Konoha, Suna and The Enemy

Temari paced backwards and forwards in her living room. Shikamaru sat on the sofa in front of her, his daughter, Shinju, next to him. The family were deciding where they would be based for the next few months. Shikamaru and Temari had both gained dual nationality due to their marriage, and so their children received it too. From birth, up until their academy training was finished, Yukio and Shinju had been raised in Konoha. Since then, they switched between the villages every few months. With the knowledge of impending war, Temari wanted to be close to her brothers in Suna, and Shikamaru understood this. However, they faced one problem. Shinju.
"I can't understand why you won't do this, Shinju! You like Suna; you have friends there, and your cousins too! Also, your uncles will be there. You'd like to see Gaara-san, right?"
Temari continued pacing as Shikamaru tried to reason with their daughter. The blonde girl shook her head.
"It's not that I don't like them, I just don't want to leave Konoha!" She whined, looking down at her hands.
It had been a week since Tsunade's discussion with Naruto. The Hokage had deployed patrol groups to the country's boarders, and had also send ANBU squads deep into enemy territory. As soon as Shinju got wind of this, she'd been scared. Moving to Suna might mean she never got to see him again. What if he was killed in the fighting? She'd never get to tell him how she felt. And now she felt she might die of embarrassment if she was forced to explain this to her parents. Instead, she decided to fain loyalty to Konoha – a village she only really saw as half her life – hoping to lead them in the wrong direction. She didn't count on her mother's intuition.
"Is this about that boy?" Temari said suddenly, wheeling around from her pacing to face her only daughter.
Shinju visibly shrank back in her seat.
"Which boy?" Shikamaru asked, eyebrow raised in interest.
"That Aburame boy!" Temari said, edging closer to Shinju.
The girl looked mortified. How had her mother found out about Taro? He didn't even know how much she liked him!
"Have you been reading my diary?" the girl shrieked abruptly.
Temari stepped back, lost for words.
Shikamaru quickly used his shadow-bind on Shinju before she launched herself at her mother.
Who knew a family would be so troublesome? he thought.

*

Akane awoke to find one of the Hyuuga maids had laid a breakfast tray on the table next to her, but it had now gotten cold. The Inuzuka slowly crawled out of bed, aching all over from her training the day before. Instead of retreating back to the warmth of her bed however, she got dressed and left the house straight away, heading for the training grounds. When she arrived, she saw Ichiru had beaten her there. He was getting faster, she thought to herself.
She watched as the boy hit out at a wooden dummy, and wondered how his taijutsu skills had become so advanced.
"Ichiru-kun!" she called, starting to move closer.
He span around, smiling widely.
"Want to train together? I could use a sparring partner." He said, walking to meet her halfway across the field of grass.
Akane smiled, "I'll have to go easy on you though."

*

Neji sat on the steps to the walled garden at the Hyuuga compound. The flowers were dying slowly in the cold weather, and he almost shed a tear for them. Almost. Footsteps behind him alerted him to Tenten's presence, and he soon felt her comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Neji, why not come to bed? The baby's kicking you know, you'll miss out."
Neji turned to look up at his wife, trying to smile as he did so. She stood behind him, one hand placed on her swollen belly. She rubbed the hand in a circular motion and smiled serenely down at the bump. Neji put his own hand onto her stomach. A sharp jab into his hand made him jump a little.
"I think this one takes after me!" she said, taking her husband's hand in her own.
He stood up, kissing her softly on the forehead.
"I'm going back to the hospital." He said, leaving swiftly.
Tenten was left standing in the cold, wondering what would become of her once perfect family.

*

Akane and Ichiru finally ended their sparring match, as it had become too dark to continue. His reactions were so fast now. She was shocked at how good he was. She'd fought without using her Byakugan, or the Hyuuga fighting style her mother had taught her, so as to let him practice a little. But soon into the fight, she felt she needed to use it. Was this the natural talent she had heard her father talking about? A few weeks before, Kiba had been discussing the Uchiha's progress with Hinata. Akane had been eavesdropping, and heard her father mention how well Ichiru had been doing.
"It's in his blood after all." She'd heard him say.
As Ichiru packed up his things, she watched him curiously. What was the Uchiha bloodline limit? Her father had said it was similar to her own. In the eyes.
Creepy, he said it was.
Ichiru looked around at her.
"Why are you staring at me?" he asked her, grinning.
Akane blushed, "Oh, was I? Sorry, in a world of my own!" she said, turning away.

*

Nara Shinju wept openly as she followed her mother and father. They were leaving Konoha tonight, and were on their way to the gates. Yukio had been sent a message where he was stationed with Uzumaki Dai, Inuzuka Haru and Inuzuka Kiba. He would go home to Konoha once relieved of duty.
The family finally reached the gates, Shikamaru placing his large bag of belongings onto the floor with a sigh, Temari scowling at him for being so weak.
Shinju stood awkwardly, waiting for them to sort out their papers for the trip. Temari was convinced Shikamaru had left them at home, but he was adamant he'd put them in the bag with his good clothes in.
As her parents pulled out the contents of the bag, Shinju sat on a small boulder near the guard's hut. A whisper behind her made her jump up.
"Shinju-chan! We came to say goodbye!"
It was Uzumaki Etsu, and behind her were Aburame Kiku, and…her brother, Taro!
Etsu hurried forwards and hugged her friend and teammate.
"I thought I'd give you this."
She thrust a picture of herself, Shinju and Kiku into Shinju's hands, and then walked off a little down the path. Kiku was next to hug her friend, almost crying as she gave her half a heart necklace.
"I'm going to wear the other half." She said, sniffing and then joining Etsu.
Taro awkwardly approached her, patting her head.
"My sister told me that you liked me." He said bluntly.
Shinju almost choked. She looked over at Kiku and Etsu, who were giggling behind their hands.
"When you get back from Suna, maybe we should go for ramen some time." He said, poking his glasses back up his nose. They seemed to have slipped down, as he was sweating with nerves (although Shinju wouldn't know this).
The girl nodded, dumbfounded, as Taro kissed her cheek, and followed his sister and Etsu.
Shinju turned, blushing brightly, to see her parents smiling at her from the gates.
"Don't say anything!" she said to her mother, "I'm still not talking to you!"
But Temari was sure she saw her smile as she headed off towards Suna.

*

In the hospital, all was quiet apart from the sound of Hoshi's heart monitor and her struggled breathing. Neji sat, his daughter's hand clasped in his. His head rested on the side of the bed, as he tried to catch some sleep. He knew Tenten would be upset. He knew that it was wrong to spend all his time here. But he also knew that Hoshi needed him, now more than ever, and he had to be there for her.

*

Ichiru lay on his front on Akane's bed, watching TV. Kin walked in, asking if Ichiru would be making dinner. When his brother said no, he wouldn't, Kin left without a word. Akane flicked channels, finally settling on a film about a princess, who was in love with a boy so clueless, it was a miracle he remembered his own name.
She turned slightly, looking at Ichiru's handsome face. Illuminated by the flickering light of the TV. He laughed as the boy on TV rebuffed the princess yet again, oblivious to her advances. Akane smiled at him, turning away again.
Somehow, she knew exactly how the princess felt.

*

Naruto sat at the dinner table with Sakura and Etsu. His face was grave as he discussed the latest news with his wife.
"One of my ANBU squads reported back, telling me that there is definite movement in Orochimaru's old palace. It seems someone has been occupying it for some time now. I can't believe I missed this one!" He said, slamming a fist down on the table. "It's only a matter of time before they launch a full-scale attack on us, I know it!"
Sakura nodded, slurping up some noodles.
"Naruto, Konoha is one of the greatest Shinobi nations there has ever been. With Suna as our ally, there is no way Kabuto is going to defeat us. You overthrew Orochimaru all those years ago. Now you'll definitely be able to defeat his old cronies."
"Sakura. Oh, Sakura. There's more…"
Naruto held his head in his hands, as Sakura looked alarmed.
"More…?"
"There is word that…Akatsuki may be involved."
Sakura breathed in sharply, dropping her fork with a clatter.
"But…But, Naruto! They were…they were all defeated."
The Hokage shook his head.
"You can never defeat evil." He said sadly, staring into his food.

*