Warning: Not really edited- expect errors.
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"Your smile's creepy!"
You’re the only one who’d say that to my face. Other than Inoichi. Shikaku chuckled and jumped up on to one of the rooftops beside him. He bent down from his position on the roof and stared at the black haired boy in amusement.
Harii looked up at him with a smile and said, "Thanks Nara-san!"
Shikaku waved it off and said, "Go get ready to meet your relative." I almost wish I could watch it. Even if it’s bound to be sappy and loud. He moved out of sight and landed on a roof far away from the boy. Why is he staring at the roof like that with that ridiculous smile on his face? No sense of self preservation at all.
Shikaku watched intently as Harii closed his eyes in concentration and then relax with a visible sense of relief. Did he… no, I didn’t sense any chakra from him. He wasn’t doing any sensing. Otherwise he’d have noticed me here. Unless he was looking for Racoon? Ugh…it’s not even a week since I’ve known him and I’m already got tons of questions about him.
Shikaku stayed in place and watched Harii until he went in to his apartment and closed the door behind him. He gave the apartment one long look before turning away. No point waiting here. It’d just look suspicious if there were any other followers for him. They’d think I was on to them.
He jumped from one roof to another and took the longer route to the Administration Building. Not like the Hokage told me to hurry or anything. He smirked. Best to take the opportunity presented to me.
Even with his slow pace, he reached the building in minutes. With a sigh, he climbed up the side of the building and landed on the roof just in front of an open window. He gave a slight nod in the direction he knew an ANBU guard was stationed and jumped in to the office.
He blinked warily at the silent stares that greeted him. They couldn’t have been waiting that long.
“Did you get lost on the way back?” Inoichi grinned and went through a sequence of seals. The room hissed with a brief flare of chakra.
“Just checking the area.” Shikaku shrugged absently.
Everyone in the room tensed and the Hokage shot him a questioning look. He nodded at her and her posture relaxed as she rubbed her forehead. “Good. He’s laying low for now.”
Not for long. Especially not with Danzo. Shikaku wanted to say. But he didn’t think he needed to tell the Hokage that. She knows Danzo will do something later.
“All right, let’s get down to business!” The Hokage turned to Ibiki and said, “What did you gather from him?”
Ibiki closed his eyes and tilted his head to the side. “His reactions were definitely honest. Not rehearsed in any way. His eyes were too honest so no ninja training what-so-ever.”
Hiashi, his eyes back to normal, nodded beside Ibiki. “His chakra responded accordingly. There wasn’t any deception.”
“Anything else, Ibiki?”
“Just speculation.” Ibiki hesitated. “He didn’t seem horrified by my scars.”
Shikaku frowned as Tsunade narrowed her eyes. “Survived some form of torture?”
Ibiki shook his head. “Hard to say considering he only saw a few scars. He must be used to them. Even Shikaku has them.”
Shikaku frowned when everyone turned to him. “He didn’t react to my scars. Didn’t stare… but then again he does have a scar on his forehead.”
Tsunade gave him an appraising look.
“I played shogi with him.” Shikaku sighed in resignation as everyone’s look became very focused.
“Oh?” Tsunade leaned forward. “I thought he just fixed one of your boards.”
Shikaku shrugged. “I asked him to play a game.”
“You asked him?” Inoichi asked.
I just wanted to pass the time. But they won’t see it that way. Shikaku scratched his elbow absently. How was I supposed to know he was…
“And?” Inoichi prodded him.
“Yoshino made him stay for dinner. He’s very polite, sometimes a bit extreme and even though he’s skinny he has a deep appreciation for food.” Shikaku glanced at Tsunade who nodded. Of course she’d notice. Typical behaviour for orphans who were starved at some point. “And there was his owl.”
“His owl?”
Shikaku nodded his head in amusement. “She’s not a like our messenger owls. She’s unique. You have to see her to understand.”
“Nin- animal?”
“In a way,” Shikaku said, “she’s smart. Definitely human like intelligence even if she doesn’t speak.”
“Are you sure she doesn’t speak?” Tsunade asked.
“She’s bossy enough without the ability.” Noticing the other’s questioning looks he added, “Shikamaru annoyed her. The scratches haven’t healed yet.” Shikaku rolled his eyes as everyone in the room failed to hide their humour.
Hiashi cleared his throat. “What about the bandages on his hands?”
Shikaku shook his head. “He carried the fixed shogi board all the way from the 8th district to my house. I figured those bandages were some sort of protection for his fingers. Why?”
“From what I could see of his left hand, it looked like there wasn’t any chakra circulating in his palms.”
“What? Why didn’t you say that sooner?”
“Impossible!”
“What about his right arm?”
Shikaku winced at the three voices speaking simultaneously and even Hiashi looked irritated. But he took a deep breath and explained. “His chakra is civilian level so I didn’t think it was possible for him to have a block. And since he didn’t seem to be in any pain when he moved them, I figured it didn’t really matter.” Shikaku frowned at the man and Tsunade glared at him. “His right arm, from the wrist to the elbow was hard to concentrate on but I did notice that the right palm lacked any chakra flow.”
Hard to concentrate on… “Some kind of seal on the arm bracer?” Shikaku wondered out loud and turned to the Hokage who was glaring at the table. “Hokage-sama?”
“Even if he is a civilian, disruption in chakra circulation causes a lot of pain. For him to not feel that…” Tsunade frowned and looked at Inoichi. “He didn’t show any signs of being drugged, did he?”
Inoichi shook his head. “And with my cursory inspection, no signs of being brain washed.”
Shikaku glanced at Inoichi. So Tsunade didn't order him to go in to Harii's head. I guess she's already getting a soft spot for him.
“And there was his reaction to Danzo.” Tsunade signed, opened one of her drawers and pulled out a bottle.
Shikaku snorted. Reaction? More like blatant baiting. “At least Naruto doesn’t know much about Danzo.”
Tsunade groaned.
X-X-X-X-X
Shikaku paused as Inoichi tapped him on the shoulder, “The last person you called an idiot worth playing shogi with was Minato”
Shikaku looked up at the dark sky and took a deep breath revelling in the smell of grass, smoke and a touch of rain. “So?”
“When I can meet him?”
“He’s not fond of people our age”
“But he’s fine with you?”
“When have I ever acted my age?”
Inoichi snorted. “Honestly, what do you think of him?”
“I think his heart is too soft. And it’ll kill him.”
Inoichi coughed and stared at him. “You feel responsible for his well being?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Shikaku turned away with a huff.
“You want to keep him safe for Naruto? I don’t get it…why would you, of all people, want…unless he’s more like Minato then you’re telling me. Shikaku! Did he use some sort of sacrificial move in your game?”
Shikaku sighed. “He tried to save all of them. Even the pawns…like an idiot.”
“It’s just a game.” Inoichi tried to console him. “He’s a civilian. Surely there’s no way he’d ever come into such a position.”
Shikaku grimaced. “He’s an Uzumaki. I don’t think they can stay in the shadows even if they wanted to.” And what happens when he learns about Naruto?
“What would another game accomplish?”
“He can learn.” Learn how not to be an idiot. Learn to stay alive for Naruto.
“Minato never did.”
“And look what happened to Naruto.”
Inoichi frowned. “He turned out all right.”
“Are you kidding? Tell me you’re not that blind.” Shikaku said.
“He turned out all right for an orphan.”
“Don’t be stupid, Inoichi.”
“Well what do you want me to say? That I feel guilty for not taking the time to check up on him? We’re ninja, Shikaku. It doesn’t matter.”
“We swore loyalty to Minato. It should have mattered.”
“There’s something else, isn’t there? What aren’t you telling me?” Inoichi looked at him.
“It’s nothing.” Shikaku shook his head. “Listen I better get home before Yoshino gets cranky.”
“Fine.” Inoichi sighed and looked away. “But you owe me an explanation when you finally understand things.”
Shikaku nodded and turned away. If I ever understand things.
I thought I already put this up last week and I checked my blog today and noticed it wasn’t there. I’m so muddle-headed.
Was supposed to be a humorous thing. But somehow ended up like this. This was created after combining bits and pieces of my writing that was scattered around. So it might seem a bit choppy. I know I had some more bits, but I can’t seem to find them.
Polar
