Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The next morning begins with the usual sounds of the village on the other side of the window. Shikadai keeps his word and goes to knock on Shinki’s door, though it turns out not to be necessary; his cousin is already awake and active.

After a storm, there is plenty to do. Shikadai knows these routines perfectly by now. Mornings after a storm are about reconnecting everything and turning it back on. By the time he comes down to the kitchen, Temari is already working on the refrigerator. 

After a brief conversation with his mother, Shikadai heads back upstairs to pack a few things into a backpack. In the end, he decides he’ll just bring things to the apartment as he needs them. The brief guilt of being the only one with that advantage fades when he thinks about how much work it would be to pack and move everything. 

Boruto would say luck is a skill too.

Two hours before the meeting starts, Chocho and Inojin knock on his door. He suggests grabbing something to eat on the way to the Kazekage’s building, and the three set out without a specific destination in mind.

While Shikadai considers a few places with a varied enough menu for all of them to find something they like, Chocho breaks the silence with awe in her voice as her eyes sweep the street.

“It’s like yesterday’s storm never happened.”

“I was sure there would be things to repair today,” Inojin adds.

“It was a short storm. Only the long ones leave some damage. We need to turn left at the next street; there’s a good place to eat on that corner.”

Chocho and Inojin walk behind him, chatting about a book Sarada recommended on key foods for surviving in the desert. Apparently, the author is a civilian who has dedicated his life to creating recipes that can be recreated with the resources the desert has to offer.

He should check it out too. He has his own share of knowledge on the subject, thanks to the extensive training his family has given him. But lately he’s been curious about other insights and experiences. 

“So,” Chocho says, "the last team is going straight to the meeting?”

“Looks like it.” he answers. The storm probably delayed their arrival. At least the conference didn’t have to be rescheduled.

Inojin stretches his arms to the sky with a groan.

“Ahhh… why can’t we be on vacation for nine months? The week went by too fast. I wanted to paint more.”

“How exactly do you think you’d survive in another village for nine months without working?” Chocho asks, incredulous at his admission.

“I’m dating smart” Inojin says with a light shrug and a smirk before wrapping an arm around Shikadai’s waist.

Shikadai gives him a light shove and shoots him a flat look, only to get a stuck-out tongue in return.

Breakfast is delicious, and by the time they head toward the Kazekage’s tower, Shikadai hopes the last team arrives late so he can sneak in a nap somewhere in the building.

Upon arriving at the building and stating the reason for their visit at reception, the three of them are guided to a room on the fifth floor. 

The view catches his eye immediately: it’s stunning. 

From this height, they can see the dunes and rock walls at the edge of the village. 

Beyond the large window stands a single rock formation. It’s huge and colorful. It has darker parts that make it look like sunlight was playing hide-and-seek across its surface. The rock is surrounded by a vast expanse of dunes and even though they lie within the same stretch of land, the wind has shaped the dunes differently. It makes him feel like he’s watching the same piece of land from a million different lenses.

It’s like looking at a garden that never withers.

Maybe no one else will notice, since to outsiders there’s no real difference between rocks and sand, but Shikadai is sure Gaara chose the room for the landscape. Gaara is the kind of person who pays attention to those things.

The sound of the door opening pulls Shikadai out of his thoughts. The team from Iwa enters and greets them with a formality that seems excessive for people who once got drunk together.

No one makes any effort to interact. On their end, the Iwa team talks among themselves in their native language. Chocho and Inojin are now standing a little closer to him, looking at something on Chocho’s phone.

The door opens once more and Shinki’s team walks in behind three dark-skinned girls with curly hair and clouds on their hitai-ate. 

Ninjas from Kumo. 

Chocho and Inojin simultaneously nudge him lightly and shoot him a quick smile. At the same time, Shikadai catches a glimpse of Kureha casting a look of defeat at one of her teammates. Chocho is getting her free dinner, it seems. 

Yodo gives the Kumo girls a brief instruction, and Shinki’s team steps back as the three girls sit around the table. Almost immediately, their gazes settle on Chocho, who’s pulling some sweets out of one of her bags.

After a couple of minutes in which the room feels thick with discomfort, the door opens again to reveal Gaara, accompanied by Kankuro, Temari, and two more jounins. 

The nine young ninjas, with unexpected coordination, straighten their postures before bowing and greeting the village leader. Gaara returns the gesture and asks them to take their seats before sitting at the head of the table with his companions at either side. 

His voice is as calm as ever as he begins. “I thank you all for being here. I know the Kumo team hasn’t had time to rest after the last part of their journey. We’ll move up the first intermission so you can get something to eat.”

One of the jounin accompanying the Kazekage stands and begins handing out a scroll in front of each of the nine visitors.

Gaara asks them to open it so they can review it together.

When Shikadai opens the scroll, he first sees a list. Before he can read it, Gaara speaks again.

“Since this is the first edition of a program like this in the shinobi world, I understand you’ll have many questions about what you’ll be doing for the next nine months in a different village.

This program was designed with the assistance and participation of ambassadors from the Allied Shinobi Forces. Its purpose is to continue strengthening the bonds between nations, contributing to the peace we’ve all worked and fought for.

When creating this program, our expectation was to offer an opportunity for the new generations to know and understand other cultures more deeply. You won’t just be spending months immersed in another village’s way of life; here in this room, we already have representatives from four different villages, and I hope this program helps bring you closer to each other.

Now, in the second section of the scroll, you’ll find a detailed schedule of the activities you’ll carry out during the nine-month term. To explain it more clearly, I’ll hand things over to the current coordinator of the Allied Shinobi Forces, Temari Nara of the Desert.”

Temari stands up from her seat, and her expression becomes even more commanding. 

Shikadai grew up with her and has always known her as an imposing figure. However, now that he’s a jounin and his career has led him to stand in front of rooms, speak to strangers, and assert himself as an authority, he realizes there’s a wealth of experience behind that control and demeanor. 

Using the tone and language she reserves for professional settings, his mother begins to speak. “I’m glad to be here to present the curriculum for what is the first international long-term residency program. As the Kazekage already mentioned, the program was designed by the Allied Shinobi Forces and reviewed and approved by the Kage of the Five Great Nations.

As you can see in the next section, there is a series of activities you will be carrying out over the nine-month period. Each one of these activities is designed to contribute to your training as shinobi, as well as to reinforce your sense of unity and teamwork.

Each team must complete a certain number of hours in different areas. Although some of the activities I’m about to describe may feel more like training than missions, you are expected to approach them with full seriousness and commitment. All your hours will be compensated, so we expect you to put forth your best effort in everything you do.” 

Her expression was serious and her tone was a little threatening. As if she were anticipating a bunch of young ninjas without supervision in another village will take advantage of this opportunity to spend nine months slacking off. 

Well, she’s called a sharp mind for a reason.

“Your first month here will be focused on successfully adapting to the desert. This may be the most important part, as it will be hard to complete missions if you cannot orient yourselves in the desert or find shelter and food. You’d also need to build resistance to the terrain and temperature. After the first break, we’ll go over the logistics of your first month in more detail.

During the second and third month, you’ll assist in C-rank missions within the village and the surrounding areas. Of course, these missions will be paid according to internationally regulated rates.

In the fourth, fifth, and sixth months, you will be assigned B-rank missions.

In the seventh and eighth months, in addition to continuing with B-rank missions, you’ll be assigned guard duty at the village gates and borders. During this final stretch of the program, you’ll also take on shifts at the ninja academy as supporting instructors.

In the last month of the program, each team will be assigned a genin-level team that you must lead through D-rank missions. In this part of the program, you’ll receive appropriate compensation as team leaders.

As you can see, by month seven, all of you will be performing jounin-level activities, even though ninety percent of you are currently chuunin. This is an opportunity to return to your villages with the training needed to become jounin, academy instructors, or team leaders.”

Before Temari can continue, Shikadai notices a shift in the room’s energy. Everyone looks excited.

“Now then, as I mentioned earlier, you’ll be required to complete a certain number of hours in workshops. After the second break, you’ll be informed of all the options for additional training. Beyond your professional development, we want you to gain knowledge unique from Suna, so you’ll be required to enroll in at least three programs to learn skills exclusive to this village. This is mandatory and will be a permanent activity throughout the nine-month period.

I ask that you write down any questions you may have so we can go through them one by one after the break.

Thank you for participating in this program, and on behalf of the Allied Shinobi Forces, I want to acknowledge your efforts in preserving and strengthening the bonds of peace in the shinobi world. 

You will have access to communication channels with the main offices of the Allied Shinobi Forces should you have any concerns, complaints, or suggestions.”

Temari gives a slight bow, a gesture mirrored by everyone in the room, and sits down once again.

Gaara announces the first break and asks them to return in twenty minutes. Two chuunins enter the room to escort them to a lounge where a buffet awaits.

Shikadai immediately heads to the table with coffee and fruit-flavored cookies. As he eats, he mentally chews over everything that was said during the meeting. They already take on B-rank missions in Konoha. Maybe they could make an exception and assign them higher-ranked missions since they have a jounin on the team. Then again, A and S rank missions involve access to classified information that wouldn’t be shared with ninjas from other villages so easily. But… technically, their team is partially from Suna as well.

Inojin’s hand on his arm pulls him out of his thoughts. Inojin tilts his head in one direction, and Shikadai follows his gaze. On the other side of the room, the three Kumo girls are standing in front of Chocho at a table full of appetizers. The conversation seems friendly, but the posture of one of the girls is too stiff, like someone trying to assert dominance. Good luck with that. Chocho doesn’t bow her head to anyone. 

Shikadai looks back at Inojin and shrugs. No need to get involved. He’s sure that as soon as the conversation ends, Chocho will come tell them every detail anyway.

Inojin changes the subject by stealing a cookie from Shikadai’s plate. Too late, Shikadai tries to move the plate out of his boyfriend’s reach.

“You won us a free dinner.”

Shikadai rolls his eyes, and Inojin smiles as he tries to grab another cookie, but this time Shikadai manages to keep the plate far enough away.

“There’s a whole table full of the same cookies right in front of you. Stop stealing mine.”

“But yours look tastier.”

Then Inojin makes another attempt to reach for his plate, and Shikadai takes two steps back. Inojin laughs while Shikadai frowns.

“That makes no sense.”

“I owe you for winning the bet.”

Shikadai knows Inojin well enough to realize what he’s really offering right now, and as tempting as it sounds, this is the chance he’s been waiting for.

“I know how you can pay me back.”

Inojin’s gaze sharpens, and he tilts his head slightly.

“Oh yeah?”

Shikadai looks away at the plate and grabs another cookie. Those blue eyes may make him forget about the puppet completely. Stupid Inojin.

“I want you to help me with a sketch,” Shikadai finally says, silently hoping Inojin will agree to a couple of other things later even if not as a reward for winning the bet.

Amusement flickers across Inojin’s face. He seems about to say something before Chocho suddenly joins them.

“Apparently, the Raikage sent me a gift” Chocho announces.

“I want some of whatever it is he sent you,” Inojin quickly says.

“How are you already asking for something I haven’t even received yet?”

“It’s called planning.”

Chocho snorts and reaches for one of the cookies.

When they return from the break, an envelope has been placed in front of each seat next to the scrolls. Shikadai examines it briefly and notices his name printed in one corner.

His gaze shifts toward Kureha and Masaki, who seem about to open theirs before Reiji stops them.

A few minutes later, Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, and the two jounin enter the room and take their seats.

Temari asks them to voice any questions they might have about what was discussed in the first part of the meeting.

There aren’t many questions, but one of them concerns whether, during those nine months, there would be any opportunity to visit their home villages.

Temari clarifies that it isn’t part of the plan, but if an emergency arises, it can be discussed with the Allied Shinobi Forces headquarters or with the Kazekage. Non-emergency cases would be similar to the procedures in each village, where any leave of absence must be requested at least a month in advance.

Once there are no more questions, Temari yields the floor to Kankuro to explain the next part of the project.

Kankuro rises from his seat, and Shikadai watches his uncle’s demeanor shift. His posture and expression now are nothing like the man who usually spends his time teasing everyone at the table over dinner. His voice is not as formal as Gaara’s or his mother's, but still assertive nonetheless. 

Kankuro explains that the envelopes contain the access codes to their personal bank account where they’ll be receiving their payments. He also informs them that they will be living in the Suna shinobi residential area. Each team will have its own apartment, and the rent will be minimal since the Allied Shinobi Forces will subsidize most of the housing costs.

He also explains that if, during this time, any team or individual wishes to change accommodations, they are free to do so, but that team or person will have to cover the full cost of the new rent.

In addition, they will need to report to the Kazekage’s building to finalize their registration process, which will grant them a temporary ID allowing them to enter and leave the village as residents.

“Of course, you’re also free to access the village’s public resources and services,” Kankuro adds. “Just don’t forget to present your IDs.”

The second part of the meeting ends shortly afterward with the announcement that, by the end of the day, they will be escorted to their respective apartments.

They are also informed that tomorrow they will receive a guided tour of the village, mainly the training grounds and the main offices.

The second break only lasts ten minutes. Just enough time to stretch their legs. And apparently, enough time for the ice between teams to start melting.

Kureha and her team approach Shikadai and his group, before talking loud enough for the Kumo girls to listen.

“Hey. We’re going out to dinner together tonight. Want to join us?”

It’s clear to Shikadai that it’s just as strange for his team to see the Iwa ninja suddenly approach after keeping their distance all morning. But there’s little time to dwell on that when the Kumo girls move closer to answer.

“Why not?” says the tallest one, the same girl who earlier seemed to be trying to assert herself with Chocho. “We’re going to be spending a lot of time together. Might as well start getting to know each other.” Her tone is overly casual, like someone forcing an image of calm. Shikadai knows it well, it’s the same tone he uses.

It’s incredible how all team leaders end up with the same habits. He’ll allow himself to feel embarrassed about that later.

“My name’s Nagai.” Nagai gestures to her teammates as they step forward in perfect unison, a synchronicity that makes the hair on Shikadai’s neck stand on end. “These are Miji and Chuu.”

“What’s up?” Miji, a girl a bit shorter than Nagai, greets them “Sorry we didn’t say hi earlier. We were starving.”

Chuu, the shortest of the three, smiles and adds in a friendly tone, “And you all looked very serious.”

Chocho groans before saying, “Guys, come on! There’s no doubt you’re ruining my social life.”

Before Shikadai can try to defend himself, Inojin says indignantly, “Don’t lump me in with him. If no one comes near us, it’s because of Shikadai’s permanent scowl.”

Unfortunately, Shikadai realizes that his brow is, in fact, furrowed. The moment he relaxes it, he hears the others laughing.

After the laughter settles, Masaki says, “Ahh… sorry about that. But we promise we’re more fun over snacks and a drink”

“For now, we’ll have to take your word for it,” Miji adds.

And just like that, it seems to Shikadai that the tension has started to dissipate. It sounds like they’ll be spending more time together than he originally expected. So getting along would probably be for the best. To be honest, his first impression of the Iwa team wasn’t great and it’s probably mutual. And even though he has barely interacted with the Kumo team, they seem a little defensive. 

Or maybe he’s just overthinking. So far no one has given any indication of wanting to stay distant, so maybe after a few days and some training they’ll become proper colleagues, like his friends back in Konoha. Hopefully, it’ll be simple.

For now, he’ll just have to take their word for it.

When they return from the break, the room feels a little more open. Maybe breaking the ice removed the wall that had seemed to stretch across the table.

This time they find a small catalogue waiting for them, and one more familiar face has joined the room.

Gaara stands briefly to begin the third part of the meeting.

“As mentioned earlier, when you return to your countries, we hope you’ll carry a piece of our culture with you. For that reason, you will each take three workshops of your choice focused on techniques unique to the Sand.

We’ve provided multiple options with your different interests in mind. Of course, there are workshops that directly contribute to your performance in missions, but we’ve also included artistic and recreational ones. 

Nowadays, villages are no longer creators of human weapons. I’m proud to say my fellow Kage share my vision of welcoming peace by committing to allowing the new generations to explore their identities more freely.

We are shinobi, and our duty will always be to the vulnerable, but there is no reason not to dedicate time to our personal peace as well. I, for one, enjoy caring for plants. Not something my enemies would imagine of me, I know…”

Gaara pauses briefly, the corner of his mouth lifting in a small, almost self-conscious smile. A light ripple of laughter moves through the room.

“But doing something I enjoy purely for pleasure helps me stay connected to my human side. For that reason, I encourage you not to choose based solely on your roles as shinobis. Your passions and interests will give you a break from the pace we’re all used to living at.”

Once again Gaara pauses, and the expressions around the room make it clear his words are settling somewhere in their minds.

“Now then. To present the available workshops, I’ll hand things over to a key figure in the village’s education department, Matsuri.”

Matsuri, who is already standing in front of a small board, thanks her Kazekage with a respectful bow for the opportunity.

Shikadai has known Matsuri all his life. She and Yukata are the reason there are far too many pictures of him as a baby doing absolutely anything. Apparently, the reason was that “Temari-san’s baby is just too adorable.”

But this is the first time he’s seen her doing anything other than laughing and gossiping about the village’s hottest topics. It’s honestly a bit unsettling.

“I’d like to begin by saying that the deadline to register for your workshops is in one week, so don’t feel pressured to decide today.

You may also attend a sample class in any workshop before making your choice, so you can make a more informed decision. The schedules for each workshop are listed in the next section of your scroll.”

As he unrolls his scroll a little further, Shikadai finds a list of twelve workshops. His eyes begin scanning it while Matsuri continues speaking.

“I’ll give you a brief description of each workshop in order.

Since its early days, Suna has been known for our unique methods of treating delicate illnesses and injuries. We are the village with the highest number of patients hospitalized due to poison reactions. This has led to the development of various techniques and antidotes that have saved thousands of lives. I dare say our techniques are cutting-edge. If any of this sounded interesting to you, consider registering for the medical workshop.

If you’re interested in cooking, we recommend the gastronomy workshop. Suna, like every country, has flora and fauna unique to its region that form the basis of our dishes. This workshop explores the cuisines of the different tribes throughout the Land of Wind.

The next workshop is perfect for those interested in languages. In the Tsurat workshop, you’ll learn the main language of this country. It’s worth mentioning that years ago, a famous traveler who wrote chronicles about his experiences in various villages described Tsurat as the language of poetry. Not because we all speak in verse, but because he wrote that the way we express ourselves sounds as if we speak from the soul. Our manner of speaking felt pure and full of emotion to him.

The next workshop focuses on taijutsu. This may surprise you, considering that Suna is known for its long-range combat techniques. However, over the past decade, close-combat skill in Suna has improved significantly. The instructor leading this workshop is one of the best taijutsu users in the world. His level is comparable to that of Konoha, which currently possesses some of the finest taijutsu practitioners.

The next workshop is also quite interesting. It combines craftsmanship with the history and culture of Suna. The crafts workshop explores various techniques from the Land of Wind. As someone who has taken a few classes myself, I can assure you it’s fun, relaxing, and quite challenging.

Next is astronomy. People in Suna rely on the position of the stars far more than in other villages. It’s extremely fascinating and has practical applications across the world. It’s a demanding workshop and the only one that requires passing a short exam before registering, but it’s absolutely worth it.

The next focuses on one of Suna’s most characteristic fighting styles: long-range wind combat using war fans. You’ll learn everything from their components and construction to their mastery. Even if you don’t possess wind chakra, don’t worry, you’ll discover that fans are tools compatible with nearly any combat style.

Likewise, the following workshop centers on a combat technique predominant in Suna: puppetry. Historically, Suna has produced the greatest puppet masters in shinobi history. In this workshop, you’ll learn ancestral techniques as well as more recent innovations in puppet creation and manipulation.

The next is the genjutsu workshop. I recommend this one if your own genjutsu skills are at an intermediate level, since it doesn’t cover the basics but rather the unique styles developed in the Land of Wind. It’s a fascinating workshop that will also make you experience the desert in a completely different way.

Finally, I’ll speak briefly about the dance workshop. In the Land of Wind, there are seven types of dance, one for each region of the country. In this workshop, you’ll learn about all of them. It’s very fun and perfect for releasing tension.

I know Kazekage-sama mentioned that you shouldn’t choose your workshops solely based on their usefulness in battle. However, I believe each of them could still offer an advantage. From infiltration missions where you might need to pose as performers or artists, to desert rescue missions, or combat situations where you can use terrain and temperature to your advantage.

As I mentioned earlier, you’re welcome to try out classes if that helps you decide which workshops you’d like to take. Please choose carefully, keeping in mind that once you submit your registrations, you won’t be able to make changes.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to stop by the main office of the Department of Education. I or any of my colleagues will be happy to assist you.”

Matsuri remains for only a couple more minutes to hear Gaara’s words of thanks before he dismisses her for the day. She reiterates her willingness to help with anything they might need before leaving.

Gaara rises once more to announce, “Very well. With this, we’ve covered both the content of the program and its logistics.

I hope that after this conference you feel more motivated to begin the program. We certainly do.

Tomorrow at 1200 hours, you are expected on the first floor of this building to receive your identification and complete your registration in the compensation system through which you will receive your stipends.

Once again, I thank you for your interest in this program, and know that you are pioneers in it. I hope that when the time comes for you to return to your villages, you’ll do so with a broader view of the world and a deeper appreciation for the bonds we can form with others, regardless of where they come from.”

Gaara adopts an even more formal posture and after gathering some air, his voice resonates in every corner of the room. 

“Representatives of the Rock, Masaki Yokoyama, Kureha Nakano, Reiji Ueno, do you swear to uphold your commitment to peace through your efforts in this assignment?”

The three from Iwa stand quickly and raise their left arms, forming an L with tightly closed fists. In unison, they shout, “Yes, sir.”

Gaara nods before turning to him and his team.

“Representatives of the Leaf, Shikadai Nara of the Desert, Inojin Yamanaka, Chocho Akimichi, do you swear to uphold your commitment to peace through your efforts in this assignment?”

Shikadai and his teammates are on their feet in an instant, bowing at the same time as they respond, “Yes, sir.”

Shikadai straightens just as he sees his uncle turn to the final team.

“Representatives of the Cloud, Nagai Abe, Miji Watanabe, Chuu Ono, do you swear to uphold your commitment to peace through your efforts in this assignment?”

The girls from Kumo take a formal stance, feet slightly apart and arms behind their backs, before answering firmly, “Yes, sir.”

“With that, I officially begin the extended residency program. Dismissed.”

“Yes, sir.”

Once the meeting is officially concluded, Gaara bids them farewell and leaves alongside the two jounin.
Kankuro and Temari take only a few minutes longer before departing. Both make sure to exchange glances with Shikadai. His mother’s smile makes him feel oddly embarrassed for some reason. It’s the same expression she wore when she saw him in his chuunin vest for the first time. Such a drag.

Before leaving the room, Kankuro tells them that a team is ready to escort them to their apartments. Almost immediately, Sousetsu, Renga, and Isuka enter the room. Sousetsu and Renga quickly scan the space before settling their gaze on the girls from Kumo. They show no reaction, but Shikadai knows that if this weren’t a professional setting, Sousetsu would be growling after losing a bet with him. Shikadai makes a mental note to order the largest portion on the menu.

The nine of them, accompanied by the Suna team, head down to reception where they left their luggage earlier and exit the building toward the eastern side of the village.

Each team gathers almost instinctively and follows their guides toward a residential area with at least thirty apartment units.

The complex looks different from the one in Konoha, which is a building of at least ten floors. This one, on the other hand, is more similar to the Nara district. It could pass for just another part of the village, with houses and streets where merchants might set up their stalls during the day, but there are subtle signs that it is a restricted area.

In that sense, it resembles the Konoha building: the entrance is controlled. These sections of the villages are probably the places where confidential information is most easily accessed. 

Renga and the others guide them through the complex, and when they reach what appears to be the middle of the area, they stop.

Renga clears his throat lightly before speaking. “Apartment 34 North. The Iwa team will be staying here.”

Sousetsu hands each of them a key.

“I’ll stay with you to give you a brief tour of the inside,” Isuka says before opening the door and stepping in. “Come in.”

The Iwa team follows Isuka inside, and once they disappear into the apartment, Sousetsu and Renga call the group’s attention to continue moving.

A couple of residences later, Renga stops once more before announcing, “Apartment 42 North. Shikadai, your team will be staying here.”

Shikadai nods, and Sousetsu opens the apartment door.

“Sousetsu will give you the tour.”

Sousetsu gestures with his head for them to enter. One of the Kumo girls, Chuu, gives them a small wave goodbye before following Renga and the rest of her team.

Once the four of them are inside, Sousetsu pulls one of the curtains aside to let in the light. The sun has been at its highest point for about half an hour, so one uncovered window is enough to reveal what appears to be the living room.

Chocho begins scanning the place with her eyes, walking and occasionally turning on her heels to keep examining everything.

Inojin, on the other hand, stays near the center of the room, looking around in different directions.

It’s a semi-furnished space, much larger than Shikadai expected.

Sousetsu places the keys on the table and turns toward them. “Eh, it’s not a very long tour. This is the living room. Kitchen, bathroom, and one bedroom on the left. On the other side, two more bedrooms.”

Sousetsu points toward both areas with his thumbs. It’s a spacious living area from which the kitchen can be seen, separated only by a counter. In that direction, there’s also a small hallway that presumably leads to the bedroom and the bathroom.

On the right side, a wall with two doors marks the end of the living room.

“There’s a lever on the wall next to the front door. Pull it down and all the electricity in the place shuts off. I’ll install an alert on your phones, when you receive a sandstorm notification, please pull the lever. There’s a cooler in the kitchen; use it to store whatever you have in the fridge when that happens.”

Sousetsu walks toward the door and points out where it is located. It’s almost tucked into one of the corners near the door. Shikadai had expected to find it in the kitchen, like in his family’s home.

“There are also locks on every door and window. These little things on the sides,” Sousetsu says, pointing to a small mechanism identical to the one Shikadai already knows. Chocho and Inojin step closer to get a better look.

“When you receive those notifications, slide the locks until you hear them click shut.” Sousetsu straightens and looks at him with a faint smile. “Well, you’re the team we have the least to worry about.”

Chocho and Inojin lift their eyes from the small locks to look at him as well.

A new sensation runs through him. This time Suna will be different. Compared to all those years in which his family made him feel camouflaged, this time he will test how much he has truly learned from life here. More than that, his teammates are counting on him. They count on him as someone who knows things they don’t, but a small doubt rises in his mind.

What if, like the lever, Shikadai only knows how to live within a single house in the entire village? What if the desert is harsher with him now that he will walk it without his family at his side?

“And lastly,” Sousetsu speaks again, now a little more serious, “don’t try to challenge the desert. The only ones strong enough to defy it are Kazekage-sama, Temari-sama, and Kankuro-sama, and even they are cautious. So pay attention to what you’re taught and follow instructions.”

Shikadai watches Inojin swallow and look at Sousetsu seriously.

“We’ll only get into trouble if we ignore protocol,” Shikadai says after letting out a quiet breath. “There’s no need to get so nervous.”

Chocho shoots him an indignant look. “I’m not nervous. I was just paying attention to what Sousetsu was saying.”

“Uh-huh.” Shikadai glances quickly at Inojin, only to find him smiling. He holds his gaze for a couple of seconds before turning back to Sousetsu. “Is there anything else we should know?”

“Nah. That’s it. I just need to make sure you have the app installed. The rest is tomorrow. I can set it up while I wait for a message from Isuka. She said she’ll discuss the time for the dinner with the Iwa team. Can I borrow your phones?”

The three of them take their phones out of their pockets and hand them to Sousetsu, who moves to lean against the table and sets the other two down while working on Inojin’s.

“Why don’t you have that app on your phone?” Inojin asks.

“It kept going off even when I was in Konoha. It got annoying.”

“So it makes a loud sound?” Chocho asks.

“It depends. If it’s a sudden, severe storm, yes. The rest are warning notifications about forecasted storms so you can prepare,” Shikadai answers.

“It’s still relatively new. The developers are still working on it, but it’s been really useful for people coming from other countries,” Sousetsu says as he finishes installing the app on Inojin’s phone, the last one.

Once he seems to be done, the four of them fall silent for a moment before the sound of Sousetsu’s phone draws their attention.

“Oh, it’s Isuka. The Iwa team says they’ll be ready to head out for dinner in about two hours. Does that work for you?”

Shikadai, Inojin, and Chocho exchange glances. Between a few nods and casual shrugs, Sousetsu gets all the confirmation he needs.

“Since you guys won the bet, you should pick where we eat.”

Inojin is the first to speak.

“Why don’t we go back to the same place as last time? Their appetizers were really good.”

“Sounds good. I’ll let the others know. We’ll probably come by to pick you up later. I know you wouldn’t have any trouble finding the place on your own, but if you’d rather we all go together, meet us at the entrance to the apartment complex in two hours,” Sousetsu says as he steps away from the table and heads for the door.

“Got it. Thanks,” Shikadai replies.

Chocho and Inojin thank him as well and say goodbye, promising to meet again in a couple of hours.

“Dibs on the room next to the kitchen!” Chocho exclaims much louder than necessary, considering the three of them are standing in the same living room.

Inojin snorts, and Chocho quickly clarifies.

“Not for that reason, blondie. I’m not risking having to listen to your nighttime visits.”

“Or daytime ones,” Inojin adds with a suggestive grin.

Shikadai elbows Inojin, but the gesture has the opposite effect of what he intended. Inojin is laughing now.

“I hope the walls are thick,” Chocho complains.

Shikadai would rather not be part of this conversation, but he wants to reassure Chocho, so he shares a piece of information that feels suspiciously like an admission.

“They are. Or at least thick enough that you won’t hear anything from that far away.”

If their rooms were directly across from each other, that would be another story. Like back home, with Shinki’s room right across from his. But the apartment is large enough that it shouldn’t be a problem.

“Setting that aside,” Inojin cuts in enthusiastically, “isn’t this amazing? We have an apartment all to ourselves. No parents.”

“I know,” Chocho replies with equal excitement. “It’s going to be like one really long sleepover.”

“You’re not thinking big enough, Chocho.” Inojin steps closer and places his hands on her shoulders before looking her straight in the eye. “We can do whatever we want. Imagine a sleepover, but instead of pajamas we’re wearing our hottest outfits, and instead of staying in our rooms we’re out at the best nightlife spots in this country.”

“And our mothers never have to know,” Chocho replies in an almost conspiratorial whisper, as if she has just uncovered an ancestral secret.

“We’re going to have so much fun. Not even Shikadai’s sense of responsibility is going to get in our way, I promise,” Inojin says.

“You say that as if you actually listen to me.” Shikadai shrugs. “I promise I’ll only offer my humble opinion if you run into a giant scorpion.”

Chocho walks over and gives him a light punch on the arm.

“Oh, please. You’re dying to let loose a little too.”

“No nosy elders and no gossiping clans,” Inojin declares, waggling his eyebrows to emphasize his point.

Both of them look at him expectantly, waiting for him to admit he feels the same way.

Maybe he does.

Living on his own. No supervision. Inojin and Chocho less than fifteen meters away. The country where he learned to drink, where he discovered adrenaline-filled sports, with long afternoons full of young people enjoying their independence.

“Sounds fun.”

Even delivered with a trace of his usual disdain, the comment sparks excitement in both Inojin and Chocho, who immediately celebrate the beginning of an adventure where they get to make the rules.

“This is a list of the rules.”

Renga slides a scroll in front of them.

The expressions of the nine foreigners instantly turn sour, but each of them takes a scroll anyway, and some immediately begin unrolling theirs.

Two hours after being dropped off at their apartments, Renga’s team had picked them up at the entrance of the complex and escorted them to a restaurant in the city center.

“It’s basically what we told you earlier, but this scroll is normally given to tourists, so now you’ll have it in writing in case you want to look something up,” Sousetsu explains as he hands out glasses of water. “Some of the rules won’t apply to you since you’ll have access to areas tourists don’t, but we figured it might still be useful.”

“Thank you. We’ll keep it handy,” Reiji says before tucking the scroll into a small backpack.

The girls from Kumo scan a single scroll together until something written on it seems to catch their attention. The three exchange glances and sigh almost at the same time. Once again, their synchronization unsettles Shikadai.

“Well,” Nagai says, crossing her arms, “this would’ve been really useful yesterday.”

“What part?” Chocho asks, probably on behalf of the entire table.

“Rule number four,” Chuu explains.

Shikadai’s eyes immediately move to the scroll.

Do not enter any surrounding villages without an escort or an explicit invitation.

Oh. That rule.

Judging by the expressions on their faces, it’s easy to guess what they’re about to say.

Nagai uncrosses her arms and places them on the table before speaking in what’s basically a whisper.

“We arrived late because we got kidnapped in a village up north.”

The three from Iwa inhale sharply at the same time while Chocho and Inojin’s eyes widen.

“What do you mean, kidnapped?” Shikadai asks, keeping his voice neutral.

Out of the corner of his eye, he notices Renga’s team tense up.

“The sandstorm brought the train to a complete stop. We wanted to find somewhere to stay for the night and the train had stopped not too far from a village, we could even see the lights through the window, so we got off and ran over to look for shelter.

We knocked on one door, and the moment they saw us they started shouting in another language. I don’t think it was Tsurat. Then they locked us in a storage building. They didn’t let us out until Suna’s other team came to pick us up this morning.”

Nagai’s frustration is obvious.

“We spent the entire night in that storage building. Luckily, we had rations in our backpacks, but it was awful. Nobody explained anything to us,” Miji adds, sounding scandalized.

“You weren’t supposed to get off the train. I’m sure the train staff told you at least that much,” Isuka says, concise and firm.

“We didn’t know how long the storm would last. We didn’t want to sleep on the train.”

“Wait, why would the villagers do something like that?” Inojin asks.

“Many of the northern villages despise shinobi. They’re the villages closest to the Land of Rivers. They had a very rough time for many years,” Shikadai explains as carefully as he can.

“What does being close to the Land of Rivers have to do with it?” Kureha asks, clearly confused.

“It’s the country where the terrorist organization Akatsuki had its main base of operations,” Sousetsu says quietly. “The villages near that region suffered the highest number of disappearances and deaths.”

“The village you entered isn’t a shinobi village,” Isuka adds. “They’re civilians who were terrorized for years. Kazekage-sama has worked hard to earn their trust, and now they allow us to help when they need it. Of course they’re going to be alarmed when shinobi from another village show up at their doorstep in the middle of a sandstorm.”

Her tone remains polite, but it’s obvious she’s irritated by the way the girls from Kumo framed the story, as though the villagers were the ones entirely at fault.

Fortunately, the food begins to arrive, breaking the tension.

Over the next few minutes, the table fills with dishes, drinks, sauces, seeds, and pickled vegetables.

As everyone samples the food, Masaki speaks up and addresses the team from Kumo.

“So how did you end up in this program?”

Nagai chews calmly before answering.

“We heard the program would strengthen our professional profiles.”

“Nagai wants to join the Raikage’s personal guard,” Chuu adds excitedly.

“Very few shinobi are selected,” Nagai explains. “You need both accomplishments and experience just to qualify for the application process. This program will make me a much stronger candidate.”

“So that’s what you want to do?” Masaki asks.

Nagai nods before replying.

“The Raikage is the most incredible person I know, and it would be an honor to serve under him. Even in the middle of the war, he always protected the vulnerable. He saved my parents and my sister during an attack.  Three civilians wouldn’t have made much of a difference against the enemy, but he still fought to keep them alive. It’s thanks to him that I still have a family. 
My family has always been grateful to him, and when I was finally old enough to hear the story, I couldn’t help but admire him deeply. That’s why I decided to become a shinobi. My goal has always been to show him my gratitude.”

Nagai’s speech catches Shikadai’s attention. The way people perceive their leaders is always so different that it’s fascinating to hear each perspective.

“That sounds amazing. I’m sure you’ll make it,” Kureha exclaims.

“Thank you. What about you?”

This time, the team from the Rock lets Reiji answer.

“We were assigned through a lottery by Tsuchikage-sama.”

“Oh, you’re so lucky! We had to win a tournament to come here,” Miji explains.

“A tournament?” Chocho asks, surprised.

“Oh, yeah. Everyone in my generation wanted to come. Nobody wanted to miss this opportunity. Like Nagai said, important positions aren’t given to just anyone. A program like this will look great on our records. Even if it’s in the Sand.”

Once again, a silence settles over the table like a sharp intake of breath.

The only exceptions are Masaki and Kureha, who apparently lack the ability to read the atmosphere and simply voice their agreement.

“Yeah.”

“I know.”

Reiji once again has to elbow his teammates.

Chuu hurriedly tries to clarify.

“Ahhh, we didn’t mean anything bad by that. What we meant was—”

“We know what you meant,” Isuka cuts in, this time making less effort to hide her displeasure.

“From the sound of it, you’ve had a long day. Why don’t we take you back to your apartments?” Sousetsu suggests.

After that, the teams from the Rock and the Sand split the Leaf team’s bill.

Then the twelve of them begin the walk back.

Each team naturally separates into its own group, with the Suna team leading the way.

Shikadai listens to the conversation Isuka and her teammates are having in Tsurat, knowing nobody else can understand it.

“You’d think someone who wants to work under a Kage could follow simple instructions like ‘Don’t snick off a train in the middle of a damn sandstorm,’ but I guess we’re the uncivilized ones,” Isuka says, voicing exactly what she’s thinking with the comfort of knowing that no one besides her teammates understands a word.

“Don’t dwell on it,” Renga sighs before adding, “We’re probably going to keep working with them, so next time, stick with Shikadai’s team. They won’t give you any trouble.”

As he says this, Renga turns to look at him and smiles.

“Right?”

Shikadai freezes for only a second under the attention of all three Suna shinobi.

“Yeah…” he finally answers. “I mean, no. I mean… I’ll, um, make sure Chocho and Inojin don’t underestimate the desert.”

“We know,” Sousetsu says, giving him a light punch on the shoulder.

Even though Shikadai instinctively rubs the spot afterward, it doesn’t hurt at all.

After Renga’s team escorted them back to the complex and said their goodbyes, Shikadai decides to pay a visit to his uncle's house under the excuse of picking up a few blankets.

The only reason Chocho and Inojin let him go by himself was because he promised it would be a quick visit and not worth tagging along for.

The complex is about a twenty-minute walk from his family’s house. Along the way, Shikadai only has to stop a couple of times to receive blessings from some of the village’s older women. Compared to the rest of his family, the villagers don’t make nearly as much of a fuss over him, but it’s still something he hasn’t gotten used to.

Especially when it happens and none of his relatives are around to absorb the attention.

When he arrives at his uncle’s house and opens the door, he finds Shinki on his way upstairs to his room.

Shinki stares at him for a moment before saying,

“I told Kankuro you wouldn’t last a single day before coming back.”

“Aww, you know me so well.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

Shinki immediately heads upstairs, and Shikadai calls after him from below.

“Hey, are you sure you’re eating the sacred fruits with that mouth?”

A second later, Shinki’s bedroom door slams shut.

Shikadai can’t help laughing a little.

As he walks farther into the house, he finds the person he was looking for. His mother is sitting at the kitchen table with a book and a cup of tea.

She talks as he moves closer to the table “Stop terrorizing him.”

“Nah. He loves it.”

Temari lets out a quiet laugh before taking another sip of tea. Shikadai walks around to the opposite side of her and rests his hands on the back of one of the chairs.

“The thing with the Kumo girls… is it going to cause problems for the program? Or for Gaara?”

Temari studies him for a moment before setting her teacup down.

“No,” she begins calmly. “Gaara wanted to discuss the situation with the Raikage before sending Shinki’s team to retrieve them.

He said he preferred to consult him first. They might have wanted the girls sent back to their village immediately, or they might have preferred to come get them themselves.”

Shikadai listens carefully, still unsure what the Raikage’s stance had been. His main concern had been whether the situation might create friction with Kumogakure.

Even though all the villages are close allies now, things like this used to be the kind of incidents that sparked conflicts, according to the history and political texts he had read.

“The Raikage apologized to Gaara and thanked him for sending a Sand team to retrieve them.

Apparently, the jounin responsible for the team is already on his way here to apologize in person and have a little chat with them.”

Temari finishes her explanation with another sip of tea.

Shikadai simply nods, processing a kind of resolution that never appears in history books.

“Don’t worry about it. Gaara said it before, today’s leaders all share the same vision.”

Shikadai tries to think of a response, but Temari speaks again, this time with a teasing tone.

“Matsuri told me she had to resist the urge to pinch your cheeks. She said you looked adorable.”

Shikadai rolls his eyes and walks toward the fruit bowl.

“I’m not adorable. I have to shave every day if I don’t want to look like an old stag.”

“Well, you can’t really blame her for seeing you that way. She did change a few of your diapers.”

“Mom, please.” Shikadai groans, earning another amused laugh from her. She’s a sadist.

Taking another sip of tea, Temari asks casually,

“What about all your things? Shinki said your room is still completely untouched.”

“Uh… I figured it wouldn’t be a problem if I just came back for things whenever I needed them. I didn’t want to pack everything. I didn’t even bring any suitcases.”

Temari snorts and gently shakes her head, still smiling.

“Lazy bastard.”

“I have proof that I’m at least a legitimate one, so that joke’s really on you.”

For a moment they simply look at each other knowingly.

Then Temari says,

“I’m proud of you, you know.”

Shikadai feels heat rise to his cheeks and his stomach twist.

He could say what he’s really thinking.

That he hasn’t actually done anything yet.

That she and his father had already accomplished far more at his age.

That there’s still so much he wants to achieve before he can truly impress her.

That nothing he ever does will fully make up for the problems his heart’s choices have caused for hundreds of people.

But there’s no point.

His parents have always made him feel like he is enough exactly as he is.

He knows they’re proud of him.

Even if he moves at a different pace than they did.

Even if the elders of their clans see his actions as a betrayal.

Even if he’s never done anything heroic like Boruto or Sarada.

For some reason, his family has always made him feel like he is exactly who he’s supposed to be.

And because that thought makes him feel brave today, he does something outside his comfort zone.

He decides to share what’s in his heart.

“I’m… going to keep working hard to… keep making you proud.”

His voice comes out much quieter than he intended, but apparently loud enough for his mother to hear.

Temari smiles at him warmly.

“Go get whatever it was you claimed you needed and get out of here. I’m sure Chocho and Inojin are already impatient for their first night in the new apartment.”

Shikadai snorts.

“Yeah. I’m almost afraid to go back.”

“Don’t be a baby.”

Shikadai wishes her good night with a smile. After collecting a few blankets from his room, he leaves his family’s house and starts heading back toward the apartment, where his teammates are undoubtedly waiting to ask for his opinion on a thousand different things. A total drag.

And apparently, the walk back can be done in half the time.