A/N: Sorry I made y'all wait so long! I just want the chapters to be a pretty good length. I will probably add little filler chapters every now and then just to tie you guys over into the next real chapter. My sister has finally went back to college so now my (almost) undivided attention has returned to this story. Let's dive right in!
Thank you for the favorite and/or follow: Neon-Orange-Ninja-Penguin, Perish Angel, Choking On A Dream, EncyclopediaBritannica, ImYourDestiny13, Angelic demon chick, and Princess Wolfcub
Sanura Bey: Thank you so much for the review and for reviewing that little filler! I really appreciate it. (': We'll just have to wait and see for our little Shikoba now won't we and maybe our little "Kaara" relationship as well...Stay tuned!(;
Dani66: Hey there Dani, always great to hear from ya'! I'm glad you finally had time to read the little filler lol and now you need more? Ask and you shall receive! ;)
Guest: Thank you for your review loving guest! Stick around for more Shikoba!
Guest: Thank you lovely guest! I'm happy you liked the little lovefest that happened with Shikoba. So much fluff! His reaction might go either way at this point. (;
Guest: Thank you beautiful guest for your review! I really appreciate feedback especially since you think my work is great!
Crazy Devil Girl: Always great to hear from you! Tbh I cried a little writing it lol. I think his reactions is going to be shocking, but it's all just one...big...setup. SPOILER ALERT!
EncyclopediaBrittanica: Thank you so much for your review! I'm dragging like Naruto lol. My build up and plot combinations won't pickup until shippuden. All of this hooplah is just getting to know everyone and introducing everything. I apologize for all the slowness.
A/N...AGAIN: On an extremely serious note; do you guys want me to include the war at the end of shippuden or would you rather I change it up? I'll leave it up to you guys, it can go either way and it won't bother me lol. Let me know your answer in a review or pm.
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*Kabocha POV*
I couldn't do it. The memory flashed again and again behind my closed eyelids. My veins almost constricted at the coolness, almost like cold water, racing through my body. A different kind of calm encasing my entire being from the inside out. That simple memory. That same memory that changed the dynamic of Shikamaru and I's relationship for the better. I opened my eyes looking straight into my father's eyes briefly, but only thinking about Shikamaru...my tamer.
I raised my scythe and let it disappear back into the summoning scroll. Zu's eyes flickered closed, a condescending smile touched his strong features. "I see you've made your c-choice…" Blood splattered from his mouth all the way up to my naked torso. My blank gaze giving nothing away as to how I was feeling.
I leaned down to hiss into his ear, so not even my father, Shosha, or Gin could hear me. "You're right...I've chosen to stop doing what my father wants. I'm going to be whatever I need to be...to bring him down, and bring my big brother back to take his rightful village." His eyes snapped open to look into my fury gaze. "You're either with me or against me. You can decide for yourself." He opened his mouth to respond, but more blood splatter, this time onto my face. I didn't even flinch as I stood to my full height turning to the proctor and the medics.
"He can no longer continue." I told them as Zu began to convulse. I stepped over his jerking body making my way to my forgotten armor, as I was turning I also met Gaara's crazed yet slightly disappointed expression. My elbow started to itch in the same place as before. I brushed my arm absentmindedly, thinking nothing of the little particles of sand falling from my arm.
I turned away from Gaara and paused to look at the collected headbands in the hidden compartment inside of my armor. I turned my head slightly to look at Zu being carried away. 'I won't be collecting his headband today.' I thought picking up my armor, but I didn't bother putting it on. I carried it with me backup to where I previously was.
I ignored every single gaze that was burning holes in my body. I could hear Lee and his sensei discussing me thoroughly, but not in a bad way...kind of. The focal point of everyone's gaze being the angry light pink scar peeking out through my long sleeve, cropped mesh top. "Kabocha…" Naruto said to me as I was about to pass him, his hand reaching out to grasp onto my wrist since my hands were full. I stopped turning to look into his pretty blue eyes. "You were...AWESOME!" Naruto screamed, but my hearing wasn't all the way healed so it didn't bother me too much.
I could feel my eyes sting at his praise. I gave him a closed eyed, stupid grin at his happy smile. He was praising me...the monstrous general for almost killing a fellow comrade. I wasn't used to praise for my elite skill, Naruto's kindness touched my heart and soul. "Thank you...my brother." I opened my eyes to see him frowning. "Hey...what's wrong. Why're you crying?" Naruto asked starting to become frantic and even more loud. I blinked through my blurry vision and shrugged at him.
"Hey." Internally I jumped violently at the voice I had been waiting for. I turned to look impassively at Shikamaru. Choji, Ino, and Asuma looking at me over his shoulder. He was hesitant and almost moving cautiously towards me. He gently took my armor from me placing it on the ground. He stood to his full height, and not his usual slouched over, nonchalant manner. "You did great," was all he said as he wiped my tears away. My eyes widened of their own accord, he kissed me making everyone gasp and choke.
He wasn't bothered by the blood...or the ugly scar on my body. He held my face between his strong hands making me swoon. He pulled away before I could fully respond. I opened my mouth to speak, but was cut off by Ino's big mouth. "Gross, Shikamaru!" She shoved him out of the way, I rolled my eyes. She began wiping my face of the blood, my headache worsening at her rough ministrations. "Troublesome, woman." I heard Shikamaru sigh from beside Shosha.
"You're one scary opponent, Kabocha." Choji said breathing a sigh of relief. I burst out into laughter at the fact that he was afraid of me as an opponent, but not in day to day life. "I'm inclined to agree." Asuma said smirking at me, I returned it with a small smile.
The names flashed by on the screen once more. It displayed the makeup wearing sand boy and some person from Kabuto's team judging by his similar attire. I wouldn't be caught dead matching my siblings let alone my teammates. Misumi went down quickly while Kankuro went down at a more leisure pace.
I took up residence in the front instead of in the back like last time. I wanted to see if either of them were better than their comrades. Especially Kankuro considering the nine sand ninja we killed with ease. I rested my arms on the bars, leaning forward slightly as the match commenced. Gin and Shosha took up positions on either side of me. Kina stayed back to break up Shikamaru and Ino's slight argument about Shikamaru kissing me with my face covered in blood.
"You know you're digging a grave for yourself...killing him would have been the easier option." Gin said watching as the malleable ninja wrapped around Kankuro trying to make him give up. I snorted in disagreement, "he's your teammate, Gin."
"Be that as it may.." Shosha cut in after a moment of silence. The silence was caused by Kankuro's neck snapping. "Good riddance." Gin said as him and Shosha snickered. I rolled my eyes at their brutality.
"Anyhow...I agree with, G." Shosha continued making me roll my eyes even harder. "Of course you do." I watched as Kankuro's head turned all the way around to reveal that Kankuro was actually wrapped up the entire time. Shosha held his hands up in surrender. I ignored him in favor of being amazed by Kankuro's puppet. I had never seen a puppet master before, it was a truly intriguing sight.
"Creepy." Gin shuddered, Shosha and I looked at each other and then roared into laughter just as Kankuro finished Misumi. "The big, bad Gin is afraid of dolls." I bellowed with Shosha, leaning against Gin. He shoved me away and into Shosha with a scowl.
"First of all, it's not a doll it's a puppet. Second, we're getting off track. You need to watch what you're doing, being reckless isn't going to bring Tsuyoi back. You have to work smarter, not harder. You should have killed Zu for our cause." Gin said looking me in the eye. He was being serious for once. "Now, he's going to be even more ruthless with you. That scar should be proof enough." My scar throbbed at the thought.
"I'll...I'll be more aware of my actions." I bit my lip making one of my fangs cut into my lip slightly. "That's all we're asking." Kina said making all three of us whip around to face her. She was wearing a grin looking at the screen. We moved to look at the screen as well to see her and Sakura's name. I pursed my lips in...I don't know how I felt about the match up.
Kanpekina Hana v.s Sakura Haruno
Kina's grin turned into a smirk, she turned away from us, and made her way down into the arena. I followed her and Sakura with my eyes. Sakura trailing behind Kina with her head held high. "Relax, Kina." All the lava shinobi looked at Shosha surprised that he was telling his girlfriend to go easy on the "enemy".
Kina's red eyes cut over her shoulder past Sakura to glare at all of us. I shrank away so I wasn't in her line of sight. Shosha met her stare head on, his gaze didn't even waver. "The leaf...aren't the lava, Kanpekina." My whole being shook upon hearing him say her full name. She turned back around ignoring him with a shrug of her shoulders, her 5'11' frame leading Sakura once again. Gin hummed from my left, Kina and Sakura stood across from each other.
"She's going to kill you once you two are alone." I whispered to Shosha who looked down impassively at his tamer. "You mean elbow all of his organs into submission." Gin corrected me with a chuckle. Shosha continued to ignore us.
"What's up…" My insides jumped in surprise at the sound of Shikamaru's voice so close. I really needed to get my hearing all the way fixed so I could hear people coming. "...with Shosha's comment earlier about leaf ninja not being like lava ninja." Shikamaru continued.
"Begin match!" The proctor bellowed. Kina wasted no time going after Sakura. Kina also had her staff out and on the attack. I furrowed my eyebrows looking at her take a jab at Sakura's face, completely forgetting about Shikamaru's question for a moment. I squinted looking closely as she gave Sakura time to dodge. She wasn't using her full power, or going nearly as fast as she could.
Shikamaru poked my cheek extremely close to my mouth. My heart stopped beating momentarily at the thoughts firing up in my mind. I let them burn to ashes, turning to look at my boyfriend. "Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you Maru-kun." I giggled as he sighed and rolled his eyes at me. Sakura barely dodged Kina's swing once again, my smile quickly turned into a scowl. She was pulling her punches, but not by much since Sakura hasn't even had a chance to be on the offensive.
"Shosha wasn't being mean or anything…" I said slightly distracted watching their match. I didn't know whether to be annoyed or relieved that she was going easy on her. IT was a little disrespectful if I was being honest. "You've seen me fight...twice. I wasn't even trying my hardest, Maru-kun." I explained not looking at him.
"Y-you m-mean you weren't e-even fighting t-to your f-full potential!?" Choji spluttered loudly. I nodded looking over my shoulder. "During the scroll segment we had to fight at our full potential because we were outnumbered...not by much only three extra. It was nine sand ninja versus my team and Gin's team-"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah they're all dead. Moving on. KINA STOP PUSSY FOOTING AROUND OUT THERE!" I covered my ears in agony at Gin's annoyed screaming. "I'm about to rip my hair out at all of this half ass fighting! We weren't trained to fight like this! Knock-" Gin was shut up by Mae's hand over his mouth. I was surprised that she had stepped in at all. Kina and Sakura had also stopped to looked up towards us.
"You're going easy on me...aren't you." Sakura questioned Kina with a sad frown making me frown as well. She seemed to really hate the fact that she was giving her all while Kina was barely even trying. "Guilty." Kina said with a small, guilty smile. She shrugged her shoulders twirling her staff nonchalantly.
"I don't want you to baby me, Kina!" Sakura shouted at Kina, her little smile disappearing at the fact someone was raising their voice at her. "Sakura, I don't think that what you're asking is a good-"
"Don't even say that! I am a ninja just like you. Fight me like I am one! I'm not afraid to lose!" She called out with a victorious grin making Naruto cheer loudly for her. Sakura tied her headband traditionally around her forehead. I heard both Gin and Shosha click their tongues. I smacked my lips together in disappointment at how this was about to go. "She just created a monster." Shosha whispered loud enough for everyone to hear him.
"W-what do you m-mean!?" Naruto asked startled. Everyone went from staring at Shosha to looking at the two kunoichi in the arena. Kina stopped spinning her staff, dropping down into a low crouch with her staff out and ready. She was expressionless, going after Sakura without a second thought. Kina's chakra lit up her staff, she was much faster than Sakura, and she made sure she knew it.
Kina hit various parts of her body. Bruises began to bloom on her body in the matter of seconds. She was going over her internally, much like the Hyuga gentle fist except she attacked muscles and veins. She was the best with mid range attacks, water jutsus, and immobilizing enemies by smacking them with her staff covered in chakra. The match was over only three minutes after Sakura gave her little speech. Kina was going all out on her. Sakura dropped to the ground...almost...had it not been for Kina running forward to catch her bruised and beaten body.
"Sakura Haruno is unable to continue. The winner is Kanpekina Hana." The proctor declared as the medics rushed out. Kina held out one hand to stop them from taking Sakura. "She's not unconscious just immobile. I know how to heal the damage I've caused quickly." Kina said bringing her back up to us despite the medics' complaints. She laid her down gently, Naruto fussing the whole time while Choji quivered in fear at being called next.
"The next time you tell me to take it easy. I'm not going to take it easy on you." Kina's hard voice was clearly directed at a smirking Shosha. Kina didn't even look up to acknowledge him as she worked on Sakura.
"Even though I think it was unnecessary for Shosha to tell Kina to take it easy. I can see why he would tell her that. You guys have four years of extra training on all of us. We may have still been in the academy, but your village trains sooner than ours since your nation isn't a great nation bound to the rules." Shikamaru stated beside me looking at the rapidly changing electronic board.
"You're right as always...Maru-kun." I saw his whole body snap towards me at the way I said his name. I smirked at how me saying the precious nickname I gave him a certain way made him feel some kind of way. The third member of Gaara's team, and the girl from Neji's team was up next. Lee and his sensei began cheering loudly making me embarrassed for her. All of that cheering I felt was unnecessary.
"What a drag that she gets that mean girl as an opponent." Shikamaru closed his eyes and shook his head. I blatantly stared at him, and then looked down to the sand girl named Temari. "She's not that scary…" I said not trying to lower my volume. The only female he should be afraid of is his mother...and maybe me in certain situations.
She must have heard me judging by the way she looked over her shoulder at me. I glared right back into her odd colored eyes. Greenish-blue? A color I hadn't seen before, and kind of reminded me of Gaara's just of a different shade. She rolled her eyes, turning to face TenTen. I clicked my tongue with a smirk.
"I hope I get her next round." I said it outloud, unconsciously licking my lips at the thought of my wind scythe against her fan. "W-why wo-would you w-want her!? S-she's wiping t-the floor w-with h-her!" Choji stuttered watching the quick match like the rest of us. I scrunched my nose up in annoyance at the fact he was afraid of her...she was nothing compared to me. Compared to Kina even.
"She's just jealous." I almost broke my neck to look at Naruto. Everyone jumped back from the death glare I gave him...well everyone minus Naruto. He was damn near immune. He knew that I would never hurt him intentionally which took away the fear just like with Shosha, Shikamaru, and Kina.
"You're jealous that Shikamaru called her mean. It wasn't a compliment BoBo-chan, and besides you're way prettier than she is." Naruto told me with a grin. My glare disappeared only to be replaced with a bright blush. I looked back down onto the match. Tenten falling onto Temari's fan, and she flicked her away into Lee's arms.
"Hey, Naruto…" Everyone's attention left Lee, Tenten, and his sensei to watch Shikamaru. "I've never heard you call Kabocha pretty before. Where did that come from? Why did you blush Kabocha?" Shikamaru was no longer slouching, but his hands were still in his pockets. His body was now facing us, closing the circle we had unknowingly formed.
"Oooooh, this is getting good!" Ino cheered shaking Sakura making me want to smack her, but Sakura did it for me. "Shikamaru, calm down. I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it. Kabocha is a pretty young lady." Asuma said winking at me, I rolled my eyes with a small smile. Shikamaru's entire demeanor had changed, and it seemed Asuma wasn't going to sway him.
"No offense Asuma-sensei, but this is between me, Naruto, and Kabocha. I'm just asking a question." Asuma held his hands up in surrender taking no offense to Shikamaru's blatant dismissal of his opinion. Shikamaru still had his bored tone but he was tense, and the look in his eyes said he was anything but bored. "What're you getting at!?" Naruto practically screeched as the electronic board started back up.
"Okay calm down you two. I hate to admit this, but my sister is pretty. Naruto is like our family. There's no need to be jealous Shikamaru." Shosha grinned at my boyfriend and Naruto. "He was just trying to reassure her that you're not into ponytails over there." Shosha had no shame as he pointed at Temari across the way. She was talking to the painted, puppet boy. Gaara standing a good ways away from them with his eyes closed. He seemed to almost sense my staring, his eyes snapping open to meet my own. I looked away to glare at Gin.
"We like our women aggressive, so you calling that sand girl mean made her a little jealous is all-" I stomped on Gin's foot making him yelp like a little bitch. "See, pain is sexy as hell. Have you seen Kina and Shosha's relationship-" He was hit once again, but in the back of the head by Kina while Shosha belted out a laugh.
"Stop talking for me. Shikamaru calm down you have no reason to be jealous." The screen finally stopped to reveal another surprising match up.
Ino Yamanaka v.s. Shosha Kasai
Shosha whistled lowly looking over to Ino with a hidden worry. "Looks like you get me kid." Shosha shrugged waving his hand in front of his body. "Ladies first." She grinned walking ahead of him with a flick of her ponytail.
"I know I've said this before, but we're definitely going to have a talk after the matches are over." Shikamaru told me leaning his upper half against the rail. I studied his profile briefly to gauge his mood. He didn't seem angry or anything. However, he did look slightly annoyed. I raised my hand to touch his back, but thought better of it. I didn't want to get all personal during the matches, his match hadn't even happened yet. I just decided to lean next to him, close enough to touch him.
"Begin match!" The proctor called out. Shosha dropped low, bending his elbows and leaving his index and forefingers out. Ino immediately tried her mind transfer jutsu on him, but he was more than ready for it. Shosha was the fastest of our generation by far. I had power over him, but his speed was practically up to par with uncle Hikari. He was too fast for her to even dream of catching, frustration began to show on her face.
"That's incredible!" Naruto cried out just as Shosha got close enough to strike her arm. Ino didn't scream, she just looked a mixture of confused and pissed. "He's so fast!" Naruto would have fell over the railing if I hadn't grabbed him by the back of his jumpsuit. Of coarse he was fast, he was training to take uncle Hikari's spot as the top assassin in the village, but I kept that little detail to myself.
"Your brother's speed...is even faster than you…" Choji whispered in alarm for his teammate. "Must be weight training. I'd know that kind of speed anywhere." I jumped and turned to face Kakashi Hatake. I was really getting annoyed with people sneaking up on me, I definitely relied too much on my hearing. I was going to have to find ways to train to hone my other faculties. Neji's sensei flashed a knowing smirk to Kakashi making me purse my lips at his familiarity. Him and Lee were so much alike.
"Ino isn't going to win this one, troublesome woman." Shikamaru had his eyes closed, but I could tell he was worried by his stiffened posture even though he was leaning over the railing still. "Come on Ino pig! Is that all you got!" Sakura cheered for her rival, I smiled over to her the same time Kina did.
"I'd like to see you do better, billboard brow!" Sakura's distraction cost her the match. Even though it was an already lost battle. Shosha was going easy on her the same way Kina did on Sakura. We weren't fighting at our best this go round, and I'm sure all of this tiptoeing would end as soon as the next round came. The best of the best would be left. The thought crossed my mind as soon as Shosha struck her in her legs and remaining arm. He moved in rapid succession, catching her as her limp body fell. She grunted loudly, falling into his waiting arms.
"She is no longer able to continue, the winner is Shosha Kasai." Shosha grinned down at Ino, carrying her backup to us like Kina did for Sakura.
"Can you heal her, Kina?" Shikamaru asked immediately as Shosha handed her over to Asuma gently. Kina shook her head, "she's just paralyzed, her muscles and joints are numb from Shosha's direct hits to her pressure points. She should be fine in about two hours." Kina explained while looking her over. Shosha worked on immobilizing his opponents without causing much damage to the joints and muscles. Kina's attacks destroyed her opponent from the inside out. They both focused on muscles and joints, just in different ways.
"That's good to hear. You did good, Ino!" Choji tried to reassure her, but she scoffed rolling her eyes at him. "Are you kidding me!? If billboard brow hadn't of distracted me I would have figured out how to beat him! Now, all of my limbs are paralyzed! This is terrible-" I drowned her out, Asuma began trying to comfort her while Choji tried to back peddle his statements. Sakura joining in the argument after she heard Ino call her billboard brow.
"Your whole team is going to the next round. I can't say I'm surprised." Shikamaru told me also ignoring the bickering behind us. I turned to observe his relaxed again profile. I blinked not wanting to scare him with my staring. "We are trained to be the best...or else." I gave him a wry smile, my gaze briefly drifting to my father that stood next to the hokage. His entire body stiffened once again. He was about to speak, but the electronic board stopped.
Shikamaru Nara v.s. Kin Tsuchi
"Oh man, what a drag...and it's a girl too." Shikamaru sighed loudly. I squinted at him annoyed at his girl making a small evil part of me want him to get beat up by the sand village girl. Shikamaru turned to me abruptly, startling me out of my dark thoughts. "What are you-" He pecked my lips, and stepped around me to make his way down to the arena.
"Good luck." I mumbled with a blush. "You two are sickening." Gin said with a scrunched nose, but a small smile. Shosha also feigned illness at Shikamaru's display of affection. Kin tapped her foot impatiently waiting for my boyfriend to arrive. He took his sweet time entering the ring, and even then he didn't take his hands out of his pockets.
"Come on Shikamaru! Get pumped!" Ino screeched from where she was propped up against the wall. "Yeah, Shikamaru." Asuma laughed out agreeing with Ino. Choji stood tall watching his best friend with a serious face. I knew my little nerd was going to win despite my earlier mean thought I didn't want him to get hurt.
"Are you worried?" Sakura asked me, and I smiled at her. "Nope."
"Begin!" The proctor shouted through a cough making me cringe. She jumped away from him, all he did was take his hands out of his pockets.
"Ha! I've already seen your stupid shadow jutsu. There's no way your going to beat me now, little man." She grinned maliciously at him, my hands came up to grip the bars. My nails slightly poking into my hands. I clenched my jaw as his shadow reached out, but she was just out of reach. She dodged and threw senbon with bells.
She had him on the defensive with all those damn senbons. She had laced some of her bells with thread. She yanked making him go stalk still, my eyes widened as two senbon met his forearm. He crossed his arms, he flew back into the wall with a yell.
"Shikamaru!" Ino cried out, my teeth clenching hard enough to make my headache into a migraine.
"Well that was fast." Naruto stated with a flat look, pissing me off even further. The metal bars in my hands began to groan because of the pressure I put on them. "Kabocha." Kin tired to soothe me, but I wasn't going to fucking listen until he was safe and backup here with me. He snatched the senbon out, a determined look on his face. Even if I could scream I wouldn't, I didn't want to distract him.
She yanked on her stupid ass bells once again. Shikamaru swayed on his feet, falling to his knees as she explained her bell trick like a fool. If she made it to the second round, which i doubt, we'd all know her tricks. "I'm going to cook you nice and slow over a nice, hot fire." She grinned down at him. I hissed unknowingly drawing attention to myself. I'd fucking show that sound, bell throwing bitch fire. She threw three more senbon, each meeting his body. The metal began to bend in my strong grip.
"Kabocha, relax. He's going to be fine." It sounded like Shosha was in a tunnel talking to me, but at the end of my tunnel was that print wearing bitch. She was about to throw five more at him, but froze. Shikamaru stood to his feet with a smile full of triumph.
"What's going on!?" She cried out, my elongated fangs cut my lips because of my grin. Music to my fucking ears. "Seems like my stupid shadow jutsu worked out after all." His shadows began to come to life as he explained how he caught her using her own thread.
"So, what we mirror each other's movements. Cute trick, but what do you gain by it?" Shikamaru smacked his lips together in annoyance. "Man, your annoying. Just shut up and watch." Shikamaru took out a shuriken, throwing it with a smirk on his face. I burst into laughter as she went to dodge, but she bonked her big ass head. Ino and Choji cheered happily for their teammate.
"Now, that's what I call using your head." Shikamaru grinned making me sigh in relief. He put his hands back in his pocket, smile still in place. He made his way back to me. I let go of the bars to meet him halfway, so we would be slightly away from everyone. The electronic board sped by once again, but I didn't pay it any attention. Before I even addressed him, I yanked three needles out in rapid succession. "Hey! You couldn't give me a warning first!" I grinned at him, kissing his cheek and then using what little medical ninjutsu I knew to heal the little puncture holes.
"Alright! Now, it's my turn!" Naruto called out. I shook my head with a grin still in place. "You better win, Naruto." I laughed sticking my tongue out when he did. Mae went past me as well, right after Naruto.
"Do your best Mae. Don't hold back." She nodded through her curtain of hair. Shikamaru looked at me confused. "Why did you tell her not to hold back." He questioned with raised brows. I met his pretty eyes and grinned. "Naruto would have a fit if she didn't give him all he could handle."
Shikamaru hummed, his eyes going over my shoulder. "Good match, Shikamaru. You have my respect." Shosha said with a serious face. My eyes widened as he accepted Shikamaru.
"Sho-nii." I whispered making him smile gently at me. Shikamaru looked a just as surprised as I felt. "All three of us should talk later. We're going to go check on Zu." Shosha nodded me, and I returned it with a serious expression.
"I'll be back, Maru-kun." I grasped his hand gently as I brushed by him. Shosha followed after me, we went down the stairs and slipped out of the arena. We made it to the medical bay and into Zu's room. He lay with his eyes closed, but he wasn't sleeping judging by the irregular rise and fall of his chest.
Shosha stepped around me, reaching out and pinching Zu's nose. Zu began to struggle, and Shosha let go when he opened his eyes. He looked slowly towards Shosha and then me. I waved with a fake smile.
"You know what we're here for." Shosha was straight to the point, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall by one of the machines assisting him in some way. "You should know my answer. I am loyal to our leader, just like you should be. Plotting to overthrow him is foolish, and all because he got rid of Tsuyoi-" I hissed loudly, Shosha raising his hand to silence me.
"So you're saying you won't join our cause even after Kabocha spared your life?" Shosha questioned just to confirm, he pushed off the wall to stand at his head. "I am going to tell him exactly what is going to happen because of his precious children. I will follow our leader until death-" Shosha cut him off as he snatched the pillow from under his head, putting it over his face with ease. There was barely any struggle considering how banged up he was, his legs did most of the flailing. Shosha's arms flexed making sure to apply extra pressure.
The struggling slowed down...his chest rose slower and slower...until it didn't rise at all. The struggling had ceased. Shosha calmly removed the pillow with a straight face, putting it back under his head. He used his hand to close his still open eyes. He turned to me and began to make his way out of the room. I looked at how peaceful he looked, thanking Shi he didn't have any monitors monitoring his breathing or heart. I turned away beginning to follow my brother out.
"What a dishonorable death." I whispered looking over my shoulder and left.
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So so so sooooo sorry again for the wait! I will try to make sure it doesn't happen again. Please don't forget to answer my war question! See you all in two weeks!