[Hokage] One tit for another

When did you realize this?

Probably had a premonition all along.

Sasuke has always been that out of place existence.

Shikamaru has been trying to figure out what the world looks like in Sasuke's eyes, because he wants to know why Sasuke always shows that lonely and sad look inadvertently.That fleeting confusion seemed to contain endless despair and pain, as if the world had been turned upside down, and Sasuke was standing at the other end of the unreachable world, quietly watching everything that happened to them on the other side.

Shikamaru wants to invite Sasuke to play chess with him, but Sasuke refuses every time.Shikamaru had no choice but to play chess with himself, and Sasuke watched Shikamaru entertaining himself, never intervening, and never expressing opinions.

But Shikamaru is a little relieved that Sasuke has other friends, just like Shikamaru has Ino and Choji who grew up together, Sasuke also has Naruto.

They also always get together to eat, sometimes ramen, sometimes barbecue.When facing Naruto, Sasuke's expression is always more lively and easier to laugh. Although he would call Naruto an idiot and push Naruto away in disgust, when he turned his head away, there was always a smile on the corner of his mouth. The arc that cannot be concealed.

Uzumaki Naruto is the nine-tailed demon fox who attacked the village back then.

How many troubles and hidden dangers are hidden behind this, Sasuke, as the descendant of the Uchiha clan, must be more aware than Shikamaru.But they became friends.Shikamaru still remembers Naruto from a long time ago. He was a dirty and bluffing kid who liked to yell at other kids, and then stood alone in the face of the scattered crowd, showing The expression of about to cry.Shikamaru would not bully a child with some sarcasm, but he would never take the initiative to approach this obvious big trouble.

However, the Naruto he came into contact with through Sasuke is completely different from Shikamaru's impression, no longer the kind of dirty and thin because of lack of education.Naruto had a cheerful smile on his face, his disheveled blond hair shone brighter than the sun, and his blue eyes shone brightly, clearly reflecting Sasuke's figure.The child was circling around Sasuke almost like a baby bird, even if he was pushed away, he would relentlessly get close to him, "Sasuke Sasuke" kept yelling.

Shikamaru can understand Sasuke's feelings very well, no one can refuse a little chick who trusts him wholeheartedly.Especially for people like them who do things very easily, they have long been tired of ordinary people who don't know how to pretend to be ignorant. On the contrary, such a simple fool who is as clear and transparent as a stream at a glance is so cute. many.

If there is a friend like Naruto, the lonely snow that falls between the brows will dissipate one day.

At that time, Shikamaru still had such naive thoughts.

Everything seems to be proceeding step by step like this.

Sasuke never had any intention of hiding anything, or in other words, he didn't see the existence of others at all, and he always went his own way, like a lonely little wolf cub.After fading the youthfulness of childhood, Sasuke Junxiu's appearance became more and more distinctive. Although he still walked around with his hands in his pockets and behaved strangely, gradually, fewer and fewer people called him an idiot.The restless boys and girls in the school all felt that Sasuke was extremely cool, and it was only when he was taciturn and independent that he showed his personality.

What's more, Sasuke's practical ability is still so strong, every time a shuriken or physical fitness is assessed, it will attract a large group of students to watch.

Sasuke became a well-known genius. The rumor that he had a brain problem was rarely mentioned anymore. The one who passed away with that rumor was the brilliant Uchiha clan.

No one still remembers how prosperous the Uchiha clan used to be, and no one remembers the sensational Miemen massacre.The students only thought that Sasuke looked like the eldest son of a wealthy family, tall, cool and powerful, a proud son of heaven, a winner in life.No one knew that Sasuke was making himself a cup of instant noodles when they came home from school every day to eat a steaming hot meal.

On the contrary, Naruto is still the famous crane tail, but under Sasuke's secret fanning, his lethality has increased exponentially.In the past, the kid who only dared to make faces at others was now able to carry a paint bucket and sway his artistic talent on Hokage Rock, laughing loudly, while being chased by the junin like the wind and ran across half of Konoha.

But Sasuke and Naruto are still known as best friends.Even if everyone doesn't understand, how can a top student like Sasuke, who is naturally arrogant, stay with the tail of the crane all day long.

The bond between Sasuke and Naruto has long been unbreakable.

Shikamaru thought it would go on like this forever, they went to school together, graduated together, from genin to chunin, from children to teenagers, until wrinkles appeared in the corners of their eyes, they could still get together in a barbecue restaurant and roast sizzling meat Meat slices, chatting about family affairs, joking and talking nonsense.

Occasionally, I can go out for a walk, blow the evening breeze, and bet on what the next cloud will look like.One day Sasuke will be willing to play chess with him, and Naruto will one day be recognized by everyone.Ino always reconciles with her childhood friend Sakura, and Choji is still the same, looking for delicious food every day.

Isn't that how life is?

Everyone is moving forward, so good and bad, painful and sad, all will turn into the rising sun the next day.

But when he heard the news that Uchiha Itachi appeared in Konoha and Sasuke chased after him, Shikamaru's heart jumped suddenly.

Shikamaru didn't know what happened, when he hurried over, what he saw was only a ward full of treatment equipment.

Sasuke lay there unconscious, covered in white bandages, countless catheters were inserted into his body, and the sound of "beep beep" echoed repeatedly in the empty ward.

Shikamaru looked through the glass, but couldn't find Sasuke's face, and could barely make out a human figure under the heavy bandages.

Sasuke was badly injured.Shikamaru looked at Sasuke's diagnosis sheet and identified each item, from the head to the shoulders, to the arms and ribs, and even the internal organs, none of them were intact.

That was done by Uchiha Itachi himself.

The murderer who once exterminated the whole clan returned to Konoha again, broke the bones of his brother, and stabbed the sharp blade into his body.

Uchiha Itachi still didn't kill Sasuke, but it seemed like he was going to destroy him.He broke Sasuke's hand and crushed Sasuke's shoulder.If Tsunade-sama hadn't just returned to Konoha, Sasuke might never be able to lift heavy objects again in his life.

Everyone is angrily denouncing Uchiha Itachi's cruelty.

But Shikamaru knows that Uchiha Itachi is far more than a simple murderer, he is also Sasuke's biological brother, the only person Sasuke can look up to.

Sasuke was brought up by Itachi, his ninjutsu was taught by Itachi, the sword technique was taught by Itachi, and even shuriken was taught by Itachi himself.Even the sword that Sasuke has been inseparable so far was given to him by Itachi.

Sasuke cherishes that dagger more than anything else.

Although Sasuke would never say such words out of his mouth, only the blind can see the preciousness and care in his words and deeds.

But it was this thing that Sasuke cherished in his heart and cared for carefully, but was broken by the other party himself.

Shikamaru stood silently in front of the ward for a long time, and Naruto stood beside him, also silent together.

Shikamaru originally thought that Naruto would definitely do something earth-shattering, because this little chick was so attached to the first person he came into contact with.But unexpectedly, Naruto was very quiet, he just looked at the beeping instrument at the other end of the glass, neither flustered nor exaggeratedly sad.

"Did you know?" In the silence, Naruto said suddenly, turning his head to look at Shikamaru.It was only then that Shikamaru realized that in those blue eyes like the sky, there seemed to be a hazy dark color precipitating. For a moment, Shikamaru even wondered if the person standing in front of him was that blond idiot who had always been carefree.

——That was far more shocking to Shikamaru than the sadness shown on his face.

"This is the second time I've seen Sasuke lying there," Naruto said.There was depression and forbearance in his voice.

Shikamaru saw that Naruto's hand on the window was clenched tightly, so hard that it trembled slightly, and the knuckles turned white.

Shikamaru knew what Naruto was talking about, but he didn't expect that Naruto and Sasuke had already known each other when the Uchiha clan was destroyed.Was it the same with the young Sasuke at that time, lying in the intensive care unit without a sound?And the little Naruto stood outside the window, watching his friend hovering before the death line.

The story of that year is repeated again, but will the ending of the story be the same as then?

Naruto turned his head back. He looked at Sasuke lying there for a long time before saying in a very soft voice, "Sasuke left by himself."

The wind blows through the long corridor, and Naruto's words seem to be swallowed up in the silent wind.

Shikamaru didn't speak, but suddenly clenched the hand hanging by his side.

The author has something to say:

Well, the episode is too long, so I have to divide it into three chapters, and there will be another update tomorrow~