Back to the past, Believe it!

Ch.38 imprisonment

Shikamaru felt the rough feeling of rope infused with chakra.

Shikamaru grunted slightly. He lifted his head up to know avail. He hit his head hard. When he fell from the building. He felt the metallic taste of blood in his mouth. He must've bit his tongue when he hit the ground. Shikamaru sat quietly before finally lifting his head. He observed his surrounding's. He was in an interrogation room. And it need be, a Yamanaka would enter his mind. He didn't see them, but he felt the presence of Anbu.

Everything was hazy. Moving was a chore for him. You'd think years of things like this happening because of the war, Shikamaru would be used to it. His breathing felt hindered. He knew what was going on.

Whatever they saw at The Valley Of The End, they wanted answers. And answer's could come from Shikamaru. His vision was blurred. He was only able to think. It would be a lost cause to try to use any jutsu. He was severely outnumbered. Naruto or Sasuke wouldn't know if his disappearance until it was to late. "How can I alert them?" Shikamaru felt the eyes of several Shinobi. Finally. Jiraiya walked in. Behind the door he saw his father.

"Sorry we had to take you in this way." Jiraiya nodded. Shikamaru gave no response. He looked at the floor. He felt the helplessness of war. Jiraiya took the silence to continue.

"Well. It was reported you were at a building near the gates. Seemingly waiting for someone." Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. "Looking for our return." Shikamaru twitched slightly to show he was listening. His mind felt too tired to speak.

"What we saw there... Wasn't normal." Jiraiya didn't continue. Shikamaru let out a weak scoff. "So I was right." Shikamaru already knew what they saw. He had seen it before himself after all.

"We need answers. And you seem to be affiliated with them. The ones who caused the damage." Jiraiya looked around himself as if thinking.

"If you do not reply... I'm afraid we will bring a Yamanaka to tell us the answers for us."

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes dangerously. He felt all the eyes of Anbu and Jiraiya on him. He had no chance of escape if not aided by Naruto or Sasuke. But he was in no condition to fight, let alone form a sentence. It was guaranteed that he was going to have to see a Yamanaka.

Shikamaru moved his mouth but made no sound. He finally looked up at Jiraiya. Jiraiya flinched. Shikamaru knew how his eyes looked. How easily they could be read. And his eyes said "I'm not giving up without a fight."

Jiraiya scoffed. "What will you do? You are in no condition to fight. A legendary Sanin for that matter." Jiraiya bragged.

Shikamaru felt himself moving his lips. He made sure Jiraiya saw. His whispers were faint but he knew Jiraiya would hear. "I'm... I'm more than aware." Before Jiraiya could come up with a response.

Shikamaru felt hot waves surround his body before expanding outside the building. Jiraiya's hair made the indication that the signals were all but weak. They would reach someone. Jiraiya tried to knock Shikamaru out, to stop Shikamaru's signal but.

There in the doorway. Was Shikaku holding Jiraiya in place with his shadow imitation technique. Jiraiya gasped as he saw himself involuntarily moving away and stopping.

"What are you doing!" Jiraiya yelled. "I'm sorry! I can't let you do anything more to him!" Shikaku yelled back. Shikaku didn't know what to do.

He saw his son being dragged in. His head bleeding and his eyes still open but no pupal's were seen. There was no peace in his posture while being tied up. He wasn't allowed in the room but he so badly wanted to help his son, at least to help him escape without any further wounds. Shikaku's eyes were sad. When he managed to glimpse at Shikamaru when he woke up, it was... Familiarity.

He couldn't hold Jiraiya any longer, Anbu we're grabbing his to remove his hand sign that trapped the legendary Sanin but did not go without a fight. Finally he was thrown into the floor.

Shikamaru watched his father struggle his heart hurt. He wanted to stand and help him. His father of all people did not deserve this. He did. He was soon to be at a dangerously low point of chakra. So finally. The hot waves of chakra slowed and stopped. He wanted to stay conscious.

"Shikaku! What is wrong with you! How do you know him!" Jiraiya asked furiously. Shikamaru held his head up and caught the gaze of confusion in the sages eye. Finally he looked back over to Shikamaru.

"How do you know him." Jiraiya said with venom in his voice. Shikamaru looked tiredly up at the roof where the dark sky filled with clouds would have been. "Why couldn't have I been born a cloud?"

Naruto stiffened as well as Obito.

Naruto had finally been able to drag Obito into the village. And now? Now, Shikamaru's chakra was exploding from the Hokage's tower. Naruto felt the gaze of Obito on him. Sweat rolled down Naruto's face.

Naruto didn't know what to do. He wanted to run to Shikamaru's aid. But... Then what would happen once they thought him as an enemy?

He felt wind pass his face. "Don't worry about it Naruto." Sasuke broke the unsaid rule of using real names in the village. But why would Naruto care? Naruto looked at Sasuke with surprise. "I killed Danzo Naruto. They will recognize me as Danzo's killer sooner rather than later." Sasuke looked at Obito before looking back at Naruto.

"You, allow people to unite in strange ways. I do not. Allow me to be seen as a criminal. Not you." Sasuke said looking at Naruto's shaking eyes. Naruto sighed. He didn't want them to be seen as criminals. But... It might just be the only way. "I will be questioned. But don't worry about me once you two leave the village." Sasuke nodded. "Then don't worry about us in return." Sasuke said before disappearing.

Both Naruto and Sasuke. They would worry about each other. For a long time.