Chapter 5: Meeting With the Kazekage

Disclaimer: These characters are not mine.

###

The small but evidently quite forceful Nara Yoshino had prevailed. They would bring Neji to the Kazekage's office.

"All right, we're going to the Kazekage," the older Nara said, as if it had been his idea all along and he had made his wife go along with it instead of the other way around. Casting a look at his son and Neji, he said, "Why don't you get washed and dressed, and we'll head over there."

Neji was glad that somebody recognized the importance of dressing appropriately. It grated on him that he had had to meet with Shikamaru's father and the other men in his pajamas. It didn't seem to bother Nara Shikamaru, who was apparently a total slob – he hadn't even bothered to put on shoes or brush his hair.

"I would appreciate some more decent clothing than this," he snapped at the younger Nara, who was engrossed in staring out the window at something in the sky.

"Huh? Oh, okay…what do you usually wear?"

"Normal Hyuuga robes," Neji said with some irritation.

Nara Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "Yeah, like I know what that is. Is it like what the Sabaku wear?"

Neji tried to keep his temper in check. He had never even heard of the Sabaku clan, but the Hyuugas had worn the same thing for generations. Surely someone here had seen a picture, or had actually been to the North Country. But what could he expect from these vile, barbaric people, who bought and sold human beings.

"How about I just show you what I have," Nara Shikamaru said in a humoring tone of voice, "and you can pick out what you like."

Inwardly fuming, Neji followed Nara-san down the hall. He knew that his insistence on wearing proper clothes might seem fussy and possibly unmanly. But he was trying, not all that successfully, to tamp down his growing feeling of dread. Kabuto was at the Kazekage's office, and he could only imagine what awaited him at Orochimaru's hands for the killing of Kidoumaru. He would fight to the death before he let that happen. He was prepared to do that; if that was his fate, so be it.

But he was damned if he was going to show up for his final battle on earth wearing an old pair of Nara Shikamaru's pajamas.

They crossed a small courtyard. In daylight, Neji could see that it was not that different from the layout of the Hyuuga complex, although of course the Hyuuga complex was far greater and finer. There was the large central building where he had been detained last night, which presumably housed the fighting forces and training areas. Connected to this, like spokes from the hub of a wheel, were a number of smaller round buildings that he assumed were the homes of clan members. Shikamaru led him to one of these; Neji recognized it as the Nara home he had been in last night. The sun was already high in the sky, making it quite hot outside, but the interior of the house felt surprisingly cool.

Nara Shikamaru's bedroom was untidy, but not the complete pigsty Neji was expecting. There was a large (unmade) bed against one wall, a small pile of clothes carelessly tossed in a corner, and books and papers strewn over nearly every available surface, including one side of the bed. A table held a shogi board with a game in progress. A sliding door led out to a small porch with a bench where the cat he had seen was sunning itself. On the other wall, a couple of other half-open doors revealed a bathroom and a smaller room with a map table, bookcases, and several boxes of scrolls and papers. Light poured in from the windows, and a warm breeze wafted through the open door. Nara-san's furniture was simple and plain, made from a light-colored wood; not that different from Neji's own, except that Neji's was dark wood.

As Nara-san rummaged through the bureau drawers for clothes, Neji's attention was caught by a brush-painting on the wall. It depicted two deer, their heads raised, in shades of red and brown. Running down the side in fine calligraphy was a haiku:

Clouds in late August

invigorated by the rain

the voice of the deer

"The deer are our family's symbol," Nara-san said, noticing what Neji was looking at. "We keep a herd of them on our lands up the mountain."

"Whatever," Neji muttered. They could keep a herd of giant centipedes for all he cared. He had more pressing matters on his mind. He turned his attention to the assortment of clothes Nara-san had laid on the bed. The pants seemed acceptable, though somewhat more snug than he was used to.

"Don't you have anything more – loose-fitting – than this?"

Nara-san waved a hand toward his closet. "I have a couple of kimonos…but we usually don't put those on unless it's a formal occasion."

Neji would not have minded a simple cotton kimono, but the ones Nara-san was indicating were definitely formal – heavy black silk with the Nara crest prominently displayed. Neji might have left his clan, but he would not wear the symbol of some other clan.

He picked up a longish pair of black pants and turned his attention to the shirts. Mesh…sleeveless…sleeveless mesh…"This is what you wear to meet the Kazekage?"

Nara Shikamaru rubbed his head. "Oh, right... I usually have my uniform on over that." He slid his closet door all the way open. "Here, help yourself to whatever you like."

Neji searched for several minutes, and finally found a white shirt with a high collar that was suitably modest. At least he had the correct Hyuuga colors of white and black. The corners of Nara-san's mouth twitched upon seeing it, but he said nothing.

"You can bathe first," Nara-san told him, gesturing at the bathroom. "There are clean towels in there." Neji was a little surprised he was being allowed to bathe in Shikamaru's own personal bathroom. Maybe they were more casual about such things in the South Country. Or maybe Nara-san just wanted to keep an eye on him, like Ibiki the night before. Unlike Ibiki, however, he allowed Neji to close the door and bathe in private.

When he was done, and finally looking somewhat presentable, Neji was escorted to the courtyard and left with the two guards there, Kotetsu and another one with longish black bangs covering one eye, while Shikamaru got dressed.

"Hey," Kotetsu said with a grin, "is it true you can see through women's clothes with those eyes?"

"Shut up, Kotetsu," the other one said, but he was laughing as well. Neji didn't know which was worse, their crudeness or their stupidity. He would have liked to show them by challenging them both to fight him, but he knew he had to save his strength for the coming confrontation with Kabuto. He settled for giving them the most contemptuous look possible.

"I can see through your clothes," he told Kotetsu, "and what I see is not impressive."

"Hey!" Kotetsu exclaimed indignantly, while the other one gave a hoot of laughter. Kotetsu pulled a kunai from his pouch and twirled it around his finger in a menacing way. Neji could tell from his relaxed posture, however, that he didn't mean anything by it; this was sport to him.

He turned to the other one. "And you – I can see you have some North Country blood." This was purely a guess, based on the paler skin and straight dark hair, but he could tell from their sudden uneasiness that he had guessed right.

"His grandmother's from the North, so what?" Kotetsu said, looking annoyed. "Izumo was born here in the South, and he's a South Country soldier like all of us. That war was over a long time ago." Neji noticed that he held the kunai in a more businesslike fashion now, and moved closer to Izumo. Izumo for his part just stared at Neji with his eyes narrowed, as if wondering whether Neji really could see into his bloodlines, or was just going by looks.

"She came here from the North," Izumo said, "but she never left."

Now it was Neji who felt uneasy. "I will leave," he vowed.

"Ah, there you are," the voice of the older Nara sounded. "And where is my lazy son?"

"Getting dressed," Kotetsu said, his grin returning. Both guards seemed to relax in the presence of Nara-san the elder. Kotetsu returned the kunai to his weapons pouch.

"Well, he better hurry it up. Don't want to keep Lady Tsunade waiting – she's not the most patient person in the world."

"I'm here, Dad," they heard Shikamaru call. A few minutes later he too walked outside. Neji was glad to see that he looked much more official now; he had changed into his uniform of a heavy green vest with the Suna insignia. He had also combed his hair and tied it up into the spiky ponytail.

"Listen," the older Nara said, turning to Neji. "We're no fans of Orochimaru and the slave trade. We may be able to offer you sanctuary. But you have to keep quiet in there and let me deal with the Kazekage."

Behind his father's back Nara Shikamaru muttered, "Good luck with that."

"I can keep quiet," Neji said, glaring at him.

"We don't want a war between Suna and Sound."

The raid on Konoha by the Cloud Village flashed into Neji's mind. They had kidnapped Hinata, and in the rescue one of them had been killed. They had denied the kidnapping, insisting on taking a life in return. And the clan and the Hokage had gone along with this. To keep the peace, they had given them…

…his father.

Now he was no doubt supposed to be the sacrificial lamb, Neji thought bitterly. Was it destiny, his father's fate carrying down to him?

"All right then," Nara-san the elder said, interrupting his thoughts. "Come on."

The Kazekage's office was in a tall tower carved from the same reddish stone he had seen in other parts of the South Country. Lines of small round windows adorned the sides like rows of rivets. It felt imposing and somewhat claustrophobic to Neji, so unlike the open, airy office of Konoha's Hokage, Sarutobi-sama.

In the outer room a tan young man with a scar across his nose sat doing paperwork at a desk. He was wearing the same type of vest as Nara Shikamaru, and his hair was tied up in the spiky ponytail apparently favored by South Country men. He rose and bowed to them as they came in. The two Naras returned the bow; Neji heard the younger Nara call him, "Iruka-sensei."

Iruka looked at Neji, then back to Nara Shikaku, with a little frown. "Is that -?"

"This is the one they're looking for," Shikaku confirmed.

Iruka's frown deepened. "I didn't realize he was so young."

"I am of age," Neji said coldly.

Shikaku gave him a warning look. "Why don't I go in and see her first, and you two –" he looked at Neji and Shikamaru "– wait outside."

"You know Kabuto is in there right now," Iruka said.

The two Naras exchanged glances. Then Shikaku followed Iruka into the Kazekage's office and shut the door, leaving Neji and Shikamaru to wait in the outer office.

Neji hated this, waiting, not knowing what was being said. He was not afraid of Kabuto. If only his ribs did not hurt so much. It was hard to even draw a deep breath. He looked over at Nara Shikamaru, who was sitting with his eyes closed, his fingertips pressed together in a circle. Neji had no idea what the hell he was doing – daydreaming? napping?

He had agreed to keep quiet, but that meant nothing. He would speak up if he felt it necessary. He did not trust these men at all.

###

The Hyuuga had agreed to keep quiet, but Shikamaru did not trust that at all, not after the way he had carried on all morning. He truly was one of the most annoying human beings Shikamaru had ever encountered.

He was thankful that Orochimaru was not here, but the fact that it was Kabuto was a double-edged sword. On the one hand, Kabuto was relatively calm and civilized compared to the rest of Orochimaru's thuggish clan. On the other hand, he had a keen and ruthless intellect that made him a formidable opponent, and he was a master at manipulation.

Shikamaru sighed. He glanced over at Hyuuga-san, who was sitting with his arm pressed to his side, as if in pain. He had to admit the Hyuuga cleaned up nicely, even if he was wearing that weird shirt Shikamaru's grandmother had given him that looked like a straitjacket. He had also asked for a hair tie, which was understandable - all that hair had to be heavy and hot. But instead of pulling it up off his shoulders, he had just tied it down near the ends.

The door opened and Iruka motioned them in. As they got to their feet, Shikamaru said in a low voice, "Remember, let us do the talking."

The Hyuuga muttered something in return. Shikamaru didn't quite catch it, but it didn't sound very nice.

"And remember," he whispered, "bow to the Kazekage. And don't stare at her boobs." Hyuuga-san looked at him in open-mouthed disgust. But as Shikamaru had hoped, the crude remark unsettled and distracted him enough to keep him from reacting violently when he saw Kabuto. Instead, he bowed obediently, then spent the next several seconds trying to look everywhere but at the Kazekage's ample chest.

"Gentlemen," Tsunade-sama said. "Please sit down." But the Hyuuga had seen Kabuto. They locked eyes, the hostility between them almost palpable. Shikamaru tensed, ready. Hyuuga-san, surprisingly, however, managed to restrain himself, and simply took a seat.

Lady Tsunade leaned her chin on her folded hands, regarding the Hyuuga for a long minute. "So…according to what I've been hearing, this young man here is either a dangerous murderer wanted by Otogakure, or a refugee from the slave trade seeking sanctuary."

"Refugee from the slave trade?" Kabuto said, as if that was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. "Please. He left his village and came to us."

Instantly, the Hyuuga was on his feet. "You drugged me!"

Tsunade held up a hand. "Came to you for what purpose?"

"Fame…fortune…power…Lord Orochimaru's reputation is very great," Kabuto said, still with the scornful note in his voice. "He wanted to learn to be a warrior."

"I am a warrior," the Hyuuga said, and there was something different in his voice now, something as hard and cold as iron. Shikamaru scrunched down a bit in his seat, and even Kabuto noticed; Shikamaru could see it in his eyes.

"It's pretty clear he's a warrior," Shikaku said. "Otherwise, how was he able to attack Kidoumaru right under your noses, and get away?"

Both Kabuto and Hyuuga-san started to speak and then stopped, watching each other like hawks. It was like a high-stakes game of shogi, Shikamaru thought.

"You'd think," his father continued, "that one of you would have killed him in retaliation. Unless, of course, you needed to keep him alive because you were hoping to sell him."

Shikamaru snuck a glance at Hyuuga-san to see how he was taking this. Thankfully, he was just standing there with his arms crossed and that superior, aloof look on his face.

"It is not illegal to buy and sell slaves in Otokagure," Kabuto said. "But in this instance, of course he would have been imprisoned and tried -"

A cold chill ran down Shikamaru's spine. He was very glad that Hyuuga-san was still keeping his cool; perhaps he didn't realize that imprisoned and tried were euphemisms for something far worse. There were all kinds of rumors – some said that Orochimaru kept a stable of slaves to impress visiting big shots, others that he and Kabuto used the captives to perform bizarre medical experiments.

"- unfortunately," Kabuto said, "we did not discover the body until he had already gotten away."

Shikamaru sat up straighter. "So no one actually saw him kill Kidoumaru?"

"No," Kabuto said. "He lured Kidoumaru out into the woods –"

There was an angry intake of breath from the Hyuuga, but to Shikamaru's relief nothing more. He had to confess he didn't really want to know what had gone down in the woods before Hyuuga-san killed Kidoumaru. Or rather, he didn't want to hear the details, because he already had a pretty good idea.

"So wait a minute," Tsunade broke in. "Did this alleged attack take place within the borders of Otogakure, or not?"

"Yes," Kabuto said.

"No," Hyuuga-san said.

"Shut up, please," Shikamaru hissed at him from the corner of his mouth.

Tsunade continued to direct her questions to Kabuto. "How and when did you discover the body?"

"We think it happened late at night. I wasn't there, but some other members of Lord Orochimaru's family noticed the next day that Kidoumaru and – this White-Eyes – were missing. They went out to search, and found Kidoumaru's body." Kabuto spoke dispassionately, not bothering to feign any grief, Shikamaru noticed. He had long suspected that Kabuto resented Orochimaru's biological children and wanted to be the favorite son.

"Did you find the murder weapon at the scene?"

"No," Kabuto said, "there was no weapon."

Interesting, Shikamaru thought. So Kabuto had not told the Kazekage the details of Kidoumaru's death. Perhaps things were not so black and white as they had first appeared.

"I assume you performed the autopsy?" Tsunade said. Of course, Shikarmaru recalled, Kabuto was a doctor. "Please describe what you found."

"He had noticeable signs of having been in a fight," Kabuto said. "There was a bruise in the center of his chest, and trauma to his heart."

"That's not very conclusive," Shikaku put in. "Maybe he just had a heart attack."

"He was young and in excellent condition," Kabuto snapped. "Lord Orochimaru believes he died from a technique called the Gentle Fist, commonly used by the Hyuuga clan."

Tsunade turned her penetrating gaze on Hyuuga-san. "Is this true?" Hyuuga-san simply stood there, silent for once.

Kabuto pressed his point. "This Hyuuga has obviously been fighting with someone. And why did he flee if he was not guilty of murder?"

"He fled because you were holding him against his will," Shikamaru said.

"Again," Kabuto said, "he came to us. I have no idea why he turned on us, when Lord Orochimaru treated him so generously."

"That is a lie and you know it!" Hyuuga-san burst out furiously.

Tsunade was starting to look irritated, never a good sign. "Shikaku, how did the prisoner come into your custody?"

"My son and Ibiki found him in our stables while making night rounds."

Now was the time to make his move, Shikamaru thought. "Tsunade-sama, if you please…as slavery is illegal in Suna, and as the evidence against this prisoner is inconclusive, I say we should detain him here."

"On what grounds?" Kabuto demanded.

"On the grounds that he would be sold into slavery if we released him to you," Shikamaru said bluntly.

"I haven't said he will be sold into slavery. He will be tried for the cold-blooded murder of Lord Orochimaru's beloved son. This crime was committed in our village and by law he must be released to us."

"This alleged crime, which had no witnesses and no evidence."

"There is the evidence of Kidoumaru's dead body!"

"SILENCE!" Tsunade brought her fist down on the desk with such force that Shikamaru could feel it through the soles of his feet where he sat. "Shikaku, I assume you questioned the prisoner."

"Yes, Tsunade-sama," Shikaku said slowly.

"Well? And what did he tell you?"

Shikaku hesitated. Shikamaru knew this was a terrible dilemma for his father. Shikaku hated slavery in all its forms. But he was also deeply loyal to Suna and the Kazekage. To out-and-out lie to her face would be dishonorable and disrespectful. Not only that, it could cause bad blood between Suna and Sound, which could be very bad for the village.

It was the Hyuuga who spoke, in a clear, defiant voice. "I told them that I killed Kidoumaru, in self defense, because he drugged me and attacked me."

Nobody spoke for several seconds. All eyes in the room were regarding the Hyuuga with various degrees of shock.

"That should be reason enough to offer sanctuary," Shikamaru said. "As you can see, the prisoner has been attacked –"

"Lady Kazekage, this is absurd!" Kabuto broke in. "We have only his word that Kidoumaru attacked him, rather than the other way around. He has lied about everything else. Lord Orochimaru's clan can testify that they never saw Kidoumaru attack him. On the contrary, the Hyuuga seemed very – interested in Kidoumaru."

Shikamaru shot a glance at the Hyuuga, expecting an outburst at this. But Hyuuga-san was standing very still, his fists clenched and his face turned away.

Finally Tsunade spoke, sounding both saddened and relieved. "Hyuuga-san, it appears that it is your word against a dead man's as to who attacked who. You have admitted killing him, and so, we have no choice but to give you into the custody of Otogakure to be sentenced. We cannot offer sanctuary to a murderer."

The Hyuuga shifted his stance, raising his arms and crouching slightly. Seeing this, the realization hit Shikamaru: He's preparing to fight…he doesn't intend to be taken alive.

Shikamaru had one more, last-chance, card to play. He had hoped fervently it would not come to that, but apparently it had.

"Excuse me, but what do you plan to do with him?"

"Lord Orochimaru will do as he sees fit," Kabuto said smoothly. "It's none of your business now."

"Let's just say that – hypothetically – you now have something valuable that you might be looking to sell?"

He could see everyone looking at him with puzzled frowns, wondering where he was going with this. The Naras had never kept slaves, even in the old days before it was outlawed in Suna. He could see in Kabuto's scornful eyes that the Sound nin knew this. "We are not selling –" Kabuto began impatiently.

Shikamaru cut in. "I didn't mean as a slave. Pets are kept in Suna, aren't they?" He made himself shrug casually, then said the words he had never imagined he would: "If you might be looking to sell, we might be looking to buy."

An incredulous and horrified, "What?" burst simultaneously from his father, Iruka, Tsunade and Hyuuga-san himself. Only Ibiki and Kabuto did not react.

Tsunade frowned. "Shikaku, you are a married man. You cannot take a Pet."

"Not my father," Shikamaru said. "I've taken a liking to him." Hyuuga-san was still standing next to him. Quickly, Shikamaru looped an arm around the Hyuuga's waist, pulling him onto his lap and gripping his arm tightly. Into Hyuuga-san's ear he whispered, "Play along; it's our only chance."

Hyuuga-san, who apparently could not follow directions, even when his life literally depended on it, leaped off Shikamaru's lap, snarling, "Get your hands off me!"

Shikamaru forced a grin, ignoring the astonished and appalled looks on the faces of everyone in the room. "He's a feisty one, eh?" For good measure, he reached out and slapped Hyuuga-san on the ass.

Like lightning, Hyuuga-san lunged at his throat and was stopped by the point of Ibiki's sword. His hair flying, he spun away, vaulted over a chair and headed for the door in one swift, agile move. Aoba, Tsunade's guard, jumped to block his path.

Shikamaru hastily stood up. "Let me. I can control him." Aoba looked to the Kazekage. She gave Shikamaru a penetrating look, then nodded. Aoba slid the door open and Hyuuga-san stormed out, through Iruka's office and out into the hallway beyond, with Shikamaru following slowly.

In the hallway, Hyuuga-san whirled to face him, eyes blazing. "You can control me?" His voice was shaking.

Shikamaru held up his hands placatingly. "I –"

Hyuuga-san spun again and slammed his open palm against the wall. The wall crumbled and fell away in that spot, with cracks spreading out in all directions as if it had been hit by a cannonball.

Shikamaru's mouth fell open, and he took a few steps back in alarm. "Did you just…break the wall with your hand?"

Hyuuga-san glared at him, his hand still raised in warning.

"Is that how you killed Kidoumaru?"

"Yes," Hyuuga-san said, sounding only slightly out of breath, "and I will kill you that way too if you ever touch me again."

Shikamaru backed up until he was against the far wall. Cautiously, he lowered himself to sit on the floor. He patted a spot near him. "Please sit down. I want to talk to you without being overheard."

"Go to hell," Hyuuga-san told him. "I would rather be put to death than be your personal slave!" He turned and started for the stairs at a fast pace.

"There are guards downstairs," Shikamaru called to him. "And Orochimaru has people all around. I'm sure Kabuto didn't come alone."

"I am not afraid of Orochimaru!"

"Isn't that what got you into this mess in the first place?"

The Hyuuga stopped in his tracks, glaring at Shikamaru wordlessly.

Shikamaru leaned forward to speak quietly, keeping his hands in his lap. "Look, I apologize for touching you. It was necessary to convince them that we were serious about paying the Pet price. Otherwise they would have taken you back as a prisoner –" At a sound from the office he broke off, glancing warily at the door. Lowering his voice further, he went on. "I don't intend to actually make you a Pet."

After a moment, Hyuuga-san approached and sat, still glaring at him distrustfully. He kept his distance, sitting far enough away to be out of Shikamaru's reach.

"I don't think they want to put you to death," Shikamaru said. "You are too valuable to them for that. I'm pretty sure they have other plans."

Hyuuga-san gave a tiny shudder at that. He was still frowning, but he was sitting very still and listening.

"Orochimaru doesn't really care about avenging his son. He doesn't have a lot of family loyalty, he's from–" Shikamaru abruptly stopped himself. He had been about to say, he's from the North Country. Hyuuga-san gave him a withering look, as if he knew exactly what Shikamaru had been thinking. "—um, he's – cold-blooded."

"Shikamaru." The door from Iruka's office and Shikaku stepped out. Shikamaru straightened up and looked urgently into his father's eyes, trying to communicate in the little time they had.

Please, Dad, understand. Please, trust me on this.

###

Neji watched the silent interplay between father and son as the two Naras stared at each other. Shikamaru seemed to be willing his father to understand whatever it was he was planning to do. Shikaku for his part just looked relieved to find them both there in the hallway.

"Glad to see you didn't do something stupid like running away, or killing each other," he said gruffly. Looking at his son, he said, "Well, let's hear it."

Shikamaru leaned forward eagerly. He wants his father's approval, Neji thought. But he is not afraid of his father.

"They're not going to put him to death," the younger Nara said. "I'm pretty sure their intent is to sell him as a Pet."

"Maybe," the older Nara said, in a tone that suggested they wouldn't really want to hear what the alternatives would be. "But you're right, they wouldn't kill him. He's worth too much."

"So I am considered Orochimaru's property?" Neji could feel the rage building inside him, could hear it in his voice. He told himself to calm down and think rationally. He would never escape from this cursed country if he let his emotions get the best of him.

"Not automatically," Shikamaru said. "Under ordinary circumstances, if you were just a fugitive from Orochimaru, our clans could've helped you. But once you killed Orochimaru's son, things got complicated –"

"It was self-defense!"

"I believe you. But it isn't up to me. The Kazekage has made her ruling, and she won't change her mind now. Our best bet," he said, looking at his father, "is to make them an offer. If it's money they want, we give them the Pet price, and then let him go free."

"Give them the Pet price?" Shikaku said, sounding incredulous. "Do you have any idea how much money you're talking about? We don't have that kind of money lying around! Not that your mother would let me use it for that if we did," he added under his breath.

"I have money," Shikamaru said quietly. "I have my savings, and the birthday money in trust for when I come of age."

"That's another thing. If you plan to take him as a Pet, you can't legally set him free until you're of age."

"I don't plan to actually take him as a Pet," Shikamaru said, as if that should be obvious.

"I thought you were saving that money to travel the world."

Shikamaru shrugged. "The world will still be there."

The two Nara men, father and son, gazed at each other in silence for a long moment. Neji could see that Nara Shikaku was still wondering if this would work. But he also saw pride on Shikaku's scarred visage, and trust in his son. It sent a sharp pang through Neji's heart. He closed his eyes, suddenly hating them both.

"I want to know something," he said sharply, turning to Nara Shikamaru. "Why are you doing this? You don't know me, you don't owe me anything, you don't even like me! Why would you do this for an enemy?"

Shikamaru was silent a moment. "It's true," he said slowly, "I don't like you. You're a pain in the ass, you think you're better than everyone and everything around you, and you'd probably take my life in a heartbeat to gain your freedom. But what I like doesn't matter, only what I believe. If I believe slavery is wrong, I can't just stand by while someone is taken from my home to be enslaved – no matter how annoying he is. I can't say, yeah, it's wrong, but only for the people I like. I'd be a hypocrite and a coward."

"Hn," Neji said skeptically.

Nara Shikamaru looked at him appraisingly. "Okay…back in there, why did you tell the truth about killing Kidoumaru?"

Neji was saved from answering by the appearance of Iruka. "The Kazekage would like all of you to return to the office," he said to Shikaku, before regarding Neji and Shikamaru with a worried frown.

He is kind-hearted, Neji thought. It was good to know there was a possible weak link if things did not go well in the office.

They filed back in and took a seat under the Kazekage's concentrated gaze. Neji deliberately avoided looking at Kabuto, not because he feared the slimy Sound nin, but because he had decided not to give him the respect of acknowledging his existence.

The Kazekage gestured toward Kabuto, in essence forcing Neji to look at him anyway. He couldn't tell what lay behind those hooded eyes.

"I will convey your proposal to Lord Orochimaru for consideration," Kabuto said. "Naturally, he is devastated at the loss of his son. Fortunately," he added, with a sly glance at Ibiki, "he has his beloved wife to comfort him."

Neji could see Ibiki clench his jaw in rage, his eyes turning murderous. So that was why Ibiki disliked Orochimaru. He filed that knowledge away for future reference. Was Anko a relative? Or did Ibiki have feelings for Orochimaru's young wife?

"As you may know, gentlemen," Tsunade said, "tonight is the quarterly business meeting and banquet for the heads of Suna and its neighboring towns. I know that Sound – " she addressed Kabuto, "—doesn't normally attend."

"You've made it clear we weren't welcome," Kabuto said pointedly.

Tsunade ignored that. "Nevertheless, I think you should be there tonight. We will put this matter on the agenda and settle it."

Kabuto appeared to be thinking it over. Finally he gave a slow nod.

"If there is nothing further, I will see you tonight at eight," the Kazekage said with finality. They all rose and bowed. Shikaku made a motion to Shikamaru and Neji to wait until Kabuto had gone.

Kabuto noticed it too. "Nara-sans," he said with ironic courtesy. "I'll expect to see you both tonight." With a malicious smile he added, "With your Pet, of course."

When Kabuto had gone, Shikamaru turned to his father. "What the hell? I never go to these troublesome business meetings. And why would he say…oh, crap…"

"Yes," his father said grimly. "He means we have to go in there tonight, in front of everyone, with a Pet."

"Why…what's the point…?" Shikamaru seemed to be trying to figure it out. "Is he just playing mind games with us?"

"That, and he wants to force our hand. If the Naras, who have never kept Pets, show up with one, everyone will notice and remember. It won't be so easy to back out."

"He means to dishonor you," Neji said. "You and your whole clan."

The Kazekage leaned her head in her hand, looking suddenly weary. "Shikaku, I hope you know what you're doing."

"I hope so too," Shikaku muttered as Iruka ushered them to the door. Out in the hallway, they stood looking at each other. Neji felt like a bird being carried on a powerful tailwind, unable to reverse direction. From the stunned looks on the faces of the Naras, he suspected they felt the same way.

"I don't want to do it," Nara Shikamaru said.

"I don't either," his father said.

"I refuse to do it," Neji said.

Nara Shikamaru looked at him. "What's your alternative?" There was a slight edge of desperation to his voice that made Neji understand Nara-san was not challenging or mocking him. He really wanted to hear a better idea if Neji had one.

Neji did not.

"Well," Nara Shikaku said, breaking the silence, "so we go in there and play the part. Think of this as an undercover mission. We will be acting the part of a clan who keeps Pets, and you," he said to Neji, "will act the part of a Pet. Understood?"

Neither one of them spoke. Nara Shikaku gave a heavy sigh.

"I just want to know how we're going to explain this to your mother."

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A.N.: Thanks once again to all my wonderful reviewers! And if you haven't reviewed yet, don't be shy; drop a line or two to let me know what you think!