Princess drifted across the row of sniper rifles, taking one into her hands and caressing its sides.
"They really are beautiful machines, aren't they, Mohamed?"
Her words rang through the empty space. She put the gun back on its stand. "Why didn't I see that earlier?"
The room was a large metal box filled with heavy machinery and rows and rows of metal weapons. Even now she could remember Mohamed's back bent over a desk. She'd sit there, watching. Maybe he'd notice her in two minutes, maybe twenty, maybe two hours. But when he'd look up, his face would break into the smile of a cherub as he shoved his designs into her hands and enthusiastically rattle off every detail. He'd munch on a carrot or sip some coffee as he painted her methodical world a true, brilliant gold with his words, unaware of just how much his passion and little hobby was changing the lives of millions.
A chat notification popped up. She steeled herself and opened it.
{Leo: Hi, Princess! When d'you wanna have our next date?}
"Hinata-chan… I…"
Hinata looked up at Naruto's guilty face. "D-did my clan give you a lot of trouble for that? S-sorry about, N-Naruto-kun."
"I… destroyed your eyes, didn't I? They say you can't fight anymore."
"I-It's not that bad! I-It's just… just…" Hinata blinked rapidly. She couldn't be so weak! She clutched her forehead and to her shame, released a sniffle. "It's just… my sister will be glad and… well, it was going to h-happen anyway… so… so… I…" She looked down at her hands, fidgeting. It was disgraceful. It was disgraceful. It was disgraceful. Why was she like this? She could feel the eyes of everyone in the school grounds looking at her, judging her for her weakness. She could never be a Clan Head.
Naruto gently took her hand. Hinata's head peeked out, staring at his serious face and guilty blue eyes. He led her back into the school and she followed mutely, her hand limp in his. He locked them in a classroom, setting traps on the doors and windows. When had he become so grown up? Why had he developed so much as a ninja while she could only stammer and blush?
It was really pathetic.
"There's no class after this," he explained. "I'm sorry, for talking about that stuff outside. I should've known that it was hard."
It suddenly hit her that they were together. Alone. In a locked classroom. Her face felt like it was bursting and she opened her mouth to speak only to find that she needed to take in more air. Naruto looked extremely alarmed, arms out and floating about, unsure of what to do as she hyperventilated.
"Are you alright, Hinata-chan?!"
"I-It's-" Deep breath. "A-a-a-alright! A-alright!"
It took a few minutes before Hinata was able to calm down enough to talk, though her entire body was sweating and seemed on the verge of getting heatstroke. She tapped her clammy hands to her face, feeling the heat radiating from it. She must look like a ridiculous sweaty tomato right now. She was horrible!
"S-sorry, Naruto-kun. I just…"
"I know. If I couldn't fight, I would be pretty sad too."
"I-It's not like that… It's just… It's just…" Hinata swallowed dryly. She was such a coward… Besides, Naruto-kun was happy now. He didn't need her… he didn't need her saying unnecessary things. "I-I think you're very strong!"
Naruto's face lit up. "Really? You think so?"
Hinata bobbled her head up and down as fast as she could. "Your light… is very bright!"
"What do you-" Naruto's body slumped. "Oh."
Stupid, stupid, stupid, why did she say that? "I-It's not like that! I think… I think you're very great!" She blurted out.
"Really?"
"Yes! You're very strong and cheerful. Your pranks are very clever and you never give up! You're very kind and- and-" Her face steamed. What was she saying?!
Naruto opened and closed his mouth for a moment, eyes shining. "I didn't… you like me?"
"L-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-like? I-I-I-you're-I mean, I-I-"
Naruto's beautiful and painfully hopeful smile faded. "You… don't like me then?"
"NO!" Hinata cried loudly. "I mean, yes! I mean, I-I like you!"
"D-do you… want to be… friends?"
Hinata nodded so vigorously she thought her head was going to fly off.
Naruto grinned and huggedhuggedhuggedhewashuggingherwhatwhat-
I've died and gone to heaven.
"Hinata-chan? Hinata-chan! Are you alright?!"
Hinata made a squealing noise.
"Hinata-chan?!"
Hinata managed to tweak her squealing noise to be somewhat affirmative.
Naruto released her. "So, we're friends, right?"
"Y-Yes!"
"I'll do my best to protect you!"
"P-protect me?"
"Yes! It's my fault that you can't fight."
"…"
"What's wrong?"
"It's not like I can't fight… I'm just… not very good."
"But you're the strongest girl in class!"
"Sasuke-kun is stronger."
"That's because Sasuke is a guy. You shouldn't compare yourself to him."
Hinata shook her head. "He's a second son. Yet I…"
"What?"
"I-It's nothing! Y-you don't have to protect me, Naruto-kun. I… I don't want to be a burden."
"You're not a burden, Hinata-chan! I'm sure you can get stronger!"
"I can't do anything but the most basic of the gentle fist. As a Hyuuga, I'm useless."
"Don't say that about yourself! You're amazing, Hinata-chan! Even if you're not good at that, there are other things you could be good at."
"The clan would not approve."
"Who cares about what those old geezers say? They suck! If they love you, they won't be so mean."
"I… I… I… I don't think… anyone… loves me."
"I'll love you, Hinata-chan!"
Her heart skipped. "R-really?"
"Of course! I believe in you! You can do it!"
"I'm not really good at anything. I don't have your chakra and I'm not as talented as Sasuke-kun."
"You can be! We'll go to Yoshiko-nee!"
"Who is that?"
"She can see the talents of others!"
"Is that a kekkei genkai or…?"
"What's a kekkei genkai?"
"… Umm… it's a special ability you're born with. Like my eyes."
"Oh. Nah, Yoshiko-nee doesn't have white eyes."
"… So… this person can see if I have talent?"
"Yeah! She saw me and told me that I was good at the really big jutsu! Then she got Ji-chan to gimme some teachers!"
"You have a grandfather?"
"Yeah! He's the Hokage!"
"Ho-Ho-Hokage-sama?! But-but you're not a Sarutobi?"
"Nah."
"Oh… are you blood-related?"
"Hmm… I don't think so."
"I see. You're really amazing."
"Not really. He's a pervert."
"N-Naruto-kun! You-you shouldn't be saying those sorts of things!"
"It's true!"
"… Do you really believe I have talent?"
"Of course! We'll go see her after school today!"
Hinata's face fell back into reality. "I… my clan… they'll pick me up… so I can't… they also don't like you…"
"Then let's go now!"
"N-now? But we have lessons now!"
"So? They're boring and useless."
"E-Education is very important-"
Naruto was already grabbing her arm and dragging her out. "Shikamaru skips all the time and he's top of the class. If that guy can do it, you can too! Come on! I'll teach you how run away!
"Sachiko-nee!"
The maid looked down at him disapprovingly. "You should be in school, Naruto-kun."
"Hinata-chan is more important!"
"… What happened?"
"I want Yoshiko-nee to tell Hinata-chan that she's talented!"
Sachiko looked at Hinata and she could see those soft eyes of pity and compassion. Hinata looked down, ashamed. "… Just this once. Come in."
She was sat uncomfortably in a room full of gold and shiny ornaments. It was a… strange aesthetic and she knew no clans that would decorate like that.
"Is this 'Yoshiko-nee' part of a clan?"
"Hmm… I don't think so? She's not a ninja."
"What's her surname?"
"I dunno."
"…"
"…"
"…"
The door opened and Shikamaru stepped out.
"Shi-Shikamaru-kun? Why are you here?"
"I work here. Why are you here?"
"Work?"
"Yeah!" Naruto said cheerfully. "Shikamaru works for Yoshiko-nee!"
"E-Eh?! What do you do?"
"Everything." He sighed and even the heaving of his shoulders was slow and languished. "Managing her schedule and visitors. That kind of thing. I hate her so much."
"Oh. Um… I… I see. Um… A-are your parents fine with it?"
"Nara parenting is very different from Hyuuga parenting. So, why are you here?"
"Naruto-kun says that um… this… the owner of this house can tell talents and so… um… I want to see if I can…"
She felt Shikamaru's attention on her intensify even though his gaze was as unfocused as ever. There was just something about the way he was looking at her that made her uncomfortable. "Her name is Ikeda Yoshiko."
Ikeda… Ikeda… "That's an important clan, right?"
"Yoshiko-nee is a part of a clan?! But she's not a ninja!"
"There are many civilian clans, Naruto-kun. The Ikeda are pretty big in the money lending and banking business."
"Really? That's boring."
"Well…" Hinata looked around again. "She's a very wealthy person, isn't she?"
Shikamaru shrugged. "She's also a very busy person. She's not in now. In fact, she's pretty booked up today."
"Oh…"
"But Yoshiko-nee could still see Hinata-chan, right?! She only has to look at her!"
Tell talent with only a look? Was that possible? But Shikamaru hadn't denied anything and if Shikamaru thought so…
Shikamaru rubbed his head. "I don't know her exact location. Besides, she would be very angry with me, not you, if I let you interrupt her. It's not anything urgent, is it? She'll definitely return sometime today so just wait."
They waited for a few hours. Shikamaru disappeared back into the room while Hinata sat listening to Naruto chatter about everything and anything. It was nice just sitting there with a cup of hot tea while Naruto's enthusiastic and lively voice flowed over her. She was almost disappointed when the doorbell rang and a lady wafted in.
Hinata immediately sat straighter.
She's so pretty but… in a stiff kind of way.
Naruto didn't seem to notice anything and barrelled over to her. "Yoshiko-nee! I haven't seen you in so long!"
"Sorry, Naruto-kun. I've been busy," her eyes led her head to Hinata. "Would you like to introduce me to your friend?"
"This is Hinata-chan! She's talented, right?"
Her face held no hint of surprise or curiosity at her presence, merely a blank sort of pleasantness. Hinata squirmed and got the feeling that Yoshiko had already known who she was.
"Nice to meet you," Yoshiko said smoothly. "I am Ikeda Yoshiko. You've come to make use of my abilities?"
"T-That's not it… It's just… I mean… If-If you don't want to…"
"It's fine. You won't be the first." Yoshiko's head arced towards Naruto. "We shall leave you here."
"Why?"
"This is Hyuuga-san's private information."
"But we're friends!"
"Do you want to let her know what happened two weeks ago?"
"Umm…"
"If she wants to tell you after, she can." She glided past Hinata. "Come. Let's go to a private room."
Hinata trotted after her, eyes roving around the the halls. "Your-your house is very nice."
"Thank you."
"…"
"…"
Yoshiko stopped before a door and slid it open for her. Hinata hastily walked through. It was a small meeting room. They sat opposite one another and tea was poured.
"Just to be clear, what exactly do you want out of this encounter?" Yoshiko said calmly.
"I… I want to know if I can be a good kunoichi."
Yoshiko got up and walked to a cabinet, taking out some paper and a pen. She flicked her wrist and whipped out an abacus. With one hand, her fingers raced across the abacus and with the other, she wrote a mix of numbers and strange symbols that Hinata couldn't understand. All the while, she looked towards Hinata but Hinata didn't feel any concentration or intensity from her gaze. Instead, Yoshiko's eyes darted all over the air in front of her, focusing on something Hinata couldn't see.
The air was still, the room was painted in aristocratic wealth and the women on the artisanal vases stared back at her. Hinata struggled against her instinct to fidget and play with her fingers. She felt like she should say something but Yoshiko was clearly busy and concentrated. On fulfilling her selfish request, no less. Hinata idly wondered how many people must show up at her door asking favours. It must be tiring.
Finally, Yoshiko's hands slowed down and she placed down her pen and removed her hand from her abacus. She picked up the papers she'd written on and scanned them, the combination of numbers and symbols seeming to make sense to her. She then got a new piece of paper and started writing more numbers and symbols. She then started asking Hinata some questions like when she'd started training, how many hours a day she trained, who her teachers were and so on. There was then another round of calculations and a severe frown formed on Yoshiko's face.
"I have good news and bad news," Yoshiko said after she finished writing. "Which do you want first?"
Hinata swallowed dry air. "Umm… whichever is fine?"
"I see three paths in your future as a kunoichi. The first option is to continue as you are now. Follow the training path set by your ancestors and do your best to become a Hyuuga fighter. I'll be frank. You're not cut out for the Hyuuga fighting style. You could make it to mid-chuunin comfortably. Maybe tokujo if you really push it."
Tokujo? For a main house Hyuuga to not even hit jounin was utterly disgraceful. She clenched her fists. "H-How can you tell?"
"I have the ability to see the talents of others. You can ask around if you want. Hokage-sama and a couple clan heads believe in my abilities. I'm not sure if your father believes but at the very least, he should've heard some rumours."
"That's… absolute?"
"I won't say I'm infallible. But if it helps, I will say that I've been right around 100% of the time."
"I… see." Hinata looked down at her fists.
"Well, that's the first option. With the second option, you will have to abandon the Hyuuga way. Why? Because you can definitely became a jounin. You can do it. You have the will and all of your numbers are decent to good. They are just not in the places that the traditional way requires to thrive. I can tell you where your talents truly lie. You will be jounin by 20. If you are willing to bleed for it, you can push into S-class in 20 to 25 years or so."
Hinata's head snapped up. "S-class?!"
"Yes. But you will bleed for it."
Hinata's mind raced. If she was just a chuunin, she was useless. But if she were a jounin… maybe even S-class, she could be useful to her clan and make her father proud. Surely if it was to make her useful, her father would approve, right? Or… or maybe he won't care. He was holding the heir naming ceremony next week and everyone knew it would be Hanabi. He'd already stopped teaching her and her new teacher didn't even bother teaching her new gentle fist techniques and was constantly frustrated at her pathetic failures. She was a cripple. Would it really matter if she learned some things on the side?
No one would care.
"Will I really become a jounin?"
"Would you be willing to abandon your clan's way?"
"… I don't think… I don't think anyone would care. Besides, if I can be useful this way…"
In a blossoming moment, the stiffness in Yoshiko's posture vanished. Her eyes softened, her hands fell to her lap and a sweet smile of delight and pride flourished across her elegant face. Maybe Hinata's eyes were truly failing her because in a single instant in time, Yoshiko went from an aloof lady of class to a gentle and compassionate woman who seemed to care.
"If that's the case, why not go all the way?" Yoshiko suggested, her voice lilting and warm.
Hinata shrank back. "Wh-What do you mean?"
Yoshiko rose and came round the table to sit next to Hinata and clasped her hands in hers. "Option 3. You can make S-class by 22."
"Wh-what? How?"
"I like you, Hinata-chan. You are determined, talented, respectful to elders and able to listen to instructions. If you are willing to work with me, I will work with you. I will create the best build I can for you playing into every niche strength you have and I will arrange for teachers for you. I will draw up all your training schedules and I will make you a legend. But I will not lie. You will have to be willing to bleed a few rivers and live and breathe on nothing but the will to be strong. Can you do that?"
"I… I want to be strong but I don't know if I can-"
"I say you can. If I'm wrong, I will give up everything I own. You have that potential. You have the potential to be an ace for your village. A reliable ninja that can be called to field to change the tide of a war. What are you willing to sacrifice to achieve it?"
A reliable ninja.
"Anything." The strength of her own voice startled her and she moved to clasp her mouth behind her hands. But Yoshiko held her hands tight and refused to let go.
"Good." Yoshiko pulled Hinata into a brief hug before standing up. "Your talents are best used for assassination but your character… I could make you a healer. Which one do you want?"
"I… I want to be useful! I am… I will be a Konoha ninja. I will be a part of the village. Even if I don't do it, someone else would. If… if I'm the best person for the job, I should do it. As a ninja of this village. That would be the best."
"Assassin it is." She motioned for Hinata to stand up and she stood. "I shall outline the details of your build and arrange for teachers. The main problem would be your father and your clan."
"I… don't think… they would care."
"Then I can leave it to you?"
"I-I think so."
Yoshiko nodded. "Talk to him after I've drawn up the schedule."
"B-But won't it be better to ask before…?"
"If everything is already arranged, it's harder for the Hyuuga to back down without embarrassment."
"But… what if he doesn't agree?"
"It will be fine. You are not the first I've made arrangements for. I shall give you a letter to help convince him just in case you're unable to."
Next day
"Hinata-chan!"
Hinata looked up from her lunch. "N-Naruto-kun?"
He shifted uneasily. "Can we eat lunch together?"
"M-My… family…" Naruto's face fell. "I-I mean-" Hinata swept her eyes through the courtyard. There weren't many people and no one was really paying attention. "I mean… as long as they don't find out… d-do you know a place?"
Naruto beamed. "Yeah! The classroom?"
"Shhhhh! You go first. I'll follow after a few minutes, okay?"
"Sure!"
1 week later
Hinata knocked on the door.
"Come in."
The study door squeaked open and she slid it shut behind her.
"What is it, Hinata?"
She walked over to her father's desk. "I… arrangements have been made for new teachers. For me."
"What do you mean?"
"I… do you know Ikeda Yoshiko?"
"I've met her at an event."
"Do you believe in her abilities?"
"I've never seen it personally. But I know a few who would swear by it. Thanks to her advice, Hoheto's kid is learning the sword and doing quite well as far as I know." His eyes bore down into her. "What did she tell you?"
"If I was willing to bleed a few rivers, I could S-class."
"S-class?"
"Yes. This is the schedule she gave me."
Her father took the papers. "This… requires you to skip a lot of school."
"Shi-Shikamaru-kun only goes in for tests and-"
"We are not the Nara."
"…"
He shuffled the papers around. "You will die from this."
"At-at least… I want to try."
"You don't have to try."
You don't have to try. It doesn't matter. You are hopeless.
She felt the heat, the crawling, biting heat rupturing and igniting in her chest, fuelling her fists and seeping to her skull. She put a foot forward, feet stamping the ground as her nails bit into her palm. "I want to a proud Konoha ninja! I will serve the people of Fire and fulfill my role as a member of the ninja clans! I do not take this duty half-heartedly! If I do not give it my all, what's the point?!"
Silence.
Hinata breathed heavily, the heat draining to the ground, leaving her pale and sweaty. She had just yelled at her father. She had just yelled at her Clan Head. She had just denied him in the most disrespectful manner possible. Why had she done that? She was so stupid! She was the one asking for a favour and now-
"This is what you want?"
"… Yes, sir."
He looked back down at the papers, sighed and gathered them up. She accepted them back with shaking hands. "Go do it."
"… Eh?"
"If this is what you want, go do it. Just go."
Hinata shakily bobbed her head up and down. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." She bowed and fled the room as fast as possible.
Go do it. Just go.
He really didn't care.
Hinata approached Naruto. "Do you… want to eat lunch together?"
"Yeah! The usual place?"
"…" She shook her head. "It's fine."
"Your family-"
"It doesn't matter."
The halls were tall and the long tables decked with bountiful food and drink. A band was stationed near the dance area, wafting traditional music through the air.
"I don't believe we have had the pleasure of meeting. I am Uchiha Itachi, heir to the Uchiha Clan, and this is my little brother, Uchiha Sasuke."
Yoshiko swallowed her drink and turned her attention to the brother. "I am Ikeda Yoshiko, daughter to the Head of the Ikeda Clan. It is my pleasure to invite you to my event. I haven't spotted your father and mother around."
"Unfortunately, they are currently unavailable and sent the two of us in their stead."
"I see. That is a shame but I'm glad to be officially acquainted with you. I've heard how busy you can be and I've only seen you around once or twice. It's a pleasure to finally have a good look of your face."
"It is indeed a shame that we haven't met sooner. I've heard about your good deeds in the service of Konoha. As a ninja of this proud village, I am grateful for your work."
"No, no, not at all. I could never match the deeds under your name." She turned to look down at the child hiding just a little behind his brother's leg. "I'm sure your brother will catch up with you in no time."
Itachi nodded. "My brother is a very talented child and I am confident in his future as a ninja."
Sasuke's lips turned down. "I'm not as good as my brother though."
Yoshiko shook her head. "Not at all." She paused a little, head leaning forward, eyes squinting just a little. "I am sure you will surpass your brother."
The eyes of Uchiha Itachi drilled right through her skull. "Is that so?"
She straightened herself back up and met his eyes. "If he plays to his strengths and walks his own path, I am confident in his abilities."
"…"
"…"
Sasuke squirmed uncomfortably as he looked back and forth between the two of them.
Yoshiko's face broke into a smile. "You must be hungry. How about the two of you take a look at the menu? I specially prepared it for this event."
Sasuke nodded. "I'm hungry."
Itachi looked down and patted his head. "Go on and eat."
"But-"
"Sasuke. Go."
Sasuke reluctantly separated himself from his brother and trotted off, leaving the two of them to resume their staring contest.
"How about we move to one of the private balconies outside, Uchiha-san? This way we can drink out of sight from the children."
"That sounds like a good idea."
A few chats with the wait staff later, the two of them were seated in a table overlooking the forest. Alcohol and appetizers were provided and Yoshiko stirred her soup before taking a sip from her spoon. Itachi observed her for a moment before copying her.
"What is this soup?"
"Lobster Bisque."
"Did you make this?"
"I instructed my chefs how to do so."
"I've heard you invent all the recipes in your food chain."
"Well, I guess that is so. I'm… very heavily inspired though. I cannot take full credit."
"From where?"
"Many places. It's a dream of mine to see more of this world."
"Do your parents forbid you?"
"Hmm… well, I'm sure they would object to me travelling to certain places but it's mostly that I can't bear to leave this place."
"You love Konoha?"
"I've set up my home here and made my mark here. It makes me happy to see the children I've helped. If I take a trip around the world, who knows what could happen to them."
"I'm sure your family could manage it."
"I'd hate to burden them with something I started. How about you? I'm sure it's not fun and games but you've seen quite a bit of world, haven't you?"
"I've seen many thing, yes. Unfortunately, in this line of work, it tends to be the unpleasant."
"The ninja craft… it's not exactly a ground breaking revelation but the effect it has on the mental status is quite significant. It's not good for the children."
"It's necessary for the security of Konoha. We must start young or their bodies will be too rigid."
"I will leave ninja matters to ninja." She finished up her soup. "There are, after all, severe differences in our hierarchical structures. I find ninja to be a lot more straight to the point."
"It's a matter of efficiency. It can't be helped."
"It's not a point of contention for me. My most wonderful secretary is rather blunt due to a ninja upbringing. It is expedient."
"It is indeed."
.
.
.
"What do you think of my brother?"
Yoshiko pushed her soup away and smeared garlic butter on her bread. "I'm glad you asked. His numbers are wonderful."
"Numbers?"
"Surely you've heard."
"Enlighten me."
She smiled back. "Your numbers are some of the best I've seen. The amount of legendries packed into this little village is truly staggering. You… are fortunate to have been born into the Uchiha Clan. Your natural talents match up remarkably well to your clan's specialities."
"My brother?"
"Somewhat."
"… Do you truly believe he can surpass me?"
"How long did it take you to learn your first wind jutsu?"
"Around 10 days."
"How long did it take for you brother to learn his first fire jutsu?"
"Around a week."
"He's better at ninjutsu than you."
"But that's somewhat of a false comparison. It's true that I have more experience and knowledge on how to execute a jutsu but the difference in learning speed between a first and second affinity is not to be underestimated."
Yoshiko blinked at him. "And… what does that have to do with anything?" She said slowly.
"You cannot compare how fast I learn wind jutsu with how fast I learn fire jutsu."
"I'm just demonstrating that he can pick up jutsu faster."
"Yes, but you cannot compare learning speeds of first and second affinities like that. The learning speed of a second affinity is significantly slower."
Yoshiko chewed her food, paused, continued chewing and finally swallowed. "They don't… Do the Uchiha check the affinities of their children?"
"… No."
"Okay." Yoshiko nodded. "Okay, okay, that explains a lot about your brother's skill set." Yoshiko drew in a deep breath and heaved it out in a large sigh. "Your brother is lightning."
"… Ah."
"…"
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
"It would be a rather large oversight if that were true."
"My sympathies."
"…"
"…"
"It's been a pleasure talking to you. I would grateful if you tell this to no one."
"No one?"
"No one."
"I shall not mention it. Please do update me on your brother. I would like to know if I'm wrong."
Itachi nodded. "I will make certain of that."
"Hito-chan?"
"What?"
"Princess is still mad at me. Why?"
"For the hundredth time, you killed her boyfriend. Of course she's mad."
"But that was what the gifts were for! You yourself said it was a pretty big gift."
Hitoshi sighed. "Look, if you kill someone dear to someone else, they are going to be mad for a very long time. You should know this. That's why you've threatened to kill all our families. That's why everyone is scared of you."
"Yeah, I get that, but why?"
"They don't know what you could do to them. On the other hand, you regularly check their minds."
"So?"
"They don't like that."
"But how else am I supposed to make sure they don't try and kill me?"
"You don't hire people who want to kill you!"
"Why shouldn't I?"
"Because it's wrong!"
"Why?"
"If people don't want to work for you, you upset them when you make them do so."
"But why don't they want to work for me? They get their sick days and year-end bonuses and everything. I only kill their family if they betray me or screw up really badly. As long as they don't do that, it's essentially the best job you could have in a world with so few labour laws."
"Maybe because you ship drugs and they don't support mass murderers?"
"They're just researching on how to quantify intelligence or working on better slave seals. Nothing to do with drugs at all."
"Slavery is also-" Hitoshi sighed again. It was hopeless. "Look, just finish up your ice cream and we can go, okay?"
Leo was happy to leave it at that, licking more ice cream of his cone. "Soft serve is great but I still like gelato the best. I wonder if it's a player. Hito-chan. Investigate this shop, okay? I wanna know everything about how and who runs it."
Shikamaru heard the doorbell ringing and looked up to check the clock. It was already time for Yoshiko to return. When had it gotten so late? Yoshiko walked into their workroom a minute later, face and body even more plastered up than usual. She plopped herself down on the couch jerkily, looking rather like a child had broken all the limbs of a plastic doll and abandoned it haphazardly on a couch.
"Welcome home," he said.
"I'm home."
"How was it?"
"Good."
"…"
"…"
"You look tired."
"Hmm. You should be home by now."
"I intended to."
"I'm sure your mother misses you."
"I don't want to hear that from a girl who abandoned her family to pursue business."
Something snapped in Yoshiko. She picked up the plant on the table and threw it at him. Shikamaru caught it and stared at her.
"Learning from Mika now?"
"I'm tired," Yoshiko snapped. "I'm tired and grumpy. I am not in the mood."
Shikamaru held back his 'you started it' comeback. This was a rare event. "What's going on?"
"I don't want to talk."
Deciding to let it go, he continued doing his work while Yoshiko lay on the couch.
"Nara-san."
"What?"
"Do you think I'm a good person?"
"Why do you ask that?"
"You're the only person that doesn't seem to think so."
"Well, it doesn't exactly look good to say the charity girl is a horrible person."
"Nara-san."
"… I… probably."
"Do actions or intentions determine a man?"
"… The ninja in me says actions but the human in me wants to say intentions."
"Which is more important?"
"I don't know." He paused. "You always make me feel like that."
"Like what?"
"Like I don't know anything."
"It comes with age. The more you learn, the more you learn just how much you don't know. I hardly know anything too."
"You are depressing to be around."
"Really? You are a naturally pessimistic person. My theory is that being around me makes you think more so you think more pessimistic thoughts."
"I don't know about that."
"Think of all the wonderful things you have yet to learn. Won't the world be boring and predictable if you knew everything?"
"Yes. There are also many terrible things to learn too."
"There's really no helping you, is there?"
"I can't help it. That's how my mind works."
"May I recommend meditation?"
"It doesn't work."
"I will give you a special two weeks off to go to a temple and learn prayer and meditation from the Buddhist monks."
He looked her up and down. "That's impossible."
"I'll find a way to survive."
"Look at how tired you are when I'm handling all the troublesome stuff."
"I was fine before you came."
"Yes but you've expanded drastically ever since I've come. And don't tell me you'll find a replacement. You're horrible at job delegation."
"I'll have you know that I'm excellent at job delegation. I just have very exacting standards."
"You have a micromanaging problem."
"Well… yes. That's why I keep you around."
"I still can't figure out if you actually like me."
"Of course I do."
"You're not being very convincing."
"And how exactly would you like me to prove that I like you?"
"… I don't know."
Yoshiko sighed and got up, walking over to him and putting her arms around him. He stiffened up, unsure of what to do.
"Nara-san, I-"
"Okay, step one, quit with this 'Nara-san' nonsense."
Yoshiko looked extremely constipated.
"Well?"
"Shikamaru-san-"
"No."
"Shikamaru-kun-"
"Remind me how much you love me again?"
"… Shikamaru."
"Yes?"
"… I forgot what I was going to say."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes, patted her shoulder awkwardly and squirmed out of her hug. "You're tired, you're emotional, you aren't thinking right. Go clean up and sleep."
Yoshiko straightened herself, started to walk to the door before pausing. "Na- Shikamaru… do you think… you will ever feel warmer towards me?"
"… I don't know. I mean… don't get me wrong, the stuff you do is good… it's just…" He sighed. "I don't know. The way you talk? The way you walk? You talk in numbers when considering the intangible. Your emotions, your intentions just… doesn't feel real. Genuine. Warm. Passionate. Alive. For all intents and purposes, you seem like a perfectly good if pragmatic person. All ninja strive to be good and pragmatic. But… I don't know. I'm just not convinced. You may be doing good but I don't feel the spirit of compassion behind it. Especially seeing your performances at the events."
"… If you'd seen my… 'performances' at the charity event first and foremost… would you have considered me a warmer person?"
"… Probably. You're pretty damn convincing when you've got that smile and little bow going on."
"So… if I come across as genuine, it's an act. If I don't, I'm not a 'good' person despite my actions. There's no win state for me, is there?"
"… I'm sorry, but that's how I feel. I can't change that."
"Sometimes… I feel like I could save the world from starvation and all the diseases known to man and I'd still be all alone. Just because I was born cold." She bit her lip. For a split second, the image of Mika crying flashed in his mind and Shikamaru was briefly hit by the conviction that she was going to cry. To his eternal relief, she simply turned around and continued walking.
I've updated the summary. The title and summary are still subject to change so if you want to keep track of the story, I suggest bookmarking it in some way. There have been past readers who have lost my stories because of title changes.
Onto more important matters:
I suffer chronically from the writer disease I call middle blankness, where the connecting bits to the big set pieces are loose, draggy and uninteresting. I hate that and that was a huge problem in my previous piece. So until I get to the big moments, I'm just writing whatever I like because if I don't like it, it's not that interesting. I like character arcs so I wrote one. I like Hinata so I wrote Hinata. She is part of a bigger picture but this chapter basically only exists because I just like it and I'm curious to see if the audience actually likes this chapter. So if you like just nice little pieces like this, leave a note down. I only posted this because some people like my writing and if people don't like things like this, I will cut the arc out. I would probably still write it because I like writing it but I wouldn't post it.
Since this story was a fever dream birth, it's not exactly planned and I'm basically out of ideas for middle pieces. So if you have any strange ideas, characters, moments, story arcs, character arcs or basically whatever else you want to see in writing, review or PM me. The next chapter won't be out until I have enough ideas to fill a chapter and the chapter after that is the one I'm gunning for. Hopefully. Plans never survive contact with the enemy (i.e. my own writing-related hang-ups). I know many people who have nice ideas who don't have the motivation or skill to make them happen. I will write it if I like it. If it doesn't fit the story but I really like it, maybe I'll write it as a one-shot.
Basically, I just want to write but I can't because of idea drain so I've been smacking random things in frustration all week. Please help.