Cries of the Forest

6

He wasn't ready for this.

He'd gained permission to introduce Naruto to some other people and had briefly brought up the idea to Chouji, but it was still nerve-wracking to know that he was technically harboring a potential threat to Konoha. If he was found out, he could be killed regardless of his position as a clan heir.

In fact, it could put his clan under suspicion as he's next to be the leading and representing face.

Stop thinking.

Sometimes it was better to just stop thinking about overcomplicated things and let it be. He already knew the risks and consequences for this whole situation, and about 12 or more outcomes depending on certain key aspects and who would or wouldn't be involved. Only a few were good, and none involved leaving Naruto to himself.

No, it was better to stop thinking of it since he had absolutely no intention of backing out now. Especially since Naruto had basically imprinted on him like a duckling and might just attempt to find him himself should Shikamaru stop showing up for their 'playdates.'

And that was both incredibly endearing and terrifying at the same time. To think that Naruto depends on him that much and would perhaps fear for his wellbeing at a single irregularity in his behavior showed a huge amount of trust, and that had never happened before. Most assumed that he'd be a man who used the rules as loopholes to expend as little energy as possible, as per his typical lazy and slightly cold persona. And that hurt, to know that your comrades hold so little faith in you.

God, that's depressing. He couldn't even get his mind to do such a simple task as stop thinking! Was he really the lauded genius of the Naras?

"What's got you thinking so hard? Is it your girlfriend?" Ino's distinctively bossy voice sounded from a little behind his shoulder. Startled, he had to quench the knee-jerk reaction to reach into his kunai pouch at his hip.

"For the last time, she's not my girlfriend." She sidled up next to him and grinned.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say," she said, clearly not believing his word.

"Girls are too troublesome," he muttered, missing the budding realization in his companion's crystalline blue eyes.

"So then, what's on your mind?"

Should he tell her? They used to be on the same genin team, but she was also the gossip queen of the village. But maybe he could release some half-truths to satisfy her curiosity...

". . . I have this friend who's from out of the village. Not another ninja village, but definitely not Konoha." She rolled her eyes at this, thinking this was one of those cliché routines where the 'friend' in question was really nim. His eye almost twitched, but he kept his composure. "You see, they don't have a traveler's permit, but it's dangerous for them to remain where they are. I can't exactly hide them in one of our vacant clan houses, so I'm wondering if you may have any ideas."

She thought for a moment, serious now that it was a non-romantic situation.
"Well, the simplest solution is to register them as a citizen and maybe speed along the process behind the scenes," she winked, in case he really was completely socially inept. "But you've already thought of this, haven't you." He had, and of course she realized that.

"The only problem with this plan is that the council will likely kick up a fuss because of some certain extra abilities they possess. All kekkei-genkai are basically endangered in Konoha's eyes." That brought her up short before she gained a thoughtful expression.

"Hmmm; that is a problem, I'll admit that. But I would say the best thing you can do is file the paperwork and discreetly introduce them to prominent people. Gain allies to gain a majority vote if the issue ever goes to the council. As an heir, I trust you are well versed in these politics?" She batted her lashes in false innocence, (as if anyone would buy it from her.)

He snorted. Of course he was trained in weathering the storm of personal interests. It was training all heirs underwent, including Ino. He could play the game just fine when he wanted to, thank you very much.

"Exactly," she continued. "Beat them at the game if you can't hide this friend of yours. Honestly, I don't see any hope of you keeping this something like this secret for long, so I suggest you get to work. In the meantime, my lips are sealed shut. Maybe you could show up on time every once in a while to repay me," she said, only half-joking.

"Maybe," he said. They both knew the chance of that happening would be like Jiraiya saying he has renounced his ways to be a monk and would never peep again. In conclusion: most likely never.

And she knew this too, so she just huffed and pretended to be irritated. "Well alright. I think I'm gonna head off to the hot springs. I'm meeting with the girls, and there's always a pervert or two to entertain us. And Shikamaru?"

"Hm?"

"Watch out for those pesky toads. I hear they're found in the most inconspicuous of places."

His gaze sharpened minutely; it seems Jiraiya was in town.

"Understood. And do try to keep him in one piece." She grinned like a shark who's caught the scent of blood.

"He'll be fine in the end."

~~~

In the bushes by the fence of a certain inn, a man with distinctive white hair and a bloody nose shoots up, a chill down his spine and a healthy dose of fear instilled. A cold sweat runs down his neck and he laughs nervously.

"Maybe I should come by another day. . . ?"

~~~

I brought up majority votes in that bit of politics because logically, the elders would count as 2 votes, and Danzo would count as 3 because he's from a clan. There are 17 clans of Konoha, so it would be easy to outvote the 6 votes given to the elders, and that's why the majority is most important. The only problem is when the civilian council comes in, and how easily bought they are. . .

Edited 12/17/2019