A/N: Contains a passing reference to suicide for one line.
"So… that's what happened, then," Shikamaru exhaled, leaning back in his chair.
"The attack on Morino… that was you?" Ino queried.
"It wasn't me, but it was us," she clarified with a frown. "I was to wait for them to get me once the fighting stopped. Luring Sasuke in… was an unfortunate side-effect."
Tsunade sighed. "It wasn't your fault. At least you made the job easier for us, and he wasn't hurt."
Ino looked down, frowning sadly at the floor.
"I… had no idea," Hinata spoke softly, her hands clasped over her chest. "That's why you left? We all thought..."
"Well, that was the plan," she pointed out. "It didn't matter to me at the time; my angsty teenage self thought that I would be doing everyone a favor by disappearing."
Shikamaru looked at her then, his eyes filled with sympathy. "You were wrong."
"Well I know my parents were devastated, and I know I must have hurt you-"
"No, it wasn't just us." He shook his head. "Sasuke and Naruto were heartbroken."
She froze, looking up. "... they were?" She whispered.
"The palace was in a state of mourning for a whole month after you died," Ino chimed in. "Naruto told me once that Sasuke was the one who called for it. He…" here, she hesitated, "... he never got over it."
Sakura's eyes softened, and she looked down in shame. "... I see."
"What about you, Hinata?" Shikamaru asked, startling the younger girl. "You escaped in the attack a couple of weeks ago. How'd you do it? You don't even look hurt."
"W- well, I have Karin to thank for that." She poked her fingers together. "She came to me the night before the wedding and gave me some sleeping medicine so that I would be unconscious when the bomb went off. I… don't really recall much else after drinking it."
"You caused quite an uproar," he commented. "The entire capital went berserk. Your father… he particularly didn't take it well."
She winced, her eyes filling with sorrow. "Did he…?"
"He declared that your clans were no longer allies."
She exhaled, slumping over in her seat. "Ah, I thought he might. Is Tenten well?"
"She is," Ino replied with a smile. "About a month along. She wanted to tell you all that she wishes she could have come."
A sad smile crossed the girl's face. "I wish I could tell her that I myself wish them well."
Ino squeezed her shoulder in consolation.
"Ah, and you're Hinoki, right?" Shikamaru recognized the brunette sitting across from them. "Kisame-san mentioned that you were one of the top medics here."
"That's correct, although I wouldn't inflate my skill set that much." She chuckled, brushing some hair out of her face. "I have been with Mimei for several years now, beginning back when I was still pregnant. I had run away from Konoha myself, you see, and I didn't realize I was pregnant until I met with Tsunade and she confirmed it herself. By then it was too late to safely terminate, so I carried the baby to full term."
She glanced over at Sakura, whose lips pressed together in a line. "When the Harunos asked to take my baby boy, I was so relieved. The story of her miscarriage just broke my heart and it was a safer option than abandoning him in a village somewhere."
"That's so sweet," Ino sighed. "You know, your giving up your baby was what saved Mrs. Haruno."
"What do you mean?"
"Sakura's mom was depressed for a long time after they lost Kaede," she explained. "Had you not given her Arata… I fear she might have... passed."
Hinoki's face blanched with horror at the implication, and Sakura grimly nodded.
"I assume I didn't help matters," she muttered.
"They were inconsolable for a long time." Shikamaru sighed, shaking his head. "But having the baby has helped. He's grown up into a cute kid."
Hinoki's face pulled into a grim, solemn smile. "I can imagine. I hope that I can properly meet him one day."
"The way things are going, you may not be able to." Tsunade folded her arms across her chest. "I assume the capital has gone into panic mode since Hinata's departure."
"You're correct." Shikamaru sat up straighter, folding his hands together on the table. "Since I'm not anything more than my clan's heir, I have no idea what it is, but they're planning something big. I've only been able to catch glimpses of the plan from, admittedly, eavesdropping on Dad's conversations with the other clan heads."
"Daddy was in on it too," Ino added with a grim look. "I managed to hear a bit of it, but it includes wiping out the last of the Senju clan - as well as finding Mokuton users to extract some of their DNA. Sasuke is also involved, but I wasn't able to dig up anything more on that front."
Sakura exhaled sharply. "What on earth could they be planning around Sasuke? Is he going to be a warmonger when he becomes king?"
"We don't know," Shikamaru pointed out. "All I can tell you is that whatever they're planning, they won't rest until your entire unit is eradicated. You do not want to be on their opposing side."
"Dammit," Tsunade hissed. "Just when things couldn't get worse. We have no choice. We must enact Plan A."
Immediately, Hinoki and Sakura tensed. Hinata looked worried, and Shizune looked resigned.
Tsunade surveyed the room with a solemn eye. "I know it's hard. Believe me, I don't want to have to desecrate Gramps's dream. But we have to put an end to this. Planning for departing groups from Morino begins tonight. Depending on how far along you are in your two-week probation, I might consider taking you with us."
"Please," Ino pleaded. "I want to meet up with Tenten again."
"She's on our side, and so is her adoptive brother Lee." Shikamaru nodded. "If he weren't her support, I'd have brought him too. He's brilliant with taijutsu."
"We could use more taijutsu experts," Shizune remarked hopefully. "But no, we can't afford to sneak away any more of your number. They'll start to notice."
"I have no doubt that Mother already has thrown a fit about my departure," Ino spoke bitterly.
"For now, you'll have to help us rebuild." Tsunade pointed to Shikamaru first, "You will be a good tactician. And Ino," she turned to the young blonde, "your skills will prove to be very useful too. I'd like to take you under my wing to train you up."
"Really?" The blonde lit up, turning to glance at Sakura. The rosette smiled back at her.
"Really. I know a talented kunoichi when I see one." Tsunade smirked. "Besides, how else am I going to leave a legacy? I am one of the only ones left. I believe you both would be excellent successors of the techniques my grandfather taught."
A/N: Please tell me what you thought.
