They walked steadily between the trees behind Genma and the other man. Neji carried the bo on his back, and held on tightly to Shikamaru's arm, letting him lead. In the second they started moving, the Nara started asking questions.
"Are my parents in the camp, Genma-san?", Neji heard him interrogate next to him.
"No, I'm sorry", the older man answered. "We still don't know anything about them".
Shikamaru's body tensed up a little. It was very subtle, but Neji felt it. He gently squeezed his forearm, and the Nara responded a moment later by softly touching his hand for a few seconds.
"And my family?", the Hyuuga dared to ask. "My uncle and my cousins…".
"Nothing yet, I'm sorry", Genma replied ahead of them. Neji felt his heart shrinking with the possibility of finding out they were dead. Shikamaru must have seen it, because he touched Neji's hand again. "But don't lose hope, boys. We continue to find survivors. Like you two. There are many confirmed casualties, but most people are still missing. We can still find them".
That was true, Neji thought. An hour ago they were quite convinced that there were no more survivors from Konoha, and that they would continue to be alone, perhaps forever. They had come to accept that, and the memories about their families had become less frequent. To know that there was still a small chance of finding them alive was definitely a good thing.
"What about what happened?", Shikamaru kept asking. "Do you know anything about this creatures? What they are? Who sent them or who controls them?".
"Well…", Genma hesitated. "That's a little more complicated. Your friend Naruto is doing his best to be able to protect us".
"Naruto?", Shikamaru asked immediately. Neji noticed the excitement in his voice at hearing from his friend. "Is he in the camp?".
"No", Genma answered. "After the Zetsus' attack, he left with Kakashi and Killer Bee to train his Kyūbi. They are the only ones who have a chance against Madara.
Neji thought he had heard wrong. Genma couldn't have said that name. That person had died many years ago, according to what he had learned in the Academy.
"Madara?", Shikamaru questioned next to him, clearly just as confused. "Uchiha, Madara? How can he be alive?".
"We don't know that yet", Genma confessed. "But he freed the Zetsus, and he still has more. Occasionally new hordes appear. It was very difficult to build a shelter that they could not penetrate, but thanks to the survivors from other villages, we were able to do it".
That was a lot of information to process. Neji held tight to Shikamaru's arm, wondering how could a few survivors wage a war against one of the most powerful ninjas in history. Naturo's and Bee-sama's Kyūbis were really the only hope.
Nobody talked for a while. The two boys were still assimilating the situation, when Neji felt the unmistakable smell of water in the air.
"A storm is coming", he said.
Shikamaru believed his words without hesitation. "If there's still Zetsus around this area, we should stop and continue after the storm", he said to the two men ahead of them.
"I don't think a storm is coming", the stranger answered. "The sky is completely clear".
"Believe him", the Nara replied. "He's never wrong".
"Mmm", Genma meditated. "Water is no good". This words told Neji he already knew the rain was good for those creatures too. After considering it, he finally decided that they would stop and take cover until the storm passed.
The group sat in the ground and ate. Shikamaru and Neji shared their last leftovers with them, but the two men had food too. They told them that over time they had managed to plant vegetables and rice to supply all the survivors who took refuge in the camp. They were obviously very well organized, and Neji could only imagine how much effort that should have cost them. When the first drops started falling, they climbed to the trees to spend the night.
The two boys sat on a big branch, leaning against the thick trunk like they always did. When Genma's partner started snoring in the next tree, Shikamaru leaned closer to him.
"How are you?", he asked in a whisper.
Neji considered the question. He was indeed very happy to know that soon he would meet with Tenten and with more comrades from Konoha. But he did not forget the fact that he was blind now, and that surely nobody expected it. What would they think of him when they realized? No doubt they would feel sorry for him, which he didn't like at all. In the past he had always shown himself strong and unwavering, an image of pure perfection. Now he needed a cane or to hold on to Shikamaru's arm to walk and not bump into everything. They might even think that because of his blindness he had slowed Shikamaru down.
"Fine", he answered after a long while. "A little nervous, I think".
"Yeah", Shikamaru agreed next to him. "Me too".
Neji hesitate a lot before asking the next question. "Do you think they will be angry at us?".
Shikamaru's voice remained calm and kind. "What would they be angry at us?", he asked.
Neji lowered his head and rubbed his hands with doubt. "Because we didn't find them sooner. Maybe without me, you would have arrived here a long time ago".
"I don't think so", Shikamaru answered sincerely. "We decided every road and every turn together. Maybe I wouldn't even have come in this direction without you. Besides, it doesn't matter how much it took us. What matters is that we find them". He took Neji's hand comfortingly. "Don't worry. They'll be happy to see us".
Trying to stay positive, the Hyuuga let out a deep breath. He squeezed Shikamaru's hand, grateful to have him by his side.
The next morning the storm had dissipated, and they were able to resume the road. Their destination was less than an hour away, so they walked quickly. Shikamaru could not help to imagine the faces of his teammates. Would they have changed? Would they have been injured in any way, like Neji? The Hyuuga walked beside him clutching his arm tightly. Shikamaru knew the boy was worried that others might feel sorry for him because of his blindness, but he was more positive. He was hoping the Hokage could see Neji's eyes and do something about them. If there was someone who could heal a wound like that, it was her.
"We're almost there", Genma said ahead of them. Shikamaru looked up, and was surprised to find a huge construction. He saw a circular moat, apparently pretty deep, that surrounded a very high palisade made of something that looked like solid stone. The fortress was almost as large as a village. It reminded Shikamaru of pictures of Iwagakure he had seen in books. No doubt that had been built with the Doton.
They followed Genma to the edge of the moat and stopped. Shikamaru looked up, and saw the heads of several men watching them from above the high walls.
"We're back!", Genma screamed, waving at them. They must have recognized him, because they disappeared from view, and seconds later, the earth shook as the walls began to open.
Neji gave a small startled jump and clung tighter to Shikamaru's arm. He searched for the Hyuuga's hand to let him know everything was okay. Ahead, a bridge descended to allow them to cross the pit. Genma gave them an encouraging sign with his hand, and started walking behind his partner. Shikamaru turned his face to Neji. The boy really looked as if he was having an internal fight with his emotions, and Shikamaru had to admit he felt the same way. Of course he wanted to see his friends, more than anything. But after so much time alone with Neji, it was weird to be around other people again. He squeezed the Hyuuga's hand gently, checking silently if he was ready. After letting out a deep breath, Neji nodded. They started walking and crossed the bridge together.
They followed Genma behind the palisade, and entered a huge camp full of activity. People of all ages walked among the many tents. The ground was not earth, but solid rock, and Shikamaru immediately understood it was a barrier to prevent the Zetsus from entering. Genma leaded them through the crowd, to a sector that seemed destined for medical attention. There he stopped, searching with his eyes between people's faces.
"Your friends are always around here helping out", he said. After a few seconds he widened his eyes and pointed to the left. "There".
Shikamaru followed his hand, searching for his friends. And very soon he found them. First he recognized the faces faces of Ino, Tenten and Sakura, chatting animatedly. Then he saw Kiba's disheveled hair and Choji's huge back, as the boys were standing right in front of the girls. Next to them, a huge Akamaru scratched his ear with his hind leg.
He felt his heart shrinking. The sight of his teammates was the most relieving thing he had seen since he had found Neji. Shikamaru knew he should walk the Hyuuga to them and say hi, but he couldn't move for the moment. He could only stare at his friends, completely paralyzed. Neji softly caressed his forearm, waiting patiently. Right then, Akamaru stopped scratching and started sniffing the air, rising his ears. He had grown a lot in two years. The animal kept sniffing, turning his thick neck around to look back. It took him a second to find the source of the familiar smell. At seeing Shikamaru, he stood on all four legs and barked loudly, moving his tail.
When the dog started running towards them, his friends turned, but Shikamaru couldn't see them anymore, because Akamaru's huge body was approaching fast. The animal jumped and started liking his face with excitement.
The Nara did his best to keep the dog away from Neji, who was still holding his arm. Despite the saliva bath, he was happy to see that silly dog. In the distance, he heard a woman's sharp cry, and he knew it had been Ino.
"SHIKAMARU!", the girl screamed, and more voices started yelling too.
"NEJI!". That was Tenten, who sounded just as excited.
After a while someone took the dog off him, and seconds later Ino was crashing against his chest, separating him from Neji. The girl surrounded his neck with her arms and cried uncontrollably. Next to them, Tenten was hugging the Hyuuga and crying as well.
Shikamaru accepted his friend's embrace and returned it. He used to hate when Ino tried to hug him back in Konoha, but this time he couldn't be happier. From over her shoulder he saw Sakura and Kiba, who was still trying to control the dog, and finally Choji's smiley face, who stared at his teammates with glassy eyes. At watching his best friend's expression, Shikamaru felt he could cry too.
Ino sobbed and babbled incomprehensible things against his chest for several minutes. Finally she move back a little to see his face. Rivers of tears fell down her cheeks.
"It's you, I can't believe this", she said with a weak voice. "We thought the worst. We thought you were…". She broke and the phrase died in the air.
"I told you he would be okay", Choji affirmed at her back. He approached to them with a bright smile and put one of his huge hands over Shikamaru's shoulder. The boy couldn't do anything but return the smile, feeling his eyes aching.
"It's so good to see you!", Sakura exclaimed, staring at the two boys with affection.
Akamaru finally calmed down, and Kiba approached to give Shikamaru a friendly pat on the back. "I knew you'd make it, man", he said with a huge smile.
"Fuck, I…", Shikamaru stuttered. "I'm so glad you guys are fine…", were the only words he managed to say. Ino hugged him again, and over her head he saw Tenten crying between Neji's arms.
"Oh, Kami, Neji", the kunoichi said, taking a step back to dry up her tears and look at the Hyuuga. "I thought I was never going to see you again. I looked for you everywhere, I…", but she stop at seeing the scars around Neji's eyes, just like Genma had done. She covered her mouth, horrified. "Kami, what happened to your eyes?". Everybody turned around to stare at the Hyuuga.
Neji opened his mouth to answer, but Sakura interrupted him, approaching to take a look at the wounds. "That looks very serious, Neji", she said. "Let me take care of it".
The Hyuuga raised a hand in her direction to stop her. "It is not necessary", he replied. "I am okay".
In that moment, both girls realized Neji couldn't see them. Shikamaru could tell by their expressions. Their eyes filled with grief, and their mouths twisted in a grimace of compassion.
"Kami, Neji…", Sakura whispered, forming a fist with her hand and pressing it against her chest. Next to her, Tenten was crying in silence unable to speak, just staring at her friend with sorrow. "You are blind?".
Despite of being just a weak whisper, the question reached the whole group. Kiba, Ino and Choji stared at each other, and then looked at Neji with the same pity and sympathy.
In that moment, a few more people from Konoha approached. Among them were Iruka and Shizune, who were also very relieved to see them.
"It is such a miracle that you managed to survive by your own", Iruka said.
Before anyone else could speak, Sakura turned to Shizune with tears filling her eyes. She gave the woman a sad look and spoke with a trembling voice. "Shizune-sama… Neji's eyes…"
The kunoichi frowned, and approached to Neji. She leaned to study the boy's eyes, but in just a second she saw it. With her great medical knowledge, she could recognize any injury. Her expression softened.
"Kami, Neji. I'm so sorry", she said sincerely.
"I am okay", Neji repeated, not comfortable with the situation. "You have nothing to worry about. It is fine".
The presents were silent for a moment, not understanding how the Neji they knew could be okay with being blind. Shikamaru felt he had to help him.
"He really is okay", he said, and everybody turned to look at him. "It happened long time ago, and now he's doing great".
Everybody turned to Neji again. The boy smiled, reaffirming his words, and Shikamaru felt relieved.
"We'll prepare you something to eat, and you can tell us what happened", Shizune finally said.
They were taken to a quieter area. A large circle of logs placed on the ground like benches, surrounding a huge burned out campfire. Shikamaru sat on a log between Ino and Choji. The kunoichi wouldn't stop holding his arm, as if she feared he would disappear again at any moment. Neji knelt on the ground in front of him, next to Tenten. Sakura, Kiba, Iruka and Shizune surrounded them to hear their story.
Neji told them how he escaped from the village after the attack, and how he was almost immediately captured by the mysterious man with round glasses. He explained why his eyes looked that why, and how the experiments they carried out with him had made him lose his sight. The Nara was glad Neji couldn't see their expressions at that moment, full of anguish and pity. Neji related the moment when Shikamaru found him, and how they survived during those long years.
Their friends were shocked. Tenten was still crying next to her teammate, probably still trying to assimilate that he was blind now. Shikamaru knew things like that made Neji feel weak, and he had the sudden need to take his hand, like he always did when he wanted to show his support to the boy. But for the first time in two years, he realized he couldn't do it. Or maybe he could, but what would the others think about it? Would it be weird form them?.
"You have been very strong and smart to survive, boys. No doubt", Shizune declared after Neji finished their story. "The Godaime will be very happy to see you".
That reminded Shikamaru of what he had been thinking just half an hour ago. "Where is she?", he asked to the woman. "She has to see Neji's eyes and tell us if she can fix them".
Shizune stared at Neji for a second, and then back to him. "She's out in a mission now, looking for survivors", she answered. "When she returns she will see Neji's eyes. If there is a cure, she will know it".
Shikamaru saw the anticipation on the Hyuugas face, and once more, he wished he could take his hand.
"You won't have to worry about anything anymore, "Iruka said." Here you will have food and a place to sleep every night".
Tenten joined her hands with enthusiasm. "Yes!", she exclaimed. "I can share my tent with Neji!".
Ino clung tightly to Shikamaru's arm. "And Shikamaru can come back with his team!". The Nara looked down to see her face, and noticed her eyes were glassy again. For some reason, he didn't like the idea of sleeping away from Neji, but that would definitely hurt Ino's feelings.
"Sounds great," he answered, smiling and trying to sound natural.
"We should show you guys the place!", Kiba proposed. "You'll be really surprised".
Everybody agreed, so they started standing. In a reflex, Shikamaru extended his free arm to Neji to help him up. At the same time, the Hyuuga reached a hand too, knowing what the Nara would do, because he always did it. He clung to Shikamaru's forearm and stood up in a smooth and fluid motion.
The touch of Neji's hand over his skin made a chill run through his spine. He had been wanting to make contact with the Hyuuga since the moment they got separate, just to make sure the boy still knew he was there for him.
Tenten took Neji's arm and softly pulled the Hyuuga away from him. Ino made him follow the two friends, as they all started walking around the camp.
During the rest of the day they showed them the facilities. The cooperative work that all survivors had done to create that refuge was evident. With everything they had managed to rescue from the devastated villages, they had built tents for everyone, and prepared a large area to treat the wounded. They had brought clean earth from the mountains, because they had discovered too that the Zetsus couldn't climb, and that they spread the green moss as they passed. With that earth they had setup orchards, and had even captured some birds that they now raised for consumption. All that inside the impenetrable stone fortress. Shikamaru was more than impressed.
After the long tour they sat around the burned out campfire again, just to talk. Tenten and Neji went to a different seat, while Kiba, Choji, Ino and Sakura stayed with Shikamaru. His friends told him what had happened to them after the attack. Ino and Choji had wondered for several weeks, until they were found by Kiba and Akamaru. The dog had caught their scent and tracked them down. Choji said they were about to starve, when they ran into Gaara and his sister. The two siblings had then taken them to where the Hokage was gathering survivors.
"Temari is here?", Shikamaru asked at hearing the last part.
Ino jumped next to him. "Oh, yes!", she exclaimed. "She's out with the Hokage now, but when she gets back she'll be so happy to see you!".
His friend's words gave him a strange sensation. He had had something with Temari back in Konoha, thought it had never been a serious thing. After the attack he wondered many times about her, hoping she was okay. But after he found Neji, it happened less and less often. He had almost completely forgot about her, and that made him feel a little guilty. He glanced at the Hyuuga, sitting not far away from them, staring ahead with his white eyes and listening to Tenten talk. It was amazing how the boy had become his priority from the moment he found him.
That night, they settled around the fire with the rest of the survivors to eat. The group stayed together all the time, hanging out like the used to do in Konoha. Neji usually didn't share much with them back then, but the others accepted him like he was one of their closest friends. Shikamaru could see they were honestly happy to see him, but he also knew they were being extremely nice with him due to his condition. Even Kiba wasn't messing up with him nor trying to provoke him like he used to do.
The Hyuuga was sitting in the rock floor, just at Shikamaru's feet. The Nara unconsciously stared at his nape all the time, just paying attention in case he needed anything, like he always did. When they were finishing eating, Akamaru came to sit next to Neji and started leaking his face with his huge tongue. Instead of pushing him away, like he would have done in the past, the Hyuuga stroked the dog's head, waiting patiently for the animal to stop showing him his love. When Akamaru finally finished and lay down next to him, Neji's hair was all matted. He took off his headband, which was about to fall to the ground, and started combing his thick mane with his fingers. This brought back a memory to Shikamaru's mind.
A hot afternoon, way more than a year ago, he was lazing on the grass next to Neji, who was meditating in silence by his side. It was a particularly windy day and the breeze ran fast between them. Shikamaru had closed his eyes and was enjoying the sensation, but at some point he had opened his lids to check on the Hyuuga. The boy was struggling with his hair, which fluttered in all directions, hitting his face. In that moment the Nara realized Neji didn't have his hair band, and that it had been that way from the moment he found him. He had probably lost it while being a prisoner.
After looking at him fight for a little while, Shikamaru had decided to do something for him. He could have give him his own hair band, but he really hated having his hair down. So instead, he took one of his shirt's sleeves and ripped the elastic off. Then, he sat and approached to the Hyuuga,
"Here, this will help", he said, taking Neji's hair with his hands.
The Hyuuga stood still, thought he seemed to hesitate. "What are you doing?", he asked, a little uncomfortable. Shikamaru imagined he never let anyone touch his hair.
"Relax", he answered calmly. "I always tie my own hair. I think I can do this".
Neji didn't reply and let him work. The Nara was very careful to avoid pulling his hair and hurt him. Less than a minute latter, he had tied Neji's dark amne in a high ponytail, which fell on his back, swaying with the wind.
"There you go", Shikamaru announced. The Hyuuga took a hand to his head, feeling with his fingers.
"A ponytail?", he asked, not convinced. "I have never in my life wore a ponytail".
The Nara watched him in silence for a few seconds, admiring the boy's thin neck and his beautiful pale skin. "I think it looks great on you", he said honestly. "Besides, is the only thing I can do".
He saw Neji smiling a bit at his compliment, and he felt a nice and warm sensation on his chest.
Ino's voice brought him back to the real word, but he still had his eyes nailed to the Hyuuga's nape. When Neji finally gave up trying to fix his hair, he simply raised his hand in the air, holding his hair band between his fingers. Shikamaru saw the signal and acted immediately, as if it was a reflex. He leaned forward and took the hair band from Neji's hand. Then, he combed the boy's hair with his fingers, and worked quickly to tie it in a high ponytail. The Hyuuga let him do it, acting like it was the most natural thing in the word. Shikamaru didn't realize he was doing it, until he finished and straightened back in his place. He saw through the corner of his eyes that his friends were staring at him in confusion, but he decided to ignored them and act as if nothing had happened. Ahead of him, Neji didn't looked uncomfortable at all. Finally someone talked, and the strange moment was left behind.
Less than an hour later, they got up and started heading to the tents. Tenten walked in front of him, holding Neji's arm and leading the way for him. In a second, Shikamaru realized they were about to split up until the next they, something that had not happened in two years. When the two friends waved goodbye and entered their tent, he felt a strange emptiness inside.
Neji sat in the floor over his sleeping bag, after Tenten showed him where he would sleep. The tent didn't seem very big, but there was enough space for both of them. She was listening to his friend as she repeated how happy she was to see him again while she prepared to go to sleep. For a moment he lost track of her words, because his minds was focusing on Shikamaru.
They were about to sleep in separate places for the first time in two long years, and it definitely felt strange. He wondered if the boy was feeling something similar, or if it was just him. Forgetting about Tenten for a second, he focused on perceiving Shikamaru's chakra. He found it quickly, not far away from there. The boy was standing in front of his tent, speaking to who he thought was Kiba. After a few minutes, the Nara separated from his friend and walked to Neji's and Tenten's tent.
The Hyuuga heard him trying to enter, and this made Tenten let out a little scream of surprise.
"Who's there?", she asked.
"It's okay", Neji answered calmly. "It is Shikamaru".
"Oh", the girl simply replied. Seconds later he heard the Nara's voice inside the tent.
"Hey", he said. Neji tried to read his emotions in his voice, but he sounded mostly tired.
"You should knock, you know?", Tenten told him, though she didn't sound angry. "I could be naked".
"There's no door", Shikamaru answered, as he walked forward inside the tent.
"Then clap your hands or something", the girl added, and Neji heard her sitting over her sleeping bag.
"I'll keep that in mind", the Nara responded, as he walked towards the Hyuuga. "I just came to check on Neji". Slowly, Shikamaru approached and knelt in front of him. "Hey. How are you doing?", he asked in a whisper, though he probably knew the kunoichi could hear them.
He wasn't going to say it, but he was happy the Nara had took the time to check on him before going to sleep. He was really wishing he could have say goodbye to him before they got separate. "I am okay", the Hyuuga replied softly. "How are you?".
"I'm fine", the Nara answered. "You think you'll be okay by your own?".
"Hey", Tenten interrupted. "I'm here. If anything comes up, I'll help him".
Neji knew that was true, but he also knew that was not why Shikamaru was making him that question. They were about to spend a whole night away from each other, which meant they wouldn't be holding hands in their sleep for the first time in more than two years. It felt very strange, and he understood why the Nara was worried.
"I will", he answered, and smiled to convince Shikamaru.
The Nara took his hand and Neji accepted it, feeling comforted by his touch.
"If you need me I'll be right in the next tent, okay?", Shikamaru asked in a kind and sweet voice.
Neji he clenched his hand, grateful. "I know", he answered, smiling again. "Thank you".
Shikamaru caressed the back of his hand with his thumb for a few seconds, and Neji silently thanked for the affectionate touch. "Okay", the Nara said, and let out a deep breath. "I'll see you tomorrow. Rest well".
He stood up, and gently let go the Hyuuga's hand.
"You too", Neji replied. A moment later Shikamaru left the tent, leaving the two friends alone.
"Wow", Tenten said not far away from him. "He really takes care of you".
Neji smiled, still feeling the Nara's touch on his hand.
"He does", he answered, and lay down, wishing Shikamaru was there by his side.
Hi there!
I'm sorry it took me a little longer to post this chapter. I had been a bit busy, but I finally managed to finish it!
I had a lot of problems with the redaction this time. For those who still don't know it, english is not my first language. You can probably tell by the many mistakes on the writing, but I'm doing my best to get better!
I'm not sure how to refer to animals in english. That's why I kept referring to Akamaru as a "he". I don't know if that's okay. If it isn't, please let me know!
Thank you for all your support and for following this story! I really hope you enjoy this chapter!
Till next one!