030 -- [Action]

[endgames]

[Shikamaru's a hard man to find after this (on-going) thread.

He doesn't return to his apartment until the next morning, through the spare bedroom and not the front door. It's doubtful anyone else will catch him outside of his own floor for the next several days, though he always has his journal on him.

Those days are also partially spent tracking down Tony Stark, Law, Itachi, Gold, Silver, and a few others in his building to warn them about Hidan. Masaomi will no doubt hear from him when he gets back, and Riku may have learned what he needs to know from Ino before Shikamaru gets to him, but they're both on the list. He'll also be visiting the Avatar house for a few people in particular, but given that's half the house he won't be shunning anyone else he runs into there.]

Comments

[deathsdoctor]

Sure can. [He's just coming to carefully pick up Amaya and Sumire (note: Sumire is pregnant and visibly quite far along.)] You need to talk to me or him or both of us?

[endgames]

[He gives the cats a glance, not saying anything until the door is closed.] Both.

[deathsdoctor]

... serious, then. Come into the kitchen and we'll talk. [The girls are about due their feeding time anyway, and Law can multitask.

And even though he's sure Itachi has already heard and is about to appear...]

Oi! Itachi? Need you here for this.

[yourhatred]

[Itachi appears when summoned. Though yes, he'd already been on his way.

It doesn't take much more than a glance toward Shikamaru.]

This is about Hidan.

[His lack of desire to give his presence away to his former fellow Akatsuki didn't mean he hadn't seen the other's arrival.]

[endgames]

[Shikamaru nods, severe. He had expected Itachi would already know.]

[deathsdoctor]

[... who?

Oh wait. That crude man talking to Miss Konan (yes, he's aware of her.)]

Hnnn... another of the Akatsuki, I presume.

[yourhatred]

[To his displeasure, yes.

Itachi nods at Law, taking a seat at the table without further comment.]

[endgames]

[Shikamaru's conversation wasn't under a filter either, by his own intention. He's been warning many of his friends, and even if Law is on that list he assumes he needs it less. So he'll start with Itachi.]

I want to hear your stance on him.

[deathsdoctor]

[He heard, but Konan was the one who named him. Killed Asuma, huh? Tough guy? Itachi never has mentioned him before and he knows the ninja would do so if he felt the man was a credible threat in a fight.

Law puts down the cats (who immediately start rubbing against his legs) and goes to fetch fish from the fridge to prepare it.

He'll just listen for now and chime in when needed.]

[yourhatred]

[His stance, huh?]

...There is no one in Akatsuki that I'd say could be taken lightly. That was the nature of the organization.

However.

Hidan is an imbecile.

[endgames]

[If Shikamaru were in a better mood, he would laugh at that. He knows it firsthand.]

A fact so common even he's aware of it. That's what he relied on his partner for. With him absent, from his perspective you and Konan are going to be the closest thing he has to allies.

[...he says 'going to' because he doubts Hidan has realized it yet, so.]

[deathsdoctor]

[Not bothering to look up from where he's cleaning and chopping fish:}

Think he's going to come knocking?

[That is... if he even can figure out where Itachi lives.]

[yourhatred]

...It's a possibility. We were not particularly close, but if he lacks allies he may see it as an option.

[A very unpleasant possibility, that.]

However, I doubt he'll try to stay, given our conflicting personalities.

[endgames]

It'll be another day at least before you have to deal with him. [He's kind of occupied.] All I want to know is what you do plan to do, if he comes to you.

[deathsdoctor]

I see.

[Turning slightly. A slight eyebrow. Okay, what did you do to him?]

[yourhatred]

I would tell him I'm currently not interested in maintaining our alliance. Hopefully that will be the end of it, as I will do nothing to threaten him.

He would have to have some actual interest in pursuing a working relationship to push beyond that, and I doubt that's the case.

[endgames]

[...after a moment and scrutinizing look, Shikamaru nods, seemingly satisfied.

He has no reason to trust that for sure - or so he thinks; his better judgement is on vacation - but he has even less reason to presume it's a lie. If Itachi was going to keep up the bad guy charade, it would be over something more worthwhile than a fool like Hidan.]

[deathsdoctor]

... if there is a fight, is there anything I should be aware of?

[Okay guys, Law's getting two different vibes here as he stoops down to spoon minced fish into the cats' bowls. Itachi - he's understanding you don't really seem concerned with getting into a tussle with him. Shikamaru - Law hasn't seen you this serious since Madara.

Toshio's memories don't cover this Hidan... and he's sure you can tell from this question that Law didn't get the run down on him. So... he's not sure where to rank him on the Supernova threat scale.]

[yourhatred]

Don't allow him to perform his ritual, and most importantly - don't allow him to ingest any of your blood. He will lick it from his weapon, which means it's best not to be cut.

[Hidan's techniques are very particular.]

[endgames]

Cut, nicked, anything like that. His weapon looks threatening, but it's only designed for bloodletting and to increase his range.

If that happens, you can prolong his ritual by forcing him out of the symbol he stands in that's drawn on the ground or incapacitating him. But you're only buying time if it comes to that. Once the ritual is started, it won't truly end until the target is dead.

[deathsdoctor]

[Okay, neither of you are really explaining this ritual bit, but that's okay, he has a good idea where this is going thanks to Hidan's post and the important part has been conveyed.]

... sounds a little like what Basil Hawkins can do. Hopefully this guy can't affect multiple people at once like him.

[yourhatred]

Not that I'm aware. I'm not sure the ritual would even allow for it.

[Not unless it could distinguish between different samples of blood.]

[endgames]

It would not. He never fights more than one person at the same time. From that and how he loves pain, you can gather if he could do it he would've already done so.

[deathsdoctor]

Mnnn. That type. Geez.

... anything else notable about this guy aside from that? Strength... speed... healing factor? [Because he'll be on his guard, but based on what he's hearing so far?

He could definitely take him.]

[yourhatred]

An inability to die.

[The worst trait for particularly annoying individuals to have.]

In the most literal sense.