Shikamaru Shinden Chapter 12

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CHAPTER 12

“What on Earth did you just say?”

Madoka Ikkyu, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire was the one who had spoken. Shikamaru and Naruto sat opposite him, lounging on two leather sofas.

The previous meeting had ended a few days ago in Konoha, the second meeting, about ten days later, had Shikamaru and Naruto secretly entering the Land of Fire. It was an informal meeting.

Ikkyu had a massive mansion as his chosen meeting place, many people streamed in and out of it every day. The pair knew they’d fit in pretty easily.

It was Ikkyu’s interesting system that lead the two to get caught up with the man who delivered meat to the kitchens. But know they were opposite the Fire Daimyo.

Shikamaru watched Naruto as Ikkyu spoke.

“I’m not sure what you’re asking me, you have another request?” Ikkyu asked.

“Yes,” replied Naruto.

Naruto nodded, looking very serious. Before he could talk again, Ikkyu held up his hand.

“Before we start, I must thank you for saving Tentou. I really appreciate it. Shojoji was famous for his gang of thieves and their leader must have been a very tough customer. Really, thank you so much!” Ikkyu bowed his head deeply.

“If you don’t mind, we need a favour in return,” Naruto said.

“If there’s anything I could do for you, just let me know and I’ll do it,” Ikkyu said.

This is what the pair was waiting for. Now was the time to attack.

As if to read Shikamaru’s mind, Naruto put his hands on his knees and leant forward.

“It’s about the Land of Earth thing from the last meeting,” he said.

“That really is such an unfortunate situation, I’ll be sure to be in contact with the Earth Daimyo and sort it out,” Ikkyu said.

“Well, that’s… Too late,” Naruto spoke on Shikamaru’s behalf.

They knew Ikkyu would be displeased if Shikamaru was to speak on the Hokage’s behalf, so Naruto spoke about the plan for him.

“Information has entered Konoha after our last meeting, about the Land of Earth’s invasion. Ninja are starting to assemble in the village. If the Hidden Rock attacks, The Cloud ninja will retaliate. Eleven other countries will be pulled into this conflict, the Hidden Mist allying with the Hidden Rock. This includes Konoha, it’ll be another Great War,” Naruto said. “ It’s a fact that things are tight. So when you get in touch with the Land of Earth’s Daimyo, they won’t be too pleased to learn that we know of their invasion, especially if you come with proof of their unjust attack on the Land of Flowers.”

“Even if everyone was in on the fact that the Land of Earth is still going to go through with the invasion, they’re still going to do it,” Shikamaru said.

Shikamaru glanced at everyone’s odd expressions, he had spoken, even at Ikkyu’s dissatisfaction.

“The Land of Earth’s unfair attack is something we all know. So in advance, at the Five Kage talks, we made a suggestion that would cause cracks in our relationships. As the invasion is so controversial, everyone was unwilling to make any enemies. We already knew the Mist would pick a side, so cracks were already in that foundation. We were merely taking the next step. Even if you were to send diplomats to the Land of Earth, they wouldn’t be hurt, but they would be turned away. As your men are returning, the Land of Earth will launch their invasion.” Shikamaru explained.

“So, Shikamaru was it?"Ikkyu asked, frowning.

Shikamaru answered with a nod. He didn’t have the time to exchange pleasantries with the Daimyo. The middle-aged man made an ‘o’ with his mouth.

"If we rush into this, the Land of Earth will be enraged if you fail to communicate properly. They may not be children, so I think it’s more important than anything to negotiate our way out of this.” Ikkyu said.

“That time has already passed…” Shikamaru said.

“Shikamaru,” Naruto’s calm voice stepped in, cutting into Shikamaru’s excited one.

Shikamaru took a deep breath through his nose and calmed down.

“War won’t start until it starts. Which it hasn’t. We’ll pull out all of our diplomats, but not make any direct movements. Things can’t go on like this.”

“Speaking of direct movement, what about me?” Ikkyu asked.

Shikamaru replied graciously.

“The Land of Fire is a proud part of the Five Nations power. Please use that strength at the Daimyo’s meeting if you can,” he said.

“The Five Daimyo talks…”

Ikkyu’s words trailed off. Shikamaru pushed on.

“There have only been a few times in history that it’s happened, the Five Daimyo’s meeting in the same place. The last meeting was in my great grandfather’s time, but that doesn’t mean that it’s never happened before. If you, the Fire Daimyo, can dominate the conversation, the Earth Daimyo may fall in line.”

“That’s if I can dominate the conversation…” Ikkyu said.

“You can,” Shikamaru said sharply.

Ikkyu gulped.

“Are you saying that the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire will become enemies?” Ikkyu asked.

“This attitude won’t leave me until this is all over. if you refuse to help negotiate, I’ll drag you there myself.”

Naruto grabbed Shikamaru’s shoulder and turned to Ikkyu.

“I’m asking this of you too, somehow, please stop this war from happening! The Daimyo talks are for peace. Shikamaru’s thinking too far ahead, please believe me.”

Naruto bowed to the Daimyo. Shikamaru was someone who had vowed to support the Hokage, but Naruto was the one helping him.

He felt his chest get hot.

The drop out academy boys had become the Shinobi who made peace prevail.

“Thank you.”

Naruto was not the only one, his teachers, his team, everyone in the village. They were the ones who helped get him where he was that day. The feeling of gratitude was overwhelming.

“If you force the Earth Daimyo into the meeting, you could condemn him directly. Of course, the Land of Lightning’s Daimyo won’t be silent about all this. If the Daimyo talks can lead to peace, please be sure to be the man who prevented this war.”

Shikamaru got off the couch and bowed also, his head on the floor. He would do anything for this, so if there was hope, it would come at a cost. They would stop at nothing to reach the path of peace. No matter how hard it was to stay on that path, he’d cling to it.

“Please stop this unsightly thing,” Ikkyu said.

'Is this unsightly?’ Shikamaru thought in his head. 'Is me bowing really that bad?’

Even then he didn’t have to think about it.

“So then…” Ikkyu started.

“We won’t move until you say that you’ll do this, not out of gratitude out of your debt, but as your own desire. If you’re sure of that, then please, no matter what happens, you’ll do everything to prevent this war.” Shikamaru said.

It was easy to plan and scheme, if you just did whatever you wanted, nothing would mean anything. You have to do it from the bottom of your heart. He couldn’t control Ikkyu through his words, the conversation would just fall apart. He begged for the Daimyo’s words to be true.

Bowing wasn’t something he’d usually do, but it was the only way.

“I’m begging you.”

Naruto said, still bowing next to Shikamaru.

“Oi, oi, Hokage-sama…” Ikkyu muttered.

“This is what it takes, I should have told you about all this before, but we’re always trying to be so cool. So please change the Earth Daimyo’s heart!” Naruto said.

“Wait a minute…” Ikkyu said, sitting on his sofa.

He shrugged his shoulders.

“To ride on your boat, they say you have to be hungry,” he said.

(T/N: This phrase means along the lines of: being prepared to go on a journey by thinking ahead about it. The English equivalent is something like: hope for the best, prepare for the worst)

“If the war were to start, you’d be hungry for no reason,” Naruto said.

“Well, maybe for you guys. If the war were to start tomorrow, it wouldn’t even affect me.” Ikkyu smiled.

“That’s right,” Shikamaru said, Ikkyu burst into laughter.

“Your son, Boruto, they’re things that can’t be brought back. As long as we work together… No, wait.”

Ikkyu got up and crouched between the two kneeling men, passing his heavy looking desk.

“Well, for the Hokage and his competent assistant here, let’s all fight together. No need to make up fancy ways of saying we’ll work together.”

A surprisingly soft hand touched their shoulders.

Fighting together… It was more than the expected response.

END OF PART 2





Hi guys, sorry for the slight delay, life’s been rough. Next chapter has Shikadai in it. Please remember not to upload this anywhere, I’ve seen some of this on twitter. That’s not okay.