A/N: HAPPY CHAPTER TWENTY! Thanks for all of your love and support! Nice long chapter for you all! Let's dive right in! P.S. I'm currently writing the christmas special because an idea hit me like a ton of bricks!
Thank you for the favorite and/or follow: Bumble1013, karrotcakes, and Crazy Devil Girl (you review so frequently that I thought you were already favoriting and following lol)
Guest: Thank you so much for the lovely review! I'm happy you're enjoying the story so far.
Guest: Thanks a ton for the great review! I'm ecstatic you're loving the drama! There is way more to come for Shosha and Kabocha's scheming ways. (;
Guest: Thank you very much for the perfect review! I really appreciate that you thin its original and that it's great so far. I'm trying really hard to mix my ideas and Naruto's plot together, so I'm glad to see everything is working out so far!
Crazy Devil Girl: I absolutely LOVE hearing from you! I totally appreciate you answering my war question as well (it looks like we'll be having the big war)! I'll make sure to keep to the regular scheduled programming (updating), I can't have one of my favorite reviewers worried! Seriously, I'm really glad you're enjoying everything so much, brings me to tears. Love ya' more! (;
Sanura Bey: Always great hearing from you! Thank you, thank you, thank you for answering the war question! Looks like it's going to be included! Zu's death was anticlimactic, but necessary lol, and to be honest I had no idea how I was going to kill him until the end. A small voice inside of me said "smother his ass" and I ran with it. Personally, I think it could have gone down a different way now that I look back at it. The plot is FINALLY in the rising action; as soon as Kabocha mentioned going against her father it was on! SPOILER ALERT: You're about to be really upset with me where Shikamaru and Kabocha are concerned. *ducks and hides*
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*Normal POV*
Shosha looked around the corner, everyone's eyes resting on the scoreboard including their clones. "You ready?" Shosha asked looking behind him to Kabocha, her face stone cold. She gave a small nod in affirmation.
They both held up their index and middle fingers on their right hands. "Transform." Both of them now looked like basic medics. The turned the corner, their clones coming down to greet them. Both of them ushered their clones around the corner to keep up the ruse. "Release." Both siblings said together, their clones disappearing in a cloud of smoke, and they now looked normal.
They had to make sure the smoke cleared away from everyone. Now, they had a story as to where they were in case Zu's death was ruled as a murder. Their clones had also been standing close enough for Shikamaru and Choji to see, but not close enough for them to hear. Shikamaru would unknowingly be their witness, as well as Choji except he would be their unbiased witness since he wasn't romantically involved with Kabocha. It was only a precaution just in case anyone acknowledged their romance.
Shosha and Kabocha leisurely went back out and up the stairs, believable smiles plastered on their slightly tan faces. The electronic board going off in the background signaling the next match. The smiles dropped from their faces as medics collected Kiba, Gin waltzing back up the stairs to his usual position. Everyone was clearing the way for him as he did so. Kabocha quickly looked over to Kiba to assess the damage. He was bloody, but still able to speak. He had gotten lucky considering his opponent. He was able to still talk to Hinanta when in actuality Gin definitely would have killed him. Kabocha and Shosha picked up speed to meet Gin half way.
"What happened?" Kabocha questioned quietly, lightly grabbing his arm. Gin looked down at his general, glancing over to his best friend discreetly. He knew they had missed both Naruto and Mae's match and his and Kiba's match. "I won." Gin shrugged shaking her hand off his arm, and placing his hand on her shoulder.
"It's done." Shosha's mouth barely made any noise as he answered Gin's unspoken question. Gin nodded without an ounce of remorse for his lost teammate. He had chosen his side, and knew the consequences that went with it.
"How much of your techniques are they aware of? Mae?" Kabocha asked wanting to know if extra training was needed for the next round of matches for either of her comrades. "Mae lost her match, and no one knows about her ritual jutsu. She used her dance of the shuriken jutsu. I only used my mole, earth jutsu on that dog kid. It didn't take much. All of my best moves are still hidden away." Gin explained looking over Kabocha's head making her glance over her shoulder to see Neji and Hinata facing off. Shikamaru was also watching the three of them. Gin removed his hand from her shoulder with a smirk.
"Let's go join everyone else." Shosha suggested noticing how tense everyone was watching the two Hyuga clan members. It finally came down to Hinata moving to strike Neji first.
Gorudo stood quietly watching the matches go by mostly quickly. Especially when Lava shinobi were involved. He was certain that all of them would have made it to the next round, but Kabocha's matchup surprised him as well as Naruto beating Mae. "I'm surprised by the Lava, Lord Jun, pleasantly so." The Hokage stated briefly looking at the taller, younger man.
"Thank you Lord Hokage. Our teaching program and teachers are to thank. Our program was implemented by my father." Jun spoke graciously, never taking his eyes off Kabocha and that Nara boy. He would have to do something about that soon.
"Hm. I hear your brother and brother-in-law are also excellent teachers. I think we have something to learn from you, Lord Gorudo and Lord Hikari." The Hokage hummed looked at the mute brunette and raven haired assassin.
"Yes, they are both formidable teachers. We would be happy to assist in any way we can Lord Hokage." Jun inclined his head slightly towards the Hokage, glancing quickly at the sand village Kazekage.
"Looks like Jun is slitting more wrists to strengthen the alliance to the leaf." Gorudo clicked his tongue watching Hikari. Hikari scoffed, rolling his ice blue eyes in annoyance. "I made a deal with Hokage already years ago, he's just entertaining Jun at this point." Hikari had confirmed Gorudo's suspicions from all those years ago when Hikari and the Hokage had spoken alone at Kabocha's first going away party. She was only five at the time and completely oblivious.
"The Hokage is already spreading you thin as his personal mission taker. The kids are starting to notice, so I'm sure Jun has noticed as well." Gorudo kept his face neutral as his late love's younger brother smirked. "I don't really give a damn as long as my agreement is honored. I'm not breaking my back for nothing around here, as long as I do what he says then he will give military aid to Kabocha when she needs it." Gorudo had to commend the younger man. He had foreseen so far into the future. People only gave Hikari's skills credit instead of his mind, his personality made it hard for people to think he was far more intelligent than most.
"Lead her to victory, my brother. She will need all the support she can get." Gorudo's golden eyes locked with Hikari's ice blue gaze. "She will need me just as much as she will need you." Hikari answered back. All Gorudo did was look away and hum.
Kabocha watched the fight closely. Hinata was good, but she could tell Neji was better. There was so much brutality behind each of his strike. Every single one of his movements were filled with intent and purpose. He was going in for the kill. That statement made their last encounter before the exams cross her mind.
*Flashback*
Kabocha pressed her dress down for the upteenth time, holding flowers in her small hands she knocked on the compound door. She was seven at the time, with Neji being only eight years old. The door slid open revealing Hinata's mother. Kabocha quickly bowed, and looked up to the pretty woman.
"May I see Neji-chan please?' The older woman smiled gently at Kabocha's large, innocent golden eyes. Her dark blue dress contrasting greatly with her bright orange hair and little orange shoes. This was the first time meeting the foreign girl, so she took her time with assessing he. When she began to squirm is when she answered her.
"I'm sure company is just what he needs right now." Kabocha smiled shyly as Hinata's mother stepped us, letting her in and then leading her down a series of hallways. Kabocha made sure to remember her way out, so she wouldn't have to bother anyone.
"He's in here, he's still quite upset. Don't take anything he says too personal." Hinata's mother smiled gently at her and nudged her inside the room. She shut the door as soon as Kabocha was all the way in the room. Neji sat directly across from the door with his back facing the door. Kabocha cleared her throat to alert him of her presence. She walked closer sitting two feet away from him, and facing his back.
"I brought some dragon lilies from my village. They uhm...they grow right on the edge of volcanoes. They actually adapted to the hot temperature there, so they like a lot of heat and sunlight-"
"Why are you here?" Neji cut her off, startling her from her rambling. "Well...I would have come sooner, but your family said that I wasn't allowed at the funeral. I'm really sorry about your father, Neji." Neji laughed brutally right as she was done speaking.
"You sound just as bad as Hinata, and your just as ignorant to the situation as she is." Kabocha furrowed her eyebrows when the word ignorant left his mouth. She wasn't offended….yet, she didn't know how his father died after all.
"You're right, Neji, I'm pretty ignorant about what's going on here. Explain, help me understand what's going on. I'm your friend and I want to help-"
"Would you stop already." Neji sighed turning slightly to look over his shoulder at her resting on her knees, her hands crossed in her lap. She was formally dressed just to come and see him. A piece of him wanted to hug her, but he was angry and hurt….and he wanted everyone to hurt just as much as he was hurting.
"You're not my friend and you will never understand what I'm going through, so I'm not going to explain anything to you. Come back and talk to me when you know the pain of losing a parent. Please leave." Neji turned to face the wall once more. Kabocha moved so swiftly that Neji didn't even hear her leave until his door was splintering from the amount of force she used to slam it. He was surprised by the amount of power in her little body. He even had a few questions, questions he would never get to ask because she was gone. The little pot of dragon lilies where she left them
*End flashback*
The memory left Kabocha's mind just as quickly as it came. Their two year friendship had ended because of him, and she had no intentions of rekindling it. Especially now after he had hurt Hinata so badly and over what? Neji damn near killing Hinata if Kurenai had not stepped in on her behalf. "Don't ever tell us to take it easy ever again. That girl is his family and he went all out on her." Gin said covering his mouth, so people couldn't see his smile.
Naruto was down there as soon as he could be, he vowed to take Neji down for Hinata. Kabocha shook her head with a smile, Gin and Shosha rolled their eyes at how chivalrous he had to be. Kina also smiled at how nice Naruto was. It was a quality that was rarely seen amongst their type of shinobi. The electronic board started right back up, and the matchup was quite surprising. Lee screeched excitedly with Gai pumping him up. Gaara looked bored, going down into the arena in a swirl of sand.
"Looks like your secret admi-" Kabocha slammed her foot down on Shosha's foot. She was not in the mood for one of Shikamaru's looks and attitude all because of Shosha's mouth. However, Gaara did look over his shoulder at her. Kabocha felt her face heat up slightly at his undivided attention. She wasn't smitten with him, she was embarrassed that he was giving her the time of day when he never cared about anyone else. He turned back around, him looking over his shoulder being extremely subtly except to all of the Lava villagers in attendance and the Hokage.
"Begin match!" The proctor said loudly after a coughing fit. Lee went in right away, kicking and throwing punches but never even denting Gaara's defenses. The entire room went still as Lee jumped on the statue and Gai gave him the go ahead to remove his weights. Apparently he was surprised that he would allow it. He dropped the weights from his hands, no one thinking anything of it until...two massive craters were created in the arena.
"W-what the hell!" Shosha shouted leaning over the railing to get a better look at Lee's forgotten weights. He was amazed by the weights, but downright floored by Lee's speed. Gin whistled from his side.
"You think you can beat him in speed?" Gin asked his best friend whose amazed expression turned into a scowl. "Nope." Shosha answered back honestly to everyone's surprise. Lee was nothing but a blur as he matched Gaara's defense. Kabocha gasped as Lee got a hold of him and did his famous leaf hurricane. Everyone looked at her as she gasped, she hadn't made a sound during Shikamaru's match, but she looked startled watching Lee match Gaara.
"You okay?" Shikamaru asked her, Kabocha snapped out of her trance to look at her longtime crush and now boyfriend. "Yeah, just surprised is all." Kabocha gave him a convincing smile which he returned slightly.
"It really is a surprise. I didn't think much of him until he took those weights off." Shikamaru admitted just as Gaara stood eerily from the hole that his body had created, a manic grin plastered on his face making Kabocha stiffen. She knew what was about to happen to Lee. The Shukaku had awakened, hell, maybe he had been awake since the start of the matches and no one had noticed because of his sand armour. Kabocha was now leaning on the railing with Shosha, but for completely different reasons. She was contemplating...whether she should intervene or not.
Lee had released his some extreme form of taijutsu to Kabocha's knowledge from hearing Gai explain to Kakashi why he showed him a high level technique. Personally, Kabocha thought it was none of Kakashi's business what Gai taught his students. Kabocha watched as Lee tore his body apart to beat Gaara.
"This is bad." She murmured, subtly pulling out her summoning scroll for Aisuru Kaze. Shosha grabbed her wrist as soon as he saw her hand move. "What do you think you're doing?" He hissed ready to take her scroll away.
"You know as well as I do that Gaara will kill-"
"That's none of our business, Kabocha." Shosha was positively seething at the fact that she wanted to intervene and further ruin their plans. They had to placate their father for a lot longer, or at least until the final stages of their training was completed because right now there was no way that any of them could beat him now.
"I already have a score to settle with Gaara of the Desert. I also know what he's capable of. There has been sand itching me since I met him, all that scratching was to get rid of it. He isn't someone to trifle with especially since this little sand tracking jutsu of his is still going. The bottomline is that he is strong, Shosha, and I want him gone." Kabocha hissed back just as ferociously. Shosha leaned away from her slightly in shock. He didn't even know how deep the connection between his sister and this sand teen ran. He was shocked to hear the implication that they had interacted on more than one occasion.
"You have to let this go, Kabocha. We have an end goal, and he won't be getting in the way of that. We know there will be casualties, but it's all for the greater good." Shosha explained more calmly once he realized that their heated conversation was drawing attention. Kabocha huffed smoke through her nose, briefly clouding both her and Shosha's vision.
"I'm not putting my scythe away." She told him with a firm scowl. Shosha rolled his eyes and stood to his full height. "I'm not asking you to put away Aisuru Kaze. I'm telling you not to interfere. Got it." Gold eyes clashed as they stared each other down. Kabocha wasn't one to take orders, and it was rare for Shosha to even give any, let alone to his own sister.
"That's enough." Shikamaru said, both pair of golden eyes looking turning to him. He didn't even flinch as he placed his palm on Kabocha's stomach, pushing her back away from Shosha since they ended up right in each other's face during their disagreement. Kina also intervened, gently pulling Shosha away by his hand. He went without argument, his eyes never straying away from Kabocha.
"You two looked like you were going to start fighting." Choji said watching Kabocha with Asuma and Ino. Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura none the wiser to the quarreling siblings. They were too absorbed by the brutal match below.
"It wouldn't have been much of a fight. Our uncles and father wouldn't stand for it." Kabocha said solemnly watching Gaara and Lee's match again, her blood once again firing up in a way she still wasn't used to.
"I'm glad they would have stopped you two. I didn't plan on intervening in that little battle, that was way too intense for a small argument." Asuma observed, Kabocha didn't look at him and hummed in agreement. "Really Asuma-sensei! Your that scared of them!" Ino shouted making Asuma crack up with laughter.
"I just didn't want to get involved." Asuma said with a shrug, a smirk on his tan face. Choji was worried for Shikamaru considering how he was looking down at the red headed sand ninja. It was look as if he was strategizing, but he also looked irritated.
Lee's body finally gave up on him, Kabocha's eyes widening as she watched Gaara's sand crush Lee's limbs. Lee cried out in agony making everyone beside the Lava shinobi gasp out. Kabocha held her breath, hearing everyone's heartbeat in the room. The loudest being her own as it thrummed in her head and ears. She could hear blood flowing so clearly, she could hear the air being taken in each time anyone breathed. She could see every grain of sand attached to Lee, and on Gaara's sand armor. She was being overwhelmed by her senses especially since she her hearing wasn't back up to being what it used to be, but now it was far beyond that. She could smell emotions, damn near taste them.
Gaara went in for the killing blow, and Kabocha couldn't control herself. She was up and on the railing before anyone could grab her, scythe appearing in her hand in a flash. All of her teeth and claws elongated and sharpened. She growled ready to fight. It wasn't so much as defending Lee, it was about fighting Gaara for power. Power that she was afraid of, but she would never admit to. She would never admit to being scared of anything, but she was afraid of how Gaara made her feel. It was foreign, and it felt wrong. She wanted it to stop, and she felt this was her only chance.
A growl ripped through her chest and out of her mouth, her legs tensing to jump down and fight Gaara to the death. Everyone's eyes widened at her actions, none of them being fast enough to stop her in her current state….except one man.
Gai had disappeared to save Lee from certain death, merely flicking the sand away with the strength that everyone rarely seen. Hikari was on Kabocha before she even left the railing, binding her arms behind her so that Gorudo could come and perform one of his specialties. Gorduo slammed his palm into the center of her back placing a sealing jutsu. Kabocha cried out in anger and pain. The sealing jutsu sealing away her dragon bloodline trait. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head, she fell forward unconscious. Gorudo yanked her back into his arms, so that she wouldn't go over the railing. Aisuru Kaze fell from her grasp, Hikari caught the weapon with a grunt at the weight.
Shosha stood to the side as Gorudo began to carry her away, her usually tan skin now slightly pale. Kina looked on in obvious worry for her future sister-in-law. Everyone's attention was split between Lee and Kabocha. Everyone except Gaara and Shikamaru, they were giving Kabocha their undivided attention. Hikari followed close behind, and everyone noticed that Jun was no longer standing beside the Hokage. "Wait a damn minute! What just happened to her! I've never seen her like that, and what did you do!" Shikamaru was one level down from screaming, he made sure to block Gorudo from leaving with her any further.
Gorudo actually looked down at the teenager with a softness that he only reserved for family. "Come and see her after the matches are over. I think it is time you know what you're getting yourself into. She will be resting at my home here in Konoha." Groduo told him quietly. Shikamaru's eyes widened as Gorudo and Hikari stepped around him. Asuma touched his shoulder lightly to give his support. He had never seen anything like that in his life. She seemed fine one minute, then into some trance watching the match proceed, and then she lost it.
"Go after her after Choji's match. I'm sure you two have a lot to discuss." Asuma told his student, he almost thought favorite student but that wouldn't be fair. "You have no idea." Shikamaru grumbled, glaring holes into Shosha's stiff form.
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*Kabocha POV*
I blinked several times to get rid of the blurriness. I looked outside to see how dark the sky was. I have no idea where I am, or how I even got to this unknown place. I looked to my left, spying one of the only photos I kept in my room in Konoha. It was a framed picture of me and Naruto. Strange I wouldn't have me and Shikamaru here, but he stole the other two photos I kept in my room here. I realized that he had three photos of mine, but I was getting off track. I was clearly in my room at Gorudo's apartment.
Once I was fully awake, I became aware of the searing pain in my back. I gasped at the burning pain covering my entire back. It was a pain up to par with the pain I experienced from my father almost killing me. "I see you're finally awake, troublesome woman." The voice to my right startled me from my cringing and gasping. I whipped to the right to look at Shikamaru. The events from earlier...or yesterday...or however long ago it was coming back to me upon seeing his face.
"How long ago was the matches?" I straight out asked, wanting to avoid his impending questions. "It was about six hours ago. Choji lost his match which was a drag. It's currently midnight. You've been unconscious from the sealing jutsu your uncle placed on your back." Well that would explain the pain, I thought pursing my lips.
"Now…" Shikamaru said leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, his hands dangling between his legs. "What the hell happened to you? Explain to me exactly what you are, Kabocha. I asked you to be my girlfriend during the second part of the exams not caring what exactly you were, and that you were constantly keeping secrets from me. I'm giving you the chance to talk to me, to tell me everything about you. I'm not going to look at you differently. I've seen you covered in blood, and I've even kissed you with blood all over your face. I…" Shikamaru sighed, rubbing his face as he slouched over exhausted. "I'm begging you to tell me what you are…"
I literally had him begging me for the truth, my heart breaking for him. I turned to look at the ceiling with a wince. I could feel my eyes sting with tears. "I...I...can't." I didn't have to look at him to see his shocked expression. I didn't feel right now was the best time to tell him. I didn't have to turn to see that he was now on his feet staring at me. This was our first real fight...and I knew it was going to be a big one.
"Okay…" He whispered into the dark room, the only light being from the street lights outside. It was my turn to be shocked at his quiet response.
"...but I'm done." I tried to sit up as he continued to speak. What the hell did done mean? I let out a small scream as my back also cried out. Shikamaru gently held me in place, so that I wouldn't hurt myself further.
"I can't with all your secrecy. I told you I wanted you to be my wife someday and I meant that, but until you're ready to talk with me and be honest with me I have to be done with this relationship." He explained backing away from me and to the door. "Don't get up and injure yourself further to follow me. Maybe I'll see ya' round." Shikamaru said with his back to me, he left that night and closed the door softly behind him. I was so choked up with tears that I couldn't even tell him not to go, not to leave me like my mother and brother did.
I watched him turn his back on me and leave because I was afraid of telling him what exactly I was. I put my hands over my face letting out a heart wrenching sob that hurt my entire body, and all I could think is that he left me. He left me.
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So so sorry to do this to you guys. It kind of hurt me to write the ending to this chapter. Chapter twenty-one will be up in two weeks. See you guys soon!