Shikamaru Shinden Chapter 6

Hi everyone, thank you so much for your patience! I have a few things I’d like to say before we get started!

1. Thank you so much to Cacatuasulphureacitrinocristata where ever you are nowadays, you always inspired me!

2. If you’d like to, I have a Kofi. I’m not gonna demand donations, especially not for this, but if you’d like a sketch or just to say thanks, please consider it :)

3. Please support the official release by purchasing a copy of Shikamaru Shinden from CD-Japan! If it wasn’t for all of our efforts last time, we’d have never gotten an English release for the Hiden story!

4. If you have any questions at all, please ask me in my ask box.

5. I do not and never will own any property relating to Naruto. The series is owned by Masashi Kishimoto and TV Tokyo, and the novel is written by Takashi Yano. I repeat I own nothing!

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7. If there is to be an official English release, I will take this one down.

CHAPTER 6





Usually on one day every week, people would take a day off work and spend time with their family or pursue their hobbies. Shikadai was a field ninja and as a principal, had a day off when he wasn’t on a mission. But for Shikamaru, there were no days off. He worked in the office every day so that his co-workers could have a day off themselves. He usually finished off reports that he had pushed back during the week and organized his documents.

He at least let himself leave the house at noon rather than in the morning on this day. Shikamaru knew it would be the only rest that he got each week. But he wouldn’t complain, as Naruto had it the same.

Naruto also had to deal with diplomatic meetings with people from other countries. His workload was immense, so Naruto had several people helping him through it. Shikadai was wearing a bitter smile the day Naruto had said Shikamaru was a member of his family.

When Shikamaru thought of all of the Hokage’s duties, he could never complain about all of his. Naruto was far busier than him. He wanted to be by his side helping him, more than ever. Being the Hokage’s advisor was something Shikamaru valued, especially these days.

Between breakfast and leaving home, Shikamaru liked to sit alone on the porch, watching the sun filter through the trees.

“About Shikadai…”

Suddenly Temari called to him from behind. The door was left open and she was sitting there calmly, pouring out a cup of tea. He spun around on his backside to talk to her.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“He’s out with Boruto right now, so he won’t hear about this.” she quickly said.

Shikadai might be a ninja, but he was still a child. He was happy he was spending his time with his friends.

“It’s about him rejecting his mission.” she went on.

So it was about that. He sat up straighter and waited for her to talk. She spoke slowly, glancing between her cup and her husband.

“The client really wanted to hire Shikadai to get closer to you, because you’re the Hokage’s assistant. It seems they directly asked for Shikadai’s team, but Shikadai had heard about it from someone beforehand,” she explained.

Temari’s words stung him. He couldn’t believe his job had affected Shikadai’s career. He had no idea. He’d been sure that no one in Konoha would have treated Shikadai differently because of his father’s position. In order to get to Shikamaru, he’d never expected someone to use Shikadai.

“So… Who was the client?” Shikamaru asked.

“Shikadai wasn’t sure, but they seemed to be an important person from a smaller country,” Temari said.

So a small country was trying to get closer to Konoha. Countless countries had tried to get closer to Konoha, why was this one doing it?

“Shit! Why didn’t you tell me?” he said.

“Don’t blame him.” she sighed.

“No I don’t,” he said quickly.

Temari’s eyes suddenly looked in the garden.

“That client…”

He looks back. The sun was covered by the hedges, but he saw an orange flash.

Hinoko…

They were back from the Hidden Stone.

“We’ll have to talk about this later,” he said.

Shikamaru stood up. Temari got up and passed him his coat.

“I’ll be back.”

“I know,” she said softly.

He wanted to spend more time with her, but for now, he had to go.

-000000000000000000000000000-

The park on Sunday morning was always full of parents playing with their children. He missed the days he could play around with Shikadai, nowadays he just worked all the time. Shikamaru was always at work, as a result, he never had any time for his family.

How could he apologize for hurting Shikadai’s heart? He didn’t know how.

If he did it half-heartedly, it wouldn’t be worth anyone’s time. He knew he had to do it properly.

“Family is hard..” he sighed.

Hinoko and Shikamaru were sitting opposite each other, each on their own bench.

“I’ve always lived by myself. I never knew my family,” she replied.

Her sharp eyes were on the families playing together, carefree.

Because the pair didn’t want to be overheard, they’d chosen a park that was close to Shikamaru’s house. The parents were focused on their children, and they were loud enough that they didn’t have to worry about eavesdroppers.

“You’d make a good mother Hinoko, you’re the right age for it. Oh well, it’s Konoha’s loss.” Shikamaru said.

“That comment is like, sexual harassment,” Hinoko said sharply.

“Really?”

“Like, yes it is.”

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“I won’t reflect on it. You always say my name on purpose anyway.”

Hinoko let out a quick chuckle, as did Shikamaru.

“So, onto the matter of the Hidden Stone,” Shikamaru changed the topic.

Hinoko’s face tightened. Shikamaru listened but chose to watch a father and daughter play catch with a pink ball.

“Kurotsuchi’s actions at the Five Kage Summit are because of the Earth Daimyo.” she started.

“The Daimyo?” he asked.

Hinoko nodded.

Apparently, Shikamaru’s gut instinct was wrong.

“The country next to the Land of Earth is called the Land of Flowers.” she continued.

As you could tell from the name, the flowers were the countries main export. It was well known for its peaceful and kind people.

“The soil in the Land of Flowers helps the flowers grow because it has special qualities. But only where the soil is, is where crops will grow.”

That’s what Kurotsuchi was on about? The Land of Flowers?

“On the other hand, the Land of Earth has a lot of trouble growing anything, they can hardly even grow potatoes, as most of their land is rock and mountain. There isn’t enough food for everyone so they trade their minerals for food,” she explained.

“Well to an extent, every country does that,” Shikamaru said.

“Well say there’s something you want that someone else has, but they’re weaker than you,” Hinoko said.

“No way.” Shikamaru gasped.

He saw what she was saying, and nodded.

“The Hidden Stone is preparing to attack the Land of Flowers. Of course, they have a superior military, but this is why Kurotsuchi was trying to break up the Shinobi Union.” Hinoko nodded. “The Land of Flowers has been in alliance with the Land of Lightning since ancient times. When they had their first bad harvest in a thousand years, the Land of Earth broke off their treaty. The Land of Lightning helped out the Land of Flowers so that they could survive.”

“If the Earth attacks the Flowers, the Lightning won’t be silent…” Shikamaru muttered.

His head was spinning. His thoughts spilled into words.

“If the Hidden Stone attacks the Land of Flowers, they’ll become part of the Land of Earth and the other Villages won’t be silent, especially Darui. He won’t stand down against that kind of enemy, in this case, Kurotsuchi. While the Stone is part of the alliance, the won’t invade. So Kurotsuchi made that request of Konoha. When I talked to Chojoro before that meeting, he said he was in contact with Kurotsuchi, therefore she isn’t alone in this. In condemning Konoha, he’s admitted he’s part of the Land of Flowers invasion. That’s the reason behind her actions.”

“Like, that’s right,” Hinoko replied.

Oonoki’s words rang in Shikamaru’s head, as he watched the pink ball fly into the air.

“No matter how peaceful it is, shinobi are shinobi.”

So that’s what the old man had meant.

The reason shinobi existed was to fight. It was no lie that most ninja were trained to fight in battle. As long as there are ninja, there is war. Shinobi and peace couldn’t coexist. So the old man had said that because… Wait a minute.

Oonoki was a key player in the formation of the Shinobi Alliance. During the last wars where one wrong step would kill you, he was a hero who had fought for peace. At the risk of his life. He’d never do anything to destroy the peace that he’d built.

Kurotsuchi would never agree with the Daimyo on this, even if the Land of Flowers had better land for crops. A treaty was a better way to go, but the Daimyo was faking his position on it. If the Hidden Stone wanted peace, but the Land of Earth wanted war, the Hidden stone would have to obey.

Oonoki had tried to warn Shikamaru about all of this. But was he right? Should Shinobi follow the Daimyo? Is it worth throwing away your hard earned peace to save the lives of many people?

“I can’t let this happen,” Shikamaru stated.

Hinoko raised her eyebrows.

“We can’t let a large country take over a smaller one. I won’t allow it. War takes parents away from their children.” Shikamaru said.

Hinoko let out a barking laugh, nodding at a boy who was looking at them, clinging to his father’s leg.

“Is there anyone still in the Hidden Stone?” Shikamaru asked.

“Some of us are, yes,” she replied.

“Keep gathering information. If anything changes, let me know immiedatley, we have to put an end to this.” Shikamaru commanded.

“Like, I got it,” she said, standing silentley.

“Could I ask you something?” he suddenly said.

Hinoko smiled and nodded. Shikamaru looked up awkwardly.

“Will you forgive me for sexually harrassing you?”

“I’ll think about it when I get home,” she replied, sticking out her tongue and vanishing into thin air.

“Well then… Time to go.” Shikamaru sighed.

With a heavy body, Shikamaru left to go to work. A big pile of paper was waiting.

I can’t be bothered to scheduele posts, so I’ll just upload them irregurarly. Such a drag ;)