A.N.: Yes, I am finally updating, and thank you so much for your patience and encouragement! I truly apologize for the long wait. I didn't forget about this story: I just had some major life changes to deal with, but all is good, and I hope to finish it at a much faster pace.

###

TWO SWORDS

The clouds overhead hung motionless as if time had stopped above the earth.

The cloud of smoke in front of Shikamaru's face dissipated, then formed again as he exhaled. He took a deep drag on the cigarette he held, the scent of it reminding him of Asuma-sensei, and for a moment a sharp picture of Asuma's face formed in his mind, not Asuma as he had last seen him, but Asuma as he looked when readying them to lead a mission.

"Dinner's ready," his mother said, her voice unusually gentle.

"I'm not hungry, thanks."

He laid out the shogi tiles on the board in front of him, hearing the clack as he slipped them into place and seeing the pattern without really registering any of it.

Just four days ago, it had been blazingly hot in Suna, not a cloud in the sky, as they readied for the mission.

Just four days before…

###

In Konoha, four days before, it had been unseasonably chilly, a strange rain falling that was not like the usual summer showers, but like a rain of pine needles that wanted to pierce your skin. Despite the cold, Neji awoke in a sweat. He had been dreaming again. That happened too often these days.

Sometimes his dream was of Kidoumaru, rough hands on him, that sneering smirk, and he would wake up feeling as if he was trapped in a fire, his heart racing, and no matter how much he told himself that Kidoumaru was dead, dead, he had taken his revenge, he was right back in it, with Kidoumaru's hot breath against his neck, his iron grip on Neji's hair…

Other nights, like this one, he dreamed of Shikamaru. Sometimes he was kissing Shikamaru again, or lying on the bed next to him, talking under the shooting stars. Sometimes they were training together, or heading out on a mission, sometimes on horseback; although, in the hazy moments of waking from the dream, it seemed that they had somehow both been riding Shadow.

He didn't know which of the dreams was worse. Which pain cut deeper – remembering what you could never run away from, or what you could never go back to?

###

Shikamaru moved a shogi tile into place. He remembered the last game he had had with Asuma.

"You're like the knight," Asuma had said. "You're not the strongest fighter, but you have a different way of getting around a situation."

"Who's the king? The Kazekage, I suppose?"

"No. I thought that once, but she's clearly the queen – the most powerful piece."

It was true; the queen was the most powerful piece, able to move in all directions. But the king was the most precious piece, the one they were all working to defend. "Then who…?"

Asuma looked up from the board with a little smile. "You'll know when the time comes."

"Ok, who are you then?"

"Me? I'm nobody. I'm –" Asuma moved a tile forward, which was promptly captured by Shikamaru.

"A sacrificial piece?"

###

Neji got up and went to splash water on his face, trying to shake the memory of the dream off. Although it was very early, with the first slivers of dawn just beginning to break through, and the rain was falling, he decided to go for a run. He had never minded training in the rain, but it was strange, after so many months in the hot, dry, wide-open expanses of Suna, to be back in this dimly shaded green landscape, running on muddy dirt trails through the damp, dripping woods. His leg wound, still healing, sent a jab of pain through him with every slap of his sandal against the trail, but he ignored it and went on. He did not mind the pain; indeed, he almost relished it. Although he still cringed when he recalled the humiliation of that day, he had no regrets. The pain was a reminder that his bond with Shikamaru still existed.

Thinking of Shikamaru brought his thoughts to the letter of treaty, still in its place inside his vest. His uncle had told him to wait a bit, so that the clan could decide the best way to approach the Hokage with it. But Neji was growing impatient. If, as he believed, what he had felt was real, then Shikamaru had been injured. Had it been by the Akatsuki?

###

There were six cigarettes left in the pack. Shikamaru shook one out, found the silver lighter in his pocket and flicked it on. A curl of smoke rose from the end of the cigarette. He traced the engraved initials on the lighter with his fingertip: S. A. Asuma's initials.

He drew in a deep lungful of smoke, holding it there as long as he could, as if it were some last vestige of Asuma that he could hold onto, before all traces of Asuma's spirit departed this world for the next.

"I'll go out front. I'm more disposable."

Asuma shook his head. "No, Shikamaru. You're too valuable as a strategist. You stay in back. I'll take the lead and draw them out."

There was a chorus of protest from everyone – Shikamaru's teammates, plus Izumo and Kotetsu – at this. Asuma quieted them with a motion of his hand. "They're bounty hunters. I don't know if you know this, but there's a bounty on my head as well, from when I used to be one of the Kazekage's Royal Guards. That'll lure them out to us." He raised a sardonic eyebrow. "Sorry, but the rest of you just aren't important enough."

Shikamaru had replayed this scene in his mind a thousand times. It never got easier to think about. Asuma had been right. He was their target. The rest of them had not been important enough – or strong enough – to stop it from happening.

Chouji and Naruto had returned from their mission a week before. It had gone well; the villages they had visited were very willing to consider an alliance. With the death of the ruling clan of Otogakure, everyone was on edge. Was Akatsuki planning to move in to take over the destabilized village? Shikamaru had no idea. Doubtless his father and other high-ranking shinobi had the inside information, but Shikamaru was not let in on it. He was just thankful that his suspension was up, and he could go on missions again.

Asuma had said he had intel that the Akatsuki were still hanging out around the bounty station. They had split up into three teams of two, spreading out to make a net of sorts around the area. Shikamaru had thought it was doable. Asuma was still injured, his arm heavily bandaged, as was Shikamaru. But there were six of them to the two Akatsuki.

Shikamaru and Asuma had taken the western side. It was slow going. The bounty station was tucked away in a rocky, hilly area, surrounded by scrub trees and full of crags and crevices.

Asuma's radio crackled suddenly, and they heard Kotetsu's voice. "We see the big one - he's got Ino and Chouji!"

Asuma spoke quickly, keeping his voice low. "You two go in and help them. Shikamaru and I will circle around, see if we can take them by surprise. Any sign of the other one?"

"Negative."

They headed in the direction Kotetsu and Izumo had gone. Shikamaru's leg was throbbing, the pain shooting through him with every step. He would just have to power through it.

"Do you see them?" he whispered to Asuma.

They were on a flat, stony rise overlooking part of the bounty station, which appeared deserted. There was no movement, not even a desert rat or lizard skittering by.

"Kotetsu," Asuma said into the radio, "give us your exact location."

No answer.

"Kotetsu," Asuma repeated, more urgently, "are you there? Izumo, Ino, Chouji?"

Silence. Asuma's eyes met Shikamaru's. This wasn't good. Had they walked into a trap?

From behind them, a voice said, "Hey, you heathen motherfuckers."

###

When the sun was fully up, Neji had turned back. There was still a full day of training ahead. By now the fine misty rain had soaked through his clothes, and he wanted to get some hot tea, dry off and put a clean shirt on. Shaking the wetness from his hair and clothes, he stepped into the house and removed his sandals.

"Ah, Neji, there you are," his uncle's voice said. Neji made a small bow as Hiashi looked him up and down, seeming relieved to observe that Neji had been out running rather than riding Shadow. Hiashi felt animals were distasteful, and that humans should interact with them only when absolutely necessary. Riding for pleasure, or for the horse's benefit, was not something he would understand.

"Come with me," Hiashi said abruptly. Neji assumed they were going to the indoor training areas. He hesitated, feeling torn between wanting to learn whatever new move Hiashi had in mind to show him, and the knowledge that he had to leave soon to train with his team, and was still hoping for a hot cup of tea.

"I only have about twenty minutes –"

"It won't take long," Hiashi interrupted. "I have something I want to give you." Neji followed him, feeling somewhat mystified. There was nothing he needed, and it was not the Hyuuga custom to give gifts. Even at the New Year, except for very young children, only clothes and money were given. Hiashi passed by the arched entrance leading to his quarters, and instead, headed for the room that held the small shrine with Neji's father's picture.

"I know it's not your birthday yet," Hiashi said, "but I thought you should have this." He stepped closer to the shrine, reaching up to where Hizashi's sword hung on the wall. "You should have received it when you came of age."

Neji felt dumbstruck; it was the last thing he had been expecting. "I—"

Hiashi lifted the sword down from the wall, holding it in his hands for a moment before presenting it to Neji with a deep bow. "It is yours now. Use it well."

The sword felt surreal in Neji's hands. For a moment, it was as if the lines of time and distance blurred, and he was holding that other, identical Masamune sword. A spike of grief and guilt stabbed through him at the memory. He pushed it to the back of his mind. His father's sword deserved his full attention.

He gazed down at it, a mass of conflicting emotions fighting within him. With all that he had done, was he even worthy of the sword? Was he in any way the son his father had envisioned he would grow up to be, back when he had entrusted the sword to Hiashi with instructions to give it to Neji when he came of age?

Shikamaru's face appeared in his mind, eyes full of doubt as he gazed at that other Masamune sword. His own words to Shikamaru came back to him.

If you are not meant to use it, who is?

His father's sword was his inheritance, the one thing that could never be given to Hinata or Hanabi instead. He did not expect to ever marry or have children. What would be the point of bringing more caged birds into the world?

He took the sword from his uncle's hands, bowing in return. "Thank you. I will try to be worthy of this."

Hiashi looked like he might say something more, then pressed his lips together, apparently feeling some emotion. He cleared his throat. "Well, I will let you get ready for training."

But Neji had another pressing matter on his mind. "Wait a moment, please! The letter of treaty I brought from Suna. I swore to bring it to the Hokage and it is still just sitting, unopened. You said the clan wished to present it, but time is passing, and I have heard nothing."

The customary frown lines returned to his uncle's face. "It would be easier if the clan could read it. Without knowing exactly what is in that letter –"

"I am sorry, but it is sealed, to be opened only by the Hokage."

"Not even by the clan?" Hiashi looked a bit shocked.

"I am sorry."

His uncle sighed. "Well…the truth is, things are a little complicated at the moment. There is a – proposition I wish to put before the elders."

"Regarding the letter of treaty?"

"No, nothing to do with that. But –"

"Then what?" Neji demanded impatiently.

His uncle met his gaze full on. "I am proposing to the elders that you and Hinata be allowed to lead the clan together. She is not that strong; she has said so herself. Hanabi is too young. And you have proven yourself."

Neji was speechless for a moment, feeling stunned. It was ironic, he thought, that everything he had yearned for – his father's sword; leadership of the clan – was being given to him now, when he no longer felt he deserved it or was even sure he wanted it.

###

The Akatsuki had unbelievable power and cunning. They must have known the area around the bounty station well, Shikamaru thought, must have done this before. They had managed to split the group, the big one maneuvering Ino, Chouji, Izumo and Kotetsu into a canyon with his flamethrower, and then keeping them effectively trapped there, while the white-haired one, Hidan he was called, had focused on their target: Asuma.

Shikamaru rubbed his hands over his face. He realized they were shaking. That moment was etched in acid in his mind, the emotions sweeping back over him now. Rage. Fear, not so much for himself as for Asuma. And the overwhelming, terrible helplessness of watching it happen and not being able to do anything to stop it.

Despite their own injuries – Asuma had third-degree burns on his arm, and Shikamaru had a leg wound – they had tried to outmaneuver Hidan, Shikamaru attacking from a distance while Asuma moved in closer.

"That's right, come on," Hidan taunted them. "Not only will you fetch a good price, you'll be a pretty sacrifice for Jashin."

"Your make-believe god?" Shikamaru sneered.

Fury flashed in Hidan's eyes, and he swung his huge three-bladed sword so swiftly that it almost clipped Asuma's face. Asuma leaped back, keeping his good arm up to protect his vital organs.

"That won't do any good," Hidan gloated. "The sword is poisoned. One nick and you're a goner."

"Shikamaru, stay back!" Asuma shouted. "Call for reinforcements!"

Shikamaru dropped back as ordered, putting out the call, but also trying to remove himself from Hidan's immediate line of sight. If he could circle around, he might be able to ambush Hidan by attacking from the rear. He crept a little further to the right, using the shadows as cover.

Was the sword really poisoned? Or was Hidan using mind games, trying to intimidate them? It didn't seem to work on Asuma, who was steadily closing in with his own weapon of choice – the razor-sharp blades which he wielded with deadly accuracy. Shikamaru heard a loud curse from Hidan and knew Asuma had succeeded in wounding him.

It happened so quickly; Shikamaru took his eyes off them for only a second, scanning the area, trying to strategize his next move. In that second, Asuma decided to make his move, but Hidan was quicker, slashing out with his formidable-looking, possibly poisoned blade. It looked heavy, but he handled it with ease, swinging it with deadly force. Asuma tried to dodge, but it struck him in the side, just below his left arm, rending open his vest. Shikamaru saw Asuma jerk back, and the bright bloom of blood there.

Shikamaru took off at a dead run, racing toward them, but the ground was uneven and he felt himself stumble, landing heavily on his injured leg. It buckled under him and he went down, and saw Hidan strike Asuma again. Asuma crumpled to the ground.

Shikamaru heard his own voice screaming, saw the blood soaking the ground around Asuma, the grimace of pain on his sensei's face. Pushing himself up, he staggered forward, but it was too late…he was too late…

Behind him a commotion sounded, and then the Kazekage's Special Force men were there, rushing toward them, Ino and Chouji with them. They cried out when they saw Asuma lying on the ground.

"Get a medic!" Shikamaru yelled. "Now!" Pulling himself up – too late, too late – he staggered to Asuma's side and dropped to his knees. "We need to get him back to the village and –"

"No…" Asuma whispered hoarsely. "I'm not going to make it."

No, Shikamaru's mind screamed frantically, there's always a plan, always a strategy to get out, if I could only think, just give me a minute to think…

But he was watching the blood beneath Asuma spread, turning the sand dark red; watching the slight hitch in Asuma's movements that meant the poison was taking effect.

Ino and Chouji were pressing in, sobbing, telling Asuma to hold on, not to give up. Asuma was trying to speak.

"Be quiet!" Shikamaru barked at them, more sharply than he intended. "Let him talk."

Asuma spoke a few words to each of them in turn; he praised Chouji's good heart, Ino's organizational skills, telling her to keep Chouji and Shikamaru in line.

"Shikamaru…"

Shikamaru tried to meet his sensei's gaze with strength, tried not to let his expression show how close he was to breaking down.

"Shikamaru…you are smart enough to be Kazekage…if you ever wanted it."

No, he was not smart enough. What good was having a quick brain if you couldn't save someone when it counted?

Asuma whispered his wife's name. "Shikamaru…look after her…and the baby…"

"Of course," Shikamaru choked out.

"You know…you know who the king is now, don't you?"

Yes, he did know now. He pictured the rounded belly of Asuma's wife, the excited faces of the young students just starting to learn. Like the king, they didn't have much power of their own. But like the king, they were the most precious resource, the thing they all fought for.

He nodded, not able to speak the words aloud. Asuma's eyes closed briefly in a spasm of pain, then opened again.

"Shikamaru…in my bag…my cigarettes…let me just have one last smoke…"

Shikamaru lit the cigarette and held it to his sensei's lips, watching as Asuma laboriously took a drag, then another. He waited for the next breath, but it did not come. The cigarette slipped from Asuma's lips into the sand.

The wind was rising, the hot forceful gusts that sometimes swept through Suna. He could hear Ino and Chouji sobbing openly, and one of the Special Force men saying a prayer. The smoke must be stinging his eyes again; he could feel the wetness on his own face. Pain encircled his chest; he felt he would never get up off the ground.

My sensei is dead.

###

My sensei is dead.

Neji was dozing in the bath, soaking off a hard day of training, when it hit him, a crushing wave of stunned, furious grief overwhelming him. For a shocked second he thought, Gai? But then he felt the burning in his forehead and realized the truth.

Asuma-sensei.

For a moment he was there in Suna, feeling the swirling winds, the tears on his own cheeks.

He did not know what to do. Obviously, this time he could not respond in kind, by murdering Gai-sensei. He did not even have that special bond with Gai that Shikamaru had with Asuma.

###

Everyone would be at the memorial right now, Shikamaru knew. His parents, Chouji and Ino and their parents, Asuma's wife…

Asuma's widow, he corrected himself.

When the five of them returned, they had been taken immediately to the Kazekage's office to give their report. Lady Tsunade had started to order one of the jonins to go break the news to Asuma's wife, but Shikamaru had volunteered instead.

He watched a curl of smoke form in the air. The first time Team 8 had met their sensei, they had been shocked to see Asuma smoking a cigarette. Shikamaru, who complained about everything, had complained about having a sensei who smoked.

They had been so young then, and he had been so stupid.

When he told her, she had fallen to her knees, there in the doorway, one hand gripping the doorframe for support, the other cradling the unborn child in her belly. A child that would never now know its father. He had knelt down too, trying to offer some futile words of comfort.

He could imagine what she was thinking. You're supposed to be so smart – why couldn't you keep this from happening?

It was hot, midsummer. Soon it would be Neji's birthday. Had Neji made it back home to celebrate, or was that another life Shikamaru had not been able to save?

I failed. I failed you, Asuma-sensei. You relied on my strategy to save you, and I couldn't. Maybe I failed you too, Neji.

###

I failed you, Shikamaru. I promised to deliver this letter of treaty and I did not.

Head of the Hyuuga clan – recognition by the elders – even his father's sword – what did it all mean if people he cared about were getting attacked and killed by the Akatsuki?

Rising from the bath, he dried off quickly and went in search of his uncle. But Hiashi was away, the servant told him. He might return tomorrow or possibly the next day. Whatever it was could wait, surely?

No, Neji thought, it could not wait. Feeling suddenly resolute, he dressed in his most formal Hyuuga robes, retrieved the letter of treaty from the lining of Shikamaru's vest where it was hidden, and set off at a quick pace for the Hokage's office. It was late, but Sarutobi-sama was known to work late on many evenings. Neji was well enough known so that the guards escorted him in, although he heard several people whispering to each other as he passed through the halls.

Ebisu, the Hokage's haughty clerk, looked a little startled and put out as Neji entered the outer office. "Can I help you?" he asked superciliously, adjusting the dark glasses he always wore.

"I need to speak with Sarutobi-sama. I have an important letter for him."

"At this hour…. A letter from the Hyuuga clan?"

"No. A letter from the Kazekage of Suna."

Ebisu took a step back, regarding Neji with suspicion, as if he suspected he might be an enemy spy. He held out a hand. "You may leave it with me and I will make sure it goes through the proper channels."

"No. I am sworn to deliver it personally to the Hokage."

Ebisu raised an eyebrow. Neji met his gaze steadily. He knew the Hyuuga eyes made people uneasy, even here in the North. Finally the clerk said, "Wait here," and disappeared into the inner office.

Neji waited. He had been questioned by the authorities when he first arrived back in Konoha, although not by the Hokage himself. As his uncle had asked, he had given the "official" story of being kidnapped by Orochimaru and given sanctuary by the village of Suna. He had not mentioned the letter of treaty, also at Hiashi's request, who felt it would look better coming from the Hyuuga clan as a whole.

I swore to have loyalty to my village, to my clan…

But now there was someone else he was loyal to as well.

He had no regrets; no doubts that this was the right course of action.

###

Yes. This was the right course of action.

It was not quite dawn when Shikamaru clicked the last tile into place. He was ready. Moving quickly and with purpose now, he collected the things he would need and headed out to get Ino and Chouji.

They did not object to being woken so early, or ask what he was there for or why he hadn't been at Asuma's memorial. They understood; they knew.

"What's the plan?"

He outlined it in a few sentences, and they gathered their equipment and set out, going on foot to be less conspicuous.

They had thought, this early in the morning, the sun not even up, that there would be no one else about. Of course, there would be guards at the gate, but they were stationed to keep intruders out, not impede shinobi who might have an important mission. But as they approached they were shocked to see a small group there, including the Kazekage herself.

Tsunade did not seem surprised to see them. Looking them up and down, she asked in a tone of resigned irritation, "Where do you think you're going?"

"We have a mission." As she raised a skeptical eyebrow, Shikamaru elaborated. "The mission orders are still in place, right? The teams are still out there, on the move? We've formed a new team and we're going to complete the mission."

"You are not a team. A team is four people; a team needs a captain."

Beside him Shikamaru felt Ino and Chouji flinch.

"Look," Tsunade's tone softened, "I know you want to avenge Asuma. But this is not the way to do it. Go home, let us work it out, and when there's a plan in place, you'll be added to a team that we form."

"We already have a plan."

"Stop being unreasonable!" Tsunade snapped. "You're acting selfishly, and foolishly. The three of you alone, you're no match for the Akatsuki. Do you want to die needlessly and have all this end in more funerals?"

They were silent. Shikamaru wondered if Ino and Chouji were picturing their parents' grief, as he was.

"Shikamaru, this isn't like you at all."

Shikamaru found his voice. "We're not intending to go die. And you're right, I'm not a person who takes needless risks. It's just…"

Tsunade frowned. "It's just…what?"

"I'm not a person who can just run away and not see something through either. I can't live that kind of life."

The Kazekage sighed. "Death is part of being a shinobi. You will always lose people. You have to –"

Another voice cut in, interrupting her. "You only need four people, right?" They all turned, startled, to see Kakashi, lounging against a pillar.

"Kakashi-sensei!"

"I'll go with the team, as their captain," Kakashi said. "How's that?"

Tsunade looked unconvinced.

"Look, even if you try to stop them, they'll still go. You know that. This way, I can keep an eye on them and make sure they don't do anything crazy."

A long, tense moment passed before she nodded her assent. "Fine. Do it."

Kakashi turned to one of the younger guards at the gate. "Find Yamato-sensei and tell him to get my team together as reinforcements."

This would actually work out better, Shikamaru thought. His plan had called for them to separate Hidan from his partner, but it would have been risky. This way Kakashi and his team could battle Kakuzu, and they would be able to deal with Hidan.

"Better than acting on your own," Kakashi said.

###

Neji had acted on his own, rather than part of the clan. It seemed he had a habit of doing that.

It had been two days since he had given the letter of treaty to the Hokage. Sarutobi had been receptive to what Neji had to say; he had read the letter and said he would consider it. Beyond that, Neji had no idea. The elders and the top jonins would have to be consulted, of course, but he was not important enough to be part of those discussions.

If he were to be made head of the clan... It was tempting to think about.

He hung his father's sword carefully on the wall. His father had also acted on his own, going against the clan's wishes, when he made that final sacrifice. Hizashi had lost his life for that; no, he had given it willingly.

Neji could have lost his life as well, surely would have lost his life, if not for Shikamaru. Shikamaru had saved him, several times over. But even if he had known all the terrible things that awaited him, Neji thought, he still would have gone. Nothing would have stopped him from leaving the village that day.

Had his father also felt trapped, a bird in a cage? For the first time, Neji wondered why his father had not simply left the village, rather than taking the drastic step of sacrificing himself.

The answer came to him in a flash: because of me.

It would have been a hard, dangerous life as a missing nin, as Neji well knew. His father would have been considered a traitor to the village, an enemy of Konoha, to be captured or killed on sight. It was no life for a young child, especially not a child who had grown up sheltered in the Hyuuga clan. It had been difficult enough for Neji to keep his horse safe, and Shadow was a two-ton, fierce beast.

His father could have left him behind, of course. Neji's heart twisted painfully at that thought. His father could have left him, possibly found freedom…but they would most likely have never seen each other again. If his father had returned to the village, he would have been tried as a missing nin, and probably put to death. And Neji would have grown up with that shadow, that shame, hanging over his head.

Instead, his father had chosen to die a hero, gambling his life on the hope that the clan would reward Neji for his sacrifice.

Through the window, he caught sight of Hinata returning from training. Her tall teammate was with her, probably walking her home. Hinata was talking animatedly, which was a little surprising; even when it was just her, Hanabi and Neji, she was usually the quiet one. Her teammate bent his head toward her, listening to whatever she was saying. He wore sunglasses that hid his expression, but Neji could read his body language. The teammate – Neji could not remember his name, but he looked to be from the Aburame clan – wanted to touch Hinata, Neji could see, maybe take her hand or put his arm around her. But of course he would not, especially not here on her family's lands. And people here in the North did not touch each other like that as much. He remembered Shikamaru and his friends, always hugging each other, or throwing an arm over each other's shoulders. How casually Ino had grabbed his hair. He felt a pang at that; he had always found Ino annoying, but now he even missed her a little.

He heard Hinata's footsteps coming softly down the hallway, and impulsively he turned to face her as she passed his open doorway. Hinata looked startled, then her already pink cheeks deepened to such a bright blush that Neji felt his own face flushing as well.

Seeing her stoic cousin seemingly flustered, Hinata's expression changed to curious concern. She waited for him to speak.

"I have done something the clan will not like."

He saw relief in her eyes that he wasn't going to mention her teammate, and she also seemed to draw a kind of strength from his words. How innocent her little romance was compared to all Neji had seen and done, but she was undoubtedly worried about it nonetheless.

He told her about the letter of treaty, and what he had done. He could see the question on her face: why now? Why had he chosen to go against the clan, rather than wait for them to take action.

"I saw…in a dream…that people I cared about were getting killed by the Akatsuki."

It sounded foolish to his ears, but she accepted it without question.

"Does Father know?"

"Yes," a voice said outside, and then his uncle appeared behind Hinata. Neji looked into his cold eyes and saw profound displeasure and disappointment there.

###

"So it's you again."

Shikamaru stared into the unhinged purplish eyes of Hidan. It hadn't worked out the way they thought – they had planned on waiting for the reinforcements, but ironically Hidan and Kakuzu had been too easy to find, at the bounty station where they had been the last time. Collecting another payment, most likely.

Shikamaru had done his homework, staying up late and studying the bingo books for whatever information he could glean on these two. Kakuzu was a mercenary, straight up; a killer for cash. Hidan was a religious fanatic, short-tempered and stupid. Shikamaru was banking on these traits as he yelled Hidan's name and unleashed a volley of kunais in his direction. Most of them he dodged easily, but a couple found their target, enough to draw blood.

"Are you trying to use our own tactics against us?" Hidan sneered. "You pitiful little shits. Didn't we prove that even a pack of you is no match for one of us?"

"Your partner's the brains of the outfit, that's clear," Shikamaru observed contemptuously. He needed to keep Hidan riled up, off balance, get him to lose his temper and come after Shikamaru.

"Kakuzu? That fucking idiot? All he cares about it money!"

"At least money is useful," Shikamaru goaded him. "What use is your fake god?"

"Lord Jashin –" Hidan began furiously, but was interrupted by another kunai whipping by his head. It clipped his ear, drawing blood. With a loud curse, Hidan rushed at Shikamaru, who took off at a dead run.

He led Hidan along a winding trail that wove through the rocks, tossing kunais, throwing stars and stones in Hidan's direction, and shouting out taunts. Hidan was at a disadvantage here; in the narrow space, there was no room to swing his heavy three-bladed sword. Shikamaru was counting on that.

The trail ended abruptly, opening onto a wider plateau. An expression of malevolent satisfaction spread over Hidan's face. Shikamaru had a moment of déjà vu as Hidan swung his sword, remembering how fast he could wield it, and that all three blades were undoubtedly poisoned. He dodged away, feeling his heart pounding hard in his throat. He knew panic was showing on his face. Hidan advanced, giving an exultant laugh as the sword slashed through the air.

Shikamaru leaped back, grabbing his chest. Blood poured over his fingers as he crumpled to the ground. Hidan kicked out, the toe of his boot catching Shikamaru's ankle. Shikamaru grunted out loud in pain. His chest heaving, he scrabbled backward, toward the shelter of a large boulder.

Hidan laughed unpleasantly. "You're done for. Now I just have to wait a couple of minutes and I'll have another sacrifice for Jashin."

"…fuck your god…" Shikamaru muttered weakly. "I don't…believe in that…" The shadow of the boulder was cooler, which was a plus, but more importantly, it made it harder for Hidan to see what Shikamaru was up to. Shikamaru made himself look as beaten as possible. His injured leg was throbbing, but he ignored it and braced himself on the good leg. He reached behind him, his fingers searching the sand until they closed around the object he was looking for.

"You're dead already," Hidan taunted. "You just don't know it."

Shikamaru turned his back, as if attempting to crawl away from Hidan's attack. From the corner of his eye, he could see Hidan draw back his leg to deliver another kick.

Now.

Shikamaru pushed off from the ground, rising, turning, whirling, Hidan's shocked face staring as the Masamune sword in Shikamaru's hand sliced neatly through his neck. Hidan's body toppled backward in an ungainly heap as his head thudded into the sand, his sightless eyes staring up at Shikamaru.

Shikamaru stood, feeling stunned for a moment. He wiped the blood from his sword, and then from his fingers. Hidan had not in fact wounded him; the blood on Shikamaru's vest and hands had come from the chicken his mother was preparing for dinner.

In the surreal stillness, he reached into his pocket and took out the packet of cigarettes. There was one last one left.

He felt a quiet presence with him, like a hand on his shoulder, and breathed the scent of smoke, even though he had not yet lit the cigarette.

You did good, Shikamaru, Asuma's voice whispered in his ear.

He had felt another presence with him, too, guiding his hand as he swung the sword. Neji's energy, Neji's sureness, had coursed through him in that moment. He remembered the fortune he had gotten with Neji, when they visited the shrine at New Year's.

If you take action, it will come to be.

He took out Asuma's lighter and lit the cigarette, breathing it in. It would be his last. He took a deep draw, so that the end glowed brightly orange, then flicked it over onto Hidan's corpse. Tendrils of smoke arose from Hidan's clothes, and he saw a tiny flame flicker into being. He stood still, and watched Hidan burn.

"There you are!" a voice exclaimed behind him. He turned to see Sakura and Naruto racing toward him.

"You guys are my back-up, huh?" he said. "You're a few minutes too late."

"We are?" Sakura's eyes widened as she took in the scene. "Shikamaru... don't tell me you took out an Akatsuki all by yourself? You must be much more capable than I was told..."

"He's a genius, don't you know that?" Naruto exclaimed, clapping Shikamaru jubilantly on the back.

Shikamaru shrugged. "This was one of those things I had to do, no matter what..."

Sakura blinked, then smiled. "Yeah, huh..."

He had not needed backup, but he had not done this all by himself, Shikamaru knew. Even though he might never see them again in the flesh, they had been there with him, guiding him, cheering him on. His teachers. Asuma-sensei. And Neji.

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Thanks for reading, everyone, and I promise the next chapter will not take so long! Please leave a review and let me know what you thought!