Shikamaru Shinden Chapter 4

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CHAPTER 4





“I can’t just walk into another village, can I?”

Shikamaru was keenly aware of his position. Having been his first vacation in three months, he waited alone at the edge of the border of the Land of Earth. Soon several shinobi appeared, Shikamaru knew he’d been detected. They were a small security team, it seemed.

He didn’t ask to see Kurotsuchi, he wanted this to be a private visit. He asked to go straight to Oonoki’s retirement house. When he requested that, he could see the doubt in their faces. If he could see that doubt, it meant the words spoken at the last meeting were already in effect.

Shikamaru was lead to Oonoki’s home, which was lonely and separate from the rest of the village. The old man’s house was small, only 10 feet high, having one bedroom and one guest room. The old man was enjoying his hard-earned retirement it seemed.

Shikamaru saw a true shinobi in the previous Tsuchikage.

“Old man, you won.”

Shikamaru talked loudly to the old man across the Shogi board. He was hard of hearing now, and couldn’t hear him if he had talked normally.

The knight was kept safe, five spaces away from the king. The old man had put his golden general in Shikamaru’s area. He always seemed to focus on the offensive, then pretend not to hear from reason.

“Hey! Old man!” Shikamaru shouted.

Oonoki kept his face hidden, looking down at the board.

“What is it?” Oonoki asked, looking up at Shikamaru with sharp eyes, reminding Shikamaru of when he was a ninja.

“You’ve won!”

When Shikamaru said that, he noticed the knight.

“Calm down, I made a bad move with the golden general,” Oonoki said.

“You don’t have to do anything, what did I just tell you?” Shikamaru groaned.

“It’s a simple oversight. I’m sorry.” the old man said.

“I told you you’ve won and you’re ignoring me!” Shikamaru shouted.

“WHAAaaa?!?!?”

While furrowing his thick eyebrows, Oonoki kicked the Shogi board, sending it flying, rolling over and over. He rose, heavily breathing through his nose. He jabbed a pointed finger at Shikamaru.

“One more time, right now!” he demanded.

“Are you okay?” Shikamaru asked, scratching his head.

The previous Tsuchikage nodded aggressively.

“I’ve got the time, and you’re an opponent like no other!”

“Oi, oi, is that what my company is for huh?” Shikamaru sighed.

“What was that?” Oonoki growled.

“Nothing,” Shikamaru said.

“When we play this game, it makes my blood pump hot, just like the old days!” Oonoki declared.

Shikamaru flipped the board the right way up as he reveled in the old man’s passion. He slowly placed the tiles back on the board, one by one.

“So then…” Shikamaru started.

“What is it?” Oonoki asked.

“You heard that huh? Your ears must get better when you’re excited. Or have you just been ignoring me for your convenience? Is that what happens when we overlook the winner?”

The old Kage might seem hard of hearing, but his mind was still all there. Hear could hear when he wanted to, at least that’s what Shikamaru thought.

Shikamaru arranged the tiles, hardly paying attention as he’d done this many times over. With his eyes focused on the board, he spoke to the old man.

“What’s going on the hidden stone?” Shikamaru asked.

Oonoki was shaken by that question, but not upset. This was the reason for Shikamaru’s visit. He knew he wasn’t here for Shogi. They stared at each other like the samurai with their hands on the hilt of their swords. Shikamaru made the first move.

“At the last meeting, your granddaughter asked Konoha to disclose our information. Did you know that?” he asked.

Oonoki was silent. The Shogi board was ready to go, every piece in its place. With their eyes on the board, they began their second round.

“You start,” Oonoki said softly.

“About Kurotsuchi. She and the Mizukage decided to work together. The Mist’s Chojoro has a good history with Konoha. But the Stone and the Mist both depend on each other for minerals and water. I wonder if the request has anything to do with that union?” Shikamaru said.

“I’ve retired now. It’s up to Kurotsuchi.” Oonoki muttered with a tired face.

Shikamaru reached into his pocket for both his portable ashtray and a cigarette. He lit a match and then his cigarette, then looked up at Oonoki.

He inhaled deeply and puffed out a deep purple smoke.

“People like you don’t need to know this kind of stuff. I can’t tell you stuff about Konoha, and you can’t tell me anything about the Stone, right?” Shikamaru asked.

“What’s wrong with you, please stop this,” Oonoki muttered, struggling to find words.

“No matter how peaceful it is, shinobi are still shinobi,” he said sadly.

As he said this the door slammed open, disturbing the quiet conversation. A black heel stamped onto the floor, the shoji door left open. A provocatively dressed young woman walked into the room.

“Kurotsuchi…” Shikamaru muttered.

Oonoki’s mouth was suddenly thin as if he was trying not to laugh.

“If you’re planning on coming here, please let us know in advance Shikamaru. Because otherwise, I can’t welcome you properly,” she said.

She had her arms behind her, letting one leg peep out of her dress. Kurotsuchi was staring at Shikamaru coldly. Oonoki was stifling laughter.

“I had some time off for the first time in a while and the timing was pointing towards playing some Shogi. With this old man. My son has learned to play, but I’m yearning for a decent opponent.” Shikamaru said.

“I see,” Kurotsuchi muttered.

She didn’t take off her shoes, still glaring down at Shikamaru. Oonoki didn’t look at his granddaughter. Between the two of them, Shikamaru couldn’t help but feel trapped.

It was no exaggeration that Oonoki had a special bond with his granddaughter, who shared the same bloodline limit as him. They were obviously close, but why were they refusing to look at each other?

“Hey, Shikamaru,” Kurotsuchi said suddenly.

He looked up at her, pressing his cigarette into his ashtray.

“Yes?” he replied.

“What were you hoping to hear from this old man?” she asked.

“What do you mean?” he said smoothly.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she muttered.

Under her harsh gaze, his eyes fell onto his lap.

“It’s about our request, isn’t it? You’ve come to investigate us right?” she asked.

“I’m not here to negotiate as a ninja of Konoha, don’t get me wrong. Today I’m here to play Shogi,” he said.

Kurotsuchi spread out her arms.

“Is Konoha accepting my offer? Or refusing?” she demanded.

So impatient…

Shikamaru spoke to her from the truth of his heart. She was a smart woman. If Shikamaru was here alone, it meant that the game was still in an early phase. There was no need to rush into an offensive attack, especially not here.

“We’re still thinking about it,” he said firmly.

“You’re not being a very nice person at this important time, you know?” she spat out in a sarcastic tone.

“I happened to have some vacation days,” he said.

“You’re using your valuable vacations days for this?!”

“I don’t have anywhere else to be.”

“Oh, you poor thing~” she muttered sarcastically.

“Leave me alone,” he grumbled.

“You’re meeting up with old friends when you’re free? Should I go and tell Temari?” she asked.

“Don’t go and screw us up more!”

“Even after you forgot your wedding anniversary?” she teased.

“So you’re on good terms with Temari?” he demanded.

“That’s none of your business. I know how families work,” she replied.

“Oh I’m so sorry, hmm?” he grumbled.

“Shut up!”

They kept spitting harsh words at each other, never looking away from each other.

“You had better leave, right?” she muttered to him.

“That’s right!” he said, rising to his feet.

“Sorry old man, I’m going. If you feel like it, we can play Shogi together again some time.” Shikamaru said.

“I’ll wait for you,” Oonoki said sadly.

He had the eyes of a man who was sick of the fighting.

Shikamaru rushed putting on his shoes, feeling Kurotsuchi’s eyes burn on him.

“Sorry to bother you,” Shikamaru said over his shoulder.

“Take care on the way home,” she said.

There was no malice in her voice.