The Great Medic

24: Confidant

A/N - Just a quick chapter for today! It's a little filler-y but a definitely emotionally needed part of the story, I hope you don't mind! I was going to add the next part to this (which most of the dialogue is written for! yippee!!) but it didn't pair well with the tone of this chapter so I'll be splitting these chapters up for the flow of the story! I know, I know, longer chapters are nicer but the tone hehehe! I start my new job Monday so I'm very nervous but excited. My fiance and I are going clothes shopping later today so I can get nicer clothes for this new job and I'm going to dress him up while we're out there hehehe! Life is looking amazing!

For those that frequent reddit, I did post on a throwaway account on the r/Naruto_Fanfiction reddit page for questions related to this fanfic because it's been so long that I thought... maybe you all needed a chance to speak about the story, learn about my struggles with writing this fanfic, or if you just like the story and wanted to know more about it! I wasn't even going to do it, but I remember a while back someone posting on that reddit page that the redditor was wondering what happened to my story so, people are definitely interested in TGM, but I quite literally disappeared off the face of the earth for a long time.

I think I've rambled enough so enjoy the story!

P.S - Also, if you noticed the OG TGM receive a chapter - no, you didn't. I totally didn't accidentally post to the original version and not this one. I totally wouldn't do that... heheh

Shikaku thumbed through an urgent report from the Third Hokage. It had been dropped off at his desk with a request from an ANBU agent to peer over it as soon as possible. Due to meetings and an interrogation he had to be a part of with Inoichi, he hadn't gotten around to it until after he'd brought home from work. Upon seeing the large pamphlet in his hands, Yoshino ushered him into his home office, sensing its importance. "I'll take care of dinner and handle the kids when they get back from their missions today." She said with a comfortable smile.

"Kids?"

"Your son and his friend?" Yoshino had looked at him as if he were dumb for even asking, something that had pulled a laugh out of him before the man disappeared into his office, locking it behind himself.

If a regular person had glanced through this report, they likely would've gotten a headache from the massive spike in detailed numbers and intelligence hidden within the pages. For him, though, it was nothing. Shikaku was well versed in this type of jargon, reading the words quickly. He was careful to analyze all the possibilities that could come from what seemed like an impending attack on Konohagakure grounds. It seems he and Hiruzen would be collaborating soon to hash out likely scenarios that could arise from the suspicious activities filtering through their allies. He pulled out a pen, scribbling in the margins to make sure all his thoughts were written down as he read through.

For some reason, communication with Sunagakure had completely ceased within the last few weeks. Imports from the region have decreased exponentially as well, costing vendors in the shopping district much grief, howling in the Hokage's ear how they're losing business. Nothing had been done to fix the situation yet due to its suspiciousness, but Hiruzen had bided his time with placating half-truths, quieting down the business owners who were getting antsy. Konohagakure and Sunagakure have been begrudging allies since Hiruzen had resumed his Hokage position since Minato's death, so why were they being so cold lately?

Something was definitely going on.

He heard the front door open within his home, a low toned voice calling out a polite greeting - his son, it seemed. Shikamaru greeted his mother warmly from the sounds of it, asking about Shikaku's whereabouts rather loudly. Shikaku smiled at his wife's voice, listening to them converse with one another before getting back to the documents.