Light in the Dark

Tell Me the Truth

§Akari pov§

I felt a bit anxious as I stood not too far from the village I had once called home. There was also a strange feeling of being a stranger here.. It had been quite awhile since I had been back, and I couldn't help but wonder how they were doing after the attack. Not everyone in the village was bad, and I just knew if I could get Shikamaru on my side I could prove that to Sasuke.

After all, the younger generations shouldn't be held responsible for the older generations mistakes.

We shouldn't have to deal with the back lash and mess that they left behind for us. The village could be rebuilt.. Sasuke and I could fix it together. All of us, living together. As for the people who are responsible for what has happened.... Maybe Sasuke's plan is truly for the best. I couldn't bring myself to think about that now, because all that came after it was anger at myself for not being strong enough. Especially now..

Obito had explained to me that even though I was brought back, I was still killed with the Nine-Tails inside me. This meant that he died along with me, and that his spirit was released from me. Apparently he would be reincarnated somewhere else. Wherever it was, I truly hope that Kurama doesn't decide that he wants to destroy villages again. I hope he can just live his life peacefully and freely. For him being the dark part, he really wasn't all that bad.

"Akari?" I jumped a little bit at the sound of his voice but slowly turned around to see Shikamaru wearing his regular clothes instead of his mission outfit. I smiled slightly at him, trying to ignore the overwhelming sense of relief at the sight of my longest friend. If I melted right away he wouldn't take me seriously, he wouldn't listen to what I needed to say.

"Shikamaru, you caught me off guard," I sighed, stepping closer towards him.

"I'm unarmed like you asked, but I need to make sure you are too," Shikamaru took a step back and I nodded my head. He was still always planning five steps ahead. I took off my cloak that was wrapped around me, and took off my pouch that was on my hip. I tossed it over to Shikamaru, and unzipped my jacket to show him that I only had a t-shirt underneath.

"You don't trust me do you?" I laughed sarcastically, and he just raised an eyebrow before laughing too.

"Kari, as a comrade I would trust you with my life, as a member of the Akatsuki I can't play it safe," Shikamaru sighed, crossing his arms, and giving me a look that screamed disappointment.

"Oh relax Shikamaru, it's not like I'm hunting down Jinchuriki or blowing up villages," I mumbled looking up at him, "I only wear the cloak when it's inside out,"

"Akari, you are still with them, which I am asking you to help me understand, are you trying to be a covert spy?" Shikamaru grew a little more annoyed as his words carried on.

"Shikamaru, they're ideals really aren't that bad-"

"Not that bad?!" Shikamaru shouted a bit, "Akari you do remember that they killed Gaara right? That they wanted to kill Naruto?"

"No, listen, those were a few members that went rogue," I tried to explain but Shikamaru just kept shaking his head.

"They have you so completely brainwashed don't they?" Shikamaru laughed dryly, and I just blinked at him.

"If you mean they finally told me the truth, that no one in this village ever felt the need to tell me," I snapped at him and he rolled my eyes.

"Enlighten me then Akari, if they are all knowing then enlighten me, but first," Shikamaru paused me before I could actually talk, "I want you to also explain how you go with the man who started the attack of the Nine-Tails all those years ago, you know Madara?"