Mask Boy

night sky

Shikamaru quickly recognized that exact location. He ran through the forest, twigs and bushes crazing against his clothes and face as he forces his legs to run faster.

He's scared to know what Naruto was going to do. With Ino yelling at him about how we might lose him, he's scared.

He continued running until he reached the opening of the area he hadn't stepped foot into for so long. An area filled with grass and flowers being near an edge of a cliff, it was very quiet. Liked how he remembered it from a while ago.

At the center of his vision, stood a boy with blond hair and whiskered cheeks. He was near the edge of the cliff, staring up to the stars, and humming quietly to himself. He stopped humming when he heard the soft sound of grass ruffling at a far distance behind him and sighed.

"Looks like Ino couldn't do it after all... can you tell her I said sorry for making her cry while asking her to do me a favor?"

Naruto wasn't wearing his bandages anymore, his skin looked perfectly in tact which surprised Shikamaru a little. However he shook his head to not get sidetracked and took a step forward.

"Why can't you tell her yourself? You troublesome boy, come on, let's go home"

He walked up to Naruto with heavy steps, it was as if the air around him was putting pressure on his shoulders.

"I'm not going back, please go back to everyone"

"Well I'm not leaving until you come with me"

Shikamaru placed his hands together in a familiar stance but Naruto's words made him immediately stop.

"Use your shadows and I'll make the process faster"

Naruto shoulders then slumped, "Sometimes I forget how persistent you are Shika, that's an annoying trait of yours"

"What are you even-"

"I didn't expect you to find out so fast, I already gave you my parting gift but at the same time... I was hoping you'd find me so that I can say my final words to you in person"

Shikamaru steps falters a bit, the wind growing heavier on his body the more he moves forward. Even with that happening, he chose to ignore it and smiled in disbelief at the boy, letting out a dry chuckle.

"... final words? Y-you're kidding, right?? Don't fucking joke with me right now"

Naruto tilted his head to the side and gave Shikamaru a sad smile.

"Shika, I already know that you know what I'm going to do and you're going to have to accept that your theory is correct. Just like what everyone said to me, it's better if I just disappeared ya know"

Shikamaru felt like the entire universe stopped at that very moment. His smile dropped at the same speed of his heart dropping, his stomach curled up uncomfortably.

He was in disbelief, Naruto is going to leave him.

"Hah... but why?! But- you- what made you decide this?? Naru please, I'm so close into finding a reverse for your curse, please wait for me for a little longer. I'm so close please I'll-" Shikamaru mind and mouth couldn't seem to cooperate with each other. He was sprouting out anything and his mind were going into shambles.

Naruto had to cut him off again before he rambles on any longer.

"After my fight against one of the Akatsuki member, it made finally accept who I really am. The mass destruction I caused in the forest, the fact that I was willing to kill a kid, and the hatred I felt while in that form.. I'm not safe to continue living here"