#but then i thought of shadow people nara's

[rainybyday]

So... I was making my own verison of what I wanted my Hatake's and my Hatake Hashirama would be like in the warring state era time travel au with team seven but uh...

i had an idea

How would you feel about if i make a myth about Skinwalkers Hatakes?

[luchicm04]

lost in the forest - part 39

Masterlist

Summary: The cat is out of the bag.

Pairing: Senju Tobirama/Original Female Character

Tag: #lost in the forest fic

posted on ao3

Word Count: 3.7k

Overall warnings: canon-typical violence, adult content, time skips, angst

A spectacular view is what greets her during that cool night in the middle of a large garden that gives her false tranquility and a deceptive view; sipping part of her hot drink sitting in a perfect seiza under the nearest tree is the only thing that calms her, away from the sight of the maids. 

Karen has been forced to complain at this point under the Daimyo’s agreement, apparently to keep up the appearance of his true objective after her excuse of presenting various shinobi topics of a possible village that he did not know Hashirama was thinking about and that according to the formal addition of the Nara clan and the two extra allies, firm foundations could be laid for a ninja community. 

Scandalous according to the rest of the nobles who see this as stupid while others see the usefulness of being able to hire better shinobi with so few processes. The Hyūga will show up the next day due to the initiative of this supposed village... at least it will give her more chances to get their attention again and deal with what Izuna told them. 

“You know you should not be in the middle of the garden at night.” Tobirama doesn’t scare her. The girl has gotten used to him coming and going as he pleases in these two days, although she knows he’s not the real one. He looks naturally similar... a doubt that she always carries since she learned about shadow clones. 

The benefits it would bring to her workload if she could do three more... Why don’t they use it to make the paperwork more enjoyable?, she questions mentally, blinking at the man. “I didn’t want to be inside,” the woman states, coming out of her daydream to answer her future husband just for the pleasure of it. 

Plus, he gives her a ‘don’t get too sidetracked’, typical of a paranoic shinobi. 

“Mmm... Are they bothering you again?” He is serious in his point. The bitter shinobi is aware of the problems that the faithful assistants of the Daimyo’s main wife have caused because of the spreading rumors about her as the possible lover of the infamous man. 

Something that has not been clarified and is in Shinji’s interest; the wretched leader gives her more attention so that they focus on the fact that she is a ‘lover’ than on the facade of his true plan in the shadows. 

“Not much. They’ve distanced themselves since Shinji-sama called them out,” she shrugs, unaware that she has had to change maids too many times in these two days to remember them, and that they all happen to be sent by that lady. 

Karen assumes it’s a plot that, if it weren’t for the Daimyo’s protection, it would be difficult to deal with... Living among women is very hard. 

“I am glad to hear that. Just tell me if something happens...” 

“I’ll tell you,” the woman rolls her eyes at her fiancé’s exaggeration. “By the way... will you be done soon?” She changes her last words subtly to English at the thought of being overheard by any of the people around. She doesn’t have guards as such, but there are helpers and the garden, although huge, could have listeners. 

Karen had never felt so unsafe... and she hadn’t even lived in a safe country per se. 

Ironic. 

“I do not know,” the man admits, sticking with the foreign language causally. 

The woman frowns at this comment. “You don’t know, or you don’t want to tell me?” 

“...” Tobirama stands like a statue at her side. 

“...It’d be good if you consider sharing stuff with me once in a while, you know? It’s annoying to be oblivious to everything that happens with my escorts.” Irritated, she takes a sip of her drink without losing the rhythm and elegance forced in her bones; her native language flows naturally and quite casually. 

He just snorts without showing anything on his face, but she can almost see the glint in his eyes that she ignores. “It is a shinobi matter. I do not think it is of your interest.” 

“You are my companions... sometimes I feel alone about that, though,” she growls unwillingly remembering how much it frustrates her that they don’t confide in her. “I’m not asking for secrets... just something, like... it's going well, we’re almost done, or it’ll take a little longer.” 

The albino looks at her. “It has taken a while...” 

“Do you think you’ll be back tomorrow?” 

“No.” 

“Uh... did it get complicated?” 

“A bit,” the shinobi comments critically and reluctantly. 

She shrugs, less annoyed by such a brief summary of his daily life. “Okay.” 

“Are you worried?” 

“Of course. You are my comrades.” 

The albino doesn’t say anything else. “If the clone explodes... that will mean something is happening,” the man simply admits. 

“Explode?” Karen blinks hard imagining the worst-case scenario. She stays quiet to sigh, leaving her with the doubt in her mind. 

“Hashirama has sent a report,” he comments returning to the local language, changing the subject without answering her. He could have at least given her some clues as to what exactly he means by explode, she thought to herself; she supposes it’s not the same for someone who hasn’t seen action movies. 

The girl sighs and sips her tea, remaining spontaneous at the mention of the clan leader. “Did he?” 

“The Nara, Akimichi and Yamanaka have begun to settle down.” 

“So soon?!” She frowns at the urgency of this. Only yesterday she was informed of the confirmation of said clans’ move and the blatant use of the possible village in the meeting with the nobles in front of the Daimyo. A hot topic she has been weighing since she read this in a letter the day before. 

“We are shinobis,” the man reminded with no kindness as if it were the most obvious answer. 

“Uh... I know, but it seems too soon considering how long it took the Uchiha and Senju to do so.” 

“They left that same day to see the area,” Tobirama recalls at that casual point in the story before settling into the new land. 

The construction and every problem they went through for the adaptation; even now, it is something difficult to overcome. 

“Besides, the Nara clan is a natural strategist. They see the usefulness of moving as soon as possible,” the albino continues his explanation lightly. 

“Yes, Hashirama told me when we saw the contract.” 

“Hm.” 

“Well... I suppose when we get back, we’ll see progress.” She feels excited about some kind of change around her and meeting new people who, although shinobi, she is curious to contact. Plus, the dealings with the leaders of those clans were mostly carried out by Hashirama himself. 

She has never seen them face to face. 

As if guessing her emotion, Tobirama adds with no casualness in his tone, “They are shinobi. You do not have to trust them easily.” 

“I know they are shinobi, just... the more people around, the more different perspectives there are,” the woman admits with an audible pout. “What are they like?” She’d rather ask now before being surprised by things that are so normal for them, like when she first saw Madara’s red eyes or Hashirama’s wood. 

Even the red eyes and white hair of her fiancé were once to be feared, in those days of dark adaptation... when she was somewhat foolish. 

“...” Tobirama blinks hard. 

“Come on... do they have blue hair? ...Or striking purple?” She remembers the colorful hues of some characters that her sister was a fan of, about that story whose name she doesn’t remember well. Knights of the... something. The man rolls his eyes. 

“Not here,” he states not being subtle, just when one of the maids has the courage to interrupt their conversation. She looks pale, a little distraught; although she had noticed before the line between shinobi and civilians, it is so noticeable now how terrified they are of Tobirama. 

She sighs and casually stands up, being helped by the shinobi who shoots out his hand to support her up. “Thank you,” she calmly accepts, watching the girl fidget on her spot. “Do you need something, Shumire-san?” she asks, recalling the name of said helper. Or is it Tanako? 

“I-I am Akane, ma’am?” the maid corrects bowing her head mannerly, not avoiding glacing at her fiancé who snorts to give an ‘I’ll be around’ gesture that Karen doesn’t question. Both he and Izuna remain hidden, taking advantage of their fame to not socialize or deal with simple civilians. 

“Oh, pardon my mistake,” the woman says belatedly, taking a step forward and ignoring the girl¡s tension and her squeal of surprise at her friend’s disappearance. It’s been a while since she saw that reaction, although she doesn’t remember very well if she got just as scared. 

Those days were hollow, so she just tries to forget... she has no desire to deal with this shock. 

Because she hasn’t dealt with this many civilians before... not for a long time. 

──

The meeting of the nobles is early; they gather at 9 sharp in a fairly large room at the end of the hall where she is staying. Karen walks with her head held high despite the evil looks of various high-born men who whisper, not at all pleased, giving her dramatic and lustful glances that she tries to ignore. 

No one makes physical contact, nor has anyone attempted to approach her since the Daimyo casually mentioned her engagement to the infamous white assassin, a respectable whinobi whose fame, although bloody, caused her to be taken seriously. 

It’s not like he asked Tobirama to kill whoever bothered her... However, Shinji was casual in subtly stating that he would do it, including his sufficiently irritated wife. 

A threat as firm as his position within the council, despite the coup that is surely brewing under the shadow of some hypocritical ally. Still, Karen sits right next to the imposing man who smiles softly at her with a “good morning”. 

“Good morning.” The only woman in the meeting responds to the Daimyo and then looks at the rest of the chamber, who twist their mouths at her normal greeting. “Where I come from, it is polite to greet back,” she says with disappointment without paying attention to the bitterness of the other men, of which very few speak back. 

They are surely the ones who have a better perception of her... other than the simple whore who rose by means of her body. 

Scandal. 

“Do not worry, they have manners... they are just not in the mood today,” Shinji mocks with a solid look at the others, who tense up at the not-so-firm threat of a leader capable of executing if he deems it prudent. 

The girl has heard it from the few assistants who come close; how infamous he can be even though he has only shown her a diplomatic and mischievous side, but she has learned these days that not for nothing he is the leader of this country. 

“I imagine,” Karen agrees to look at the scrolls on her desk, thus beginning the easy meeting between political, economic, diplomatic and social issues that she easily maneuvers through with the little she has learned, standing out as always for her way of handling the topic that is only managed by men. 

A foolishness of Shinji... to keep the cover of his goal of keeping her with him. 

And not to unravel what is hidden under their noses... 

──

Toshiba is the second cousin of the current leader. A shy boy who gives her blushing glances when he tries to approach her about complicated matters they addressed at the meeting. Shinji gives him a careful gesture... she sees that in his eyes he always reflects confidence from some story they both share from the past. 

Very few receive that type of look from him, even though he works alongside one of his half-brothers, one who survived a purge years ago, just when he was promoted to Daimyo; a family/political drama that she knows about briefly, without detail since she is a foreigner. 

“I-I...” the boy tries with slight hesitation just as he stops her at the exit with several scrolls in hand and a series of exaggerated motions that a child of his age should not have, much less in the nest of vipers that is this place. 

“You can speak naturally,” the civilian doesn’t scold him but comments while standing up to her full height despite the difference in centimeters. 

He blinks for a few seconds in amusement, putting aside his shy appearance a little, which makes her arch her eyebrow at this brief shadow that he shows. “W-well, I wanted to know about the financial topic you mentioned... Does it have to do with the economy?” 

“It does,” the woman accepts. Ehen the subject was introduced in the meeting, some were fascinated because of the ease with which she explained it and presented the benefits within the process that is carried out among civilians. Others dismissed it when they saw the example in the shinobi village... Something that she is sure she can share, and it is not off-limits. 

Just like diplomacy and shinobi stuff, finance is naturally exposed when there’s an economy, so there’s no secret to it. 

“So... if finances are managed by farmers, merchants and the soldiers themselves... can stability be achieved?” 

“Of course. As long as there is no external issue that harms it,” Karen states with ease, keeping her hands hidden under the large sleeves of her elegant yukata, one that she brought by chance that was mysteriously supplied to her. 

She is sure Tobirama is aware of the deficiency of her clothing, something he has begun to realize in light of her own role as a cover... The man is remarkably efficient. 

A positive thing for the woman who smiles at the look of the person who questions her. “You know, Toshiba-san, you do not have to doubt too much and ask ahead. I am just a servant of this advice,” she clarifies before her position which, although subtle, stays intact. 

“I-I... Well, I know you possess a lot of knowledge. I would like to debate some terms.” The man stands firm, his eyes showing a rare flame that is reflected in his docile appearance. 

“I do not think so, Toshiba-kun.” Shinji squeezes his shoulder at the highly motivated younger relative. “Her fiancé is very jealous of having his wife with a man... in her room.” 

“I did not say in her room!” The blushing cousin raises his hands, throwing away part of the scrolls due to such a mischievous comment from said leader. She understands that there is an etiquette that she must maintain as a noble lady, so she bows. 

“I apologize, but I do not think it is possible to meet with you, Toshiba-san. And, Shinji-sama, do not bother your relative with threats of that kind,” the woman sighs elegantly, arching her eyebrow at the leader who approached from where he was arguing with some guards regarding security. 

A flourishing topic due to the raids that are beginning to take place. 

“Oh, not at all... I just do not want my adorable cousin to end up missing,” the Daimyo shrugs. “Because I will not get you involved if Tobirama-san defends your virtue.” 

Karen wants to hit herself in the face for such a shameless comment. It is obvious that he lost her decency a few days ago when he started talking freely, but it is her fault for giving him that confidence in exchange for his favor towards the possible shinobi village, causing a laugh to come out of the amused leader. 

She doesn’t want to get too involved, so she bows to say goodbye at the initiative of doubts on the part of her benefactor’s relative. She sighs... unaware that she has caught the attention of those shadows and whose leader was closer than she expected... noticing from afar how the eyes of Shinji’s half-brother were looking at her. 

Coincidence? She doesn’t know... It’s better to remain oblivious and innocent of knowing that something is going on under the darkness of this brilliant country. 

Karen thinks positive. 

──

Her heart was in an uproar just as she had been talking casually to Tobirama that night and he had dramatically exploded into a smoke bomb that made her cough loudly with terror in her eyes from remembering her fiancé’s words. 

‘If the clone explodes... that will mean something is happening.’ 

Which makes her get up just in time to look around at that door that opens onto the beautiful view of the garden. She feels attentive; her heart is still racing even though minutes have passed since her partner’s clone disappeared. She has a lump in her chest at the sight of nothing happening. 

Nevertheless, she has a presentiment... just as the door is opened. 

“Akane-san?” she questions when she sees a woman speeding through the door. Her clothes are somewhat disheveled and her frightened eyes search for her. “What’s going-” She doesn’t finish asking when a warm blood stain crosses her face. 

She stays in shock, standing in the middle of the room, wiping her face of the crimson color of the young girl who falls headlong like a sack of potatoes. “Well... I am glad to see you here,” someone calls just as they come out from behind the back of the body of the girl who she had previously seen alive. 

“Toshiba?” There are no suffixes. Karen looks still without completely thinking about what she has just witnessed... She saw someone die for the first time! And the knot in her stomach falls so hard that it makes her blink more times to recover. It is so different from what happened in the Senju compound when they tried to invade them. 

“Ho... I see you remember my name.” Infamous and without any signs of his typical kindness, the boy takes her chin with a half-smile. When did it come to this? Why is she surrounded by samurai and shinobi? Where did they come from? 

She has so many questions... but they are all stuck in the shock that remains unwashed... She saw someone die! Her mind is in chaos. 

“I think now... you are the shy one,” the Daimyo’s cousin mocks quicky, caressing her cheek without subtlety. “Tell me... do you prefer your life to your position?” 

“What do you mean?” Karen comes out of her stupor, hitting the hand of the one who shamelessly mocks her despite being pointed at with a kunai. Her gaze is fixed, angry... pissed off! “WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!” 

“Wow... now, you are the woman who surprised me. Answer me this... Is it true that if I kill you, that shinobi will come?” The Daimyo’s relative laughs. “It has been problematic dealing with them...” He looks at his nails, giving the silent order to arrest her. 

The girl feels the samurai at her side tighten his grip on her waist as the kunai is replaced by a katana that pierces her neck just inches away from cutting it. She gulps, sweating coldly; she is now sure they are not planning on selling her... 

Karen doesn’t say anything. Toshiba just cackles. 

“I suppose your stupidity is because of the idea that you will be saved... but, you know, you should not trust the shinobi. They are treacherous and sell themselves for the higher bidder,” the insolent man points out to those around him. Ninja who show nothing on their faces with various clothes and appearances that seem exotic. 

Although she is sure they are not Uchiha, Uzumaki or Senju. 

“What do you think?” He has the nerve to run his index finger across her cheek again and end up on her cleavage. “Will he come?” he chuckles just to look beyond her clothes where her chest rests unsettled. “It is a shame that you have already been defiled by one, but I will not get bored if I have fun with you... right?” 

If it weren’t for the fact that the atmosphere became tense in seconds with an essence and the thunder of the ground for a few seconds, it would be another story. However, she takes advantage of the carelessness to do something crazy with the little training she might have had. Karen feels a cut on her neck... the scream of Toshiba from behind ordering her to be caught. 

But the followers don't catch her... Something stops them just as the building that had previously housed her explodes behind her, falling directly into something warm... She gets scared, tries to flee but the stranger takes her by the arms with a firm gesture. “Calm down,” he orders with a hoarse voice that she didn’t think she would feel so much relief upon hearing. 

The girl opens her eyes and stops kicking to see those red eyes that, although tired and beaten, give her the best flat gesture that makes her almost cry. She hugs him... she doesn’t avoid doing it when she thought the worst as it happened in a short time. “There is no time for this.” As always, breaking the moment, the man sighs to take her and jump away of what would be several kunai. 

“Hey asshole! I know you’re relieved to see her, but it would be nice if you could help me!” Izuna shouts from somewhere in the beautiful courtyard just to feel the pull in the air. There’s wind... She tries not to scream because of the speed with which they move in complicated movements that would be difficult to describe as she can’t see but imagines by the many unexpected turns. 

She wants to throw up. 

“Karen... close your eyes and bear with it,” Tobirama orders to cling to her form. She doesn’t complain about his tone, much less the way he grabs her, because she knows it’s not the best time to ask stupid questions... The woman swallows hard. 

“Y-yes,” she encourages herself to say to do what was indicated seconds apart since this is not the best experience, and no roller coaster compares to this. 

For a civilian... being in the middle of a battle is not the most essential thing, nor the historical value of witnessing a coup d’état of this magnitude. 

A/N: As you can see, this has already exploded; a very difficult thing to guess when they believed the real ringleader was someone else. At least Tobirama arrived in time given how annoying his fiancée is by calling the attention of the leader of the coup... Ironic, since she is a simple civilian, but her political courage and good head are notable. 

Izuna, on the other hand, will have plenty of material to blackmail the infamous white assassin... something he will not waste judging by the desperate way he never thought he would see his former rival. Especially when they noticed that the coup d’état had exploded right in the Daimyo’s main building. 

But what happened? Where is the Daimyo? Will they win? I don’t know... we’ll see in the next chapter. 

Thank you for your likes and comments. 

Author-chan out! 

[canonical-transformation]

“Everyone always bends over backwards not to say 'die', don't you think?” Dunyarzad laughed, exasperated. “It's always metaphors and euphemisms. 'Pass on', 'visit Irminsul', 'go to a better place'...

“When I was a kid, I thought it was another one of those things adults think children aren't grown-up enough to know about, like where babies come from, or how much the maids get paid. But it turns out people just really don't want to think about death, much less talk about it. Not when it's up close and real. Not when I'm in the room.”

In the climactic chapter of Nara Agni, Hu Tao faces Marana, the memory of death, and seeks an answer to its riddle. Zhongli tells Dunyarzad tales from faraway lands. Zhongli and Dunyarzad talk about living in the shadow of death.

[neuroticbookworm]

Current Tag Game

Tagged by my dear friends/mutuals/incoherent scream sesh partners @twig-tea (here), @colourme-feral (here), @blmpff (here), @telomeke (here) and @waitmyturtles (here)

Current Time: nearly 5:00 PM

Current activity: Doomscrolling on social media (not recommended), writing this post (highly recommended, please interact on Tumblr, that's what makes this hellsite fun!)

Currently thinking about: Just watched the IFYLITA finale this morning with my bestie @lurkingshan, so my brain is currently ??????-ing all the different iterations of Yai we got to see (I like that Commander Yai looks more self-assured and confident than our widdle-20-something-lost-and-confused-baby Yai, but, DEAR LORD, The Mustache has to go. Just.. nope. Get that man a razor, STAT). Oh, and also, thinking about dinner.

Current favourite song: I recently watched Utsukushii Kare / My Beautiful Man (Season 1) a few days ago and I have the song from the opening credits stuck in my head on repeat: Caramel / カラメル by Mosawo / もさを。(Original MV with English captions)

(I'm also gonna link the Utsukushii Kare Lyric MV from MBS because I want Kiyoi's pretty face on my post)

I've also been feeling nostalgic lately and listening to some decade-old bangers from my teen years (ah time, thou art a cruel wench)

Patakha Guddi lyrics, translated from Hindi, here

Mogathirai lyrics, translated from Tamil, here

Currently reading: Nothin' but meta posts from the lovely big-brained folks of Tumblrville

Currently watching: Oooooh. I actually wrapped up a lot of live watches and caught up on some incredible shows last week, so lemme do 3 mini-lists:

Recently Watched: Only Friends, Utsukushii Kare / My Beautiful Man, If It's With You / Kimi to Nara Koi wo Shite Mite mo, I Feel You Linger In The Air

Currently Watching: Midnight Diner / Shinya Shokudo, endless reruns of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Community

Next-Up on the Watchlist: I Cannot Reach You / Kimi ni wa Todokanai, Shadow, Dark Blue Kiss, Middleman's Love, Last Twilight, Playboyy, The Whisperer

Current favourite character: Ryuji from If It's With You.

< mild spoilers ahead for If It's With You >

This show did an incredible job portraying two people who have different levels/intensities of desire for one another and I was *floored* when Ryuji responded to Amane's confession in episode 4 with so much care, thoughtfulness and respect for both Amane's desire and his own boundaries. "Please make it one sided for a while" will live in my head rent free for the foreseeable future.

And Amane and Ryuji's conversation at the beach in the finale was another heartfelt and expertly written moment. I deeply adore how Ryuji basically went "I miss you and want to meet you whenever I feel like it, and if that means being a lover, then so be it. Let's date".

So yeah, I'm in love with this highly articulate, fictional, Japanese teenage boy

Current WIP: Ohhhhh man, SO MANY. The most pressing one is a retrospective meta on the Only Friends finale, which I must release into the wild before people move on from the show

Tags: I'm epically late to this one, so I might tag folks who have already done this, so if I do, apologies, friends!

@bengiyo, @italianpersonwithashippersheart, @sunshinechay, @syrena-del-mar, @ranchthoughts, @troubled-mind, @sorry-bonebag, @so-much-yet-to-learn and anyone else who wants to participate. No presh!

[artistic-endchamber]

(launches myself into your inbox with a cannon)

AAAAHHHHHH!

Can I ask, uh... (can't say all the questions, can't say all the questions. Refrain, Erika, refrain.) How about 5 for Giana, 9 for Mary, and then 10 for both Giana and Mary~? Pretty please?

WAHHHHH ERIKA THAK YOU FOR THESE GRAHHHHH!!

Giana

5.

Ooc:

Giana has shadow magic because I thought it would be fun. I really liked the concept of shadow control and manipulation, and I was reliving naruto (still am tbh) and I wanted to use the concept of shadpw latching (Like Shikimaru Nara) somewhere! It was only later I found out that A, it's very rare and B, Only Nacht has it and is a prodominent character. But tbh, that made it better! Giana is like an apprentice to Nacht.

Giana Is on the same level as the Light Traid (Noelle, Yuno, and Asta) I would say! I say this because I usually like my OC's to be on the same level as their s/o's unless specified otherwise. I felt Yuno wouldn't also pay much attention to someone that is weak and someone who can't really work up the courage to get stronger either.

Ic:

Shadows tie into the element of Darkness. This gave me a reason to give her her magic and still incorporate her dark (Get the pun?) backstory into her life.

Giana started working extra hard ever since her encounter (You'll find out soon!) with Yuno. She was also born with a Royal's mana!

10.

I really like the little part of her that loves to draw and map. I feel like it enrichens her story and character and rounds her out instead of just making her be a fighter. She loves her maps. My little cartographer <3

Mary

9.

Oh, come on now. Mary is most DEFINETLY the straight man. She gets pissed off easily too; so it doesn't take long for her to whoop peoples asses (Especially Magna's)

10.

Her redemption arc is very nice. I usually don't do the whole "I did some wrong things but I desperately want to make it up" trope for major OCs.... but gosh, she's so compelling.

[narasnooze]

His footsteps echoed in the dark and empty hallways of the Hokage building. It was awfully late at night and lately Shikamaru found it pretty difficult to fall asleep. He has had this problem before, but not as severe as it was now. With his mind filled with constant thoughts rushing through, back and forth, he simply couldn't find a good time to rest. His body and mind wouldn't let him. Perhaps the heavy feeling of loneliness wasn't helping much, either.

It was strange... He had never been bothered about being on his own before. He enjoyed peace and quiet, a moment or two for himself. But lately it had become one of the worst feelings he knew. It... hurt. On a few occasions he had actually gotten so sad about that he'd fallen a couple of tears. It had bothered him even more. He had gotten annoyed with himself, thought he was being ridiculous and then forced himself deeper into work in embarrassment. He, the lazy loner, was not upset to be ...alone. By the damn way, he wasn't alone. He had tons of people around him most of the time. Friends, family, colleagues. It was stressful and too much to handle at times, even. So, he was not feeling lonely.

But when he stopped walking, holding all the documents in his hands and listened to the overwhelming silence... he swallowed hard. He hated this. He hated not being able to cope with this better. He hated not being able to fall asleep at a reasonable hour and sleep through the emptiness. He had done that so well before.

With a deep calming breath, Shikamaru tried to ease his unstable emotions and told himself that with a cup of tea he'd be fine. In a couple of hours, people would be back and another morning rush would surely distract him from how bad mood.

Or perhaps it would already...! When approaching the door to the Hokage's office, he had heard a noise from inside. And looking down at the door, he could see a weak, shimmering light.

What's he doing here at this hour? There is nothing to catch up on... nothing that urgent, at least.

With a light smile, Shikamaru let out another breath he hadn't notice he'd been holding before shutting his eyes and stepping inside. For some silly reason, he pretended to be reading something to seem busy when he entered the office.

"I didn't think you'd be here.. I thought you had–"

Once he had turned after shutting the door and looked up, his words froze along with his body. His smile fell instantly as soon as his eyes fell on the man sitting at the Hokage's desk.

Gengo's dark eyes met Shikamaru's own that were filled with shock and disbelief which only made Gengo smirk wider in return. He leaned back into Kakashi's chair, showing great confidence at being there. He had managed to get inside Konoha without hassle. Any on duty guards had been easily persuaded with his much refined talent.

"Neither did I. But it does seem life is full of surprises, after all. It's good to see you, Shikamaru. You look well..." he said, seemingly very pleased with himself.

It had to be a damn nightmare. This couldn't be true. Gengo was imprisoned. Locked up. Detained in one of the most secure places! And his tongue should still be severely damaged from So's jutsu. He should not be able to speak at all...!

The older man continued in his calm, cold and nonchalant manner. He was quite enjoying the stunned Nara and couldn't stop an amused low chuckle from escaping as he rested his elbow on the armchair and his chin lightly on his fingers.

"Tell me... with that smile you gave earlier when stepping in here.. should I be jealous?"

A split second after Gengo's words, a shadow shot towards Gengo over the wooden floor which the older man barely managed to dodge. The fight that followed was intense and painful but caused very little damage around them. And went surprisingly rather unnoticed. It seemed Gengo didn't want to make a scene and draw much attention to them. A few ANBU did notice, of course, and came to Shikamaru's aid and it seemed for a moment that they finally had Gengo under control.

"Let the Hokage know we have a situation... Find Soku, and bring Yamanaka Ino as well. We will be needing both of them for this guy." Shikamaru said, wiping blood from his mouth as he glared at Gengo in two of the ANBU's hold, along with his own shadow keeping him in place. The third ANBU gave a nod and was gone the very next moment.

"Is this how you treat your humble visitors, Nara-kun..."

"Shut the hell up." Shikamaru spat out, not taking his eyes off him for one second. "Cover his mouth with something. Do not let him speak to you..."

Half a minute passed and he was starting to become a bit uneasy since Kakashi still hadn't shown up. Neither had Soku or Ino. When another thirty seconds went by with no sign of anyone, Shikamaru's frown deepened. "Something's wrong. Bear, gather the rest of ANBU and tell them to search the village. Check the guard first, they might be in trouble. Take three others with you and find out what has happened t––"

Gengo raised his eyebrows in pretence surprise. "Oh..!"

At the exact same time, Shikamaru and Bear had been attacked. The other ANBU by Gengo had strucken Bear at the same time that the ANBU Shikamaru had sent away to alarm Kakashi, had struck him from behind. Each of them received a sharp senbon in their neck, covered in a paralysing poison, and both fell seconds later to the ground. A second needle went into Shikamaru's skin and he felt himself incredibly tired and woozy. With heavy eyelids and blurry vision, Shikamaru saw Gengo stand up and dust himself off before taking Bear's katana, praising its blade and sliding it across Bear's neck.

"..no..!" Shikamaru forced his voice out. It was weak but held anger and despair in it.

Gengo turned to him, walked over and crouched down.

"I'm terribly sorry, dear. I can't risk him confirming I was here, though. You understand."

With a nod to the two people posing as ANBU, Gengo stood up once again after he had gestured for one of them to take Shikamaru and the other one to clean up the mess.

"Don't forget the gentlemen at the gate.. Kill any possible witnesses of this. We are too close for them to catch on so soon. I'm not at my full strength just yet."

"Yes, sir."

"Tired, Shikamaru? Is the drug already affecting you? Do not worry. You will wake up comfortably and well rested. You have my word."

[goldensadnessdolphin]

I find it fascinating, that, of the classical 5 senses (touch, smell, taste, sight, hearing), we only really have two physical absence words: the darkness (or absence of sight) and silence (the absence of sound). There is no real experience of the absence of the others that we can experience in culture. Individuals can, with disorders, but culturally, most people never have had the option to experience the absence of touch for example like we do with sight just by something simple like closing your eyes.

And of those two special cases, darkness and silence, one feels more physical. I can see my shadow, I can manipulate it willingly and quite precisely. I wondered if and how one could calculate a shadow's volume, because one can calculate its area. So that's weird, but I'd assume most people would just say it doesn't matter or it's only of interest for philosophy.

On the other hand, if I wonder what the area of silence is, it immediately sounds ridiculous to me. Silence can't have an area, it's a given that gets temporarly disrupted in a limited space.

I don't know where I'm going with this honestly, but now it feels weird to try to ignore these thoughts.

This was kicked off by wondering how powerful Shikamaru Nara from Naruto could possibly be btw

[kumamoto-division]

“Yo. Good afternoon, kiddo.”

Casually greeted by the familiar old man with a smugly smile on his face, a certain famed actor who doubles as the infamous information broker of Kumamoto squints his eyes.

“Didn’t expect to see you here of all people, Chishio-san.”

Honestly, if there has to be a representative from Nara division, Kunio is kind of expecting the redhead leader or that pink-haired boyo to pay a visit rather than this man in front of him.

It’s true that he has known this person before since they’ve crossed paths with each other sometimes during their ‘work’ underground. Yet still, this old man looks so out of place to him because as far as he has run some research; completely no data has been found on his background except that he has been allies to Shigure Fuyugami —the previous heir of Fuyugami family and father of the Nara Division’s third member, Saigo Fuyugami, for three decades ago. 

“The Nara kids have been busy with their own projects but they still asked me to relay their ‘Happy Birthday’ to you, so it’ll be rude of me if I ignore their good will.”

Not minding the over-analyzing gaze from the young man. Chishio carefully hands Kunio the presents he received from Miratabi members. It’s a beautiful tea set that appears to mysteriously glow despite touching the least bit of daylight. 

“Ah, but the gift isn’t all the reason I came here today,” the tone in his voice suddenly changed into the more tensed one. 

“In regard to our previous corporation, the Minazuki has requested me to relay this thing to you.”

Hearing the name ‘Minazuki’ rings a bell in his mind, Kunio then recalls that this name belongs to the strange yet influential artist family in Kyoto; however, very few know that they also run some information network in the shadows. From what he has inspected, the family seems to establish themselves on the neutral side and keep a close eye on the situation as of now. 

“It contains data we extracted from some morons attempting to infiltrate Nara not so long ago. What I have in mind is that there might be someone who is after stealing Hypnosis Microphones from the DRB competitors. We’ve yet to verify who is the mastermind so please take this intel with a grain of salt —Oh, and don’t you try opening the box by force. This security craft is made by the family head himself, what’s contained inside will be crushed by its own mechanism if not handled correctly.” 

The elder man shows the actor the trick to properly open the Karakuri himitsu-bako he gave. 

“Unfortunately, I still have some errands left to run for my master, so I’d like to take my leave for now. Best wishes, and what you’re going to do with that ‘gift’ from Minazuki is up to you.”

Having bid his farewell, Chishio give the young man a formal bow and walks away until he disappears from Kunio’s land of sight.

Kunio smiled to the himitsu-bako but after he saw the tea set,mading a mental note of thanks the nara division when he had the oportunity

Again with the himitsu-bako he smirk thinking on the contain

If inside was useful information could be useful for Kunio,or maybe could help him,his teammates and Ryukyu and Kururi with their plan

Besides,he always loved puzzles

"waah,I need to thank to the guys of Naha and Chishio San,mmh this will be fun"-said Kunio to himself and started his way to his house-"and if these data are useful Ryukyu was will be very happy...and Kururi too"-Kunio shakes when he thought on Aoba's younger sister,she could look joy and creative at first glance but she was a hidden manipulative mastermind

But Kunio only deny with the head and still walking

[setagaya-division]

The sun was so close to leaving the big blue sky over the city of Setagaya when a certain red-haired boy from Nara residence has arrived at the birthday owner’s place —The famous Yorii or ‘Sireen’ who has just entered the industry by the incredible young age and instantly made it big due to his rumored supreme angelic voice only within a couple of years.

Though he used to collaborate with this very celebrity before due to the shuffle collaboration some times ago, he couldn’t imagine himself rising to stardom this quick. It seems like there was some big gap between him and all those talents who already had one (or both) of their feet in the industry after all…

But, weirdly enough, despite Yorii’s poppularity with many —Why does the new friend and fellow music lover of his seem to despise him to some extent? This isn’t the first time she is acting like this though. There were Narizuka-san and that DJ ‘Wolf of Shadows’ as well, but honestly why? They were good musicians and weren’t horrible people, he believed?

Yuuya shaked his head a little as he was trying to get rid of his petty thoughts.

—Nah, nah, he shouldn’t think about it. It was kind of rude to think of such things as today was one of those people’s birthday. Let’s just have that new friend of his calm down a little during his leave. He was here today to bring the singer some birthday gifts from his division.

However, it seems like the birthday’s owner and his siblings weren’t at home at the moment, maybe they were going to celebrate somewhere. So, what he could do was only to drop the gifts there.

One was from him, the phone charger, and the other was a box full of fancy chocolates from Asahi. And even if he knew that his wagashi maker buddy felt like the singer was having some attitude against him, he still tried to make himself a better impression somehow, Yuuya admitted he gotta praise his friend for this.

—Back to the car somewhere outside the complex

Returning back to Chishio-san who drove him here in the first place, the red-haired boy suddenly paused when he noticed something unusual…

Aside from the familiar attendant of Saigo-san in the driver seat, smiling sweetly next to what should be his own spot was an unknown someone with a shady look and even more suspicious sunglasses. And even with those numerous friends he has swore to know across Japan, he was certain that he has never know this dude(?) before.

Thus, as the response, he could only blink.

“Geez, Chishio-san.”

The old chaperone he called wasn’t helping anything but returned him a mischievous smirk.

“Wouldn’t it be more polite if you considered giving me some head-up that I’m going to get kidnapped today?”

…Now he didn’t know whether it was good or bad choice he made to leave his phone and ANGE at home

"Ohh, now these look interesting." Yorii said, as he looked at the chocolates left for him. Upon returning home with his siblings from a small dinner party, the idol looked as there were some gifts for him outside. The phone charger was good enough, but the chocolates were what really made this gift shine. Biting into one, the idol's eyes sparkled. Looking at his siblings, he held up the plate.

"You guys want some?" he asked, offering.

"No thanks, Yorii." Elliot answered, shaking his head. "I try not to eat too many sweets in one day."

"Mina?"

"You know I can't eat anything that's not a liquid, Yorii." Mina answered, scowling at him.

"More for me then!" He exclaimed, tossing a chocolate in the air and catching it in his mouth. His siblings sighed as they watched their younger brother's antics, figuring this wasn't out of character for the young boy. Besides, it was his birthday, after all.

[kvb227blog-rcchen]

Experimentation #7

OCs series - Digital Art Projected

Research:

Makoto Taniguchi

Taniguch's practice is mirrored paintings.

On an acrylic panel, there is a messy and unclear painting of a figure from the perspective of the one viewing it.

However, within the mirror placed on the opposite side, it is revealed through the mirror that it is a depiction of a cartoon portraiture in a kawaii fashion .

The facial expressions are soft and delicate with the portraiture barely taking up any space on the acrylic panel.

It gives the sense of mimicry or a shadow, hidden meanings and messages.

On the surface bright and happy but the shadow and lack of light juxtaposing this. 

Untitled, 2013

Yoshitomo Nara

Multidisciplinary artist who's contemporary and signature art style displays emotional complexities of children

Explored introspective freedom of the imagination.

Light My Fire, 2001 

An acrylic, fabric, and wood sculpture by Yoshitomo Nara, depicts a little girl standing with her arm outstretched as a ball of fire is placed on her hand.

Uses minimal and soft colours with a child-like style

Nara aims to tell a narrative in his works without words (Nara, n.d.) while subverting the Japanese ideologies around the concept ‘kawaii’.

His works are not unconventionally outrageous or unique with materials and compositions as well as doesn’t necessarily provoke the audience to think on heavy world problems.

Instead, Nara aims to create works that invoke thoughtfulness, reflection, beauty and the present (Pace, n.d.).

Brainstorming:

Seeing these works that embrace concepts and idea through cute and delicate portraiture. It brought me back to when I constantly drew my own original characters (mostly women) since as a child using traditional practices until I decided to use digital process to create them.

I wanted to return to this medium as if I am returning myself to a simpler and better times.

The process that I will take will be improving on the spot, drawing characteristics of the character when they come to mind and see how far I can take my imagination within a digital setting.

I also want to project these works on the wall from a distance. they will be sized to match a normal human size so that the audience will be able to see themselves within the characters. However, with the noticeable distance between the projector and projected, it will force the viewers to walk in front and shadow the work.

This was to specifically make the audience consciously worry about the presentation of the work while sub-consciously mimicking the idea of how a child would not know that this is wrong due to having no spatial awareness.

Creating:

OCs series, 2024 ​

Digital art projected​

Silence from OCs series, 2024 ​

First of the three, I immediately thought of a person who lied and began to depict a woman with her finger up to her lifts to gesture the word 'silence'.

I somehow thought of religious contexts where those who lie are demons and devil that are convincing and manipulating people to follow their own personal wants and needs. As a result, I drew horns and made her skin red.

The blonde hair came to min as a way to both compliment yet constrast with her skin.

I then added the final touch with the rendering and the shadow covering half her face to solidify her mischievous nature to the audience.

Shine from OCs series, 2024 ​

Following Silence, Shine was to continue with the shadow effect. However to drift from the previous rendition within this series, I aimed for this character's skin to be green to hint at their overall good nature.

Another difference can be seen with how I purposefully made the character look up and away from the audience rather than looking at them dead centre.

I then chose to use elongated ears to represent the sense of old and unrealistic expectations, intriguing the audience in wanting to know non-human creature.

Solitude from OCs series, 2024 ​

The last work from this series.

I immediately started off on a different canvas size for this piece. I chose to divert from the different coloured skin and embrace more humane skin colours.

I then had the idea of creating and personifying the night sky and the moon as a person.

This was why I used a soft yet stern face, reusing the elongated elf ears and striking beauty to present to the audience a creature that is undoubtedly is not from this world.

I also linked this work to the others through casting a shadow around her, erasing the areas around her figure to give off the effect that she is glowing similar to the moon.

Time Lapse:

Reflecting:

These works were able to bring back the joy I use to have when creating digital works.

Instead of feeling as if I am making works that have to lead towards university, this process was enjoyable and made my forget that it was towards an assessment.

However, due to how late I made these within the semester, I was unable to project and present them during class time. This was why I provided and made a mock image to display how I would have aimed it to look.

Doing this process also intrigued me in possibly making these works time-based for a multi-media rendition for future works.

I will be returning to this medium for the next semester and explore how fair I can take this medium and style within a contemporary manner.

[silavut-the-wizard]

Silavut the Wizard, Chapter 72

Something strange is happening.

Lurking Shadows

Back in Genat Town, with the wraith disposed of, the party was back in full swing and seemed never-ending once again. Yet another presence lurked, biding its time, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself. There would soon be silence, and the party would be over.

There would be no saving the town or its people from what was to come. The wizard and his companions were now too far away to stop it. No one would know what happened until it was too late.

Shadows grew longer over time. Not like when the wraith had ruled. No. The shadows were subtle and preternatural. Something more sinister was at work.

Back in the passage, before surfacing to find what lay in wait, Silavut had a shiver as he felt a foreboding but couldn’t place it. Sehlan noticed and asked what was wrong. He shrugged and it was probably just nerves. Nara, Lothiren, and Hoish had their doubts but Silavut waved them off, again attributing it to nerves about what lay ahead.

The thing in Genat Town laughed low and wickedly to itself. It had felt the presence of the wizard. They would be dealing with other issues too much to worry about returning to Genat Town any time soon.

Just a bit longer and it would have its day. With no wraith and no wizard to stop it, Genat Town would soon be a ghost town, as would all others as it spread its havoc and desolation.

So it wasn’t really the wraith they had to worry about, they were just a small part of it; it was something else entirely. Though the wraith did use the town for their purposes, they were also keeping the presence at bay in their own way, at least for a time. Now that they were gone, there was no stopping the thing that would soon destroy everything in its path.

The scribes in Trefal’s library were scrambling to record all of this when they realized once Genat Town had fallen, they would soon be next, once it had its fill of the other towns in between. Could it be stopped, though? That was the question. If not, not only would the world be in shambles, Silavut and his companions would fail in their quest. Yet if that were the case, would not the sorceress also fail? Too many variables to calculate.

The future was now split. Which one would prevail?

(How, you may be wondering, did the scribes of Trefal know all of this? Remember, everything that happens is recorded, no matter how big or small. It was felt everywhere all at once. When it expanded, not only did it reach out to Silavut, but the whole world. Thus they knew it. Satisfied? No? Too bad. If so, good. Now on with it!)

“Are you sure you’re OK?” Sehlan asked, looking worried.

Silavut had nearly doubled over and was barely able to straighten up. “I… I think so… What was that?”

Whatever he felt, it was stronger and worse than originally thought. Once the initial feeling wore off, the shock suddenly hit, making him double over and stagger. Hoish had padded over and kept him from falling completely.

“Whatever it was, we’ll have to figure it out later. Right now, we need to get up there.” Nara pointed towards the surface.

“I felt it too, wizard. Not as strongly as you, but it certainly felt bad,” Lothiren said, comparing his smaller size to Hoish, who was two and a half times as big as the dragon in current form. The reason for the smaller size was due to the wings and tail. Silavut didn’t immediately account for those in the shrinking spell. Which was also why Lothiren was able to ride on Nara’s shoulder for a time.

Now the dragon was eager to be restored to original size. Hopefully there wasn’t anything up there to prevent Silavut from performing the restoration spell. Though none of them was sure what was up there, especially after Hoish’s warning and Silavut’s suggestion to be prepared.

It took Silavut a few more moments to finish recovering and fully straightened up. “Thanks, Hoish.”

“You’re welcome. Now, let us see what we may be dealing with. Get ready.” Hoish took point, ready to attack once they breached the surface.

Slowly and carefully they slinked up to the surface. Hoish’s face slowly emerged first, his keen eyes and ears on alert. Looking around, he didn’t notice anything. “Looks clear,” he said and started climbing out. Though once outside, things felt strange.

Silavut was next, followed by Anielle, Nara, Lothiren, and finally Sehlan. They all shuddered at the strange feeling.

“By the Powers, what is that?” Nara asked, trying to shake the feeling.

“I don’t know, but I really don’t like it. It’s not her doing, I know that. It’s not got her signature,” replied Silavut, looking around uneasily.

“Wizard, if you would, please,” Lothiren asked gently.

“Oh, yes, right, of course.” Silavut pulled out the spell book and turned to the enlargement spell. Luckily there was nothing else required to prepare, so he started the incantation. However, something didn’t feel right and stopped.

Lothiren looked at him curiously. “Why did you stop?”

“This doesn’t feel right.” Silavut looked around again. “Anyone else notice how it seems… less vibrant? Like something is taking the colors out of everything?”

“Yeah,” Anielle noted. “Now that you mention it, it does seem a little duller than it should be.” She shuddered again, making a “brr” noise. She wasn’t cold, but it was like trying to shake off a chill.

“Lothiren, I’m sorry, I think we’ll have to wait. I know how eager you are to be restored. It just doesn’t feel right doing it here.”

“I understand. We will find a more suitable location, without this… shadow… upon us. Let us hope there is someplace nearby.”

“Yeah… All right, everyone. No danger here, and no sign of the beasts or the Hangrolblest. We’ve evaded them for now. Just be on your guard.” Silavut stashed his bow and the others followed suit, putting away their weapons, except Nara.

“I think I’ll hold onto this for a while.” She raised her sword. “Right now, I just feel safer with it at the ready.”

Sehlan nodded. “Good idea.” She swapped her axe and strapped her sword for quick draw just in case.

As they made their way through the quiet village, they kept on alert, constantly watching and listening for any signs of trouble. There didn’t seem to be anyone around. Hoish had taken point so the large cat could alert them of anything ahead. Lothiren had opted for walking this time, so as not to distract anyone, taking position beside Hoish.

“Where is everyone?” Anielle whispered.

“I’m not sure,” Silavut whispered back. “It’s too quiet.”

Nara gasped.

“What’s wrong?”

“I thought… There was… That window over there.” She pointed to a small house. “I thought I saw someone behind the curtain, watching us.”

“Should we…?” Sehlan started to ask.

Silavut shook his head. “No. Too risky.”

Sehlan nodded and they continued. The odd feeling continued gnawing at their senses. Silavut knew something wasn’t right but couldn’t quite pin it down. Then he suddenly realized something.

“Wait.” He stopped and stood straight. “The weather… It’s supposed to be getting colder, but it’s warm here.”

Anielle gasped. “You’re right! I wasn’t shivering like I thought I would after that impromptu bath. In fact, I’m almost completely dry. Still want a proper bath, though.”

Sehlan looked around warily, still on guard. “So what do we do?”

“First, we find a safe place. Hopefully away from��� whatever this thing is. Next, I restore Lothiren. If we can, find a place to clean up. Hopefully the beasts and Hangrolblest will be far behind us by then. Once we’ve done all that, we figure out our next plan of action. Come on, let’s get moving.”

“Right. Off we go, then.” Back in Genat Town, the thing smirked to itself. Its power was slowly starting to take hold. Once it has gained full power, nothing short of a miracle would be able to stop it. This was the moment it was waiting for.

[009720kakashi]

narasnooze

Now, he certainly looked surprised and almost shocked. Did Kakashi seriously think Shikamaru was worried that the copy nin would grow deeper feelings for him? Nara only turned his head to Kakashi, eyebrows slightly raised and lips stretching more and more into a smile before he had to let his laugh out. He shook his head as if Kakashi was mad. "Am I worried? No. No, not at all." As for the instrument... "Ye-Uhh... Not really. There is one at home, I think it might be my... grand mother's? Or her grand mothers? No one has touched it in decades." A lie. Also, unimportant, so; who cares? "I'm sorry–– people my age? I'm not doing anything like that to my friends." Not interested. "And, No Big Deal for us, no... What if I pull the same thing again with someone else?" Horror. He threw a few glances Kakashi's way before the man left for the hot water outside and left Shikamaru alone in the washing room, where the shadow user took his time. Thankfully, no one else was in there with him at the time and he exhaled heavily. Oh, he had some bruises himself, alright. Well, then... He didn't have to feel too bad about what he'd done to Kakashi's poor skin. His neck, chest, hip... Shikamaru hissed slightly and twisted his torso to look at himself in the mirror. So he had bitten him, too, just as Kakashi had thought. Good. Or, well.. not... 'good'-good. What he meant was that they were even now. "Nara Shikamaru, you idiot..." he told himself, leaning forward to rest his forehead to the mirror with another sigh. He finished up, wrapped a towel around himself and forced himself out to the hot spring. Moving fast in such a place isn't very wise, you could easily slip on the wet floor and whatever rocks surrounding the water, but he tried to hurry anyway so that he could sink low into the water. At least Kakashi seemed to be at peace.

“I’m glad I’m entertaining” he said with a lopsided smirk, when Shikamaru’s smile grew broader. Just now he had no clue what was so amusing. At times Kakashi had a feeling that they talked past each other. Right now was such a moment. He did not inquire further though. In his experience this did not lead anywhere.

“Maybe go for an instrument you actually do play for your future serenading then. It does improve your chances I suppose. I’m sure Lee would enjoy serenading a lot…or Ino…” He was not quite certain he believed that Shikamaru did not play it though. ‘Not really’ was not exactly a ‘no’ but then maybe he had just misspoken. 

“Maa you go out with other people than me? Now my world is shattered.” It really had been a pretty stupid comment from his side. Of course Shikamaru mostly went out with his friends. So his worry naturally lay more on that side.

Yeah well…there were a few bruises on Shikamaru as well. In the washing room he did get a glimpse or two. Also he would have been fairly surprised if there weren’t. 

“Told you ne?” he said without turning around before he was out the door.

The Onsen was not very crowded so it really was quite relaxing. Kakashi closed his eyes and sunk deep into the water not caring too much what Shikamaru did though he really though that his assistant had to learn to relax every now and then. When he was younger Shikamaru had been better at it but then who really knew. Maybe it had just been for show. 

narasnooze

With Kakashi suddenly stopping and turning around completely, Shikamaru stopped too in slight surprise as Kakashi began to clarify himself, or... making the situation here clear. "ah, no, I don't... I know you don't–" he began, but cut himself off to let Kakashi finish. He was starting to see the ANBU in a whole different angle than before, that much was certain. The older man also seemed quite determined to make Shikamaru understand one thing, without actually using those much fewer words... I don't want anything beyond what happened. Shikamaru let a few seconds pass after Kakashi had finished speaking, and then he tilted his head slightly to the side. "I'm sorry. We're good, ok? You don't have to get worried about... anything. Alright?" He tried to look as honest as he could, then decided that maybe a bit of bad humour again could ease Hatake's mind a little. "I'm not going to bring a koto and sit outside your place to serenade you in the night. I promise. This was a one-time thing. And I'm never drinking again." Shikamaru waved it off and this time, he walked past Kakashi toward the damn Onsen. It would probably be very few people there anyway. Besides... he could do with a wash, since Kakashi was absolutely right. Kiba would not believe a word of any made up tale of why he smelled the way he did. Neither would Ino or Chōji if they came by. Because they had no personal space and always moved in too close and even they would sense something. Sighing in relief once they finally reached the onsen, Shikamaru entered before anyone they knew could spot them.

“Sure you do…you take care of my calendar after all.” Kakashi barely ever put anything in there himself. He basically was at Shikamaru’s mercy considering his plans for the day…and at times evening. There were days he was so exhausted he basically just went home and fell on his bed. Even training got the short end far too often really. If he got time in the evening he used it for training though. 

“Why would I be worried? I’m not worried…are you worried?” Sometimes he thought people had a point when they said that he was awful at communicating. 

“Serenading?” he asked, lifting one eyebrow, the corners of his lips lifted a little though.

“Spare your serenading energy for all the wonderful guys and girls your age Shikanaru. You play Koto?”

For once there was time for romance for the younger generation. It was strange to him. Nothing that ever had a priority in his life for obvious reasons. 

“I don’t think you need to go as far as denying yourself Sake for the rest of your life Shikamaru. I thought we had established that it was not a big deal?”

He followed Shikamaru into the Onsen and really was looking forward to it. His second favorite hobby after reading. 

After paying he went through the blue curtain marking the men’s changing room. He went to the bathing area to clean himself and then went into the Onsen unmasked with the small hand towel on his head. When he entered the warm water he sighed contently. This really felt wonderful.

[narasnooze]

@uchihacollector cont. x

That did indeed look like Orochimaru’s invitation. That was good. Orochimaru had expected him. "I chose to travel through the darkest parts of the woods. Why do you think that is?” He was somewhat at a disadvantage at this terrain, which served to make the young man more confident. “It’s well within your capabilities to guess my identity early, lure me out, and make this meeting into a trap. The reverse is also possible. But you and I are above grotesque displays of bizarre stupidity... yes?” So he beckoned him. “Approach, Shikamaru-kun. Let me check those ‘invitations’ and your intent.”

"Well, for one... it is quite obvious you wanted me away from any source of light." The Nara lifted his other hand up slightly, just to look at it– or rather; the faint shade of shadow that the very limited daylight reaching down through the thick crowns of leaves cast on his skin. Any shadow jutsu used here would be extremely weak.

"I'm not alarmed by it, though. You don't want me dead."

He let his free hand fall back down along his figure and raised his eyes once again to the other man. Instead of giving the thin stack of notes to Orochimaru, he pocketed them again. Part of him did not want them destroyed, or taken back. Not even now, after having found out who was behind them.

"My intent... I just wonder why me. See, I don't understand now.. Why stay in contact with me of all people, for this long? I got nothing– am nothing special. I have always thought that was your kind of thing. Special cases, rare abilities, or... I dunno. What do you believe you can have gained by our contact?" He was genuinely curious, not once sounding rude as many often said he did when asking questions, questioning others.

"You said I helped save people by solving those puzzles. What did you mean? What people?"

[ravewoodx]

Shikamaru imagine: Arranged Marriage pt 7

(Pt 1) (Pt 8)

You never realized how fast time goes by when you’re free. When you pick what you get to do everyday. It was almost 2 years since you left the Nara compound. You left to the village of the hidden mist. You gotten a job at the hospital there and made a home for yourself.

It was hard, you struggled to make ends meet and get a home for the baby. And you where utterly alone with no one to help. You would think about what would’ve been if you stayed and gotten married. But now you think what is Shikamaru doing. Maybe he married Temari and already has a baby and long forgotten about you. All you hope was that he was happy.

You where happy, lonely but happy. You never felt such strong love until your son was born. He was a copy and paste version of Shikamaru. He dark hair. The dark eyes. Everything about him was his fathers. Yet some days you see the moon in his eyes.

“Shikaku.” You warned as you pulled the toddler that was barley over one closer to you. You felt uneasy being back at the leaf village but you thought it was long enough that shikamaru wouldn’t notice you. Plus the village has grown so much, with so many new people. There was a better job offer at the hospital here that you had to take. You had to for a better life for your son.

“Mama” he mumbled as he raised his arms for you to pick him up.

“Come on Kaku.” You said lifting him on to your hip as you walked to your new home.

It was easy to settle and get into routine. Even for a toddler shikaku was too smart and quickly got used the new preschool you dropped him off at. Your shifts at the hospital weren’t terrible. 3 days a week, 10 hours shifts. Gave you 4 days for your son alone.

It was another day as you helped prep the surgery room. Apparently there was a mission that has gone south and ninjas where being brought back straight into surgery.

“Y/n?” A nursed called for you.

“Hm?” You asked. Stepping out the ORT room confused on why you where being pulled.

“There’s a call from your sons preschool.” She said giving you a smile. You rushed over to the phone, panties something may have happened.

“Hello this is y/n, Kaku mother.” You didn’t give the school his real name, you knew everyone knew he Nara family in the hidden leaf village. You knew how careful you head to be staying here.

“Can you please come down to the school. Kaku is alright. Just something we need to discuss.” His teacher stated making you huff in a breath.

Within 10 minutes you where at the school. You saw Kaku playing in the sandbox with some other kids.

“Hello ms y/l/n?” His teacher asked as she let you into her office.

“What’s going on?” You asked sitting down.

“Today during art time. Another tried to take Kaku crayon. He got really upset. It was like a jitsu but i don’t know how to explain it. He paralyzed the boy with his shadow.” She started making your heart drop.

“I’m so sorry.” You whispered running your hands through your hair.

“Has you shown such great abilities before? He has great chakra control. I have never seen it this so young.” She asked smiling hoping to reassure you nothing was wrong.

“Its been getting more out of control since he turned 1. But it does not happen often. I have been training him to the best I can. He’s only a little over one.” You said hoping and praying he wouldn’t get kicked out of school.

“I suppose I can talk with the ninja academy and see what they say.” The teacher offered.

“He is only a toddler. I want him to have a childhood. Please.” You said before taking your leave. You knew the Nara clan was powerful but you didn’t expect this much power this early on.

“Kaku.” You said bending down with your arms out letting him running to you. His dark hair tied in a bun on top of his head. Your only task to is to love him and keep him safe.

The next day

“You have 2 meetings this afternoon, as well as these reports that came in. They need to be reviewed.” Shikamaru said standing in front of Kakashi desk.

“Have you went over them.” The hokage asked looking at his advisor.

“Only gotten through half.” He said with a bored expression.

“Well I found a very interesting report for the preschool.” Kakashi said as he pulled out a folder sliding it over the desk.

“A toddler using jujitsu?” Shikamaru said not sure why Kakashi even was giving him this report.

“Barley over 1, using a paralyzing shadow jujitsu on another.” Kakashi correct making shikamaru gain interest. The Nara clan is the only one to use shadow jujitsu, this must have been some kind of mistake.

“That baby has better chakra control then some jinion I know.” Kakashi joked before going back to his book.

“I’ll look into it.” Shikamaru said before leaving the office. He headed over to the preschool only a few blocks from the office. He did not notice anything strange. Just children playing. He headed over to classroom 3-B hoping to find the teacher.

Shikamaru walked in to see a few kids playing tag. A few girls playing with dolls and one rolls er sitting at a table himself. He almost felt his soul drain out as he sat down in front of the little boy.

“What you drawing there?” Shikamaru asked. The boy was precious and yet so familiar. His dark hair tied into a top bun look awfully similar to his own. But when he looked up shikamaru almost had a heart attack. It was like looking in the mirror. Or at an old photo of himself. But the boys dark eyes had a glow, he could almost see the moon in them.

“Trees” The little toddler said but the picture was more of green scribbles.

“What’s your name.” Shikamaru asked as he tried to understand what was going on. He could be just crazy, his own daunting thoughts and day dreams of what could have been are playing games with him. 

“Kaku.” He said not paying much mind as his little legs swinging as he sat still scribbling on the page. 

“How old are you?” He kept asking, he was very surprised that this toddler was replying. He just looked up holding out his pointer finger. 

“Just one huh?” Shikamaru said rubbing his jaw. 

“Nara-kun, sorry I did not notice you earlier. Is this about the report I filled?” The teacher asked as she came up to the table. 

“Yeah, I’m assume this little one used the shadow jitsu?” Shikamaru just needed to confirm. 

“Yes.” 

“Can I have the file on him, his family and home address.” He stated going back to watching the little boy in front of him that paid no mind to anything around him at the moment. 

“Yes of course.” They said before hurrying back with a folder. It was pretty thin, not much paperwork. His breath hitched when he noticed y/n y/l/n scribbled under the mothers name. It felt like a wave of emotions he has been holding back hit him all at once. 

This can’t be real.

[narasnooze]

The elders at the retirement home he frequently visited.

It felt extremely odd to think back and be reminded that this man, this humble and incredibly sweet ridiculously handsome and hot man, had once been at war with them. Shikamaru had hated him for a long time. He couldn't stand it, but when Uzumaki Naruto has made his mind up about something, it is set in stone. Uchiha Obito would not sit and rot in a sealed cell somewhere far away from civilisation. He'd remain in Konoha and work off his 'debt'. It had been infuriating and down right humiliating in a way. Shikamaru had been close to drop everything and leave. But he had long ago made a promise to Naruto, the land of Fire and himself to be there and aid Naruto. He needed him... so he stayed and bit his tongue.

Then time passed, they worked together and slowly got to know each other a bit better, much against Shikamaru's wishes in the beginning.

Now... Now he was walking beside Obito in a relaxing stroll, listening intently at the other's harmless and warm words. Apparently he often went to the retirement home and made the elder's lives brighter by just being there, keeping them company. He proudly wore childish garments and strangely enough looked great in them. And the heartwarming scene playing out right in front of Shikamaru right then, with Obito and Mirai, seemed so perfectly natural. The shadow user wanted so badly to be a part of it, of that image. His heart ached to fit into it. With them. With him.

...What? No, no, no. Have I completely lost my mind? I'm just thanking him for finding and helping Mirai. A dinner at home is a bit much, though... Am I sure there is no other thought behind it? There is nothing more. You could've eaten somewhere else... We have prepared food at home, it would be a shame to let it go to waste. We could have eaten it tomorrow. I wanted to thank him right away, that is all.

That is all...

Mirai laughed happily and held onto Obito's head carefully, but then reached both arms out and waved them like a bird's wings. "It's amazing! I wish I could be this tall all the time! Papa looks like a baby deer instead now!"

Shikamaru blinked and a blush began to appear on his cheeks and nose, making the white dots become more visible. He had completely forgotten about the face paint and the damn antlers. Man... in front of Obito, of all people... He took the opportunity of her words and pulled the deer ear and antlers off his head. "Well, a fawn has no antlers yet, right?" Mirai shook her head and giggled. "Oh, oh! I can see our lanterns!" the girl pointed ahead toward the Nara compound, and Shikamaru sighed very quietly in relief. Then he could soon wash this off his face.

"... That is very kind of you. Going to the retirement home, I mean. What gave you that idea?"

There was some very loud beating going on in his ears. And the sound of rushing waves. Creating a tune that refused to get in sync to form a decent melody. Pull yourself together Obito. It's not a date. A mental necessary slap to not write his emotions all over his face.

But what if it was ? What would it be like if it was just the two of us?

Walking side by side with the human stag and the little kin in front, Obito's eye scanned over other places. It was a shame, and also a good thing that Shikamaru was on his right or else he'd be caught looking. More than ten times on his part and lie saying he was just admiring Mirai's art on her dad's face. His face too of course.

❝ Eh- ❞ Looking down at his attire, he just remembered what he was wearing… outside… in front of basically everyone that was walking around. And in front of S h i k a m a r u. As if his night could get anymore embarassing. ❝ Oh this? Ahaha- Uhh.. No, I can’t make or craft things. Buuut, one of the elders at the retirement home, her daughter, who also works there, used to be a seamstress and made this for me as a thank you gift for christmas last year. It was for consistent visits and keeping them entertained. ❞

❝ It’s uh.. Supposed to be Juubi but, cute.. -ish. Ya know...? ❞ Doubt but always a possibility that they did. ❝ Aside from that it’s actually pretty comfortable and it’s got this sweet kangaroo pouch! ❞ What better way to show that feature off than to shove his hands in it?!

It was the little things that made a man like this as happy as a toddler on Halloween night, and this was just one of them. The other was this impromptu date thank you dinner from his crush Shikamaru. Not a date not a date not a date…

❝ ‘Course you can! ❞ Slipping his hands under Mirai’s arms, he lifted her high into the sky before setting her on his shoulders once more. ❝ How’s the view from up there? ❞

[delirious-donna]

I can totally picture the Konoha 13 playing Spin the Bottle, and Shikamaru being a little shit and using his shadows for the bottle to land on the reader every time. After like the 5th time, everyone’s getting suspicious and he just denies is but all is well when out favourite lazy man decides to walk reader home and they part with a kiss🥹

Anon, my darling little angel! You sent me this like a week ago, I read it and smirked immediately. Did I reply like I intended? No. I'm naughty and you may punish me if you so wish... but I digress.

The tension was high, hormones raging as you sat in a circle of the people you knew as your closest friends. Alcohol had made everyone seem just that little braver as the bottle spun erratically.

Girlish giggling erupted from your left, and your eyes swung just in time to watch as Sai whispered something into Ino's ear. Her waterfall of long blonde air rippled as she leant into his side, neither paying particular attention to the proceedings, and it was kinda cute.

"You're fucking cheating man."

The defiant rumble of annoyance caught your attention. Naruto was on his knees, whiskered cheeks bright red as he pointed directly at the object of your affection - Shikamaru Nara.

You looked at the bottle that had landed on him once again on your turn. Swallowing the runny saliva you gazed at the dark-haired male, the simple shrug oozed complete disinterest but that wasn't going to cut it for the inebriated Uzumaki, especially when his equally drunk buddy chimed in.

"Cut the bullshit you sneaky shit. We all know you don't want anyone else kissing her!" Kiba yelled, pointing his wavering finger into your face.

Shikamaru waved them both off with a dismissive hand, crawling towards your seat and pressing a chaste kiss against your lips. You wondered if your mind was playing tricks on you, did you feel the lightest flicker of his tongue on your lip?

Surely not...

~

The streets were silent, only the sound of your footsteps could be heard and probably your heart. The traitorous organ was damn near beating out of your chest. Could he hear it?

Smoke plumed above his head, the embers illuminated eyes that looked like obsidian in the dim light. You shivered but not from cold, and yet he was shrugging out of his jacket. Draping it over your shoulders, and all you could think to do was mumble a faint 'thanks'.

"Don't mention it, can't have you catching a cold, can I?"

Why did his voice sound so inviting, so low that it spoke directly to your navel? Your mind recalled the series of kisses you had shared throughout the night, how the bottle had always mysteriously landed on him whenever it was your turn and how the pressure of his cool lips had shifted with each subsequent kiss.

Standing outside your door, you turned to him and bit the bullet. You stared straight into the face that was painted with that familiar lazy smirk, eyebrows low as he regarded you like you were some kind of an enigma to unravel.

"Did you cheat?"

Shika stepped closer, right into your personal space and tipped his head. He didn't answer, only let his mouth slant atop yours and this was different - so much more than earlier.

He learned the curve of your lips, letting his fingers rest delicately on your hip. It was as if time was suspended as he pressed more firmly into you and there was that flicker of his tongue. The wet muscle stroking your lip as if asking for permission in a way you hadn't thought he would.

Before you could part your lips, he was pulling back. His thumb traced your lower lip, touching exactly where he had just kissed and your teeth gripped the pad tentatively.

The hiss of breath stoked at your fires, and the whispered words he offered sealed your fate.

"Couldn't have someone else kissing what is going to be mine..."