Lost and Found
In a hidden channel, Shikamaru uses his mind transmission to reach Ino.
"Ino, where did you find Hikari?" Shikamaru asks in his mind.
"Tsunade-sama recommended her," Ino replies via telepathy, "Hikari assisted her during her time as the Fifth Hokage."
A realization dawns on Shikamaru. 'So that explains it...' he thinks. It all makes sense now. Tsunade, with her keen eye for talent, must have recognized something special in Hikari.
He tries to cut the connection, but Ino stops him with a question, "Wait, Shikamaru, why are you so curious about Hikari?"
Shikamaru hesitates. Revealing his reasons could jeopardize their mission to guard Konoha from Boruto. But something about Hikari intrigues him. There's a nagging suspicion in his mind, a hunch he can't quite place. He decides to be vague.
"Just making sure everyone we're working with is trustworthy," he replies through the jutsu. "No offense to Hikari, of course."
Ino raises an eyebrow skeptically, or at least, Shikamaru imagines she does.
"Is that all? You could have just asked me directly you know, troublesome as ever."
"Hmm," Shikamaru replies, noncommittal. He can't explain the strange feeling he has about Hikari, not without revealing more than he's comfortable with.
"Well, if you need anything else," Ino says, "you know how to find me."
The transmission with Ino ended, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. Shikamaru's mind buzzed with a tangled web of thoughts. Relief at finding Hikari intertwined with a growing suspicion about her past, and now a plan to subtly interact with her simmered within him. But before he could fully formulate his strategy, the world tilted on its axis.
A sudden commotion erupted outside his office, shattering the fragile peace. Urgent whispers morphed into a collective gasp, culminating in a single, dreaded word: "Temari."
A tremor ran through Shikamaru, a physical manifestation of the dread that gripped him. His heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the sudden silence that followed. He knew, with a chilling certainty, what the news portended.
"No," he breathed, the word a desperate plea to a silent god.
"Why Temari?" It was a question choked with a grief he hadn't fully allowed himself to feel after Asuma's death. The question morphed, a raw ache tearing through him.
"Why her?"
The news of an investigation mission gone wrong, a jonin team ambushed by a suspected Kara cell, echoed in his ears but held no meaning. All he saw was Temari's face, her fierce amber eyes blazing with determination, her fiery red hair whipping in the wind as she unleashed her devastating wind jutsu. He remembered her unwavering loyalty, her unwavering strength that mirrored his own quiet resolve.
Shikamaru felt a crushing weight descend upon him, heavier than any burden he had ever carried. He had let her join the mission, blinded by misplaced trust in her formidable skills. He had convinced himself it was necessary, another sacrifice for the village he swore to protect. But now, the weight of that decision pressed down on him, a suffocating cloak that stole his breath.
Regret, a bitter and unwelcome companion, flooded his senses.
He hadn't held her close enough, hadn't told her how much she meant to him, to their son. He had been so consumed by the village's turmoil, by the cryptic whispers surrounding Hikari and the looming threat of that dangerous organization-Kara, that he had neglected the family he cherished.
Suddenly, the plan to interact with Hikari, the intrigue surrounding her past, all of it seemed trivial. In the face of this devastating loss, it all faded away.
Right now, all that mattered was the deafening silence in his life, the gaping hole left behind by a woman who was both his fiercest ally and the love of his life.
Shikamaru, the acting Hokage, the strategist, crumbled. In that moment, he was just a man drowning in grief, a husband who had failed to protect his wife.
.
.
.
The sun, a cruel reminder of life's relentless march, cast a harsh light upon the somber scene. Temari's funeral pyre crackled, a consuming inferno licking at the sky, a stark contrast to the chilling emptiness Shikamaru felt within.
A part of him clung to a twisted relief – Temari wouldn't be used for Momoshiki's twisted plan. But another, much larger part, ached with the loss of the woman who had been his anchor amidst the storm.
He gripped Shikadai's hand, a silent reassurance for his son whose emotions spilled openly, tears glistening like fallen stars on his cheeks. Unlike his father, Shikadai was a whirlwind of grief, a testament to the love Temari had nurtured.
Gaara and Kankuro stood silently beside them, their faces etched with the raw pain of losing a sibling.
A new arrival stirred a flicker of awareness amidst Shikamaru's despair. Ino, his trusted friend, led the Konoha sensory unit, their somber expressions mirroring the mourning atmosphere.
And amidst them, Shikamaru's heart skipped a beat – Hikari.
He plastered a practiced smile on his face, his voice hoarse as he murmured thanks for their presence. Every fiber of his being screamed to retreat, to hide from the world, but he wouldn't show weakness, not in front of Temari's friends, not in front of his son.
Just as Ino began to offer condolences, Hikari leaned closer, her voice a gentle whisper that shattered the carefully constructed facade.
"Yes, thank you for not running away from someone's funeral anymore."
The world seemed to tilt on its axis. The memory of their first encounter, the raw pain in his voice, flooded back.
A spark ignited within his mind – 'Damn it! It was her!'
He forced a chuckle, maintaining his composure.
"She was my wife, after all, there is no way that I would do such thing" he replied, his voice devoid of emotion.
As Hikari turned away, Shikamaru's gaze hardened. Alone, he allowed a raw whisper to escape his lips, a mix of anger and longing.
"That was an unfair attack, Hikari. Don't you dare…"
The sentence hung unfinished. Shikamaru was a noble man, a man who honored his vows. Yet, the memory of the girl who had offered him a sliver of comfort in his darkest hours, the girl who seemed to understand his grief, sparked a flicker of something he couldn't explain. Perhaps it was a yearning for a connection he'd denied himself, a glimpse of a life that could have been.
But grief had a way of sharpening clarity.
Temari's absence was a gaping wound, a constant reminder of his vow to protect those he loved. Even if a part of him ached for the past, for a connection he didn't fully understand, his loyalty to Temari, his love for his son, remained unwavering.
Shikamaru, the acting Hokage, the strategist, may have been shaken, but he wouldn't break.
Shikadai turned to his father, his eyes red-rimmed but resolute.
"We'll be okay, Dad," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "She wouldn't want us to be sad forever."
Shikamaru met his son's gaze, a flicker of Temari's fiery spirit shining within Shikadai's eyes. He squeezed his son's shoulder, his own voice thick with unshed tears.
"We'll be okay," he echoed. "Together."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across Konoha, Shikamaru looked up at the gathering stars.
He saw Temari's face etched amongst them, a mischievous glint in her eyes. A silent promise formed on his lips.
He would honor the memory of his wife, protect his son, and leead Konoha through this darkness. He owed it to them, and to himself.
.
.
.
Hikari winced, the memory of Shikamaru's stoic face at the funeral flashing behind her closed eyelids.
She squeezed them tighter, willing the image away. Love wasn't a luxury she could afford. Her life was dedicated to the shadows, a silent guardian protecting Konoha from threats unseen.
"Snap out of it, Hikari," she muttered under her breath, slapping her own cheek lightly. "Personal business later,professional now!"
Hikari squinted, her eyes burning from hours spent poring over dusty scrolls. Yet, a single name on a forgotten mission report sent a jolt through her.
Team Seven.
Konohamaru, Sarada, Mitsuki… and Boruto.
Her breath hitched. The very name that had plunged Konoha into chaos was scrawled across the parchment in faded ink.
Disbelief morphed into a fierce determination. This wasn't just some mission report; it was a missing puzzle piece, a potential clue to unravel the mystery surrounding Boruto and the dangerous Kara organization.
With trembling hands, she reached for the mind transmission jutsu, a technique Ino had painstakingly taught her.
Shikamaru's mental signature was a beacon in the vast sea of Konoha's collective consciousness. A deep breath, and she focused, projecting her voice into his mind.
"Lord Eighth!" The words echoed in the silent library, a stark contrast to the urgency in her voice.
Across Konoha, Shikamaru, burdened by the weight of leadership, flinched at the unexpected intrusion. His hand, in the midst of signing a document, hovered mid-air. The voice, a whisper yet distinct, sent a jolt of recognition through him.
"Is that you, Hikari?" he replied, his voice guarded.
.
.
.
Hikari clutched the decoded scroll, her heart hammering against her ribs. This mission log, this undeniable proof of Boruto's past association with Team Seven, was a beacon in the darkness. She focused, channeling her chakra once more.
"Eighth Hokage," she began, her voice firm, "I believe I've found something significant. A mission log…"
Across the village, Shikamaru slammed a fist on his desk, the sound echoing through the office. Konohamaru, his advisor now, engrossed in paperwork, jumped, startled.
"Lord Hokage?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
Shikamaru ignored him, his gaze fixed on the empty space before him.
"Bring that to my office… immediately!"
The command had ripped from him, an urgency he couldn't explain. He knew he could have received the information through the mind link, it would have been faster, more efficient.
But a strange pull, a mix of duty and something else he couldn't decipher, had compelled him to see Hikari, to see the proof for himself.
"This is crazy," he muttered, running a hand through his Nara clan hair. Why the sudden need for face-to-face contact?
Was it the weight of Temari's absence making him crave any human connection, even a professional one?
No, that wasn't it.
Konohamaru watched his leader, worry gnawing at him. The Hokage rarely displayed such emotional turmoil. He cleared his throat, hesitant.
"Lord Hokage, is everything alright? Who did you talk to?" He realized Shikamaru just contacted someone through mind transmission.
Shikamaru shook his head, forcing a semblance of composure.
" It was Hikari. The new archivist. Everything is fine, Konohamaru. Just… bring her in."
A moment later, the office door slid open to reveal a determined Hikari, the scroll clutched tightly in her hand. She bowed curtly.
"Hokage-sama, you requested…"
Before she could finish, Shikamaru gestured towards the chair opposite him.
"Sit, Hikari. Tell me everything."
Hikari blinked, surprised. Taking a seat, she launched into a detailed explanation of the mission log, her voice professional, devoid of emotion.
"Alright," she conceded, forcing formality into her voice even as her cheeks warmed.
"The mission log details a successful mission completed by Team Seven, including Boruto Uzumaki"
Shikamaru nodded, his eyes flitting between the scroll and Hikari. As she delved into the details, a strange sense of peace settled over him. Having her there, explaining it all, was… calming. He chastised himself silently.
Focus, Nara! This wasn't the time for such... unprofessional notions.
Yet, amidst the flurry of information, his eyes caught another name scribbled on the parchment – Konohamaru.
"Wait a minute," Shikamaru interjected, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.
"Konohamaru? You were… part of this team?"
Konohamaru, who had been silently observing the exchange, leaned forward.
"That's right," he confirmed.
"Though not with Boruto. Our team had a different composition back then."
Intrigue piqued, Shikamaru swiveled his chair towards Konohamaru.
"Tell us more about this mission," he said, his voice laced with a newfound urgency.
"Anything you remember about Boruto being a part of Team Seven?"
Konohamaru furrowed his brow, his mind grappling with the unearthed memories.
"It's a bit hazy, to be honest. We were a young team back then, just starting out. But I don't recall ever having Boruto as a teammate."
A thoughtful silence descended upon the room. The seemingly simple mission log had unearthed a whole new layer of mystery.
Here they were, the Hokage and his right-hand man, alongside a skilled Konoha shinobi, all grappling with a puzzle that seemed to have a missing piece – Boruto's past association with Team Seven.
Shikamaru rolled the scroll back up, his brow furrowed in deep thought. The mission log detailed Boruto's past involvement with Konohamaru's team,
but there was no mention of Kawaki.
This discrepancy gnawed at him, adding another layer to the already perplexing puzzle.
He glanced at Hikari, who had finished her explanation and now awaited his next instruction. But Shikamaru's mind was racing in a different direction.
The team leader, Konohamaru's own memories being hazy – it all pointed towards a single,disturbing possibility.
"Could it be…" Hikari's voice startled him out of his reverie. "Someone behind this… overwriting all of our minds?"
Shikamaru felt a cold jolt course through him. The pieces clicked into place – Sarada and Sumire as Boruto's friends' unwavering belief in Boruto's innocence, their frustration at being unable to provide proof.
The whispers, the suspicion, the fear – all orchestrated by an unseen hand. This would explain not only the accusations against Boruto, but also Konohamaru's clouded recollections.
And Hikari, in front of him, no one knows that she had been untouched by the memory manipulation jutsu, a beacon of truth in a sea of lies.
To be continued.