Chapter 16
Shikamaru is lying on his side with both hands outstretched in front of him on the forest floor. He remains unmoving but his eyes are clear, emotionless pools. In direct contrast to the way his body is slump, every line as if in pain.
When suddenly Shikamaru feels two unfamiliar chakra approaching him from his back. Shikamaru's lips lift slowly at the corners, his eyes suddenly burn with hatred. The two nins are probably the ones who attacked Temari and they are here to bring him back to Suna. Too bad that won't happen.
Shikamaru pretends weakness and continues to lie still. True enough the two enemy shinobis advance towards him, with their guards lowered. Shikamaru with his hands already extended, he makes a singular hand seal to produce the Shadow Imitation Jutsu. Next his shadow elongates, branches into two and seeks the shadows of his enemies, merging them as one.
When he stands up, the two nins suddenly fall down, copying his actions.
"What the—!" yells the stouter shinobi with the red hair and markings on his cheeks. Due to his weight he collapses down harder.
"It can't be!" the other nin sounds surprise but it seems not because of the swift attack but by the way he is attacked "Who are you?" The male nin with the long blond hair tied in a single ponytail then exclaims from the ground, more perplexed rather than fearful "I thought I knew all the Naras!"
Shikamaru now notices the Konoha head protector worn by the leaner shinobi and upon hearing Temari's last name mentioned in a context that escapes him at the moment; he is assured that these are not the assassins sent by his father. "Do you know Temari?" Shikamaru enquires releasing the jutsu. Maybe Temari is well. Maybe these nins have done what he is unable to do and saved her. Maybe his assumption before is wrong. Kami he hopes so.
The blond haired man stands up and slaps his clothes free of dirt "Temari? Sure. She's our goddaughter"
"Should we trust him, Inoichi?" The rotund nin asks, elbowing his friend while staring at the boy who looks familiar. The boy, the stranger is probably a descendant of the Nara clan but Choza is sure that it's the first time he has clasped his eyes on him. Choza's eyebrows knit together as he searches for a forehead protector, when he finds none he assumes that the stranger to be a civilian so that explains why he hasn't seen him before, but that doesn't seem right with his ability to use that jutsu. Maybe the stranger is from a hidden Nara branch of the family
"Look. I'm Sabaku No Shikamaru. I'm the Kazekage's first son. I mean no harm to Nara Temari but if you know where she is you better take me to her since I have to warn her that her life is in danger" Shikamaru declares calmly, palms up to show he's unarmed and not planning to do any jutsu.
"What did you say your name was?" Choza enquires, bewilderment written on his face. Even if he is given a hundred chances to guess, he would never surmise that the young man in front of him is unrelated to the Naras.
"You don't wear any head protector, I thought you are a Konohan based on the resemblance but it seems I'm mistaken. You're a Suna shinobi but your first name is Shikamaru. And you can use the shadow too. Interesting" Inoichi strokes his chin in thought.
"I wear my forehead protector. See?" Shikamaru raises the sleeve of his robe on his right arm exposing his emblem "And you can call me Kamaru, if Shikamaru bothers you. And yes a lot of people have found it interesting that I can manipulate shadows. Anything else?" Shikamaru addresses the two older shinobis masking his impatience with polite words.
Inoichi glances at the now exposed forehead protector tied on the younger man's wrist and seems to ignore the rest, appearing to be immersed in his own thoughts "You look about Temari's age" Inoichi continues to think out loud, when suddenly with an abnormal amount of curiosity and something else gleaming from his eyes, he inquires "Tell me when is your birthday?"
"Tch, didn't you hear what I said Temari's in danger!" Shikamaru snaps then realizes his slip and speaks more calmly "And my birthday isn't important at the moment" Shikamaru withholds the information since it appears to be a critical piece for the person in front of him. Shikamaru has no interest on the answer to the puzzle himself but the older man seems to be solving it with ease and there's no telling if Inoichi would allow him to help Temari once the older shinobi has figured what the predicament is about. There's a chance Inoichi won't allow him to do something, the same way Temari has shunned him when she has discovered whatever it was.
"Why is Temari in danger?" Immediately after asking the question something appears to click on Inoichi's mind "Dammit if she has learned the secret, you're probably right she's in danger from your father—the Kazekage"
It's Shikamaru's turn to be surprised. The shinobi with the long blond hair appears to have figured out the secret while the chubbier one appears to be catching up fast based on the wonder he is unable to hide from his eyes. The secret seems to revolve around his name, his shadow jutsu and his birthday. His father the Kazekage has been threatened enough by it that he is willing to order the killing of one Konoha kunoichi fully aware of the possible repercussion of war between Konoha and Suna just to keep the secret. An important piece of the puzzle still eludes Shikamaru but figuring it out is not his priority at the moment. Finding Temari safe and sound is. Until he sees her he will forget logic and he'll just have to believe that the damn woman can take care of herself until help arrives. But they have to locate her first. And these nins will have more ideas where to look for her. "So can you take me to her?"
The older shinobis glance at each other then imperceptibly nods, a form of communication being exchanged before they both look at Shikamaru.
"Yes...She probably arrived home safe" Choza smiles his reassurance "She's a skilled and intelligent kunoichi afterall"
But then Inoichi's warns "But when we get there don't come in with me and Choza inside the house not until we gave you the signal that we have told Shikaku and Yoshino about you"
"Shikaku?"
"Temari's father" Inoichi meets Shikamaru's questioning eyes.
Shikamaru shrugs at the coincidence that his and Temari's father's names start with the same syllables. Refusing to accept it as a part of the puzzle since the picture emerging is unpleasant to say the least.
TBC
2/1/11
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, faves and alerts!