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Apologies for the state of this chapter – I edited to alter a spelling mistake and the new text editor took out all the formatting.
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‘Iteration’ is part of the space saga that began with ‘In the cold of space you find the heat of suns’ and continues in ‘Tales in Tarrasade’. There is also a one-shot ‘Silver Leaf Tales: Tying the knot’. Thanks to Small Fox for being my beta. For this story he has also been my muse, suggesting a number of the ideas that have evolved to create this arc.
Thank you to those readers who have written a review and particular Darling425, v, jalana, lonelylulaby, sadie237, SidonieStarr, richon, Prism0467 and blugirlami21 who reviewed chapter 53. Apologies if the characters have grown differently in their new environment. This is posted in the Naruto/Sasuke section because it is part of a Naru/Sasu/Naru space saga. However, it does feature many other pairings (and a few threesomes). Apologies to those who are expecting Naruto/Sasuke or Sasuke/Naruto every chapter.
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Chapter fifty-four: Adapting
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Kakashi lay on his back looking up through the leaves of the birch trees and listening to the sound as they moved.
It was his way of acknowledging Shikamaru. Sasuke displayed a picture of Shikamaru and Haru in his office. Neji refused to tidy the room he and Shikamaru shared. Haku had taken on some of Shikamaru’s storytelling duties. Choza insisted on cooking the dishes that Shikamaru liked best, even the ones that no one else particularly enjoyed.
Kakashi was sure that many of the others had their own ways of keeping Shikamaru and Haru in their thoughts.
He wished that he could relieve even a fraction of Iruka’s sadness. He yearned for a time when Naruto’s smile was genuine rather than forced.
It had been seventy-seven days.
Functionally, they were coping surprisingly well. Sasuke and Itachi were working up to their limits as thinkers, which was good for them. Neji tried to compensate for the loss of Shikamaru’s lateral thinking by offering more insights. Kakashi himself had rediscovered deductive reasoning. Jiraiya relished being needed.
The information poured in from Shikamaru’s networks of contacts via the interface he had left for Sasuke. They had contacted their seven hundred and forty-three would-be allies and explained what they were looking for; it was too early for them to have received many replies. The spy on Lightning sent snippets of information that they were highly unlikely to obtain from any other source.
Klennethon Darrent had been unamused by the news. He had assigned Garner Parrad to work alongside Tennyo One, Two and Three following up leads. He had offered unlimited funds, which were not needed as Shikamaru had left Sasuke instructions so that he could access Shikamaru’s phenomenal fortune.
They now had another name, Pein, and the name of their organisation, the Akatsuki. They had narrowed the location of their base to three sectors of the Far Fringe with one being more likely than the other two. Akatsuki technology appeared to be based around using mind nets to transfer memories from one brain to another. The Akatsuki used a lot of clones, so they speculated that this process only worked effectively for genetically identical individuals.
Luckily Rin had kept Ranmaru’s body. Very close inspection confirmed that the head had not belonged to the body. Their best guesses were that someone had managed to revive Ranmaru’s head or transfer the memories out of it. This fitted with Orochimaru’s resurrection.
Gaara’s abduction and interrogation appeared to be linked to the same organisation. Temari had been convinced by Shikamaru’s argument that Sasori had been involved. She had been on the edge of detaining him when he had vanished. Garner Parrad and Tennyo Two were trying to track him down.
Despite the excellent progress they had made, the nub of the problem continually tormented Kakashi; even when they located him, how could they force the Akatsuki to give up Shikamaru rather than killing him?
Kakashi sighed. He was beginning to understand why Shikamaru came here to think. It was tempting to stay here watching the leaves and listening to them move.
But he could not leave Iruka to face Shikamaru’s parents.
Shikamaru had hired, or possibly created, a security company to guard them. Unknown to Shikaku and Yoshino, a significant number of the people around them had been employees of this company, including neighbours, their paediatrician, an assistant at the nursery and their gardener.
When the regular message initiated by Shikamaru failed to arrive, the company sprang into action. They had Shikaku, Yoshino and Sumiko, Shikamaru’s baby sister, off Darrenden within thirty minutes; Yoshino had still been objecting when the spacecraft lifted.
Camera showed the kidnappers, presumably sent by the Akatsuki, arrived at the house less than half a day later.
Iruka, Haku and C-san had prepared a large apartment for them on the Oak. Today, Kakashi and Iruka had to admit to Shikaku and Yoshino that they had failed to keep Shikamaru safe.
He must not be late.
He was in good time. He agreed to Iruka walking him around the apartment. He even moved one of the ornaments to suggest he was interested. In the docking bay, he stood beside Iruka. Kakashi told himself that he would tolerate whatever Yoshino said; they deserved it. However, he was not going to allow her to upset Iruka.
He had forgotten how closely Shikamaru resembled Shikaku. It hurt. In Shikaku’s arms was a small, female version of both of them. She was looking at them with Haru’s direct gaze.
Yoshino walked directly to Iruka. Kakashi could see him bracing himself. To his surprise she hugged him.
“You poor things,” she said. “It is awful for us thinking about it but we did not see him every day. You must miss him dreadfully.”
Kakashi discovered he was second in line for a hug. He accepted it awkwardly. Then she was off towards Naruto and Sasuke.
“I cannot imagine how you feel,” she admitted to Naruto, embracing him. She then turned to Sasuke. For the first time she held back but Sasuke made it clear that physical contact was acceptable. She gave him a brief hug. “It must be terrible. I am so glad you managed to get Kazuki, Yoshimi and Yasushi back. I am sure that Shika-kun and Haru-chan are safe; unhappy but safe.”
“They are far too precious for anyone to consider hurting them,” Sasuke insisted.
They told themselves that every day. Shikamaru as a typed-seven genius was too rare to waste; Haru was the Akatsuki’s leverage on Shikamaru.
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Shikamaru wished he had a way of measuring the time he had been in stasis. When he had woken he had been in a spacious room with a locked door. There was no sign of Haru or the kits.
He remained outwardly passive. He showered, dressed in the clothes provided and lazed about, apparently doing nothing. Inside he observed, analysed, evaluated and synthesised.
The air smelt fresh; unfiltered. The gravity was slightly higher than ship or station standard. The light was rich in orange and red wavelengths. The water tasted interesting and was probably from a naturally occurring source. This suggested that they were on a planet. There were windows but the glass was frosted and the pattern of shadows showed Shikamaru that there were bars beyond.
The room was filled with beautiful objects, most of them handmade and very few of them new. Much of the furniture was made of wood; indicating that the planet had forests. The fibres from which the fabrics were woven were cotton, silk and linen, perhaps suggesting arable rather than pastoral farming. The objects he would have expected to be made from plastic were ceramic and the metallic ones were made of copper or bronze.
Their technology level was high, they had spacecraft, cloning and mind-transfer, but they valued handcrafted objects made from materials that could be obtained simply.
It was an interesting juxtaposition.
He heard the door unlock. He watched it open and was surprised to see a rather attractive female who looked incredibly like Kiba. Shikamaru scrambled off the bed and bowed.
“There is no need to bow, Shikamaru-san,” she said and placed the tray she was carrying on the table. “I am Hana. I am a servant. This is your meal. I have been told to ask you if you have any requests.”
“I would like to see any of the Uchiha children you have. Haru, Kazuki, Yoshimi or Yasushi,” Shikamaru admitted. “Thank you for the meal, Hana-san.”
She flushed slightly. “Just Hana,” she replied and left.
He looked at the meal. It could contain drugs, but so could the air and the water. He dug in. It was good; not Choza’s standard but more than edible and he was hungry.
Two days passed and Shikamaru began to wonder what they were expecting him to do. He lazed, he slept, he ate and he asked to see the children; he was certain that they had at least Haru. Everything else went on inside his head where they could not see it. He spent the time dividing the information in his mind into three categories: that the enemy obviously already had or could easily deduce, data that Shikamaru could afford to give without damaging Uchiha and information that Shikamaru must protect because sharing it endangered those he loved.
On the third day Hana appeared at an unusual time without a meal.
“Today you will meet Pein-sama,” she told him. “Violence against Pein-sama is not acceptable. Escape is not acceptable. I must warn you that, as a hybrid, I can move very quickly and have inhuman levels of strength. Please do not make me hurt you.”
He smiled at her. “I understand. Naruto is my best friend. Kiba, another member of the crew, is a dog-human hybrid like you. Even Kamatari, who looks small and unthreatening, is much stronger and faster than I am. Kamatari is also a member of the crew,” he added, answering her unspoken question. “He is a weasel-human hybrid, another Amachi hybrid like you and Kiba.”
She obviously wanted to ask more but chose not to do so. “You may like to tidy yourself up before meeting Pein-sama,” she suggested.
Pein was a very thin, almost skeletal, version of Deva. Or, Shikamaru quickly decided, Deva was a clone of Pein. Pein exuded power. He pulsed with charisma. It would be hard to pay anyone else attention when he was in the room. Shikamaru doubted that even Sasuke could compete.
Naruto could, which was an interesting observation. Na-chan’s physical presence was like the sky or the sun or the ocean.
Shikamaru missed him.
He chose to bow; a shallow but polite bow. “Pein-san,” he acknowledged.
There was not even the slightest nod in reply; Pein obviously never bowed to anyone. “Shikamaru-san,” he responded. “You wish to see Haru. If you explain to me how the improver works, you may see him.”
So they did have Haru; it was unlikely that Pein would tempt Shikamaru with something he was unable to provide. “We were given the improvers by someone,” Shikamaru told him. “They are in sealed, trapped containers. That is why we only have two.” He considered. “I do not know how they work. Jump technology is not one of my strengths. They make unstable holes temporarily more stable so that they can be used in the same way as conventional holes.”
Pein studied him with mesmerising eyes. “Who gave Uchiha the improvers?”
Shikamaru had not expected to be given the opening so early. “Klennethon Darrent,” he replied.
Pein blinked. Shikamaru was pleased. “Why?” Pein asked, more to himself than Shikamaru.
Inside Shikamaru danced a jig of celebration. “He’s my friend,” he replied. “He would be my best friend but that’s Naruto.”
Shikamaru suppressed a smile as Pein paled. He might not find Uchiha intimidating but Klenn was in another league. “You will return to your room,” he said suddenly. “Hana will show you the way.”
On this way back to his room, Shikamaru’s elation evaporated. Haru was here, alone and probably lonely. Shikamaru needed to find a way of seeing him.
“Is Haru all right?” he asked Hana as they walked along corridors. “Do you see him?”
She pretended not to hear him but Shikamaru thought he saw her posture stiffen. Knowing Kiba made her easier to read.
“If you do, please give him a message,” he asked. “Tell him I love him very much and think about him all the time.”
He watched a muscle in her jaw jump. “I am not allowed to relay messages between you,” she admitted.
Shikamaru allowed the full force of his disappointment to show. “I understand,” he murmured. “It is not your fault, Hana-san.”
“Just Hana,” she reminded him.
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Pein threw one object against the wall and then another. He had never considered that Klennethon Darrent could be more than an ally to Uchiha.
He calmed himself. Shikamaru could be lying or at least exaggerating. The man was so unassuming. He seemed so harmless. It was difficult to remember the quality of the mind that lay behind every action and utterance.
The Deva leading the kidnap mission had chosen to die rather than return and have his memories integrated. Devas never did that; their goal was always to come home and become part of Pein so that they could be with Konan. He had also made a poor decision; one that Pein would never have made. He had returned the third hybrid child when that was not necessary.
Pein had decided that the Deva had been ashamed of his poor decision and had therefore decided to terminate rather than return. Now, having met Shikamaru, he wondered.
He would ask Zetsu to look into it.
“Nagato.” Konan’s voice startled him. She was in the doorway. She sighed and walked over to the wall against which he had thrown the objects. He knew that she was going to pick up the broken pieces.
He was beside her in a moment. She had stopped putting beautiful things on his desk but it upset her to see any handmade object broken.
They picked up the pieces together.
“Was that the first time you met him?” she asked.
He nodded.
“And he made you angry,” she observed.
He bit his lower lip and she saw him do it. “He gives the impression that he is harmless,” he admitted. He sighed. “All he did was share information, which was exactly what I had asked him to do.”
She frowned. “What did he tell you?” she asked.
He was not going to mention Klennethon Darrent; it would worry her. “He does not know how the improver works,” he told her. “It is not Uchiha technology.”
She was not convinced, he could tell, but she decided to leave it. Instead she handed him the broken pieces she had collected, dusted off her skirt and went to sit in the chair that he reserved for her use.
He placed the pieces in the bin and sat in the chair opposite.
“I think we should listen to what the print has to say about the way the Uchiha children have been raised,” she told him. “Hana relayed what he said to her. It was interesting but not clear. The child’s health is deteriorating. He is refusing to eat until he sees his father.”
“Are you sure he means Shikamaru?” Pein checked. “I understood that he had been raised to think of Sasuke Uchiha and the hybrid as his parents.”
Konan gave him a look that bordered on scornful. “He yells for ‘Shi-chan’. I believe that is a contraction of Shikamaru-chan. He knows that Shikamaru was captured.”
Pein did not react to the implied criticism; he was only anxious for Konan. “You would have to interact with the print. You wanted to avoid him, because he remembers being raised by one of your clones.”
“This is a child, Nagato,” she reminded him. “Not a print, not a hybrid, a child. He will not eat. He will not interact with his surroundings. He only sleeps when he is too exhausted to stay awake. His welfare is more important than my squeamishness about prints who think they have met me.”
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Ranmaru knew it was both a bad and a good thing to be summoned to speak to Pein-sama and Konan-sama. Certainly Hana was surprised. She insisted that he wash his hands and comb his hair.
Within a second of walking into the room he realised that he had never met this Konan. This Konan had elegance and poise he had never seen. Likewise, he had met men who looked like better fed versions of Pein-sama, but they did not have the intensity of this man; the Leader of the Akatsuki.
Had there been as big a difference between him and the Ranmaru who had been sworn to Uchiha? The one who had loved Konohamaru?
He bowed deeply. “Pein-sama, Konan-sama,” he acknowledged.
“You will tell us about the Uchiha child,” Pein stated.
This was it. If he made a good enough case, Haru would get to see Shikamaru.
“Yes, Pein-sama. Until Haru came here, he had never worn a garment on his torso without the Uchiha crest over his heart. Even his first baby clothes bore it. Despite being only five, he behaves as a full-blood Uchiha, because that is the behaviour that has been expected of him. He has not been raised to be biddable or obedient. He was being raised to be a leader.
“A child raised differently would give token resistance. Haru’s resistance is real, as Konan-sama has realised. If you maintain the wall, he will continue to throw himself against it. Remove the wall and there will be a moment when he will be falling. In that moment you may be able to catch him. His attitude toward you could change.”
“He is wilful and arrogant,” Pein suggested.
Ranmaru ignored the hitch in Konan’s breathing and her fleeting expression of exasperation. “Haru is a full-blood Uchiha,” he answered. “He is also a child of five standards who misses his parents and his siblings. A child who has always been surrounded by adults who love him and who do not hesitate to display that love.”
Pein considered and then looked to Konan. “If you took him to see Shikamaru, he might be grateful to you,” he suggested. He turned back to Ranmaru. “Go get the child ready.”
Hana was not about; a guard allowed Ranmaru into Haru’s room. There was the usual outbreak of shouting but it was now for the guard’s benefit rather than Ranmaru’s. Ranmaru headed for Haru’s comer.
“Konan-sama has convinced Pein-sama to allow you to see Shikamaru-san, at least for a few minutes,” he whispered. “If I were you, I would be nice to Konan-sama and allow her to think you are grateful.”
Haru blinked large blue eyes at him. “Play up to her?” he queried.
Ranmaru could not bring himself to say the words but he nodded. “Konan-sama is very worried about your welfare,” he explained.
Haru agreed to clean himself up and put on fresh clothes. Ranmaru brushed his hair. They waited for Konan.
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Konan had only seen the child once and briefly. Since then she had only heard him. That short meeting had been painful because he had been so upset. This time it was different; still painful but different. He was quiet. There was such hope in the impossibly blue eyes that looked at her from his pale little face.
His hand stole into hers as they walked alone the corridor. She did not pull away.
She had decided to use the small walled garden. Hana had already taken Shikamaru there. The child saw him as soon as Konan opened the door. He pulled his hand from hers and was off, running. The man took a few long steps towards him and swept him up.
It was obvious that they loved each other; there was no reserve, no artifice and no embarrassment about displaying affection in front of a stranger.
Then they played. Konan had never seen a grown man play. They played tag but the child’s poor physical state made him stumble. Instead the man sat with him on his knee and they played some complex games with their fingers that Konan had never seen before. Then he told the child a story.
Nagato had said it should be a short visit. Konan found herself pleased that he had not specified a time so that she could redefine short as not long; she could not bring herself to interrupt the story.
She stood up when Shikamaru finished. He caught her eye and gave a small nod. The child was sleepy and cuddled close. Shikamaru spoke to him and he rubbed his eyes. They stood up and walked together, hand in hand, towards her.
“Thank you, Konan-san, for allowing us such a good visit,” the child said and Konan felt a lump rising in her throat.
“You are welcome, Haru-chan,” she answered.
They walked hand and hand back to his room. They were at the door before Konan realised he was crying. She had thought that children always made noise when they wept but not this one. Tears welled up in those blue eyes and ran silently down his cheeks. He had not even wiped them away.
She told herself she should ignore them and leave quickly.
“Haru-chan?” she heard herself say.
His breath caught in the smallest of sobs. “I miss To-chan. I miss Papa,” he admitted. He looked up at her. “Thank you for letting me see Shi-chan,” he added and then hurried away from her into the alcove that contained his bed.
There had been times when Konan had questioned Pein’s methods but this time she knew, without doubt, that he was wrong.
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