Shikamaru Shinden Chapter 2

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CHAPTER 2

The meeting was different from usual, the atmosphere was tense.

Shikamaru was standing behind Naruto, who sat at a round table. They both staring at Kurotsuchi, the young kunoichi who had inherited the title of Tsuchikage. The Tsuchikage was the leader of the Hidden Stone village. Her grandfather was the previous Tsuchikage, Oonoki.

Beneath her hair, her eyes were fixated on Naruto. The air was thick with tension.

Naruto pretended not to feel her gaze. He’d just interrupted her to explain what exactly had happened at the previous Chuunin Exam.

Naruto had been kidnapped by a man named Momoshiki, the other four Kage had come to his rescue. This, of course, included Kurotsuchi the Tsuchikage, Darui the Raikage, Gaara the Kazekage and Chojoro the Mizukage.

They were the top Ninja in the whole continent. Not only had the five major villages united, but many small countries, who had all taken arms up to fight alongside. After the shinobi war, the villages had all remained united. The first world union in a long time. They were once divided, enemies and allies in war.

They’d become peaceful, so far.

Naruto was the one who’d ended the previous war. With his tenacious power, cheerful personality, he’d gathered all the ninja together.

“Anyway this event really was troublesome for everyone. If you don’t want this happening again in the future, we’ll have to more cautious.”

Naruto looked over at Gaara, who nodded, his hair obscuring one eye.

Kurotsuchi muttered something that sounded like ‘this is ridiculous’.

Darui leaned back in his chair.

“You didn’t want to get caught, there’s nothing to say sorry for,” he said.

“Anyway, as soon as we learn of any trouble, we’ll come and help as soon as possible,” Chojoro said.

Darui shrugged as he glanced at the Mizukage.

“ I understand, y'know. I’ll always do the same, I really mean it!” Naruto said.

“If you were really sorry, then you wouldn’t need ninja,” Kurotsuchi said darkly as if to contrast Naruto’s smile.

“What was that?"Naruto caught her eye.

"Why is it always Konoha that has these big situations? We never know how bad it’ll be until it’s too late,” she growled. “ This keeps happening over and over!”

“Konoha will be okay, despite what happened. How many times do I have to say that y'know?” Naruto moaned.

“It’s getting pretty heated in here,” Akatsuchi said, his hands behind his head. He watched the black haired woman with a grin.

He was her assistant like Shikamaru was Naruto’s. Once upon a time, Temari had held a similar position.

Darui watched Kurotsuchi, Omoi just behind him, Chojoro with Misuno, Gaara with Kankurou.

Kurotsuchi was still yelling at Naruto.

“I can’t just forget what happened during the exam!”

“I’m sorry to be such a trouble,” Naruto said.

“It’s not about that!” She exclaimed.

Naruto sat there, smiling stubbornly. Despite this, he had a line of sweat running down his forehead. As long as Shikamaru had been at these talks, they’d never fought like this. But today was different. Kurotsuchi was on a roll.

“That tool used by your son, what was it?” She asked.

She was talking about the scientific ninja tool. By sealing jutsu into a small scroll, you could release it from a bracelet like a tool.

Only the head of the scientific division, Katasuke, could have made it. He had convinced Boruto, Naruto’s son, to use it during the Chuunin Exam. It had contained Shikamaru’s Shadow Binding, Naruto’s Rasengan and Sasuke’s Chidori.

Indeed anyone could use it if they were a ninja. But it devalued shinobi. The individuality of ninja would be lost. A true shinobi refined their skills through hard work, which is why every ninja is special.

The heated Tsuchikage got up and glared at Naruto.

“What kind of things has Konoha been making in secret? What do you think we’d do when we found out?” she demanded.

“No, no! The Scientific ninja tool was made without our permission!” Naruto exclaimed.

“You expect me to believe you?” Kurotsuchi taunted.

All the tension in the room made Shikamaru’s senses heighten. The Shogi board was still in its first few moves. Kurotsuchi was moving ahead in a straight line. She’s trying to reach the other side of the board by just attacking.

Shikamaru remained silent, reflecting on everything that had been said. Soon enough, Kurotsuchi’s real intentions would be revealed.

He watched the meeting go on, his gloved fists behind his back.

“If that glasses guy didn’t follow is to that battle, we wouldn’t know the vanity of Konoha’s ninja. But still, Konoha acts innocent towards the technology its produced?” She asked Naruto, her face desperate.

“No matter your village, you try to make life better,” Naruto said calmly.

“That tool is too dangerous. If all of Konoha had these weapons, I couldn’t stay calm at all,” she muttered.

“Ninja ARE tools. That anyone can use. Our only limits are our chakra.” Naruto said. “ Those of us who have bloodline limit get to use two chakra natures at once but we all have our limits. We all have to make an effort.”

It was the barrier between man and genius.

“Why would ninja like that need to exist?” Kurotsuchi asked.

She had a bloodthirsty smile. It made Naruto gulp.

“Konoha….” he stuttered.

“Will continue on as usual,” Shikamaru interjected, his words resonating through the room. He raised his right hand as he took to the floor, staring at Kurotsuchi.

“What we are working on is what helps the world progress every day,” he said.

“You may be used to sabotage or betrayal, but we want to use this for peace. It’s not easy to contain our powerful techniques. The young will refuse to train because of this tool, even if we restricted it to military usage.”

“Well, I’m with Shikamaru. It’s the top of a brat and the tool of a God.” Darui said.

“Are you sure about that?” Chojoro asked, his hand covering half of his face.

“I’d just like to say.” Gaara had the groups eyes fall on him. “We’ve gotten along for this long, why is this so troubling for you? They are our ally, are they not?”

“Chojoro, I meant what I said, y'know?” Naruto said firmly.

Shikamaru realised something that Naruto hadn’t. Was it impossible right? They’d always had friendly ties to Konoha, something they’d all worked hard for.

However; In the Hidden Mist, they’d always had a mineral shortage. They were always very resource poor. They had very little copper or iron. After the alliance had developed, the mist had found a vein of mineral, deep inside their rocks. The Stone village had assisted them in mining for it. In return, they’d received some quality water, as their water supply was meager.

The deep chasm between the two had healed.

“If I were ever up to something like that, I’d say so. I believe in the Mist and all of you. I’ll make a report soon, I promise.” Naruto said, looking at the other two.

Konoha had always had a fearsome military, so negotiations never went smoothly. But Naruto never gave up. That was the man Shikamaru had chosen to trust and follow, despite how irritating he could be. He kept his eyes on the whole table but paid most of his attention to Naruto.

“Sasuke was on the Akatsuki’s side wasn’t he?” Kurotsuchi asked.“Originally that guy was from Konoha, as were the missing ninja behind the 4th war.”

“That was a long time ago!” Naruto had lost his calm, as he always did when it came to Sasuke.

As sure as for when Kurotsuchi had said it, Sasuke had been a criminal who had triggered to the 4th Shinobi war. But without him, the war wouldn’t have ended either. By giving him probation to offset his crimes he made as a missing ninja, Sasuke had been a great asset to the five nations.

Naruto was right in this case, but Kurotsuchi persisted.

“That man who tried to destroy our world was protected by Konoha. Moreover, he was allowed to walk our world and make reports about other countries!”

“A man like that is a spy!” she declared.

“If I may?” Shikamaru asked, raising his arm to calm the room. He then talked, not waiting for her permission.

“Reconnaissance is important for shinobi. There is blame on all of the nations for that war, not just Konoha. He doesn’t have a death sentence, so Sasuke can return with information, which we then proceed to report to all of you. As agreed. Naruto is responsible for Sasuke, which is something we also agreed to. If Konoha were to use Sasuke as the Tsuchikage says, and if we were planning to use the Scientific Ninja Tool to invade another country, why would you be able to expect it? The answer is no. Konoha who has bound this precious alliance, built by our predecessors, would never do that. Even if we fought against the other four powers and the smaller members of our union, we know we’d never win. Isn’t that enough of a deterrent? Don’t we have a good enough alliance?” Shikamaru spoke.

Darui nodded along with the speech, his eyes closed, his arms folded in front of him.

Chojoro had his brow furrowed at Shikamaru’s words.

“I won’t be deceived by a fancy speech,” he said firmly.

Shifting her look to Shikamaru, Kurotsuchi mulled over her words. Shikamaru stared back and waited.

Her thin arm slammed the desk.

“Konoha has too many secrets! But due to your military strength, we’ll cooperate as long as our conditions are met! I want Konoha to disclose all of its confidential information, as proof of their commitment to peace!” She declared.

Naruto was at a loss for words. Shikamaru put his hands behind him and stepped back to the edge of the room.

A disclosure of the information would strip Konoha naked. What would they do?

“If you refuse this request, the Stone village will not hesitate to leave this alliance,” Kurotsuchi said firmly.

“Please let me think it over.” Naruto said.

“I await your answer at our next meeting,” she said, glancing at Shikamaru before leaving the room.

Everyone got up and left.

“Hey wait a second..” Naruto muttered, his words falling on deaf ears.

“Ugh, how troublesome…” Shikamaru groaned, leaning against the wall.

