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“Are you really, absolutely, 100% sure that you are ok?” Minato asked, worry etched into his features. Shikaku felt his eyes twitch. He heard Chōza sigh and a not-quite-successfully muted chuckle he was sure came from where Inoichi sat by the fire. “It was a great plan! An excellent plan! It would’ve worked flawlessly! I’m so sorry I hiraishined in the middle of it” Minato looked like a kicked puppy, those huge, sky-blue eyes growing even bigger. That look should be illegal. Shikaku’s eyes twitched harder. “You sure you don’t need a medic?”
He grabbed the blond by the hem of his flak jacket and yanked him closer.
“Ask one more time if I’m okay, and I’ll give you a very detailed analysis of how that flashy jutsu of yours won’t pull your ass out of every mess you get yourself into, pretty boy.” he snarled.
Tsume wolf-whistled somewhere behind them.
“Don’t flirt Nara, or Yoshino will have your head” she said.
“I like this one, let’s keep him!” Kushina whispered to Minato, and even though he nodded enthusiastically, she knew very well that the innuendo sailed right over his head. She wasn’t wrong.
Shikaku watched, disbelieving, as the kicked puppy look gave way to excitement in a blink of an eye.
“Excellent!” Minato exclaimed. “That’d be very useful! I’m trying to examine this technique from every possible angle to find its weaknesses, but it’s more efficient when having an external perspective.” He said all this with one breath. His eyes were basically sparkling with interest – and that maniac gleam of the jutsu-developers that Shikaku’s always found way too troublesome.
This guy’s going to be the next Hokage the sudden realization hit him, and he instantly felt a headache form. And you’re going to be his advisor he heard Inoichi’s way too amused voice in his head. So you better get used to this Damn, but his friend could read his mind even without using his jutsu.
“Can we start the next time we’ll be back in Konoha at the same time?” Minato asked.
Shikaku examined his eyes. He was the perfect pictures of innocence but maybe, he’s seen something flash in those sky-blue orbs. Seen, or was shown? For the life of him, he couldn’t decide if Minato was really this oblivious or if he just used Shikaku’s threat to trick him into helping to perfect his jutsu. He sighed, dropping his gaze.
“Awesome” Minato beamed. “I can’t wait! Now, let’s find you a medic!”
Shikaku looked back up sharply. The campfire suddenly dimmed, and the shadows stretched out around them.
“Now you did it” murmured Chōza.
“Wow, this is so cool!” exclaimed Kushina.
“Hey, the fish is not ready yet!” complained Tsume.
“You shouldn’t roast them too much. Why? Because not everyone likes them almost burned” commented Shibi. Tsume bared her fangs at him.
“Just because there’s no enemy nearby, you shouldn’t act like pre-genin.”
“That’s why we have you and your Byakugan here, Hizashi” Tsume winked at him, which did little to placate the Hyūga.
“Can everyone please calm down?” Inoichi was still too amused for his voice to carry any real exaggeration.
“Get your ass back down Uchiha” barked Tsume. “We need your katon because someone is pitching a fit here.
Reluctantly, Fugaku climbed down from the tree and re-ignited the fire.
Throughout all this, Shikaku didn’t break eye contact with Minato. His expression has made even high-ranking shinobi piss themselves, but the blonde just looked like someone who’d messed up some social niceties at a dinner party.
“Maybe a meal and a good night’s sleep will be enough after all” he said, laughing awkwardly. He had that kicked puppy look again. Kushina patted his head sympathetically, thought the effect was somewhat ruined by her giggling.
“Damn right” Shikaku hissed, although he knew he’s already lost.
He could hear Inoichi laughing at him, although this time it was just his imagination. His friend was busy trying to placate Hizashi and Fugaku, who both were rather unhappy to be anywhere near each other.
Tsume and Shibi got into a heated argument about the ideal temperature to roast fish (which was impressive, if not desired. You rarely heard an Aburame raise their voice), the kikaichū buzzing around them. Kushina used the opportunity to pet Kuromaru.
Chōza didn’t much care for all of this. He rearranged the fish around the newly ignited fire, added more herbs to the stew waiting for it to start boiling again, and went to check the perimeter seals.
Minato watched them with affection and something fierce in his eyes.
He’ll do, Shikaku thought to himself. He could picture Inoichi’s raised eyebrow clearly. He signed. Ok, he’ll probably do great. But you have to admit, Kushina would do just as well. On the other hand, the scandals she’d cause… Minato it is.
He was silently laughing at himself. Of course, they have to win this war somehow, first, but he allowed himself to feel a bit hopeful.
Minato looked at him and beamed.
A literal ray of sunshine on this grey wasteland. Shikaku would know, after all, he’s the expert on shadows here. And you don’t get shadows without light. No wonder most of their enemy had a flee on sight order against him. Of course, that had more to do with his frighteningly efficient fighting style. Even with his new jutsu not being perfect yet, he was a one-man-army.
Which was essential for a Hokage, but he always had the impression that Minato had vision. And he had heart. In his book those were even more important. He had fierceness in him too. Shikaku just hoped his fire won’t burn out too soon.
And then Minato held out his fist and for a moment Shikaku seriously contemplated stuffing his light out right there but ended up fist bumping him with his shadow.
Judging by Minato’s expression, this was a mistake. Hokage or not, he won’t always have his way, Shikaku have to make him understand that. Somehow. As if he’d read his mind, Minato flashed a shit-eating grin at him. Oh boy…
This is going to be troublesome.