Hello my faithful followers and readers; I have returned from a long hiatus to bring you yet another great chapter. I apologize for taking so long to produce as things have become recently very twisted and I was low on inspiration and drive to continue. I will not go into great details but I will tell you all that things back home have become rather twisted. Spring weather has come back to Washington and I for one am looking to enjoying every bit of it while I can. Can't say the same for the lower part of America who are currently in the middle of a winter maelstrom.
Note for this chapter: As many of you recall, I told you that the run of the story would be different. I decided to change to dialogue and back stories to the characters as I was not pleased with how the last version was proceeding. There will be some Shikamaru bad-assery included and more cunning on Naruto's part. No they will not be any shinobi dealings or random magical beings or monsters; with the exception of what fantastical beings/objects I deem necessary for the plot via; they must be practical and not cliché or impossibly powerful (Note: Like something akin to a Mary-Sue). Also, the circumstances of Naruto's capture will be different but end similarly depending on how I feel. Zaku, Kin, and Dosu will not be in alliance with any particular country or nation. They are merely stand alone thugs who will be explained more next chapter.
Warnings: language, excruciating suspense moments, vague characters, well that is pretty much it.
Disclaimer: Misashi Kishimoto is and always will be the sole owner and proprietor of Naruto manga/anime franchise.
Chapter 9: Tantamount Pursuits
Naruto awoke feeling groggy. Last night he had struggled in vain to fight off his ensuing anxiety and trepidation for the following day. He ripped the warm blankets off of him and looked around. The early morning darkness was steadily giving way to the light creeping in through the clouds. He sat himself from the bed and rubbed his eyes allowing a tired yawn to escape through his lips. He had removed the nightwear loaned to him by Shikaku and into his garbs from yesterday. He picked up a brush and began the frustrating task of detangling his long hair. He bit back a few swears so as not to wake his host. When that was done, he tied it up. He put on his boots and donned his cloak before exiting the house and sitting on the porch. He picked up the end of his ponytail and sighed.
"Sometimes I wonder why I even let it grow out so long as I did. It would be better to just cut it. At least then it wouldn't be such a hassle" he said to himself. The blond nearly jumped when a voice drawled.
"Nah, it's a complete drag to worry over something so trivial". Shikamaru had just gotten up and was also donned in a cloak. "Besides, you have rather nice hair. It suits you well" he said turning his face to hide his blush. Naruto blushed in kind. "I thought you didn't want to talk to me after last night's chat". Shikamaru shook his head. "I didn't at first but last night gave me a lot to think about. About last night, I was not angry at you per say. Anything associated with the upper class and the palace…there are just way to many bad memories for me". Shikamaru hung his head in sad repose. Naruto stared at his friend sympathetically. He wished there was a way he could bring up the stoic deer handlers spirit up. If only…wait.
"Ano, I know your friend Chouji!" he blurted out. Shikamaru whipped his head. Naruto shrugged his shoulders abashedly. "See, I was looking for work at the palace when I wondered into the kitchen by mistake and met him. He says he's sorry and that he was the one who started the fight not you" he finished. Shikamaru's eyes shuddered. He bit his lip and gripped the top of his knees.
"Why didn't you tell me any of this sooner?" he asked in a strained voice. Naruto gripped the folds of his cloak. "In all the fuss and assisting your family with chores, I sort of forgot. Also, your dad told me about the fight you two had. He didn't tell me all the details but it was enough that you two broke it off" he replied truthfully. Technically, it was the truth. Naruto made sure to leave out the part about finding out the reason for the fight and skillfully deceiving Chouji into helping him escape. He didn't know how Shikamaru would react to him having used his ex-best friend like that. Shikamaru looked upwards at the sky. His mouth curved into a crooked smile.
"Tch. So…that's the way it is? Pretty funny, that he sent you since he couldn't do that himself. Some things never change. Been that way since we were little. One of the many reasons he used to get bullied by the other kids. I of course would go in to stand up for him and the other kids would back off. (1) Then again, now that I remember it; I think they were more put off by my "scary glare" as they put it" he added humorlessly. Naruto giggled into his hands. Suddenly, a deep voice cut in.
"Well, isn't this a lovely sight. Instead of fighting you two are patching things up" the elder Nara said brightly. Shikamaru only snorted while Naruto smiled brightly. "Good morning, Mr. Nara. Sorry, if we woke you. Hope you had a nice sleep" he said sincerely. Shikaku rubbed the back of his neck and smiled. "As good a sleep as any man my age can get. That and I have a wife who badgers me every morning" he grimaced igniting a laughing fit from all three men.
"I heard that" a feminine voice replied disdainfully. Yoshino was standing at the door with her arms crossed and her lips pursed in a thin line. "Need I remind you, dear that my badgering as you call it has helped to keep this place in top shape for years. Since this farm has been in your family for generations, you better be damn well grateful that my badgering has helped to keep us off the streets. Now if you all excuse me, I have to go get breakfast going" she ranted before retreating back into house. The men all stood stupefied before bursting into another laughing fit.
Naruto wiped some tears from his eyes. "Boy Shikaku that is some wife you have there. It makes me wonder how in the world you can handle her everyday" he asked. Shikaku chuckled. "Yeah, she can be quite overbearing at times. Yet, it is because of her that my time on the farm is worthwhile. That is one of the reasons I fell in love with her to begin with" he said fondly. Shikamaru merely rolled his eyes and muttered 'mendousuke' under his breath. Shikaku cleared his throat and blushed. "But enough of that; breakfast will be ready soon which will be followed by some chores". Shikamaru groaned inwardly who was then met with a fist to the head by his father. Naruto slipped his hands into his pockets and entered the house.
Breakfast was eaten peacefully. The two Nara males departed for the fields while Naruto helped Yoshino to clean up the house. As Naruto was finishing up the mopping, Yoshino made a request of Naruto. "Oi, Naruto would you mind doing a small favor for me?"
"Sure, what is it?" he asked placing the mop into the bucket. Yoshino place a hand on the blonde's shoulder. "You have been more than a great help to my family, my son especially. In fact, I believe because of you Shikamaru can now heal and move on. But that is not what I wanted to talk to you about" she stated. "If you don't mind, could you run to the village and gather some things? I would do it myself but alas I have house duties to perform and plus tending to the deer is a full time responsibility. Plus that my husband as strong and skillful as he is at farm work, he is rather reckless and [a] bit of a klutz!"
Yoshino and Naruto giggled heartily. Once they calmed down, they stared at each other. Naruto smiled at the woman. He could barely remember a time that he was able to laugh so freely with someone or he was part of a happy family. "Sure thing Mrs. Nara. I will be sure to do that and be back in a jiffy. Just let me grab my cloak real quick" he said. As Naruto ran down the hallway, Yoshino called out to him. "Be sure to bring Shikamaru with you as well. I think some time away from the house will do him some good. He complains so much about doing work all time". Once Naruto donned his cloak around himself, he took the list from Yoshino before heading out to find Shikamaru.
Finding Shikamaru wasn't that hard. When he was told what his mother had said, Shikamaru merely replied 'mendousuke. Although if one looked more closely, the deer handler was quite pleased to get a break from such tiring chores. As they neared the village entrance, Naruto pulled up his hood and hung his head earning a perplexed look from his friend.
"Why are you pulling up your hood?" he asked. Naruto sighed. "This is so I don't attract any unwanted attention" he said. Shikamaru would have chortled had it not been for the sad look on the blonde's face. They soon reached the food stands. With the aid of Yoshino's list, they knew what to grab. At the first stand, the owner flinched when he spotted the cloaked figure approach.
"Listen, I don't know who you are or what you want but if you don't' he then noticed the wisp of blond hair peeking from beneath the hood. "Naruto is that you?" he asked. The figure nodded and lifted his hood to show his face. "It is Hamda-san. Sorry for not having come by in so long" he said. Hamda sighed in relief. "Where have you been young man? Haven't seen in you in god knows how long? What are you up to now? Is that jackass Kazuko driving you up the wall again?" he asked sympathetically. Naruto shook his head.
"Nah, not anymore. I pretty much told that bastard what I and the rest of the village thought of him. So long story short, I'm now jobless. But hey, its not a total loss" he replied glibly. Hamda shook his head. "Well if it comes down to it, you can come to work at my food stand. It would be no problem for me" he offered. "By the way, how is your family?"
Hamda grinned. "Clementine and the kids are great. They have been asking about you for awhile and wished you would visit more often" he said. The man then noticed Shikamaru who was leaning against the stand poles. "I apologize young man. I didn't notice you there. Would you happen to be a friend of Naruto's?" he asked. Shikamaru scratched the inside of his ear with his pinky finger and muttered 'mendousuke'. Naruto laughed. "Oh Hamda, you should know who this is. This is the Nara's only son, Shikamaru. You know the family who owns the deer farm?"
Hamda gasped. "Oh of course, I'd recognize that face anywhere. You're Shikaku's son. This is the first time in a while that I actually have seen you in the village. Things must be busy at that farm of yours" the man stated. Shikamaru shrugged. "I guess". Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "Shikamaru doesn't talk much" he said. Hamda nodded understandably. "That is perfectly understood. But oh listen to me ramble. You must be here to pick up some things". Hamda thankfully gave Naruto what he requested and paid the man what was owed, despite insistence to take it for free. The rest of the shopping trip continued without incident, save for the few where Naruto spoke with them. That is what Naruto liked about the shopping district. Here, people treated him like he belonged there.
Shikamaru let out an exasperated groan. "Shimatta, Naruto. Do you have to talk to people for three freaking hours everytime you go shopping?" Naruto put a hand to his lips to stifle his giggling. His other hand balanced the basket full of items. "I'm sorry Shikamaru-san. I was just so excited to see them again that I wanted to catch up on things" he explained. The raven rolled his eyes. "Just as long as we are done" he began slowly leering at the blonde. Naruto scratched at his cheek and laughed. "Well…not exactly" he giggled nervously when Shikamaru glared at him as if to say 'what now?
They stood before a medium sized wooden shack that had once been Naruto's former home. None of the young men said a word. Shikamaru glanced at Naruto who stared at the place that held many memories for him, good and bad. This was where he was introduced to the man who would later become his uncle and mentor. This was where he was taught the tools and trade of manufacturing and selling fabrics. It was also the one place in Konoha that he felt truly at home. Three years might not have seemed long enough for a human lifespan but to the young man, it felt like an eternity ago. And now, his home was going to be given to someone else like a family probably.
"So this is where you used to live huh?" Naruto nodded. "It also used to belong to the former tailor of this village before he moved to Kumogakure. "So how come you didn't go with him?" he asked. Naruto rubbed his fingers over his bangs. "Genjiko-san was getting older and wanted to retire peacefully in Kumo. I didn't want to hold him back or slow him down, so I told him to go on without me. I stayed behind to take over his art. It did not work out so well since no one would really buy from me, a foreigner, a stranger with next to no experience" he said bitterly with steely eyes. "So I ended up selling off my merchandiser's license and the deed to the business to someone else and with no other work in sight, with the exception of those places that I would prefer to avoid at all cost, I ended up as a lowly fruit stand worker (2) ".
"I can sort of understand that but how come you never left? I mean don't get me wrong, Konoha is pretty nice I guess, but surely a more fulfilling way of living can be found elsewhere" Shikamaru said cynically. Naruto exhaled deeply. "I don't really know the paths outside the village. Besides, roads are too dangerous. There is too great a risk of being captured by slavers" he concluded. And the fact that people have often told me enough that I'm far too beautiful not to be noticed.
Shikamaru didn't prod for more. Naruto would tell him more on his own time. Gripping the handles of the basket, he commenced walking away only to find he was by himself.
"Oi, where are you going?" he demanded to the blond who was slowly walking toward the cottage. "I just want to take a final look and see if there is anything inside that I can salvage before the place is sold" he answered. Shikamaru groaned and rolled his eyes. "Alright, but any second longer than 5 minutes, I'm leaving you behind" he warned. Naruto 'tched' and walked up to the shack. He sighed wistfully as he reached beneath the mat and grabbed the key. He unlocked the door with ease and stepped inside.
Everything appeared normal at first glance. There was no sign of intrusion or forced entry. Then again, the first thing he saw whenever he entered his house was the miniscule kitchen that contained a few wooden cupboards, a ceramic stove with a mini fireplace beneath it, and a small circular table with two measly wooden chairs. He heard a snort behind him. He didn't need to look behind to know who it was. "Never did I think it possible. That there are places even crappier than my house. If not more" he mused. Naruto smiled. He knew that Shikamaru had not intended to be cruel. Only astute observations.
Naruto continued moving down the hallway. He checked the work rooms where his teacher would usually be found weaving beautiful fabrics/clothing. He checked every inch to see if something had been left behind or hidden away. He rarely went inside the room since his old mentor left. Naruto preceded to check every nook and cranny in the place for any trace of something useful in life.
"Please don't tell me you never once thought to check the place while you lived there" the pineapple-haired man exasperated. Naruto folded his arms behind his back and shifted his left foot side to side. "I guess I never thought to look before. Genjiko-san made sure to pack all his possessions hidden well. Including money that he would keep in the…" Naruto smacked his forehead with his palm. "I can't believe how stupid I've been. I just remembered" he exclaimed excitedly. He ran out the room and to the outside with the latter following right behind him. Naruto ran back to the kitchen and immediately began to pull out utensils and pans from the cupboards. Shikamaru crossed his arms before demanding to know what was going on. The blonde's voice was muffled but it was distinguishable through the echoing inside the cupboard. He shifted his body inside the tight confines.
"Almost there…a little more…AHA! I got it!"
Naruto pulled himself out with fluid effort and held a purple sack the size of three palms. He opened it to show it was full of coins. "I knew the old man would never leave me empty handed" he said with a large smile. Shikamaru tapped his foot with an edge of impatience but smiled. "Great now that you have what you wanted…can we go home now?!" he asked. The blonde looked up at him and nodded.
()
The two soon reentered the village. Naruto laughed giddily as he talked with Shikamaru about what he planned to do with the money loaned to him. He began to fan himself for the sun began to beat down on the village and it was becoming rather stifling beneath his cloak. He took off his hood.
"Well, well, well, look who decided to show himself in the village once again" a voice mocked. Naruto swerved his head slowly to the direction of the source. Standing side by side with their hands propped on their sides and staring at him in a condescending gaze where the daily banes of his existence. They were in their late teens, two boys and a girl all looking the epitome of wannabee thugs. One had dark spiky hair that stuck straight up and was held by a bandanna. The other man had his face concealed by bandages and likewise wore a camouflage headband. The female had long sleek black hair with the end tied almost reaching the ground, dark eyes, and pale skin. They all took several steps just stopping a foot before Naruto and Shikamaru.
"Who are these guys Naruto?" the raven whispered. Naruto glowered at the three. "Just only the banes of my daily existence; Zaku, Dozu, and Kin. Foreigners just like me from the Sound Country".
The girl spoke up. "Nice to see you out in the open again, freak. And who might your little friend be?" she said craning her head to look behind him. Naruto glared. "None of your damn business, Kin. Now if you will all excuse me, Shikamaru and I have somewhere else to be" he sneered and began to walk away. He did not get far when his arm was caught by a strong grip. He was turned around to face Zaku.
"Not so fast. First, we need to talk about business arrangements" he smirked. Naruto pulled his arm away. "Get your hands off me! I have nothing to discuss with you. Now why don't you and your loser friends go and harass someone else because I am just not in the mood! Come on Shikamaru".
Once again they were stopped, this time by all three. Zaku crossed his arms and smirked. "Apparently Naruto needs to be reminded of who we are" he spoke to Dosu who began to approach Naruto who instinctively clutched his basket. A whirl of black blocked their path. Shikamaru stood with his arms wide apart and giving them all a glare that could melt steel.
"Go find someone else to bully you assholes. Naruto wants nothing to do with you. So go away!" he snapped. The thugs all took a step back. Kin recovered and smirked as if she came to some twisted revelation. "Hey boys, isn't that deer handlers son? You know the one that got rejected by that duchess because she have standards you simply couldn't fill?"
Shikamaru skid to a stop. "What-did-you-say?" he ground out each word. He glared evilly at Kin. "Oh did I strike a nerve? What happened? Did princess decide you were no good for her and opt to dump you for the prince? Everyone in the village knows the story and by the way…I even heard some of the villagers laugh about it". The three lowlifes continued to heckle insults. Shikamaru gripped his hand into a tight fist, his lips pulled back into a snarl, his eyes lit up with a strange light. Naruto stood there watching the scene and gasped.
"Shikamaru don't. It's not worth it. Let's go before it gets dark" he reasoned. He knew what was happening. They were trying to bait the raven into attacking so they would have an excuse to attack. Shikamaru exhaled from his nose and clasped his hood tightly around himself. But Zaku wasn't finished. "Too bad you and fatso had to break things off, cause then you wouldn't have to force yourself to be saddled with this loser next to you". All went quiet, and before anyone could blink or utter a swear…
SPLAT!
Naruto's azure eyes bulged out of his head whilst Shikamaru made a face as if to say 'oh shit you done it now. Zaku's face was covered in mud that had been thrown straight at him by Naruto. Zaku growled as he wiped the muck off his face and glared venomously at the two offenders.
"Uh boss, are you…"Dosu was interrupted mid-sentence as Zaku shot his arm up to silence him. "Let's get that bastard!" As the three advanced, Naruto quickly pulled Shikamaru away from the scene and ran straight for the village. The two teens ran fast amongst the crowd trying to evade their would-be assailants. They hid inside a narrow alleyway to catch their breath. Naruto then came up with a plan.
"Quickly, switch cloaks with me" he yelped. Shikamaru glanced at him. "Are you crazy or something?" he retorted. Naruto rolled his eyes. "Look it's me that they are after not you. If we switch cloaks, they will mistake us for the other. Since they can't chase after both of us, it will be indistinguishable to catch us if we are in different places. Then, first chance we get, we rush for home base" he explained. Shikamaru quirked a brow at the blond. "Your house Shika-san" he iterated. Shikamaru scrunched his nose uncertainly. Finally he relented. "Alright but first let me check to find the coast is clear" he ordered. Shikamaru inched slowly out of the alleyway and craned his head to check around the corner. He propped his head back inside and nodded to Naruto. On cue, both boys exchanged cloaks before rushing back into the crowds.
The heat of the day increased as the hours passed. Shikamaru panted heavily as he propped himself against a building. He wiped some sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. He narrowly avoided getting caught by the wannabee thugs. Fortunately, his time working on his family's farm had granted him speed and agility combined with tact. Also, it helped that he was born with a rather large brain. Using those skills, he managed to trick Zaku and his cohorts into following him and escape each time.
He cursed inwardly hoping that Naruto's brilliant plan did not get the both of them killed or maimed. He regained his breath and continued on barely removing the hood to get some wind to cool his head.
"There he is. Don't let him get away!"
Shikamaru cursed and bolted. He ran up to the outer fields where people rarely ventured save to explore or to take nature walks. He looked behind him briefly to see if he was still being followed. His heart palpitated when he saw Kin blocking his path. She grinned evilly at him and held up a large dagger in her hand.
"So it is down to you as it is down to me (3)" she replied sardonically. Shikamaru stepped backward but Kin only laughed. "Ha as if that is going to help you. I gotta admit though, you sure had us taking the merry-go-round chasing you around like that. Even more impressive, switching cloaks with the loser to trick us" she mocked chuckling into her hand. Shikamaru glared hatefully at the girl.
"How did you guess?" he asked of her. Kin crossed her arms miraculously without cutting herself on the blade. "First off, Naruto wouldn't just take off without hurling some sort of insult or spin some yarn about 'making us grovel on our hands and knees' and that sort of shit" she guffawed. Shikamaru glanced at her plainly. "What do you have against Naruto? What did he do to you?"
Kin twirled the blade between her fingers looking away from Shikamaru. The deer handler glared at the mocking way she curled her lips into a condescending sneer. "I find it strange that you should be asking us questions when you should be more worried for the welfare of your little friend" she placated. Shikamaru stiffened when he realized Zaku and Dosu were not in sight. Which meant…
"Naruto" he whispered before veering his footing to run after his friend. A glint of metal whirled past him and embedded itself into the tree he was about to pass.
"I wouldn't do anything so hasty if I were you. There is plenty more where that came from" she advised. Shikamaru stared at his adversary who was currently carrying several sharp needles between each of her fingers. "Now let us not make this harder than it needs to be. Just come quietly and I promise you can go back home to your pretty little farm and parents again. I highly doubt you will get such an offer from my two associates who as we speak are likely giving a courtesy call to your friend" she advised in a saccharine tone. Shikamaru only response was to take three steps back. Kin rolled her eyes.
"If that is the way you want to play it, well then' she pulled back her arms with the weapons in hand 'perhaps a few rounds of needles in the brain would' she was interrupted mid-sentence when a flurry of soil, pebbles and dirt was thrown toward her causing her to cough. The dust cleared to give way to Shikamaru who ran straight at her with a large stick in his hand. She cursed inwardly and threw her needles at him which he blocked before tossing it to the side. He ran straight up to her and pulled something from his pocket and swung the object at her which she dodged causing her to fall backwards on the ground. Kin looked back up to find Shikamaru standing above her holding what she believed to be a knife. But at closer inspection, it wasn't.
Shikamaru smirked at her and opened his palm to reveal a small arrow-head shaped stone that looked as clear as black polished glass. "Surprised much? Apparently you are not the only one with tricks up their sleeve" he iterated mockingly. "This is a flint stone. I found this little guy a couple years ago on our farm while I was helping to clean out the pens. Don't exactly know where it came from; probably something that got left behind by the first settlers of this place during a hunting expedition. I figured this would come in handy for situations like this".
The deer handler tapped the tip of his stone against his arm in a sort of mocking gesture. Kin turned her head sideways and spat. "I'm surprised you didn't grab my knife when you had the chance". Shikamaru sighed. "It would be troublesome for myself and my family if I were to spill blood. Also, I don't much fancy for violence. Now let us make this easy on ourselves and let me go free so that I may find my friend" he asked with a serious tone. Kin swallowed the lump in her throat. She knew she could easily fight him off. However, the look in the deer handler's eyes showed he was in no way a weakling and with that stone he held, he could easily cut her throat and she would be done for. The two dark haired teens stared one another down. Finally, after what seemed to be hours, Kin sighed in defeat.
"Fine! You want to go find the blond so badly then go to him" she yelled kicking her feet like a child who got put in timeout. Shikamaru stood up and bowed graciously to her. "Thank you. I will be sure not to forget this. And who knows perhaps someday you might be able to return the favor" he concluded smiling at her. Kin sat there taking his words into consideration before scoffing. "As if I'd ever" she mused. Shikamaru picked up his cloak and began to walk away from the area.
"Now to go and find Naruto and" he stopped mid-step to find his path being blocked by several of the famed royal guards. And they were not alone.
"Pray tell deer handler…where is Naruto?"
Just on the other side of where Shikamaru was currently engaging in a stalemate with Kin, Naruto had successfully avoided another capture attempt by Zaku. He was hidden amongst the eaves of a large Alder tree, panting and sweating. Luckily, he managed to create several false trails for his pursuers to follow even going so far as to discard the heavy cloak at the foot of one of said trails. Tears welled up in his eyes as he thought of the possible fate of his friend. How careless and selfish he had been to force the deer handler to exchange cloaks with him so he could get away while his friend suffered. If he had not insisted on going back to the cottage and retrieving that purse of coins…he shook his head trying to not to imagine it.
He halted his breath as his would be pursuers stopped just a hair-length from where he sat. If they looked up, it would be all over for him. As if by miracle, they departed making the boy sigh in relief. Sadly, his reprieve would only last so far. He overlooked from atop the branches and saw the entrance leading outside the village. If he could somehow reach the entrance without running into his attackers, he could easily make a beeline for the Nara's house. Shikamaru was bound to catch up later. Of course, they would have to explain to Yoshino and Shikaku why they were so late and hopefully they would be forgiven. That was easier said than done. It was getting late and only time would tell if things ran smoothly as planned.
Hmmm…I wonder what Naruto's next course of action will be? Just who did Shikamaru run into just now? Note: Zaku, Dosu, and Kin will not be enemy ninja working for a titular antagonist. They are merely just poser thugs with nothing better to do than to roughhouse and cause trouble for people. I have to say though this was by far the hardest and longest chapter to write by far. It was fun however to have added some new ideas to the mix. I wanted to give Shikamaru more character and a less passive personality when dealing with situations. Like in the anime when he faced off against Temari; instead of just forcing her to quit the round, he merely surrendered himself and proceeded to congratulate her on winning the match. I wanted to put that part of Shikamaru in the story to show his humble nature. As opposed to Sasuke and Neji who gloat about their victories or downgrade their opponents, Shikamaru shows more tact.
Naruto was not intending to be selfish when he suggested to Shikamaru to switch cloaks with him. What I intended with this was that Naruto and Shikamaru would switch cloaks therefore causing the three thugs to chase after them in an effort to confuse them. Then when the coast was clear, they would re-switch cloaks and walk home safely back to the farmhouse. Sadly, that didn't happen and now our two protagonist are at the mercy of three aggressive gangsters who have less than pure intentions toward them.
Read and Review.
Chapter Footnotes:
(1) It is often stated that as a young boy, kids would often either bully or avoid him because of his weight or eating habits. It wasn't until Shikamaru came around that he was able to make some friends.
(2) In running a business, one is required to have special certification so that they are not accused of cheating taxes or running illegal business vouchers.
(3) One of many quotes from "The Princess Bride".
