Chapter 5: The world won't let us be kids forever.
Shikamaru: I know I usually seem a laid-back guy, but not today.
.
Shikamaru is contemplating about his decisions in life.
This time travel is making him confused and do strange things.
He just agreed to be a student of the Snake Sannin, who in the past (or future?) was his adversary and the one who put a black mark on his first mission as a chuunin.
He also agreed to be the brain of their operations because apparently, it's the Chief Strategist of the Allied Shinobi Forces' job. He just nodded, accepted the position and moved on.
That was so uncharacteristic of him. He feels like wanting to bang his head in the wall to wake himself. But instead, he is calmly sitting while Orochimaru and Kakashi busied themselves in trimming and restyling their hair.
They said they look like their fathers, Naruto and him – who in this time were alive, young and unmarried. Changing their image for the sake of future relationships they can't afford to lose is the first step for changing the future.
He liked his hair. It's an iconic brand of his clan, and he's proud of it.
But well... He already dropped some big words like 'I am a no-named child here' and he can't take it back. So, here he is, giving up a part of his identity while thinking about what they will do after here.
"I think this is pointless.", Naruto commented. "I am the carbon copy of our Yondaime but the people in Konoha don't connect my face to him for years. I am the only one with this hair and eyes. I think we'll be alright. We can just bulldoze ourselves there and claim we are related in some degrees."
Shikamaru huffed a little laugh. "You also didn't recognize your connection to him until that seal of yours broke and met him. You always bombarded yourself in the Hokage office many times, and his picture was there. You're not one to talk."
His blond classmate crossed his arms and pouted.
"And you? Do you know?"
"Ow!", the Snake Sannin slapped his hand away when he attempted to scratch his head. He hissed from the pain, but stilled himself. "I do. But I was ordered not to mention it because our village is stupid."
"The people in Konoha in this current time are sharper. The Third Shinobi War dried their brains and lost their remaining brain cells. We don't want to risk that and let you land yourselves in T & I.", Orochimaru supplied. "It would take a lot of work."
"Could we just tell Jiji our situation?", Naruto wondered aloud. "He can help us. He is the Hokage, 'ttebayo!"
The Snake Sannin hissed his impatience and took a deep breath. Shikamaru can feel his scalp being pulled downward but he doesn't want to anger their new teacher so he kept his mouth shut.
"Child, clear your head about everything you know in our time. Behave and let your chibi sensei work while we, the older people, educate you about Konoha and the world.", Orochimaru smirked from the annoyed look thrown by Kakashi. The Sannin eased out his hold on his hair and massaged his scalp as a silent apology. "There are many things you need to know before we actualize our plans."
Naruto looked at them through the mirror as a way to let them know he was listening.
"First of all, Hokage are not saints. They have flaws. No, listen first-", Orochimaru waved his hand, "-you can have your comments after I'm done. That's the first rule you need to learn while I'm your sensei.", The Snake Sannin continues to brush his hair soothingly, Shikamaru is fighting himself not to sleep. "To understand a person, you need to listen. Talking is your thing, right? It will be more effective if you know how to listen without bias."
His blonde classmate surprisingly obeyed and calmed himself quickly. Shikamaru's ears are spared. His friend could sometimes break his ears off. He likes this mood. He can think clearly.
The Snake Sannin adjusted his vocabulary and tone to make Naruto understand his words faster.
"The Sandaime have three advisors. Those were his comrades-of-arms, he trusted their words with his own life. You can understand that, right? Sadly, trust can blind people. He closed his eyes from all the wrongdoings of his comrades, especially Danzo."
"Danzo... The severely bandaged old man?", Naruto asked. Orochimaru nodded.
"I become a part of Root. Are you aware of this organization?"
"Yeah. Sai was part of it. They sealed his tongue to keep his silence."
"Correct. Danzo did that to keep his secrets. He trained children, mostly orphans, to become soldiers he can use to commit missions he thought would benefit Konoha. Missions that even the Anbu won't be ordered to take, like pretending a shinobi from other villages and provoke a war, experimenting with Hashirama Cells, or genocide of a founder clan. The Sandaime is aware about Root. He is aware about everything Danzo is doing."
Shikamaru widely opened his eyes, now fully awake. Becausewhat?!
His blonde classmate paled beside him. He frowned.
Naruto knew some information he hadn't heard yet.
Genocide... Clan...
Oh motherfu-
"Excuse me?!", he suddenly interjected, his tone raised incredulously. "What the fuck do you mean by genocide of a founder clan?! Are you talking about the Uchiha massacre?! And the Sandaime allowed it?!"
The grim faces of the people around him answered his questionssilently.
He heaved and turned to his blond classmate for vocal confirmation.
"How did you know this?"
"Uchiha Obito told me."
"You were ap-", Shikamaru gritted his teeth to rein his growing anger. "You were approached by that Uchiha? When was this?"
"Before the war.", Kakashi finally spoke while working on their hair to calm his student fidgeting with his hands, both wary of his silent fury. His face might've turned red. "I ordered Naruto not to tell everyone because we can't confirm if it's true yet. And he introduced himself as Uchiha Madara."
The Snake Sannin intervened before he could open again his mouth and soothe his scalp. "Control your anger. Rule number two."
Shikamaru took a deep breath and reeled back his fury. He will destroy a tree later.
"The Sandaime tells his advisors everything. Child, if we're going to talk about our situation, what do you think will happen?"
Their eyes stared to the lone blond child in the room, waiting for his answer.
"Can we tell Jiji that this should be between us? I mean, we can convince him by saying what happened in the future, that his friend betrayed him."
"How sure are you that no extra ears are listening?"
"Jiji has privacy seals."
Oh, this poor naive child.
"Naruto, you are not listening.", Shikamaru breathed. "What did Orochimaru-sensei tell us first?"
"Listen without bias.", his classmate replied.
"Wrong.", he sighed irritably. "He said his advisors are his most trusted people."
"But-"
He clicked his tongue impatiently and turned his body towards his classmate.
"Okay.", he calmed himself before continuing. "If you were told about Sasuke slaying innocent civilians, will you believe it?"
"Sasuke won't kill-"
"Exactly."
Shikamaru looked directly in his classmate's eyes. No one spoke while they waited for Naruto to understand.
"Sorry, I get it now.", Naruto settled back and looked more determined. "Oro-sensei, please continue."
His sensei didn't mind the butchering of his name, and instead granted him another soothing massage. He automatically closed his eyes. Asuma didn't do this with them. This is more therapeutic than cigarettes.
"Second, the Akatsuki. The Rain Village was unfortunately been the battleground of Iwagakure, Konohagakure and Sunagakure. To protect the citizens, the organization was formed. Danzo was the one who tricked Hanzo to kill one of their founders.", Orochimaru narrated monotonously. "How I knew? I was in Root. My snakes have ears, I planted them everywhere."
The Snake Sannin is now tying his hair. Kakashi, on the other hand, is putting stickers and make-up on Naruto.
"How do you feel about killing the Sandaime?"
Everyone was shocked when they realized Shikamaru was the one who asked it. Naruto's face turned red, contorted with rage.
"SHIKAMARU! HOW DARE-"
"I am asking a question.", he blanked his expression. "I'm not ordering you to kill him. I am asking your unbiased opinion."
The two sensei kept their mouths shut.
Good.
You retained me as your Chief Strategist.
I will now introduce my other self.
You asked for it.
"Jiji is a good-"
He glared at his friend, not backing down. He needs to know where they stand before he reveals his plans. His job is to think, and the difference in opinion of his time traveling comrades might hinder the changes they desired.
"You want to be a Hokage, you said. Then you have to start acting and thinking like one. I am now acting as your pledged advisor and strategist. This situation is an opportunity we can't waste."
Their new sensei silently nods at their back, patiently letting them decide while tying Naruto's hair. Kakashi quietly shifted himself on him to put make-up on his face.
"The world won't let us be kids forever."
Naruto smiled at him sadly. "I know. I remember."
Sorry Naruto.
"Can we at least let the Sandaime be alive?"
"Alright.", he nodded. "How about Danzo?"
"Let's kill him.", Naruto responded quickly.
Shikamaru returns his blank expression. "You want to kill Danzo but you want to forgive the Sandaime? If you won't kill the Sandaime, then you don't have the right to kill Danzo."
"I-"
"Their sins are the same, Naruto. The Sandaime is also guilty. He committed the same sins by turning a blind eye. You are being blinded by your familial ties."
"Think while you dress.", Orochimaru handed them some clothes. "Change then we can continue this discussion."
No point in going somewhere else to change. They peeled off their clothes without talking and wore what is given. Orochimaru and Kakashi are now dying their own hair, hiding the red strands they all have because of time travel. He finally faced the mirror to see himself.
"What the hell?!"
Naruto giggled beside him as he stomped his foot.
"Shika, you look like a girl!"
"Look who's talking.", he pouted. His classmate looked pleased with himself."Fine. Let's change our names as well."
"I'll call you Shuka."
"Then I'll call you Nari."
Let's change the world as we like it to be.
.
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Notes:
Shuka 修佳 - to make it right and shape
Nari 晴 - the sunny
(They just exchange one vowel to each other, because they are lazy like that.)
Did Orochimaru and Kakashi make a good job?
See here: merin9ue/768528970430971904/planning-the-unplanned-plans-chapter-5?source=share
Q: Why did they have to change their appearances and names?
A: Please take note of the following issues: (1) Shikamaru and Naruto are really carbon copies of their fathers. They should at least try changing it since they're doing espionage work in Konoha. (2) They can't move freely if their fathers knew about their relations. (3) Shikaku is the Jounin Commander. It will weaken his position if a clan member (or his son) is involved in what they will be doing there. (4) Minato and Kushina will get protective. (5) 'Shika' in Shikamaru's name is an easy give-away that he is from the main branch of the Nara. (6) Minato is a fan of Jiraiya's book. (7) The purple eyeshadows are callbacks for Orochimaru's and Sukea's (Kakashi) facial marks. (8) Naruto looks cute, girly and soft (Kushina's genes), why not take advantage of it? (9) Shikamaru's hair down moments are rare. (10) etc.