Chapter 38: You Better Come Back
Shikamaru's POV:
He could only hope Choji and Kenji can defeat the guy. With the grim looks on everyone's faces, Shikamaru couldn't think of the outcome. If the others are as strong as him or stronger… Shikamaru didn't know what he would do. He had to know what to do in this situation though. He just needed to know… but he was coming up blank.
Shikamaru needed to focus. That was what he needed to do first. Focus.
Right now though, they needed to focus on moving and ensuring that they got Yuri. He needed to get Yuri back… and he might need to tell her how he felt… or how he thought he felt. Something that maybe he should have done earlier. He doesn't fully know how he feels about Yuri, just that Ino was right. He hated seeing her and Sasuke together. Along with how Sasuke treated Yuri. Often, Shikamaru knew he would treat Yuri better.
Shikamaru shouldn't be focused on that. He had to remain detached and calculating. Even with how much he cared about Yuri, he cannot allow those feelings to cause him to make a misstep. If he wanted to even think about anything with Yuri, they needed to get her back. His feels had to remain out of it for now.
Glancing at the bag Choji gave him, Shikamaru swore to focus on the things going on around him, and make sure Choji and Kenji didn't waste staying behind.
Getting next to Naruto, he tosses him the bag. "A parting gift from Choji, so eat up!"
"Right." Naruto says when he catches the bag. "We owe you one Choji. Isamu!"
Isamu glances and catches the bag. "Now that they are in a fight… does our line change much? We lost two fighters."
"Shikamaru, that pill that Choji took earlier… It seemed like some sort of trump card or last resort. But does he have a chance?" Neji speaks at the same time Isamu's question is asked.
"Ya, he said he had some sort of secret weapon." Kiba comments, getting the bag from Isamu.
Shikamaru thinks for a second. He knows what the pills Choji had, and it was something he wasn't a fan of that Choji was going to be using. Combined with what Yuri had told him about Kenji, Shikamaru was nervous about those two fighting.
They could both die. And they could still end up losing Yuri. He would rather be killed by Yuri than the Hokage though, or worse, his mother. Everything is going to get overwhelming, but Shikamaru can't allow that to happen. He would rather they get injured and Yuri chew them all out for being idiots and saying he should have brought some of the girls with them.
"We stay in the same formation, Isamu. And Neji," Shikamaru starts. "Don't worry, Choji has a plan, he brought Akimichi's clan secret triple threat. They are a triad color pills of green, yellow, and red. If you take it you get explosive power. The amount of energy in each of them is enormous!"
Shikamaru didn't like it. So long as Choji didn't take the red pill, everything should be fine. They had been friends forever, but their families were intertwined so deeply, Shikamaru knew as much about Choji's and Ino's families as they knew about Shikamaru's. He had heard Choji's father explaining the red pill was a last resort, and hopefully by having Kenji there, Choji wouldn't have to.
But there was always the possibility that he would need to take it, even with the help of Kenji there. So many things could go wrong though. And none of it would be good.
"I see. So that's why he was so confident." Sasuke comments.
"That's amazing! He should be with us in no time!" Naruto exclaims.
"Ya… but anything that works that well has its side effects." Shikamaru explains.
He hopes Choji and Kenji can get it done with Choji only taking the green pill… no matter what, Choji cannot take the red one. It would prove to be too much of a strain on him to take the red one, resulting in Choji's death for sure. It wasn't something Shikamaru wanted to think about.
Not to mention if Kenji used his clan's ability too much, he could also exhaust his chakra and die. Neither would be good for Shikamaru. Kenji and Choji can't die. Not with this being his first mission, not with two of his friends back there, facing someone alone.
It didn't help that the thought runs across Shikamaru's mind that all of them could die and they could still lose Yuri. It wasn't an option for them. It can't be the end for them.
After a while Akumaru whines. "Ya I was just thinking the same thing too." Kiba says.
"What is it? What is he saying?" Naruto questions.
Shikamaru narrows his eyes. He won't like this at all. And he has a feeling it will only get worse from here. Nothing is going to stop this until either all of them are dead or the people who took Yuri are dead.
Shikamaru doesn't like it. He wasn't sure how far this is going to have to go for all of them. He knows everyone's powers and abilities. Since he doesn't know anything about the others, it means things are going to be harder and harder.
"You know how Akumaru can tell how powerful an enemy is based on their smell? He's worried that Choji and Kenji might not be able to handle that monster with the pills and Kenji's skills." Kiba asks.
Shikamaru doesn't like that assessment at all. A deep frown comes across Shikamaru's face. He needs to keep his composure. No need for feelings to get in the way.
Keep the feelings down, let them come back later when Shikamaru is alone. He knew going into this mission it would be hard. But actually being in the situation is such a wake up call for Shikamaru. Letting two people he cares about left to fight against someone on their own… Shikamaru isn't going to let it affect him.
Feelings will only cloud his judgement. Something he cannot afford.
"It's true. If we are looking at it through an objective viewpoint that giant's ability is unknown. The chances of them defeating him are near zero. However, that is often the case in battle." Neji chimes in.
"Neji's right. That's just how a battle is. From the beginning, this mission wasn't going to be easy. It's life or death." Shikamaru coments.
Cool and calm. Calculate everything, and Shikamaru had thought of this. It's why he needed so many people based on Sasukes intel and the skill level of everyone here. Shikamaru knew the risk and decided to bring this many people, to increase their chances of survival.
Now he wonders if he should have brought more people. Leaving out Hinata, Lee and Domi. Maybe he should have brought the girls and let people be in their normal teams. But he can't second guess himself now. More people would make it harder to move.
"But… Shikamaru…" Naruto starts
"I already thought of the worst case. This being it. All of us fighting in smaller groups, or worse alone. It's why I tried to bring as many people as I could in a short amount of time. It gives us a better chance at getting out of this alive." Shikamaru pauses. "Choji is good enough to hold his own, but he doesn't have the confidence that Kenji has. Something tells me though, their skills are compatible. And they have a higher chance of success than we are giving them credit for."
He hates how cold and calculated he sounds, but it's the way of their world. It is how they have to view everything in this case. Objectively and seeing it in one way or another. It's them or the kidnappers. No way are they going to be able to all make it out of here alive, everything is resting on getting Yuri back. Everyone but Naruto and Neji knows her power.
What will she think if Shikamaru loses his best friend? If he willingly let Choji be killed? She would fight Shikamaru herself.
While the thought brings him some comfort, it doesn't stop the worry rattling in the back of his mind. He needs both of them in his life. He needs Choji.
"I mean… Choji is the weakest out of all of us. It's why he was one of the ones who stayed behind." Kiba states.
Shikamaru hates their assessment of Choji. They don't know him like he does. They don't know the struggles Choji has faced to get to the point he is at now. None of them know, and Shikamaru knows that. But he can't help but feel upset by the assessment. It's unfair. Choji didn't show everyone what he can do when it's just the two of them training together.
Choji trained hard, and was learning new things he hadn't been able to show Shikamaru yet. He was supposed to show him some new skills in a few days. Days he might not be able to see the skills.
"No… I think Choji is strong. He just doesn't believe in himself." Sasuke mumbles. "Even I have trouble against him, and I know Yuri does as well. Especially when he is feeling good about himself."
"Everyone has always underestimated Choji. But me? I've always known the real truth. More than any of us here, Choji is stronger! And I believe in him." Shikamaru says.
No one questions him, and with it the conversation dies out. Knowing this is going to be one of their last stands before they all have to stay behind at some point.
They keep moving, pausing as Shikamaru carves an arrow in the tree, hoping Choji and Kenji are all right. "Because… they promised they would catch up." Shikamaru mumbles to himself. "Trust me, he's going to beat that guy and come after us!"
"That's right, they can do it." Kiba says.
They had all become more positive since their last talk. Which Shikamaru appreciates. With Sasukes voice of Choji being able to do it, it helped to boost morale a little. Naruto, Kiba and Isamu carve something into the tree as well.
But Shikamaru knows they can't stop for long. They have to keep moving.
"All right. Let's get Yuri back before Choji and Kenji catch up to us." Shikamaru turns and heads off, and the boys continue to follow him.
But he can't help but worry about the two. One of his best friends is fighting, and he can only hope he didn't take the red pill. Yuri would kill him if Choji or Kenji died trying to get her, or she would wallow in guilt forever if they died. But Shikamaru couldn't face it if Choji died under his command.
No, he can't let his mind go there. He trusts Choji to come back. He knows he will. He worked with Choji forever, and befriended him after other kids excluded him. But he saved the butterfly, and Shikamaru would rather be with someone kind than those kids who never wanted him around.
He wonders if he made the right choice. Should he go back for Choji and Kenji? All of them face that guy together? No, it makes sense for them to face the guy, and they need to get to Yuri before she crosses the border. They needed to get Yuri back, she would be terrified in Orochimaru's grip, few things truely terrified her.
As they move, a butterfly crosses pathes with Shikamaru. And he knows… he knows what happened. He glances back, not even noticing Naruto, Isamu and Sasuke behind him. He had given up on formation.
"What's wrong? What's the matter?" Naruto asks.
"It's nothing…" Shikamaru manages.
He knows… Choji and Kenji won't be joining them.
Notes: Sorry I got lost on the path of life. But seriously, life has been hectic and I finally have time to post a chapter. Sorry it's another short chapter. But one that will set up for more and more things! Please enjoy! Leave a comment and follow!