endgames | 025 -- [Action || Voice]

[When Shikamaru heads down to Asuma's apartment Monday morning, he finds it empty of everything but Kurenai's things and a silver lighter standing on the table. It's wrong, but he doesn't give in to the false hope.

Of course it would stay. Even though Shikamaru gave it back to him, the lighter stopped being Asuma's the moment he picked it off his dying body.

Kurenai must've stepped out before it happened. She's a ninja, and not so senseless to have left the door wide open and run off in her grief. And so he waits for her, and tries to find his words.

After he leaves Kurenai, he has to tell Ino. Team 8 he'll find in person too - he has a request for them on top of this. It's been too long since they've heard a stir from their enemies.]

[It's well past midnight before an announcement comes, after he's made this post and spent a few hours going over the discussions there. When people are either busy with the information he gave them, or asleep.

He smokes a cigarette on his way back to his apartment in the night air, putting it out before he steps into the building, his posture falsely relaxed until he steps into his own room.]

Sarutobi Asuma is gone. [There's a pause and- no, he doesn't think it was mentioned.] Also, Haruno Sakura returned to her world a few weeks ago, for anyone who knew her.

Funnily enough, I haven't seen that masked Akatsuki guy in a while either...

[Too many people to filter that too. It's vague enough, but anyone who needs to know should get what he means. It would have been better news if he'd known before.

He'll answer journal comments in the morning.]

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[...aa. So that answers that.]

I don't see the point. [He shrugs.] I won't lie about how I feel, but even if it hurts now, eventually I'll move on from it. So it's not like I need to dwell on the bad.

That's what we all say, but we end up doin' the opposite of what we say anyway. I just wanna make sure.

[There's so many people who ended up dwelling on terrible things with reckless abandon and nearly destroyed themselves because of it all piling up. Nagato's a good example.]

[Well at least give him more credit than that. 8|

But no, Naruto actually raises a point. His own progress has been less than stellar... probably because he hasn't been able to catch a break, but it could be other things. He tries to process it. Probably over-analyzes it. But he can't say he's sure.

He drinks what's left of the ramen broth, to give himself something to do.]

[You keep doing that, Shikamaru. Naruto will keep talking.]

If it weren't for you and Iruka-sensei, I'd probably still be dwellin' on Ero-sennin's death. [And where would they be then?]

Edited 2012-07-09 09:24 (UTC)

[Dead in a crater, unless Naruto had a last minute epiphany.

And it's because of that that Shikamaru can't go with the first retort that comes to mind: that that was different, because Naruto needed the help then. He puts the cup down.

Everyone needs help sometimes, though. He knows this, but he shakes his head.]

If this is about paying me back for that or something, it's not necessary.

[Naruto raises a hand to wave it dismissively.]

S'not about payin' you back. [You don't try and pay someone back for something like that. It's just something you stay really grateful for, because paying it back would be like you weren't grateful for their actions anymore.] Just tryin' to help out a friend and comrade.

[In hindsight, it was dumb of him to think it could be anything like that. Naruto's too good a guy for it.

But it's not like he knows what to offer him here, either. What's there to help? What does he offer? If he knew what to say to get out of this, he would, but he doesn't.]

If there's... anythin' I can help with. [Don't hesitate. That's all Naruto can say. If Shikamaru doesn't want to talk right this moment, there was always later. Hopefully not too later, but Naruto is gonna be there for him.]

["This was enough."

Only it's not. For Naruto, it is, but everytime Shikamaru thinks he's done enough, he can see how futilely wrong he is.]

...I want to learn how to make a shadow clone.

[And that's right out of left field. It visibly catches Naruto off-guard, and he blinks a few times before opening his mouth to answer.]

For real? What for?

[.....]

I wasn't there. So long as I'm not there, it will never be enough.

Maybe that will change if I can be in two places at once.

Edited 2012-07-10 08:38 (UTC)

[Naruto knows that Shikamaru genuinely means all of this, but he also knows that his jutsu is really chakra intensive. Shadow clones are pretty chakra intensive as well.]

... You sure about this? We can start trainin' whenever you want.

[He just needs to make one. He's not crazy enough to go beyond his limit, but a single clone is doable even for the likes of genin.]

I'm positive. Soon as... ["Soon as Temari comes back." But by this point, he's not sure if she will. And maybe that's for the best.]

...Soon. I'll let you know.

[Naruto nods, understanding how badly Shikamaru might need the ability to make a shadow clone. Hell, the name fits with his type of jutsu. He puts on a little smile and leans forward to continue on trying to eat.]

Gotcha. I'm always free.

Even with your own training?

It's kinda like trainin'! If I'm gonna be Hokage, I've gotta perfect my teachin'!

[Heh. That's more like it, Naruto. Even if it brings to mind Masaomi's talk about "heroes" in a troublesome way, it's routine enough to pull a grin from him.]

Aa, that's right. If it's for that, then I won't let you down.

[That's what Naruto wanted to see. Something of a grin from Shikamaru after all this.]

That goes double for me! I'm not gonna let you down with crappy teachin'!

Then there's no way it could fail.

[Awful as he feels... this is the first time in a week he's felt like there's something he could do to change. A goal he could touch. It's a good feeling.]

Yosh! Let's eat somethin' to celebrate! [He's going to wave his arms excitedly.] More ramen!

Tch. Now you want it. If you'd ordered it earlier, they'd have another bowl waiting for you by now.

Hey, some things are more important than food! [Some. Only some.]

Wouldn't I love to see that list. [He rolls his eyes. Naruto really could've been an Akimichi.]

Here, I'll go grab the order for you.

[Do you really, Shikamaru? He'll write one up.]

You sure? I could just wait. No big deal.

I don't get up for nothing, moron. Just appreciate it.

[In a way it's him appreciating you. He knows he didn't spill his gut like Naruto may have wanted... but he respected him enough to give him the space for that. It makes him feel like he can say those things, when he's ready.

So for now, he wants to show it wasn't all for nothing.]

[Action]

jinchuuriki - 2012-07-12 03:52 (UTC) - Expand

endgames - 2012-07-12 06:23 (UTC) - Expand

jinchuuriki - 2012-07-12 07:57 (UTC) - Expand