[Thread] That's three, three ninjas

[kazenorokudaime]

Characters: AU!Naruto, AU!Sasuke, AU!Shikamaru, OU!Mercury (PGSM) and AU!Watanuki
Where: The commons
When: Immediately after Shikamaru's arrival in Econtra
Summary: Shikamaru's injured, Naruto goes to help and drags Sasuke with him, and Kimi comes too!
Warnings: Swearing I imagine

Comments

[embalmment]

He was partially amused at this turn of events. More of what Shikamaru believed rather than what condition he was in. As true to typical Sasuke he didn't particularely care about the condition. Less so in Econtra where someone was bound to find him. Something somewhere extremely distance whispered to him a different story but he didn't listen.

Clothing was his main motive before this escapade took place. Poorly drying off he tossed on some clothing and followed with ever so gentle guidence. Sasuke did not want more people from his universe here. It was their Shikamaru. He recognized it immediately. Happened.. not entirely too long before he was brought in to Econtra himself. A few days.. actually

[nephologist]

Shikamaru's lips twitched into a grin. He hadn't thought he'd ever see Naruto again, so this was pretty nice in strange way. In a shoulda-died-but-I-got-rescued-by-nakama-again way. Leaning against Naruto now, it was almost time to relax. He could take it easy and just sit around. Once they got to the infirmary he would just--

Shit, what was this woman's deal?

"I don't owe that asshole anything," Shikamaru snapped, and then winced because he'd jerked his body as he looked at her.

It was way too soon for him to be telling this story. He'd been hoping for a nap first, and some dinner, and then maybe he would have put it off for a few days, or a few months since there was no rush, really. Sasuke wasn't doing anything, was he? So there was no need to go bringing it up.

But now this woman had ruined that plan so all Shikamaru could do was roll his head back and sigh. It would probably have been more pleasant to die than to admit to hunting down the Hokage's best friend in secret. "...Sasuke's the one that did it."

[kazenorokudaime]

Mercury was worse with demanding information than Naruto was, he had at least decided to wait until Shikamaru was comfortable in one of the infirmary beds before badgering him with questions.

The blonde might've even snapped back on his friends behalf if he hadn't been so overwhelmingly curious about the answer himself. So instead he just carried on the slow careful pace, walking slowly with Shikamaru towards the infirmary, ears perked and waiting for his reply to Mercury's question.

And when it came, naruto wondered if maybe he should have expected it more.

He came to a halt for a few seconds, bright blues staring off across the compound, at the infirmary ahead. Sasuke did it.... Sasuke had... Naruto grit his teeth, a sharp stinging pain suddenly ripping through his chest, not now, not now... a swallow and he took another step. And then another. Just keep walking, get Shikamaru to the infirmary

[waterfell]

This had just gotten much more interesting! Ironic

[nephologist]

"Yeah, I..." What? What the hell could he even say? Naruto was more than Shikamaru's boss, he was his closest friend, and Shikamaru had gone behind his back to hunt down the person most important to him.

"It's not like I wanted to keep it secret from you," he said quietly, his hold on the blonde tightening subtly. "Sasuke's a criminal. The second we found out he was still alive, ANBU got the order to eliminate him, and Tsunade didn't see a point in telling you when he was just going to be dead soon anyway."

He avoided looking at Naruto's face and completely ignored the woman. "He was hosting Orochimaru in his body," Shikamaru continued weakly. "He was a danger to the village, and after everything... We couldn't risk someone like him, an Uchiha, not again... And you'd never let us go if you knew."

[kazenorokudaime]

Naruto's lips curled back over his sharpened teeth, slitted pupils giving Mercury a dirty look for that one, "I know that!" Like he knew Sasuke, knew Sasuke better than anyone, it wasn't a surprise, and yet it was. The past few months here with Sasuke...

The blonde shook his head. "Tch, shouldn't be surprised the old hag was in on it too." Right, right, so his best friend since Sasuke died and Sakura died lied to him, Tsunade had lied to him... except they hadn't. It wasn't really lying was it? They just hadn't told him.

Just keep on walking.

"I pulled Orochimaru out of him, here." It wouldn't affect things back in their world now, it was too late for that. if they forgot things when they left here then... the blonde glanced at Shikamaru's face. "No, I wouldn't have." That was the truth, if Naruto had known Sasuke was alive for sure...

He wasn't sure what he would have done, but let someone kill him? No, never.

[waterfell]

Despite antagonizing these two, Mercury had no particular loyalty to Sasuke beyond a mutual respect. It was tempting to consider suggesting ways to try to change that event in their world. Perhaps she'd think about it later and share ideas that came to her. Perhaps she'd do the opposite

[nephologist]

"You..." Orochimaru was out of Sasuke now? Hard to imagine after the sight he'd just witnessed a few hours earlier. He pictured that monstrous winged creature in his mind, snake eyes powered by the Sharingan... How could they possibly ever separate safely? It would be like trying to rip the Kyuubi from Naruto.

But if Naruto said he did it, then he believed he did it. And if anyone could do it, it would be Naruto.

"I'm... glad you were able to, Naruto," Shikamaru said quietly. "That proves it, huh? I should've come to you. Then maybe I wouldn't..." Damn, there was no nice way to say it. Wouldn't be dying.

And then that horrible woman was talking some more. Why was she still here? Was it just her goal in life to upset as many people as possible every time she opened her mouth? "What are you saying?" Shikamaru snapped at her. "They've been fighting for years. One big stupid pointless battle because Sasuke's a selfish asshole and never-- once-- thought of Naru

[kazenorokudaime]

Naruto let out a short, sharp growl at that, but was more focused on Shikamaru than anything else right now

[waterfell]

So the blond had something in him after all. Good. Mercury felt more comfortable immediately.

"Wait for the rest of your questions until he's there," she suggested. "I think I'll trust you to do that for now. Until later!"

She took her leave, not particularly bothered by their (expected) reactions. And she could always find out more later.

(ooc: end!tag merc)

[nephologist]

If anyone else was around, Shikamaru might have complained about it, but since that horrible woman was finally gone he just let Naruto pick him up. It was welcome, even. He was really damn tired.

"N-Naruto..." he mumbled, not really sure what to say. The whole gravity of the situation was coming down on him. How long he'd been keeping that secret, and how unnecessary it all was, and how Sasuke had almost killed him over one big fucking mistake.

"I'm sorry for not telling you. We were supposed to trust each other, huh? I... I really messed up..."

[kazenorokudaime]

With Shikamaru in his arms Naruto was able to move a lot faster, keeping his pace smooth and even though so as not to jostle him about, in only a few minutes they had reached the infirmary building. There Naruto had to set him down for a moment again so he could open the door, but he kept an arm around Shikamaru still, though whether it was because Shikamaru wouldn't be able to stand up himself or unwillingness to let go of a friend he'd almost just lost.

Twisting the handle open he stepped inside with Shiakamru, warmth washing over them as the door swung shut again behind the two. "Yeah... supposed to." Naruto sighed and started for the nearest empty bed, the doctor or whoever didn't seem around just now.

Supposed to... a lot of thing were supposed to be but weren't. he wanted to be angry, he was angry, but he couldn't exactly take it out on anyone here, and even more tot he point, he couldn't blame Shikamaru for it. "Hey, the old hag had her hand in it. Its..." Okay, would it be? Naruto didn't know, only that the golden position

[nephologist]

Not okay, that was for damn sure. Lost his team, lost his life, and if he didn't lose his life then he at least lost his job, and probably his best friend. He should have left everything alone. Retired early. Spent his days helping Kurenai like he promised to. Died many many years into the future of old age.

He finally withdrew from Naruto as they reached the bed. He took a seat there, shoulders sagging, and gazed down at his hands which were still blood-soaked.

Should've said no when Naruto told him to join ANBU.

Should've turned down the promotion.

For once, why didn't he let friendship be more important than the village?

"Hey, you don't have to stick around," Shikamaru mumbled. What good would it do to keep his Hokage all angry and worried? "It's not like I'm going to drop dead." ...Not that he was sure of that, but.

[kazenorokudaime]

Naruto looked down at him for a moment before dropping down to sit next to him, crossing one leg over the other and folding his arms as he usually did when he was all up in a huff about something.

"Don't be dumb." the blonde looked at him out of the corner of his eye, "Like I'm just going to run off like that." Leave his injured friend? Yeah right, not until Shikamaru had been seen to and was sleeping or something.

"Oi," he looked at the shadow-wielder sitting next to him, giving him the barest nudge in the arm, "You should lie down." At least so he didn't look like he was going to keel over at any moment.

Too late, for any of that. Naruto could only hope that whenever they got out of this memories remained so maybe, maybe he could have a chance of fixing it all. Stop Shikamaru, find Sasuke... he could do it, he could.

[nephologist]

Typical Naruto. Shikamaru rolled his eyes and lay back on the bed, doing his very best to at least avoid looking like he was in pain. It all looked so... bad. And he was having trouble telling himself he'd be okay.

Now this was awkward. Exactly the reason he would have liked to delay telling Naruto about anything for at least a few years. Couldn't they all just be happy he wasn't leaking organs out of his gut anymore? He could practically hear the thoughts running through Naruto's head. Same as his own, and hopeless.

Time to think about something else. Like... the fact that he was in a new world altogether. And that Naruto and Sasuke had already been here for months.

"Hey..." Shikamaru began hesitantly. "Has he been treating you okay, at least? Sasuke, I mean. He hasn't tried to hurt you or anything?"

[kazenorokudaime]

Watching as the ANBU laid down Naruto frowned at the question.

Hurt him? Not recently, not in any way actually, no... for a while it had actually been, good. Suprising, Sasuke had finally relented, backed down and let Naruto help him in a way. The blonde wondered in what way Shikamaru might think they would have, they couldn't fight here, not for real.

Aside from something reminiscent of the bickering they'd done as kids in Team 7 (and one brief fight after Itachi's arrival), he and Sasuke had been getting along fine. More than that even, in a way.

"As fine as the bastard ever did." He answered eventually, quirking an eyebrow up under messy blonde spikes, "Why'd you ask?"