Shikamaru's lips as soon as he was out of sight. Uncomfortable is good. It means he knows he screwed up.

It was a good sign overall. Understanding you made a mistake was half the battle. The other half was owning the burdens that came with admitting it.

Shikamaru returned to the living room and sat on the opposite side of the shogi board from Sasuke with his legs crossed. Instead of sending a heated glare or an annoyed look at the boy, he kept his eyes on the shogi board as he decided his first move.

Should he start bold or start in the shadows? Both had their benefits and their disadvantages. If 'Risu doesn't take long to get ready and I take too much time, I may not get the chance to make my move at all. But if I go in too bold, I may end up causing a fight. And that would be a drag. Especially with my mother listening in.

His mother wouldn't stand for there being raised voices in their house, regardless of the reason. Even if she was on his side, she would undoubtedly chew him out for it.

After rolling the thought around for a moment or two, he made his decision. "As the beginner, you can have the first move."

"Not like it'll change the outcome," Sasuke commented as he moved his piece.

Shikamaru chuckled and shook his head. "I thought you were smarter than that. Nothing is ever certain in shogi or on a battlefield. An underdog team can defeat overwhelming odds with enough training and the proper plan of action. It's why 'Risu hasn't given up on beating me and why I haven't given up on beating my dad."

Even though they continued to lose, each loss was another tactic to learn, another defeat to overcome. In a way, failing was one of the best ways to learn. By failing, a person could learn their faults and weaknesses. From there it was up to them to do everything in their power to better themselves as shogi players, as leaders, as shinobi or really anything.

"Then again," Shikamaru continued while deciding his next move. "I suppose I'm the fool for ignoring the facts right in front of my eyes."

A tense silence filled the void of conversation as rain pelted the windows. Shikamaru was unmoved by it as he frowned in thought. How fast did he really want to finish this? He could, in theory, make a complete fool of his opponent and end the game so quickly they'd rename him Shikamaru the Shogi Teleporter. Or he could go easy on him, give him a small handicap and end this without bruising too much of his ego.

"…And what facts are those?" Sasuke asked at length.

Choosing carefully, Shikamaru picked up his desired piece and set it down in the place he wanted it. The audible click penetrated the silence, and with it he lifted his eyes and met Sasuke's with a penetrating stare. "You're an idiot," he stated, his voice firm.

Just like that, the group realized the knowledge he held. "Oh man," Naruto muttered.

Now was the time to mix up his tactics to keep them on their toes while remaining flexible so he could switch between attack and defense as smoothly as possible. "…Shikamaru—"

"Save it, Sasuke. She told me everything," Shikamaru interrupted, his voice revealing hints of his irritation. "Delusional, naïve, half-breed. Ignoring the first two is easy," his eyes set in a glare, "but that last one crosses a line I warned you not to cross."

"Shikamaru, you don't have to—"

The Nara flicked his eyes over to the kunoichi sitting on the couch coming to the defense of her teammate. "Yes, I do, Sakura. I'm sure the two of you already said something to him; no way either of you would sit here and accept him calling 'Risu a half-breed without speaking your minds. But none of you witnessed what I did."

His sharpened eyes fell back onto Sasuke. "Count yourself lucky I'm being rational and levelheaded. But don't mistake it for weakness or fear. I don't give a damn if you're stronger than me or how powerful the Sharingan is. Make 'Risu cry again and I'll show you what happens when you hurt my family."

Sasuke winced as if struck. So, he hadn't seen her cry.

"But we—"

"Naruto, Sakura, stay out of this," Sasuke interrupted Naruto. "This is between us."

Damn right it was. At least the idiot had the guts to face it alone instead of relying on his teammates to bail him out.

Naruto and Sakura fell silent as Sasuke eyed the game. Shikamaru waited patiently in the silence. It was his move after all. After a minute, Sasuke finally moved his next piece. "You were waiting for us. That's why everything was already set out and ready for our arrival."

"Yep. Just had to wait for you three to finally knock on the door."

"You spent all that time setting this up, so why don't you get straight to the point and say what you're planning to say. We both know you want to get this done before Amari gets out here."

"Heh, fine." If he wanted this to be quick then Shikamaru would grant him his wish. "You better start walking lightly, Sasuke, because you're on eggshells with me. This time I'm letting you off easy because 'Risu told me everything, including her own screw ups. That stubborn girl should have known better than to talk about the massacre, and she should have never let her anger take control of her."

He narrowed his eyes at the Uchiha. "But don't think for a moment that I don't realize what caused her anger to spike like that in the first place. She could have handled your doubt, but then you resorted to childish name calling because she believed information from two sources she trusts with her life. Sources you should trust more than your murderous, lying older brother."

Shikamaru made his turn and went silent as he waited for Sasuke to make his move. Sasuke's disinterest in the game was clear when he moved a piece without thought or reason. "It must be easy to berate me after the fact. But you weren't a part of that argument, Shikamaru. You don't know everything I was feeling. In that moment I didn't think—"

"And that's the problem, you idiot," Shikamaru fired back. "You didn't think. You reacted like a hotheaded moron. You verbally attacked her like she was an enemy. Then, in your infinite wisdom, you had the audacity to say she didn't understand how you felt because she was a half-breed."

"I didn't…want to say that. I don't see her as just a half-breed."

There was a pained honesty in his voice. Enough that Shikamaru actually was willing to believe he didn't mean it. Regardless, he continued to make his point. "Maybe you don't. But that doesn't excuse anything. She may forgive you and trust you again when you apologize, but you'll have to do more than that to earn my trust and forgiveness."

"I know," Sasuke admitted.

"Good. Consider this your one and only freebee with me. But if you ever call her a half-breed again or hurt her the way you did today, I'll keep my promise. We clear?"

"Crystal."

"Shika…" The sound of Amari's voice made everyone turn their attention to the source standing in front of his mother.

Right on time.

Review Response to Killer: Hello, I'm still debating internally with whether or not I want Amari to gain a Rinnegan eye. Although you are correct to say she would need to gain the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan to avoid going permanently blind. The eye Shisui left with Itachi is one he plans/hopes will end up in Amari's possession so she may transplant with one of her eyes. The other eye is currently in Danzo's possession so she'll have to reclaim that if she has any hope of transplanting it. I can't say much else without spoilers.

Thank you for the review!

Review Response to Guest: Hey, we'll have to wait and see how the discovery continues. I don't want spoil anything since it's an ongoing story thread. Naruto will probably learn of his father before canon. Maybe. If it happens before canon, I want to make sure it isn't just shoved in without reason. I want to make sure it's organic. It is likely Amari will talk to some of the other Tailed-Beasts. I don't know about learning the truth about them or their names, not yet anyways. But she might learn their names.

We haven't seen the last of Gaara, Hikari and the Sand siblings, so there will be a chance for her to speak to them about the Akatsuki.

Due to the amount of interactions so far between Hikari and Amari(in the upcoming arcs, to be specific) there hasn't been a need for them to exchange letters, due to how much they've seen each other since the Invasion. It is something I've thought of, though, so it isn't impossible for them to exchange letters in the future.

No worries about asking questions or your grammar. I appreciate the questions, though I may not always be able to give a satisfying answer, and your grammar is fine.

Thank you for the review!