Chapter 2

A sharp crack resonated through the training grounds as the stump split under the attention of a small figure. Three people huddled together under a tree nearby, watching the small girl take out her uncharactistic fury on an inanimate object. It was a fascinating, if terrifying, sight. Their laziest member had just wiped the floor with her two team mates during their training before turning her anger on the stump. Chakra flickered around her panting form, a swirling mix of azure blue and smoky black, fueling her hits to be harder and faster.

"Ano, Shikamaru-chan... don't you think you've punished the training post enough for a day? Let's go and get lunch. What do ya say? My treat." The oldest person on the field called, his voice rough and husky thanks to years of chain smoking. He was a tall guy, with a broad build. Around his waist was a white sash with the kanji for Fire on it. Asuma Sarutobi, the Hokage's son, and former member of the twelve-guardian ninja for the Daimyo. As an elite jounin of the leaf, it takes a lot to make him nervous, but his sloth-like student suddenly destroying things in fury certainly put him on edge. He had known she was upset from Ino-kun. When the lad arrived this morning, he had warned Asuma that Shika was upset…. He neglected to mention she was spitting mad though.

A resounding snarl answered him as his student seemed to pour more chakra into her blows. He needed to stop her, before she caused lasting damage to herself. As he prepared to restrain her, a shadow caught the corner of his eye. Asuma turned to watch the shadow form into the older generation of Ino-Shika-Cho, and they stepped forward to calm her. The jounin commanders shadow was like lightning, snapping into place with his daughters in a blink of an eye, his face hard and blank. With a quick flex of his control, he had Shikamaru turned and walking towards him puppet like. Her body trembling with restrained rage, though her deep brown eyes glimmered with a cover of tears. Whatever was going on, was pulling some extreme emotions from his student, that was for sure. Once she was within grabbing distance, Chouza and Inoichi stepped in close, bracketing her between them as her father's shadow detached from hers. Shikaku slowly closed the gap until his girl was forced to tilt her head back to look at him. His hands, rough with callouses from years of hard work and weapon handling, moved lazily to cup his daughters face. He dropped his forehead to hers tenderly and waited until she was willing to open her eyes again and look at him.

"You. Are. My. Child… You. Are. A. Nara. No matter what, you are mine, and you are your mothers daughter. Your mother may not have given birth to you, but she has raised, cared for you, loved you, and watched over you. She got up every night with you when you were ill as a babe, she patched you up when injured, and she protected you. As mad as you are about it, you must recognise those facts. You. Are. Ours!" The commanders voice was gently but choked with emotion. If it had been anyone else on this field except their team, this wouldn't have happened. He would have removed Shikamaru from the grounds for this conversation. He needed what he was saying to sink in. Shikaku was heartbroken at having to reassure his fawn that she was wanted, but he knew it was needed, especially now. He had left a clone at the office, before coming out here. Inoichi had burst into his office and alerted him to Shikamaru's outburst from Ino's message to him. For the twentieth time, Shikaku cursed his ambitious cousin mentally. Shikamaru wasn't meant to know that secret, not for another few years. So, when she got to the compound last night, and Iotaku met her at the entrance, Shikaku hadn't even considered his cousin would tell her the only thing that could make her doubt her place in the clan. Shikaku had been completely blindsided and hadn't reacted well. The punishment handed down was swift and harsh, but his clans-folk had backed him on it. The Nara clan adored children, and they loved Shikamaru. For one of their own to deliberately cause her pain was unacceptable. Turns out, his daughter was switched on enough (obviously, but he could hope), to realise that it had been hidden with intent for her not to find out…. Then her birth mothers, and Yoshino's, firecracker tendencies had appeared. The explosion that followed hadn't been pretty, nor particularly well thought-out. It had been reactive, loud, and filled with insecurity. She had refused to let her mother anywhere near her, despite Yoshinos insistence that she loved Shikamaru, and consider the girl her daughter. Shikaku had hoped it would have died down over night, unfortunately it hadn't. With a gentle headbutt, Shikaku tuned back into his surroundings as he pulled his daughter into his arms and looked at Asuma.

"Sorry for interrupting Asuma-san, do you mind if I take my child for the rest of the day? We have somethings we need to discuss." Shikaku was a perceptive man, with very few words unless he was planning, so he was certain Asuma would be glad to see him take Shikamaru away.

"Of course, Commander. We are done for the day anyway." Asuma bowed slightly to his superiors, watching as the two Naras vanished in a swirl of shadows…

Albus watched as Severus paced in front of him, a boot sat on the desk between them. The severe looking man stalked a circle around the room, muttering under his breath about powerful idiots. Albus exchanged an amused look with his deputy, no-one could accuse Severus of being word shy.

"Of all the hare-brained ideas Albus, this takes the cake! We cannot just swan into their leader's office and demand one of their children!" Severus ranted, unknowingly repeating Minerva's words back at the Headmaster. "Lily's child or not, she was born and raised there. Potter and his wife knew they would have no claim on the babe. They agreed to surrogate for the Nara family, because Lily is a distant relative. She was to be blood adopted upon birth anyway, there will be no Potter blood in the girl!"

"It is for the greater good, Severus my boy. Lily and James would understand, I am sure." Albus picked up the boot in front of him and held it out towards his deputy and potion master. "Now hold on, the portkey activates in 30 seconds."

With a growl the other two touched the boot just in time to be hooked and stretched into the whirlwind for international transport. One looking forward to rescuing a new savior, the others frustrated at the man they follow.