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Break to Breathe	By : Okami-Rayne Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Shikamaru/Neji Views: 1959 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: NARUTO and its respective characters were created and are owned by Masashi Kishimoto. No copyright infringement intended. I make no money from this story.

Chapter List
- 27
- 28
- 29
BREAK TO BREATHE

by Okami Rayne

Chapter Twenty Eight
Damn it's cold…
Shikamaru frowned, tensing up against the chill that pressed in around what was almost an airtight cocoon of sheets. He could hear the muffled rustle of leaves outside and the occasional hoot of a scops-owl.
None of this had woken him.
4 AM…
The shadow-nin let his lashes flicker open, squinting against the darkness as he attempted to roll over. He caught himself from falling this time, his fingers latching around the edge of the mattress as he dragged his elbows beneath him, glancing across at the opposite bed.
It was empty.
The sheets had been pulled aside, crumpled in the centre of the mattress. A thin slot of light drew Shikamaru's gaze to the foot of the bathroom door. The bright line occasionally broke into shadow, indicating movement from the other side.
Damn…
Shikamaru sat up, rolling his shoulder against the faint ache at the junction curving toward his neck. He tugged an arm free from the sheets, rubbing his fingers firmly along the mark. It wasn't the only brand that Neji's mouth had made. The memory of what had passed between them hours before sent an immediate signal south of his brain.
Ah shit.
Shikamaru shook his head sharply.
Change the thought.
A muffled cough filtered through the bathroom door.
Shikamaru dropped his hand away from his shoulder. For whatever reason, Neji hadn't woken up in a panic, which he supposed was somewhat of a silver lining given how dark the situation was going to get.
The shadow-nin continued to monitor the slot of light under the door, using the cold as an excuse to stay rooted in the tangle of sheets, rather than make a move to interfere. It didn't take a ten-steps-ahead prediction or an idea of two hundred different ways that he could end up on his ass, to know that Neji would knock him down faster than he could make a move to stop the Hyūga. Add to that the fact that there was only so much he could take of respecting boundaries that weren't so clear anymore.
Shit.
Shikamaru shifted back to recline against the headboard, half-wrapped in sheets and the rest in shadow. He continued to stare at that slot of light…and the more he stared at it, the more he realised how clear a line it was. So defined that it mocked what existed between him and Neji now; or what didn't exist.
This hadn't been part of his plan.
Shikamaru frowned, then clenched his eyes shut when he heard Neji's strangled cough choke off into a curse. He heard water swirling down the plughole.
All of this…because of how he feels about Hiashi's resemblance to his father?
Shikamaru rubbed at his closed eyes.
No. There are still pieces missing…What the hell is ANBU's involvement?
He heard the water cut off.
And what the hell happened to him at this hour years ago?
Shikamaru kept his eyes shut, his mind dredging through the mess of all the information gleaned and all the moves made up until this moment – and then, the most important things which had been blown apart last night.
His motives.
Tsunade had asked him at the start, but the answer wasn't so simple anymore.
Shikamaru felt his thoughts turning back to the conversation he'd had with the Hokage, back to the moment when he'd signed off on any chance of not getting involved.
The morning he'd made that bargain.
The morning when his motives hadn't mattered like they did now.

- FLASHBACK -
Shit. I've officially made this my problem.
Shikamaru resisted the urge to shift on the spot. Tsunade was either going to smash her fist through her desk, or through his head. He wouldn't put it past her to do both if the intensity of her gaze was any indication.
Hospitalisation or headache from lecture.
Shikamaru couldn't decide which was worse.
Tsunade's amber eyes remained fixed on him, boring a mental hole in his forehead. To his credit, he disguised his unease at her silence by standing calmly, hands slotted into his pockets. He felt like she'd laid siege to his resolve, waiting for him to cave under the pressure of her stare and spill more of the truth than he'd already spit out.
Not gonna happen.
The Godaime's silence pressed in around his eardrums, making the quietest sound seem offensively loud. Like Tonton. The pig had a quiet commentary going on with Shizune; intervals of disapproving oinks, which Shizune answered by hefting or rocking the pig like a baby.
Thanks for the support.
Just when Shikamaru thought he was going to have to risk head trauma by opening his mouth, Tsunade unfolded her arms with a sigh and moved to round her desk, assuming her seat slowly.
"Fine," she said.
"Fine?" Shikamaru blinked, suspicion crawling into his face. "You're going to agree?"
For an awkward moment Tsunade held her silence again, propping her elbows on her desk before folding one hand atop the other. All calm and composed. Way too composed given the bombshell Shikamaru had just dropped on her. He was expecting an explosion and the resulting flak any minute now.
Hn. Wait for it…
Time dragged out a little longer before the Hokage set her chin atop her wrist, staring at him with a scheming stillness. Shikamaru could read the look in her eyes, ruining her attempt at a poker face. They were both familiar with playing games and although Shikamaru wagered his luck was a hell of a lot better than Tsunade's at the best and worst of times, he had a nauseating feeling that he stood to lose more than he hoped to gain.
"I'll agree," Tsunade eventually said. "But this isn't going to be an act of charity on my part, Nara. If you can commit to your conscience as a comrade, then you'll damn well commit to your duty as a shinobi."
No angry explosion, but he didn't relax for a second.
Here comes the flak.
Shikamaru blinked slowly. "You want an exchange."
"Damn straight I do," Tsunade arched a brow. "I won't take a gamble on you for nothing."
Shikamaru's lip quirked; he'd expected no less. She was a gambler after all. A failed one, granted, but he wasn't going to underestimate the powerful cards she was holding. He had a feeling he was about to get dealt a really crappy hand. Fortunately, he'd prepared for this.
"Alright, so what's the currency we're working with here?" he asked.
My blood, sweat and tears.
"Show me how serious you are," she challenged.
"How?"
"You're asking me to take a massive risk here by leaving Neji in your hands."
"Yeah, I know."
"No, Nara, you really don't know." Tsunade's eyes hardened, her fingers curling into fists as she dropped her hands to the desk. "I risk upsetting one of the most powerful clans in Konoha. Hiashi Hyūga is not a man I want to keep in the dark. So If I allow this, then you're going to give me something in return."
Tonton seconded her master with an oink that had Shikamaru sliding the pig a flat glare. In the fleeting seconds it took to return his gaze to Tsunade, he pulled out a folded sheet of paper from his flak jacket and set it on the desk.
"I intended to offer this, Tsunade-sama," Shikamaru said, sliding the document towards her. "All planned, just needs approval."
"Hanegakure?" Tsunade queried, eyes widening.
"I'll head two teams to identify and resolve the situation with the Tsubasa," Shikamaru clarified. "I've already planned out the recon and backup missions. This is the list of the teams and our objectives."
He watched Tsunade lean back in her chair, appraising the document with a steady track of her gaze. She motioned Shizune over with a dip of her wrist. The medic-Jōnin stepped up behind the Godaime and both women examined the document in silence.
As they read over the details, Shikamaru studied the grain of the Hokage's desk, his gaze straying over the stains of coffee rings and tannin before Tsunade's hum drew his gaze up.
"While I'm impressed," she said, handing the document to Shizune. "That's not enough blood from you, Nara."
You're kidding…
Shikamaru blinked. He stared at Tsunade in open disbelief, struck mute for a moment. He watched her smile slightly, as if amused by his reaction, though it didn't make her next words any less grim.
"Hanegakure is inevitable, Shikamaru. We'd have to deal with them sooner or later anyway."
"I'm offering to make it sooner before it gets worse," he reasoned.
"Perhaps, and I suppose you've saved us a lot of trouble by outlining our objectives and devising a mission strategy." Tsunade paused, exchanging a glance with Shizune that Shikamaru didn't find flattering despite their impressed expressions. "You've really done your homework, Shikamaru. Wanna know that that tells me?"
"That I'm screwed…" he muttered.
Tsunade chuckled, every bit the conniving vixen. "It tells me that you're completely capable of giving me more than your usual reluctant compliance."
"Crap." Shikamaru sighed, rolling his shoulders uncomfortably while under the weight of her stare and smile.
All this for a troublesome bastard…
"You have so much potential, Nara, but you won't use it," Tsunade sighed, her smile giving way to a frown. "You'll apply yourself when you feel like it. Like with Naruto and your friends. You put in the effort to protect your comrades, but try to slack-off elsewhere. I want more than that from you."
Shikamaru averted his gaze, cocking a hip to appear more casual than he felt as he searched his mind for the kind of blood she probably wanted from him.
"You want me to accept that offer from the Feudal Lord?" he ventured, his voice even less enthusiastic than his expression.
"No. That is up to you. While it would put you on an honourable Guard Division, I want you here in Konoha."
"So you want me to 'take the initiative' more over here."
Tsunade snorted. "No. Asuma wants you to take the initiative more. I want the complete assurance that you will take it. Not more, but permanently, automatically. Without being asked or nagged."
Shikamaru blinked slowly, grinding his jaw.
I'm gonna kill Neji…
Tsunade leaned forward again, as if to impress the importance of her next words. "You will not only use that potential, you will reach it and exceed it."
I'm gonna kill Neji very slowly…
Shikamaru dragged his gaze from one end of Tsunade's desk to the other before meeting her gaze. "And how do you want me to do that?"
"I think you can hazard an intelligent guess," Tsunade prompted. "You were at the last defence meeting."
Ah shit.
Shikamaru's eyes widened, his slouch turning rigid. "You want me to join the Nijū Shōtai."
"That's right."
"As a sub-captain," Shizune added.
Even the pig nodded.
"Sub-captain?" Shikamaru parroted, his gaze shifting between the two women who'd clearly been conspiring against him for a while now. "You already planned on shoving that onto me, right?"
"No," Tsunade shook her head. "This is going to involve more than a nagging order and your usual half-cocked attitude."
"So just what kind of involvement are you talking about?"
"Complete commitment to the Squad of Twenty. No shirking. No messing about. No excuses." Tsunade swivelled slightly in her chair, tugging open one of the desk drawers before extracting a key which she handed to Shizune.
Shikamaru watched the medic-Jōnin set Tonton down and move across the room to retrieve something from a locked cabinet. He could feel Tsunade's gaze on him, testing him, daring him to back out. He lazily slid his focus back to her, resisting the urge to frown. He held her gaze as Shizune set something down on the desk. He only glanced towards it when Tsunade reached for it.
A white booklet.
"You'll be operating at Jōnin level, Shikamaru and I will expect absolute dedication and efficiency from you. Not just in your ability to plan and premeditate, but also your ability to function as part of an elite." She thumbed through the booklet before smacking it down and twisting it sharply to face him. "It will start with this."
Shikamaru made no move to take the booklet.
He just cocked his head, staring down at it, flicking his gaze across the title.
"Past Battle Records?" he frowned.
"Say hello to your rehabilitation program," Tsunade announced as if introducing him to a team mate. "Laziness just checked out, Nara. This won't leave you until you know it inside-out and back-to-front. That includes what it doesn't contain."
Doesn't contain?
The last words prompted Shikamaru to reach for the booklet, taking it up to scan through the contents. The faces of Akatsuki members flicked past as he skimmed it. It contained skeleton outlines of S-rank criminal activity and profiling, but lacked flesh regarding the vital information needed to take them down.
No way.
He shook his head against what she was asking of him with a disbelieving frown.
"You want me to pre-empt S-rank enemies we haven't even come up against?" Shikamaru set the booklet down, taking a step away from the desk – and the damned deal. "I'm smart, I'm not omniscient."
Tsunade smiled grimly. "Too steep a bargain for you, Nara?"
"Steep?" Shikamaru arched his brows at the understatement. "You're setting standards off the chart."
"Because I know you can do this."
Shikamaru glanced away. Not for the first time, he wished Asuma had never made him take that damned IQ test, which had turned his childhood dream of coasting idly through ninja life into a wishful-thinking fantasy.
"You should have just asked for my head on a platter," he sighed, frowning at the booklet and the weight of what it contained.
"It's your very head that is your most vital contribution, Shikamaru," Tsunade half-praised, half-admonished. "But I want it constantly in the zone."
Shikamaru worked his jaw, frowning. "It's troublesome."
"It's the offer," Tsunade said, her voice gaining an edge of finality and impatience. "I won't make another. If you take it, then I'll give you a chance to fix Neji Hyūga before I'm forced to step in. Leave it and I'll take him off your hands right now."
No.
Shikamaru glanced up sharply. "That'll make it worse."
"Given what you're describing about his condition, I will have no choice." Tsunade sat back, setting her hands to the arms of her chair, watching him with fraying patience. "I'll have to step in."
"You'll involve his clan," Shikamaru guessed aloud, searching her face for some kind of leniency or bluff. He found none.
"I'll have no choice. You do." She gestured to the booklet. "So choose."
"That's not much of a choice."
"That's all you've got."
Shikamaru dropped his gaze to the stark white bargain laid out on her desk, the sharp corners of the booklet as clear-cut as the deal. He traced his gaze over the angular cover of the file. He'd considered the Nijū Shōtai to be a card she'd pull later down the line. He wasn't completely surprised she'd played it in her favour now. But he hadn't expected her to pit his conscience against his character.
Dammit.
As his intellect battled it out with an odd kind of impulse, he found himself caught in an inescapable loop, endlessly playing back Hinata's words, Neji's face and that sense of loyalty to help out a comrade...despite the Hyūga being one of the Konoha Eleven he'd never really had any close comradeship with.
But he's put his life on the line for me and the others…I guess the least I can do is return the favour…also helping out with the Akatsuki threat…win-win for Konoha, even if it is a drag for me…
This was the safest and most sensible conclusion.
It's not personal.
The speed at which he processed this must have been shorter than he thought, because Tsunade looked surprised when he glanced up and nodded.
"I'm in," he said.
Tsunade regarded him quietly for a moment before smiling. "Alright then, we have a deal. I'll have Shizune provide you with the necessary medical details for Neji. You'd best ensure Sakura and Hinata are on your team."
"Already accounted for," Shikamaru nodded. "I just need your approval."
He reached for the booklet as Tsunade lifted it towards him. He frowned when she didn't release it, causing him to pause and meet her gaze. The gravity in her eyes felt like a lead weight crashing onto his shoulders.
"Make it happen, Nara," she warned. "Because time is going to force my hand. If you don't fix this, I have no choice but to bring in a Hyūga who can."
"I hear you, Tsunade-sama." Shikamaru sighed, dislodging the booklet from her grip with a tug as he stepped back from the desk. "But I ask for the right to have one condition."
"Condition?" Tsunade frowned.
"Yeah."
True to a non-supporter, Tonton squealed and sprung up onto Tsunade's lap, shaking her head. Shikamaru didn't react and instead watched the Godaime regard him with the same suspicion as her pig, tilting her head.
"And what condition would that be?"
Shikamaru hummed, slotting the booklet under his arm. "No one finds out why I did it."
Tsunade frowned. "Why you joined the Nijū Shōtai?"
Shikamaru nodded, his voice falling quiet. "Not Asuma, not Neji. No one."
"Why?"
He didn't even want to consider answering that. Instead, he shrugged, playing down his request without lessening its importance to him.
"That's all I'm asking."
Tsunade hooked an arm around Tonton, the frown not sliding from her face. "Asuma will want to know why you did it."
Tell him I've lost my mind.
"Tell him I put myself forward for it."
"It's not like you to willingly put yourself forward for anything, let alone something this large scale."
Shikamaru sighed, trying to work against the frustration grinding at his nerves, just about managing to shrug it off with a convincing lack of concern.
"Say I got sick of the nagging and caved. Say you ordered it or someone pulled rank, say whatever you need to. It's a mission, right? You ordered it."
"Very well. If that's how you want to play it." Tsunade's voice softened then, which surprised him. "It seems your motivation really does come down to your friends."
"One of the few things I didn't have to sweat blood for," Shikamaru managed a smirk.
"Smart-alecky sarcasm aside, Nara," Tsunade paused, glancing at the booklet under his arm. "I'll approve the teams and do my part. But as Hokage, I'd like to know your motives regarding Neji."
Shikamaru almost hesitated, but his brain was his saving grace, swooping in to regurgitate the words he'd been drilling into it for the past few hours.
"He's my comrade, Tsunade-sama. That's motive enough."
It's not personal.

So what the hell is it then?
Shikamaru blinked slowly, drawing his mind back from the memory of that morning. He let his glazed eyes refocus on the slot of light under the bathroom door.
It's not personal…
That had been the rule. The 'do not pass go' line that didn't even exist anymore. He had no idea how to draw the line now, or if he even could.
Shikamaru swallowed, running his tongue along his teeth.
He could still taste Neji.
It was insane. But despite his confusion and despite his conflict – he couldn't find or force a feeling of regret. The more he tried to force the guilt, the more his mind seemed to steer away from it.
Or run away from it.
Which might have been closer to the truth.
Shikamaru closed his eyes, smacking his head back against the headboard. His ponytail cushioned the impact, causing him to reach up and sweep his fingers through the sharp strands, secured with Neji's hair tie. He had no idea where the hell his own tie had disappeared too.
Probably wherever the hell my sanity went…
The soft creak of the bathroom door sounded. Shikamaru slipped his eyes open, gazing across the dark room. Neji paused half-way into closing the door behind him, his moonstone eyes flicking across.
Their gazes held as steady as the silence.
Shikamaru knew the Jōnin was waiting for him to say something. He guessed Neji was also ready to ward him off with a cold, clipped word about interfering. Shikamaru figured it was cold enough in the room without adding the chill of an unwanted confrontation between them. So he blinked slowly, tilting his head against the headboard without a word. As predicted, Neji visibly relaxed, glancing away toward the slots of moonlight before passing through them, back towards the adjacent bed.
Shikamaru watched him through a half-lidded gaze, his focus straying to the Hyūga's bruises before flicking back up when the long-haired Jōnin diverted his path. Instead of moving to the bed, Neji turned to sit down on the floor and pressed his back to the wall.
Those pale eyes drifted shut.
Shikamaru arched a brow, watching the silent Hyūga quietly.
"You should sleep while you can," Neji said, either assuming or sensing his gaze. "We'll be up in two hours."
"I'm starting to think a lot of explosive crap might be easier," Shikamaru croaked, his voice still hoarse with sleep.
Neji hummed, not opening his eyes. "Go to sleep, Shikamaru."
Yeah, I wish.
The Nara sighed, shifting around until he'd disentangled himself from the sheets. He swung his feet to the ground, scowling at the chill of the tatami flooring. He could only imagine how cold it got in the winter. Stretching across the bed, he reached for his black Chūnin pants and whipped them out from their crumple before he tugged them on slowly. His mind revved into tactical mode, moving faster than his body had the energy to keep up.
Such a drag…
Sighing, he swayed off the creaking bed. He briefly wondered if it wasn't his own limbs creaking and groaning after God knew how many hours in a position of torture which Neji had been reluctant to release him from.
Sadist…
Shikamaru made a mental note to employ the 'look-before-you-leap-to-your-slow-death-by-prolonged-pleasure' strategy. The Hyūga had responded to the 'tantric control' comment a little too literally. Shikamaru had been kept right on the damn edge of release long enough that it had shocked the hell out of him when it finally hit.
Shit, keep blood in brain.
He shook off the blood-stirring thoughts and stretched lazily, crunching lean muscle with a sigh before scratching at the flat plane of his stomach.
He made to turn on his heel, then paused mid-pivot.
Neji was watching him with an unreadable expression.
Shikamaru glanced down at the Hyūga and settled for quirking his brow. "What?"
Neji shook his head, drawing Shikamaru's gaze to the ever-present headband as it flashed with the movement.
"You ever take that off?" Shikamaru tipped his chin toward the forehead protector.
"Yes. When I'm alone." Neji said, his voice sounding oddly stilted.
"Right," the Nara replied, trying to hide his confusion at the off-key quality to the Hyūga's tone.
Neji arched a brow. "Unless of course an audacious fool removes it when I'm unconscious."
"Was that fool polite enough to leave a note?" Shikamaru drawled, looking for a shift in Neji's eyes, relieved to find a glitter of faint amusement in the pale orbs.
"Yes," Neji snorted. "How considerate of him."
Shikamaru smirked, stepping over in a sway. Neji's lip curved slightly at his approach and just this small response was enough. Shikamaru crouched down, levelling their gazes more comfortably until Neji closed his eyes.
Hiding again…
Shikamaru frowned, lowering his gaze to the Hyūga's chest before flicking his gaze up to the headband; he grazed his thumb against the cool steel before tapping it with a finger. His next words tumbled out before he could stop them, completely unplanned.
"They've used this seal on you."
Neji's jaw tensed. But he kept his eyes closed. "I have never said that."
"You said it only hurt when they used it…" Shikamaru clarified, tapping once more before he dropped his hand away. "You said that you hated it."
"I have never said that, Shikamaru."
Shikamaru tilted his head, releasing a slow breath. "Yeah you did."
"Let me guess…" Neji slipped his eyes open a little. "I was drunk."
"On-the-floor-drunk," Shikamaru smiled weakly. "Doesn't mean it wasn't true."
Neji stared at him quietly, that haunted look pulling across his face. It wasn't a defence. It was more obscure than that. And it bothered Shikamaru more than the cold glares or angry glowers.
"One doesn't need their chain pulled to confirm it's there," Neji said, drawing a knee up between them.
Shikamaru ignored the defensive movement, his gaze fastened on Neji's face.
"Only I'm betting someone did more than just 'pull' your chain, didn't they?"
"What do you want, Shikamaru?" Neji said, his voice flat and apathetic. "A sob story?"
Shikamaru's face tightened at the implication. "Was it Hiashi Hyūga?"
Neji's eyes hardened, then drifted shut. "No."
"But he didn't step in to stop it. Did he?"
For some chilling reason, Neji's lip curved. "No."
"He's the damn head of the family." Shikamaru's brow furrowed sharply. "And he didn't stop it?"
"And just what do you think the elders do?" Neji crooned icily but calmly, as if talking to an ignorant child. "Bow out quietly to the next generation?"
Shikamaru would have reacted to the condescending tone, but he was too thrown by the veer away from Hiashi to retort. "The Hyūga elders used it against you?"
"As I once told Naruto," Neji let his eyes drift open slowly, his opal orbs like stone. "It isn't for decoration…"
Shikamaru drew his head back a little, but he didn't retreat. "Is that what happened two months ago?"
"No."
"But it happened."
As quickly as Neji's eyes gained an ominous ice, they thawed to a clouded grey, obscured and unreadable once more. When he spoke, his voice was tired, mirroring his exhausted tilt against the wall.
"You already know that it did. So stop asking me questions you already know the answers to."
Shikamaru shook his head, holding Neji's gaze. "When the hell did this happen, Neji?"
Neji frowned. "What are you trying to do, Shikamaru?"
"I'm not the first to give a damn, right?" Shikamaru said, avoiding the question.
"Not everyone is as irritatingly intelligent as you."
"I can't be all that smart if I'm still so damned clueless."
"You and I both know that's a lie."
Don't bet on it.
Shikamaru sighed, his gaze straying away for a moment. "Like I've said before, I'm not omniscient."
"You've never said that before."
Shit.
"Yeah well," Shikamaru shrugged, covering his slip with a lazy smile. "Doesn't mean it isn't true."
A heavy silence fell between them.
Shikamaru knew it was time to cease his line of questioning, even though the questions didn't seem to be provoking the kind of emotional response he assumed they would.
Strange.
As the silence stretched on he didn't expect it to be broken by the subtlest shift of Neji's foot against the floor. The Jōnin's heel dragged forward as he stretched out his leg, lowering his knee until Shikamaru felt it brush against his outer thigh, rustling black and white fabric quietly.
The contact was small, but it was something.
Shikamaru glanced back at Neji, only to find that the Hyūga was staring past his shoulder, his moon-like eyes oddly distant.
"Stop thinking so much, Nara."
Shikamaru frowned, watching a strange shadow eclipse Neji's expression. The Hyūga's detached gaze was more telling than his words.
"You're stealing my lines again, Hyūga." Shikamaru said quietly.
Neji hummed, his gaze still cast across the room. "Then steal mine."
Shikamaru stared at him for a long moment before speaking. "I won't lose."
Neji smiled faintly at that, showing he had heard. But that faraway look didn't pass from his eyes...eyes which gazed on past Shikamaru as if he wasn't there.

"Why won't it go away?" Naruto whined.
Why won't you be quiet?
Neji tried not to voice the thought, keeping his focus away from the source of Naruto's distress. It was small and it was orange. Neji imagined the colour might have won it some favours with Naruto, but the Uzumaki wasn't impressed – and he was making no effort to disguise his outrage.
"You better stop doing that," Kiba snickered. "You're just gonna piss it off."
"Why the hell is it only goin' after me!" Naruto screeched, waving his hands around above his head to ward off his orange attacker.
Neji sighed.
Probably because you are incessantly loud...
Resisting the urge to rub at the bridge of his nose, Neji glanced over his shoulder, simply shaking his head. A small, harmless bird haloed around the Uzumaki's hair like a mosquito, weaving in and out of the yellow spikes playfully.
It had dive-bombed Naruto the second he'd stepped onto the bridge.
"One bird-brain recognised another?" Kiba laughed, scratching at Akamaru's ear as the bug-planting team walked along the walkways, moving deeper into the village.
Neji distracted himself from the round of abuse that fired off between Kiba and Naruto by shifting his focus towards Shikamaru. The Nara was strolling ahead, speaking with Kitori. The two of them walked only as close as was necessary to hear each other speak above Naruto's shouting. The gap between them was wide enough that one would think they weren't even talking if they hadn't occasionally glanced at each other for confirmation.
Why on earth does she bother him so much?
Neji didn't have time to consider it further. He turned his head as Naruto sprung over, running circles and ducking wildly as the small bird matched his movements with lightning speed.
"It's like it's possessed!" Naruto yelled.
"Shut up already," Shikamaru sighed over his shoulder, keeping pace with Kitori.
"You try havin' it in your hair!"
"Could be worse," Shikamaru shrugged, and Neji could just picture the shadow-nin's smirk. "Kiba got crapped on."
"Shut up!" Kiba growled.
"That's supposed to be good luck," Chōji said.
"Bullshit," Kiba snorted.
"Birdshit," Naruto snickered before jerking around spasmodically as the bird attempted to nest in his hair. "Dammit!"
"Naruto," Neji warned, shaking his head.
"Ha! Bird's gonna take aim." Kiba grinned with feral amusement. "You're about to get lucky next, Naruto."
"Get lucky? With a frickin' bird?"
Neji closed his eyes against the mental imagery he really didn't need.
For the love of God…
"Naruto you freak!" Kiba laughed. "That's just wrong."
"Blame Pervy Sage! Grah!" Naruto wailed. "Hey, Shikamaru!"
"Not a chance," the shadow-nin growled, not even glancing back. "I'm not coming between you and the damn bird."
Kiba barked out a laugh. "Man, Shikamaru! That sounds even worse!"
"Yeah, thanks for not letting that slide," Shikamaru said dryly.
Neji attempted to ignore the immature exchange that flittered around him as idiotically as that daft orange bird flittering around Naruto's head, though he eyed the small animal with a frown.
"It won't hurt you," Kitori assured, glancing over at Naruto.
Not until it sinks its talons in…
Neji sighed, finally turning towards Naruto. "Just stay still."
Before the Hyūga could lengthen his stride toward the Uzumaki, Chōji stepped over, gently cupping his large hands around the whizzing bird as Naruto ducked into a crouch, assuming a crash position with arms cradling his head.
"Nice," Kiba laughed again. "Shame the girls and Lee missed this."
Neji ignored Naruto's growl and kept his eyes on the cage of the Akimichi's hands, which gently opened like the wings of a large butterfly, allowing the bird to zip off into the freedom of the canopies. He stared after the small creature, frowning slightly.
"Creepy little bird," Naruto grumbled, pushing to his feet with a scowl that morphed into a grin as he turned to Chōji. "Hey, thanks."
"Wanna keep it down now?" Shikamaru turned slightly. "We're almost there."
Neji took the opportunity to take stock of their surroundings. They'd descended to a level just below the one which housed the guest quarters. This thicker network of crossing boughs and structured platforms allowed for a series of stores and shops.
As they continued to move along the walkway, the hum of activity picked up around them, most of it from birds. The villagers moved in an organised fashion, all dressed in simple dark clothing as they traversed the timber trails, taking cage-lifts between levels. Occasionally Neji glimpsed children, but they seemed to stay close to their parents, never straying far from any accompanying adults. The people seemed to move with a purpose, as if taking a stroll wasn't commonplace.
They're cooperatively disciplined, even the children.
Shikamaru seemed to share his thoughts, glancing across and arching a brow in silent question. Neji inclined his head, humming.
"There," Kitori interrupted their wordless exchange, pointing towards a shop perched on two thick boughs that acted as stilts. "That is the supplier's shop."
Neji tracked his gaze up, activating his Byakugan to scan the hanging sign of the weapons shop.
TRADING TALONS
How appropriate.
He sensed Shikamaru move before he heard the Nara's voice at his shoulder. "Can you locate where the scythes are stored in that place from down here?"
Neji scanned the weapons shop, humming. "Yes."
"Good. Ready for the game plan?"
Damn he's fast.
Neji blinked, deactivating his dōjutsu before glancing across. "Game plan?"
"Yeah," Shikamaru tipped his head back, gazing up at the shop with a faint smirk before turning towards the rest of the team. "Naruto's gonna love this one."
The Uzumaki's eyes widened. "Eh?"

The shop was more of a trading post than a common weapons store. Having pre-charted the layout with his Byakugan, Neji guessed that surveillance worked both ways. There were three men running it, the owner and according to Kitori, his two sons. Hopefully, this strategy would play out effectively.
"Dammit, Shikamaru, you're such a jerk," Naruto muttered.
"I try," the Nara drawled, taking a small container from Kiba. "Look on the bright side, you get to let loose."
Naruto scowled, scratching at his hair. "Yeah but aren't we supposed to be sneaky?"
"Not gonna work in this instance, they're used to sneaky and subtle," Shikamaru smirked. "Hence you."
"Real funny," Naruto frowned.
"Deal with it!" Kiba grinned, hoping onto Akamaru's back. "Lovebird."
"Shut up crap-magnet!"
Neji sighed. "Just hurry it up, you two."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Naruto muttered.
With Naruto and Kiba springing off in one direction, back along the walkway, Neji, Chōji and Shikamaru made their way towards the entrance to Trading Talons. The owner in charge was a tall, weathered looking man, his skin creased with age and slightly pock-marked. But his ice-blue eyes were sharp and shrewd, immediately flicking over the three foreign shinobi as they entered.
Neji turned to the man, inclining his head. "Good morning."
"Good morning," the owner returned civilly, raising a pipe to his thin lips.
Neji noticed the man's gaze straying up to his headband.
"You're from the Leaf."
"That's right," Shikamaru answered, offering a polite nod.
"Looking for something in particular?"
"Weapon upgrades," Neji said.
"Yeah," Shikamaru cast his gaze around. "We were told this was the place to come."
"Oh really?" The owner snorted streams of smoke as he rounded his desk, a hazy cloud wafting after him. "A little bird told you to hop in, huh?"
Neji exchanged a glance with Shikamaru, following the Nara's gaze across to the supply room at the back of the shop, past numerous shelves and cabinets. He nodded subtly as Shikamaru moved towards a random cabinet, propping his hip and pretending to examine the blades. One of the owner's sons, stacking a cabinet, was already watching the shadow-nin and the other teen, who was sweeping the floors nearer the back of the shop, kept his gaze on Chōji.
Neji took the chance to snare the owner's attention.
"Perhaps you'd be able to recommend something appropriate for aerial combat," the Hyūga asked.
"Aerial combat, eh?" the owner echoed, one hand supporting his back, the other cradling his pipe as he walked along the creaking floorboards. "Got all sorts for that. I sure hope you Leaf shinobi aren't planning on target practicing while you're here."
"Target practicing?" Neji frowned.
"We don't take kindly to people harming our birds," the man said, tapping his pipe against a glass cabinet where various sets of shuriken and quill-shaped kunai were spread out on purple velvet.
Seeing the opening, Neji glanced at Shikamaru in the reflection of the cabinet's glass. The Nara met his gaze, nodded, then glanced across at Chōji, snorting.
"Told you we shouldn't have brought along a damned ornithophobiac," Shikamaru muttered.
"It's not his fault," Chōji reasoned. "He'll calm down eventually."
"What's this?" the old man frowned, looking to Neji for clarity.
Bait taken.
Neji feigned a scowl toward Shikamaru before glancing at the man. "They're exaggerating."
"You got a problem with birds?" the owner asked, flicking his eyes over Neji.
"No, a comrade does. And it isn't a problem. He's just a little uneasy around them."
Shikamaru snorted, playing into the drama. "Yeah right, just wait for the screaming."
The old man frowned, his sharp eyes flicking to the door then back.
Good. Seed sown.
Neji offered a faint smile, shaking his head. "Back to the matter at hand, the Tsubasa shinobi recommended your aerodynamic scythes."
"We only sell them in batches and not to ninja outside of Hanegakure," the owner said, gesturing to the array of weapons tacked to the walls. "Try these instead."
No sooner had Neji turned to glance at the indicated weapons, then a loud roar exploded outside, tapering off into a screech. The owner swung towards the door, his sons freezing mid-sweep and stack.
"What by Gods was that?"
"Told you to wait for it," Shikamaru muttered, shaking his head.
"Not again," Neji scowled, glancing at Chōji. "Please shut him up before he offends someone."
Chōji made to turn towards the door. He barely took a step before the door flew open with such force it tore off the little bell posed above the frame, sending it rolling across the floorboards. A brief silence, before all eyes lifted from the brass item to the frazzled Uzumaki twisting on the balls of his feet.
"Naruto…" Neji began.
A bird cheeped, poking its head out of Naruto's hair.
The Uzumaki flipped.
"GET THEM OFF!" Naruto screeched, tearing into the shop like a hurricane – with a familiar orange-winged bird spinning after him, several other birds streaming in with it.
"Naruto!" Neji shouted, feigning outrage. "What the hell are you doing!"
"They're trying to kill me!"
"Calm down you stupid boy!" the owner shouted, waving his pipe around with a glower before turning towards Neji. "Control your damned shinobi!"
Neji shot the man an indignant glare. "Easier said than done."
"He's panicking!" Chōji added unhelpfully, frustrating the old man further.
Good.
As Naruto bounced around from one end of the shop to the other, upturning a few tables and shelves in the process, Neji made a show of attempting to restrain him before the Uzumaki leapt out of range up onto the paying counter and crossed his fingers in a familiar hand sign.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Shikamaru winced for effect. "Ah shit."
The owner didn't have time to enquire before flickers of orange and clouds of chakra burst around the store, shadow clones shimmering into existence only to run rampant, swatting at each other's heads in an attempt to capture the birds.
"I'll get them!" the clones chorused.
Chaos erupted, inevitably drawing the old man and his sons into the fray. It was more than an adequate distraction, allowing for Shikamaru to slip unnoticed into the supply room as Neji held up his end of the ruse.
"Naruto! Calm down!"
"No way! They're gonna peck me alive!"
"You idiot!" the owner roared. "They're harmless! Get out!"
An attempt to capture birds and the bouncing Uzumaki ensued. Neji ducked the swing of a broom that one of the man's sons attempted to veer towards Naruto, completely missing as the Uzumaki bounded down and lost himself in the crowd of his clones, dragging out the chase. Neji turned mid-chaos, glancing over the sea of moving bodies and commotion towards the supply room.
Hurry up, Nara.
He didn't have to wait long.
Just as the owner turned a mottled shade of fuming red, Shikamaru ducked under the arm of one of Naruto's clones, placing a placating hand on the old man's shoulder. Neji didn't miss the subtle tuck of the Nara's fingers under the neck of the man's shirt, though he couldn't see the insect the shadow-nin planted.
"We'll get him out," Shikamaru said calmly.
"You had better do it right now!" the man snarled, shrugging off Shikamaru's hand with a glare.
Neji took the opportunity, moving towards the entrance of the shop. The minute he did, Naruto whipped out from the tangle of his clones, arms thrown ahead of him like a blind man scrambling in the dark as he yelled.
"Get them off!"
He hurtled straight past Neji out of the shop, the string of chirping birds streaming after him like the tail end of a kite. The clones stampeded in his wake, some puffing away as they smacked into the frame of the door.
As the sound of charging feet receded, Neji surveyed the damage. The owner stared in shock, his eyes casting over the mess before swinging towards the Hyūga. Neji stood to the side, offering an apologetic glance as Chōji and Shikamaru made an attempt to right some of the collapsed shelves.
Neji took a step forwards. "I apolo—"
"Just get out," the man growled, stabbing his pipe toward the door. "All of you!"
Shikamaru set down the shelf he was holding and raised his hands in a gesture of peace, moving over with Chōji towards the door.
Neji cast the owner another glance riddled with apology. "We'll reimburse any dama-"
"Out!" the man snapped.
Neji did just that, stepping behind Shikamaru and closing the door behind him. He winced at the loud crash of the collapsing shelves from within the store and the flurry of curses that followed it.
"I think he overdid it," Neji said, frowning.
"Whatever works, right?" Shikamaru shrugged, tucking the slim container Kiba had given him into his flak jacket.
"I don't think he was acting," Chōji chuckled, pointing across to where Naruto was tearing up and down the bridge like a maniac.
A few Tsubasa shinobi had paused to watch. Even timid children had crept over to titter at the idiocy of the display before being tugged away by perplexed parents. Neji frowned, scanning for Kiba – who he located at the foot of the bridge, keeled over on the ground, laughing himself into a fit.
Neji sighed. "Idiot."
He heard Shikamaru chuckle, that raw, throaty sound that had Neji straightening up to fight back the warmth it drew through him. He distracted himself from the shadow-nin by focusing on Kiba as they approached.
"Get up, Inuzuka."
Kiba had slung his arm over his canine, using Akamaru for support as he clutched at his stomach, laughing so hard he was crying.
"It…hurts…" Kiba wheezed out between gulping for air and hissing with hysterics.
Neji shook his head and looked to Shikamaru for assistance. The Nara shrugged, cocked his hip against the bridge and raised a hand to his mouth, smoothing out his smile with his fingers. Neji watched him for a long moment, unable to get annoyed, before following the shadow-nin's gaze over to Chōji.
The Akimichi stood waving his arms, attempting to stop Naruto carving a groove into the walkway with the speed at which he was tearing up and down it, his orange-feathered harassers keeping up with commendable speed.
"Gotta give those birds some credit," Shikamaru said, cocking his head.
"Don't you start," Neji warned, but his lips were threatening to curve.
Kiba dragged himself to his feet, gasping for air. "Arrgh."
"Feel better?" Shikamaru deadpanned, plucking the container from his flak jacket to hand it back to Kiba.
"Oh man," Kiba wiped the tears from his eyes, taking the bug-container. "That was fucking priceless. The bird brought back-up. Best game plan yet."
"Got the job done," Shikamaru shrugged. "Guess we just wait until the mules pick up the cargo. Let loose the other bugs and take it from there."
"As agreed," Neji said.
"You got it," Kiba grinned, watching Naruto's ridiculous gesticulations as the Uzumaki berated the ring-leading bird cupped in Chōji's hands.
The Inuzuka started to laugh again, wandering over to trigger off another round of verbal abuse. Akamaru remained by Shikamaru, sitting quietly, his head cocked up towards Neji. The Hyūga missed the dog's stare, focused instead on the rowdy insults flying back and forth between the two energetic teens, drawing hushed giggles from Tsubasa children and stern glances from unimpressed parents.
There goes Konoha's respectability…
"Guess we'll make a lasting impression," Shikamaru drawled, as if sensing his thoughts.
Neji shook his head, preparing to tune-out the noise before a wet prod against his hand drew his gaze down. "Hmn?"
Akamaru stared up at him and whined loudly.
Neji frowned and made to step back. The second he did, sound warped into an odd garble and the dog's face blurred into a wash of white. Neji felt a nauseating drop pull through him. He'd have pitched forward if Shikamaru's hand hadn't gripped his shoulder.
"Neji…"
The Hyūga heard the weight of concern in that voice and felt it tenfold in the grip keeping him from an embarrassing collapse. He shifted his weight a little, gingerly testing his equilibrium. A wave of dizziness rocked through him. Akamaru moved to sit beside him, leaning into him like a great white support he didn't want but clearly needed as the world swam before his eyes and blurred like a watercolour painting.
"I'm fine," he said, automatically.
His focus shifted between clear and cloudy, allowing him just enough perception to realise that Shikamaru had moved to stand in front of him.
"Shit," Shikamaru said.
"What?" Neji squinted, placing a hand reluctantly on Akamaru's head to ascertain spatial awareness.
"You're blue," the Nara repeated, gripping his shoulder again.
What?
"Blue?" Neji blinked, not grasping the sense in the words as his vision finally settled and the vertigo passed. "Depression is the least of my irritations."
"No," Shikamaru shook his head. "Neji, your skin."
Neji blinked, then noticed that the Nara's dark eyes were locked on his mouth. A sharp furrow cut into Neji's brow as he frowned, raising a hand to his lips only to pause, his gaze fixed on the tips of his fingers. They were cyanosed, the colour leeched away to a greyish blue.
Damn.
Akamaru whined again.
Then Neji felt Shikamaru's thumb brush his collarbone. "Talk to me, Neji."
He needs to go…now…
Neji pulled up a mask as hard as his voice. "Let me go and distract the others."
"Not happening."
"I will meet you back at The Rookery. Turn around and start walking," Neji said very calmly, though his gut turned as cold as his fingers felt. "Do it now."
"Dammit, Neji," Shikamaru growled, and Neji felt those fingers dig in almost painfully hard at his shoulder. "Your pride is gonna kill you."
"It will kill you first if you don't start walking." Neji didn't wait to see the impact those cold words had, jerking his shoulder out of Shikamaru's grasp. "Go."
The shadow-nin didn't move.
Neji snapped his eyes up with a growl and made the familiar mistake of meeting the Nara's gaze. As razor sharp as a blade, those dark eyes threatened to cut away the strings of resolve holding his mask in place. But what struck Neji more was that odd furrow at Shikamaru's brow, too soft to be angry.
Go…
"Turn around and walk," he said, calmer this time despite the growing sense of urgency. "Go."
That troubled expression left before Shikamaru did, falling from the shadow-nin's face to leave it blank and unreadable; a look Neji had no hope of deciphering. Before he could even try, Shikamaru turned his back.
"Don't make me chase you down, Hyūga," he said quietly, the words floating over his shoulder. "It's a drag."
Neji felt his mask slipping, his voice threatening to thaw. "You won't have to. Now go."
Please go.
Shikamaru turned his head slightly without fully glancing over his shoulder.
He stayed this way long enough for Neji to fear that the shadow-nin wouldn't do what he did next.
He walked away.
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Break to Breathe