Underlying Tensions
The Hokage’s office was abuzz with activity,
Shikamaru sat in his office, tapping his fingers against the wooden desk absentmindedly. His mind wasn’t on the stacks of paperwork or the mission reports piled up around him. Instead, it was occupied by something else—something that had been bothering him for the past week.
Kakashi’s behavior.
The Sixth Hokage had been slipping in and out of the Hokage Tower almost every day, and each time Shikamaru caught a glimpse of him, he would use some vague excuse that didn’t add up. It wasn’t like Kakashi to dodge questions, especially not from him. But lately, he’d been doing exactly that.
“Lord Sixth, where are you headed?” Shikamaru had asked casually when he saw Kakashi leaving the tower again last week.
“Ah, just a small matter,” Kakashi had said with a lazy wave. “Nothing that requires your attention.”
But Shikamaru wasn’t so easily convinced. He knew Hokage business inside and out—there was no such thing as a “small matter” that warranted the Hokage slipping out on his own without informing his advisor. And yet, every time Shikamaru asked, Kakashi gave the same response.
“Something’s definitely up,” Shikamaru muttered under his breath.
And then there was Naruto.
If Kakashi’s actions were suspicious, Naruto’s behavior was downright baffling.
Everyone in the village knew about Naruto and Sasuke’s relationship—how Naruto had chased after Sasuke, brought him back, and finally convinced the Uchiha to stay in the village. They’d been inseparable since Sasuke’s return though they have tried to keep their relationship private and they think that nobody knows about their relationship. Naruto couldn’t go a day without mentioning Sasuke—whether it was about their sparring sessions, their training, or even the rare moments when Sasuke let his guard down and showed affection.
But for the past three weeks, Naruto hadn’t spoken a word about Sasuke.
It was as if Sasuke had vanished.
Whenever someone asked about him, Naruto would just shrug and give some generic reply about Sasuke being busy with training or something. But Shikamaru had known Naruto long enough to spot when something was off. There was a tightness around his eyes, a stiffness in his smile—signs that he was hiding something, and not doing a very good job of it.
“What’s going on?” Shikamaru murmured, staring blankly at the ceiling. “Kakashi’s sneaking around, Naruto’s pretending Sasuke doesn’t exist… and everyone’s acting like it’s normal.”
His thoughts drifted back to two weeks ago—the last time all of them had been together for one of their usual gatherings. That night, he’d noticed something strange, something that had stuck with him ever since.
The group always gathered at one of their favourite restaurants and this time was at Yakiniku restaurant, Two Weeks Ago
The restaurant was bustling with noise and laughter when they arrived, the smell of grilled meat filling the air. It was a rare night off for all of them—no missions, no paperwork, just a chance to relax and catch up. Everyone was there: Naruto, Hinata, Kiba, Shino, Ino, Sakura, Lee, and Tenten.
Shikamaru had been sitting at the far end of the table, half-listening to Kiba and Lee’s animated conversation, when he noticed something odd.
Naruto and Hinata were sitting closer together than usual.
It wasn’t glaringly obvious, but to someone as observant as Shikamaru, the difference was striking. Naruto’s arm would occasionally brush against Hinata’s, and she seemed unusually flustered—more so than her typical shyness. When they’d arrived, Hinata had hovered around Naruto in a way that suggested she wanted to be near him, and Naruto hadn’t moved away.
Something about the whole scene felt… wrong.
Before Shikamaru could put his finger on it, the door opened, and Neji walked in.
Lee’s eyes lit up. “Neji! ”and he started one of his impromptu speeches on the joys of youth and the trials of life—words that were heartfelt, if not somewhat out of place.
Life is unpredictable, like the rush of a waterfall!” Lee proclaimed, his eyes shining with passion. He struck a dramatic pose, his voice rising as he gestured grandly. “But it is also in these unpredictable moments that we find our true strength! When we face adversity head-on, when we fight for what we believe in, we become the best versions of ourselves!”
Tenten rolled her eyes fondly, shaking her head. “Alright, Lee, calm down. We’re here for dinner, not another life lesson.”
Lee looked at her earnestly, undeterred. “But Tenten, it is these gatherings with friends that remind us of the bonds we share! No matter how difficult life gets, we must hold onto our comrades and face challenges together!” His gaze shifted briefly to Neji, who had entered the restaurent and is beside him. “Isn’t that right, Neji?”
Neji’s expression remained neutral, unreadable. “Indeed,” he murmured softly. “But sometimes… there are challenges that test us beyond what any of us are prepared for.”
Lee blinked, taken aback by the somber tone of his friend’s reply. Tenten frowned slightly, studying Neji with a puzzled expression, as if sensing something off. But before she could ask anything further, Neji’s attention shifted sharply to the corner of the room, where Naruto and Hinata sat.
That was when the atmosphere changed.
Neji’s eyes—normally calm and composed—hardened with a cold, calculating fury as he stared at the two of them. His gaze was piercing, like a predator locking onto prey, and the effect was immediate. Naruto, who had been laughing awkwardly at some joke Kiba had made, froze mid-chuckle. Hinata’s smile vanished, her face draining of color as she shrank back instinctively.
“Neji, grab a seat!” Tenten called, patting the empty space beside her. “We saved you a spot.”
But Neji didn’t move toward the table. He stood in the doorway, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group. When his eyes landed on Naruto and Hinata, they narrowed, and his expression turned frigid.
Shikamaru, who had been quietly observing from his spot at the end of the table, narrowed his eyes. He could feel it—the sudden drop in temperature, the shift in the room’s energy. Neji’s presence was commanding on any day, but tonight, it was different. It was suffocating.
Kiba, completely oblivious, continued his rambling without noticing the tension building around him. “Yeah, Sasuke’s probably just off somewhere brooding again, right? Man, that guy really needs to learn how to lighten up! I mean, who sits around sulking for—”
“Enough.”
The single word sliced through the air like a kunai. Neji’s voice was low, but the force behind it made everyone fall silent. All eyes turned to the Hyūga, who was standing rigidly beside the table, his gaze fixed on Naruto and Hinata. The sheer intensity in his eyes was enough to make the entire restaurant go still.
Naruto swallowed hard, visibly tense. “Uh… Neji?” he ventured hesitantly, his voice small, almost fearful.
Neji didn’t respond. His gaze never wavered, never softened. It was as if he were staring at something filthy—something that didn’t deserve even a fraction of his attention. The look on his face was one of pure, unadulterated contempt. There was no anger in his expression, no raised voice or dramatic outburst. Just a cold, silent fury that made Naruto’s blood run cold.
“What?” Neji murmured, his voice dangerously soft. “Nothing to say, Naruto?”
Hinata’s hands were trembling slightly as she stared down at the table, refusing to meet her cousin’s gaze. Her shoulders were hunched, as if trying to make herself smaller, to disappear under the weight of his stare.
Kiba, sensing the tension but not quite understanding it, opened his mouth to say something, but Shikamaru shot him a look, silently warning him to stay quiet. For once, Kiba obeyed, his mouth snapping shut as he looked nervously between Neji and Naruto.
“Neji, hey, it’s—” Naruto started weakly, attempting a smile that looked more like a grimace. But Neji’s eyes narrowed, and the words died in his throat.
“Do not,” Neji said coldly, his gaze like ice. “Do not patronize me.”
Naruto flinched, his bravado crumbling under the weight of Neji’s stare. He glanced helplessly at Hinata, but she was still staring at the table, her face pale and her body trembling.
Neji’s lip curled slightly, the barest hint of a sneer. “You think you can just pretend everything is fine, don’t you? Smile and joke as if you haven’t destroyed something irreplaceable?” His voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried enough venom to silence even the noisiest of conversations around them.
“Neji, what’s wrong?” Lee asked, his cheerful voice tinged with concern. “Did something happen?”
Neji didn’t respond. He simply stared at Naruto, his gaze so intense it felt like it could burn a hole through him. Naruto opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out. For once, the loud, brash Naruto Uzumaki looked completely and utterly terrified.
“Neji—” Naruto tried again, his voice pleading now, but Neji cut him off.
“Don’t.” Neji’s eyes burned with something dark and dangerous, a rage so deep it seemed to scorch the air around him. “You disgust me.”
The words were spoken softly, almost emotionlessly, but they hit harder than any shout or accusation. Naruto recoiled as if struck, his face contorting with a mix of guilt and fear. Hinata made a small, strangled sound, her hands clenching into fists on her lap.
And then, without another word, Neji turned on his heel and walked out of the restaurant.
The silence left in his wake was deafening. Naruto stared after him, his face pale, his hands trembling slightly. Hinata looked like she was on the verge of tears, her shoulders hunched and her gaze still fixed firmly on the table.
The door closed behind him with a soft click, but the atmosphere he left behind was anything but soft. It was suffocating, tense—like the calm before a storm.
No one dared to speak for several long moments.
“What… just happened?” Ino whispered, breaking the silence at last.
No one had an answer.
Shikamaru let out a slow breath, his mind racing as he pieced together what he’d just seen. The look on Neji’s face, the venom in his words—it was more than just anger. It was betrayal. Hurt. Something far deeper than anyone could have imagined.
“Neji’s not one to speak lightly,” Shikamaru said quietly, his gaze still fixed on the door Neji had just exited through. “If he’s that angry… then something’s seriously wrong.”
But as Shikamaru glanced at Naruto and Hinata, both of whom were still staring at the door with identical expressions of fear and guilt, a chill ran down his spine.
Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.
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Shikamaru leaned back in his chair, staring absentmindedly and then thought of the previous week gathering which was even more baffling than the former gathering at two weeks before . It had been a week since that previous gathering, and he still couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was off. It was the tension. The strange, simmering tension that seemed to hang over the group whenever certain names were mentioned.
He thought back to that day, a week ago, when the Konoha 12 had gathered together for a small get-together at one of their usual spots. Everyone had been there—everyone except Sasuke and Neji.
Shikamaru remembered glancing around, noticing the questioning looks on everyone’s faces. And it wasn’t just about Sasuke. There was another glaring absence—Neji.
Where was Neji?
No one had said anything directly, but Shikamaru could sense the shift. It was Sai who first drew attention to it. The former Root member had a way of noticing things others missed, and his sharp gaze hadn’t left Naruto and Hinata for most of the night. There was something calculating in the way Sai watched them, his eyes flicking between their faces, observing their expressions, their body language. Shikamaru didn’t miss it.
Sakura, bustling in late as usual, had been cornered by Ino almost immediately. Ino, never one to shy away from probing, had leaned in close, her voice a low murmur as she asked, “Have you seen Sasuke lately, Sakura?”
The pink-haired kunoichi had blinked, then glanced away uncomfortably. “I… no, I haven’t,” she admitted, twisting her fingers together. “I’ve been busy at the hospital, you know. I asked Naruto about him a few days ago, and he just said that Sasuke was sent on some mission. He didn’t give me any details.”
“Sent on a mission?” Shikamaru had echoed, raising an eyebrow. He couldn’t recall any recent missions that would require Sasuke’s involvement—especially not alone.
Sakura bit her lip, avoiding his gaze. “I—I don’t know. Naruto didn’t tell me much, and… Sasuke and I… we’re not that close right now.”
The silence that followed her words had been heavy, almost suffocating. Ino had stared at her, frowning. “But… you two have been trying to patch things up, right? As friends, I mean?”
Sakura nodded quickly, her expression strained. “Yeah, but… it’s complicated. He’s… he’s been distant. Even before this supposed mission.”
It was more than that, though. Shikamaru could see it in her eyes—the confusion, the hurt. Something had shifted between them, and Sakura was being kept out of the loop, just like the rest of them.
He had turned his gaze to Naruto then, watching the way the blond fidgeted in his seat, his eyes fixed on the table as if willing everyone to drop the subject. Hinata, sitting beside him, looked equally uncomfortable, her gaze darting nervously between her teammates.
And then Ino, oblivious to the mounting tension, had blurted out, “What about Neji? Has anyone seen him?”
That was when it happened.
The moment Ino mentioned Neji’s name, the effect on Naruto and Hinata had been immediate and startling. Naruto went completely still, his face paling slightly, while Hinata visibly flinched, her eyes widening in fear. They exchanged a quick, panicked look, as if silently communicating something, before Naruto forced a laugh—one that sounded far too strained.
“Neji? Uh, no… I haven’t seen him either,” Naruto had said, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. “He’s probably just… busy, you know?”
But his voice lacked its usual confidence. It was almost… fearful.
Shikamaru narrowed his eyes, his sharp mind catching every subtle twitch, every unspoken word. He glanced at Sai, whose eyes were still fixed on Naruto and Hinata, his expression unreadable.
That was when Kiba leaned over to him, his voice low. “You know, Shikamaru… something’s really weird with Neji lately.”
Shikamaru’s attention snapped to the Inuzuka. “What do you mean?”
Kiba shifted uncomfortably, his usual bravado subdued. He glanced around, making sure no one else was listening. “He’s been avoiding Hinata like she’s got the plague or something. Like… seriously avoiding her. He won’t even look at her.”
Shikamaru’s gaze slid back to Hinata, noting the way she seemed to shrink into herself at the mention of Neji’s name. “Avoiding her?”
“Yeah,” Kiba muttered. “And I mean really avoiding. It’s not just that he’s ignoring her. He’s… disgusted. I’ve never seen him look at her like that before. Like she’s done something unforgivable.”
The pieces slowly started falling into place. Neji, Sasuke, Naruto, Hinata… something had happened. Something serious. And whatever it was, it had shattered whatever bond Neji and Hinata had. But more than that… it had put Sasuke right at the center of it.
Shikamaru had exchanged a look with Ino then, both of them silently agreeing to keep their thoughts to themselves for now. But the suspicion was there, growing like a dark cloud over the group.
And now, a week later, Shikamaru sat in the crowded yakiniku restaurant, his eyes drifting to the entrance every few minutes, waiting, watching. The rest of the Konoha 12 were gathered around the table, chatting and laughing as if nothing was wrong. But Shikamaru’s attention was only half on the conversation.
He was watching for Neji.
Would he show up?
He didn’t miss the way Naruto and Hinata kept sneaking glances at the door, their shoulders tense. They were waiting too. But not with anticipation.It was something else...like a fear...
That alone told Shikamaru everything he needed to know. Whatever had happened, whatever had torn their group apart, Neji was a key piece of the puzzle. And Sasuke… Sasuke’s sudden disappearance, his complete absence from their lives… it was all connected.
Hey, where’s Neji?” Shikamaru asked casually, glancing at Tenten from across the table. His question was simple, almost offhand, but the effect it had on the group was immediate.
Beside Naruto, Hinata visibly flinched. Naruto’s shoulders tensed, his hands freezing mid-motion as he stared at his plate. Shikamaru’s sharp eyes didn’t miss the way Sai’s gaze flicked over to them, his expression momentarily tightening before smoothing back into its usual, unreadable calm.
Tenten shifted uncomfortably, clearly caught off guard by the sudden attention. “Oh, um… he’s on a mission,” she replied, trying to sound nonchalant. “He got dispatched suddenly last week.
“An urgent mission?” Shikamaru echoed, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion. “That’s odd.
Tenten shook her head, her brow furrowed in thought. “Yeah, it surprised all of us. We didn't even see him and apparently he was needed immediately. Me and lee don’t even know where he went.
Shikamaru’s frown deepened. He glanced over at Lee, who nodded silently, confirming Tenten’s words. Lee looked equally puzzled, his eyes betraying a deep concern for his teammate.
The door swung open, and Shikamaru’s eyes narrowed as he turned to look. But it was Sakura
Hey, sorry I’m late!” Sakura’s voice rang out brightly, breaking through Shikamaru’s thoughts.
Everyone turned to see the pink-haired medic rushing in, her cheeks flushed as she took a seat beside Ino. “I got caught up at the hospital,” she explained breathlessly, brushing a stray strand of hair out of her face. “It’s been chaos over there.”
“Chaos?” Kiba echoed, raising an eyebrow. “I thought things were pretty calm lately?”
Sakura shook her head, her expression shifting to one of frustration. “You’d think so, but no. We’ve got a high-profile patient in. Tsunade-shishou and Shizune have been tied up for days.”
“High-profile patient?” Shikamaru repeated, his curiosity piqued. “Who’s that?”
Sakura hesitated, then shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s all so… secretive. I’m one of the top medics in the village, and even I’m not allowed anywhere near them. All the files are sealed, and only Tsunade-shishou and Shizune are handling the case. Not even I can look at the records.”
“What?” Ino’s eyes widened in disbelief. “That’s insane! You’re—”
“One of the best medics in Konoha’s history,” Shikamaru finished for her, his brow furrowing in thought. “If you can’t get near them, it means it’s either someone extremely important, or there’s something they don’t want anyone to know.”
Sakura nodded, exasperation clear on her face. “Exactly. Even Kakashi-sensei is allowed to visit, but not me. I’ve never seen such tight security around a patient before.”
Shikamaru’s mind raced, piecing together the fragments of information. A private patient, guarded by Tsunade and Shizune—two of the village’s most skilled medics. Sealed files, restricted access, Neji’s sudden, unexplained absence., Kakashi coming and going . And even Sakura, with her advanced medical skills, was barred. If they were keeping this patient so closely guarded…
It had to be someone directly tied to the village’s highest authorities. Someone whose identity needed to be protected at all costs. Someone like—
His eyes widened slightly as the realization hit him. Sasuke.
Shikamaru’s mind was spinning, connecting dots that seemed too far apart to form a clear picture.
But one thing was becoming certain: whatever was going on, it had to involve Sasuke. And if Neji was somehow involved too… then there was more at stake than just a routine mission.
Then a waiter came in , carrying in more food.
Naruto let out a barely audible sigh of relief, but Shikamaru caught it. He glanced at the blond, studying his pale face, his wide eyes. And then at Hinata, who looked tense and uncomfortable , .
No, Neji wasn’t coming.
And that, more than anything, made Shikamaru’s stomach twist with unease. Because if Neji wasn’t coming… it meant things were far worse than he’d thought.
Far, far worse.
But for now, he’d wait. And he’d watch. Because if Neji’s reaction last week was anything to go by, the truth was going to be explosive.