#Nara Chakra

[venusiastro]

NARA CHAKRA: Your body is the map to your universe.

I am NOT a healthcare provider or professional and this post is just for sharing astrological knowledge. It should not be used as medical knowledge or suggestion! If you have health concerns or issues please consult your medical professional.

Your inner realm is the subconscious part of your personal universe, your body is the external manifestation of that internal world. Nara Chakra is a roadmap, if you will, of the nakshatras that rule your body. It all starts with the head, which is your moon nakshatra, then the next nakshatra is your forehead, then eyebrows is the next nakshatra, then eyes, nose, mouth, cheeks, ears, face and so forth. Each of your body parts is ruled by a specific nakshatra. Because of this your full incarnated karma is fully realized in your physical body. You can learn which parts of your body are or may be affected as certain planetary transits occur, especially with effects to your mars or ascendant nakshatras. You will most likely see some significance to that related body part if it is effected by a transit. An example would be, your moon is in Mrigashira, so Mrigashira rules your head, suddenly you begin getting head aches and having strange forgetfulness or confusion. You look at your personal planetary transits and see that your moon is conjunct sun in Mrigashira. This would make sense as sun rules the head and can cause ailments to the head. Especially with your personal planets, the effects can vary!

Nara Chakra can also show you the possible ailments or sicknesses you’re most prone to. Having mars in certain nakshatras can bring inflammation, having moon in certain planetary body parts can cause anxiety and blood related issues, venus can cause viral infections through the fluids or orifaces, etc. each planet can effect your body in some way if it is harshly aspected or considering your mahadasha at the time as well.

To understand your Nara Chakra best is to really study where each planet and nakshatra falls on your body. And if you see any illness arrive or possible issues you should m first: go to your health care provider (that should be the first priority) and then to learn the effects of the planet on your personal nakshatras.

Here is an example of how the nakshatras fall with your moon nakshatra as the head and so on.

[orcelito]

Shino raising his dead friends and friend's dog from the dead with the power of bugs as one friend's cousin watches [not clickbait]

[cc-naruto-s-rank-shinobi]

whiskeysmulti asked: ✄ What is an idea you originally had in mind for your muse, but ended up scrapping? Why? (Shikamaru)

It’s Munday!

@whiskeysmulti // June 18

// so I have a lot of ideas, most actually from answered asks and headcanons on this blog, like the hoarder I am, I just can’t let myself scrap them lmao. But they will probably become drabbles in between RPs, also to help keep my inspo going for muses! Not just for Shikamaru, but muses like Itachi, Minato, and Naruto too!

But one idea I had for Shikamaru way back though, it is kind of dark so I probably won’t do a drabble on it haha, details will be under the cut below:

Shikamaru sacrifices his life by snapping his own neck (with his own shadow) when he’s used as a hostage to stop Naruto from doing what he must do to protect the village, also acting as a trigger so Naruto doesn’t hold back after either, a dark end like AU.

[evilkitten3]

ok so like i know the reason is just. sexism but one thing that really irks me about how the post-timeskip naruto manga handled which characters became medic nin bc it makes absolutely no sense to me

sakura's decision to train under tsunade makes sense, and i love that she got a super strength power up, so no notes there, but the other teams.... yeesh

so first off, team ten. we're told that ino decided to follow sakura into mednin land to keep being rivals with her... despite that at no point factoring into their rivalry at all beforehand. ino never showed any interest in that, nor was the yamanaka clan ever mentioned to have anything to do with healing as far as i can remember. it's like going to art school to stay with your bestie when your goal is to become a dentist. why are you there. find other ways to spend time together. it also kinda goes against her family's whole thing as. the guys who do the torture stuff. and it's barely ever relevant anyway

for team ten, i think the team medic should've been shikamaru, and i think this not just bc i think it makes more sense skill-wise (something about the way the nara clan's various shadow jutsu work just screams "you need good chakra control for this" to me), but also bc i think it would make asuma's death a thousand times more painful. bc shikamaru is a slacker. he's not learning medical ninjutsu bc he wants to, he's learning it bc someone on the team has to in order to stick together. they're all chuunin now; one of them has to be a medic. them's the rules. but he doesn't really care that much, even when he is trying to learn, and he's so used to being smart enough to not have to pay attention in lessons anyway that he's not prepared for classes that require his full focus. and then asuma dies and shikamaru is doomed to spend the rest of his fucking life wondering if he could've saved him by paying just a little more attention to those medical ninjutsu lessons (he could not have (but he'll never know for sure))

team eight makes some sense, since giving the girl who struggles with fighting the healing job isn't exactly out of nowhere, but i do feel it was the lazy choice. kiba already had a sister involved in the medical business, even if she deals more with animals, so he could've started learning from her and found that he liked it. plus kiba's goal is to be hokage, and the current hokage is a mednin, so it's not like it wouldn't support his goal. or shino could do it; would add another layer to his character. hinata works fine but. it's just not a very interesting development imo

but what really gets me is team gai. good freaking grief. out of every single team, team gai was the one with the most obvious choice. bc there was only one choice. lee can't do any kind of ninjutsu, and tenten's only real backstory is that her chakra control isn't good enough for her to be a medic nin. so it had to be neji. canon establishes that every team has to have a medic; this is a policy tsunade got passed even before she became hokage, so no way in hell is she going back on it now.

moreover, neji becoming a medical ninja - especially if hiashi encouraged it - would show some development for the hyuuga clan maybe starting to suck a bit less. bc as a medic, neji would be bound by oath to stay alive for as long as possible. imagine a world in which hizashi came back and hiashi was able to tell his brother that not only was their family starting to change, but his son had chosen a path that would prevent him from ever following in his father's footsteps. it would be the first step (of many) to show that the hyuuga clan was freeing itself from its own bullshit.

also it would've made sakura catching the zetsu pretending to be neji a thousand times funnier. like that's her coworker. they've shared shifts at the hospital together. she's seen neji drink vodka straight from a bottle and then crash on her couch after they got out of a twelve-hour surgery on the fucking dumbass chuunin who managed to step on his own boobytrap. she knows him.

[sunny-mercya]

Childs Guilt

Shikamaru Nara x Male Reader

Fandom -> Naruto

Masterlist

You hadn't been feeling well these past weeks already—stomach cramps, aching muscles, nagging hammering headaches, nausea, constant fatigue and slight waves of fever—though this week it had gotten visibly worse and once you had coughed out some blood and collapsed right after getting out of bed, Shikamaru had brought you into the hospital right away.

Sakura had checked you over and came to the conclusion, that your already broken seal—with the much heavyweight additional stress of being a parent, which Sakura could relate herself all too well with it—continues, which shouldn't even be happening in the first place, to take more damage and breaking completely down now.

Your body—more like your chakra core and mind, which can't process, without redeeming help of medical jujutsu (with by the current look of your seal, is probably too late to use) or specific sealing techniques—responds with signals of pain, trying to mend this sort of “wound” on its own.

Knowing this, Shikamaru thought he could—albeit it might not be much seen as help—relieve you from some of the stress and do most, if not even all, of the housework chores for the time being till you're feeling remotely better (or finding a way to stop your seal from breaking apart completely).

So here Shikamaru was, sitting at the dining table with his son and waiting—after being forced to do so, albeit grumpy with you about it—for you to serve today's lunch.

Now, don't get him wrong, Shikamaru would have made gladly—without hesitation or shame, most men would feel when being asked to do what their more household staying spouse would do—today's lunch, just so you could stay in bed and getting the needed rest, but you insisted to do lunch yourself (half heartily jokingly threatening him with any of your Oni's—preferably Raikou it would have been).

»I can't just lay in bed all day and do nothing. And no, laundry doesn't count as doing something.« is what you had said to Shikamaru, when he found you—instead of either laying in bed or the couch as you should and how Sakura had advised you to do—standing in the kitchen, hunched over the counters (a visibly tremor in your legs and hands) and preparing lunch.

~~~•~~~

»Here you go, soya sauce chicken katsu!« you announced happily, serving the two plates—your own appetite had significantly gone down in your sick ridden phrase, still is and the few bites you took during the cooking, were more than enough, too much even, for your stomach—to your husband and son.

Shikamaru said his thanks and started to eat, while Shikadai only moved the chicken around on his plate with his chopsticks—looking rather grossed out by it.

»Are you not feeling well Shi?« worry etched across your face as it's one thing if you're sick, but another if your son is—maybe Shikadai had gotten a seasonal cold or a stomach bug is being passed around, perhaps he just feels more tired than usual.

»Don't ask me.« muttered Shikadai, slamming the chopsticks down onto the table.

»Shikadai.« Shikamaru warned his son, giving an admonitory glance.

Shikamaru—in contrast to your knowledge—knows from his friends firsthand, that most of their children (Boruto and Sarada specifically) seemed to be getting more and more into a angry rebellious mood against them—and now Shikadai, for whatever reasons, as well it seems.

»Stop acting as if you're my dad.«

»What do you mean?« your worry turned in confusion, not understanding what exactly Shikadai is trying to say here and why he's getting so heated.

»You're not my papa and neither are you a supposed mother! All you are is a Monster, which shouldn't even exist!«

You remain silent, a crestfallen expression of hurt etched onto your face, because you knew you're a monster—having called yourself that a few times, even with a slight proudness just to provoke and to make Naruto (one of your closest friends) not feel alone anymore—but it's something entirely different when your own son (or any other person you love and hold dear) calls you such as it equals—akin to a heartache—to a stab into the heart.

»Shikadai! That's enough!« Shikamaru raised his voice—never thought he ever needed to with his son—disapproval sternness in it, because such outbursting outrageous behaviour—towards you—was line crossing and not acceptable.

»I hate you! I hate you!«

Shikadai was shouting—the hatred crystal clear to hear in his voice—by now at this point, chair screeching backwards—falling back with a thud onto the floor—when he stood up abruptly, running out of the kitchen and slamming some doors—either the front door itself or the one towards the garden—shut.

Shikamaru, standing up as well—who, even now as a parent, had never been one for strictness or tight enclosed rules—had half a mind to follow his son and reprimanded him that such behaviour wasn't acceptable as it certainly crossed a line—and while there a things, hurtful words, which a Parent should never dared to utter to their child, so are there words a child should never say to their parents.

But Shikamaru didn't go after his son, not when you have called out for him in a hoarse whisper—cup of (f.drink) slipping from your already shaky hands and shattering down onto the ground into million shards.

Turning to you, the once disappointing up-flaring anger vanish right away and morphed into concern upon seeing your pale sweat glistening face and the way how you clutched your stomach—Shikamaru, with a few steps towards you, puts his arms around you in support and walks you into the living room towards the couch.

~~~•~~~

»......something is wrong....« you rasped out in pain, fearing yourself for the worst already—a lingering sense crawling through your mind of what's happening to you and it's one of the few things which sparked pure terrific fear in you.

»Let me have a look.« Shikamaru raised up your shirt—being thankful that you wore much easier clothing nowadays and not the complicated traditional clothes—and coming to an unpleasant sight.

Your stomach, where the seal of the Oni Demons had once been placed—as you're, through all these years and despite the Oni's being long counted as friends and family, still a Vessel—looked bloody raw, skin tearing itself apart and the sealing marks coming off in a purple stream.

»Shika.....I'm scared.....I–I don't want to lose them, not again....Please, Shika, please don't let me lose them.« tears welled up in your eyes, the fear—which pulls Shikamarus heartstrings in an ache—visibly pooling in them, ascending down your cheeks and upcoming sobs—which bubbles up in your throat—threaten to escape over your lips.

Shikamaru as he shushes you gently, telling you in a promise—believing, although with not much faith in it, your husband as he had barley broken a promise before—that everything will be alright again and how he will do everything possible to not let you lose Raikou and the others—rubs his hand, in a careful and comforting manner, over your stomach.

»C'mon, let's get you back to bed, love.« Shikamaru picks you up and carries you into the bedroom—laying you down onto the bed, pulling him down with you as well, having a tight grip on his shirt.

And Shikamaru let you, holding you close while you cried yourself into sleep—squirming in pain and berating yourself, for something you weren't at faults even.

~~~•~~~

It had been days later—when Konoha had been evacuated, after being attacked by some cult Ninjas (close to being a second Akatsuki group) and either leading almost all possible Shinobi's, with a false lead, away from the village or locking them into a Genjujutsu—that Shikadai started to regret.

Seeing you—his Papa—getting purposely stabbed by the enemy, in order to protect him and Inojin—while telling Konohamaru and Mirai (despite them saying you shouldn't fight as you're still not recovered) to stay with them in protection, while you took care (in your words) of that fucker—sparked a flame of crashing guilt in Shikadai.

Shikadai argued with his Uncle—after the enemy had admitted that they're actually after you and your Oni's and seeing how brutal the attacks (which sends you crashing into the ground a few times already) you're receiving are—how he needs to help his papa and starting to cry out in frustration, anger and fear, when Konohamaru holds him back.

They don't understand, they just don't seem to understand the immense guilt and fear Shikadai feels, because this fight could risk your life and Shikadai didn't want to lose his Papa—not when these hateful words he had shouted at you, would be your last memories of him.

What Shikadai had said, wasn't true—you're aren't a monster, but it took the summoning of Raikou and the other three Oni's (who not only grand him sole protection, but also the whole village and Shikadai realise the extent of how strong you really are) and you literally sacrificing yourself—out of loyalty and parental love—to make Shikadai understand.

All Shikadai wants was to apologise and telling you, how much he loves you and how thankful he is to have you as his Papa.

I'm Sorry.

[bercybbc]

their boyfriend has no shame💀

Also i have some more headcanons for you!

Emma, Norman, Ray live in post-naruto/post-boruto-canon I think...(I didn't watch boruto actually, so I'm not sure about that) 

anyway, they don’t have any contact with the canon characters of Naruto, but they may be distant descendants of well-known characters

Norman is definitely from the Hyuga clan ( as @fullscoreshenanigans noticed this in the previous post ❤️) he is a very soft and gentle boy so I thought the style of gentle fist would suits him

I'm not sure about Ray, he can be from Nara clan, but from Uchiha clan as well

If Ray is Nara, he can paralyze the enemy with the technique of shadow possession. Norman attacks this enemy with the Eight Trigrams or something. Emma will cover both of them.

But if Ray is Uchiha it's cool too, and add tension between him and Norman during the chunin exam. I haven’t seen teams where the guys have similar kekkei genkai 

(It should be noted that Norman and Ray fell in love with each other before the Chunin Exams and they could not take fighting each other seriously. BUT if Emma was forced to fight with the boys in the exam, her "have a crush on Norman and Ray" would not stop her from beating the shit out of them. because her career as a shinobi and her future earnings depend on it.)

What about Emma. She came from a civilian family and has a lot of siblings. Emma became a shinobi because her family are not traders and becoming a shinobi is the only way to earn a lot of money.  Emma has a lot of chakra, but she does not have clan techniques. so she practices a lot and never gives up trying to create her own techniques. there is a possibility that she will succeed, just as it happened for example with Minato. 

Emma does not spare Norman and Rey during training, she uses all possible dirty tricks to defeat them. For the same reason, she was the first of the three to receive the title of Chunin.

Perhaps in the future Emma would like to create her own clan, but while she is in a relationship with two heirs of other great clans...this creates a very awkward situation

[tozettastone]

Thinking about Hidan's ritual technique thing.

I think you could argue for Hidan's ritual technique being a pure yang chakra release. Much like the Nara shadow manipulation, he uses something belonging to his victim to establish a sympathetic link between them. But whereas the Nara clan use shadows, which make sense as a vehicle for spiritual energy, Hidan's ritual uses blood, which makes a lot more sense as a vehicle for, like, physical energy. Blood has many associations with action and energy and vitality! And then, instead of an invisible binding on people's limbs, the technique opens physical wounds transmitted through that sympathetic link, so I think that's yang stuff as well.

It also makes sense with Hidan's actual skills and character. He might be a spiritual character, in his way, but all his devotions are incredibly physical. Even his meditations appear to involve catastrophic self harm while he does whatever religious contemplating he needs to. And outside of that, he shows next to no ability with non-physical skills like genjutsu or even elemental ninjutsu.

I think any talented yang chakra release specialist could crack that ritual technique wide open and reproduce it if given enough time (most people aren't, obviously) but I also think that the technique itself isn't really the thing that matters? Like, alone, it's not very useful. It's Hidan's execution of it that makes it dangerous. He made it as a vehicle for religious devotion, so he doesn't fuck around with psychological warfare or hostage taking ("kill me and your teammate dies!") or whatever, he just sticks a spear through his ribs and obliterates his own heart.

This technique would only work in very specific circumstances for non-immortals. For example: 1. hostage taking, 2. a suicide technique, 3. if the victim had a very different body type to the user of the technique and therefore things that the user could withstand would kill the victim, or 4. if the user has mad healing skills like Tsunade, Sakura or Kabuto, which grant a certain kind of temporary invulnerability in which they bounce back from lethal damage. Which is basically like time-delimited immortality, really. Are they even non-immortals for the purposes of this list?

So I think Hidan's ritual technique is eminently reverse-engineerable (and Shikamaru could probably tell you exactly how it works, given the whole 'sympathetic link' situation and his own cleverness!) but it's kind of... er, useless.

Except if you're hella religious or functionally immortal. Or both.

[oh-no-its-bird]

TMA naruto au time buckle up,

Jon should get to be a half Uchiha bastard who has an infamously hard time controlling his sharingan.

His mangekyo (which he gets very very young when he accidentally leads a bully to their death at the hands of a nukenin with a love of spiders) basically acts as his beholding abilities and can allow him to compel people to sit still and answer anything he asks of them, which gets really messy when you consider a) shinobi society is built on secrets, and b) he has a really hard time turning it off

His visions absoloutley fucked but whatever bloodline his father was from seems to have caused the deterioration of his eyes to stop where it is— and is also the cause of why he has extra difficulty w it's flip switch

Anyways, Inuzuka Daisy or Hatake Daisy, I can't decide. Either way shes wolf coded as fuck and also in a similar boat of being absoloutley shit at controlling her bloodline. She and Jon are so problem child coded, and I think part of the reason she hates him as kids is bc she sees a lot of herself in him but like, at her worst. All of her issues but he just lays down and takes it when she fights tooth and nail against anyone who so much looks at her wrong. They are opposite ends of the spectrum and she's hyper aware of it

I think that when they're older they should get to go on a mission together and basically the whole coffin thing happens but with like an enemy nin w an earth chakra type.

Mmm alternatively tho, sprinkle in hints of the dreaded fears and play w the beasts and yokai of naruto canon, pull some spooky shit.

They get in over their heads, coffin happens, Jon goes back for her then we end with them both just kind of looking at eachother like "there are things in this world we can not comprehend."

Mmm, naruto version of the fears,,, that could be fun. Incorporate the bijuu maybe, idk

Anyways, Daisy hates Jon, coffin time happens and Jon escapes but then goes back for her (if she's a Hatake, this could also play interestingly w parallels to Kakashi) and they come out of the whole thing having Seen Thing(tm) and are irriversably changed and also now very much edging into co-dependant besties territory

Can u tell I'm a big fan of the Daisy and Jon besties agenda bc I so am

Moving on to the others ->

I want to say civilian Martin? I don't have much for him tbh, it'd be cool if he was like distantly related to Haku tho. Give him the cool ice mirror bloodline limit or whatever bc smthn smthn the lonely.

Mmm ok acrually hear me out: civilian Martin who's trying very hard to avoid shinobi things. He's actually a defected Kiri nin who forged a new identity for himself and fled to Konoha to start a new life after the bloodline hunts back in Kiri killed his whole family (except for Haku, but he doesn't know he's still alive) He's trying very hard to fly under the radar, but I doubt he'll succeed for long

I want him to look like all those fun lonely avatar fan arts of him w the sharp teeth, white streaked hair, dulled looking skin and kinda fishy vibes overall actually, but like he uses a seal to keep a permanant henge on him to look normal bc hes very visibly Kiri otherwise

Tim is giving me Yamanaka vibes for some reason. I like that also bc then we could possibly get him and Jon working together in T&I, which like yay parallel to how they used to work together before the archives

Sasha is giving me civilian born shinobi vibes, I think she should get to work in the hokage tower. Paper pusher with big dreams of moving up the latter and really being someone one day. She has her eyes dead set on a position in the Hokage's office

Basira is ,,, somewhere. You really can't have Daisy without her that's just illegal but I'm not too sure where to put her. Civilian born Basira kinda suits her but I'm ngl I'm kinda eyeing Nara Basira. Wait no fuck ok, Nara Basira and she was on a 3 man unit with Tim at one point, now they just need a Akimichi to complete the narashikacho trifecta there

She totally works in T&I now, or maybe with the Uchiha police force? It's like 90% Uchiha but I'm pretty sure some other clans are spotted here in there among them, and if they're not, I mean, I don't actually give a shit so .

I don't know if this is one of those aus where canon is still there but we're just adding tma characters into the mix or if it's just vague naruto setting but tma characters are our focus / replacing the main cast. But I think it's the first. If it was the second tho I'd say Elias as Danzo in a heartbeat

But since it's the first, Nara Elias who got a mysterious eye transplant years ago that seemed to have changed his personality entirley (were totally keeping the body hopping shit, rip the real Nara Elias who's been dead for years)

He's a slimy politician who works closely with Danzo

Ok so main narrative:

I'm thinking the coffin thing happens with Daisy and Jon, and now they're kind of eyes open to the existence of whatever version of the fears exist in this world. Jon is Jon and can't let sleeping dogs lie, and Daisy is Daisy and does her twitchy "there's something dangerous out there I can't control/don't know about" thing so she's really not stopping him, but she is helping him be more smart about it. Sometimes. They're both kind of lose canons tbh holy shit this is gonna be a disaster

So Jon gets kind of obsessed w whatever the FUCK that was, and Elias smells blood in the water and approaches

Idk what's going on with Elias but he's still body hopping bitch boy Jonah here. He's very involved in the fears, and he's had his eyes on Jon for a while. You see, the way that avatars manifest in Naruto world is that sometimes they'll often show their influence through bloodlines— Nara the dark, Yamanaka the beholding, Inuzuka the hunt, it's all there if you look for it.

Those in 'the know' believe that all bloodline limits came from the fears— sometimes their influence shows more than others. And very very rarley, that influence becomes a a bit more... potent, than in others.

Elias believes that Jon is one such instance of this, his strange mangekyo being so painfully and terrifyingly beholding coded, far more than his clansmen who's own mangekyo tend to branch off lightly into territories of different fears.

Jon (and Daisy, but Elias has a clear favorite here) running into such a strong instance of the buried, which is rare on its own, has only made Elias even more interested, taking it as some sort of sign that there really is something especially odd about Jon's unusually strong link to the fears.

Anyways, Elias sponsoring Jon's investigation into the fears, their links to the bijuu, how they interact with chakra and if they might truly be the source of modern bloodline limits.

Konoha secret supernatural task force (not to be confused with ROOT or ANBU) meant to monitor the fears influence in Konoha,,,

(God, of course Elias couldn't help but make his own fucking secret service in opposition to ROOT. He couldn't let Danzo upstage him)

Just like how ANBU has their shoulder seal and ROOT the tongue seal, I'm thinking their seal is a stylized eye on the back of their neck, which ofc Elias is always watching through, rip

Oh fuck, actually give me seal master Elias and his special spy seals he can watch and listen through. It's not a power thing it's just a specialization thing— he has his own eye tattoo that allows him to directly see through all his seals at any time.

Anyways we're calling this organization ARCHIVE bc I am a simple gal. Don't ask what it's supposed to stand for in verse, idk

Idk who else should be in it, or if it should be like ground up and Daisy and Jon are the first. Wait what the fuck am I saying, Gertrude and Gerry obviously. Michael Shelly too, can't forget him

Toss in Mike Crew and Jude Perry also just bc I like them. Maybe Nikola and an Aburame Jane Prentiss? But also idk if I'd want to put them in the position where they're technically working under Elias, I feel like that just doesn't fit. Better to leave them out in the wold to run into instead for conflict. Except Mike Crew, who is my favorite little guy and who should get to be here on loan from Elias' friend and Daimyo's court shinobi, Simon Fairchild

Honestly be funny if Kakashi was in it at one point just bc then he'd have been in all 3 konoha secret services and honestly? Hilarious. Someone give that guy a fucking break oh my god

Obviously Tim, Sasha, Martin and Basira all eventually join in, tho idk how. Maybe Jon is actually asked who would be a good choice for it? Jon says Tim and Daisy says Basira, then they both kinda eye Sasha who's been very fucking vocal ab needing just a chance to get her claws into the hooks of the Konoha power ladder and reccomend her too

Martin is the tricky one, I'm thinking Elias somehow finds out ab his Kiri background and has always wanted to poke more at the lonley's very visible connection to many kiri bloodlines— but Martin's in particular. So he kinda blackmails him into it, but framed in a more friendly "I'll make sure you don't have to hide anymore, I can secure your place in Konoha even with your ancestry :)"

Also maybe he was impressed by Martin's disguise seals, that'd be neat. Seal master Martin but he's Martin so he's like "Ah, I'm really not that good at it :("

(Jon is infuriated by his seemingly natural talent then even more infuriated when it becomes clear he's actual shit at most other shinobi things)

Ok so peddle it back to Mr Jonah eye fuckery Magnus here -> he was once like Jon. A man born into a clan w a link to the beholding, with a light eye themed bloodline limit. But he was born with a stronger tie to their patron than the others, strong enough to recognize they had a patron at all. And by feeding into it (don't ask me how I have no clue) he was able to strengthen that tie, gaining more power, and the ability to body hop through eyes

And he looks at Jon and wonders if he can replicate that in him. Groom him into something closer to their god, then feed him to the beholding to further his own power, which seems to have stagnated in growth.

I think also there's just a good amount of spite for ROOT and hunger for political power that he might get from ARCHIVE, and Jon is a clear fit for it, so like. Add him to the pile !!

I have a couple more vague thoughts for this -> the archive tunnels correlating to ROOT tunnels, the real Elias being childhood friends w Danzo and Hiruzen before Magnus took his body, Madara off in his cave somewhere being influenced by a Zetsu who serves the fears instead of Kaguya, etc.

But I'll leave it here for now, thank u for ur time

[bythepen98]

N/ purely self-indulgent hhh, plus I always wanted to do something like this when I read a good fic. First attempt at making a webcomic.

Based on @rayshippouuchiha's ShikaNaru fic "The Brightest Flame (The Darkest Shadow)" :D

Rated: M

Tags: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Crack Treated Seriously, BAMF Uzumaki Naruto, Genderfluid Character, Yandere Shikamaru Nara, Smitten Shikamaru Nara, Naruto with Tsunade's Strength, Love At first Chakra Enhanced Strike,.... etc.

Chapters (so far): 2/?

Summary:

Shikamaru’s never felt chakra so vibrant and warm before.

The log that Naruto’s been punching shatters clean apart, reduced to little more than splinters under the devastating force of his chakra enhanced blow.

Shocked and more than a bit startled, Shikamaru wheezes loudly, the sound carrying across the clearing and causing Naruto to abruptly turn and look in his direction.

And in that single moment Shikamaru is lost.

[excerpt]

...because Shikamaru is a Nara to the core, is the strongest they've seen in generations, and the Nara have always been a clan of Shadows after all.

and what does the shadow crave more than the light?

Naruto, with his ocean blue eyes and his golden hair swaying in the breeze his attack had created, shines as bright as the sun itself.

And Shikamaru intends to have him.

(edit: forgot to add this)

..."so much for that quiet wife and two ordinary kids idea."

"Time for a new plan." Because, really, there's no way life with Naruto is going to be any form of quiet or normal.

....Shikamaru's entire life plan has to be thrown out the window and then redrawn from scratch.

Either way Shikamaru's not actually all that upset about his entire life being thrown into an abrupt upheaval.

After all, convincing Naruto to marry him as soon as possible will be well worth the effort.

Naruto's pretty sure this is the closest they've ever actually been to one another outside of the few times they've been paired up to spar in class.

"What're you doing after this?" Shikamaru asks, one hand coming out of his pocket to reach out and play idly with the dangling sleeve of Naruto's kimono.

"After training?" Naruto keeps one eye on Shikamaru's hand...

"More like for the rest of your life," Shikamaru says. "But sure, we can start with training."

Naruto blinks.

.....[Naruto's] not really sure what, exactly, is happening here but he thinks this might mean Shikamaru wants to be his friend now.

Ah my sweet summer child.

Not an exact play by play of what was written in the fic, only the gist I guess and the moment that rly stuck in my head and got me giggling in my pillow.

My love for the "oblivious pure(?) mc and their darker, possessive s/o" trope has struck again. Couldn't've stopped myself from finishing this even when sleep-deprived, which I currently am right now. Had fun challenging myself with this too and might attempt it again with a future chapter or other works depending on my schedule. I'm occupied with studying this month so making something time extensive like this won't happen for awhile yet.

Excitedly waiting for updates :D

[hellcifrogs]

How does the Jinchuuriki and the Bijuus work on your NaruFox AU?

Sorry, I'm pretty sure you explained it somewhere, but I didn't understand yet:/

The shortest way I can explain the idea is that the bijuu are chakra. So in the NaruFox the animal clans can sometimes have a member be born with that special chakra. That translates into specific animals/mystic creatures (the fox clan has a nine tails fox, the cat clan have a two tailed cat and so on...)

By that logic, yes, there could be a dog bijuu from the Inuzuka or a deer one from the Nara, but in the timeline of events for the AU there hasn't been one born in these clans.

[animeomegas]

Next is Kakashi - who's one of my favorites! - though I think this would would be more of a slow burn bittersweet story until his soulmate can slap some sense into him. After losing everyone he loves in the span of what? A decade? Or something like that? It can really mess with a person's love map and because of that I think Kakashi would really fight against the idea, at least for a time. I see him, honestly, looking forward to finding his as a child and really excited and happy about it until he finds his dad. That's where he'd fight against and even scorn the idea of having one and not just behind closed doors but publicly as well. Which of course would put him right against Obito's happiness for it. Then I think he'd really close himself off to the idea and him actually having one period after the war where he loses Obito and Rin with Minato and Kushina not too long after. If he did find his soulmate or they found him really, because he's not looking for them, it would be a hard road for them to get together and him accept he won't lose them too.

Lee. *brushes off hands* I rest my case! No, but, really, Lee would love to have a soulmate. After all the picking - kids can be so cruel! - and scorn because he can't use chakra we all know that even if it was platonic soulmates our youthful ninja would embrace that with open arms. I haven't thought much on him because while I love the theme and symbolism behind his character he's just not a personal favorite. (Cue the trash throwing!) Seriously though, just like Naruto, Lee would actively search for his soulmate and I think this would be a topic you stayed very, very respectful around him on. Soulmates are beautiful people and bring out the best in their partner, they are precious and to cherished deeply. And do not for a second think the boy won't throw fists if his own is being bad mouthed or disrespected in any way. 😤

Neji - where are my Neji stan fam?!?! - for me at least, would be another that would have a hard time accepting that there's someone out there for him. Would he secretly want one? Totally. Would he believe he deserved to have one? I don't think so, at least not until Naruto gives him a what for with his talk-no-justu. Afterwards, I see him starting to open up to the idea but very slowly. I don't think he'd be like Kakashi but he's not a Naruto or Lee either. It would take time to not only accept he has one, but if he finds them, that they'd actually love and care for him. His mate would really have to work and keep at him to break down those very high walls but when they do it'd be magical. They'd be so precious to him but - and this is just me - I see it being his soulmate who'd be the one throwing hands in regards to Neji. Am I right??

Honorable mention: Shikamaru. Here's my other big fav, the lazy genius himself. I had to add him despite this being so long already! I love my beautiful Nara sloth. So yeah, I was totally behind the Nara's Obsession idea. Total soulmate idea written right in!

Part 2! Let's do this!

KAKASHI

Okay, so I was fully prepared to disagree with you when you said Kakashi, but I think you actually explained yourself well! Because you're right, Kakashi does not want a soulmate. He doesn't believe that there's someone for him. Maybe one day there was, but now, he's too damaged to have a meaningful relationship.

And I LOVE the idea of conflict between Kakashi and Obito because Obito can't wait to meet his soulmate, and Kakashi think that's stupid.

I think Kakashi would run from meeting his soulmate, but after the war, if his soulmate was stubborn enough, I think they would slowly become part of his pack, even though he resists them at every turn lol.

LEE

Lee can't wait to meet his soulmate! You're so right!

His desire is so genuine and pure. He goes completely red when he meets his soulmate, and he talks so fast, basically falling over himself to make a good impression. It's very cute! <3

NEJI

The Neji stans are all in my inbox haha!

I'm going to gently disagree with you here.

Neji is super interesting when it comes to soulmates, because of his beliefs in destiny. He probably does believe in soulmates, and he's fully expecting to marry his soulmate. He just doesn't expect to be that happy with the situation. He thinks his destiny is to serve to main family with an advantageous match.

To actually get a soulmate that's someone good for him? It knocks him off balance. He's suspicious for a while, I reckon.

But I don't think he's anti-soulmate at any point, mainly resigned.

But yes, you're so right that he gets a soulmate that protects him. Neji's soulmate is always ready to fight for his honour haha!

SHIKAMARU

*thinks soulmates are a drag*

*meets soulmate*

[scrivenger-grimgar]

"well, the Uzumaki and Uchiha have around 25-ish members again, which would allow them to be reinstated as clans allied to the village by charter right," Tobirama stated, entirely unfazed by the eyes of the many clan heads watching him speak. Itama shifted his tiny (painfully tiny, was he always that small??) body in his hold, gripping on tighter to his mother's fur collar. both he, Kawarama, and Nawaki were heartbreakingly silent through the whole ordeal, even when the resurrection started by way of the lost Hatake boy, Orochimaru.

"but the Hatake and Senju still only have less than 10 and 15 members respectively, meaning that there would be a power imbalance between the four newly resuscitated clans. given the feud that is, arguably, still active to some of us revenant, it doesn't seem wise to leave it be."

and that was the crux of the matter. several members of both the Uchiha and Senju that had been resurrected had died when the Senju-Uchiha blood feud had been ongoing. both his brothers (his brothers!!) had died far before the village had even been a thought in Hashirama's wood cork of a brain, along with Madara's own siblings, like his older brother Hidehiko, Izuna, their younger brother Matsuri and his twin sister Shouko, and their youngest sister Choushi. thats not even mentioning the adult shinobi under the same circumstances; 22 year old Senju Yasuiro and 28 year old Senju Fuushinshi had attacked and injured Uchiha Kouga, and also injured the man's 12 year old niece Uchiha Rukia, before Tobirama, Madara, Hashirama, and Mito managed to tie them all down.

(if Fuushinshi was sporting a break in his arm, in the same place as young Rukia, well. That was between Tobirama and his cousin.)

"Thats not even mentioning the non-clan shinobi who were resurrected, who, in all likelihood, are probably related to one of the four clans in question. if they become affiliated with said clans is entirely by their own choice." he said, his tone brokering no room for argument. Tobirama was honestly surprised that he hadn't been interrupted yet, but it might be the shock of having so many once-dead shinobi in Konoha's meeting hall.

pursing his lips ever so slightly, he looked to Hashirama, holding Kawarama who was making faces at Itama, then to Touka who was standing behind Mito and holding Nawaki. his brother tilted his head and Touka nodded, flickering her chakra in code pattern for 'plan, question.'

Tobirama sighed, mostly as a visual sign of reluctance for the other clan heads present. 'contract, agreement. kill, home-clan; fade, wild-clan.'

Hashirama's eyes sparkled, his smile not fading from his face in the slightest.

"our agreed upon solution to both the power imbalance and the lacking size of the Senju and Hatake clans is to incite the charter's directory number fourteen."

only two of the clan heads seemed to recognize what he was referencing, tjose being the Nara clan head, as expected, and Madara, who literally co-wrote the damn thing with him. Madara threw his head back with thundering laughter, which Tobirama related to on a personal level.

it was extremely ironic that the ones to end the Senju way of life would be the very people who had been hurt by it the most.

Itama jerked in his arms at the noise, so he adjusted his grip to hold him tighter. several eyes landed on the still laughing Madara, who Tobirama knew was not going to explain anything. the Nara head didn't look any worse, so he either knew what the Senju used to be like, or he simply didn't care.

Tobirama had expected most of the clans to not have invested in that particular article after it was written, but... he was extremely unpleased with Hiruzen's puzzled, near silent question of "the what?"

Madara's laughter died off with the (to most) unexpected line of, "wonderful play, Senju." vicious smile almost mocking to anyone unfamiliar with him. which was everyone except him, Mito, Hashirama, and Izuna.

Tobirama simply inclined his head in acknowledgement. he ran one hand through his hair, carefully avoiding the carefully disguised braids he'd tied into it this morning with Hashirama, Touka, and Orocchi.

"to answer your question, Hiruzen, 'the what' is the clause in the village's Constitution that states, 'when a clan is no longer large enough to support itself and its members, an allied clan who is willing and able are to induct the clan into their own, allowing the continued survival of the bloodline. this can be enacted when a clan's number drops beneath the range of the clan's expected member count.'"

clearing his throat, he continues on, projecting his voice to call over the now disorganized shinobi.

"in essence, this means that the senju will join either the Uchiha, Uzumaki, or Hatake clans, as those three have priority over other clans in the village due to both personal and blood relations being closest. thus, to avoid further power imbalance in the number of members to each resurrected clan, the Senju will be hosted by the Hatake clan."

[mata-aetara-if]

[ DEMO (TBA) ] - [ PINTEREST (TBA) ] - [ PLAYLIST (TBA) ]

🍃 This is the dev blog for my interactive fiction set in the Naruto universe titled Mata Aetara ~!

🍃 Sorry there’s not much here at the moment as the story being written is still SUPER early in development ~!  Please keep in mind I’m new to writing and creating an if so it will take a while for things to come out, and I’m doing this for fun so I don’t want to rush or put any pressure on myself. If you’re still interested in following my progress thank u so much I appreciate it 🥰

🍃 My main blog I will follow/like from: @sweetchaosyk

🍃 My interactive fiction side blog I'm most active on: @stephschoices

Summary & Features:

Slice of life, but make it Naruto. It's been 4 years since The Nine Tailed Fox wreaked havoc on your village, and things have, for the most part returned to normal. You start off playing as a genin who graduated from the academy about a year ago. Your team, and your friends teams have only been taking on the lowest level missions, but it's about time to start taking higher ranking ones! How will you maneuver life in The Hidden Leaf Village?

Choices you can make:

name

gender, pronouns, & sexuality

hair style, texture, & color

eye color

skin color & details

height

you are the medical-ninja of your team, choose to master it or learn various jutsus

chakra nature

summoning animal (options)

small weapon (options not decided yet)

dads restaurant type (options not decided yet)

RO info & tags below ⬇️

Asahi Uchiha ( x )

he/him

One of your teammates, a member of team 3

From the Hidden Leaf Village

One of your childhood best friends, and the most talented shinobi in your class. With how humble he is you could almost say it happened accidentally though. Prefers only having a few close friends and would go to the end of the Earth for them

Niko Sarutobi ( x )

they/them

One of your teammates, a member of team 3

From the Hidden Leaf Village

Your other childhood best friend! The opposite of Asahi and will make friends wherever they go! Will always put you and Asahi first though! Is also very flexible

Shikako Nara ( x )

she/her

A member of team 5

From the Hidden Leaf Village

A shy girl from the Nara clan. Tends to think her jutsu is never good enough, but her teammates are always there to reassure her!

Inoru Yamanaka ( x )

he/him

A member of team 5

From the Hidden Leaf Village

Not a fan of Asahi, as he thinks he was the best shinobi in your class (he wasn't). Despite that, he is very talented so he has a right to be confident. As he gets older, his confidence and charisma continue to grow

Rona Inuzuka ( x )

she/her

A member of team 13

From the Hidden Leaf Village

Her clan members can be a little chaotic, so she likes to be the responsible one wherever she goes. Safe to say she's the mom friend of your group

Jun Hyuga ( x )

he/him

A member of team 13

From the Hidden Leaf Village

Jun is from the side branch of the Hyuga clan and tends to be quiet and reserved. He is usually uninterested in the antics you and your friends get into

Might Chai ( x )

she/her

A member of team 13

From the Hidden Leaf Village

Chai can perform minimum ninjutsu and prefers taijutsu, just like her father and older brother. She doesn't let that get her down though! She'll do everything possible to show she's a capable kunoichi just like everyone else!

Mokoto Aburame

they/them

A member of team 9

From the Hidden Leaf Village

As long as you don't squish any bugs around them, you'll get along great. Most people call Mokoto creepy, but it's just because they dress in dark colors, don't talk much, and of course, the bugs.

Ryoku (x)

he/him

A member of the sand team

From the Hidden Sand Village

A member of the Kazekages clan, Ryoku was born with their ability to control sand with their chakra. He has a serious personality and will protect his village with his life.

Kougetsu Hozuki ( x )

they/them

A member of the mist team

From the Hidden Mist Village

Kougetsu is an adventurous and unpredictable ninja from the very dangerous Hidden Mist Village. You never know what their next move will be. They like to keep you on your toes.

Important tags to know:

🍃 "ch: [name]" : any info, answered asks, or aesthetics related to the charater

🍃 "ch: [team name/number]" : any info, answered asks, or aesthetics related to the team of characters

🍃 "ro asks" : any reaction / scenario asks answered about the ros

🍃 ".txt" : general text posts about Mata Aetara

🍃 "info" : information regarding Mata Aetara

🍃 "aesthetic" : and posts that give me inspiration about Mata Aetara

🍃 "q" : queued posts

🍃 "my art" : art / edits I've made for Mata Aetara

🍃 "mcs" : any mc art or edits

🍃 "picrew" : any picrews I do of the characters

🍃 "fanart" : any art of the characters

🍃 "irl inspo" : any irl people or places inspo of the characters

🍃 "character design" : official designs of the characters

🍃 "memes" : blank memes i filled out with the characters

[teletubbyinlipstick]

            Unchained Melody

---------------------------------‐------------

Please enjoy it. It's an old draft from a couple of years ago. If anyone falls in love with this and wants to continue it, please dm me!

-------------------------------------------------------

Konohagakure was livelier than usual today. Civilians bustled here and there as they prepared decorations for the fire festival, a grand ball being held in town square. Food tables were being prepared, sectioned by clans; Yamanaka, Nara, Uchiha, and even the Uzumaki clan were making a grand appearance. A newly formed alliance of the Mist Village has them attending it too, their Mizukage traveling to Konohagakure. After the overthrow of the tyrannical Mizukage by none other than his eldest son; there has been prosperity in Mist. The economy is booming, and new alliances are being built. Zabuza Momochi was promising in his leadership, sharp around the edges if tales were true but just and kind in his ways. 

You parted from the one vendor to make your way across the street, partaking in light chatter as you helped set it all up. You volunteered every year for the fire festival, finding joy in the way the whole village comes together for one night. The Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was even lending a helping hand. While you respect the Hokage immensely for how well he leads, you find yourself avoiding him only because of how intense his energy can be. Sensitivity to chakra was uncommon but not unheard of. And it's mostly spotted in those hailing from a prestigious clan. So the shock of your parents when Y/N L/N, their sweet, civilian girl, showed chakra sensitivity was something to be remembered forever. There was but a small push from the Nara clan to have you join the academy, even offering a scholar. But your parents, mostly your mom, had put their foot down. Refusing her only child to go and be trained in the art of killing. 

For the longest time, it caused strife between you and her. Ten-year-old you whined about how you could be protecting the village or going on cool undercover missions. Ultimately, her will stood too strong against your nagging. And 11 years later you praise Kami for not letting you go down that path. As much as you respect those in it, watching a shinobi slit another man's throat wide open in the markets at just 14 years old, really threw you off. The man had been an enemy ninja, sent to kidnap Shikamaru Nara, he was chased into the market where he quickly met his demise. A core memory, though, was standing there with your apples scattered across the floor, a dead body bleeding out in front of you. Other civilians had at that point taken cover in shops, as is protocol. But you couldn’t move, couldn’t tear your eyes away from the dead body, until a kunoichi stepped in front of you, dragging your attention away. She was soft-spoken, gentle but firm as she escorted you into the small bakery beside you. Later, another Kunoichi would show up at your house, asking you questions about the incident and how it was affecting you. Your parents held your hand the entire time, crying when you remembered the way the blade slid across his neck, the gurgled noises as he choked on his own blood. His eyes would flash in all of your worst nightmares for many years after that.

But alas, you moved past it, and while there are nights you grab take out before you grab your kitchen knife, all is well. Now here you stand, 22, working at a Yamanka floral shop with community work on the side. Life is good, you have wonderful parents, wonderful friends, and you plan to have a wonderful night at the ball. If only the lanterns would actually cooperate and not hang weird every time you attached one to a string.  

  “Y/n, hun, do you need me to hang em up instead?” An amused voice called below you. Looking down, you watch Ino Yamanaka raise an eyebrow at your struggling. You stick a tongue out at her, huffing annoyedly as you hop on down the ladder, brushing yourself off. 

  “They just won’t stop wrinkling and hanging all weird.” Grumbling, you hand over the string line of lanterns, stepping to the side to let Ino take over. The blonde woman simply laughs, standing on the ladder. 

  “Maybe they don’t like you? How about you go take those flower pots to my pops, and I’ll finish this for yah.” You nod, excited to take a break. 

  “Hell yeah, where is he?” Hoisting up the flower pots, you balance them in your arms. They’re heavier than expected, you muse to yourself. Trying to readjust them to even out the weight. 

  “He’s up in the Hokage's office greeting the Mizukage on his arrival. Just knock and say it's from me, okay?” Ino doesn’t spare a glance as she perfectly hangs each lantern. A part of you watches in jealousy before hurrying off in the direction she told you to.

 Inoichi Yamanaka was a brilliant Shinobi and quickly made an advisory of the Hokage. It was no wonder he was at the Hokage's office. The building wasn’t too far, a 10-minute walk past the bigger shopping market and just east of the Konoha Police Station. Damn did carrying these pots make it harder though, huffing each time you have to stop and redistribute the weight of them. You round up the 3rd flight of steps, slightly out of breath and snapping at the chunin rushing by you, almost costing you a flower pot for his troubles. ‘Just 2 more flights and you’re good.’ That’s all you could repeat to yourself, trekking on. 

Eventually, you found yourself in front of the Hokage's office doors, ANBU and jonin Shinobi stationed all around. Some of the headbands you recognized as the Konohagakure symbol, the others you could only guess were Mist. You shuffle nervously in front of the two ninjas guarding the door. 

  “I’ve been sent by Ino Yamanaka to deliver these to her father Inoichi Yamanaka.” The words felt like sandpaper in your mouth, nerves lighting ablaze at being under such scrutiny, shifting side to side nervously. The ninja on your right, a taller man with shoulder-length brown hair and a more boyish face raised an eyebrow; clearly suspicious of you. The other one, lanky and tall with spiky silver hair with a mask covering most of his face simply stared at you, unwavering in his intensity. It was a solid minute of tense silence before the silver-haired man stepped to the side, pushing open the door. Taking a deep shaky breath you walked by, not missing how his gaze narrowed just slightly. 

Damn Shinobi and their paranoia. 

 Inside the office was Yamanaka-sama, Shikaku Nara-sama, head of the Nara clan, and Mizukage-sama. Of course. you knew that in the shadows there were probably a dozen ninjas, ready for anything at any moment. All three men turned towards you, Inoichi perking up just slightly at the pots in your hands. Shikaku recognized you, of course, offering a small smile. You weren’t truly paying attention to them though, gaze caught in the Mizukages. 

Oh boy. Intimidating was a kind way to describe the towering man. Broad, muscled shoulders stood proud, chest toned from years of hard work. And oh did he tower over you, a clear 2 feet difference. Mizukage was imposing; he took up room and he demanded attention- no- respect. You don’t know how long you stood there, hands gripped on the flower pots, breath shaky from the long walk here and his stare. Your heartbeat was going a mile a minute, peering into the hands of a predator. Zabuza Momochi was powerful, his chakra a prickling sensation down your back. Instincts telling you to run, run away little deer. Don’t be eaten by the wolf. 

You almost listened, shifting back slightly, but was broken from the trance as Inoichi cleared his throat, calculating eyes looking between you and Zabuza. Flushing darkly, you swallowed and then bowed, shakily holding out the pots. 

  “Ino sent me to give you these.” Your voice only wobbled slightly, Keenly aware of the eyes burning into you. Feeling bared, like he could see right through you. Inoichi took them with ease.

  “Thank you Y/n, have you been helping with the setup? Is Ino busy?” He asked politely, relaxing his stance in your clearly nervous presence. You nod, smiling trying not to look at Zabuza again. Knowing you’d only be caught once more. 

 “Yeah, Ino actually is helping me with the string lanterns so that’s why she didn’t come herself.” 

  He nodded, opening his mouth to say something else but was cut short as Zabuza Momohi spoke first. 

 “Will you be at the ball tonight?” You almost get dizzy from how fast you turn to look at him. Eyes widened almost comically in shock. Zabuza's mouth tilted up in amusement at your reaction. Stepping forward and holding out his hand expectantly. Swallowing down the feelings churning in your gut you take his much larger, calloused hand, nodding your head yes. 

 “Um- yeah, I-I’ll be there.” The man only offered a hum, bringing your hand up to his mouth where he pressed a gentle kiss to the back of it. He never broke eye contact, and once again, you were caught in the hands of a killer. Smooth in his entanglement, a gasp left your lips, quiet, breathless. There was silence in the room for a moment, everybody waiting with bated breath to see what would happen; Zabuza still holding your hand.

The door to the office banged open, causing you to jump, retching your hand away as if burned as you swung around to see the commotion. Naruto, the Hokage's son, entered with his dad chattering excitedly about something you didn’t care enough to pay attention to. Turning back around, you bowed deeply to three men, excusing yourself. Missing the slight downturn of Zabuza’s lips or the knowing stare of Shikaku and Inoichi. You bowed to the Hokage and his son on your way out, flushed and keeping your head low as you scurried away. 

When you finally made it outside, you pressed yourself against the wall, out of view, as you held a hand against your racing heart. You thought back to his shoulders, his eyes, his hands that were so scarred and calloused from what you can only imagine is years of training; held yours so delicately, so gently. It was almost maddening, and, oh god, you cannot believe you just had that interaction with the fucking Mizukage.

 Ino was gonna flip when she heard about this. 

[dira333]

The Road Not Taken - part 15

Shibi x  female reader with a name - arranged marriage

Summary: Airi Nara seems a hopeless case, until her grandmother sets her up for an arranged marriage. But was marrying Shibi Aburame the right choice after all?

Masterlist ; Character sheet

Taglist open if you want to be added

-.- Shibi -.-

Shibi has always cherished early mornings. Everything feels different in the hours and minutes before the sun rises when the world is bathed in a grey light, the air heavy and light at the same time. 

He likes the morning when you wake him up, when you fail to be quiet as you get ready for an early shift. Sometimes he humors you and pretends to be asleep while you tiptoe from one room to the other, dropping a kiss on Shino’s hair or sidestepping a playful Okita.

He likes the mornings when you blink sleepily at him at the kitchen table, not awake enough to listen or to speak yet, but eager to get up with him, knowing you have the whole morning for the things you want to do.

He likes the mornings when he gets up just as you get home, when there’s no difference between good morning and good night for you and your lips brush his cheek on your way to bed.

So far he’s never been sure which kind of morning with you is his favorite.

Today he seems to have found his answer.

The world outside hasn’t woken up yet, but he’s wide awake already, his hive humming. They’ve grown slowly but steadily, suppported by his rest but held back by the uncertainty of your absence. But now that you’re back, safe and sound, they are just as eager to have you here as he is.

You’re not lying on your side as usual, but on your back, head supported by your neck brace. your plastered leg resting on a pillow. But your arms are wrapped around him, holding him close as if he’s the one who’d been gone for too long. There’s no barrier of clothing between you and he has to call back his Kikaichū multiple times. They already know you, from your chakra signature to your scent, but they respond to his emotions just as much as they do to his commands. And his need to touch you, to caress your skin and taste your warmth, does not go unnoticed by his hive. 

You’re so warm next to him, your chest moving with every deep breathe you take. Your hair is a mess under his nose. If he could stay here, unmoving, for the rest of his life, he suppose he’d be happy with it.

A single Kikaichū enters the room through the keyhole, meeting the top of his outstretched hand.

Shino tells him that he’s awake, anxious to be with you again. He sends the Kikaichū back with one of his own, telling his son that he will be with him shortly.

When Shibi moves to untangle himself from you, your face falls into a frown. He halts, hesitating. He doesn’t want to wake you, but he shouldn’t stay longer, even though he wants nothing more. Your eyes blink open as he’s still battling himself. 

“Shibi?” You ask, your voice hoarse. “What time is it?”

“Too early. You should go back to sleep. Shino’s awake.”

“So?” You yawn.

“He wants to cuddle but you’re very much naked.”

You groan but your eyes close again and he takes it as a sign to move again, to slip out of bed fully, looking for his clothes. 

Seconds later he can hear the bedsheets rustle and turns around to you sitting up, rubbing the sleep from your eyes.

“Where’s my shirt?” You ask before yawning again. “Never mind, just give me one of yours.”

“You should sleep.” He tells you, but his voice is too soft and he allows his hand to wrap around yours when you stretch it out toward him, reach for him like he always wants to reach for you. Your fingers entangle with his. His hive hums appreciatively.

-

Fifteen minutes later he’s making tea while Shino is curled up on your lap on the living room couch, your plastered leg resting on the coffee table.

“Do you want to nap on the couch?” You ask Shino softly. He’s grown even more in the last months, at almost five years old a heavy weight in your lap. 

“I don’t want to sleep.” He complains. “Why? I missed you.”

“I know, Shino, I know. Do you want to tell me about the bug you discovered this week instead? That will keep me awake.”

Shibi serves the tea on the little table in front of you, unsure how to fit his own tall body on the couch now. You sense his eyes roaming over the space and pat the place next to you.

When he sits, you lean back into him instantly, your head resting against his collarbone. He can’t resist the temptation and drops a kiss on the top of your head when Shino is distracted by his own story, counting down all the different species he’s learned in the last week alone.

“When did you wake up?” A voice asks from the staircase. Torune’s peering down at the three of them.

“Just a few minutes ago. Cuddle with us?”

Torune hesitates for a moment before nodding. He pulls the giant comforter you bought him from the basket in the corner, wrapping himself until there’s no point of skin visible that one of you could touch on accident. He crams himself into the space on your left and Shino stretches out his legs to rest on top of Torune’s.

You laugh softly and when Shibi looks down at you, your eyes are closed in contentment.

“This is perfect.” You hum. “My little family.”

-.- Airi -.-

When Muta comes to collect the boys for training, neither of them wants to leave.

“No, no, I understand.” You dry the tears that Shino sheds as he stubbornly insists that he needs to stay back with you. “I know you want to make up for lost time. But I need to catch up on a lot of work, take loads of naps in between, so you won’t be missing out an anything. And when you get back from training, we can make a cake together and cuddle some more.”

“Come,” Torune tugs on Shino’s coat. “You can help me train today.”

True to your word you fall asleep on the Couch just minutes after the front door closes. 

When you wake up, Okita is nestled against your side and you think you can hear Shibi in the kitchen.

“Shibi?” You ask, pulling yourself up. “Are you there?”

“I am. Why? Do you need help?”

“Yes, kinda. Can you help me up the stairs? I need to pee.”

You suppose you could tackle the stairs on your own if you had to. But you don’t have to, not as long as you have Shibi at home.

“Why do you need to rest again?” You ask through the bathroom door, knowing that he’s on the other side. “I know you told me some of it yesterday, but with the boys hanging off me and everything-”

“It’s okay. You went through a lot. We were ambushed and while we got out victorious in the end, we suffered heavy damage. Most of my swarm was killed.”

“Oh.” You say because what is there to say, really?

When you open the door again, wobbling on your good leg, nothing betrays what he’s feeling. Or so one could think. But you can tell that there’s a difference, like a quiet kind of grief for the Kikaichu that died.

“How are you feeling?” You ask, your hands wandering over his body a little more than necessary. Shibi leans into your touch until you’re fully embracing each other, him carrying your weight, you carrying his sorrow.

“Empty.” He whispers eventually. He does not explain himself but he doesn’t need to. You might never fully understand what it means to be an Aburame, but if you care this much about the ten Kikaichu living in your hair, you can imagine how he must feel for the thousands upon thousands living inside of him. You’ve seen him tend to them. 

-

At one point you find yourself back on the Couch, leg propped up. Your neck brace is getting annoying, especially when Shibi is sitting next to you and the brace is restricting your movements. 

You tell him about the mission, from Yori’s visit to the initial report made to the Hokage. 

He’s quiet the whole time, listens intently, only interrupts to urge you to drink a bit more tea.

“I’ll write your report,” Shibi says when you’re finished, dark sunglasses reflecting your surprised face. “Why? You need to recover.”

“But the report will be falsified.” You repeat. “If you write it for me, you’ll make yourself an accomplice.”

“I understand. But if you write it yourself and we will be questioned, I’m already an accomplice. You told me the truth.”

“Shibi-”

He leans forward, presses his temple against yours. “I will not lose you.” His voice is more sincere than you’ve ever heard before. You swallow thickly.

“Okay.” You nod. “I will… I will dictate you the words.”

Normally, reports are exaggerated for personal gain. One’s own role is presented as far more important for the success of the mission than it had been.

You aim to do the opposite.

While you, Akane, Iruka and now Shibi know the truth, Konoha will only ever know what you decide to tell them. It’s better this way. 

This way, Iruka can become a teacher and hopefully live a long life in the safety of Konoha. This way, you won’t become a Jonin, won’t be ripped away from your family again and again.

But there’s one thing you haven’t told any of them. Yet. 

You wait until Shibi declares the report finished. When the ink has dried and your eyes are slipping closed again, you nestle yourself against him to tell him the one thing you’d trust no one else with.

“Those Shinobi from Yugakure. I recognized them. They’d been under the attackers when… my eye was hit.” And my fiancé died, you add in your mind.

“I understand.” 

“You do?” You try to turn your head to look at him, but the neck brace won’t allow it.

“From the day we got to know each other, I’ve admired your compassion over everything else. You’re the only person I know that’s strong enough to help someone who’d previously tried to kill you. Not because you’re too weak to say no or from a strategic standpoint. You knew you’d help them the moment you realized that she cared for her companion.”

You swallow against a bout of tears. Maybe, just maybe, Shibi already understands you better than you do yourself.

-.- Shibi -.-

While he hates to admit a weakness, especially during a Clan-Head meeting, Shibi’s decided he will if it goes on for yet another hour. He’s already missed Dinner as well as Shino’s bedtime. You’re probaby crawling up the stairs on your own right now, not willing to ask Chiasa for help.

“There’s one last topic to address.” It’s Fugaku Uchiha’s turn to lead the meeting and he’s surely enjoying it. “A new teacher for the Academy. Aburame-san, do you have anything to say on this topic?”

Fugaku’s smile is less than friendly. It makes Hiashi look like he’s beaming with joy. 

“If you’re referring to the events of my wife’s latest mission, I have nothing to add to that.”

“No?” Fugaku’s brows furrow aggressively. “So your wife isn’t doing anything in her power to make Iruka Umino, an inexperienced Chunin, an academy teacher?”

“Hey now.” Takeo Lee clears his throat pointedly. “My daughter in law was the one who proposed it! I trust Akane’s judgement completely.”

“Your daughter in law hasn’t been friends with Iruka for years.” Fugaku points out, but Tsume is quick to catch him on that.

“Exactly. If Akane proposes Iruka as a teacher, it’s from an unbiased stance. Also, Akane’s a hardass. If she thinks he’s good, I’d trust him with Kiba any day.”

“I won’t let my children be taught by a Clanless Chunin!” Fugaku bristles.

Hiashi Hyuga clears his throat, effectively silencing the table.

“I propose that we vote. Everyone in favor of making Iruka Umino an Academy Teacher should raise their hand.”

“Wait.” Shibi stops before anyone can react. “I won’t vote. Why? If Fugaku is concerned that I might be biased, I will hold back my vote.”

There’s murmuring, some of the voices sounding clearly impressed by his decision.

Hiashi nods and glances at Fugaku who seems to have gotten his self-restraint back.

“Alright. Everyone in favor of Iruka Umino becoming an Academy Teacher should raise their hand.”

Even without Shibi’s vote, the decision is a clear yes. 

Shielded from the eyes of others, Shibi’s mouth quirks into a smile. He cannot wait to tell you this.

-

The house is quiet when he arrives. 

He finds Torune in the living room, petting Okita. 

“Aren’t you supposed to be in bed?” Shibi asks, fondness evident in his voice.

“Mom is upstairs,” Torune explains instead of answering his question, taking a seat with him at the table, watching him eat. “She says it’s a shorter distance to the toilet.”

“How was training today?” 

“It was fine,” Torune looks over at Okita, avoiding his eyes. 

“Really? Tell me more.” 

It takes effort to get Torune to talk. But now that he’s being listened to, the words seem to flow from his lips.

There’s training, today and the day before, the new techniques he’s trying to master and the ones he’s set his eyes on after that.

Eventually, as it always does, they circle back to Shiruko.

It’s been about two weeks since he died yet it feels like months have gone by.

“How are you?” Shibi asks, “You can be honest.”

“Mom asked about that too.” Torune rubs his gloved hand over the table. “Is it okay that I call her Mom?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” 

A soft blush grows on his pale cheeks. Torune buries his face in his arms as if trying to hide himself against the table.

Shibi stretches out his arm, rests his hand on the boy's shoulder.

“Your parents would want you to be comfortable and feel loved. You do not betray their love by reciprocating ours.”

“How do you know?” Torune asks, voice muffled through the fabric.

“When my father died and my mother eventually remarried, I had the same question. My mother told me what I just told you. Now that I am a parent, I understand. Why? If something would happen to me, I’d want you to have someone in your life, someone who loves and cares for you. And I would want you to be able to reciprocate.”

“Even Airi?” Torune asks. The words cut through him like a burning knife.

Shibi swallows thickly at the thought.

If history would repeat itself, if you’d lose him through a mission or yet another war, would he want you to find love again?

He’d never had to think about it from this perspective. He’s always been the one left behind, left alive.

But what’s the alternative? You turning into him? Scared of love, hanging onto the ghost of a person? 

“It hurts to think about,” he finally manages, “But I’d rather have her happy with someone else than have her turn away from life. What do you think about that?”

Torune hesitates.

Shibi, having picked up one or two things from you, offers him an out.

“If you need to think about an answer, that’s okay too.”

-

“Hey,” you greet him with a smile, “Welcome home.” 

Shibi leans down to kiss you but what’s meant as a quick peck on the lips turns into something longer, more urgent, your hands digging into his coat, holding him close.

He’s half laying on you, half crouching on the floor, trying his best to not put his full weight on you. 

“What was that?” Shibi asks, a little breathless when you let go of him and smooth out his hair. 

“I missed you,” your calm voice betrays the thunder of your heart.

He undresses quickly, changes into a simple shirt and trousers just in time.

There’s a soft knock on the door. Shibi opens it to reveal Torune in his sleepwear, glasses discarded.

“I wanted to say goodnight.” The boy’s hands are folded in front of him.

“Oh, no, let me take you to bed,” you push yourself out of bed and hop through the room on one leg before Shibi can fully register what’s going on, “Come on. Like I’d miss that.”

Torune’s blushing, but there’s a content smile on his face too, as he lets you lead him back to his room, Shibi in tow.

He carries you back, begs his heartbeat to stay calm when you let your head rest on his chest. 

Shibi slips into bed with you. He’s not tired enough to go to sleep yet and he can tell you’re too, but with you more or less bound to the bed, he’s content to share that sentence.

“Iruka got the job,” he tells you as you move around, trying to find a comfortable way to sit. “I pulled myself out of the vote because Fugaku thought it was my idea and I was pushing  some kind of agenda.”

“Oh, that’s great.” You’re finally satisfied, leaning into him as you sit, smile on your face. “As soon as he’s a bit more comfortable in that position, he can apply for adoption.”

“About that,” Shibi sighs as he watches your smile waver. “He can’t adopt Naruto and teach him too. But the orphanage is pretty full so I think they wouldn’t be opposed to sending Naruto off on his own.”

“At barely five years old?”

“It’s called assisted living. It’s not an adoption and in all technicality, Iruka wouldn’t be Naruto’s dad, but instead a grown-up looking out for him, making sure he’s got enough money, food and whatever he needs, living nearby in case of any problems.”

You ponder it for a moment.

“Danzo wouldn’t be able to do much about it, would he?”

“I don’t think he’d like it, but there’s not much he can do about it. I’ve looked into it, it has been a thing in Konoha ever since the first War when the orphanages were filled to the brim.”

“I’d rather have him adopted,” you chew on your lip as you think, “But I trust your judgment. We should talk to him about this as soon as possible.”

Shibi pulls you closer. He can’t help the pleased hum of his hive when you cuddle into him. You giggle. 

“Was that your hive?” You ask. “I didn’t hear them before.”

“They’ve grown bolder.”

“How are they, anyway?” You press your ear against his chest. “How much longer are you put on rest?”

“A few more days.”

“Oh.” 

“You sound disappointed. Why?”

Your cheeks turn hot, he can feel it even through his sleep shirt.

“It’s nothing.” You mutter. His hand, previously rubbing distracting circles on your back, stills. He’s still debating whether he’s supposed to ask or not when you speak up again.

“Rika came by today.” You’re not looking at him. “We just talked, but it was pretty enlightening. She’s not been at the hospital for long, but she caught the tail-end of Kazue’s tyranny. From what she’s gathered, they’re looking for someone to take up Kazue’s job. It’s less medical work and more bureaucracy, making sure that there are always enough doctors and nurses on hand and so on.” 

You pause. He can sense that there’s more to it, but you don’t open your mouth again, still hiding your face from his eyes.

“Do you want to take it?” Shibi asks, hopes that the warmth of his hands lets you know that he’ll be supportive, however you need him to be.

“I said…” You hesitate, “Well, I said… I’m not sure I could take it and that I would have to talk to you about it.” You lean back now, but even though your face is in full view, you avoid looking into his eyes. “Since I wanted to ask you… What you think about having another child…”

One, two heartbeats long Shibi forgets to breathe. When his lungs remind him, he takes a shaking breath.

“Are you sure?” His voice is just as shaky, breaking in between.

You nod, your eyes finally flickering up to his. “I mean, it doesn’t have to happen. Not now or not ever. This is a joint decision, after all. But you make me feel… loved… in a way, that I…” You fall silent again, your hands playing with the hem of his shirt, your eyes yet again unable to meet his. “If Shino’s going to start training soon and Torune’s training progresses with the same speed, why not try for it? It’s probably not going to happen quickly anyway, I’m almost thirty after all. I could go back to work until it’s time for me to take a step back and depending on what my work entails I could keep working part-time, if needed. Like one or two days a week or something like that. What do you think?”

“Are you sure?” His voice is barely above a whisper now. There’s a tone to it that he can hardly explain. He’s less asking if you want this than asking if you really want this… with him.

You seem to pick up on it because your features soften and you pull him into him. 

It must be uncomfortable for you, sitting like this, your leg still very much useless. But you don’t complain, mold yourself against him instead. 

Your hands are warm on his skin, gifting him the soft caress of a lover, not just a woman who agreed to marry him.

“What do you think?” You ask yet again.

Something loosens in him, a knot he never knew he tied up. His tongue responds in kind, telling you a secret he’d never thought would see the light of day.

“I always wondered what it would be like to have a daughter.”

---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---

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[23raccoons]

let me bleed (you're losing me) Ao3

Fandom: Naruto (Anime & Manga) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Rape/Non-Con Relationships: Haruno Sakura/Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura/Nara Shikamaru, Haruno Sakura & Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura & Yamanaka Ino Characters: Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, Nara Shikamaru, Hatake Kakashi, Yamanaka Ino, Sai (Naruto), Karin (Naruto), Uchiha Madara Additional Tags: Dubious Consent, Blood and Violence, Unhealthy Relationships, Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms, Dark Uchiha Sasuke, Dark Nara Shikamaru, Protective Hatake Kakashi, Rough Sex, Oral Sex, Vaginal Sex, Self-Harm, Akatsuki (Naruto), War, Konoha 11 (Naruto), Everyone is Problematic ok?, Heavy Angst, Domestic Violence, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Fourth Shinobi War (Naruto), Memory Loss, PTSD, Manipulation, Bullying, Suicidal Thoughts, Degradation, Dacryphilia

Chapter 15 (chapter list)

Sasuke works to keep his temper even throughout Kabuto’s examination of Sakura. Shikamaru had warned him beforehand that she would not react well, perceiving the exam as an attack—taking both Shikamaru and Sasuke to convince her to agree to let Kabuto examine her. More than meeting those expectations, as Sasuke pulls the lightning shock that fills her mind and runs it straight into Kabuto. 

Sasuke escorts the man back to Konoha. There’s a pep in Kabuto’s step, despite having just been mildly electrocuted. Thinking he now has an advantage over Sasuke. Kabuto is unfortunately too useful to the war effort—with all the dead ninja he’s been bringing back to life to fight for their side. Sasuke will have to bide his time to deliver his retribution—another name to add to his shrinking list—but it will come. He has no doubts about that.

“Just how long have you been keeping a little pet, Sasuke?” Kabuto breaks the silence as they near the village. Smirking as he turns to look at Sasuke’s reaction, instead finding an already activated sharingan. 

“What pet?” Sasuke tilts his head as he grabs hold of the memory. Releasing the jutsu. Walking on like nothing ever happened. Inside Kabuto’s mind is a wicked place, full of his gross, based desires. Currently thinking far too much of all the testing and examinations he would enjoy performing on the still-ill Sakura. Memories stored like files in large open shelving units. Carefully tagged and color coded. Tightly packed together. Unlike Sakura's, whose mindspace seems to stretch on endlessly, Kabuto’s seems to be more like a very large plane, eventually meeting a boundary of capacity. 

Sasuke shelves the memory in his own mind, with all the other odd-shaped ones he’s collected thus far. An immense maze of a library, Sasuke navigates with ease. Darkness drips through cracks and leaks in through the seams, coating rows and rows of book-like memories in a thick, foul black venom. Tainting his past with its cursedness. Transmuting his mind with its sinister nature. 

Sasuke visits Sakura as often as he can at the Nara house without raising suspicion. Watching over her between missions if Shikamaru has need to venture into Konoha for a meeting with Madara. Pulling the buildup of static from her, popping them off away from her to avoid the sting of the shocks. Every day that passed has him more on edge. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. He's so, so close to having her and there’s not anything he can do to protect her if he’s not directly touching her when her seal of the chidori finally fails. (If he is unable to control it when the dam does burst.)

Shikamaru himself has been working on the chakra cuffs restraining her. Both getting Kakashi’s pair off and a new, improved set for the two to use to recontain Sakura, to ensure she remains safe and protected in their care until Sasuke can take out the threat that is Kakashi. But they can’t get the cuffs off. Shikamaru was sure that the two of them working in tandem were going to be able to, but something’s not working correctly, leaving her stuck. Trapped.

Sasuke’s tracking a whole skulk of chakra foxes that have ventured onto the Nara land. At least six of them this time. He takes out a handful right off the back, less for him to deal with as he follows the others. They are quite a ways from the house and are causing the deer to behave strangely. More skittish and jumpy than usual. 

He feels the familiar vibration of Sakura thinking about ‘Kakashi-sensei’, slipping into the genjutsu, just enough to fling the shard of memory that she doesn’t like Kakashi up the string, catching it as it rebounds back through. Only to find that there’s a Sakura in Sakura’s mind. Right at the hard border of his space. Her glowing hands pressed against the barrier, trying to break it. He lets himself float through and land on the bottom, in her line of sight. 

“Sakura,” he calls. His Sakura. She stands up straight, pulling off the jutsu as he strides for her. Caught at its limits as she backs away from him. Her eyes widen as she takes in Sasuke at the hard glass-like structure filled to the brim with her memories. Bone chilling fear seeping into her mind. Still backing away, one foot after the other, until she reaches the cross-arm of the webbing. “Sakura, won’t you come to me?”

The strings act like tributaries, starting off small—in the far reaches of her mind—before combining into each other time and time again, growing thicker as they reach the focal point that feeds into the conscious side of her mind. Sasuke currently holds a lot of power over who and what she remembers because both his and Naruto’s main lines run through his genjutsu. People like Shikamaru and Ino have their own lines, out of his reach. Ino’s waves closer towards Sasukes at one point before sloping closer to Shikamaru again. She’s used this closeness to create a new thin string to bridge the gap and another to reach Naruto’s. Naruto’s to Kakashi’s. The more time Sasuke spends in his spot in her mind, the better he gets at recognizing what belongs to who. 

Thinner, more fragile strands connect branches crosswise. Connecting people to each other. A lot of the webbing is damaged, broken, and snapped in places. Sasuke’s line connects into Naruto’s just outside the jutsu. And together they have lines that feed into Kakashi’s. 

Sakura weaves her way across and back down. Around–until she is on the other side of Sasuke’s jutsu. Reaching the point where she has to start healing, repairing broken strands to connect them to one another, retrieving memories she’s been unable to recover thus far from the damage of the lightning storms in her brain. While simultaneously creating a bypass around Sasuke’s hold in her mind. 

Sasuke meets her at the point where Kakashi’s runs parallel to his and Naruto’s. Why is she ignoring him? Banging on the surface of the barrier with a fist. It sounds almost like ice cracking as it echoes through her mind. “Sakura!”

It startles her enough to get her to look at him again. Before scurrying on her way. Working her way back across to the memory she needs. The fear is morphing. Evolving. Alarm and horror and disgust. A storm building as she works. Sasuke pulls out of the genjutsu, abandoning his hunt to rush to Sakura. 

He can’t sense her, but that is not abnormal. Both the barely trickling flow of her chakra system and the masking the cuff provides conceal her well from a distance. Less so, the closer you grow to her. There’s no sense of her as he approaches the house. Blood tracked over the yard and porch, continuing on into the bedroom Sakura should be occupying. 

Bedding is scattered everywhere, blankets torn and solid with blood and the stench of rotting flesh. 

“Sakura.” Sasuke calls out, drawing his sword. Following the trail. Deja-vu of another blood-soaked house overlays itself on his surroundings. Mother and Father. He still cannot sense her, and he nearly gags. Stomach turning. He had been too weak to protect them then. She is still alive. He can feel her in his mind.

“Sakura.” He swallows down the rising bile as he clears the house. Tracing the blood outside to the shed. “Sakura!”

The shed door is open as Sasuke approaches, kicking the door clean off its hinges. There is blood and black goo smeared everywhere. Still no Sakura. When he exits, Shikamaru is entering on the far side of the yard. 

“Where is she?” Sasuke demands to know, striding across the yard. “She is gone. Where. Is. Sakura?”

Shikamaru eyes widen as he takes in the sight of the yard, the state of Sasuke. Brushing past Sasuke to enter the shed himself. Slamming its contents around. Racing toward the tree line when he emerges. “It’s not her blood, but we need to find her. Now.”

Sasuke keeps any smart comments to himself. Two searching for her are better odds than one. Luckily, whatever they are following has done little to hide its tracks. An easy path right to Sakura. They arrive, just in time to see Sakura grab onto the blade of a large scythe, fresh red blood dripping down. The chidori. Too late for Sauke to help, to control the flow out of her. But his perfect Sakura already knows how to handle his ill-tempered chakra nature. Streaming in straight into her attacker, knocking him back. Sending Sakura to her knees. 

“Sasuke.” She whispers as he catches her. She’s covered in blood. Warm and wet and sticky as Sasuke carries her back. Quickly falling into unconsciousness. She sleeps for days as she heals. Mending the damage from holding the chidori and exhausted from the wear and tear of the fight. 

Sasuke stays away for the most part. Keeping tabs on her through the genjutsu link. When he does stop by, Shikamaru is either working on the cuffs or annoyingly curled up with Sakura in the bed they share. Sasuke swallows the distaste that leaves in his mouth. Finding himself spending most of his time there scrubbing the bloodstains from the floor and the bedding Shikamaru had flung outside to replace with fresh, clean laundry. 

The cuffs are ready, right at the time that Sakura is healed enough of the damage to go back into them. Healthier than she’s been in months. She will have to continue to repair the damage in her mind with them on. Sasuke does not have to hold her down, kicking and screaming—fighting for her freedom. Because Sakura loves Sasuke. She’d do anything for him. Shikamaru sneaks his cuff on when she’s occupied with Sasuke—the lazy bastard. 

A mission near the lightning border calls Sasuke away for a few days. Sightings of old-leaf ninjas, rumors of a transport of civilians and much-needed supplies. Sasuke smirks as the group he’s pursuing splits. Two going ahead with one turning back to face him. To fight.

Rock Lee . 

Sasuke mentally prepares for the fight. Lee is a strong opponent, but Sasuke’s fueled by vengeance. Punishment delivered for daring to be complicit in Sakura’s mishandling. When they meet, however, Lee does not fight. Falling to his hands and knees instead. Wetness streaming off his face already. Weak.

“Stand and fight.” Sasuke tells him. Lee shakes his head back and forth, fingers digging in the dirt as his body shakes. 

“You will not fight?” Sasuke questions, drawing his sword. Lee was never the type to turn down the chance for a fight. 

“I do not deserve to live,” Lee says brokenly. “I was chosen, entrusted to protect Sakura, and I have failed her. I am no shinobi, I will accept my death.”

Sasuke moves to stand in front of Lee. At least some of them have realized the cost of their actions, even if Kakashi does not. “How did you fail her?”

“I didn’t stop Naruto when he was telling her what he would do to keep his promise to her, even as she was begging him to break it. I did not protect her from you. I did not understand the lengths she would go to to get there. I didn’t protect her from Kakashi and his cuffs. I thought I was helping to keep her safe.” It comes out broken by sobs, Lee tripping and stumbling over his words.

Sasuke can hardly keep the smirk off his face, keeping his expression as neutral as possible as he squats down. Tilting his head in mock confusion. “Why would Sakura ever need protection from me?”

It’s enough to break Lee’s incessant crying, as he looks up at Sasuke. Snotty and gross. Ew. “W-what?”

Resisting the urge to mock the sad excuse of a man, Sasuke repeats himself.

“I-I, but Kakashi said,” Lee tries to get out. How pathetic. 

“That I killed Sakura,” Sasuke fills in for him. Leaning in closer, like he’s sharing a secret. “That’s what he told everyone. Poor little Haruno Sakura slain by the hand of Uchiha Sasuke. And we both know that that’s not the truth now, is it? Because she’s not dead, now is she?”

Lee’s eyes widen as Sasuke’s implication settles over him. “But…you…”

“What reason would I have to harm Sakura, of all people?” Sasuke narrows his eyes. Lee will suit this purpose well. Already having doubts about Kakashi’s sanity over the situation. “But you are a different story entirely. You wish to die? No, you shall live. And you shall suffer for what you’ve done to her.”

Sasuke activates his sharingan, pulling Lee into a genjutsu—not even a strong one, Lee’s mental state needs to be well enough to be believed after all. Now that Sasuke has Sakura, he has the power to shift the trajectory of the war in his favor. To sow the seeds of distrust in Kakashi. He shows Lee an approximation of Sakura’s memory of being held down by those she loves so dearly. Restrained and cuffed. Confused. Betrayed. Heartbroken. 

Lee collapses to the ground when he comes out of it, panting hard. Nearly hyperventilating. 

“Why has Kakashi gone to such extensive lengths to be sure Sakura is contained? Who benefits the most from faking her death?” Sasuke rises as he speaks, leaving the fallen man to ruminate over his words. Lee’s time will come, Sasuke will not be so lenient with him when they cross again. “Tell Kakashi the clock is ticking. His penance is near.”

Sasuke returns straight to Konoha. To what remains of the boarded-up Uchiha district. Madara resides in the clan head's household—Sasuke’s childhood home. He doesn’t bother knocking, not wanting to wake the ghosts of his past that still reside here. Avoiding eye contact with the bloodstains that remain no matter how many times he scrubbed at them as a child. 

He finds Madara on the dock out by the pond. Meditating. Sasuke sits near him at the end of the pier. Losing himself in his thoughts as he gazes over the water. Waves lap at the posts of the structure, fish causing ripples where they break the surface.

“Something on your mind?” Madara asks, tone even and neutral. He always insists that Sasuke can come to him. To intrust the older Uchiha to help with his problems. 

“I used to practice my fireball jutsu out here for hours in the evening after the academy. Father would chastise me for not being as skilled as Itachi was at my age. Even if I was well outpacing the other Uchiha children my age. Mother kept burn cream handy in the kitchen to help with the chapped skin. Itachi too busy to train with me when I asked... and then they were just gone, all of them except for me.” Sasuke lets the numbness wash over him. Better than the pain. A night he’s relived countless times. In his memories. In his nightmares. In Itachi’s tsukuyomi. 

“My mother kept burn cream in the kitchen also. Ready to slather it on at any given moment, even as we grew into adults.” Madara comments. He rarely speaks of his own family, long dead now. The closest to understanding the pain that becomes overwhelming if Sasuke dwells on it too long.

“There has been a development I have come across.” Sasuke informs the older man as he looks over the calm surface of the water. Madara hums his encouragement to continue. “There is a girl living on the Nara lands. I have been monitoring the situation. I believe she could be useful in the outcome of the war.”

“You delayed telling me,” Madara clarifies. 

“My intentions were to ensure the correct course of action. To avoid any unnecessary retaliation against her from her exposure.” Sasuke carefully picks out truths, avoiding directly lying to Madara. “There were some underlying circumstances that needed sorting before things could progress. I believe Shikamaru used the word ‘broken’ to describe her.”

“You knew her.”

Sasuke lets a moment pass. “Yes, I know her. She was in my academy class.”

Madara hums. Sasuke thinks of Shikamaru’s emotional outburst, gauging how much emotion to portray without seeming to be overtly concerned for Sakura. What falls into the realm of an act believable of Sasuke, who kills everyone he finds in the Five Nation’s hideouts, age or ninja affiliation unmattering to him. Working to frame keeping her alive for the good of the war instead of Sasuke’s own drive to keep her his. 

“When I was small, I thought the idea of a police force inside Konoha to be almost silly. How could anyone who’s sworn to protect the village turn against another resident? Sheltered from the realities that the world is cruel. That even as small as four or five, there was already a discrepancy in power dynamics. Already a risk for those who were weaker, with less powerful connections.” Sasuke takes a deep breath and adjusts his posture before continuing. “The other children would have never dared to treat me the way they treated her. A handful of us held above the others. Me, the Hyuuga heiress. Ino-Shika-Cho. Clans big and powerful enough for their children to have had private tutorage before the academy, giving their own an edge over the others.”

“Clans often work to put their own in better positions. A show of power.” Madara agrees. 

“She did not have those advantages. Civilian parents. Less affluent than even middle-class clan kids. I didn’t even know that it was happening.” Sasuke pauses. “No. I knew they picked on her, just not to its fullest extent. That the other children were the reasons behind all her bruises and cuts and scrapes—not after-school training with a taijutsu master or kunai training with weapons specialists. They would call her awful things they should have been too young to know the meaning of. That the teachers let it slide because she wouldn’t raise a fuss. I thought if the clan kids were truly hurting her, an adult would step in and stop it. A true shinobi wouldn't stand for such a thing.”

“Did they?” It breaks Sasuke out of his rambling. A slight downturn to Madara’s lips when he turns to face him. Sasuke finds himself frowning too, lacing his fingers together. “Did the senseis step in?”

“No. No, they didn’t.” Shaking his head. “Not then. Not when someone decided it would be a good idea to shove her on a genin team with the last Uchiha and the jinchuriki they let run amok unattended in the village. Not when Kakashi locked her up and hid her here in Konoha to go and start a war in the name of a girl who never died.”

“She was your teammate?” sighs Madara. 

"She shouldn’t have been. She was never cut out to be a ninja. Too soft to be a shinobi. Certainly ill prepared for the real world. And when I found her, she was just so sick. So broken. I thought, ‘If everyone thinks her dead already, what harm will come from letting her die in comfort instead of in a harsh prison cell?’” Sasuke turns his attention back to the water. A small family of ducks gathered at the far side of the pond. 

“Did you ever intervene?” Madara asks quietly. “Or were you complicit in her treatment?”

“By the time I realized the true extent of her issues, my perspective was skewed. What’s a handful of harmful words in comparison to a tsukuyomi? What’s a few bruises to an entire clan slaughtered in the dead of night?” Sasuke shrugs. “I didn’t even see, until much more recently, how easy it would’ve been to do something about it. That by simply supporting her, I could’ve stopped it. That even five-year-old Sasuke, the second son of Fugaku, head of the Uchiha clan, could have told them to stop. And they would have listened to me. Instead, I waited for someone else to do the work for me.”

“On occasion, the best move to make is no move at all. Waiting and watching where your opponent is setting pieces. Observing. Letting plans grow to fruition, until they are ripe to be picked.” Madara says after a moment.

“I believe the jinchuriki is looking for her to confirm she is alive. Kakashi will not come for her so long as the nations continue to believe his lies. He will come when they lose control of the nine-tails. Naruto will take up the search himself, and when he finds her as broken as she is, we will have no need to deal with Kakashi ourselves.” Trying to keep Sakura as passive a piece in Madara’s plan as he can.

“You believe, by keeping her here, to be discovered by the nine-tails, that it will ensure the death of Hatake Kakashi?” 

“I believe Kakashi will go to great lengths to keep everyone under the impression that she’s dead. That I killed her.” Sasuke rises with this. 

“And the Nara boy?” Madara questions. “Where will his loyalties fall?”

“He will only support what he feels are the best options for her survival. His loyalty is sound and sure, but only to her. Only for her.”

"Remember, Sasuke, even a weak pawn can cross the board and become a mighty queen.” Madara calls out as Sasuke’s walking away. A true sentiment. But Sakura was never merely a pawn in Sasuke’s game. Losing Sakura would be losing the game. 

And Sasuke has every intention to win.