Chapter vi: Tectus

Tectus (participle) covered, concealed, hidden, having been covered, hidden or concealed

Shikamaru couldn't remember how, when or how he became sensitive towards Naruto. He buried down the bubbling answer to his own question, focusing on the girl instead who still looked the same as always. It wasn't that hard to notice how Naruto was acting when she got home from wandering about. Smiling and cheery, but her eyes say something so differently.

There was an uneasiness, doubt and extreme sadness within those crystalline blue orbs that doesn't match her brilliant expression. Shikamaru decided it doesn't suit her not one bit. Whatever it was that she was hiding he planned to find out, his instincts were screaming at him loudly. The darkness that he had long thought was slowly fading away from her now starkly shown whenever she looked away in deep thought.

It seemed like he wasn't the only one who noticed as his Father turned his eyes at him. Something happened that seemed to rattle at her very being in question and Shikamaru felt the need to do something for her. After dinner he decided to follow her back to her room, she stared at him openly in question as to why he was in her room.

He sat casually by her bed as he stared up her plain white ceiling, while she sat next to him legs crossed and fiddling with her fingers a nervous tick of hers, Shikamaru noticed. The silence between them was a bit overwhelming thus he decided to break it for both of their sakes.

"So, what happened today?", she flinched as she chuckled nervously before she replied.

"Weren't you listening during dinner?", he shrugged and Naruto giggled for real a little bit of her unease fading away and something within him warmed when he realized that he had caused it.

"Tell me.", he uttered and when Naruto faced him, with her eyebrows scrunched up and an expression that tells him not to ask her made him want to back away. Her expression then turned to nonchalance as she raised both of her hands towards him and a forced smile plastered on her face as she answered.

"Nothing happened, nanodayo.", she nervously giggled and Shikamaru sighed before he plopped on her bed staring up at her plain white ceiling. Already feeling exhausted, wanting to ask her but not wanting to push her to tell him he was at a crossroads at what to do. It was troublesome in a way he could not comprehend. He hadn't been this considerate to anyone in particular before.

"You're lying again.", he didn't realize he had uttered those words before he could stop himself. He sat up quickly watching her reaction towards his words. Shikamaru watched as she looked down a small sad smile gracing her features. It was an expression that screamed wrong to him and before he could take back what he just said to apologize and explain she replied.

"Will you forgive me?", she looked up at him and he was met with vulnerable bright crystalline blue eyes. So open, so trusting and Shikamaru didn't know how to deal with it, he scratched the back of his head. He closed his eyes to think for a bit before his onyx eyes met her blue ones.

"Are you an idiot?", his eyebrows scrunched up and her expression was that of shock, her eyes glazed and before she misunderstands, he replied.

"Wait, let me explain.", he closed his eyes as he thought of a way on how to better phrase what he would say. When he opened his eyes to face her without a single doubt in his eyes he then uttered.

"I think that even if you lied to me a dozen of times— ", Shikamaru had properly thought this out but his mouth was spouting things off the script from what he had formulated. It was more troublesome than he had previously thought.

"There is no denying that I will get mad at you and we might even argue about it but— ", he stared at those confused blue crystalline eyes as he finished. "—but without a single doubt in the end, I think I would forgive you."

There was something like relief in her eyes along with guilt and before he could even comprehend what is happening. Naruto tackled him and they both tumbled down the bed. She wasn't as heavy as he had thought. He knew that, but her weight was something oddly comforting to him. It was proof that she was there, she was present and the growing unease bubbling at the pit of his stomach since she returned seemed to have eased.

"You're kind nandayo, Shika.", she sniffed and he could feel his shoulder getting wet with warm fresh tears, he didn't know how to comfort her when he felt the tears. So, he only did what his mother usually would've done when he was small. She patted her back and drew circles to hopefully calm her down.

"Thank you.", her mumbled words piqued highly on his curiosity but he decided to trust her when she followed her previous words.

"I promise I will tell you about it.", he snorted at her in amusement before he replied.

"You better.", they both stayed like that for a while and even when Shikamaru's arm was already feeling numb he found that he didn't mind it as much. But he still couldn't shake the feeling that something was up with her, the way she phrased her response to him. It was as if she was leaving to go somewhere, he couldn't reach, and just that thought of that made his insides squirm as if he had missed a step and fell.

He found out that he didn't particularly like that feeling. Instead he made up his mind to make sure to keep a closer eye on her from now on so that she may never have to shed anymore tears that she already has.

Shikamaru couldn't sleep as Naruto's words were on repeat within his brain. He had been up for a few hours now as he tried to figure out what she means. He was able to deduce it after the first hour he had been staring up at his ceiling. But it still didn't erase the sinking feeling in his stomach and the feeling of unease that surrounded him.

He was startled when he heard the faint sound of a window opening and closing just from the room next to his, Naruto's room. He sat up as he listened more carefully, finally, giving in to his ever-growing curiosity he sat up from his bed and slowly peered through his own window to watch as Naruto jumped into the roof and began to scale the nearby tree just by their windows.

His eyes widened as the girl sneakily left the premises stealthily as she could. Now he could understand how she was able to get away from the Chuunins and Genins who were ordered to catch her for her pranks. Wondering where she was headed in the late night he then tugged on his clothes and decided to follow after her, his growing weariness doubled. He followed her through his window as well not taking any chances to lose sight of her.

What Shikamaru didn't notice were the sharp eyes of his own Father watching them from above the roof of their house. Flicking his own cigarette after he made sure the light was gone, he followed his two troublesome kids.

From the direction where she was headed Shikamaru could easily deduce where she was headed. However, the small back that he had been following suddenly disappeared like a bubble. He stopped on his tracks as he observed his surroundings oddly, he snapped his head to look up when a hand clasped his shoulder only to see his Old Man with a grim look on his face.

"Do you know where Naruto might be headed?", Shikamaru didn't need to look back at his Father to reply at him, as they both realized what kind of situation, they were currently in.

"Yes, she is headed to one of our usual spots deep in the forest north-west of here by the field of dandelions.", Shikaku nodded at him and he began to whisper towards Shikamaru who listened carefully.

"Shikamaru once I dispel this genjutsu I want you to run back to the Clan and inform them that Naruto is in danger.", Shikamaru's head snapped back towards his Father and the horror etched on his features didn't go amiss by his own Father.

There was something within Shikamaru's eyes that Shikaku seemed to have feared and before Shikamaru could agree to his Father's plan they were both attacked. Both of them dodged the shuriken's that aimed for them. Then, swiftly forming the katas and casting a series of jutsu's to dispel the genjutsu instead of running back for help Shikaku watched as Shikamaru ran towards where Naruto was headed.

Shikamaru heard his Father curse as he didn't follow his order. How could he, when he heard the words 'danger' and 'Naruto' in one sentence, all sense became lost to him. The only thought that clouded his mind right now was to find Naruto and to protect her. He didn't know where the all-consuming thought rooted from but it surged him forward with a speed and drive that he never thought he had the capability of.

"Shit! Please be safe."

The moon was brightly shining as it illuminated the field of dandelions, the stars were twinkling along the peaceful night sky. So, unlike the growing storm brewing within Naruto's heart. She swallowed her nervousness as she could finally have the answer to her questions. The beating of her heart was too loud for her to even hear anything and the emotions rumbling within her were numbing her usual sharp senses.

She was startled when Mizuki-sensei appeared from the tree line. His usual smile in place and a certain air about him that she couldn't place. It felt as if it was the first time, he had met him where her instincts screamed at her to stay away from him. But she pushed it down instead and before her words came out of her lips, she saw another shadow behind Mizuki.

Naruto watched the other person. He was wearing a mask that covered most of his face save for his blank empty eyes. They regarded her with something like an interest but she couldn't understand why. Her eyes darted back to Mizuki who easily understood the question in her eyes as he answered.

"Don't mind him Naruto, he is a friend of mine and hopefully, will become your friend as well.", he voiced out cheerily as if the situation right at that moment wasn't as suspicious as it seems. Her eyes darted back to the other nin with whom she couldn't feel anything from.

"Now, you came here to have your questions answered right?", Naruto nodded her head her eyes darting from Mizuki to the one behind him. Her guard wasn't as up since she trusted Mizuki-sensei. But she couldn't stop the nagging sense in the back of her head telling her to run. The only reason stopping her was the thought of finally having the answer she had always asked.

'But will it be worth it?', she wondered.

"You asked me why the village hated you, why they call you a monster, why you are as isolated and unloved and as alone as you are right now.", his words weren't new to her but they still affected and hurt her like a dagger slowly being plunged within her body and twisted to inflict more pain. But something warmed that sting away as she remembered the people who are now beside her. A small smile graced her lips as she looked up at Mizuki-sensei with bright eyes.

"I am not alone anymore, dattebayo!", Mizuki-sensei chuckled at her as he smiled nodding his head.

"Yes, that is true Naruto.", then his expression slowly faded away into a more serious one, the glint in his eyes never leaving and this caused the heavy beating of Naruto's heart return in full.

"Before I could answer your question, do you know of the incident that happened the day you were born?", Naruto shook her head trying to understand and piece out what Mizuki was trying to tell her. He smiled at her oddly with an emotion she could not decipher as her own was tangled up in everything within her, it dulled her senses.

"Then, Sensei will tell you.", he began to walk in a slow circle with her as the center. She stood frozen listening, keeping heed of his words of a truth she longed to hear.

"Six years ago, the Nine-Tailed Beast ravaged Konoha and killed thousands of civilians and ninjas alike. Knowing that they cannot destroy a bijuu they did the one thing that they know of to defeat it."

'Bijuu, Nine-Tailed Beast', she had heard of them, read of them, intrigued about them, and she felt somehow connected to them. Then, something within Naruto was screaming telling her not to listen, to run but she remained rooted where she stood as she listened.

"They sealed the Kyuubi once again within a Human host. They call beings who has bijuu's within their bodies, Jinchuuriki.", Naruto swallowed trying to stop the trembling in her voice as she asked.

"But how is that connected to me?", she turned her head towards Mizuki-sensei who gave her a rueful smile. It was as if the answer was right in front of her, handed to her as easily as she asked.

The bile in her throat were threatening to spill out and the dread in her stomach making her feel bare. She watched as Mizuki-sensei's face twisted into a smile as he answered and all the hairs on her back rose at his answer.

"That is because within your body lies the monster.", Naruto's mind screamed in denial but a part of her agreed and knows that what Mizuki told her was real. Her body began to tremble and it became so so cold inside and outside of her body. She felt as if her touch with reality was fading away as her usual blue crystalline eyes turned dull, lifeless and empty.

"You are the Jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox that ravaged this land six years ago, Naruto.", Now she understood why they steered clear of her, why they call her a monster, why everyone despised her.

She lifted her hands and she could see them stained with crimson, thick, viscous and she felt like no matter how much she cleans or washes it, the blood in her hands will never fade away. Even if her body is merely currently housing the Kyuubi, in extension the villagers only saw her as a part of him, the Kyuubi who took their loved ones away from them.

'But why her? When did they seal the Kyuubi inside her? Who did?'

She slowly shook her head denying, but the dread and the emptiness and something deep inside of her was telling her that it wasn't a lie. "No—no", she whispered as her hands clutched her head trying to cover her ears from the truth seemingly glaring at her, as if telling her to curse her fate.

"Naruto, you and I both know that what I am telling you is the truth.", she kept on whispering the words 'no' continuously but Mizuki won't stop telling her things she no longer wanted to hear. She felt his hands land onto her small shoulders and she couldn't help as her body shook. Her eyes immediately finding Mizuki-sensei's as she listened to him well.

"One day your body and mind will break and the monster, the tenant you have within your body will take over you, consume you until the Naruto, the you that you know is reduced into nothing.", her body trembled in fear as she remained where she stood shell shocked not wanting to hear anything anymore. She wanted to just shut everything out. She was filled with her own self loathing and her questions and her emotions piling up, burning her on the inside.

Like a broken doll her hands fell to her sides as her eyes turned blank, shutting away everything and locking up her own self within her mind, to protect herself from the cold hard truth. She never even noticed Mizuki as he laughed watching her current state, she was now broken, her mind and psych a mess. Mizuki hummed but everything that was happening outside of her body seemingly a blur to her.

Suddenly, a thought came to her and she regained herself to dare ask it. "What do I have to do so I won't disappear, so that I won't become a monster?", she never noticed the grin Mizuki has on his face as he held out his hand in front of her.

"All you have to do is to take my hand and I will lead you to the person who will make sure you will never be the monster you fear of becoming. Instead, you will become the protector that this village needs, they won't hate you no longer if you become someone like that for Konoha, for Danzo-sama.", the fight in her was now gone like bubble and she didn't feel like resisting any longer.

She didn't want to become a monster, she didn't want to be hated anymore, she just wants—before she knows it, she began to reach out her hand towards him. But before her hand was about to fully reach his, someone tackled her and she waited for the impact on the ground as she tumbled down the slope into the field of dandelions whose seeds were disturbed and flying about into the cold night air.

She remembered a similar scene, one that was filled with light and happiness and warmth that made her stomach fuzz with butterflies. However, the scene that greeted her were his scrunched-up eyebrows, his wide blown eyes and mouth wide as he called out her name and shook her shoulders as if to snap her out of her daze. But, before he could utter the words he seemingly wants to say, he swiftly turned his back at her his posture rigid, wary as Mizuki-sensei soon caught up to them.

"Naruto won't be coming with you.", Mizuki-sensei shook his head as he chuckled as if he knew for sure that Naruto would join him. His sharp eyes then landed on the two of them as he uttered.

"Is that really something that you should decide for her?", Shikamaru's shoulder tensed. Naruto kept watch towards their interaction not knowing what to say or do. But the dreaded fear of being consumed by the Kyuubi was roaring at her. She felt as if she had no choice but to accept Mizuki-sensei's offered hand. To prevent the previous tragedy from occurring all over again, then her eyes landed towards Shikamaru's back. To protect the people that gave her what she thought she would never have in her life.

"What about you? Aren't you caging her with your offer?", Mizuki-sensei grinned as he shrugged his shoulders carefully watching her, beckoning her to his side.

"What I have told her was nothing but the truth, unlike the other people within this village who did nothing but lie and hide the truth from her."

"Yes, that may be the truth. But—", his head turned towards her in a brief glance before his stormy eyes landed on Mizuki-sensei.

"—Naruto is Naruto, there is no way that she would be consumed by the Kyuubi without fighting back. She is stronger and more stubborn than any person I have ever met. And no one not even the Kyuubi would be able to bend her to its will.", something sparked within Naruto as her lips quivered, a single tear escaping from her eyes.

Her voice trembled as she uttered his name with something akin to awe and disbelief as his words shook her. So, she decided to take the risk, to trust in herself the way that Shikamaru trusted her. If there was another way for her to be by their side without even loosing them, then she would take it.

She would trust his words that were filled with conviction and determination and faith in her, because there was no one who had ever placed that kind of faith and trust in her but him.

Her eyes flashed towards the man she considered her savior with bright eyes filled with her will, her fire, her determination as she answered Shikamaru's faith in her.

"Sensei", Mizuki's eyes on her were heavy and filled with something she could no longer decipher. There was a tinge of fear in what she is about to do, because no matter what Mizuki-sensei was the first person who ever held out his hand towards her. She bit the inside of her lip as she finally made up her mind.

"I—I want to stay. Here. With Shikamaru. With everyone.", as soon as she uttered those words the smile plastered on the Sensei she knew too well fell away and replaced with a blank face, filled with disappointment and Naruto could not deny the stab she felt in her heart.

"Is that so.", he shook his head as if he was contemplating something and then his eyes turned cold as they landed on Shikamaru and Naruto felt a shiver run up her spine as Mizuki-sensei uttered.

"As I thought, you need to be eliminated."

A/N: i am very much grateful for your warm welcome to this lil fic o'mine, thank you, it makes me so verry verrry happy :)))
jkafhgahfgl i apologize for the very late update, all remaining mistakes are mine, please dont hesitate to point them out to me or leave me comments id love to know them XD
till next time,cheers!