Chapter 21: The Showdowns
"Life is a conjurer's trick that may become a playground for multifarious side-splitting acts; sometimes a showdown for a series of torturous, off the wall questions or often a terrain for tragic miscalculations."
-Erik Pevernagie
Hinata-Konoha Main Gates
"Everyone got everything they need? Do a double check you have enough water and medicine on you." Shikamaru calls out. With luck, they'll be back in a day or two tops, but it all depends on how fast they can take care of Orochimaru's elite guards.
And how hard it will be to get Sasuke to truly return.
'We don't know much about their skills and abilities outside of what we saw during the invasion and they weren't even operating at their full power then.' Shikamaru frowns as everyone double checks their belongings.
A spike of fear climbs up on his back like the very shadows he commands, calming his breathing.
"I know I don't need to repeat this, but these are high chunin shinobi that you'll be dealing with. Death can't be ruled out. Think before you do any action." Tsunade orders.
Cicadas buzz from the nearby sycamore trees, jolt him out of his spiraling.
'We're going to be fine as long as we stick to the plans I have in mind.'
His dark eyes fall to Kiba in particular as he says his goodbyes to Hinata, Naruto, and the others.
'And everyone agrees to said plans.' He mentally adds.
Hinata turns to Kiba and Shino, hugs them both, tries to keep her voice steady despite hearing the telltale signs of it starting to crack and waver. They've never been separated from each other for this long, never undertaken a mission this risky without Kurenai-sensei or an experienced shinobi with them.
"Kiba, you're going to need to listen to Shikamaru. Even though he's the same age as you, he's acting as a squad leader."
A grimace makes its way up his lips like a snake, Akamaru yipping matching his partner's annoyance.
"Hey, now why are ya only saying that to me Hinata?! What about Shino and the others?"
Naruto snorts before Hinata can answer, cobalt shining with amusement.
"Cuz you're the one most likely to disobey, y'know! Since when have you ever seen Neji or Shino not follow orders?"
Kiba turns his glare to him. "You're not even coming along coward."
Sanguine instantly coats Naruto's eyes, kicks up a blast of sand straight into his eyes. Kiba, unlike his two teammates, has been the least on board at attempting to make any changes to his preconceived notions of him.
"You talk big for someone who's already lost to me once." Naruto warns, curls his elongated nails into the palms of his hands to hide them.
He notes opalescent darkening beside him, scoffing and turning away to head back home.
"Good luck." Naruto mutters.
Hinata watches him go, Kiba cursing him between spitting bits of sand, dirt, and gravel from his tongue.
Shino passes him a water bottle, equally unimpressed. "You need to keep a cool head Kiba. Why? Because the enemy will use that to their advantage."
Kiba ignores him, dark eyes focusing back on Hinata.
"Asshole. Well, don't cha have to go too? I know Lady Tsunade has declared looser sacrificial rules, though that doesn't mean Naruto won't billow up a storm just because some shopkeeper or civilian looked at him the wrong way." He questions.
Hinata shakes her head, nearly asks if he thinks she and Naruto are glued together just because of being a sacrifice.
'Ah, he'll think I've picked up more of Naruto's bad habits if I say that.'
Even if it's true.
"No, I...I still need to talk to Neji."
Kiba's brows furrow at that, but he thankfully doesn't press her for questions on why she needs to talk to her estranged cousin, nodding going back to checking his supplies.
Neji takes her approach up with mild surprise, Hyūga stoicism and rules so embedded in them both despite their previous encounters.
"Safe travels." Hinata murmurs in greeting.
Neji nods, looks from Naruto's retreating form then back to her.
"Thank you. Are you...well?
They both know Uncle and the other Elders would never come by to directly check in or ask how she's doing, no longer a Hyūga after declaring her switch to Uzumaki in front of multiple eyewitnesses.
Why be concerned over her?
"Hanabi is doing well before you ask, still slacks off in lessons related to world history and calligraphy, always spilling ink everywhere. Though she's taking to her sparring sessions in stride." Neji mentions, giggle escaping Hinata picturing said scene.
"Giving Lady Hirika and Natsu trouble as usual." Hinata smiles.
Inevitably, he thinks of the last meal he had at the compound before his early departure, moon bright and full the opposite of his darker mood. Uncle must've personally asked the chefs to prepare a simple dinner of herring soba along with an assortment of his favorite vegetable and fruit dishes.
"Neji, it's a honor you were chosen to be a part of this retrieval squad." Hiashi formally announces to the table.
A flurry of light applause and cheers greets him in return, sours the noodles on the tip of his tongue, forcing them down in a single gulp.
It's similar words he once told Hinata before sacrificing her...
Hazaki puffs up his chest in delight. "Think of all the extra favors and gifts that will come the clan's way once you're all successful in bringing that Uchiha boy back!"
Neji nods absently, his fellow Branch members have benefited the most from Hinata being sacrificed as he's heard multiple times before.
It's the closest they've gotten to feeling on level with the Main clan's luxury, power, and status within the village when compared to the other noble clans.
Status won't help him on this mission though, especially not when gossip persists within both Main and Branch over his loss to Hinata back during the Chunin Exams.
It's those whispers that question if another Hyūga should've been chosen in his place for this recovery mission despite their other clan members in active duty on assignments of their own.
Neji straightens his chopsticks, eats the last of his natto and pickled daikon.
'I'll say I need to get to bed early to leave this conversation. It's supposed to be an early departure anyways.' Neji decides.
Hiroko shakes his head to his left before he can put his idea into fruition. "No, didn't you hear that Lady Tsunade plans to heavily cut down, maybe even completely do away with on providing monetary support and gifts just because we sacrificed one of our own?"
Smiles evaporate into frowns all across the room; a domino effect of confusion to annoyance. Neji glances to the Elders last, none of them bothering with hiding their open dismay.
"What a pity. Trying to change decades old policies just because she's new to the title and wants to make a name for herself. Hinata has taken to her sacrificial duties just fine, so why bother changing it now?" Hikari declares, murmurs of agreement spreading across the table like a fog.
Hanabi bristles beside him, opalescent burning daggers on the woman who thought Hinata wouldn't even survive the Chunin Exams.
Neji discreetly kicks her legs seeing her hands wound into a deep scarlet, only adds fuel to her outrage when she briefly looks at him with equal fury.
"Why aren't you speaking up for Big Sis?!" She mouths indignantly.
Neji faintly shakes his head, mouths back to her urgently to calm herself. "Now isn't the time Hanabi."
But it doesn't matter.
A minute later, Hanabi erupts from her chair, coldly points at every wrinkle and age spot upon Lady Hikari's skin.
"What would you know Lady Hikari when you haven't even been on any real shinobi assignment or mission out of the village since probably the Warring States Period?!"
Hiashi clears his throat, sends Hanabi a look that freezes her in place, reluctantly sinking back into her seat without another word. Neji purses his lips at Hikari's bemused huff, red to her cheeks slowly fading from her outburst.
"Let us all not speak too hastily on any matters regarding Lady Tsunade's new laws or Neji's upcoming assignment. From what we know, these are the very shinobi who aided in Lord Third's death. They're considered to be Orochimaru's elite bodyguards for a reason."
Pearl twists back to him.
"Don't let us down Neji."
They dance around how Hiashi himself is doing.
She assumes Father is fine, won't ask how she's doing or care even with Lady Tsunade's new policies in effect.
'He could visit me anytime if he wanted to now.'
"I'm doing alright to answer your earlier question. I...I haven't seen Father in a few weeks now since Hashijimi's death." Hinata answers earnestly, knows the subject will make him squirm some.
Neji stiffens just like she expects; her name just a whisper now in the manor's hallways she's sure, if even that.
A topic swept under the rug like most matters the Hyūga aren't comfortable discussing even publicly.
Neji's gaze turns towards the forests, greenery tinged with sharp yellows of approaching midday heat.
"Sasuke. I'm not sure why Naruto doesn't want to be a part of this squad when he's the one who knows him best out of all of us."
Hinata hums thoughtfully, she hasn't broached the subject with Naruto herself really.
"I can only assume Naruto wants to grow stronger and has other objectives that don't involve Sasuke necessarily. Also, it isn't as if he disagrees with his choice. Even before I was sacrificed to him, Naruto wasn't and continues to be not exactly fond of Konoha and its secrets."
Neji nods, nobody blind to how Naruto's only being treated marginally better despite Lady Tsunade's latest provisions.
He straightens his backpack onto his shoulders seeing Shikamaru glance his way.
It's time.
Opalescent clears, gazes back to eyes that mirror his own. "I'll return. No, we'll all return alive with Sasuke in tow whether he wants it or not."
Hinata pushes on a light smile, places an omamori charm into his hand, steps back from him with a nod. Her walls are coming back up he realizes, not fully wanting to think about the worst-case scenario.
She blows out a final breath. "I visited with Madam Azeki to receive that charm; I've passed them out to all of you now. They were specifically made for protection and luck on perilous missions."
Her gaze sharpens, gestures with her head for him to join the others.
"Come back alive for yourself Neji; not for me or for Father."
Naruto & Hinata-Uzumaki Apartment
Pretending is so, so, hard.
She studies the set of yellow-purple succulents and orchids Naruto recently bought, tips their watering can back swishing droplets onto herself, winces seeing a puddle forming near her feet.
'Shoot. Focus properly.'
Her hands tremble observing a mix of beetles and ants amid the murky mix of dirt and dust, drowned from her lack of paying attention.
'They can do this, they all can.'
"Ah, guess the sun is going to have to dry this." Hinata sighs at not seeing an old cloth around the patio chairs. Midday heat prickles at her neck, looking up to see that at least the sky has remained a clear blue.
Rain won't be slowing Shikamaru and the others down.
Her gaze returns back to the plants, settles on getting a broom and dustpan to clean up part of the dirt.
Overwatering.
Even caring for the plants isn't a well enough distraction.
"Are you sure you don't want to join them on retrieving Sasuke? I'll be fine back here in the village-" Hinata begins at Naruto's return from his grocery run only for him to hold up a hand.
"No. Sasuke decided to leave for his own personal reasons that I'm not going to stop him on. I have my own reasons to want to get away from here too eventually. Besides, if I left then I would get less time to spend with-"
You.
Her cheeks burn, she's sure that's what Naruto would've said if he hadn't cut himself off midway at hearing Kakashi's arrival to their door with food.
Shikamaru and Sakura's presence afterwards only further pushed the conversation back.
She ignites the tips of her fingers, studies the dance of red-orange flames versus Naruto's staring at her from the kitchen. She's gotten faster at forming trails of fire and lightning, though Jiraiya would probably consider them still too slow to truly harm an enemy shinobi at a distance.
Genjutsu practice with Kurenai-sensei is a bit easier, despite it being harder to integrate with her taijutsu. Most of the time, she opts to use the senses of smell and sound imbued in her kunai or shuriken.
"Remember, for a genjutsu attack based with vision, one can always find a way to close their eyes or obstruct their vision rendering the attack useless. It's not as easy to quickly block your sense of smell and hearing." Kurenai instructs, leads them deep enough into the forest to practice.
She demonstrates as a group of sparrows fly overhead, crimson locking onto one of the birds at the center flying low compared to its companions.
Kurenai draws in a quick breath as she maneuvers up to the canopies, thin stream of smoke wafting across its face.
"Poison Dust!"
A moment later, it's wings still, brown-black feathers flapping erratically before falling to the ground.
Kiba whistles lowly. "Geez, what type of rancid or spicy breath did you use on it sensei?!"
Kurenai sends him a look that puckers his lips to stop joking. "All of you tell me something you notice about the bird's demeanor; now."
Shino's beetles crawl out from his arms to study the bird. "You used something temporarily paralyzing I assume."
Hinata notes the swelling around the swallow's eyes, a faint redness only noticeable really with her byakugan that she points out. Nothing about the bird's internal organs appears to have been too disrupted or damaged.
Kiba and Akamaru sniff the air before sniffing the area around the bird's body. "You used some type of tropical plant that doesn't grow around Konoha's parts I would assume."
Kurenai nods, draws forth a senbon needle she shoots right beside Kiba's ear making all 3 of them go still.
A low chime rings out through the forest, trio wincing just slightly at the buzz that follows.
"Leopard lily. All of you need to be wary of the weapons enemy shinobi may be carrying on them physically or otherwise. Don't assume that attacks don't have secondary effects."
Kurenai moves to the center of the forest then.
"Now, you three will practice blending sound and hearing based genjutsu attacks with each of your clan's techniques upon these sparrows. Begin!"
Jiraiya on the other hand.
He's supposed to be giving them their next objectives for training, but the Sannin is over an hour late now and Naruto unusually hasn't gone out to find him and destroy some form of his property.
'Naruto's going to burn lunch.' Hinata absently muses.
She'd figured it would be easy to ignore their hot springs episode, especially with Sasuke's abrupt departure. But it sits between them still like a cloud, a bundle of thunderstorms about to break loose.
Contrary to what she's heard most of the shopkeepers and even other shinobi whisper, Naruto is quite observant when he wants to be, cerulean following her about the room or when they're out and about the market and business districts.
Hinata draws in a breath, tension crackling between them until she draws forward into it, gives it a name.
"I don't like the idea of being away from you either."
Naruto jolts as if scalded, blue to lavender properly meeting.
He turns off the stove, moves beside her onto her futon, pink instantly engulfing her face as he abruptly pulls her into his lap.
Her heart knocks against her chest as he burrows his head into her neck, scent of the woods and the pork broth he had been making for them lingering on his skin.
"It's exhausting how much crap has been going on lately y'know."
Hinata leans her head gently against his cheek, breath tickling at his ear. She moves her head back just enough to see that spark flash in his eyes, azure turning a deep ocean blue.
Desire burns anew in her chest and absently she wonders if Naruto can hear or feel how fast her heart keeps pounding for him as of late.
Because she leans forward first before Naruto's fingers can brush under her chin, tastes salt and egg on his lips right as a flicker of white crosses to the side of her vision.
Jiraiya clears his throat, hopping into the living room from their open patio. "I can come back another time if you guys want me too! Actually, I've never done a teen romance so perhaps-"
Naruto tosses a pillow at him.
"Don't finish that thought."
Hinata practically melts into her futon, it's like the pervert sage purposely waits for the right moment to interrupt them.
Jiraiya makes himself comfortable on their sofa, grabs an open pack of chips from the table.
"I thought you two would be focusing on training instead of kissing. Seems that's the trouble with keeping you two cooped up in this apartment, so we'll be heading away from Konoha again for a bit! There's a woman I need to meet with that can possibly give me some much-needed intel."
He crushes up the bag as he downs the last chip, nods for Naruto and Hinata to follow him.
Naruto's expression immediately flattens at seeing where they're heading, spirals up a stream of water.
"Water release: Water Bullet!"
Naruto growls, shoots out jet upon jet of water that Jiraiya maneuvers around.
"Why are we going to the hot springs district y'know?! If this is for your stupid research-"
Jiraiya continues dodging the spikes of coming water, chuckles despite the clear rage growing in his eyes.
"Going to need to be faster than that if you really want to splash me Kid!"
He pauses to note the cracks to the pavement coming from the puddles where Naruto's attacks landed, brief billow of wind and chakra lingering about.
'Hmm, that projectile had some real kick behind it. Seems he's been channeling wind more into other areas.'
A good and bad thing knowing Naruto's moods.
Hinata sends him a frown as well, but doesn't choose to attack him thankfully, searching the grounds.
Just a mix of young to middle-aged women mingling near the entrance.
They get sent a wave of wary looks at Jiraiya's leery grin considering the men's baths are the opposite side. His gaze lasers in on the women heading towards the lockers and changing areas in particular. Towels push up breasts or highlight flushed skin, Jiraiya hiding his excitement behind his hands.
"I don't think you would honestly bring us here just to ogle woman; would you?" Hinata asks slowly.
Naruto cuts in before Jiraiya can answer. "Of course he would Hinata! Perverts aren't known for thinking with their brains!"
Jiraiya catches his arm before he can channel up another burst of chakra and wind, pulls it back behind his head until Naruto winces.
He lowers his voice a fraction, studies darkening cobalt with amusement and challenge.
"Pot calling the kettle black, don't cha think Kid? Says the boy who wanted to peep at Hinata; we're both perverts and you should embrace it too!"
Naruto reddens, draws his head back spitting right at his smirk.
Jiraiya's face wrinkles in disgust, dropping him to the ground with a huff to wipe off the saliva.
"One of these ladies is actually a ninja and will confirm my next info drop I'll have you both know!"
Hinata brows furrow, lowers her hand from preparing to launch a gentle fist to stop their squabbling.
'One of his spies wanted to meet here of all places?'
But then again, it fits Jiraiya's personality. Being a pervert is what he's known for, keeps others from thinking he's a spy.
Naruto's frustration switches to curiosity. "How important is this intel exactly?"
Jiraiya says nothing in return, onyx eyes focused on a brunette woman to the right-hand corner joking with a woman with raven locks twisted back in a braid.
Hazel eyes twist to him for only a second, laugh changing in pitch.
"Anyways Miyoki, time flies by too fast in here! I gotta run down to 6th street to get ingredients for dinner!"
Jiraiya discreetly nods, twists Naruto and Hinata back outside. Too many gossipers here, women with connections to Konoha's noble clans or associates of Tsunade.
'Sorry Tsunade. I know this isn't exactly by the books.'
He'll meet his spy instead as she wants in the alleyways near the clock tower on 6th street in the market district.
He answers Naruto's previous question in his head despite his staring, clearly wanting to know more about this spy of his. He'll soon enough learn just why he needs this intel.
'Important enough Kid to learn of where the Two Tails is currently residing to keep under the Akatsuki's radar.'
Sakura & Anko-Training Ground 3
"Heard your loverboy abandoned the village for Orochimaru; true or false?" Anko jabs.
Emerald wrenches open, grass and dirt at her feet crumpling back down to earth from the blunt question. She fixes her sensei with a glare despite her smile in return, motions with her hand for her to spit it out already if the rumors she heard are right.
At least Kakashi-sensei had the decency not to pry any further on her feelings for the boy who kissed then knocked her out literally.
"...True. However, a retrieval squad has been sent out after him."
Anko blows out a breath. "Hate to break it to ya, but those boys aren't going to be enough to stop Sasuke from going to Orochimaru for power. Even if they defeat or kill all of his bodyguards, Sasuke himself won't change his mind from getting to Otogakure one way or another."
Sakura blows out a breath slowly. "What makes you say that?"
Anko shrugs. "Orochimaru has a way of making you feel good about yourself when he's interested in you. Gives you feelings like you could be all powerful, but only if you do exactly as he wants, no matter the side effects or cost it could do to your body or mind permanently."
Auburn dampens some, eyes clouding with memories.
"And once he grows bored with you, which he will, because he always loses interest eventually if you can't give him the immortality he seeks. Once that happens, he moves on to his next 'pet' or project without a single look back, humans are mere toys and playthings to him." Anko grits her teeth.
Jade eyes soften, skirt to the very mark she shares with Sasuke upon her neck.
Anko nods, fingers tapping at it. "Having this damn curse mark and seeing what he's done to others, continues to do is reminder to me to never fall prey to its power."
'Anko-sensei was Orochimaru's student at one point. Why hasn't she been in more of the board meetings with Lady Tsunade on how to deal with him?'
"It's aggravating as all hell, but in my current state, there's no way I can properly bring justice to Orochimaru and Kabuto for all their experiments. Even Lady Tsunade had trouble with him and that lackey of his." She gives answer to her thoughts, smile waning.
Sakura nods her understanding; she's already told Tsunade and the rest of ANBU everything she knows.
Anko clears her throat, grin turning wicked once more.
"Anyways, enough wallowing over the past! Show me how you put poison to use on and off the field."
Sakura moves to a standing position, clasps her hands together. Verdant eyes move towards her captured targets, a group of field rodents that have been causing trouble for some of the farmers and fisherman in eating at their stock and bait respectively.
Earth release: Rock splinters!"
A mini wave of jagged rocks jab and cut into the mice, Anko arching a brow as grass weaves and entangles at their feet and tails to keep them from moving away. Seeds erupt from the vines and grass wrapped around them, the biggest of the rodents taking a nibble at the sprouted seedlings to try and escape, the others following its lead.
One by one their bodies lock up, drool escaping their mouths while their skin gains a bluish hue.
"Sago palm and ivy when ingested by animals often causes hypersalivation, abdominal upset, and seizures." Sakura notes aloud, not the prettiest death, but they won't be causing trouble in the marketplace or nearby fields now.
"Geez, couldn't have given them a quick and easy death?!" Anko jokes as she walks up beside her, nodding to her snakes to take care of their bodies.
Sakura shrugs, it isn't like the rodents' care about the diseases they potentially spread by biting at those few shopkeepers and customers. All of them though are just trying to survive in some way, but the results need to be devastating, at least so their surviving companions know what will happen to them if they enter the market district too.
Anko slaps at her back. "I've taught you all that I know girlie! I think it's time I pass you along to someone who has far more experience on the battlefield and can give you more ways to put your skill in genjutsu and chakra control to use."
She follows her gaze up towards the Hokage Tower.
Lady Tsunade.
Anko's brows set once more, clearing her voice to let her know her next words are serious. "Forget about Sasuke. I'm sure I'm not the first to tell you this because there's no use pining over a boy who broke your heart that way. There will be plenty of men who come your way once you get older."
Sakura forces a smile, it's painfully similar advice to what her parents have told her as well.
But it's not like she can just turn off her feelings, forget the brief warmth of his lips upon hers.
"I'm going to get stronger, strong enough to ensure Orochimaru never takes over his body and get Sasuke back to the village." Sakura says instead.
She's already started to look at the best geographical maps of the nations.
And once she's studied them thoroughly enough, she'll create the best route to infiltrate Otogakure herself.
Shikamaru-Retrieval Squad, Land of Fire North Forests
'They've slowed down some, though I can't be sure if that's a good or bad thing.' Shikamaru notes seeing the Sound Four's figures just meters away.
Shino's insects return to his side, turns to the rest of the team to give an update. "They're all low on chakra. How? Most likely, they encountered a few Konoha shinobi in their attempt to get away from the village."
Shikamaru nods. 'We can't let this opportunity go to waste then!'
As soon as he properly gets a visual on the 4 of them, he strikes.
"Shadow Possession Jutsu!"
"Shit, we shouldn't have stopped! These damn Konoha shinobi keep coming up like flies!" Tayuya growls, fingers twitching, unable to reach for her flute.
"Relax. They aren't as strong as they look." A voice mentions from behind him, Shikamaru turning just in time to dodge Ukon's fist.
Jirobo cracks his hands as soon as they're freed from the paralysis, peers back to the others. "Don't worry, I'll deal with them. We can't delay getting Sasuke over to Master Orochimaru any longer."
He draws up his hands before any of recovery team can move, slams his fists to the ground.
"Earth Release: Earth Dome Prison!"
'This will be the perfect feast! I can drain their chakra and gain enough strength to get back to the others. We can even make up for the lost time with me re-carrying Sasuke's coffin.' Jirobo decides.
"Everyone, he's slowly eating at our chakra, we need to find the wall's weak spot!" Neji announces as the walls close in.
Shikamaru clicks his tongue. 'Where is he located? We just need to focus our attacks to the weakest area of this dome.'
He catches Shino's gaze who nods, kikaichu having pinpointed Jirobo's location is to the northwest of them. "He's surrounded by enough of my insects slowly eating at right now the chakra he's siphoning off of us. It will at least prevent him from being at full power. However , I need to preserve the rest for the beetles for dealing with the others and keeping track of them through the woods."
Kiba draws up his fangs, nods to Akamaru to be ready for a double strike to the stones behind them.
Shikamaru peers to Neji and Choji who confirm his silent instructions with signals of their own raised hands.
"On three! One. Two. Three!"
As soon as Earth crumples, Kiba jumps forward to continue his rampage.
"Your mine! Fang over Fang!"
Jirobo repels him back, scoffs.
"Doesn't matter if you've cracked my dome. None of you can escape once I upend the very ground beneath you!"
"Earth Release: Chasm Rupture!"
Fissures split them apart in every direction, stone and dirt falling in cascades all around them.
Jirobo pins Shikamaru by the arms just as he leaps back from an open crevasse, grins viciously.
"You're supposed to be their team leader, right? Shame these others have such a pathetic leader, but I'll put them and you out of your misery by killing you fast, suffocate you under my rocks! That will sink the other's morale, though at least they'll soon forget about you and how useless you were! In fact, they'll hardly suffer for long mourning you once I choke them out too."
He draws his fist forward only to be roughly pushed back.
Shikamaru moves back, Choji nodding to him, gestures to the supplies beside him.
"Go. I'll face him one-on-one!"
Jirobo sneers at the interruption just as Choji pops the first of his clan's pills, catches him by the belt, back slamming into the nearby trees.
Shikamaru's eyes widen a fraction. 'That's the Akimichi clan's secret medicines!'
He grits his teeth, wishes for once he had paid better attention to the lessons his Father gave him time and again on the encyclopedia of research the Nara clan has done in conjunction with both the Akimichi and Yamanaka clan's for generations when it comes to their clan's secret techniques.
Now the day has come it's being put to use in the field.
'Must he use his clan's secret weapon now? What if...what if he has to use all 3?'
His chest lurches, his thoughts briefly spill into darkness.
Choji knows the potential risk; they both do.
Choji gazes back to him as he gets to proper ground, grins to him and others.
"I'll deal with Jirobo; I promise. You need to catch up with the rest of the Sound Four!"
'Don't hesitate. He's right, get going!' Shikamaru forces himself to turn, directs the others to follow the path Shino's insects have created.
Jirobo growls, each of his punches countered or blocked.
"Fine fatso, I'll give you the honor of being killed by me using my curse seal." He sneers, black triangles slithering forth across his face and arms.
Choji-Land of Fire, North Forests
'Fatty. Ugly. Weak.'
He's heard these things whispered about him time and again growing up in the village.
"Who's Choji Akimichi? Oh right, Choza's son. Well, he's lucky to have been born into the Akimichi clan I suppose. The Hyūga I heard are super harsh and we both know what happened to the Uchiha clan. He won't have to worry about sacrificial rules applying to him knowing their clan's high enough status and that mom of his spoiling him with food. I'm sure they can pay off the Hokage to look the other way. Heh, I bet if he was sacrificed though, our jinchuriki would just eat him and be done with it!" Ryukawa chuckles.
Wakanabe snickers, nudges him to lower his voice as they approach the Akimichi's household, patrol luckily almost over the day. He speaks again at noticing nobody around, lets a full-blown laugh escape.
"Right?! At least he could count as a food gift for annual appeasement, though I don't think even the Nine Tails would resort to cannibalism or even want to eat him! He's always scarfing down a bag of chips every time I see him around the marketplace with Shikaku's son."
Choji curls himself into a ball behind the bushes of his clan's walls, blinks back tears that now make his potato chips soggy.
'I'm not that fat! Those jerks!'
A shadow falls over his figure before he can consider going after them, a warm pat to his shoulders.
"Hey, don't listen to them. I'd hate to be on the end of your Dad's fist after those workouts he does with my Dad." Shikamaru smiles.
Choji blinks, quickly swipes at his tears. He offers him some of his barbecue chips not soaked with tears, leans back into the grass with him to watch the clouds from this corner of the garden as blue melts into the coral pinks and sharp swirls of violet at approaching twilight.
"Don't worry about what others say Choji. You're stronger than those two. I heard they didn't even pass the Chunin exams after 3 tries!"
Choji snickers, chest already feeling lighter.
"Thanks Shikamaru."
Shortly after, Hinata had been chosen as their village's sacrifice.
He hadn't thought much on it, considered like his classmates even that there had to be something deficient about her for why her clan, why her Father no longer deemed her fit to be heiress.
Ah, he sounded no better than officers Wakanabe and Ryukawa back then.
'Good luck Choji, let this charm be a source of strength if you ever start to feel low on this mission.'
Somehow, being around Naruto hadn't made Hinata weak and Naruto wasn't the monster he pictured him as from all the stories Mom and Dad had told him.
'I can't get left behind, I gotta get stronger too!'
"Give up! You were left behind because you're the weakest link on your team." Jirobo snickers, pounding at his face drawing him back to here and now.
Choji catches his fist as he pops the second pill. "And what does that make you? You were left behind by all your so-called buddies too; I guess that means we're both the weakest members of our respective teams."
His arms and legs expand, kicking Jirobo backwards.
Jirobo stops himself, rushes forward before he can smash into the nearby trees. Wind blows into his ears being tossed upward, Choji going giant-sized.
"Super Expansion Jutsu!"
'Ugh, this fatass shouldn't be so hard to kill; damn it!' Jirobo curses, lifting him away.
He hovers over him with a bemused smile as his body returns to normal size, drains his remaining chakra. He rifles through his nearby belongings, munches into a chocolate bar and chips.
"Useless; just like I thought and said earlier. You should've long ago given up on being a shinobi. You're just holding that friend of yours Shikamaru back who only feels sorry for you I'm sure. I doubt anyone will recall the lone fat kid who always had his nose buried in bag of chips dying out here alone in these forests." Jirobo scoffs between bites, preparing to stomp him down.
'I'm sorry Shikamaru, everyone. I'm...I'm going to take the final pill now!'
He dodges Jirobo's foot just as he ingests the red pill, drops low sweeping him off his feet.
Their positions switch, first punch slamming Jirobo's head against the rocks. Everything clouds over briefly, blinking spots from his eyes to see Choji's chakra infused fist poised for his heart.
"You're about to die to said 'fat kid' here and now. Say what you want about me, but don't ever put Shikamaru in the same category of trash for how you treat your own companions. He has always been a true friend and I'm sure he'll be great leader in the village someday too!"
'Even if I'm not there to see it.'
Gold-black sclerae widen in alarm. "Wait, I forfeit! You don't have to do this-"
His fist connects, bones and muscles cracking apart in his ears.
But it's the explosion of Jirobo's heart that gives the loudest pop.
"Butterfly Bullet Bombing!"
The punch caves in Jirobo's chest, blood and spit launching into the air, earth sinking in from the force of the attack.
Choji steps back from Jirobo's body as it reverts back, topples to the ground feeling his vision spin.
'Dizzy. I...I need to eat something.'
He chuckles at the mundane thought, mind turning to food even as he hears his own heartbeat slow in his ears. Everything hurts, each breath he tastes blood at the back of his mouth.
Not even a full extra-large bag of chips or his Mom's classic pot roast can fix this caloric loss he imagines.
'Dying. I guess I'm dying too.' He absently realizes.
He crawls forward for his backpack, finds the childhood photo Mom took of him, Ino, and Shikamaru from their first day at the Academy. Ino had barely formed a smile for the camera, azure eyes trying to hide behind her blonde locks, Shikamaru dozing to his right.
And he had been more focused on finished his pork flavored chips his Dad had bought to celebrate the occasion.
He brought it along as secondary charm, to not get too homesick.
"Smile you three! Oh, I can't believe it! The 16th generation of Ino-Shika-Cho formed right before my eyes!"
"Heh, I should've grinned properly for you Mom. Sorry about that, sorry for this too..." Choji laughs gently, pulls the photo close to his chest.
Onyx turns towards the forests ahead, breathing slowing. Darkness pulls at him he tries to fight off, shutting his eyes anyways just to rest for a moment.
'It will be fine, Shikamaru and the others can finish this mission.' He knows, recalls all his moments cloud-watching with his lazy friend, sneaking out of class via him actually putting his smarts to use knowing the school's layout to avoid Iruka-sensei's scolding, sharing snacks...
His breathing stills as the memories blur together, head lulling back.
'All that matters is that the rest of you survive.'
-x-
Well, in case you skipped right to the end, yes killing Choji is one of the biggest changes to this arc! No, he won't be coming back via resurrection, Tsunade's healing, or any other type of revival jutsu. This death is permanent and will cause major ripples to the rest of the story.
I'm sure you guys have questions! And I'm open to them so send in your reviews or message me!
But here's some answers to what you might be wondering about:
1. Why Choji?- I always wanted this arc to be darker and as morbid as it sounds, Choji fit the best to have die for the ideas I have in mind for future chapters. (I did write drafts of Kiba and Neji, but scrapped them).
2. What about InoShikaCho?- It changes now that they've lost a member. That's all I'll say without spoiling it further!
3. What about Choji's future fights/moments?-Fighting Jirobo is Choji's biggest one-on-one fight in all of canon Naruto from my researching for this chapter. Moments with Asuma to the war arc, it all changes now with his death here.
4. What about Chocho and Karui?-I know some of you keep up with Boruto! Both on and offline I've seen people mostly not care about her, to neutral, to straight out disliking Chocho. Well, she won't exist now with Choji's passing! When I get to Boruto, none of the characters will act the exact same anyways.
That's all I can think of off the top of my head, the rest of the boys aren't out of the woods yet!
As always, pa-tre-ons get early access to chapters along with my extra bonus Naruto and MHA content to my original works! I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there! Check out my Insta by the same name for my anime drawing, book reviews, and travel blog!
Let me know your thoughts as always!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!