Shakespeare Challenge Response: Titus Andronicus

Shikamaru entered the Uchiha compound escorted by Kakashi with Tamari, Kankuro, Baki, and four other captains with Hidan bound and gagged.

“Kakashi, store this dog somewhere. He can, though I won’t wager he will, tell the story of all the wrongs he and the other Akatsuki have done to us.”

Kakashi and two of the captains took Hidan away. Shikamaru led the others to Sasuke’s house. Suigetsu nodded to him and went after Kakashi. Jugo greeted the group. Shikamaru was surprised by the cheery decorations in the house.

“Where’s Sasuke?”

“In the kitchen.”

“The kitchen?”

“He’s determined that everything be perfect and is overseeing it all himself.”

“I heard that Karin was pregnant, how is she?”

“She’ll deliver any day. Shizune and Ino are with her constantly at Sasuke’s request. He wants nothing to go wrong with the birth.”

“I should think not. Sasuke would have a child during a war.”

Sasuke came into the room calm, but he clearly had rushed at the news Shikamaru had arrived. He kept some decorum in front of the representatives from Suna.

After greeting them and introductions, Sasuke pulled Shikamaru away. Once alone, Sasuke kissed Shikamaru passionately. “I’ve missed you so much,” he pulled away to say.

“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you. I wish I could have been with through all this.”

“I would have benefited from more than your mind.”

Shikamaru kissed him again, their hands wondering all over the other’s body. Shikamaru snaked his hands around the hems of Sasuke’s clothes to feel his smooth skin. He was little surprised to find the hard muscle replaced with bone. He noticed Sasuke was gaunt, but he didn’t realize how much he was wasting away. Shikamaru pulled away.

“You’re skin and bone.”

“Doesn’t matter now. We will end all this today.”

“You expect to come to an arraignment with Naruto and your brother.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Should I avoid the wine?”

“Depends on your tastes. I intend to drink as much as possible. Think of this a party, Shikamaru.” Sasuke turned for the door, but turned back. “Above all, remember that I love you.”

“I love you.”

Sasuke smiled broadly. That put Shikamaru on his guard; something was wrong.

All the representatives of Suna, Shikamaru, Jugo, Suigetsu, Kakashi, and Kiba gathered in the living room. Shikamaru got the story of the last few months and, more specifically, the last few days.

“Naruto could not stand for that. And he executed Ebisu? I didn’t think there was any love lost between them, but to off handedly execute him.”

“I don’t know if it’s Itachi, the Kyubi’s influence, or Naruto himself, but he is very short tempered recently,” Kakashi said. “Hidan fled a few days ago, he wasn’t spying on you for Naruto. Itachi maybe, but not for Konoha.”

Several ANBU arrived, signifying that Naruto was approaching. He came with Itachi and the two elders. Kakashi met him.

“Lord Hokage. Uchiha Sasuke welcomes you to his home.” He waved Shikamaru over. “This quarrel must be debated, but Sasuke has prepared a feast and it is ready. He prays for peace between our factions and for Konoha.”

“Any ramen?”

“I think he’s preparing some. He knows it’s your favorite.”

“Oh, good.” Itachi rolled his eyes.

Everyone sits around the table. Once the rustling of them settled stopped, Sasuke entered, removing his apron as he entered. Sakura followed, veiled, balancing a tray with a bowl of stew. Izumo and Kotetsu brought out dishes.

“Welcome, lord Hokage, welcome my Suna brothers, my friends, my brother. I will serve you myself.” Sasuke ladled stew into each bowl except for Naruto who did not have a bowl of his own. Sasuke disappeared and brought his a large bowl of ramen.

“Izumo, wine.”

Izumo took the bowl from Sakura and went to fetch the decanted wine.

Sakura sat, but did not remove her veil. Naruto sat next to her and ate and drank. Most around the table would not do either until they saw Sasuke do so. Sasuke ate lustily. One of the ANBU tasted Naruto’s ramen before allowing Naruto to begin glutting himself. Itachi ate little by little, but even he had to admit it was wonderful and the wine was thick and heady. A little reminiscent of blood. Couldn’t be. Then he wondered where Deidara and Kabuto were. But Sasuke prevented him.

“Lord Hokage,” Sasuke said.

“Naruto to you, Sasuke. You were always my best friend.”

Itachi scowled.

“Naruto, you elders too, give me your opinion.” Sasuke stood and Sakura turned to watch him as he walked behind his friends. “I was reading on old text. There was a man named Virginius who killed his daughter with his right hand because she was raped. Was he right to do so?”

Both the elders nodded. “Yes, it was,” Naruto said when he saw the elders nod.

“Your reason?”

One of the elders whispered into Naruto’s ear. “Because the girl should not survive her shame and her presence would just make her father sadder and sadder.”

“A good reason, lord—Naruto. But it is, for me, a wretched thing to perform myself.” Sasuke put his right hand to Sakura’s neck. Shikamaru stood as he understood Sasuke’s intention, but was too late; Sasuke used his one good hand to break Sakura’s neck. “Die, my sister, and our sorrows die with you.”

Naruto, Kiba, Tamari, Kankuro, the two elders, and the nameless Suna captains stood. Kakashi hung his head, Suigetsu unaffected, Jugo understanding, and Baki familiar with the practice. None of the men still seated knew what Sasuke planned, but only Kakashi was shocked by it.

“What have you done?” Naruto demanded.

“Killed her who has made me blind with tears. It pains me as much as it did Virginius.” Sasuke cradled Sakura’s head against his waist lovingly.

“What? Was Sakura raped? Who did it?”

“Please eat, my friends. Itachi, my brother, feed; you look as thin as me.”

“Why have you killed her?” Tamari asked.

“I didn’t do it. It was Deidara and Kabuto, among others. It was they who raped her, cut off her hands and cut out her tongue.”

“Bring them here!” Naruto demanded his ANBU guards.

“Why, there they are! That is pig in the stew and ramen, but it’s not pork! Blood gives it the broth a nice color, doesn’t it? And wine never looked redder. Blood does make the wine a bit thick though. Look where their comrade and lover, my brother, has oh so daintily fed on them.”

Itachi was not as disgusted as he should be since drinking blood was not foreign to him, but he pushed back from the table. His eyes were bright with his Sharingan.

“’Tis true, Naruto. Oh, but it wasn’t just Deidara and Kabuto. Witness this bloody knife, it was also Hidan and your dearest lover, Itachi.”

Itachi and Naruto’s eye locked for a moment, but it was enough of a distraction for Sasuke to attack Itachi, pulling his head back and slitting his throat. Itachi futilely pressed his hands to the wound. His Sharingan faded and he collapsed.

Naruto leaped up, creating a Rasingan, even without a clone, and attacked Sasuke. Jugo partially transformed and attacked Naruto as he ran down the table to Sasuke. His hit made Naruto miss his mark, hitting Sasuke in the liver rather than the heart. Jugo pummeled the blonde. Shikamaru and Kakashi ran to Sasuke immediately and Shikamaru cradled his dying lover as he struggled to sit up.

“Easy, Jugo,” Sasuke said. Jugo calmed and collapsed.

“Sasuke, you fool,” Shikamaru said.

“Fewer lives lost this way,” Sasuke struggled to say.

Ino rushed in and hesitated at the sight of the carnage. The faces turned to her brought her back to herself. “Sasuke, Karin’s delivered a pair of healthy twins, twin boys.”

Sasuke smiled. She rushed to him, choosing him out of the bloody bodies around her. “Don’t bother, Ino, I’m dying.” He turned to Shikamaru. “Take me to them.”

Everyone stood aside and allowed Shikamaru and Kakashi to practically carry Sasuke to Karin’s room. She was worn out and half conscious as the tree men entered. They took Sasuke to the crib. Two black haired boys lay there looking so much like Sasuke that he was almost sorry to see them.

“Let one of them be named Izuna and the other Takamaru. Don’t let them grow up knowing the history of our clan. Is Karin alright?”

“She’s sleeping,” Shizune said. She saw the rate the blood was flowing and knew there was no saving the Uchiha.

“Shikamaru, will you help raise them?”

“Of course,” Shikamaru answered, fighting back tears as he watched Sasuke’s skin grow grayer as more blood pooled at their feet.

“Kakashi, will you help to protect them?”

“Yes.”

“And Kakashi, for the love of the village, take the seat of Hokage. Or you Shikamaru, if you won’t Kakashi. Give my apologies to Suna and to Karin. Sasuke slumped into Shikamaru’s arms. “I’m sorry, Shikamaru. I do love you. Dearly. And Kakashi, thank you. Give my thanks to the rest of our friends.”

Shikamaru was forced to lower Sasuke’s strengthless body to the floor and griped his hand. Kakashi bent over him. “Kakashi. The Kyubi. Naruto is dying too. The Sharingan. It can subdue Kyubi. Try sealing him in one of my children if you think possible.” Sasuke’s eyes widen as his heart pumped the last few drops of blood through his body. “Isn’t it enough, my clan?”

Sasuke was dead, clutched close to Shikamaru’s chest.

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It was sometime before Kakashi could return to the dining room where everyone still remained. Kakashi called the elders and asked Jugo and Kiba to bring the dying Hokage to Karin’s room to transfer the Kyubi to Izuna.

Shikamaru carried Sasuke’s body to their room. He could hear, but didn’t mark the sounds of the sealing. Suigetsu came to tell him it was done.

Shikamaru and Kakashi rejoined the gathered shinobi. They explained the full story going back to the Uchiha massacre.

In conclusion, Kakashi said, “Let Naruto be buried honorably, befitting a Hokage. Sasuke will lie with his ancestors. As for Itachi, through his body out in the forest for his beloved ravens feed on him.”

It was decided that Kakashi would become Hokage. The next day Shikamaru took Hidan into his family’s forest and beheaded the man, destroying the body and throwing his head in a deep hole. Hidan screamed his last words at Shikamaru just before he set off the explosive tags that would bury Hidan forever.

“Teme! If one good deed in all my life I did, I do repent it from my very soul!”

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Izuna is the name of Madara’s younger brother. And yes, I know strengthless is not a word.