Chapter 34: Checkmate
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Sasuke took a look inside the interrogation room. A single light bulb hung low, glowing dimly, over the metal table and chairs; The light was unable to reach the rest of the room, as there was darkness where the walls and floor were meant to be.
He was familiar with this room. In fact, Sasuke had been on the other side of that chair, right after the war, when he was healthy enough to stand for questioning and eventually trial. At the time, it was Ino that had been an empathic inquisitor, an empathy that had probably been influenced by him being her childhood crush.
"How did you find Yami-san escaping?" Sasuke asked as he motioned to the person inside, slouching, showing no hints of remorse.
"Naruto got a tip from one of the neighbors who claimed they saw something strange happening close to the forest," Kakashi replied.
"And where is he right now?"
"He's delivering Ino's consciousness to her family,"
"Why weren't any of Ino's family assigned to this mission?"
"I have some ideas of what they would do depending on what they find in Yami-san's mind, creating tension between everyone involved,"
Their attention was averted to Naruto as he emerged around the halls, dropping his transformation.
"Why can't we ever catch a break?" Naruto murmured. "This wasn't supposed to ever happen…"
"Has Yami-san given up any names?" Sasuke continued.
"No. But I can take a guess as to who put a hit on Ino," Kakashi replied. "Anyone put against a corner would react in a desperate way," The truth always had funny ways of coming out.
"No, you're wrong," Naruto shook his head. "Hinata-chan would never do this. At least, not to Shika,"
Sasuke internally agreed. Hinata didn't quite strike him as the type to target any person close to her circle. After all, Ino was someone who was important to Nara. He didn't know Nara personally enough, but there were some things that were obvious. If anything happened to the Yamanaka clan's leader, it would be enough to break Hinata's engagement and start a war between the Hyugas and the Ino-Shika-Sho allegiance.
"I was once Hyuga-san's Anbu," Sasuke reminded Kakashi. "Her work was never sloppy,"
"Now that you mention it, there was another Anbu which I had assigned to the Nara family, to protect her," Kakashi thought back to Sai's messenger bird and how it might be connected to any of it. "Sai was Hinata's bodyguard,"
Sasuke glanced at Naruto, who seemed to already know about that. Kakashi's eyes softened when he remembered it slipped his mind to mention this to his advisor, as Sasuke also seemed conflicted over something.
"How did someone with his level of observation skill miss any of the schemes being planned, while surveilling Hyuga-san 24/7?" Sasuke asked.
"I'm sure Sai didn't missed it, he just didn't report to me truthfully. It only occurred to me that a betrayal had taken place since Sai's messenger came to me last night, showing signs of intelligence, so I knew right away there was a Yamanaka consciousness within it. When I asked it to show me where they think their body was, guess where it led me to, to his home,"
"Ne, Sai was the last person who had physical contact with Hiro-san right before he died," Naruto added. "So I don't think Kakashi is reaching here,"
Sasuke's eyes widened for different reasons. When he had been navigating Hinata's memories, he had been sitting across from her, inside a proxy of a female Anbu who he now knew to be Sai. It became clear to him Sai never reported any of the real events that had happened-his allegiance leaning towards Hinata, but why?
"Naruto, when was the last time you spoke with Sai-san?" Sasuke asked.
"Hmm, a little after he had failed his mission and got suspended,"
"Hn,"
"If you find something inside Yami-san's memories that implies any hint of Ino's degradation, don't hold back, I'll take the fall for it," Naruto said.
"I'm returning to my office. Come find me once the investigation is finished," Kakashi cut in, as he walked past them.
Sasuke pushed the door open and entered. The floor was barely visible around the dimly lit room. The shadows nearly swallowed Yami while his pale skin was half obstructed by darkness. Yami met Sasuke's sharingan head-on, unafraid, believing every word Sai had said.
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Sasuke spawned inside a room littered with colorful works and artistic tools. The curtains fluttered, along with some sketches that moved on a dining table.
Sasuke remained silent and glanced down at his hands, identifying Sai right away, from merely the way he dressed. He lifted a sketch portraying a moment in time and recognized it to be the night of the bonfire, with smudged, haunty silhouettes which looked like dancing demons.
"You should've stuck to your hobbies, Sai-san" Yami said as if upset over something.
Sasuke followed Yami, witnessing him lift Ino's body out of a coffin. Yami transformed, with Ino in his arms, appearing as a medic carrying a patient.
"I don't care what influences Hinata-sama has, you need to tell her she shouldn't reach out to him. I watched Uchiha-san the entire night, and he gave me the feeling that one day if he saves her, he'll expect to have the right to take her instead. I can tell Uchiha-san's a vulture who doesn't respect whether Hinata-sama is engaged or married. You need to advise her not to ask Uchiha-san for help,"
Where the hell did Yami get the confidence to say those kinds of things, when he obviously knows nothing about him?
Digging a bit deeper into Yami's memories, Sasuke found himself inside Hinata's room, wearing a Suna uniform. He remembered that night when he had searched for her relentlessly, only to find her at the Nara's mansion. She had asked him to take her home after they had visited Hanabi at the hospital.
Hinata sat on a vanity chair, speaking muted words. Understanding this had been Yami's memories, Sasuke glanced over his shoulder and saw Yami's silhouette standing outside her window, watching them.
Sasuke disconnected entirely from Yami's mind, his chest suddenly rising with each breath he took. He ignored Yami's glare as he exited the interrogation room, slamming the door behind him, to face Naruto.
"What did you find?" Naruto asked.
"It was unclear as to who gave the order. Seems like we need to talk to Sai-san. He has all the answers," Sasuke said.
"Alright, go find him and bring him in. Once we have all the information, we'll report back to Kakashi,"
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"Sasuke-san, you look displeased that we're meeting this way, on the same side," Sai said as he emerged out of his room with his hands inside his pocket and leaned against the door frame.
Same side? What the hell is he talking about?
"Why didn't you just stick to your hobbies, instead of causing harm to others? Ino-san did not deserve it,"
"I see. Yami-san was caught," Sai grinned. "What a shame. Right when he was finally free,"
Sai didn't put up any kind of resistance, simply entering Sasuke's portal only to be relocated inside an interrogation room. Once he had settled behind on a chair, Sasuke gave no warning before diving in, crimson eye tapping into Sai's hippocampus.
Sasuke was transported to the funeral home. He observed as Sai went through a pamphlet that displayed funeral packages, containing different prices, as it was all starting to look more and more premeditated.
"Did you know you were going to do this?" Sasuke asked.
"I've always dabbled in similar themes in my work, including the prospect of flirting with demise. The coffin was meant to be an artistic statement, not some piece of evidence," Sai walked out of the funeral home, and they were soon back in his apartment.
Sai led him inside his room, pulling a coffin out of his closet decorated with a Hyuga seal.
"Why did you do it?" Sasuke asked while embodying Yami's likeness.
"That day when Ino visited me, something in me just snapped," Sai admitted. "She told me she was going to break up with me, and then I thought to myself, wouldn't Hime-sama thank me if I made Ino disappear?"
"I don't believe for a second that you acted on impulse,"
Sasuke turned his back to Sai. The syringe in Sai's hand appeared during that second of vulnerability.
Sai crouched by Sasuke's motionless body, blue eyes glancing back at Sai.
Sasuke got up from the floor, unfazed by the effects of the drug, stopping by a canvas depicting something unsettling. He knew that silhouette in the fire.
"I know you did not come here just to admire my art, Hime-sama," Sai offered him a platter of freshly peeled apples as Sasuke approached the kitchen.
The gesture was swatted away, and the fruit platter crashed all over the kitchen floor. Recognizing the delicate and manicured hands, along with the wedding ring, Sasuke took a step back.
"Did Hyuga give the order?"
"Freedom wouldn't have been possible if I hadn't acted on my own. Isn't that why you chose me? You knew what I might do, and you never felt the need to change me. I have already taken a life under your command and was willing to do it again. But I suppose you didn't need me after all, now that you got everything you wanted. But what about our promise?"
"What did she promise you?" Long, midnight-blue hair swayed behind Sasuke with fringes that brushed against his forehead.
Sai shook his head. "It doesn't matter now. I understand I have to find another source of inspiration because you no longer can sustain any of my dreams,"
Sasuke launched at Sai, hissing at him, the room changing as he pressed a knife against Sai's throat. Shogi pieces fell over a desk that hadn't been there before. Sai snapped out of a daze, remembering this for what it was, taking control as if it was a lucid dream.
He pushed Sasuke off and dusted himself, taking a step away from the desk.
"Uchiha-san, why do you stand there with such a judgmental expression, as if I have done something unfathomable? You've also used Hime-sama, allowing lies and deception to exist, by breaking rules and laws for something in return. How am I different from you?"
Sasuke gripped his hands. "I'm nothing like you,"
"That's true, since I would never leave any important decision-making up to my anatomy,"
Then they were outside, under the night sky. Sai motioned to the spectacle happening before them. Sasuke got to witness what he looked like, from a bystander's perspective, as he entered the fire with Hinata, feeling pathetic all of a sudden.
"I wonder what would Lord Kakashi and Naruto do if they find out their advisor accepted a bribe from none other than Hinata-sama?"
"Are you threatening me?"
"It's only a threat if you breathe a word of my allegiance and the true reason behind my intentions. Or else I could expose you for what you are,"
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Sasuke stepped outside the interrogation room, with knuckles bruised.
Naruto glanced inside to check on Sai. He winced on Sai's behalf.
"Call a medic," Naruto called over his shoulder to a chunin on standby, without taking his eyes off the Sai who lay bruised and unconscious.
"What the hell happened in there?" Naruto asked.
"His face pissed me off,"
"Did Sai have anything to do with Ino's kidnapping?"
"Yes. Unlike what Kakashi believes to be true, Sai simply snapped when Ino said he was going to break up with him. It had nothing to do with Hinata,"
"Wait, that doesn't make sense, then how did he meet Yami-san?"
"During the first festival, Sai tasked Yami-san to get rid of Ino's body. Yami-san tried, believing it was Hyuga that gave the order,"
Naruto's eyes followed Sai's body as he was carried away on a stretcher.
"Damn it, Sai, why did you have to go and do something like this?" He murmured to himself.
"Sai-san knows what he's doing. He'll be able to plead Insanity due to his ROOT background," Sasuke theorized.
"We have to alert Kakashi that the case has been solved," Naruto bristly walked past Sasuke. A hand went out and stopped him.
"Naruto, it's not that simple…"
"What do you mean, 'it's not that simple'?"
What kind of advisor would he become if he keeps covering everything up? He had to come clean about other things, otherwise, Sai will always hold that against him and will be able to control him.
"I'm not exactly innocent, either,"
"...What did you do?"
After recounting the events of the bonfire, Sasuke waited for Naruto's friendly smile to fester, bracing himself for the violence that would most likely follow.
"Hey… didn't I tell you to not do anything stupid?"
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After finishing up the rituals required of her, Hinata walked into the town square area with the two Nara maids in tow.
A single line of free Hyugas extended endlessly, curving around a corner of the town, and maybe even further, all leading to a sacred building.
Hinata approached the building, her eyes acknowledging anyone who cheered her way. When she entered the religious structure, she walked past everyone on the line, stopping before her father and the elders, who had been working on removing the seals.
"Father, I'm checking in to see if any of you need any help before I leave,"
"Have you finished all your duties?" Hiashi asked while in the middle of casting a technique, his hand glowing over a slave seal.
"Yes," Her eyes darted to the dissipated seal her father had just removed from a free slave. "You should teach me the signs to remove the seal, so I can help," Hinata said as she tossed another look at the line. "When you run out of chakra, I can take over and-"
"Hinata-sama, we can't teach you the signs to remove the seal, especially now that you're leaving us," An elder replied.
The ground shook underneath everyone's feet, disturbing the line.
Hinata stumbled forward. However, she was immediately caught by the arm. She thanked the Nara maid as they helped her straighten up. Everyone had similar reactions as they seemed to look around just to make sure they hadn't been the only ones who felt the tremor.
Then panic ensued when the tremors continued.
Hinata got pushed by the crowd that was exiting the building, getting separated from the maids in the process. When she managed to go outside, the sky flashed sporadically from several explosions coming from miles and miles away.
Trying to see what was going on, like many others, Hinata lept onto the rooftop to witness the cause of distress.
Hinata's hand flew to her lips, masking an inaudible gasp at the first giant rock headed towards the village's way. She activated her eyes, seeing the fight taking place outside the village's borders, attacks colliding, as Naruto's nine tail chakra fought against Sasuke's general.
'Onee-chan, there you are!' Hanabi said as she had immediately found her. 'I'm glad you're safe. I'm going to go see what's happening and if I can help stop it,'
"Hanabi, no!" Hinata shouted, but was ignored.
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In the midst of all the commotion, Sai had been neglected, forgotten. He awakened alone in a hospital ward, to all the shaking. He stepped out of the bed and approached the window, escaping to the rooftop for a better view, dodging debris flying his way.
Sai had a serene expression as he looked at the horizon. The view was breathtaking, as each explosion followed with red and blue fire and just pure raw demon-fox energy. He pulled up his hoody, covering his bruised and swollen face, then smiled.
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Sakura jumped from the hospital rooftop, meeting a rock, head-on, crushing it with her first, as she gritted her teeth, twitching in anger.
She landed smoothly on the ground and thought to join Kakashi and see how she could help. When she entered the Hokage tower, she found him commanding all Shinobis to get ready to take care of any projectiles that flew in the village's way. Sakura had hastily joined his side, as they nodded to each other, taking off to Naruto's and Sasuke's location, bumping into Hanabi along the way.
They ventured out of the village's border, the ground beneath them feeling less and less stable. They successfully avoided any lost projectiles in their paths while approaching the battle site. It had only been minutes, but there was already an abysmal chasm dug into the ground, created by their fights.
"Sasuke, you have to stop! You're both putting civilians and the village in danger!" Kakashi shouted through the explosions.
"Then tell Naruto to stop attacking, I'm not trying to be the enemy here!" Sasuke said, his eyes doing a double-take.
Why did they allow Hanabi to come as if she wasn't casually being put in danger? Are you fucking kidding me? Distracted by those thoughts, Naruto's attack collided with his face, tossing him like a rag doll across the battle. Kakashi reached out, trying to stop Sakura from joining, but she was instantly gone from his side.
She jumped, reaching out to Naruto and hugging him from behind. Naruto didn't attempt to strike Sasuke any further, as Hanabi had gotten in his way, arms outstretched in front of Sasuke.
"If you're going to react like this every time I tell you the truth, it doesn't seem like I can ever be honest with you," Sasuke said from behind Hanabi.
"It's not the truth I'm mad about! You accepted a bribe! What other shit have you done behind our backs? You said you never cared to join the fight, but that was also a fucking lie! You must've been laughing this whole time!"
"Why the hell would I be laughing?"
"Sasuke, explain yourself. What bribe is Naruto talking about?"
Naruto turned to Kakashi when Sasuke wouldn't answer.
"Tch, he placed the elders under a suggestion, commanding them to free the slaves at any cost, in return for his lands,"
"Do you realize what you've done? Whatever information you found on Hinata, Yami-san, and Sai, is now useless. I can't have the knowledge of your lapse in judgment coming out. The council will destroy your image, and the Hyuga elders-I wouldn't be surprised if they don't push for a slave seal on you," Kakashi said, frustration seeping in his voice.
Why did Hanabi suddenly feel like she shouldn't be here, listening to this conversation?
Kakashi sighed a controlled breath, trying to tame his anger for not anticipating Hinata's move at capturing one of his pieces. He could clearly picture the innocent look in her eyes as she denied any maneuver made against his team. Shaking his head, Kakashi murmured. "Right when I finally had her,"
Hanabi's brow furrowed. Since when was her older sister Kakashi's worst enemy?
"Come on, Kakashi. Whatever happened to honesty, is the new policy?" Sasuke asked while walking past Hanabi.
"Is that what would you have me do, Advisor-kun? You want me to put you on blast and ruin your career and life?"
"I'm trying to own up to my mistakes,"
"Sasuke-kun, just shut up and listen to Kakashi-sensei," Sakura implored. "But please promise not to do something like that again, ne? We have to protect each other and keep this team together. We're like family, remember?"
Naruto turned away, looking at all the surrounding destruction he caused.
"Kakashi, how are you going to explain this to the council? You might as well fire me right here-"
"S-Sorry to interrupt!" A chunin said as he landed on the destroyed site, looking nervous towards the powerhouse casually gathered around, yelling over one another. "We just got a call from the hospital. Ino's consciousness was successfully restored to her body, with the help of her family about an hour ago,"
Sakura breathed out a sigh of relief. "We'll go pay her a visit to find out what she remembers," Sakura said, as she motioned to Hanabi. "What do you want me to tell Ino, and her family?" Sakura asked Kakashi, while holding Hanabi's hand.
"For now, all her family needs to know is that it's under investigation. That the crime was most likely passion-driven. Sai simply snapped when Ino broke up with him," Kakashi replied.
As Sakura and Hanabi traveled, emotions seem to vacate Hanabi's eyes as she listened to Sakura catching her up on the situation.
Onee-chan… You went too far, by getting Senpai involved...
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Voices periodically spoke to her while she was asleep, asking her how she was feeling, and what she remembered. Footsteps intermittently came and left, after checking in on her, offering words of sympathy. Through her exhaustion, Ino kept speaking the name of her assailant, murmuring it wasn't an accident.
Ino reacted to the several hands that kept holding hers, identifying their voices as her family who were evidently upset that none of them had been summoned by Kakashi to probe Sai, in Sasuke's stead. It was an obvious decision at keeping them as far away from Sai's interrogation room for reasons they didn't want to suspect. After all, Sai used to be a proud member of team 7.
Ino fought her heavy eyelids when Shikamaru's voice carry over to where she lay.
"Ino, I came as soon I heard," Shikamaru said as he sat down next to her while her cousin put down a bouquet of flowers, leaving the room to give them privacy. "Hinata should also be on her way,"
"You're annoying, you know that? I don't want to see her,"
"She's worried about you too,"
"Hmm, sure," She sighed, as he was obviously waiting for an explanation. "... I never thought Sai was the kind of person who would do something like that," Ino lamented, her voice speaking softly as she hadn't used it for a long time. She had lost so many days of her life, being trapped inside a body she couldn't completely control. A feeling rose to her stomach as if she was constantly being chased by Sai. Forever scarred by his actions.
"Don't force yourself to talk about it if you're not ready,"
She shook her head. "No, you need to know this… I haven't told anyone just yet. But before I was knocked out by that disgusting piece of filth, I found something strange. He had all these sketches of your fiancée. I think they were pretty close to one another… "
"Impossible. I would've known,"
"We don't always know everything do we? But I'm sure there's bound to be a sketch, somewhere,"
Shikamaru wasted no time, missing Hinata by seconds as he left to follow up on Ino's request.
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He stood in front of Sai's apartment, which had been taped off, marked as the scene of the crime. He lifted the yellow tape and went under, entering Sai's apartment, noticing right away that he was not alone from the footsteps he heard.
Shikamaru found Naruto on one knee, in front of a coffin, analyzing it.
"Naruto," Shikamaru said, his stomach doing unconformable movements. "There's no reason for you to be here,"
Finding a single concealing tag, of Hyuga origin, Naruto peeled it off and put it away inside his pocket, before Shikamaru got to notice any connection that may lead to Hinata. He lifted himself off his knees and turned.
"I have bad news. Sai escaped. I came to investigate if he left any clues to where he might be headed to,"
Shikamaru gripped his fist. "You mean let him escape? Aren't you being a little too soft on him just because he was on team 7? How convenient that only those on your team got to interact with him right before he vanished,"
"It wasn't on purpose,"
"And you almost destroyed the village, Naruto. What the hell was that about?"
"I know It's something I need to work on. I can't be placing the village in danger every time I get mad,"
They both turned their attention back to the coffin.
"We'll catch Sai one day," Shikamaru said.
"Yeah. We will. A party was already sent out to look for him in case he left the village," Naruto said as he walked past Shikamaru, exiting Sai's room. "So, what are you doing here?"
"I heard there were some sketches possibly lying around. Ino wanted me to take a look at them,"
"Sai burnt every single one of them before he left," Naruto quickly replied.
Part of Shikamaru felt relief that there was nothing left.
Still, he pushed for information. "Ino said she witnessed something strange,"
"If it has anything to do with Hinata, well, I'm not supposed to tell you this... but Kakashi assigned Sai to spy on your fiancée when you requested protection to be sent your way,"
"I explicitly stated he shouldn't send someone who might know us," Shikamaru said, while annoyed.
"Those sketches you were looking for, were just that, Sai's way of recording things he saw during the missions so he can show Kakashi," Naruto replied. "Maybe Ino misunderstood Sai's intentions,"
"Ino seemed to think otherwise,"
Naruto laughed. "Come on, seriously?" He then stopped when Shikamaru didn't seem amused. "Sorry, didn't mean it like that, so stop glaring. But um, I'm glad I bumped into you..."
"Hmm?"
"I don't think I can be your best man," Not when Naruto felt like he couldn't breathe a single word of what Sasuke had done, to anyone. Or how Sai threaded lightly between being an assassin recruited by Hinata, and being an admirer of her work, which led to Ino getting hurt. He didn't deserve to even call himself Shikamaru's best friend anymore, as he knew whom he has chosen to protect instead. "I think the honer should go to Choji. Isn't that more fitting?"
"Why are you dropping out now?"
"I failed you, haven't I? I accidentally let Sai escape,"
"Naruto, I don't have anyone else," Shikamaru confessed.
"What do you mean?"
"Choji and Ino, they don't really support my decision,"
"Yeah, that's how it is sometimes. But everybody changes. I know it'll get better. They'll eventually have no choice but to accept her,"
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After coming home from visiting Ino, Hinata hadn't said many words, retreating right away to her room, stating she needed some rest before having their scheduled family dinner, right before the big day. Shikamaru didn't question how her solo visit went with his friend, knowing Ino might've been a little hostile towards her, and he didn't want to stir any unpleasant memories.
"Should we postpone the wedding?" Hinata had asked during dinner, everyone suddenly went quiet and glanced up. "Until Ino feels better," She quickly clarified.
"If we postpone it, she'll never get better," Shikamaru automatically replied.
"That's very sweet of you, thinking of Ino's well-being," Yoshino replied, somehow pleased. "By the way, Shika, what happened to Naruto today? I've never seen him that angry since the war," Yoshino asked.
"He's always having problems with Uchiha," Shikamaru replied.
"I don't know why he keeps hanging around him," Another family member commented.
Hinata continued to eat quietly after the subject of team 7 got brought up. Her new family member attributed her silence to the stoic way Hyugas conduct themselves overall, with very little to say. They found her silence endearing.
"The two of you were blessed by Kami, since none of the venues that were rented for the wedding or parties were destroyed," Another Nara added.
Hinata smiled brightly. "Yes, we were lucky... "
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After his family had left their home, Hinata retreated once more.
Shikamaru paused by the door, to check in on her, and found her lying on her back, an arm over her eyes, presuming her asleep. He quietly closed the door once more, a feeling settling in his heart as it started racing. Kami, their wedding. It's really happening.
Moments after Shikamaru left, Hinata removed her arm. Her eyes, were bloodshot, from crying.
She found herself unable to think coherently as she had never seen her younger sister act so distant towards her, and for some reason, Hanabi just wouldn't explain a single hint of what she could've possibly done to earn her cold shoulder. Hanabi had left with Sakura, who seemed to hold her hand in support, obviously knowing more than she let on.
Will her younger sister finally talk to her tomorrow? Will she even be at her wedding?
Hinata had wanted to ask Ino if she might know anything about Hanabi's behavior but had refrained from doing so after seeing Ino in her weakened state. Then her thoughts continued to spiral since then, after founding out Sai had attempted to take Ino's life, and felt scared at the prospect he might've been acting on her behalf...
No, get it together. The world doesn't revolve around me, Hinata thought to herself, believing her ego had something to do with it.
Rolling out of bed, Hinata's bare feet came into contact with the floor. She fixed up the strap on her nightgown and tossed a robe around herself, as she walked out the door.
Hinata found Shikamaru alone, in his office, with a single glass in his hand, sitting behind his desk as he glanced at a document of importance. She stopped in front of him, and sat down over his desk, her feet leaving the ground with her knees tucked against her chest.
She reached out, motioning to the drink in his hand.
Shikamaru passed it over and watched her take a sip, her eyes trailing to the finished portrait of a stranger she didn't recognize. The old man had decided to ignore any of her suggestions and had portrayed her as an innocent dandy thing, sitting over the desk while holding a cup of tea.
She placed the drink down on her side.
"Shika," Hinata said as she kept her eyes on the painting. "I believe team 7 let Sai-san escape on purpose-"
"Yeah, I believe so too,"
"And what makes you say that?" Hinata asked.
"I bumped into Naruto while investigating something. Quite frankly, I'm over it. After the wedding, I don't want to be involved with Naruto or his friends, unless it has to do with the village's wellness,"
"Kami, did something happen?"
Shikamaru shook his head, remembering how his conversation with Naruto left him feeling disturbed, as it was obvious Naruto had chosen a side and was hiding something.
"You know, father told me Yami-san was held under interrogations today, but Lord Kakashi let him go too, claiming a dead end on the Hiro-san case," Hinata said. "And we both know that I... " She motioned to the commissioned art hanging on the wall. "I am definitely not innocent here,"
"A cover-up, huh," The information she shared seemed to confirm it, as their Hokage would normally jump at the chance to call out checkmate against Hinata, as he loved to win as much as Hinata did. "Lord Kakashi always tended to do things like that, when it involved anyone on his team. Whatever their real season, count yourself lucky it happened this way,"
Shikamaru's eyes also trailed to the painting of the woman he loved, looking as innocent as she'll ever be.
"How do you feel about tomorrow?" Shikamaru asked. "Are you ready?"
Hinata didn't seem to mind the change of subject, as she didn't want to continue to speculate her blessings might've have anything to do with Sasuke trying his best. Do not think about it...
"Yes. It seems like it's just you and me now,"
"Hmm, just don't get used to it, my friends are bound to come around,"
"I hope I'm alive to see that,"
"You're being dramatic, they just need time,"
"I'm sure you're right," And whatever that's going on with her sister, perhaps is something similar which may required time. "You know, this is the only part that feels like a dream. Are you ready to be stuck with me? Forever, and ever?"
"Troublesome, I thought it was the other way around, with you being stuck with me,"
When Shikamaru hugged her, Hinata cradled him, holding him gently, her chin resting above his hair. She closed her eyes as his hold tightened. He eventually let go to lean back, pulling her by the wrist until she complied and repositioned herself on his lab. Hinata burst into quiet, pleasant chuckles, momentarily forgetting previous thoughts which brought about feelings of discomfort when it came to the subject of her sister, as well as Ino and Sai.
"What are you doing? Someone might walk in on us," Hinata reasoned.
Finding her ear behind her hair, Shikamaru voice came as a breath as he took it as a sudden challenge.
"Then keep a lookout,"
In a moment, his arms wrapped tight around her waist, pulling her in closer while his lips found her jaw. There was something about the way she looked, dressed like this as though she had always belonged, her hair spilling down to the floor, in waves, that had him entranced.
Hinata's hands slid to his waist, coming up under his shirt to touch him, before wrapping around him just to pull him closer. Eyes fluttering shut, she purposely suppressed making any sounds when Shikamaru's kisses dipped beneath her collarbone, taking advantage of the way her robe hung on her frame, slipping off one shoulder. Whenever he kissed her, the dizzying rush made her thoughts feel fuzzy, in a way that only clouded her mind.
"Shikamaru," Hinata murmured, finding his neck. Her breath came in a warm puff against his skin. "We can't,"
"I know,"
Her cheeks flushed pink at the thought of what else he just might do if she doesn't put a distance, and gently pushed back against his shoulders in an attempt to regain some semblance of control. When his eyes met hers, she blushed and buried her head in the crook of his neck again. He tilted her head up, hoping to stop her from running away.
Shikamaru pressed his forehead against hers. Lavender eyes caught in his intense gaze, drawing her in.
"I can't believe what I'm seeing. Since when are you this shy around me?"
Her eyes widened and her chest tightened. His innocent question having quite the confusing impact as the haze and longing immediately lifted off Hinata's eyes.
"Hinata?"
Hinata curled her fingers in his fabric, over his heart.
"I'm not shy, just holding back for several reasons," Hinata murmured, as she leaned away, slipping off of Shikamaru's lap, taking a few steps around the desk.
Shikamaru chuckled, believing her retreat to be quite tactical, as she had already fixed her long flowy robe by the time she made it to the door.
She reached out to touch the exit and tossed a look over her shoulder.
"I'll see you tomorrow," She offered a smile.
Shikamaru agreed, his brown eyes subdued, watching her slipping out of his office, and closing the door behind her.
When she made it around the halls, Hinata leaned back against the wall, staring off at a distance.
Steeling herself, Hinata continued down her path, resolving to put behind memories of playing too close to the fire, as tomorrow was finally the big day, and she couldn't have her doubts mess that up.
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It honestly took a while to put this together because I had to scratch the original chapter 33, which contained heavy consequences of Hinata's actions, with the council and elders all getting involved and deciding she was too much, sealing her fate with the slave seal. I'm all for punishment, but to be honest, I like Hinata and I couldn't follow through with all that torture.
And also, I thank the comments for heavily reminding me this is ShikaxHina as the end game because I kept slipping, going for something that went beyond troublesome.
Thank you for your patience! 8-29-22
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BTW, the old synopsys was...
Shikamaru became the leader of his clan, and she became the leader of her clan. Together, they vowed to help maintain the peace, but no one said anything about internal clan disputes. Should he help prevent an internal clan war, especially since it was his own mother that probably helped spark it?
However...you might know what happened.