Stolen

Clangs of metal meeting metal echoed around the village. The intruders were everywhere.

Shikaku had been relaxing on the hill, cloud watching, while Yoshino played with their one-year-old son Shikamaru, when Konoha was attacked. The army of enemy ninja swarmed over the gates and jutsu’s were used immediately. The Konoha shinobi were fighting back, but it was clear that they were being overwhelmed.

Shikaku turned and picked up Yoshino and Shikamaru and shushined back to the compound. He dropped them off, made certain they were as safe as he could make them and went to join the fight.

At the compound, Yoshino was hiding Shikamaru and herself in a laundry cupboard. She longed to be out there fighting with her husband, but she needed to keep their son safe and protected. Shuffling around to get comfortable, she carefully led Shikamaru to her breasts to feed, keeping him quiet in the process.

She was certain that no one was close, but the cupboard door was ripped open, revealing an enemy ninja. The ninja reached forward and ripped Shikamaru from her breast, causing milk to spray everywhere.

“NO!!” she screamed. “Give me my baby back! He’s a baby, he can’t for anything for you!”

The ninja smirked, “His usefulness isn’t my problem. My mission is just to grab the brat.”

“. . . Mission?” Yoshino said slowly. “That outside, that’s just, what? A distraction?”

“Looks like you’re more than a pretty face, eh? Well, it’s been nice, but I got to finish my mission. Have a terrible life.”

With that, he bounced away, leaving Yoshino to stare in shock.

That was how Shikaku found her, dress half down revealing her breast, milk dripping down, sprawled out in the cupboard with her arms reaching out and mouth hung open in shock.

“. . .no? Yo . . . ino? Yoshino?! What’s wrong? Where’s Shikamaru? Yoshino!”

She slowly turned her head, tears dripping onto the towels below.

“He’s gone, Shikaku. He took him. For a mission. Why? Why our baby? What did we do wrong? Shikaku, he’s gone!” she wailed.

“Who? Who’s gone? Who took him Yoshino?” Shikaku asked, cold dread settling like a stone into his stomach. “Just calm down and tell me.”

Taking a deep breath, she continued, “Shikamaru and I were hiding in here, when the door was ripped open. An enemy ninja took him from me and told me that Shikamaru was his mission, and the others were just a distraction. Then he left. He left with our baby, Shikaku! What are we going to do?!”

Shikaku’s face was deep red with anger and his thoughts were whirling through hundreds of possibilities and explanations. He was ready to go and destroy every enemy ninja he came across, but when he saw his wife’s distraught face, he tried to calm himself down.

“First we go to the Hokage. Then we search for him.” He took her hands in his. “We will find him, Yoshino. We will find him.”

......

In another location, not too far away, a young girl was travelling through the forest. She looked to be in her mid-teens, with long black hair and bright emerald-green eyes. She was short, not even 4’7. She appeared tired and worn out, with a sad look in her eyes. Her name was Asahi, which meant morning sunshine. Her parents were fans of Japan, if it wasn't obvious. Perhaps that was why she was running from her country and hiding here, the Elemental Countries.

As she was running, she came across a very peculiar sight. A man was holding a baby by his feet upside down. She was about to reluctantly move on, when the man started shouting curses at the baby, and Asahi screeched to a stop.

“What are you doing with that baby?” she asked.

The man scowled at her. “Move on. Messing with me would be a mistake.”

"Yes, yes. You're very scary" Asahi scowled right back at him. "But, you see, I can't just let you go now. Not when you're treating that baby so badly. Where’s his mother?”

“None of your business, brat.”

She narrowed her eyes, analyzing the way he carelessly handled the baby, not making any effort at all to make him comfortable. “I’ve made it my business. Is that baby even yours?”

“Like I said, none of your business. Now move along, before you’re unable to move at all.”

"Ooh, nice come back, you must have thought real hard on it," she mocked. “But fine. If that’s how you want to go, then that’s how we’ll go.”

The man snarled, dropped the baby and rushed at her at full speed. Now, she didn’t want to brag, but she completely wiped the floor with him.

It didn’t take long until she had him trapped underneath her, and not the way she wanted a man to be. Making sure he was actually unconscious, she kicked him in the ribs once more before going over and picking up the crying baby. While she checked him over for any injuries he might’ve gotten when he was carelessly dropped on the ground, she rocked him and sang him a lullaby she had picked up while on the run.

Sleep
Let the angels in
To shield your dreams with their wings

Sleep
Leave the fears behind
I’ll be here to guard your peace of mind

Sleep
The road is long
Followed of tales and legends of old

Sleep
Till their story’s over
Only then can your adventure begin

Wake
I’ll be here to guide you
To help you spread your wings and take flight

When she finished, she saw the baby had fallen asleep. She smiled and began searching the area for his parents. When she saw no one, not even bodies – dead or otherwise, her smile dropped.

She couldn’t leave him here, but she couldn’t take him. She was only fourteen years old. She had no idea how to take care of a baby.

But when she looked down at his adorable cherubic face, her decision was made.

Looks like she’s going to need baby supplies. Actually, she’s going to need supplies in general. How inconvenient.

She had been running for a full day before the baby finally opened his eyes and started wiggling around. She slowed down and smiled softly at him.

“Good afternoon, sleeping beauty. Nice to see your eyes. My name is Asahi. Can you speak? What’s your name?”

She waited, and waited, and just when she decided that no, he couldn’t talk, the baby opened his mouth.

“Shikamawu.”

“Hello Shikamaru, it’s nice to meet you. I’m going to be looking after you now.”

“Why?”

How do you explain to a literal baby that his parents are either dead or not around?

“I, uh. I couldn’t. . . find your parents. I’m sorry, baby. But we’re not far from a town now, so we’ll settle down there and we’ll be happy. You’ll see.”

The truth would have to do.

Shikamaru actually seemed to be considering her words, and after a moment he nodded seriously. Asahi smiled brightly and picked up her running.

It took them three days to reach the town, Umagakure. When they reached the town, they went straight to the authorities. They were given a house to live in and quickly moved in and settled down for the night.

Asahi had a feeling that they would be very happy here.