Note: I of course will be using Japanese techniques. I don't know and I don't want to know the English dubbed version. I am Italian. I get Japanese techniques. So there.
MasterFranny: thanks to everyone that reviewed this fic. I am glad you like, and I will work hard to write a decent fanfic. As for now, I don't think I will have Sasuke in a relationship. So… well, it may change, but right now… you know what I mean ne? let's the plot work by itself.
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Rating: T
Summary: (ShikaNaru) (ShinoKiba, KakaIru, Sandcest KankuGaa) Observing, interacting, developing, caring and healing. When someone you care for is threatened, even the most troublesome matter turns vital. When Shikamaru is appointed to search for Naruto, who's gone training with Jiraiya, to tell him that Akatsuki is moving for him faster than expected, time is all that matters. After the Valley of End.
Warnings: shounen–ai and yaoi. Boy x boy relationships. Don't like, don't read, don't flame.
Disclaimer: I don't own this wonderful manga, or the anime. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
"Talking"
'Thinking'
–Dreams, Flashbacks, memories–
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Silent Observer
Chapter 02: Mission
It was a sunny day in Konoha. The streets were filled with people talking animatedly, walking or doing their works, with a really light mood. Every now and then, a shape would pass through the streets in a flash, blurring from sight a second later, sign a ninja was patrolling the place, or going to report their missions to the Hokage tower.
The sight was pacific, if not for the shapes that could be seen on top of the houses, silent and unmoving, looking and controlling everything minutely; they were ninja ordered to protect the village from anything that could look remotely out of place, seeing the last few years had been dangerous and difficult.
Wars were spreading through the various countries, and there had been news that Oto was growing stronger every day passing by, and that it was tying up alliances with Kirigakure.
But right now, nothing seemed to dim the cheerful mood –it was a calm day.
The sun was bright in the sky. There were a few clouds too, white and puffy, contrasting clearly against the blue.
A mile from the centre of the village, where Konoha met with the forest, there was a meadow, partially hidden by bushes, trees and such, where not a soul ever went… except one.
A shape was lying down on the grass, his back propped up against a tree, his eyes closed, arms behind his head, legs sprawled in front of him. He looked like he was sleeping. At first sight, one could clearly see his body was lean but non overly so, fine muscles peered out from the shirt, a hitai–ate with the Leaf symbol carved into it tied around one of the figure's arms.
His hair was tied up in a high ponytail, dark strands pointing in every direction, as if trying to free themselves from the hair tie. It looked longer too.
A look of boredom was clear on his features as soft, almost soundless steps alerted him someone was coming.
"Shikamaru?"
One eye opened lazily, staring up at the person that was towering over him.
It was a girl, with pink, long hair, a hitai–ate tied around her head to keep the unruly brands at bay. She was wearing a midnight black sleeveless shirt and a short black skirt, both with stripes of pink at the edges, and black shoes; her frame was the one of a girl now on her teens, it was blossoming. Her eyes were of the deepest green, and were fixed on him, looking almost angered.
"Oi," Shikamaru muttered, closing his eyes again. It was only Sakura.
All he wanted was to go back to his peaceful slumber. It was not so much he was back from his latest mission, one that had involved retrieving a stolen scroll, and now, in his first moment of relax, someone came to bother him. How troublesome.
"Tsunade–shishou asked me to summon you," the girl said, shaking her head at his laziness, though she was pretty used to it. "She knows you just came back, but this is really important".
Shikamaru groaned up at her, "hai, Sakura".
He slowly stretched, before standing up, slumping in his usual relaxed position, low shoulders and hands in the pockets; Sakura walked away towards the village, and he followed, huffing. To anyone it would have looked like slouching, something that a real ninja would never do, but a trained eye would have noticed the half tense muscles and the way the dark eyes scanned around looking for danger.
For how lazy he could be, he was still a talented shinobi.
He was still a Chuunin, though, if he wanted, he would have been the perfect Jounin. It was not a matter of strength, in the end, because he was a capable ninja; the problem was that, he was lazy. He didn't want to bother himself with the Jounin selections.
Despite what he wanted, Tsunade Hokage had stated he should get more seriously his ninja life, thus she started giving him more missions. His skills were –if he bothered himself to use them– just as good as any Jounin's.
So, even if he was still a Chuunin in rank, he was often assigned as team captain for the missions that required skill and a lot of mind work.
When he wasn't in a mission, he was gazing up at the clouds, or walking around the village, looking for information. So yes, he hadn't changed that much.
Two years passed ever since Naruto left to follow Jiraiya in his special training journey, and still, nothing had changed –at least, not too much. Tsunade was still the Godaime, and despite the first uncertainty, the villagers soon came to not just accept her, but love her.
Though, and Shikamaru had noticed this in the first period, the people looked almost happier; if he hadn't been the genius he was, perhaps he would have wondered what had happened to them… but he was a genius after all.
So it was not hard for his to come to the conclusion that… it was because Naruto was gone.
It had been unnoticed at first, but when he looked around, each passing day, at the faces of the people around him, he could see they were smiling more and more. Faithful to his previous decision to be attentive of what was around him, Shikamaru started questioning the ninja and the villagers.
For the first few weeks after Naruto's departure he had just worked around on things concerning Uchiha Sasuke, sometimes even asking questions –things that apparently had no meaning, but that to him, were really important– every time wondering if the question he was doing would get the answer he was hoping for.
Then, in the end, when he was doubtful he would get any reply –he was already wishing not to have bothered in the first place– he'd heard a speech between Kakashi–sensei and Iruka–sensei that gave him not just an answer to some of his questions, but actually caused some kind of interest to sparkle within him.
–Start Flashback–
Shikamaru glared at the corridor in general, as he walked through it to report his mission to the Hokage.
Two weeks since Naruto left. It was almost curious how time was revolving around the blond boy's departure. Shikamaru found himself counting each day as one more day 'after Naruto's departure'.
It was strange, how shinobi that had known the blond boy well, and had usually despised his loudness and foolishness, were now missing it, missing him, a lot. It was like a part of them disappeared with him that day. Even the ones that never paid attention to Naruto now were noticing how silent the village had become. How the yells and screams had once filled the streets, that now looked almost empty.
Shikamaru in his lazy way missed Naruto as much as the others. It was kinda troublesome. For how much he'd loathed Naruto because he was too active and loud, now he missed him.
"Maa, you should really lighten up," a voice spoke from around a corner.
Shikamaru stopped.
"He's gone, but he's gone training with Jiraiya sensei, and when he will return, he'll be strong enough to protect himself from the Akatsuki".
"But we shouldn't underestimate that organization," the other voice replied.
Shikamaru knew both voices, and it took him no time to recognize one as Kakashi's and the other as Iruka's; he tensed. He knew he shouldn't be eavesdropping, but he also knew they were speaking about Naruto, and his curiosity was picked.
Silently he backed away, so the two shinobi wouldn't detect his chakra signature, and cautiously he made some hand seals, activating a spying jutsu on the two. There was no chance he was going not to be detected, unless they were too concentrated on their conversation, but Shikamaru was positive they were. After all, no one should have been in there at this time, and he himself was supposed to be still on mission… it wasn't his fault he was so fast he managed his in half the time needed.
His hearing sharpened and he was able to hear fairly better what Iruka–sensei and Kakashi–sensei were saying.
"Naruto is strong, after all, he has Jiraiya protecting him," Kakashi reasoned. "But you are right, he's no match for the Akatsuki members, and he won't even after his training".
"What I fear is Uchiha," Iruka murmured.
Shikamaru frowned. There were many unknown factors in what the two shinobi were saying, and he didn't like when he didn't know something. It unnerved him. And this was troublesome, he added as in an afterthought.
There was a small pause, maybe one or two seconds, and Shikamaru used this time to analyze what the two said, while he waited to hear more.
First unknown factor –Akatsuki.
He never heard before of it. But using what he heard, it was an organization. And Naruto was involved. Easy.
Second unknown factor –Uchiha.
How was Sasuke involved with Akatsuki? Last time he checked, he was trying to run away to join Orochimaru, one of the three Legendary Sannin. Not some organization.
The two shinobi started speaking again, and his attention shifted back on them.
"He's dangerous, and if he was able to defeat even you, Kakashi, then what could possibly do Naruto against him?" Iruka sighed.
Shikamaru frowned some more. Something was amiss.
Sasuke never defeated Kakashi–sensei. He wouldn't be able to.
So, the other possibility was that, they were not speaking about Sasuke.
But Uchiha, Sasuke was the only member left of his clan.
'No, he's not,' he realized.
Sasuke's clan had been completely wiped out. He knew so much, especially knowing that the dark haired boy had called himself an avenger since he was merely a child. As to who had killed all his family and clan, Shikamaru couldn't but guess.
Maybe, another member of that same clan. That would explain the mention of a strong Uchiha, strong enough to defeat one of the stronger jounin of Konoha… the genius copy–nin Hakate Kakashi.
But why would one destroy his own family?
And why was Naruto involved in this?
"Don't worry, Iruka, Jiraiya will protect him," and with that, the chakra signature of Kakashi disappeared. A second later, Iruka's disappeared too.
Quickly, Shikamaru dispersed his jutsu and headed towards the Hokage office, all the while, his brain going through the whole conversation.
He wasn't going to go down without knowing exactly what was happening. He was a genius after all. He'd better start using his intelligence for something interesting.
For once.
–End Flashback–
After this, he managed to gather a fairly good amount of information on the Uchiha family. It had been way too easy to enter in the restricted area that only chuunin and jounin were allowed to use (because he was a chuunin after all) and no one supposed he would be interested in old, missing–nins. And missing–nins were still listed on the Ninja registration book other than in the Bingo–book.
Uchiha, Itachi. Genius. Shinobi at the age of seven, got complete control of his Sharingan at the age of eight, promoted Jounin at the age of ten, ANBU captain at the age of thirteen, he wiped away one of the strongest clans of all Konoha at the same age, disappearing right after.
Shikamaru shuddered at the realization that this Itachi, being seven years older than him, had started with the same high IQ.
And he ended up surpassing any other shinobi in skills and strength.
'What if I were not this lazy? Would I have ended up like him then?' he had thought, but he had dispersed that idea quickly.
He knew that Sasuke was left alive and had his anger fuelling up in order to avenge his clan, and it took him no time to make a connection with this, the strange power he felt inside the seal on his neck and Orochimaru.
But then, Naruto somehow managed to calm this anger, if only a little. Ever since Sasuke woke up, after being brought back to Konoha, he changed. He allowed to be controlled, he allowed them to check on him anytime, and he was willing to show he wasn't going to betray any of them anymore.
He changed, and they could see it. Ok, he was still silent, close and reserved, but now, there was something in him that made people around understand he was different from the old Sasuke. He trained everyday, and slowly, the other Genin started befriending him again –even though he was still as stoic as usual.
But at least, now Shikamaru could say he knew why he was this way.
Anyway, after a while, Kakashi–sensei started training him again, showing once more that he was his favourite student.
After satisfying his information need about Itachi, Shikamaru tried with Akatsuki, but this proved an unsuccessful task even for him. No one knew anything, and the few he knew that could help him, were getting suspicious of his questions.
But between the first three weeks and now, two years later, his attention shifted from Itachi, Sasuke and the Akatsuki to something else –namely Naruto.
Why?
Because he was perceptive.
Shikamaru noticed the behaviour of the villagers when the news of Naruto's departure spread through Konoha. They were clearly relieved. Happier.
So, he wondered why.
He had never paid attention to the way normal people, and even some shinobi, acted around the blond too much –he'd always dismissed it thinking Naruto pulled one too many pranks on them.
But that didn't explain it all.
And having nothing else to distract him from his troublesome missions and him thinking how silent Konoha was now, even for his standards –as said, he liked the silence until a certain degree– he started watching.
Not just looking, he observed.
Silently, he used the fact that no one bothered to look his way to observe, notice, and think.
He had some kind of photographic memory. Not completely, but he used to register even the most unusual or insignificant thing to ponder on it later. If on the outside he was lazy and wanted nothing to do with physical strain, on the inside he was pretty active. His mind worked twice as fast as a normal one would, noticing things no one would, thinking in a different way, even looking at a determinate situation from different sides to have a better outlook at the results.
So, he recalled the way the people looked at Naruto when he walked down the streets. It had been often he was with him, escaping from the lessons of the Academy because they were too troublesome and boring, together with Kiba and Akamaru, and Chouji.
He was surprised to remember not just distaste in the glares sent towards the blond obnoxious boy, but also hatred.
Why would they want to hate him? It wasn't possible the cause were just his pranks, not even the time he dirtied the Hokage Mountain.
Feeling intrigued more than he had been while searching for Uchiha, Itachi, Shikamaru found himself searching, listening, observing, for Uzumaki, Naruto instead.
What he found out now that he bothered to look, left him completely unsettled.
And by the time the 'fact' occurred, not even two months after Naruto's departure, he knew already too much not to make the connection, he knew already too much not to feel angry against the village in general.
When it happened, of his generation he was the only one who understood the cause of it. When it happened, he was the only one of his generation that knew who was the cause of it. When Naruto's apartment was set on fire, he was the only one of his generation that knew it had been an intentional fire.
Not an unfortunate incident.
Of course the older shinobi knew. Tsunade Godaime said it was caused by a gas leak, and the chuunin and the jounin agreed.
But when Shikamaru stepped inside the remains of the house, seeing all Naruto ever had was now ashes, he knew this was no gas leak. Because, Naruto never had gas in the first place. At least, not in the late three years by the looks of it.
He usually ate instant ramen, but he heated it up using a normal fire, not a gas one, there were traces of this.
All the photos that were once on the table near the bed were gone, destroyed by the fire. He'd never really seen Naruto's apartment, apart this one time, when there was no apartment to start with anymore. But he knew there were photos of Team 7, and the other teams. There was even one of Sandaime, and Shikamaru didn't want to know how troublesome it must have been to find that one.
He remembered Sakura's face when she had stared around at the place, shocked to see it was so bare and empty. She had snorted saying Naruto must have taken away all his things when he followed Jiraiya. But Shikamaru knew he hadn't. He only had one bag pack with him, too small to contain much at all.
He remembered a flicker of knowledge in Sasuke's eyes, and the confusion in Chouji's eyes, he remembered how shocked the others had been, and the sadness and rage in Tsunade Hokage's eyes seeing where Naruto lived.
He observed, and was silent.
Because, in the last month, he had found out.
Why the villagers hated Naruto. Why the shop keeper was grumbling about how happy he was that 'the monster won't come anymore in my market' and at the same time it was a shame 'because now, I cant' give him the expired foods anymore'.
Why they burned down his house.
Why no one ever smiled at the blond, or showed their care. Or spoke about him nicely because he had no parents.
Because Naruto was the vessel of Kyuubi, the Nine Tailed Fox Demon. The one that Yondaime was said to have killed at his life's price.
It had been easy to find out, to be truthful.
The hints were all around him, waiting to be picked up and examined.
Naruto's birthday, the same date of the celebration of Kyuubi's defeat.
The way people called him a monster.
How he was treated by anyone.
Shikamaru could even remember that he had heard most parents say to their children not to play with him because he was dangerous.
His own never said this to him. Not the Hyuuga's, because he'd asked Neji about it –in a way that wouldn't have the young teen suspicious about the questioning. But he knew Sakura's did, and Ino's, and others.
Because for he villagers –and some shinobi as well– Naruto wasn't the vessel, but the demon itself.
That's why he felt guilty when he decided not to say anything to his friends. Because they deserved to know, but it wasn't his duty to reveal this…
"Tsunade–shishou is in her office, I will go back to my training now," Sakura waved at him and walked down the corridor, disappearing behind a corner. Shikamaru groaned, he was again thinking too much. How troublesome.
He couldn't stop thinking about Naruto, now that he knew. Not that he thought something different about the obnoxious blond now that he knew that in his stomach was sealed one Bijuu –Tailed demon– but now he was feeling bad he never offered Naruto some kind of friendship, when instead he had always acted as a friend, not caring what people thought; how painful could that have been?
He'd been blind because he was too lazy… and he wished he'd have a way to show Naruto his friendship now.
He knocked at the Hokage's door and received the permission to enter. Really, he could have just Transported himself inside with a jutsu like others did, but it was too troublesome. And he hated to attract attention on himself.
Opening the door, he found the Godaime sitting at her desk, still as imposing as ever. Her blond hair fell messily on her shoulders –this was a clear sign she'd been sleeping until a second before– and she wasn't still wearing her Hokage robes. Sandaime Hokage wore them, but he was the only one. As far as his interest in Konoha history went, Shikamaru knew Sandaime had been the only one using those robes.
They were unpractical and obviously fashion less. Of course a woman like Godaime –for how decayed she could be, in her fifties– would not want to wear them.
"Did you request me, Tsunade–sama," he tried to ask in a questioning tone, but as usual, the lack of interest and the fact that he'd been bothered in his moment of relax made his voice come out stressed and dull.
"Hai, Shikamaru–kun," she replied, her voice steady and serious. Her eyes were looking at him in a way that caused him to stiffen suddenly, a dark sensation that something was wrong creeping onto him. "I need your help".
……………………………………………
Fast, as fast as he could, his hands moved, forming seals, one after the other, because in a fight, fast usually meant living another day.
His opponent stood still some feet away from him, eyes fixed on the moves he was making, observing, calculating.
"Katon: Karyuu Endan!" he swiftly finished the last two hand seals –uma and tora– and positioned himself in front of his opponent, right hand lifting in front of his mouth forming an 'o', taking a deep breath.
Then, he exhaled, and from the chakra gathered in his mouth and in his fingers appeared a huge wall of burning fire, that went straight against his opponent. Crimson, swirling eyes stared hard, black bangs falling in front of his face.
The other shinobi stared, obviously acknowledging the strength of the other, but shaking lightly his head. A crimson Sharingan and a normal eye stared hard at the younger teen that was his student, silvery hair messily sprouting around.
"Still not enough, Sasuke!" Kakashi yelled, and countered the jutsu with one of his own, "Suiton: Suijinheki!"
All around Kakashi erupted a circular wall of water, protecting his body from the fierce fire, that vanished when it came in contact with the liquid shield.
Sasuke brushed away a strand of black hair and bit his lower lip in concentration, his Sharingan swirling in his eyes, trying to find a way out.
He was strong, but still not enough.
He decided there was only one technique that could help him now, and he was about to start the hand signs, when…
A flare of chakra signature from his right!
"Kyaaaaaaa!"
His reflexes were the only thing that saved him from the punch, as he moved out of the way a split second before the hit.
The ground crumbled under the force of the hit, stones and ground flying everywhere as a tremendous vibration shook the whole area, and even Kakashi had to jump out the way to prevent the crumbling to damage him.
Sasuke turned in a flash, and saw who attacked –a flash of pink hair before another punch was aimed his way.
He twisted in the air and formed some quick hand signs, but he wasn't fast enough as the punch barely missed his head.
Renouncing to the use of the Genjutsu, seeing a kick run his way, he clapped his hands together and, 'Kawarimi no Jutsu!' he thought.
With a 'poof' he disappeared, the moment the kick hit. But instead of striking him, the kick crushed and destroyed a log.
Sasuke landed on the crushed ground, wiping the sweat from his forehead, but he had no time to relax as Kakashi attacked again, soon followed by the pink haired teen that Sasuke knew was Sakura.
"Sasuke, you have to keep attention on your surroundings, you never know if there is another enemy hidden somewhere around," Kakashi's eyes showed his amusement even if his mouth was still hidden under the cloth.
Sasuke growled, but knew he was right, and countered the attacks of both his opponents. "Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!" he yelled.
A set of small yet powerful spheres of fire were spit from his gathered chakra –another one of the favourite jutsus used by the Uchiha family.
Sakura jumped out the way, Kakashi dodged and continued the attack.
The three of them moved quickly, evading, punching, jumping and countering the moves and jutsus of the opponents, each one fighting against the other two, until the younger ones were both covered in sweat and panting.
That moment Kakashi lifted his right hand, "that's enough for today," he said cheerfully. "Good job. Sakura, we are glad you decided to join in".
Sakura smiled broadly and stretched, happy she had some time to spend with her Sasuke–kun. Her crush for the teen had somehow dimmed in the last years, even though she still had a soft spot for him.
"I had nothing to do, besides, I wanted some training… and I wanted to be as far from Tsunade–sama as I could…"
Kakashi frowned at her, "is she again in one of her sour moods?" he inwardly shuddered at the thought of her last sour mood. Tsunade–sama was really scary.
Sakura shook her head, "I don't know really, she received a visit from someone of the Sunagakure and then she sent me to retrieve Shikamaru… I think she wants to send him to another mission".
Sasuke raised one eyebrow, "he's back already? I didn't expect him to be back before a week," he growled inside, that teen looked so lazy and all that stuff –'oh, it's so troublesome, oh, it's so bothersome'– and then he was faster than him.
'Are you trying to substitute Shikamaru as your rival since Naruto isn't here for you to show off with him?' some part of him asked smugly.
That was somehow true. Since Naruto's departure, two years before, Sasuke found himself without an actual stimulation to become better. Ok, his desire of revenge was still fuelling him, but he had quelled down his anger enough not to be bothered anymore by it.
He'd tried to relieve this need for competition with the other available teens around –Neji, at first. But Neji had advanced even more, finally succeeding into becoming a chuunin at the next exam, and a jounin a year later.
Sasuke was feeling left behind, and he knew this was all Naruto's fault.
'I want him back, so I can show him I am stronger, and I can finally get him back for our battle' he thought fiercely, a part of him –the same, annoying part that kept nudging him about his lazing off– accusing him to hide the real cause of him wanting Naruto back –to simply see the one that had proclaimed to be his first friend.
Because really, Sasuke missed Naruto and his loud, annoying acting.
And he feared deep down that the blond had become better than him. He'd seen the glimpse of a power that exceeded his own, a power that didn't look human at all, during their fight at the Valley of End.
He grew up in those two years. He was taller, stronger, and faster. His chakra reserves were bigger, and his resistance was higher. He'd trained himself until the ninja trusted him again. He'd taken the chuunin exams and had passed –hell, all of them had, some at the first, some at the second.
As he stood there, breathing deeply to get back some strength, one could see he was not the young, foolish revenge–seeker he'd once been.
His hair was still silky, but he used to keep it short –since he resembled Itachi more and more as years passed, and this was enough to cause his anger to resurface. Now he was mastering the use of the Sharingan almost completely, but he did not keep it activated all the time, because he knew he had to learn not to rely on it. It was useful, but he knew he couldn't use it for everything –that would become a weakness.
He still wore the same clothes, with the Uchiha symbol on the back of his shirt, to symbolize his loyalty to his clan and to the village.
He was not going to go down. He knew he had to train. But at least, he wasn't sacrificing everything in order to defeat Itachi. He had almost reached that point when he'd left for Orochimaru, but had been brought back, and now he valued that situation since it made him understand where his loyalties and heart were.
If he were one day, to succeed in defeating Itachi, he would be free, and still had a life to go back to.
"Hai, he's back, I often wonder where his lazy side goes to during missions," Sakura laughed as she and Sasuke walked back to Konoha.
Kakashi looked at them before speaking, his hitai–ate back again on his Sharingan.
"Don't underestimate the Nara," he said wisely. "He knows when it's time to drop the acting and start working," that would have been better if he hadn't been opening his damn book again.
Sasuke frowned; the title this time was different. He'd once thought about buying one of those books to see what was so interesting about them, but had chased away the idea labelling it under the 'stupid random things that come into mind when I am tired' list.
Not to mention, the chuckles and blushes coming from his sensei prevented him from actually doing that. He'd come to the conclusion that this was some kind of porn book, but what intrigued him at the moment was that he'd heard somewhere around that the writer of those books was Jiraiya, the Legendary Toad Sennin that was currently training Naruto.
So, how come he had the time to publish another book if he was training Naruto? What kind of sensei could be this foolish!
Sakura inside was having the same trail of thoughts, except she once read the first pages of the book and had found it stupid, absolutely pointless, shameful and horrid.
'Shannaro!' her inner self waved the fists around, 'that old man should train Naruto! Not selling these books for the generations to turn into perverts!'
The same, scary thought appeared in both teens' mind, 'what if he turns Naruto into the new pervert then?'
Both inner Sakura and inner Sasuke shuddered at the thought and glared at Kakashi.
Kakashi, blind to the two's glares, waved goodbye and poofed away, his mind forwards to meeting his lovable Dolphin.
Sasuke groaned, refusing to slap his forehead in disgust.
"Sasuke–kun, what about having lunch together?" Sakura smiled brightly at him, crossing her hands behind her back.
"Uh, no", he muttered, already thinking about the next training session.
Sakura stood there, but the usual feeling of rejection was not there. She merely smiled a bit sadly, and waved at him walking away.
……………………………………………
Blank eyes stared hard at the training ground, not missing a beat. At his right, stood someone dressed in light, ugly green, with black short hair and fuzzy eyebrows. Well, less fuzzy than two years before, because the teen had grown around them, but still. The nickname persisted through time.
At his right, someone he had never expected would be training with him at all –same white blank eyes, same black hair, now of the same length as well. His cousin, Hinata–sama.
She had grown up in the last years, mostly because she'd promised a certain someone to become stronger –the certain someone that walked away from the village with Jiraiya–sama. And she did, not just by training under the supervision of her cousin, but also by herself.
Oh, she was still just as timid and shy as ever, but at least, now her true power was clear for anyone to see. She was a proud member of the Hyuuga family.
Hyuuga Neji was changed as well. He was now keeping his hair tied in a low sash –being the one to care for his appearance– but the most noticeable change had been his mood and acting.
After his performance against Orochimaru's servant, his uncle Hiashi showed a care for him that went far from his usual. Maybe it was because of his first chuunin exam, when Naruto promised to change his clan's rules when he'd become Hokage, or the fact that for the first time in his life, he'd been sincere with him about his father, but the current head of the Hyuuga clan was warmer than before.
Hyuuga traditions couldn't be changed by a snap of fingers, but his uncle managed to round some of them, and now the relationships between the main house and the branch house were less tense, due to the brotherly love that blossomed between Hinata and Neji. Neji couldn't still be accepted in the main house, but for sure, things were getting better.
Inspecting all the space around him, as was doing Hinata, Neji was satisfied in the silence and concentration his team showed; for once, even Lee was silent. The 'fuzzy eyebrows' also knew that this was important and there was no need to rush over with 'the flame of youth'.
The Hyuuga met Hinata's eyes and both nodded, the movement so light it was almost invisible. There was a flicker of chakra coming from their right, and it was fast, and there were more coming from various places around them.
"How many?" Lee rasped out –trying with all his might not to yell out aloud.
"Two –the third must be still hiding around, masking his chakra within the nature," Neji replied.
A smirk appeared on his lips, "let's end this neatly".
Lee nodded and showed his thumb at him, then, not even a second later, he disappeared. No, not disappeared. He leaped, his inhuman speed that couldn't be rivalled once more helpful as he dashed towards one of the chakra signatures.
A second later, the chakra signature appeared, and Lee was over it the same moment.
"Gotcha!" he yelled, finally glad he could tune up his voice again.
It was… a dog!
"Distraction!" Hinata yelled to Lee, and the taijutsu master twisted in the air again, hitting with a punch the dog, already spinning towards the second chakra signature as the dog disappeared with a poof.
"Two more from the tree at your right!" Neji called out, receiving a nod and a flashy smile from the black haired freak.
It was a good thing, Neji reflected as he moved to intercept a flying kunai directed at his head, that Lee was in his team. Although during their genin training and even after, in their chuunin period, he had been slightly pissed off by his acting, he couldn't but admit he admired Lee's fierce determination.
He was identical to his sensei, Gai, but all the same, he was different, because not being able to use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu –nor Doujutsu, but that was understandable– he relied only on his practised Taijutsu, which was perfect under every and any aspect.
After his almost death under the operation, by which Godaime said he would never be able to go back to his ninja life, Lee never despaired. He kept on hoping and training and in the end, after many similar operations, and help from allied countries and various medical jutsus, he was finally declared able to go back to his genin duties.
He defeated even the many discouraging options that wanted him unable to fight ever again, and it was all due to his determination and love for the ninja way.
He'd been told he would be accepted in the chuunin exams, but he had to crush his wishes to become a Jounin, because the kind of power and strength and skills needed for a jounin exceeded the ones he would ever had.
Relying only in Taijutsu was not enough.
And still, he was happy that way, because to him, keeping on his ninja way was already enough.
Neji countered two of the kunai with his shuriken, before activating the second level of his Byakugan, facing the twirls of his opponent's chakra clearly behind the few trees and chakra walls he put up.
"Let's go then," he motioned to Hinata, who nodded and darted off to her right, whilst he took off on his left, attacking the unsuspecting opponent.
To his dismay the opponent was just another Bushin turned dog. Leaping against it he kicked it and the dog looking bushin disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Another distraction!
Finally, the real opponent.
He stood tall and proud after having blocked a punch from his sparring enemy, which at the time was the heir of the Inuzuka family, Kiba.
The teen, still fairly identical even after two years, at least was grown up, and had major resemblances with the Inu –enhanced senses, sharpened canines, pupil slits, agility. A very good sparring opponent, together with the one that was now sparring against Hinata, the bug master Aburame, Shino.
Not even giving her cousin and her opponent a glance, he dashed forwards, attacking Kiba, who smirked with his bared fangs and countered the blow, for once not relying on his usual companion, that was busy forcing Lee around the place in order to disperse all the bushin.
"Seems like this time our trap set was effective," Kiba laughed, landing a blow that Neji stopped.
"But we were able to detect all of you," he replied in an even tone.
"Stiff like always huh Neji–kun?" Kiba smirked, "don't get all turned up by this, we still have some good card to play".
On her side of the field, Hinata was busy fighting off Shino's bugs, that were his way to keep out of battle while at the same time fighting.
'Shino–san is good,' she commented to herself, her eyes trying to find a weak spot in the line of chakra that was connecting the bugs to Shino's body and the one that was connecting her own with them –that was how Shino was able to enter her defensive shield last time they sparred.
When the last bushin was destroyed, Lee did a victory pose and a flashy smile directed to no one in particular and moved to help his two team mates, now that Kiba's Akamaru –that was now thrice the size he'd been two years before, and could no more rest on his master's head– had joined in against Neji.
"My great rival, I, Lee, shall help you with my flame of youth!" he yelled, before thrashing into the battle.
All six turned three against three, Akamaru included, Kiba, the dog and Shino on one side, Neji, Hinata and Lee on the other.
Lee put up his 'I'm going to attack now' stance, the others prepared for the final attack.
Then, all six stilled in the place they were.
Lee slowly shifted his hands in his pockets, as did the others, in a similar way, like they were mimicking each others' move.
Their stances slowly fell into an apparently relaxed posture, while on the inside, their muscles were just absolutely tense.
If they could have looked below, they would have seen the shadow slowly sneaking to touch theirs; the sun was downing, and the shadows were visible around them.
"How troublesome, but then again, this was the only way I could stop all of you without having to yell…" said a bored voice from their right. "I will release you, so can you stop fighting for a moment?"
"Hai, Shikamaru–kun," Kiba would have waved his hand at him if it had been possible, but in the current position he merely smirked pointedly at him. "It's good to see you back already –even if that means I own Chouji fifty bucks".
If his status would have permitted him so, Neji would have sweatdropped. Instead, he curled upwards his lips and rolled his blank eyes, retracting the Byakugan.
The shadow coming from Shikamaru's feet retreated, freeing them. Instantly their apparently slouched positions turned tense and they straightened up.
"Did you bet on my mission, Kiba?" Shikamaru did the effort to grimace at the Inuzuka heir. "How many days did you give me then?"
"Knowing you, at least two weeks –I am surprised you only took three days, even for a solo mission".
Shikamaru waved his hand, "yeah, yeah" he muttered, "whatever".
"What are you doing here, Shikamaru–san?" Hinata asked politely, fidgeting slightly. The only moment when she wasn't fidgeting was near her cousin or Lee –who obviously had enough boldness for both of them, and the entire village as well.
Shikamaru's eyes turned cold for a moment, and none of the teens missed the tenseness in his stance, that vanished a second later. Something was wrong, or at least, something was bugging Shikamaru, and this wasn't normal for him.
"I need to speak with Neji, Tsunade–sama assigned me a mission and she said I would have to choose my team mates," he replied.
Neji nodded, but felt imposed to add, "but you're just returned, isn't it a little premature to send you in a mission already".
Shikamaru sighed, "not in this case; at least, Tsunade–sama wasn't angry at all," he muttered, scratching his chin with an absent expression. "Anyway, please, Neji, allow me a few words".
Whilst Kiba and Chouji called the lazy teen with the 'kun' suffix, because they knew him for a long time, and Hinata used 'san' because even if she knew him, she was being polite all the way, Neji never added a suffix, not because he didn't respect him, but because the two, despite their friendship during the last few years, came to respect each other in a way that didn't need any suffix. Shikamaru on his part added a 'kun' sometimes, directed to any of his friends, or a 'sama' in Tsunade's random direction, but never bothered himself with suffixes most of the time.
Kiba was a bit disappointed since Shikamaru didn't choose him, but waved his hand and walked away with Akamaru, muttering something about food along the way.
Lee smiled at them and in a blink of an eye he was gone, the only sign he'd been there a trail of dust due to his speed.
Hinata bowed to Shikamaru and slowly walked away, the practice having affected her resistance.
Shino raised an eyebrow –he was being forgotten completely by the rest of them– and soon was gone in the shadows of the trees.
The moment they were gone, Shikamaru intensified his grimace and flopped down on the ground, huffing in distaste. Neji, raising one eyebrow, took a towel that was hanging from a branch of a nearby tree –Hinata's idea– and sat down at his side, waiting for the other teen to speak. Despite him being a Jounin, obviously of a higher rank than Shikamaru, Neji respected him and knew he would be a great jounin if he bothered himself with it.
"Tsunade–sama wants me to leave Konohagakure by tomorrow at noon, taking from two to three people with me, for a C–ranked mission, without a time period" the genius said. His tone was serious.
"C–ranked mission?" Neji raised one eyebrow. "That's strange… I mean, she usually gives you from low B to high A ranked missions".
Shikamaru growled.
"It can turn from C–ranked to A–ranked if things complicate," he added.
Neji was left speechless by this. For a mission to turn of a higher rank it was expected, but from a low C to a dangerous A, that was strange enough to let him confused.
"Why? What mission is that?" Neji stared with blank eyes at the lazy teen near him.
"A research mission. I was assigned to find a person to deliver a message from Tsunade Hokage" he replied, eyes staring in front of him, not meeting Neji's ones. "A nin from Sunagakure arrived this morning, sent from the Kazekage, and delivered some not too comforting news".
"Please, elaborate," Neji asked. Well, more demanded.
"I can't, I need you to agree or refuse before I am allowed to explain the mission," Shikamaru replied.
Neji knew he was right, so in his mind he scrolled down the list of the information he received. A C–ranked mission, really low, but with possibility to turn up to A. Searching for someone to deliver a message. The mission came from a communication from the Kaze no Kuni, which meant that maybe the Sand village was involved somehow.
It was not much, especially knowing there was no time limit to the mission –it could take days as well as weeks or even months.
But all in all, he was bored to hell, since his last mission, a middle A–ranked one, had been a lot before and since that one, he was patrolling the village and training. He wouldn't miss the opportunity, not even if it turned out a relaxing C–rank.
"Sure, I accept," he stated.
He also knew he would not be the leader of the eventual group, but it was ok with him, knowing Shikamaru's intelligence would let him decide what was best for the team.
Shikamaru relaxed visibly, but not completely, "thanks Neji, the help of a jounin will be much appreciated here".
"So, what's this mission that is worrying you so much?" Neji joked –yes, he was stiff, but he could make a joke. Once in a lifetime.
"I've been ordered to leave Konohagakure to search for Naruto," he simply said.
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MasterFranny: I was uncertain on the last member for the mission, but I realized it is not important for the plot… well, not really.
As for you to know, it won't be Sasuke for obvious reasons. That doesn't mean we won't see the Uchiha soon enough.
As for Itachi, he will appear in future chapters, but I am still not sure whether to have him as a good character or as a bad one. I want to do something good, so I will take my time for that.
Review? Make me happy.
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Glossary of Japanese words (that someone requested… how troublesome):
Hitai–ate: literally means forehead protector. Some people use it tied around the head, or around the waist, or around an arm, or around the neck. Each hidden village has a different symbol carved on the forehead protector. Konoha has a leaf.
Shishou: teacher/master.
Bingo–book: special black–covered book that contains information about all missing–nin, the number of missions they had before they defected, their status and some personal info.
Katon: Karyuu Endan (Fire style: Fire Dragon Blast): attack of the Fire type. It shoots a giant wall of fire against the opponent.
Suiton: Suijinheki (Water Style: Great Waterfall Wall): attack of the water type. It raises a giant wall of water to block attacks.
Kawarimi no Jutsu! (Body Switch Technique!): permits the user to switch his own body with a log.
Katon: Housenka no Jutsu (Fire Style: Mythical Fire Flower Technique): attack of the fire type. It shoots a series of small but powerful balls of fire against the opponent.