Hi guys! Yes...it's been quite a while...but here is 1/2 chapters posted on 2/5! Thank you all for your reviews, and if you're still reading and enjoying, I hope you like these two chapters!
Shikamaru clenched his fists as the crowd jostled him. Choji was using his large frame to keep people away from Hinata and Ino as best he could while standing behind them, but Shino and Shikamaru were left on their own in front of the group. The grubby people were nervous, shifting and glaring and fighting for a way to the front. The five genin just huddled together, trying to blend in with the civilians and wait patiently for the huge metal doors of the detention center to open. It had been nine days since Kiba was tossed inside, enduring conditions none of them knew.
Noticing a boy a few years younger than him ducking under arms and between legs as he pushed his way to the front of the crowd, Shikamaru darted his hand out to grasp his elbow. The boy yelped and snarled, trying to twist away, but Shino grabbed his other elbow and they held him in front of them.
"What goes on in there? Do you know?" Shikamaru asked.
The boy scoffed. "What do you mean 'what goes on in there?' It's the detention center, obviously nothin' good."
"I mean are they tortured? Punished? Do people die in there?"
Brown eyes glared at Shikamaru and the boy twisted, trying to escape. "What kind of stupid question is that? If you don't let me go, I'll yell." He tossed all is weight away but Shino and Shikamaru held fast, a civilian wasn't a match for a ninja, but they also tried not to hurt him.
Shikamaru felt Hinata shift from behind him, peeking at the boy. When he saw her pale eyes he froze, and his face whitened. He warily glanced between Hinata, Shikamaru, and Shino and cursed under his breath. "Why should I tell you shinobi scum anything?"
"Maybe we can help you." Choji murmured, but the boy only scoffed.
"I don't think you can. My cousin's sentence was for two days. I've come for the past fifteen, waiting for him to walk out those doors. They say they pack people inside tighter than sardines, its dark, its hot, everyone fights to stay near the doors, but people grow rabid." He lowered his head and shook his hair in his eyes. "I've heard many die of thirst or starvation and the ninja never clean out their corpses, just leave them inside to rot and take up more space."
Hinata frowned at him. "That can't be true, that's awful."
The boy rolled his eyes. "Clueless, the lot of you. Now I really will yell if you don't let me go. Ninja or not, I don't think the five of you can hold off against hundreds of angry civilians."
Shikamaru slowly loosened his grip and nodded at the boy, watching him scamper off. "Try not to reveal that we're ninja, but Ino, see if you can reach Kiba."
His teammate nodded. Choji put his arm around her to support her as she closed her eyes. They waited impatiently for a few moments until she came back with a deep intake of breath.
"H-he's really freaked out. Doesn't know which way is the front toward the doors. Says its hot and sticky, and people are too close." Ino took a shuddering breath. "I told him we're here outside, and when they open the doors to head toward the light. Be quick and don't hesitate to shove his way through."
Shikamaru nodded and an uneasy and anxious silence spread over them. The sun climbed higher in the sky, making sweat trickle down his nape.
Finally, at exactly noon, a chuunin blew a whistle and two citizen soldiers heaved open the doors. The rush was like nothing Shikamaru had ever seen. Those nearest the doors were taken by surprise and while they initially made it outside, the mob inside soon pushed and shoved and trampled them. Bile rose in the back of his throat as he watched unreasonably stiff or unreasonably limp bodies fall to the ground with no fight.
The crowd around the five of them started pushing and clamoring too, anxious to retrieve their loved ones, but no less chaotic and haphazard than the prisoners.
Shikamaru turned when Hinata made a desperate noise. "I see him! But he…he's just stumbling along with the crowd."
Beside him, Shino stiffened and growled. "He can't see. He's been in the dark for too long. Let's go."
With Shino leading the way and Choji bringing up the rear, they linked arms and made toward the prisoners. Shikamaru felt an elbow in his side and another hit his temple. Ino behind him hid her face in his back, pressing so close he could feel her trembling. His right arm was being pulled by Shino, who was ferociously forcing his way through, disregarding trying to be careful with the civilians. But with the others lagging behind him, Shikamaru's hold on Shino's arm was stretched and went from crossed elbows to gripping hands and as soon as there was space between them, bodies filled in and blocked his view of the other boy. Fear rose up his spine at the thought of being separated and left behind with no direction out of the crowd.
"Shino!" He yelled as he lost his grip on his friend's hand. He shook his leg between the two bodies in front of him, but they paid him no heed, he was just another person elbowing and kicking them. "Shino!"
This was ridiculous. Shikamaru used a little chakra and panickily forced the people away. Ino and the others in the line behind him stumbled forward, almost tripping him, but he kept going. After shoving through thirteen people, he finally saw the tall boy. Shino was stiff as a board with his dark eyebrows raised high above his glasses in worry as he swiveled his head to keep an eye on Kiba and to search for Shikamaru.
"Shino!" He yelled again. With a final effort, they linked arms again and made their way. Like a slinky, they stretched out and stumbled and collided with each other again and again but were extra careful not to be separated.
They'd started chanting Kiba's name, because while he couldn't see him, he could hopefully hear them. Shikamaru's heart was pounding rapidly, but it all he could do was focus on Shino in front of him and Ino behind him.
After what seemed like ages, Shino made a leap forward that had the rest of them tumbling after him, and they'd finally reached Kiba, forming a circle around him while Shino kept an arm around his shoulders to support him.
Kami did he smell. Of sweat and grease and urine. He had his hands cupped around his tearing eyes, which he kept opening a sliver before wincing and shutting tightly again.
"You guys," he gasped. Shikamaru gravely noted his cracked lips and pale cheeks that made his tattoos stand out starkly.
"Y-you guys," he said again.
Hinata pulled him into a hug and nodded at Shino. "Get us out of here."
With Kiba between the two girls, dragging his feet and keeping his eyes closed they started their way to the side, away from the colliding crowd and prisoners. Shikamaru repeated to himself that it was almost over. They'd retrieved Kiba and would soon be free.
They closer to the edge now, the crowd thinning slightly, but were almost separated again when he felt Ino's arm being ripped from his.
"Shino!" He yelled and the boy quickly stopped and turned so they wouldn't lose hold of each other. The hastened to stick close to Ino, Shikamaru's shins against her back as she kneeled down by Kiba, who was barely holding himself up on his hands and knees.
Hinata had her hands glowing with green chakra as the Ino was urgently speaking to him. "Kiba! Are you ill? Look at me, what's wrong?"
Kiba's face was grey and sweaty. His lips lazily formed words in response. "Jus' hunger, I think. And thirst…I'm dizzy."
Shikamaru anxiously looked to Choji, but his friend had already shoved his water canteen to Hinata so she could help Kiba drink slowly. He pulled out a small bento with rice balls, his hands shaking as he passed those also to the dark-haired girl.
When Choji met his eyes, Shikamaru saw his own worry and anxiety reflected back. Swallowing, he tugged his arm from Shino's.
"Choji, can you carry him? Take my place and follow Shino. I'll get the rear."
They settled into the new formation and staggered their way to the dusty streets of the civilian sector and out to the cleaner section of the mid-town, before eventually, somberly making their way to the ninja sector.
When they arrived at Kiba's clan's compound, it was growing dark and there were few people on the streets, curfew approaching. Kiba insisted on walking through the gates and to his home on his own. Akamaru, who appeared to have been waiting at the entrance gave a few yips and whines and rushed Kiba.
The brown-haired boy fell to his knees and buried his face in the dog's fur, shoulders slightly trembling.
Two guards were stationed just inside, one of them muttering useless runt and turning away disrespectfully. Shino and Ino both looked ready to confront the man, Shikamaru, Hinata, and Choji ready to follow, but Kiba stood and put shaky hands on their arms, shaking his head.
The other guard cautiously neared them, eyes wide. "Kiba-kun…you-you've been gone nine days. Akamaru refused to leave the gates after your teammates dropped him off. What happened?"
Hinata, slight anger coloring her tone, turned her unsettling eyes on the man. "The other guards didn't tell you?"
"They said they didn't know."
Kiba interrupted. "It's okay, Hideo-san. Is…is my mom home?"
The man's large eyes turned pitying. "I don't believe so, no."
Kiba's shoulder's almost imperceptibly sagged. He turned to them, keeping one hand resting on Akamaru's head. "It's almost curfew. You guys can spend the night if you want. We can send one of the messenger dogs to let your clans know."
Shikamaru thought everyone could hear the unstated please stay. He nodded. "Sure. I'll stay, Kiba. Your dogs won't get caught?"
Gratitude seeping into his gaze, Kiba shook his head.
Three hours later, with their four friends asleep in Kiba's house's main room, Shikamaru rolled on his side to see Kiba staring at the ceiling.
"You're not asleep." He stated.
Kiba patted his stomach before letting his arm fall to the floor with a quiet thump. "I think I ate too much. Its uncomfortable."
"Why didn't you tell Hideo-san the truth of where you've been?"
"I…well. I don't know." Kiba rolled his head to face Shikamaru. "I don't want to seem weak, I guess."
Shikamaru hesitated. "The other guard…he called you—"
"—A runt. Yes. For as modern and civilized as we are, the Inuzuka still hold to ancient traditions. Or instincts, I suppose. My mom, my sister, they're natural alphas, leaders. Bold and unyielding. I've always been a runt, a coward. I used to joke too much and never take anything seriously, and when it came down to it to prove myself, I didn't stand up and fight. With Hana gone, I'm what's left for heir. But the rest of the clan believe that when Mom quits her rule, another family should contest to put a pack leader forward."
Shikamaru let that sink in, mulling over Kiba's words. "But you don't have to be bold and unyielding to be a good leader."
Kiba sighed and tugged a curled up Akamaru closer. "I know. But it doesn't matter if I'm not what they want."
A knock on the door late in the night woke Itachi. Hearing his mother's purposely loud footsteps as she ambled her way to the front of the house urged him to rise from his bed and follow her. He slipped his cold feet into his sandals and grabbed his tanto before making his way.
Mikoto hadn't bothered to turn on any lights or light any candles, choosing to simply stand in the dark doorway and glare at the Root-nin and sheepish Uchiha guard on their porch.
"Hokage-sama is requesting all council members and clan heads to report to the Hokage Tower in a half hour, Uchiha-sama."
His mother gracefully inclined her head. "It is late, Shinobi-san, my son and I were both well asleep. Can you give us any information on what this emergency meeting is about?"
The Root-nin subtly shifted her feet and tilted her head in contemplation. "I do not know exactly what has happened, but if you step outside you might be able to smell it on the wind."
With that, the white armor of the ninja rippled as she shunshined away. Itachi frowned but followed after Mikoto into the cool night air. Immediately, he could smell it. Smoke. Not the burning of a forest, but more like a chemical burning. He lept to the roof, looking into the dark horizon behind their house, and his eyes widened as he saw the fire in the distance from one of the civilian districts. It wasn't an attack; the alarms would be ringing, and shinobi would be leaping from roof to roof preparing for battle.
When he landed back on the ground, Mikoto turned to face away from him, her face carefully blank. Itachi gave his mother a pointed hum, but she ignored him. They quietly went back inside to change into proper clothing to meet with the Hokage and council.
Itachi kept his facial expression still as he listened to the head civilian representative argue with the Hokage's advisors. The man was red in the face and almost spitting, but he had to give him credit in his lack of fear in the presence of so many ninja.
"I had nothing to do with it!" He yelled, swinging his arm out. "I know better than to mess with you power-hungry lot. But I can't say I blame them, either. There's no food in the markets nor on the shelves in the stores. There's no coats or boots in the shops. Winter will be here soon, and they have nothing, especially in the poorer districts. Blowing up the weapons factory, they at least got your attention."
Utatane Koharu frowned from her spot at the large table. "With Hokage-sama's new regime, the disparities in pay ranges were shrunk. They should be able to be well prepared for winter. This seems like an unnecessary and violent action to protest."
"What good does better pay do when there is nothing for them to spend it on?!"
Mitokado Homura narrowed his eyes at the man. "If this has been a growing issue for so long, why didn't they go to their district's local ninja office, or log a formal complaint with you or the other civilian representatives? We should have been notified of this long before it came to this."
The man slammed his fist on the table. "Approach a ninja?! Look at that one!" Itachi felt a brief flash of surprise as a large finger pointed at him. "He can't be barely over eighteen and he looks like he'd flay me in my sleep just for being within a six-foot radius of him!
"As for coming to their district representative or myself, they don't trust us! We have loaves of bread delivered to our houses twice a week by none other than a member of the Akimichi clan. Shotaro-san's pregnant wife is seen to twice a month by a Hyuga nurse. We are very obviously wrapped around you ninjas' fingers!"
Danzo's low voice was heard for the first time during the meeting. "You can always refuse our services, Akihiro-san."
"And let my family fall into the same horrid cesspit that so many others have? I'm selfish enough to say no to that, Hokage-sama. But this is what is going to happen if you can't provide for your population and you obviously play favorites. And those useless monthly meetings where we give our observation reports? By Kami, do the chuunin lose their notes before they make it to the advisors' desks?"
The Hokage hummed. "Asuma, tomorrow you will start writing a draft on how to better provide for our people."
The jounin's right eye gave a violent twitch, but he just bowed his head briefly. Akihiro-san, however, was very against this. The man's face was now nearly purple.
"In all respect, Hokage-sama, this isn't a military matter. We don't need a clan head forming the plan. As district representatives we've been educated well enough and can best draft something to find a solution to the mess you've made."
The room fell silent. Danzo's cold killing intent was directed on the head representative, making the man rapidly pale and start sweating. Next to him, Itachi felt his mother straighten in her seat.
"Hokage-sama, it seems we can compromise and allow the district representatives to draft a plan while Asuma-san reviews it? I think we should move on to what to do with the civilians who used the explosives on the factory."
Aburame Shibi spoke next. "I do not suggest killing them, Hokage-sama. That would only make them martyrs."
"Well, they must at least be interrogated," Koharu sniffed. "In case they are part of a larger organization and not just young wannabe revolutionaries."
Danzo waived his hand. "They will be interrogated. And, just as dissenters from the last revolutionary attempt were treated, they will be rehabilitated and potentially sent to the Root training camp."
The Hokage stood from his chair at the end of the table, intent on dismissing the meeting. But Akihiro seemed to have gathered his foolish courage again. He glared at the table, refusing to look up.
"The last revolutionary attempt was started by your own ninja forces, Hokage-sama. If this one is the start of the second, and by civilians no less, who have no hope of winning against ninja, that must tell you that something is direly wrong?"
Danzo was silent for a long moment. Itachi watched him as he stood so still, he seemed made more of metal than flesh and bone. The man blinked his creased eyes slowly before replying.
"We are preparing for a war on a scale no civilian could ever fathom, Akihiro-san. You should be grateful we care to try to protect our civilians and fight back at all. A civilian revolution is the least of our concerns."
