Chapter Three: Wednesday
Naruto stood in Shikamaru's office, jaw clenched, watching a security camera showing the arrival of many nin in his own office. Nin that had mattered to him for years. And some who might or might not be breathing later if he decided to lose his temper.
Shikamaru flicked ash into his ashtray and stubbed out the butt. Filthy habit. "They all here?"
"Ha."
"Kodomo too?"
Naruto gave him the side-eye. "Ha. The former Hokage didn't wear their robes despite my orders, you included."
"You will be the only Hokage honoured today. You ready?"
Naruto shook his head faintly. "Let them sweat a bit longer."
Friend or foe, everyone in that office had been sweating hard since Sunday morning.
"What did Gaara say?" Shikamaru asked.
"Exactly what you'd expect."
"Ī ne." Shikamaru nodded.
Even the two former Hokage in the next room knew nothing. Some of those nin who deserved to be anxious began to ask questions and Naruto's defenders just glared.
"They're gonna start arguing soon," Shikamaru warned.
"All right, fine. Get them in order." Naruto handed his assistant his carefully folded cape and placed his hat on top. Shikamaru almost gagged at the smell and shuddered inadvertently. Naruto was determined to enter a formal gathering wearing a plain black t-shirt and cotton knit lounge pants, but Shikamaru couldn't deny that he didn't want him to put on that cape.
"You gonna be okay?"
Naruto could see that his Deputy Hokage was anxious and unhappy. He placed both hands on the man's shoulders. "Shi-kun, arigato gozaimasu for being a true friend all these years."
"It has been my honour." Shikamaru held out his fist to be bumped, then bowed deeply.
Naruto bowed back. "Arigato gozaimasu. The honour is mine. Take care of the village."
"I will." Shikamaru braced himself, opened the connecting door and strode into Naruto's office. Every gaze followed him as he went to the imposing desk, set down Naruto's official robes, and leaned back against it. He did not thank anyone for coming.
"When I announce your name, kindly come and stand behind Lord Seventh's desk. Honoured Father and Sensei Umino Iruka, Honoured Grandmother Fifth Hokage Senju Tsunade, Honoured Mentor and Sensei Sixth Hokage Hatake Kakashi, Honoured Mentor Might Gai, Honoured Pupil Sarutobi Konohamaru and his wife Sarutobi Moegi, Honoured Friend Rock Lee, Honoured Mentor and Sensei Yamato Tenzo, Honoured Assistant Kato Shizune, Honoured Friend Aburame Shino, Honoured Friends Akimichi Chōji and Akimichi Karui." ChōChō trailed behind her parents but Shikamaru prevented her progress, bowing respectfully. Looking confused, the young konoichi rejoined Sarada and Boruto. As the nin called filed in behind the desk and turned to face him, Shikamaru retrieved large, framed photographs from one of the side tables.
"Lord Seventh has requested that certain members of his family hold pictures of those lost to us, deserving of his love and veneration." He held out the first one to Tsunade. "Honoured Master, Fourth Sasaukage Ogata Shuma Hiroyuki Jiraiya." She took it gently, gazed at it for a moment, and flipped it so the picture faced the assembly, standing proudly at attention.
Shikamaru held out the next photo to Iruka. "Honoured Father, Lord Fourth Namikaze Minato and Honoured Mother, Third Sasaukage Uzumaki Kushina." Naruto's surrogate father bowed humbly and accepted the picture. The next one was presented to Konohamaru. "Honoured Godfather, Lord Third Sarutobi Hirozen." The next, he handed to Gai. "Honoured Master, Sasau Raikage Killer Bee. Finally, Kakashi tried to reach for the last photo, thinking it was intended for him. Shikamaru shook his head and held out the picture to Yamato, who hummed a laugh under his breath and bowed as he accepted it. "Honoured Brother and Hero of the Leaf Uchiha Itachi."
"Why haven't you been asked to stand up there?" ChōChō asked Sarada, Himawari and Boruto. "And where are Kawaki and Mitsuki?"
"Shh!" Metal Lee nudged her from behind. "This is formal."
Shikamaru bowed deeply to the nin standing behind the desk. "Honoured Family of Lord Seventh Uzumaki Naruto and Fifth Sasaukage Uchiha Sasuke: in the name of Lord Seventh, arigato goziamasu for your unwavering support and affection. Lord Seventh asks that you preside over this proceeding as jury, and asks that Lord Sixth act as Chair. He further requests that Shizune-sama serve as secretary." Subdued muttering momentarily clouded the room.
"I accept," Kakashi said. Shizune simply pulled up a chair and took hold of the provided notebook and fountain pen.
Shikamaru bowed and hurried to his left, where a large picture on a stand had been turned to face the wall. Shikamaru placed the photograph on its stand at the front of the room, beside the desk. He took a white lily and placed it on the stand. Sarada gasped.
"Where did you get that picture?" she demanded shrilly.
Shikamaru bowed to her. "Your father sent it to Lord Seventh a few months after your birth."
Sarada stared at the photograph in obvious shock. "I don't have it!"
Shikamaru bowed again. "I will provide you with a copy before you leave today, Sarada-sama."
The young woman continued to gaze at the photo in what Shikamaru could only interpret as shock. In it, Sasuke was looking straight at the camera, his mouth slightly open as though he had been speaking when it was taken, his lips tipped up in a smile. He was dressed in an Akatsuki robe. The sun beat down on his long hair. His Mangekyō Sharingan and Rinnegan eyes shone brightly and crinkled up at the corners. Cradled in his hands was a tiny baby, which he was holding up for the camera.
Again, Shikamaru bowed, this time to the photo. "The Honourable Fifth Sasaukage, Hero of the Leaf, much beloved Uchiha Sasuke cannot be with us today."
"Why not?" Sarada demanded.
How much did she know? The existence of this Hearing was top secret. "Lord Seventh will explain." Shikamaru gestured toward the row of chairs curved toward the picture of Sasuke. "Those whose names I call will be seated in these chairs. Honourable Father Hyūga Hiashi, Honourable Sister Hyūga Hanabi, Honourable Father Haruno Kizashi and Honourable Mother Haruno Mebuki, Honourable Daughter Uzumaki Himawari, Honourable Son Uzumaki Boruto, Honourable Daughter Uchiha Sarada, and Yamanaka Inojin. The remaining young shinobi are invited to sit on the floor." Shikamaru gestured at the space in front of the chairs. ChōChō, Shikadai, Metal, Denki, Iwabē and Sumire scrambled to sit. He bowed to all those nin now seated in that quarter of the circular room.
"Beloved friends and relatives, Lord Seventh humbly asks you to witness these proceedings," Shikamaru told them. As he crossed to the opposite side of the room, he added, "Absent from proceedings, Uzumaki Kawaki, Uzumaki Hinata and Uch—Haruno Sakura."
"Please!" Himawari cried. "Where is Mama?"
"They're all safe, don't worry" Shikamaru said gently, then scowled at the remaining four nin standing to the right.
"Yamanaka Sai, Yamanaka Ino, Inazuka Kiba, and Princess Tenten Aphasia de Tempest, be seated. You are to be examined regarding the events of last Saturday, October Tenth at the celebration of Lord Seventh's birthday. In this confidential hearing, Lord Seventh will testify, and after that you will have the opportunity to defend yourselves. Your misconduct will be evaluated subsequent to your testimony. Is this understood?" Shikamaru glared at the shinobi in front of him, noting with some satisfaction that three of them were barely recognizable thanks to bee stings. Tenten had gotten off easy. But when he turned away, he caught sight of Sai and Ino's son Inojin, and pity dampened his anger. Oya had ruined life for their kodomo. How revolting.
"Let this Hearing come to order." Shikamaru barked, "All rise for Lord Seventh." He strode around the back of the desk and stood with those whom Naruto and Sasuke considered family.
The door banged open. Naruto had Sasuke's Senji Hawk, Genko on his shoulder. He headed straight for the picture of Sasuke. He paused in front of it. Despite his best efforts, a lump swelled in his throat and his eyes burned. He brushed his tears away. "Such a great picture. I never saw him happier." He pressed his fist against his mouth, then tapped the forehead of the man in the picture with two fingertips.
Sarada's eyes went wide. "You mean, you've never seen him happier, right? It's not like he won't be happy again."
"Sarada-chan, don't interrupt," Kakashi said.
"Well …" Naruto rolled his eyes and hitched himself up to sit on the right side of the desk. He worked to get his breathing under control. "He's not feeling much of anything right now, to otō. Except, hopefully peaceful."
Sarada began to chant no, no, no over and over, reaching for Boruto. Other nin began to talk amongst themselves.
"Order!" Kakashi shouted, lightning sparking on his fingertips. "Naruto-kun, I swear upon Hashirama's cells that if you don't spill everything right now, I'm going to beat the ever-living snot out of you! Talk No Jutsu! And everyone else, hold your damn tongues unless you're addressed or I'll seal them for you!"