After Pain
Chapter 2: For a Friend
Chapter 3: Anbu
Chapter 4: The Hidden Leaf Jounin
Chapter 5: A Worthy Opponent
Chapter 6: Kakashi Hatake
Chapter 8: The Right Moment
Chapter 9: The Quiet Before the Storm
Chapter 10: A Man of Many Shadows
Chapter 11: A Leaf on the Wind
Chapter 12: The Konoha 11
Chapter 13: Epilogue
Chapter 5: A Worthy Opponent
"Shikamaru!" Choji came running into his room. "Yamato just entered the Hyuga compound!"
Shikmaru sat up. This business with the shadow trace was turning into such a drag. Hiyashi Hyuga must know by now that the shadow trace worked, they were hiding those Anbu that Shizune had captured in his own home and he had heard the entire story, but he had made no mention of calling off their little experiment and he still wasn't coming to the meetings so Shikamaru had to go through with it. This meant waiting around on edge so that he could send word to Hiyashi whenever he felt the visit from Yamato.
"When did he enter the Hyuga house?" Shikamaru asked.
"Just now, I called Ino over so she can help you check." Shikamaru nodded. He could tell when someone's shadow merged with Hiyashi's and over the past couple of days he had become familiar with the feel of Neji and Hinata's shadows and the rest of the Hyuga. He was sure he would know when Yamato and Hiyashi met, but Ino could help him see what was happening in the room that Hiyashi was in. Might as well check.
They waited for hours and it was getting dark. Ino helped him check three times, but Hiyashi was just having dinner with his family, doing ordinary things that Shikamaru wished he could be doing instead of waiting.
"Should I go find Neji?" Choji said, sounding a lot more excited than the situation called for.
"I have to wait until I feel it with the shadow trace, Choji," Shikamaru said. "Otherwise the experiment is useless."
"Yeah, but I'm sure I saw Yamato enter the Hyuga compound," Choji said earnestly.
"I know, but for some reason they still haven't met. He's probably doing this just to test me or something."
"Dinner's at my house again tomorrow night, do you think he'll come this time?" Ino asked.
Shikamaru shrugged. Working with mistrustful people like the Hyuga clan leader was way more trouble than it was worth.
...
"Danzo was attacked on his way back from the summit!"
Neji sighed. Kiba was not his favorite person and this was why. He looked around with his byakugan just in case before correcting him.
"Danzo says he was attacked on his way back," he said, trying not to sound too condescending towards Hinata's friend. She was already going through enough these days because of her father's over protectiveness - and she still couldn't see that as a sign of Hiyashi's affection for her no matter how much Neji tried to convince her of it.
"Yeah," Kiba said, looking at himself in the mirror in that annoying way in which petty people liked to admire themselves - as if they needed to be reminded of their own good looks every few minutes.
"Kiba," Hinata interrupted. "Have you heard from Shino at all?"
Kiba shook his head. "Not since he left the village. I don't think he wants to be followed around, wish I could be out there with him!"
"But you can't," Hinata said earnestly. Neji would have told him to stop being stupid, but Hinata was always earnest when she spoke, never looking down on or underestimating anyone no matter how stupid they were. "You have to get ready for your engagement! Did you get her a gift?"
"Hinata," Kiba said coloring up. "It's not like it's a real engagement. You know it's only because of my mom and the war and everything. Ino will know that too, she's not stupid."
"Yes, but still," Hinata said. "You should give her a gift. It's tradition and they'll be expecting it. Besides, she's a good friend, it can't hurt to give a gift to a friend."
Kiba rolled his eyes. "Well, I can't get one now because Danzo's asked that all the shops be closed before dark."
Hinata was, of course prepared. "I picked out a couple of gifts I thought she might like. You can choose which one to give her so that it's really coming from you."
Neji had had to accompany Hinata while she picked these gifts out so he already knew what they were. He continued to study Kiba's face, which he knew made him uncomfortable, but he had been learning to ignore it over the past couple of days. The younger boy's - no, man's face was still bright red. Neji tried to see him as a mature enough person to get married, but he just couldn't. Still, he had had a good idea in taking advantage of his mother's insistence on marrying him to open a channel of communication with one of his classmates. It made so much sense in the current climate.
"Shino's a big fat traitor," Kiba burst out as Hinata fussed with his tie. "It was all his idea and then he had to go abandon me to go on some stupid bug hunting mission."
Shino's idea, then. Of course. Neji should have known that Kiba wouldn't be smart enough to come up with something like this.
"It's very important," Hinata said. "His insects are the key to Shino's strength, he can't just neglect them." Neji was pleased to see that Hinata did not mention their little investigation with the insects' chakra. She might be overly emotional when it came to her friends, but she was clever enough to keep this information from Kiba until absolutely necessary.
"You're sure you can't stay?" Kiba asked.
"I'm sure," Hinata said. "Father was very clear about wanting Neji home tonight."
...
Hinata tried not to let her frustration get the better of her. She couldn't complain because she had no one to complain to and anyway, complaining was no use. She wanted to be useful, to do something useful. It wasn't just that she got bored in here, she really needed to get out and contribute something. She tried to see this as a sign that father cared for her and worried about her like Neji said, but she could not. He always trained with Hanabi and never with her, even now when she was home all day, bored to death.
She left her room and walked around aimlessly for a bit before remembering the three Anbu. Father had never forbidden her from going downstairs. He might be mad, but he was always mad at her anyway, for one reason or another. She walked quietly down that unlit staircase and let herself in through the small wooden door. There were guards, of course, but unlike father, they never questioned her abilities.
Hinata hung back near the doors, unsure if she should venture closer to the cells to get a good look. They did not want the Anbu to recognize their captors, after all. The guards filled her in on the details as if she really was the Hyuga clan heir and Hinata's heart warmed considerably.
"Lady Hinata," one of the guards next to the cells came over and spoke in a whisper. He was wearing one of the Anbu masks, no doubt so that they wouldn't recognize him. "Could you come take a look at them for me? I've noticed something strange about their chakra - something I've never seen before."
"Of course," Hinata said. She activated her byakugan and took the offered mask.
"They're still unconscious, but it's a good precaution." the guards said.
"Of course," Hinata said, putting on the mask. She also tied her hair in a loose bun behind her head.
As soon as she approached the cells she noticed it. All three of them had a disturbed chakra. It reminded her of the chakra of Shino's bugs. Which meant that these men, too, had been sent to a different dimension recently. But, again, it was not exactly the same as the disturbance in the chakra of the bugs that had been attacked by the masked man. It could be that they were sent to a different dimension, like Neji and Shino were thinking - it made Hinata's head spin to think about that many different dimensions. There was also the possibility that their chakra disturbance was different because they were humans and not insects and the transportation affected them differently. Or, she thought, it could be that they had spent a different amount of time in this other dimension. She wished she had been able to go with Shino on his mission so they could investigate this more.
Hinata walked back to the guards and gave them back the mask. "I see what you mean," she said. "Do you have any idea what may have caused it - what may have happened to them before they were brought here?"
"Well," another guard joined in. "We know they all fought Shizune, and as a medic Ninja she might be able to influence their chakra in a different way than others, but I think it has to do with the transfer scrolls that they used to bring them here."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it's not normal," the guard said. "Storing a person inside a scroll. I don't think just any scroll can do that. It must have special properties and that's probably why..."
Hinata nodded. Maybe the scroll also sent people to a different dimension. They must be stored away somewhere.
"It's probably nothing, but we thought you should know."
"I'm glad you did," she said earnestly. "I will investigate it and see what I can find out. Thank you!"
How she would investigate it without being allowed out of here was the question. At least Neji knew about Shino's investigations. That might help a little. But Neji was too busy to go around the village with her on a random little investigation mission. Hinata tried to hide her worry as she said goodbye to the guards.
...
Shikamaru looked at Ino in shock. "This is the plan you've been working on for five days?" he said. He was too shocked and offended to care about her look of disappointment. She was crazy and someone needed to tell her that. And he would, once he found the words. He took a deep breath.
"Ino..."
"No, Shikamaru," she said. "Don't look at me like that. It's the only way and you know it. That's why you're so angry, because you don't want to admit that it would work!"
"I don't care if it would work!" he burst out. It came out a lot louder than he had intended. They had not begged for permission to be excused from the adult dinner table - from the meetings where important information was being exchanged - in order to get in a fight, but this.
"Shikamaru," Ino said. "We've been struggling to communicate with each other properly since that day. Even your dad, the Jounin Commander, is being watched and can't communicate properly with the other Jounin. Hiyashi Hyuga hasn't been to the last three dinner meetings. We haven't even been able to talk amongst our three man squads unless we miss the dinners and I know you hate missing the dinners."
"Well," Shikamaru said, regaining use of his sarcasm. "Relatively speaking I'm sure I would hate being married even more."
"Meanwhile," Ino went on as if he had not interrupted. "Things are happening that we have to work together to deal with. Lady Tsunade almost got assassinated. My father says that when Danzo returned to town he didn't even seem upset that the Jounin Council had taken back their duties, which means he must be so confident in his behind the scenes work that he doesn't seem to care about the entire Jounin Council. Just think about if for a minute, ok. If you got married you would have an open line of communication. You could visit your fiancee at any time, no questions asked. You could send messages back and forth. It would be perfect. We could finally work together as a team again."
Shikamaru took a deep breath, trying to control his anger. "Ino," he said. "Do I look to you like somebody capable of getting married and taking care of another individual? Thinking about their feelings all the time? Do you understand how troublesome that would be?"
"Don't be selfish, Shikamaru," Ino said. "This isn't about your feelings or her feelings. It's about the good of our village. Besides, she'll understand that!"
"That's where you're wrong," Shikamaru said. "Do you understand what it would do to Hinata to be used like that, as if she didn't deserve to have a real engagement? It would be just like what her father's doin-"
"Fine," Ino interrupted. "Tenten, then. She can communicate with Neji and he can talk to Hinata's entire team for us. Think about it until she gets back from her mission."
Shikamaru looked to Choji for the the first time. His friend had been keeping very quiet. A chip was suspended in mid-air between his teeth. He crunched it loudly and began eating more and more of them in quick succession.
"Ino!" her mother called to them from down the hall. "Please join us for a minute."
Her voice sounded a little strained, which was very unlike Ino's mother. Shikamaru and Choji went with Ino into the large dining room. As they stepped out of the doorway it felt like they had stepped into a gigantic spotlight. All heads were turned towards them. Shikamaru looked around. Had something happened? Had someone been attacked? But they didn't look sad...
Kiba's rather frightening mother pushed him forward and he came to stand just in front of Ino. His face was completely red. As Kiba proposed to Ino, Shikamaru could not help grinning. Suddenly, Shikamaru felt a dreading jolt of chakra. He placed a hand on Ino's shoulder, not caring that she was in the middle of stuttering our a response to the proposal, and activated his jutsu. It was Yamato, his shadow had merged with Hiyashi Hyuga's shadow and they were talking about Danzo. He heard only a couple of words and then released the jutsu.
He looked around. If her teammate was getting married then Hinata - and therefore also Neji - should be here. But Hiyashi had purposefully kept them away to make Shikamaru's life even more difficult and troublesome. What was that man's problem? Shikamaru couldn't just go tearing through the village at night to get to him and inform him that the jutsu had worked... his eyes finally met Ino's and he felt guilty. She looked cornered. Had she said yes?
"Please take your time to consider," Kiba's mother said, still keeping a distance. "I know that my son has not presented the best image in the last few months, but we are serious about this."
Maybe she was serious about it, but Kiba sure wasn't and neither was Ino - or any of the onlookers for that matter. He could see it in all their eyes. They had all come to the same conclusion that Ino had come to a few minutes ago in their infuriating conversation. A marriage was the perfect way to keep the anti-Danzo group in communication, especially as the new hokage tightened his hold on the village. Even Kiba's mother could see it, which was probably why she was entreating Ino to take it seriously. She really did want to marry her son, war or no war.
"No, really," Ino said. "Knowing that my parents have agreed I have no objection-"
"Ino!" Shikamaru interrupted in a hurry. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
He remembered to glance at the clock then. His thoughts were all in a jumble, but he had to talk Ino out of this. As far as he knew, she hated Kiba.
"Now, Shikamaru?" she snapped at him.
"Yes, now," he said not caring anymore about the huge crowd of spectators. "Before you finish that sentence now."
"Hey, man, what's your problem!" an unidentified voice called from the crowd.
Shikamaru pulled Ino and Choji back down the hall into the small study they had been sitting in earlier.
"I'll marry Tenten, ok," Shikamaru said. "Or even Hinata if you want. Just don't force yourself into this stupid thing... we all know you don't like Kiba at all. He's probably the worst person to get information through, anyway, because he's so loud."
"Shut up, Shikamaru," Ino said said angrily. She was not meeting his eye. "I was the one who came up with this idea and told you that we couldn't be selfish. It's still true, even if I'm the one who has to put up with a troublesome fake engagement. There are more important-"
"You don't have to do anything," Shikamaru interrupted again. "That's what I'm trying to tell you. It's stupid for you to do this. We'll develop the shadow trace jutsu and we'll use it to communicate. If that's not fast enough for you, I can get married, but you shouldn't have to-"
"Why?" Ino said, finally meeting his eyes. "Because I'm a girl my feelings are supposed to be sheltered more than yours? You said it yourself. It would hurt Hinata and Tenten's not in the village right now and Kiba is right there down the hall. I was just trying to convince you that this is a good plan, that it would work, and now I don't need to bother convincing you. I believe in this idea."
"But not in this marriage!" Shikamaru said.
"We're in a war Shikamaru," Ino said. "Kiba doesn't believe in it either. It's the perfect opportunity. Now let me go back in there, please."
"He's right, Ino." Choji finally spoke up. "Just because we're in a war doesn't mean we have to do stuff like this - we're risking our lives as Ninja. We shouldn't also have to sacrifice our happiness."
"I'll be happy when I can do something useful to bring Danzo down. Thanks for the concern, boys, but I'm saying yes. Now move out of my way."
They needed Jounin witnesses. The only witnesses in the room right now were either related to Kiba or Ino or they had no business being in Ino's house right now and would get everyone in trouble if they signed their names on the engagement papers. Shikamaru ran after Ino into the main room. He completely ignored her and the still blushing Kiba and walked up to Inoichi.
He made a short bow, very aware all of a sudden, that many people in that room probably thought he was going to make some kind of objection to the marriage or some kind of counter proposal.
"Please allow me to find one of the Jounin witnesses for your daughter's marriage, as her friend I would like to contribute to her happy occasion."
"Of course, Shikamaru," Inoichi said.
"Please excuse me," he said.
He passed by his father who nodded imperceptibly as Shikamaru repeated. "Please excuse me."
He did not hurry too much through the village streets, but it didn't matter. The Anbu watching him gave him five minutes before descending upon him and asking why he was wandering the village at night and what was happening in that house.
"That house," Shikamaru said as rudely as he could. "Is the house of one the Leaf's most respected Ninja and my father's closest friend. His only daughter is getting engaged tonight. I'm not wandering around, I'm going to find a Jounin witness for the engagement. I would invite you to join in the party, but I don't want my friend's big day spoiled with your sour attitude."
"What are the names of the couple getting engaged?"
"None of your business," Shikamaru said, knocking at the Hyuga compound door. "The office of the Hokage will have the official paperwork as soon they open in the morning."
"Why does your Jounin witness have to be a Hyuga?" the Anbu snarled.
"Because my friend deserves the best."
Thankfully, it was another Ninja and not Neji who answered the door.
"I'd like to see Neji," he said. "I have an invitation for him from Inoichi Yamanaka. They're not with me."
The guard let him in and slammed the door in the Anbu's faces. Shikamaru could not help grinning. He was led inside Hiyashi's house and through several dizzying passageways and asked to wait in front of the room in which Hiyashi was currently arguing with Hinata. Shikamaru was surprised to find that Hinata was speaking confidently and insistently.
"Father, please," she said. "It may not be important enough for your or Neji to waste your time on it, but let me investigate it. If there's even a small chance of understanding that Akatasuki's jutsu shouldn't we take it?"
"You can investigate whatever you wish inside the safety of this compound," Hiyashi said. "But you are not to leave without Neji, is that understood?"
"Surely, Danzo won't have me killed in the streets in broad daylight!" Hinata burst out.
"This is not under negotiation," Hiyashi said. "Please go and bring me Neji. I have a guest waiting at the door."
It would have been so easy for him to say, instead of that last sentence, "I'm not willing to take that risk," to show Hinata that he cared for her, but Hiyashi's treatment of Hinata reminded Shikamaru of a squad leader who had been assigned an unworthy and incompetent underling against his will.
"Oh, hello, Shikamaru," Hinata said politely. "Please tell Ino congratulations and ask her forgiveness for me because I couldn't attend. Father is waiting for you."
"Thank you," Shikamaru said as he entered. He said it to Hinata, but in his heart he was thankful that his own father and mother gave him affection and respect when he needed them.
"Please come in," Hiyashi said, ushering Shikamaru closer.
"Thank you for allowing me and my shadow into your home, sir. I am honored by your trust." Shikamaru released the jutsu and watched Hiyashi's face as his tiny shadow trace disconnected from the Hyuga's shadow and slithered back to him across the floor. He felt a sudden surge of chakra as that small part of his shadow reconnected with him. He really had to do something about his low chakra levels. This jutsu could be so much more useful if he could afford to send more shadow traces around the village.
"So there is to be an engagement?" Hiyashi said.
"Yes, sir," Shikamaru said. "I was surprised when Kiba Inuzuka proposed to my friend Ino tonight. It occurred just as Yamato's shadow merged with yours. He said something about Danzo ordering him to spy on you as he added those two rooms to your home. My mind was a little confused by the engagement so I did not remember to check the time until about two minutes had passed. When I checked the time it was 9:46pm so I believe that your shadows came in contact at around 9:44pm."
"You're a clever young man," Hiyashi said. "A capable asset to our village. Without your trace we may not have been able to quickly whisk away those three Anbu that attacked Lady Tsunade."
"Maybe," Shikamaru said. "But the latest rumors have turned them from a treasure trove of evidence into almost useless hostages. they're saying the three Anbu tried to kill Lady Tsunade on Kakashi Hatake's orders and then went to join him when they failed. Bringing them out now would be almost meaningless."
"They may have their uses yet. At any rate, I am impressed with the potential of your jutsu. I would like to ask... what is your opinion of this marriage?"
"It will be very useful in keeping lines of communication open to us," Shikamaru said. "But I'm not comfortable with family ties being taken so lightly."
"Then you understand that the Inuzuka boy is not serious... I would hate for Inoichi's family to be harmed by the boy's recklessness."
Shikamaru nodded. "Everyone knows what they're getting into, even Kiba's mother. I think she's just hoping some responsibility will make her son grow up a bit."
Hiyashi pursed his lips in a way that suggested he didn't think much of this hope.
"I must admit," he said. "I didn't expect you to find a way to come here so quickly, especially with the engagement happening at the same time."
What was the point of admitting that he had timed it to make it as difficult as possible for Shikamaru? Shikamaru didn't respond. He stood there waiting for Hiyashi to give him an order or do anything.
"You may know by now that two Hyuga were taken in by the Anbu today," Hiyashi said. "I will not be silent or secretive about fighting for their release. I want you to tell your father, however, that the Hyuga are with him. Tell him the time for action is now upon us."
Shikamaru nodded.
"Neji will, of course, be honored to act as one of the witnesses. I hope that your father will have some information or plans to pass along through him. We don't have much time to waste."
"Thank you, sir. May I ask for another favour?"
Hiyahi nodded. "Ino would love to have Hinata there with her and I'm sure Kiba would as well. since Neji will be with her I wonder if you would allow her to attend as well. I would protect her with my life if anything should occur."
"I have no doubt that she would be safe with both you and Neji as escorts. Yes, why not."
...
"A worthy opponent at last!" Lee said, loosening his bandages and standing at the ready. He had been waiting to test his skill against Sasuke again for many years.
"I'm not here to fight you," Sasuke said in that same cold voice. He had not changed much in the intervening years, not really.
"You must face me," Lee said. "I will not allow you to harm a single person in my town."
"I don't care about your town," Sasuke said again. "Just tell me where Danzo went. His tracks lead here."
"I may have been declared a Rogue Ninja," Lee said. "But that does not mean I would sell out the Leaf Village's Hokage!"
"So he is in your town, then?" Sasuke said, turning away from him with all his old arrogance. "There's no need for you or your family to die protecting a filthy man like that. Just don't get in my way."
Lee attacked before Sasuke was even aware of his movements. He struck Sasuke before the Sharingan activated, but even after it did he continued his barrage and landed many hits. Sasuke's eyes may be good, but they couldn't give his body more speed and Lee was not going to give him time to do anything but react and take hits.
Sasuke activated some kind of genjutsu, but Lee was not easily tricked. He could tell that this world was not real and so he allowed the approaching snake to devour him and the illusion was broken. He jumped to his feet and closed his eyes.
"You rely too much on your eyes," he told Sasuke as he continued to attack. "That can be a weakness."
Sasuke was not as clever as he thought he was. He actually responded, allowing Lee's ears to detect him without even having to try.
"Your pathetic Tai jutsu is no match for my eyes, whether you avoid looking at them or not!"
Lee scored another hit. He did not open his eyes, but went in for a second punch and missed. He followed it swiftly with a kick which did not miss.
"Jugo, Karin, Suygetsu!" Sasuke said. "Make sure no one leaves the town while I'm fighting him."
"We could just help you and end it faster," a bored voice suggested. Lee ignored it and prepared for his lotus.
"No," Sasuke said. "I'll handle him, just keep an eye on the town."
Sasuke was, indeed, a worthy opponent. Lee had to remove his leg weights before he could bring him down. Sasuke used a strange jutsu that shielded him, reminding lee of Gaara's sand, but Lee had gained skill and speed since that fight with Gaara. In the end, Sasuke's ninjutsu was no match for Lee. and he had had to open only two gates.
Sasuke collapsed on the ground, gasping, and spitting angrily.
"Perhaps you should have let your friends help you," Lee said. He fell to his knees, his muscles completely giving out.
"You've wasted nearly three hours of my time!" Sasuke spat at him, struggling to get to his feet. "Just to protect that piece of filth!"
"No," Lee said. "I have been waiting to face a worthy opponent for a while now."
"So you're bored?" Sasuke yelled. "Karin!"
"Danzo is not in this town," Lee said. "He sent a decoy here after you attacked him."
"I never attacked him!" Sasuke fumed. "Not yet. If I had he wouldn't still be alive!"
Lee opened his eyes and looked over at Sasuke. He could still see it in the stiffness of his old rival's movements. Sasuke was defeated inside. He tried to hide behind his shell of physical strength and ninjutsu, but really he was deeply sad.
"Why does the Akatsuki want Danzo anyway?" Lee asked as he watched a red-haired girl come up and begin healing Sasuke.
"I don't care about the Akatsuki," Sasuke spat. "My business with Danzo is personal. You really have no idea where he is, do you?"
"I can't sense that Chakra anywhere nearby," the red-haired girl said.
"Let's go," Sasuke limped away, helped along by his new teammate. Lee smiled and watched them leave, allowing his muscles to relax. It was indeed invigorating to fight a worthy opponent. Too bad Sasuke hadn't wanted to continue the battle. He had been looking forward to an excuse to try his new third gate technique.
"Shikamaru," Ino said. "We've been struggling to communicate with each other properly since that day. Even your dad, the Jounin Commander, is being watched and can't communicate properly with the other Jounin. Hiyashi Hyuga hasn't been to the last three dinner meetings. We haven't even been able to talk amongst our three man squads unless we miss the dinners and I know you hate missing the dinners."
"Well," Shikamaru said, regaining use of his sarcasm. "Relatively speaking I'm sure I would hate being married even more."
"Meanwhile," Ino went on as if he had not interrupted. "Things are happening that we have to work together to deal with. Lady Tsunade almost got assassinated. My father says that when Danzo returned to town he didn't even seem upset that the Jounin Council had taken back their duties, which means he must be so confident in his behind the scenes work that he doesn't seem to care about the entire Jounin Council. Just think about if for a minute, ok. If you got married you would have an open line of communication. You could visit your fiancee at any time, no questions asked. You could send messages back and forth. It would be perfect. We could finally work together as a team again."
Shikamaru took a deep breath, trying to control his anger. "Ino," he said. "Do I look to you like somebody capable of getting married and taking care of another individual? Thinking about their feelings all the time? Do you understand how troublesome that would be?"
"Don't be selfish, Shikamaru," Ino said. "This isn't about your feelings or her feelings. It's about the good of our village. Besides, she'll understand that!"
"That's where you're wrong," Shikamaru said. "Do you understand what it would do to Hinata to be used like that, as if she didn't deserve to have a real engagement? It would be just like what her father's doin-"
"Fine," Ino interrupted. "Tenten, then. She can communicate with Neji and he can talk to Hinata's entire team for us. Think about it until she gets back from her mission."
Shikamaru looked to Choji for the the first time. His friend had been keeping very quiet. A chip was suspended in mid-air between his teeth. He crunched it loudly and began eating more and more of them in quick succession.
"Ino!" her mother called to them from down the hall. "Please join us for a minute."
Her voice sounded a little strained, which was very unlike Ino's mother. Shikamaru and Choji went with Ino into the large dining room. As they stepped out of the doorway it felt like they had stepped into a gigantic spotlight. All heads were turned towards them. Shikamaru looked around. Had something happened? Had someone been attacked? But they didn't look sad...
Kiba's rather frightening mother pushed him forward and he came to stand just in front of Ino. His face was completely red. As Kiba proposed to Ino, Shikamaru could not help grinning. Suddenly, Shikamaru felt a dreading jolt of chakra. He placed a hand on Ino's shoulder, not caring that she was in the middle of stuttering our a response to the proposal, and activated his jutsu. It was Yamato, his shadow had merged with Hiyashi Hyuga's shadow and they were talking about Danzo. He heard only a couple of words and then released the jutsu.
He looked around. If her teammate was getting married then Hinata - and therefore also Neji - should be here. But Hiyashi had purposefully kept them away to make Shikamaru's life even more difficult and troublesome. What was that man's problem? Shikamaru couldn't just go tearing through the village at night to get to him and inform him that the jutsu had worked... his eyes finally met Ino's and he felt guilty. She looked cornered. Had she said yes?
"Please take your time to consider," Kiba's mother said, still keeping a distance. "I know that my son has not presented the best image in the last few months, but we are serious about this."
Maybe she was serious about it, but Kiba sure wasn't and neither was Ino - or any of the onlookers for that matter. He could see it in all their eyes. They had all come to the same conclusion that Ino had come to a few minutes ago in their infuriating conversation. A marriage was the perfect way to keep the anti-Danzo group in communication, especially as the new hokage tightened his hold on the village. Even Kiba's mother could see it, which was probably why she was entreating Ino to take it seriously. She really did want to marry her son, war or no war.
"No, really," Ino said. "Knowing that my parents have agreed I have no objection-"
"Ino!" Shikamaru interrupted in a hurry. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
He remembered to glance at the clock then. His thoughts were all in a jumble, but he had to talk Ino out of this. As far as he knew, she hated Kiba.
"Now, Shikamaru?" she snapped at him.
"Yes, now," he said not caring anymore about the huge crowd of spectators. "Before you finish that sentence now."
"Hey, man, what's your problem!" an unidentified voice called from the crowd.
Shikamaru pulled Ino and Choji back down the hall into the small study they had been sitting in earlier.
"I'll marry Tenten, ok," Shikamaru said. "Or even Hinata if you want. Just don't force yourself into this stupid thing... we all know you don't like Kiba at all. He's probably the worst person to get information through, anyway, because he's so loud."
"Shut up, Shikamaru," Ino said said angrily. She was not meeting his eye. "I was the one who came up with this idea and told you that we couldn't be selfish. It's still true, even if I'm the one who has to put up with a troublesome fake engagement. There are more important-"
"You don't have to do anything," Shikamaru interrupted again. "That's what I'm trying to tell you. It's stupid for you to do this. We'll develop the shadow trace jutsu and we'll use it to communicate. If that's not fast enough for you, I can get married, but you shouldn't have to-"
"Why?" Ino said, finally meeting his eyes. "Because I'm a girl my feelings are supposed to be sheltered more than yours? You said it yourself. It would hurt Hinata and Tenten's not in the village right now and Kiba is right there down the hall. I was just trying to convince you that this is a good plan, that it would work, and now I don't need to bother convincing you. I believe in this idea."
"But not in this marriage!" Shikamaru said.
"We're in a war Shikamaru," Ino said. "Kiba doesn't believe in it either. It's the perfect opportunity. Now let me go back in there, please."
"He's right, Ino." Choji finally spoke up. "Just because we're in a war doesn't mean we have to do stuff like this - we're risking our lives as Ninja. We shouldn't also have to sacrifice our happiness."
"I'll be happy when I can do something useful to bring Danzo down. Thanks for the concern, boys, but I'm saying yes. Now move out of my way."
They needed Jounin witnesses. The only witnesses in the room right now were either related to Kiba or Ino or they had no business being in Ino's house right now and would get everyone in trouble if they signed their names on the engagement papers. Shikamaru ran after Ino into the main room. He completely ignored her and the still blushing Kiba and walked up to Inoichi.
He made a short bow, very aware all of a sudden, that many people in that room probably thought he was going to make some kind of objection to the marriage or some kind of counter proposal.
"Please allow me to find one of the Jounin witnesses for your daughter's marriage, as her friend I would like to contribute to her happy occasion."
"Of course, Shikamaru," Inoichi said.
"Please excuse me," he said.
He passed by his father who nodded imperceptibly as Shikamaru repeated. "Please excuse me."
He did not hurry too much through the village streets, but it didn't matter. The Anbu watching him gave him five minutes before descending upon him and asking why he was wandering the village at night and what was happening in that house.
"That house," Shikamaru said as rudely as he could. "Is the house of one the Leaf's most respected Ninja and my father's closest friend. His only daughter is getting engaged tonight. I'm not wandering around, I'm going to find a Jounin witness for the engagement. I would invite you to join in the party, but I don't want my friend's big day spoiled with your sour attitude."
"What are the names of the couple getting engaged?"
"None of your business," Shikamaru said, knocking at the Hyuga compound door. "The office of the Hokage will have the official paperwork as soon they open in the morning."
"Why does your Jounin witness have to be a Hyuga?" the Anbu snarled.
"Because my friend deserves the best."
Thankfully, it was another Ninja and not Neji who answered the door.
"I'd like to see Neji," he said. "I have an invitation for him from Inoichi Yamanaka. They're not with me."
The guard let him in and slammed the door in the Anbu's faces. Shikamaru could not help grinning. He was led inside Hiyashi's house and through several dizzying passageways and asked to wait in front of the room in which Hiyashi was currently arguing with Hinata. Shikamaru was surprised to find that Hinata was speaking confidently and insistently.
"Father, please," she said. "It may not be important enough for your or Neji to waste your time on it, but let me investigate it. If there's even a small chance of understanding that Akatasuki's jutsu shouldn't we take it?"
"You can investigate whatever you wish inside the safety of this compound," Hiyashi said. "But you are not to leave without Neji, is that understood?"
"Surely, Danzo won't have me killed in the streets in broad daylight!" Hinata burst out.
"This is not under negotiation," Hiyashi said. "Please go and bring me Neji. I have a guest waiting at the door."
It would have been so easy for him to say, instead of that last sentence, "I'm not willing to take that risk," to show Hinata that he cared for her, but Hiyashi's treatment of Hinata reminded Shikamaru of a squad leader who had been assigned an unworthy and incompetent underling against his will.
"Oh, hello, Shikamaru," Hinata said politely. "Please tell Ino congratulations and ask her forgiveness for me because I couldn't attend. Father is waiting for you."
"Thank you," Shikamaru said as he entered. He said it to Hinata, but in his heart he was thankful that his own father and mother gave him affection and respect when he needed them.
"Please come in," Hiyashi said, ushering Shikamaru closer.
"Thank you for allowing me and my shadow into your home, sir. I am honored by your trust." Shikamaru released the jutsu and watched Hiyashi's face as his tiny shadow trace disconnected from the Hyuga's shadow and slithered back to him across the floor. He felt a sudden surge of chakra as that small part of his shadow reconnected with him. He really had to do something about his low chakra levels. This jutsu could be so much more useful if he could afford to send more shadow traces around the village.
"So there is to be an engagement?" Hiyashi said.
"Yes, sir," Shikamaru said. "I was surprised when Kiba Inuzuka proposed to my friend Ino tonight. It occurred just as Yamato's shadow merged with yours. He said something about Danzo ordering him to spy on you as he added those two rooms to your home. My mind was a little confused by the engagement so I did not remember to check the time until about two minutes had passed. When I checked the time it was 9:46pm so I believe that your shadows came in contact at around 9:44pm."
"You're a clever young man," Hiyashi said. "A capable asset to our village. Without your trace we may not have been able to quickly whisk away those three Anbu that attacked Lady Tsunade."
"Maybe," Shikamaru said. "But the latest rumors have turned them from a treasure trove of evidence into almost useless hostages. they're saying the three Anbu tried to kill Lady Tsunade on Kakashi Hatake's orders and then went to join him when they failed. Bringing them out now would be almost meaningless."
"They may have their uses yet. At any rate, I am impressed with the potential of your jutsu. I would like to ask... what is your opinion of this marriage?"
"It will be very useful in keeping lines of communication open to us," Shikamaru said. "But I'm not comfortable with family ties being taken so lightly."
"Then you understand that the Inuzuka boy is not serious... I would hate for Inoichi's family to be harmed by the boy's recklessness."
Shikamaru nodded. "Everyone knows what they're getting into, even Kiba's mother. I think she's just hoping some responsibility will make her son grow up a bit."
Hiyashi pursed his lips in a way that suggested he didn't think much of this hope.
"I must admit," he said. "I didn't expect you to find a way to come here so quickly, especially with the engagement happening at the same time."
What was the point of admitting that he had timed it to make it as difficult as possible for Shikamaru? Shikamaru didn't respond. He stood there waiting for Hiyashi to give him an order or do anything.
"You may know by now that two Hyuga were taken in by the Anbu today," Hiyashi said. "I will not be silent or secretive about fighting for their release. I want you to tell your father, however, that the Hyuga are with him. Tell him the time for action is now upon us."
Shikamaru nodded.
"Neji will, of course, be honored to act as one of the witnesses. I hope that your father will have some information or plans to pass along through him. We don't have much time to waste."
"Thank you, sir. May I ask for another favour?"
Hiyahi nodded. "Ino would love to have Hinata there with her and I'm sure Kiba would as well. since Neji will be with her I wonder if you would allow her to attend as well. I would protect her with my life if anything should occur."
"I have no doubt that she would be safe with both you and Neji as escorts. Yes, why not."
...
"A worthy opponent at last!" Lee said, loosening his bandages and standing at the ready. He had been waiting to test his skill against Sasuke again for many years.
"I'm not here to fight you," Sasuke said in that same cold voice. He had not changed much in the intervening years, not really.
"You must face me," Lee said. "I will not allow you to harm a single person in my town."
"I don't care about your town," Sasuke said again. "Just tell me where Danzo went. His tracks lead here."
"I may have been declared a Rogue Ninja," Lee said. "But that does not mean I would sell out the Leaf Village's Hokage!"
"So he is in your town, then?" Sasuke said, turning away from him with all his old arrogance. "There's no need for you or your family to die protecting a filthy man like that. Just don't get in my way."
Lee attacked before Sasuke was even aware of his movements. He struck Sasuke before the Sharingan activated, but even after it did he continued his barrage and landed many hits. Sasuke's eyes may be good, but they couldn't give his body more speed and Lee was not going to give him time to do anything but react and take hits.
Sasuke activated some kind of genjutsu, but Lee was not easily tricked. He could tell that this world was not real and so he allowed the approaching snake to devour him and the illusion was broken. He jumped to his feet and closed his eyes.
"You rely too much on your eyes," he told Sasuke as he continued to attack. "That can be a weakness."
Sasuke was not as clever as he thought he was. He actually responded, allowing Lee's ears to detect him without even having to try.
"Your pathetic Tai jutsu is no match for my eyes, whether you avoid looking at them or not!"
Lee scored another hit. He did not open his eyes, but went in for a second punch and missed. He followed it swiftly with a kick which did not miss.
"Jugo, Karin, Suygetsu!" Sasuke said. "Make sure no one leaves the town while I'm fighting him."
"We could just help you and end it faster," a bored voice suggested. Lee ignored it and prepared for his lotus.
"No," Sasuke said. "I'll handle him, just keep an eye on the town."
Sasuke was, indeed, a worthy opponent. Lee had to remove his leg weights before he could bring him down. Sasuke used a strange jutsu that shielded him, reminding lee of Gaara's sand, but Lee had gained skill and speed since that fight with Gaara. In the end, Sasuke's ninjutsu was no match for Lee. and he had had to open only two gates.
Sasuke collapsed on the ground, gasping, and spitting angrily.
"Perhaps you should have let your friends help you," Lee said. He fell to his knees, his muscles completely giving out.
"You've wasted nearly three hours of my time!" Sasuke spat at him, struggling to get to his feet. "Just to protect that piece of filth!"
"No," Lee said. "I have been waiting to face a worthy opponent for a while now."
"So you're bored?" Sasuke yelled. "Karin!"
"Danzo is not in this town," Lee said. "He sent a decoy here after you attacked him."
"I never attacked him!" Sasuke fumed. "Not yet. If I had he wouldn't still be alive!"
Lee opened his eyes and looked over at Sasuke. He could still see it in the stiffness of his old rival's movements. Sasuke was defeated inside. He tried to hide behind his shell of physical strength and ninjutsu, but really he was deeply sad.
"Why does the Akatsuki want Danzo anyway?" Lee asked as he watched a red-haired girl come up and begin healing Sasuke.
"I don't care about the Akatsuki," Sasuke spat. "My business with Danzo is personal. You really have no idea where he is, do you?"
"I can't sense that Chakra anywhere nearby," the red-haired girl said.
"Let's go," Sasuke limped away, helped along by his new teammate. Lee smiled and watched them leave, allowing his muscles to relax. It was indeed invigorating to fight a worthy opponent. Too bad Sasuke hadn't wanted to continue the battle. He had been looking forward to an excuse to try his new third gate technique.
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