Staged

Eighteenth Stage: Guarded Memories

"Ready?" Naruto asked from his position on the bed. Shikamaru was changing his outfit for today. It's been two days and it's time to head back to the TI department. Shikamaru hummed, his eyes half-lidded with a yawn coming forth. 

"I guess I still want to sleep," Another yawn. "But isn't that me all the time?" 

"I guess so, just remember if you need help call me. You know how to." Naruto said as he received a kiss from the other before they padded out to start their day. Naruto could feel his children's slow-moving chakra and smiled before heading back to bed. 

Shikamaru got greeted by Ino and Choji as soon as he got off the elevator. He sighed and pulled his hair out of his ponytail. This was going to be a long and bothersome day. "Morning, let's just get this over with."

"Good Morning Shikamaru." Choji greeted pleasantly, the Namikaze rose on eyebrow at the caring tone. He was caught off guard. Up until now after his outburst at his former parents' house, Choji had opted to keep his mouth shut around him. 

"And this is all the confirmation I need to know that today is going to get heated," Shikamaru said not even bothering to respond to the greeting. Ino was the silent one now but you could still see hidden anguish behind her features. "Personality swap, my god I fear for my safety."

"It's not that we were just wondering how last night turned out for you. With a bleeding nose and all," She said quietly, Shikamaru tilted his head in wonder. 

"What was supposed to happen to me? I clogged it up and went to bed," He brushed her off and they all walked to the TI department for another day in Shikamaru's head. "I'll never get how you're all so desperate to let me see the light."

"Well you've given us permission to try so I want to do everything I can and one of those is to figure out the root of how this came to be," Ino said with a small smile wavering on her lips. Shikamaru snorted in response.

"Oh I can answer that and I think I might be repeating myself," Shikamaru sighed. "I was lonely, he was lonely and lonely souls attract. It didn't help that you two were so invested in your relationships to see my plight and guess what? It wasn't really a demand that you saw it either. I had plans to leave as evidence of me learning the forbidden art but Naruto came first and I went along with his plan. Forced myself to act broken in order for it to be completed. To make sure that there was no way we could turn back for what we had done." 

"Look I know I'm really digging a hot knife into your chest and twisting it in an anti-clockwise way but that's honestly how I felt at the time and Naruto offered me a way out. What else did I have here that I cared about? Nothing." Ino and Choji had stopped outside of the TI door but Shikamaru walked on ahead. 

"How can we call ourselves friends if we never could identify what the hell was going on with him." Choji cried as his large shoulders hobbled with tears. Ino was keeping hers in because this is the second time she's heard this and hearing it again wasn't making things easier for her. 

**********

They were back inside Shikamaru's memories but right off the bat they could sense something had shifted since the last visit. Memories weren't being brought forward like last time instead they were in a blinding white area devoid of everything except chained up doors oozing black substances. 

"Guarded memories, it seems we were closer than we thought." Inoichi murmured with a displeased look. Above each door was a date which was a hint to what each memory would contain but since Shikamaru didn't show any attachment towards special dates they were going in blind. "Alright Choji, Shikaku step back, since we are in a spiritual form the guards will be able to deal a significant amount of damage to our mental wards which will come into effect on the outside." 

Both males backed up as the Yamanaka duo stepped forward. Once the guard deemed them too close to the caged memory the floor in front of them started to pool in inky darkness. The substance took the form of Shikadai who had a nasty scowl on his face. In his hand a large blade formed and became brandished as a weapon. "Stay away." Was the only warning from a distorted voice of that reminded them of Shikadai's in the real world. 

"Please guard we were granted permission to venture into your master's psyche." Inoichi started trying to diffuse the situation before it got out of control. The sockets were eyes should have been was only a white void that narrowed dangerously to pin points. 

"Mother allowed you in yes but you have traveled too far. If I remember clearly father sensed you and warned me about it." They all flashed back to the time Naruto stared directly at them. Shikadai smirked, it was crazed and twisted. "Turn back, should you refuse I have to call reinforcements. This is mother's palace you have no business being in guarded territory." 

"I'm afraid we can't do that those memories are ones we have to see, please Shikadai let us through or we'll have to go in by force." 

Shadow Shikadai's laughter rang out in a distorted echo that chilled them to the bone. But they were instantly on high alert when the floor started pool again, this time it was Boruto that came out, he didn't manifest a weapon but it was clearly obvious that the shadows clinging to his calves would gladly be under his control. "You've refused and we have no choice but to shatter your connection to this palace." Boruto's voice was much stronger than Shikadai's a reminder that brought them back to the two little innocent boys outside. 

They both launched themselves at the Yamanaka and Ino could feel the malevolent energy richoceting off Shikadai's blade as he made a swing for her neck. Boruto was taking her father with ease as his shadows formed whips that he controlled with his mind. "If your not careful you'll go mad in the physical world." Boruto chided as he used one of his whips to lash at Ino who was far too busy with Shikadai. 

"And if you stay any longer your pathetic excuse for fighting tactics will dull my blade. I'll have to use your teeth to sharpen it," Shikadai stated as he finally made contact and shattered Ino's left arm. She screamed and that brought Choji and Shikaku into the mix as they tried to hold off the shadow twins. 

"What should we do to get rid of them," Choji asked as he snapped one of Boruto's whips which cause the child to hiss like a snake on steriods. 

"We have to seal them, if we destroy the guards then the memory goes along with them," Ino informed as she watched her hand slowly rebuilt itself as she dodged the nimble child. 

"Too slow you lowly bitch." Boruto squealed as his shadows formed a hammer that slammed Ino into the ground. Inoichi watched in horror as his daughters mental form shattered and knowing the consequences of such a brutal act he hurriedly retreated to the physical world. Choji and Shikaku didn't even have to be told to back off as they went as well. 

Boruto and Shikadai stood where they once stood and smirked. "Do you think mother will be proud?"

"Mother is always proud remember Shika. Even father will be proud. After all he promised me that no matter what he would never be disappointed with us."

**********

Crazed laughter could be heard from within the TI department. Inoichi looked so distress he fainted upon hearing it. Ino was laughing but it wasn't a jovial one like they were use to. This was dark, sadistic and coupled with the crazed look in her eye she was the perfect picture of slowly going mad. This is what she got in return for trying to help a friend. A friend who has made it clear that they didn't want or need help. A friend who warned them about what lurks in his mind. 

"he went bye-bye. Bye-bye." She waved exaggeratedly at Inoichi's collapsed heap. "Ouuuu red paint's leaking." She was gesturing to Shikamaru's bleeding nose. Choji and Shikaku didn't know where to begin. Inoichi is probably the only one who could bring Ino back from whatever abyss she's fallen into and Shikamaru's 'husband' was going to have a field day when he finds out Shikamaru had been put through a lot of mental strain. 

For as much as Shikaku didn't want to admit it Shikamaru was happy with the blonde. And though that happiness came from such a place that brought him pain and the burning failure he felt as a blind father he had to eventually accept it. He was blind to his son's struggles and he didn't expect a ravenous fox to swoop in and take advantage but it happened and the sooner he accepted it the sooner the people he dragged in can move on. Just look what happened to Ino and Inoichi. He was resting this case. It made no difference, it wouldn't change anything. 

Shikamaru had long left his reach.