- 13 - Rotting Roots -
- 13 - Rotting roots -
- Minaru -
“Mornin’, Minaru-chan.”, Choji greeted her with a bright smile when she joined him and Shikamaru for an afternoon walk around the Nara woods about a week after Shikamaru and his father had told her about his fixation on her.
“Good morning. How are you two today?”, she answered with a smile of her own.
“Awesome. My mum made a huge breakfast today so that I could bring some for you guys.” The Akimichi boy said with a beaming smile.
Minaru laughed lightly. “Good to know that we won’t be hungry when we get home.”
Shikamaru grumbled and buried his hands in his pockets. “Are you guys ready?”, he asked, looking disinterested.
Minaru snickered, feeling his anticipation. He liked to pretend that nothing could bother him but he was actually excited to show them around the woods. It had only taken them a few days to notice how in tune they already were with each other's emotions.
They could easily tell what the other was feeling and after they told Shikaku about that fact he looked at them in a thoughtful way before smiling reassuringly at them. It looked like this strong link was not how things usually were for a fixation. But it worked quite well for Shikamaru and her after they figured out how to filter what was their own emotions and what they felt from the other.
They spent most of their free time together, only separating when Minaru went to T&I or when Shikamaru had Clan-training. Choji joined them most of the time. A fast friendship had easily developed between the three children. Ino spent time with the boys as well, but not as much as Minaru did.
This time Shikamaru invited them to join him on his route through the Nara Forests. His father had asked him to bring some new talismans to one of the shrines in the deeper parts. “I would say we should leave. We don’t want to grow roots here, do we?”, Minaru asked the two boys.
“Nah. You’re right. This way.” Shikamaru began to lead the way, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his hoodie. Minaru walked on his left side and Choji joined them on her left. He offered her some chips from a bag he was holding and she took some with a smile, passing half of them over to Shikamaru. The three children wandered through the trees, following the trail while munching on the chips.
Several times Minaru could hear or see animals near them that fled as soon as they came near. And then they reached a clearing with lush green grass. The shrine was located at the other side of the grass and Shikamaru went over to change the talismans. “You can sit down here. It’s a good spot for a rest. We can eat our lunch here before going back.”, Shikamaru said to them before hurrying over to the small wooden building.
Choji and Minaru took his offer and sat down in the grass, Minaru leant back to let the sun warm her face, closing her eyes while she relished in the warm rays. After some time she heard Choji chuckle. She cracked open one eye and saw that he looked at her with a bright smile. “What?”, she asked, curious.
“My Ma told me that your Clan is somehow related to cats. I don’t remember how exactly. But that’s the first time I see you do something that proves this.”, he said.
Minaru smiled slightly. “It’s not my whole clan but only the… hm, it’s not really a family since we consist of several families. We call it a tribe. The Rayani have several tribes that form the Clan. And each tribe is similar to one of your Clans when it comes to members. My family, the Kojama are a part of the Kebir, the tribe that’s connected to the Big Cats of Prey.”
“What kind of connection do you have to the Cats?”, Shikamaru said and plopped down next to Minaru.
She hummed in thought. “It’s a little difficult to explain. I guess because it’s normal for me to feel these things and I find it difficult to understand how we are different from “normal” people. Many many years ago the Spirits of nature saved the Rayani. Every tribe dedicated themselves to one of the families of Spirits. Like the Kebir to the Cats. But this dedication goes in both ways. We feel the nature around us move and the adults have quite a few catlike attitudes as far as I know. It develops over time.”
Shikamaru leaned his chin on her shoulder. “Huh. That sounds similar to our Shadow and how it’s influencing the Nara.”, he said.
Choji nodded, munching on a few chips. “Yeah it sounds close to what you told me.”, he said.
Minaru tilted her head. “Your Shadow?”, she asked.
Shikamaru nodded. “We are born with it. But it’s like a separate being living in the depths of our soul. Sometimes it reacts to our feelings. And it’s the source of our Kekkai Genkai.”, he said.
Minaru blinked in shock. “A separate being?”
Shikamaru nodded, laying down at her side to look up at the clouds. “Uhuh. I don’t know how to better describe it. It has a mind of its own. Was pretty angry when we met and you acted like a spooked deer.”, he said.
Minaru chuckled lightly. “Everybody would be spooked when they are first exposed to the Ino-Shika-Cho connection.”, she said with a teasing tone.
Choji looked at her for a while. “Do you regret it?”, he asked.
She tilted her head, surprised by the sudden change of topic. “What do you mean?”
“Letting us close enough to understand you. And sharing so much information about your Clan with us.”, he said.
Minaru shook her head. “No. I feel safe around you two. And I’ve come to trust my instincts on these matters. Should have done so from the beginning.”, she said. It was her way of explaining why she trusted some of the people of Konoha faster than others. Inoichi had started to question her choices of people she trusted and she had no better idea so she stuck with it. “So, no, I don’t regret it. I trust you. And not just because of the connection between Shika and myself. Mostly because you don’t judge me.” Her first time in the T&I where she had met one of Inoichi’s assistants, a man by the name of Taichi, was still stuck in her mind.
This man was 100% sure that she was some sort of spy, sent to destroy Konoha, and he treated her accordingly. And he wasn’t the only one in Konoha.
Shikamaru snorted disparagingly and snuck an arm around her waist. “These guys are just idiots. You shouldn’t listen to a word they say.”, he mumbled into the fabric of her pants. Minaru bit her lip to stop her grin from getting any bigger. Since two days Shikamaru had gotten very affectionate with his touches and could often be found hugging her or otherwise keeping direct contact to her.
“I’ll try.”, she said, then turned to Choji. “Well, what do you think about eating what you brought for lunch now, Cho?”
Choji beamed. “Sure!” He unwrapped the boxes his mother had packed for them and gave two to Minaru, who put one down next to the still napping Shikamaru, laying the chopsticks over the cover.
Minaru poked Shikamaru’s cheek and said: “You should eat or Choji won’t leave anything for you.”, she said with a wink in Choji’s direction. He suppressed a laugh and reached over to Shikamaru’s box right as the Nara opened his eyes. Shikamaru growled lightly and wrapped his hands around the box before Choji could reach it.
Minaru and Choji looked at each other and burst out laughing. Shikamaru shot them an offended look before the amusement that Minaru could already feel bubbling up won and he joined their laughter.
They had spent about an hour in the clearing, eating the food that Choji’s mother had prepared for them and just reveling in the sun when a group of deer entered the clearing on the far end. One female had a fawn with her. She looked over at them with wary eyes while nudging her child to the softest grass spots.
Minaru shot the animals a longing look before turning away again. She had loved to spend time with the animals of the forest in her past life. But she guessed that she would have to get used to not being able to do so due to her carrying a predator’s soul in her now.
Shikamaru looked at her and then over to the deer. “Do you want to meet them?”, he asked, turning back to study her reaction.
She blinked, her eyes widening. “Do you think I could?”, she asked.
He shrugged. “I don’t see why that shouldn’t be possible.”
She shot the pack another look. “You shouldn’t forget that they might see a predator in me. More than in any other human being.”, she said, rubbing her arms.
Shikamaru tsked and took her hand to pull her up. “Don’t give up without even trying.”, he said and led her over to the deer. He placed his hands on her elbows from behind and held her. “Hold still and let them decide if they want to come over.”, he whispered into her ear.
She shivered slightly but did as he told her and after a few minutes the female came over and sniffed on Minaru’s hand. “She is the Alpha of this pack. They lost their stag a few months ago in a big storm and she took over for him.”, Shikamaru explained in a low voice. The deer raised her nose to Minaru’s and she was able to feel the animal's breath before the female touched her forehead with her nose and turned around, showing her her back.
Minaru blinked. Deer didn’t show you their back like this. Not unlike… “She respects your strength. Most of our deer know that we are predators that are stronger than them. But we also keep their woods safe. That’s why they accept strength more than anything else.” Shikamaru said.
She blinked and turned her head a bit to look at him. “You knew, didn’t you?”, she asked.
He grinned. “Well I at least had my reasons to guess that it would work.”
- Shikamaru -
The sun already began its descent when Minaru suddenly raised her head, looking around the clearing. Only moments before the deer that had stayed with them for the entire afternoon darted away in a sudden panic.
He looked at the girl. “What’s the matter?”
“It’s so quiet.”, she mumbled, her eyes darting around the clearing.
He strained his ears and noticed how right she was. It was absolutely silent. Not a sound could be heard in the normally life filled woods surrounding them. “Too quiet.”, he agreed. He took her hand and pulled her over to Choji before pulling him up as well. “Come on. Time to go home.”
“What’s going on? Why do we need to rush suddenly?”, Choji asked, but hurried after them, the bag with the boxes in his arms. Shikamaru was worried about Minaru. She had started to shiver violently and didn’t talk anymore.
“In a forest like this you hear animals all of the time. Silence like this is not a good sign.”, he explained in a low voice.
Choji gulped audibly and they hurried down the path toward the main house. But they didn’t get far, before he felt Minaru tug at his hand. “I have to say I didn’t expect you kids to notice something was different. But I guess this makes it even better for me.” A man in dark clothing jumped down from a branch, blocking their way. His face was covered by a blank ANBU mask.
Shikamaru pushed Minaru slightly behind his body and glared at the man as good as he was able to. His Shadow hissed angrily, growing in size until he was almost not able to control it anymore. “This is Clan property. You will get into trouble for trespassing.”, he said through gritted teeth.
The man let out a derisive snort. “With whom? Your people, little Nara? You are way too lazy to be dangerous to anyone.”, he said and reached into a bag on his leg.
The next second he launched several kunai at them. Shikamaru froze, only able to stare at the approaching missiles. Then he felt something wrap around his ankle and pull at it and he lost his balance and fell to the ground with a surprised sound.
The kunai flew over the children lying on the ground and landed somewhere behind them. Shikamaru looked down and saw that Minaru had wrapped her own foot around his ankle and one hand around the back of Choji's knee. That’s when he understood. She had tripped them all to save them from the missiles. His shadow purred. ‘Our strong, smart girl.’, it whispered in adoration.
He was impressed as well. Even though she was clearly afraid she had managed to save not only herself but Choji and himself as well. But what about the man?! He shot up and saw that the attacker was frozen in his throwing pose, his eyes moving furiously. “Some would say it’s brave to attack a Clan heir on the Clan’s land.” A deep male voice said and a hand was placed on Shikamaru’s shoulder. “I call it foolish.”
Shikamaru sighed in relief when the man’s broad back was between them and the attacker. The man turned to look over his shoulder, fixing Minaru with his gaze. Dark blue streaks were littered in his brown hair and his eyes were coal black. “You sensed him, didn’t you?”
Minaru looked at him, suspicion clear in her eyes. Shikamaru placed an arm around her shoulders, the contact calming his shadow as well. “That’s my uncle Enma. He’s Tou-san’s younger brother.”, he said and could feel how she calmed down and curiosity surfaced for a moment.
Enma smiled warmly at her. “My brother asked me to keep an eye on you three when you went to the shrine, since Minaru’s ANBU guard wasn’t allowed to enter the forests. And he was right to do so.” he turned to glare at the man. “We’re gonna have a nice long talk tonight. I’m sure Yamanaka-sama will be interested to hear what you tried to do to his apprentice.” The man hissed lowly, when Enma approached him to remove his mask. He looked over at Minaru. “Do you recognize him?”
The girl shook her head. “No. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him.” She took a deep breath, calming her emotions in the process. “And to answer your question: I smelled something that was off, yes.”
Enma nodded with another smile. “And now? What do you sense?”, he asked.
She blinked, before inhaling once more. “Two more people approaching. They should be here any minute.”, she said, tilting her head. “But they don’t smell like this man, more close to yourself and Shika.”
Enma placed a hand on his belt, right above his kunai pouch while they waited for the other two people, but his eyes were fixed on Minaru.
When they reached them, it became clear that it was two Nara Clansmen, tasked with the duty to patrol the area. They had sensed Enma’s KI and rushed over to help. Enma let them bring the attacker over to T&I while he accompanied the children back to the Nara compound’s main house.
He looked at Minaru and smiled. “You’re really good, kid.”
She looked at him with a questioning look. “What do you mean?”
“You were able to smell a difference between him and us Nara. That’s something I never heard of. Not even the Inuzuka can do that as far as I know.”
She shrugged. “All of the Clans have something defining in their smell. The Uchiha smell like coalfire, the Yamanaka smell of flowers. And you smell of the forest here.” She wrinkled her nose. “This man only smelled of death.”
Enma laughed lightly. “Sounds useful. Would you mind telling me and some of the other trackers more about it?”, he asked.
Minaru looked at him for a second before shaking her head. “Not at all. But why?”
He grinned. “A tracker should always try to find ways to get better at what he’s doing.”
He turned his gaze toward the house that came into view at this moment. Shikamaru’s mum appeared on the veranda, scowling at them. “Do you have any idea how late it is, Shikamaru?!”, she asked.
“Yoshi, that’s not their fault.” Enma interrupted her. She blinked in surprise and looked up at him. “They were attacked in the forest.”
Yoshino’s mouth fell open and she looked over at Minaru who shrunk down and took a step back. “I’m sorry…”, she mumbled, burying her fingers in her shirt. Shikamaru crossed over to her and put an arm around her and just a moment later his mother was there as well, checking both of them over. “Are you hurt? What happened?” Minaru was so shocked by Yoshino’s concern that Shikamaru was able to easily feel it.
“Kaa-san? Could you call Hanako-san and Kana-san over? I think Choji could use his mum right now and I’m afraid Minaru is going into a shock.”, he said. His Shadow was pulling at his cage bars, trying to find a way to comfort her.
Yoshino nodded resolutely. “Of course. Why don’t you three try and take a nice warm shower. I’ll get something to eat for us as well.”, she said.
Shikamaru nodded. “Sounds good.” He led Minaru into the living room, Enma a silent shadow at their tail. “I’m gonna shower first, then you can go in right after. Is that okay, Mina-chan?”
She nodded mutely and went over to one of the couches. She climbed onto it and curled up into a tight ball. Enma put a hand on Shikamaru’s shoulder. “I’ll stay with her until you two are finished.”, he said.
Choji and Shikamaru nodded. “Thanks, Enma-san.” Choji said, then he and Shikamaru hurried over to the bathroom. Shika didn’t want to leave Minaru alone for too long.
- Minaru -
Minaru’s mind was working at top speed to put the new pieces of information in the right order. She could feel Raya in the back of her mindscape, but the Phenix was keeping quiet for now. She was sure that the attacker was a part of Root. So Danzo had not only not forgotten about her, he was ready to let his pawns suffer the rage of some of the mightiest Clans of Konoha to reach her. She was pretty sure that he wouldn’t do that if he had just lost someone who was still in the middle of his “training”. So it had to be something else. But what? Unlikely that he knew much about the Rayani and their powers, almost no one outside of Taiyo No Kuni knew much about them and the Yamanaka were very good at hiding their secrets.
She flinched in surprise when she felt a hand on the small of her back and blinked up at the man sitting beside her. Dark eyes, blue streaks in the brown hair. Shikamaru’s uncle, Enma. He was still here? She had thought he would have gone to question the attacker at T&I.
“Sorry, didn’t want to startle you. I can hear Shika and Choji coming back down. Do you want to wait ‘til Yoshi is back and she or Hanako can help you or do you want to shower now?”, Enma asked with a gentle smile.
She blinked a few times before shaking her head. “No. I think I will be fine alone.”, she said and untangled her legs. When had she curled up so tightly? Maybe their connection was more because Shikamaru should keep her from becoming too lost in her mind than the other way round.
She passed the boys on her way to the bathroom. Choji smiled at her and went down while Shikamaru stopped her for a minute. “If I sense anything weird I’ll come in, got it?”, he asked or more stated.
She nodded. “Yes. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”, she said.
He nodded satisfied and left her, so she went into the bathroom and took off her clothes before stepping under the shower. She could feel a new bruise form on her waist, where she had hit the ground. Sighing she rubbed her arms when there was a soft knock at the door. “Mina-chan, it’s me. I’m coming in.”, Hanako-san said.
She blinked in surprise. When Hanako had closed the door behind her she laid some fresh clothes on a sideboard before looking her over. With a quiet sigh and anger hidden in her eyes the Yamanaka matriarch went to a cupboard and took out some salve. Once Minaru came out of the shower she helped her rub herself dry and then started applying the salve to her side.
Then she helped her put on the things she had brought with her. A wide green shirt that she was pretty sure belonged to Shikamaru and black pants.
“You were here faster than I thought.”, Minaru said, looking up at Hanako.
Hanako smiled gently before taking her shoulders and turning her around. Then she reached out to take the brush. “I went here while Yoshi went ahead to get Kana and some food for all of us.”, the Yamanaka answered while she brushed Minaru’s hair. “Okay, you’re good to go, let’s join the others in the living room.”
Once they entered the room Minaru retook her place on the couch and Shikamaru came over, curling up beside her with a huff. Choji joined them only a minute later and Minaru breathed in the warmth and feeling of safety. Shikamaru hummed lowly, her nose buried in his shoulder, while Choji was wrapped around her back.
“This guy is lucky that he’s not here right now.” Minaru could hear Hanako say, right after the doors to the veranda had opened. She opened her eyes slightly and saw that Yoshino and Kana had arrived with several big bags.
“He sure is.” Kana nodded resolutely and went into the kitchen to put down the bags. When she came back, she took a seat at Choji's other side, resting a hand on his shoulder. Minaru felt him shift, so that he was in direct contact with both Minaru and his mother.
When Shikamaru pulled her head to a more comfortable space on his shoulder she could hear Hanako whisper: “What’s he doing?”
“From what we managed to learn in the last time, they are sharing their emotions right now, so that they can all calm down.”, Yoshino explained.
“Sharing their emotions?”, Kana asked. “What do you mean?”
“Choji is a part of our bond. It makes it easier for us if everyone takes over for one of the others.”, Shikamaru mumbled, slightly opening his eyes. “But we don’t think it’s because of my fixation but rather Minaru’s Kekkai Genkai.”
Minaru sighed, but nodded slowly. “I learned from my aunt that family members form some sort of network in Taiyo No Kuni. I don’t have any family members here so I think my mind tried to compensate for that fact.” She and Akane met at least two evenings every week to train with Fang and Claw. But Akane also tried to teach Minaru everything she had to know about her Clan in their breaks.
“When did she tell you?”, Kana asked, looking over at Minaru.
She blushed. “We noticed it about a week ago and I asked Akane if she knew something yesterday evening. She said it was a possibility, but we can’t be sure.” Minaru looked at her and tried to calm herself, anxiety welling up again. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”, she said and closed her eyes.
Kana’s eyes widened and she shook her head wildly to interrupt her. “No, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that Choji didn’t tell us yet. I was just curious.”
“I wasn’t sure if I could share something that concerns Mina and her Clan so freely.”, Choji said, blushing deeply.
Minaru blinked a few times, sensing new presences in the house and noticed that Chouza, Shikaku and Inoichi came into the room over the hallway. Shikaku shot a look at the three children and raised one eyebrow. “I want to propose something. A pact of sorts. Everyone who is influenced by my Kekkai Genkai and their immediate family can learn everything I know about my Clan or specifically how it or my Kekkai Genkai affects the people surrounding me. No filters applied.”, she said.
Inoichi ruffled her hair, making her strain her neck to look up at him. “Are you sure you want to share your Clan’s secrets with us?”, he asked, while Chouza joined his wife and Shikaku took a place on Shikamaru’s other side. Yoshino wandered off into the kitchen, mumbling something about needing to keep her hands occupied.
Minaru snorted, rolling her eyes. “You share Secrets about your Clans with each other all the time. I’m just extending the Circle for now.”, she said. “We can ask for Akane-oba’s permission first if you want to, but I’m pretty sure she would have no problem with it. Especially if what she suspects about our bond or network is true.”
“I actually agree with you, Mina. It should be normal that we share information. If you formed such a bond with Choji that means you see him as family. Anyone else we should know about?”, Chouza said
“Ino. And Lee.”, she said.
“I expected Ino since she declared herself to be your big sister. And you seem to get along with her pretty well. But who’s Lee?”, Shikaku asked.
“That’s the boy we met this one time in the park, isn’t he? The one that calls you Hime?” Choji asked, raising himself up on his elbows to look at her.
Minaru rolled her eyes. “Yes. That’s him. I can’t seem to make him drop this nickname. We train with each other every week since we both can’t use chakra.”, she said.
Yoshino came into the room, carrying a tray with some of the food the women had brought with them. She put it on the table and looked at her husband. “Could you get the meat?”
He sighed but got up. “Sure.”
“We should eat before it gets cold. We can discuss all of this later.”, the Nara matriarch said with a decisive nod and started to hand out chopsticks, bowls and napkins.
They changed to more pleasurable themes for the dinner and Minaru began to relax again, when an ANBU landed in front of the veranda. Shikaku looked up. “A report, Commander.”, he said, bowing his head.
“What happened?”, Shikaku said.
“The man Enma Nara arrested was just found dead in his holding cell.”
Shikaku cursed lowly. “What?! How?! He was isolated and we searched him for weapons!”, Inoichi said.
Minaru pressed herself a little more against Shikamaru’s side and felt how the two boys each snaked an arm around her waist.
“There was no weapon found. So we think he was killed. Ibiki-san is investigating as we speak.”
Shikaku got up from his seat. “I should go and help him. Inoichi?”
“Coming. Chouza, Kana, would you mind passing by the Yamanaka house before going home? I would appreciate it if you accompanied Hanako and Minaru home.”, Inoichi said, looking at the Akimichi head.
“Of course not. Go on, We’ll bring them.”
- Somewhere in Konoha -
One eye fixated on the man that landed in the soft grass of the cemetery. “Report.”
“It’s done.”, the man said after straightening. No emotion could be heard in his voice. “He won’t fail you again.”
The man nodded. “Good. We can’t afford them to get any more information about us now that they managed to free the girl. The boys are still unconscious?”
“Yes. 819 was in the hospital yesterday and checked it herself. Should we eliminate them as well? Just to be sure.” The man asked, sounding more like he talked about trampling bugs than killing human beings.
“Not yet. We might need them still. Now get back to your patrol or you will be missed.” The man bowed deeply and vanished. The other man turned around and turned his one-eyed gaze up at the moon. “Let’s see how far your dumb luck can get you, little rat.”, he said, his mouth pulled into a cruel smirk.