The road to Konoha wound through thick, green forest and sun-dappled trails, a quiet stretch that gave Harry far too much time to think. The days of travel had blurred into a strange sort of peace—mundane in its rhythm, but tinged with the underlying anxiety of their arrival.
He wasn't sure what he expected to feel, standing on the cusp of entering the famed Hidden Leaf Village. Anticipation, yes. But also dread.
Shikamaru was chattering beside him, hands flailing in excitement.
"We have to take you to the Nara forest," Shikamaru said, practically bouncing in his steps. "The deer are amazing. Big and calm, and they just… watch you. Sometimes, if you're quiet enough and they like you, they'll come right up to you."
Harry smiled, adjusting the sling a little to better support Teddy's sleeping form. "That sounds lovely. You think they'll like me?"
Shikamaru glanced at him with a snort. "Of course they will."
Ahead of them, Shikaku gave a low hum of agreement. "The herd recognises chakra and intent. If they sense no threat, they'll approach. It's a good sign when they do."
Shikamaru grinned up at his father. "Then we'll show them to Maashah, right?"
A beat passed. Shikaku slowed slightly, his eyes resting on Harry with something too soft to be casual. "Yeah. We'll introduce him properly."
And Harry's stomach fluttered a little.
Behind them, Ensui rolled his eyes playfully. "At this rate, he'll be inducted into the herd before he gets his clan compound set up."
"You joke," Harry murmured dryly, "but that sounds preferable to dealing with noble bureaucracy again."
Tsunade, walking just ahead with Shizune, cast him a grin over her shoulder. "Speaking of bureaucracy… we should prepare you for what's coming."
Harry raised a brow. "More paperwork?"
"Worse," she drawled. "Protocol."
"Fantastic."
Shikaku stepped closer, falling into pace beside him. "When we reach the gate, the guards will announce our return. The Hokage's already expecting us. You'll be escorted to the tower with the rest of us. The paperwork you brought—the clan scroll, your seal—that'll be handed over directly."
Harry nodded slowly. "And that's enough? With the Daimyō's backing?"
"It'll be more than enough," Shikaku assured. "You're a clan head now, supported by royal decree. You bypass standard screening. No civilian ID registration, no bloodline testing, no six-month probation period and no interrogation."
"Lucky me," Harry muttered. "I hate needles."
They shared a quiet chuckle.
Shikamaru tugged on his sleeve then, peeking up at him. "And I'll show you where the best cloud-watching spots are. There's one just outside the compound where no one ever goes."
Teddy squeaked in his sleep, one hand curling into Harry's shirt. He ran his palm over the baby's back soothingly. "I'd like that. The three of us can nap together."
"Four! And we'll visit the deer after!" Shikamaru added quickly. "And maybe—maybe I can show you the old tree I used to climb."
Harry smiled, heart pinching at the thought. "It seems like you have a lot of good memories there Shika."
Shikamaru nodded, though something in his expression dimmed. "Yeah. Some."
"Then let's make some better ones."
It was Ensui who broke the sentiment, his tone teasing. "Shikamaru says your dad used to be a deer. I'm sure our deer will sense a fellow fawn in their midst."
Harry blinked. "My father was…" he said carefully. "He could turn into a stag. So yes. Kind of."
Ensui made an intrigued noise.
"So… can everyone in your clan turn into animals?"
"Not everyone," Harry said slowly. "My father and godfather could. They taught me. But it's… it's not something everyone can do."
They accepted that without pushing further, though Harry saw the flickers of curiosity across their faces. Especially Kakashi's. He had warmed to the man since his offer of pack, and the man seemed more curious than ever. Or he was simply nosy, Harry thought.
Teddy stirred again, rubbing his cheek against Harry's robes before peeking up blearily with wide green eyes. His gaze landed on Shikaku instantly.
"Shikka," he mumbled sleepily.
Harry couldn't help the soft smile that curved his lips. "It seems you've got a fast fan in my son."
Shikaku chuckled, reaching out to run a gentle hand through Teddy's curls. "Can't blame him. He's got good taste."
And sure enough, Teddy's hair began to shift again, lightening, darkening—until it settled into a spiky black mess that looked just like Shikamaru's usual style. But the eyes remained Harry's green.
That image—Teddy's hybrid appearance—hit Harry in a way he wasn't prepared for.
It felt like longing.
Dangerous, dangerous longing.
He looked away quickly.
The road turned, and the trees began to thin.
Then he saw it.
The great walls of Konoha.
Tall, weather-worn stone loomed ahead, etched with the passing of generations. Watchtowers rose at intervals, their banners fluttering in the breeze. The great wooden gates were slightly ajar, guarded by two chuunin in flak vests and matching grins.
"Is that—?" one of them started, eyes widening. "Tsunade-sama?!"
The other scrambled to attention. "Hokage-sama's going to blow a gasket."
Tsunade rolled her eyes and marched past them. "Tell him to get over it."
The taller of the two reached to clasp Shikaku's arm. "Sir! You're back! And… is that—?" His voice choked slightly as he caught sight of Shikamaru.
"Oh kami, is that the brat? You found him!"
Shikamaru gave a small wave, shy but pleased. "Hi."
"Glad you're home, kid," the guard said. "Everyone will be ecstatic that you've been found."
Harry felt something in him twist again.
These people—this village—they had been waiting. Hoping for Shikamaru's return.
And he had taken that hope away. However noble his intentions, it didn't change the pain they must have felt.
He swallowed hard and focused on the village.
Konoha was beautiful in the way small villages often were—rambling wooden buildings stacked with flower boxes, lanterns strung between streets, laughter in the air.
If he didn't know what festered beneath its surface—the politics, the power games, the kidnappings—he might have been enchanted.
He still kind of was.
They wound through the village quickly, receiving waves and stares alike, until they reached the base of a wide red tower near the centre.
The guards at the door saluted immediately, opening the doors without hesitation. Another ran ahead to announce them.
Teddy clung tighter, his tiny hand gripping Harry's collar and Shikamaru's fingers were wound through his. Shikaku hadn't moved more than a pace away since the gates.
When they reached the Hokage's office, the door opened before they could even knock.
As soon as Tsunade stepped inside, the old man behind the desk shot to his feet, his eyes locked on Tsunade.
"Tsunade…" he said, breathless.
"Hokage-sama," she replied, voice cool.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Harry stood at the back of the Hokage's office, observing the exchange between Tsunade and the elderly man. The room was spacious, adorned with scrolls and maps, the walls not bearing much aside from —what he assumes— to be the portraits of previous Kage.
Tsunade leaned casually against the desk, her arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips. "Still hiding behind that hat, old man?"
The Hokage chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "And you're still as brash as ever, Tsunade."
Harry suppressed a smile. Their banter was light, familiar, but he sensed the underlying tension. The Hokage's gaze shifted, finally acknowledging the others in the room. His eyes settled on Harry, narrowing slightly.
"And who might you be? The new clan head perhaps" the Hokage inquired, his tone measured.
Harry stepped forward, his posture straight, exuding the confidence befitting his new title. "Lord Hokage," he began, bowing slightly, "I am Hari, head of the Ryūjin clan. It's an honour to be here. Your village is beautiful and I look forward to making it our home."
The Hokage's expression remained neutral, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of something—disapproval, perhaps. "Is that so?" he said softly. "I wonder what kind of reception you expected, had you not come with the Daimyo's backing."
Harry's smile didn't falter. "I would hope for a warm one, but I understand the complexities of politics."
The Hokage's gaze sharpened. "You kept a child of Konoha from his village. That is not a matter taken lightly."
Harry's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone cool. "With all due respect, Lord Hokage, it's quite the opposite. I protected a child from a village where one of its own caused him harm. I ensured his safety when others failed to do so."
Shikamaru, standing beside Harry, clenched his fists, his jaw tight and the tension in the room thickened.
Shikaku stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "We were fortunate that Hari-sama protected my son during these months. His actions ensured Shikamaru's well-being."
The Hokage sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I'm glad you've been reunited. Perhaps this means I'll finally get my Jounin Commander back."
Shikaku offered a small smile. "I have two more days before the mission ends. I'd like to spend this time reconnecting with my son and reassuring my clan."
"Granted," the Hokage replied, nodding.
Turning back to Harry, the Hokage continued, "Until you're able to purchase land for your compound, would you like the name of an inn? My advisors have compiled a list of available lots already."
Harry shook his head. "There's no need. Tsunade and I have already settled the contracts. I have land ready for the compound."
The Hokage sat up abruptly, his eyes wide looking to Tsunade. "What do you mean? You didn't sell off the Senju land, did you?"
Tsunade scowled. "There's nothing wrong with helping my cousin settle in. He paid handsomely for his half of the compound."
The Hokage looked stunned. "Cousin? There are no other Senju. How can you be sure?"
Harry interjected, "I'm not a Senju. Tsunade's second great-grandfather was my great-uncle. We share blood, but it's not the Senju line that connects us."
Tsunade smirked. "You should thank him really. It was because of him that I decided to come back to the village at all. I hope the hospital is ready for me because I'm about to turn it upside down."
The Hokage nodded slowly still looking slightly suspicious. "We'll discuss it in more detail later. Konoha would be glad to have the Senju princess back within her walls."
Tsunade's scowl deepened at the title.
The Hokage turned his attention to the paperwork Harry had provided, scanning through the documents. "Everything appears to be in order. All that's left is the citizen interview and bloodwork."
Harry opened his mouth to protest, knowing that with the Royal Decree, he and his clan were exempt from such procedures, but the Hokage raised a hand to silence him. "Ibiki is free, and we can get a Yamanaka to verify everything."
Before Harry could even respond, Shikaku stepped in. "No such protocol is needed Hokage-sama. Hari-sama and his clan have already been vetted by the Daimyo."
The Hokage seemed annoyed but eventually sighed. "Perhaps Tsunade can go and settle our new clan head and his son properly then."
Harry inclined his head. "Thank you for the warm welcome. I look forward to our future discussions." If he said this a little sarcastically, no one said anything. He didn't expect a warm welcome, but he expected better than this.
As they turned to leave, the Hokage called out, "Shikaku, stay behind."
Shikaku hesitated, glancing at Harry and Shikamaru. Harry offered a reassuring smile. "Shikamaru can stay with me until your meeting is over."
He looked to Ensui. "Would you be willing to stay with us?"
Ensui nodded. "Of course."
Shikaku's shoulders relaxed. He patted his son's head gently. "Be good."
Shikamaru hugged his father tightly, then took Harry's hand. "Maybe we can get dango on the way to the compound."
Harry chuckled. "That sounds like a plan."
~
The door to the Hokage's office clicked shut behind him with a finality that made Shikaku want to sigh.
He stood tall, arms folded behind his back, spine stiff like the soldier he had been trained to be. Across from him, behind the wide desk of aged desk and towering piles of paperwork, sat the Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi. The Professor. The God of Shinobi.
And right now, just a very tired, very wary old man staring at his Jounin Commander.
"I did not appreciate that interruption," Hiruzen said coolly.
Shikaku let the words hang in the air before answering.
"I know," he said simply. "But I won't apologise for it. Hari-sama was well aware that he has no need to subject himself to interrogation and bloodwork. We cannot afford to anger the Daimyo should word get back to him."
He tried to tell himself that was the reason he objected.
Sarutobi's fingers steepled. His eyes were sharp, but the bags under them seemed heavier than usual.
"This foreign man—this Hari—he appears out of nowhere with a foreign child, a Konoha heir, and claims the backing of the Fire Daimyo. You expect me not to be cautious?"
"I expect you to remember that Hari-sama is not our enemy," Shikaku answered, voice quiet but firm. "He has the Daimyo's backing. That alone makes interrogation redundant and dangerous for the village."
Hiruzen's lips thinned. "And yet you saw how little we know. Danzo—"
Shikaku's teeth clenched.
"Danzo," he interrupted, "is not a man I trust to hold a leash, let alone influence over someone like Hari-sama. I have come to know Hari-sama's character and I fear Danzo would soon regret trying to intimidate him into submission."
"You think he's dangerous?" Hiruzen asked, eyebrow rising.
"I think he's powerful," Shikaku said. "And I think he has no desire to be a weapon. There is a reason he chose not to become a ninja for the village."
The Hokage leaned back, eyes distant. "Your son. He seemed... attached."
A ghost of a smile flickered over Shikaku's lips. "It's to be expected, he saved his life after all. He calls him his 'Maashah.'"
"Strange."
"It fits," Shikaku said softly, not telling him the meaning of the word. "You should see them together. Teddy—his son—adores Shikamaru. And Hari-sama treats them both like the world ends and begins at their feet. He never asked for anything from us. No power. No position. When the I offered him anything for keeping Shikamaru safe… he asked only to stay in his life."
That made the Hokage pause. Briefly, his features softened.
"And you believe him."
"I trust my instincts. I watched them together." Shikaku's voice lowered. "He didn't take Shikamaru to spite us. He took him because he thought no one else would keep him safe. He believed I was dead."
At the name, Hiruzen perked up. "That you were dead?"
"Yes," Shikaku said, face tightening. "Shikamaru accidentally gave him the impression that I was. And it was Asuma who confirmed otherwise. Hari-sama never had a reason to hide Shikamaru. He was mourning me on my son's behalf and I can see the guilt he holds after finding out the truth."
Hiruzen exhaled, rubbing his temple.
"So what now?" he asked. "You intend to tie your clan to this foreigner without even vetting him?"
Shikaku's eyes flared. "I intend to reach out for a formal alliance once he's settled. However, that's clan business."
Hiruzen's expression hardened. "And you're willing to risk the political fallout? Our allies might not take kindly to a new clan popping up with unknown jutsu and—dragons."
"I think that you are looking at this the wrong way, Hokage-sama. Dragons are a powerful deterrent to our enemies after all," Shikaku said with a slow smile. "He calls them family, they will protect him and his from all threats. That would include threats to his home."
"Family?" Hiruzen frowned. "There's more than one?"
"There is."
The Hokage leaned forward. "And you believe they're not a threat?"
"If provoked? Absolutely." Shikaku shrugged. "But he isn't here to conquer us. I saw how Hari-sama looked when people in the capital knelt before him and begged for his blessing. He hated it. He could have had much more influence in the capital than here."
The silence between them stretched.
"Very well," Hiruzen said finally. "I'll extend the benefit of the doubt. But I want your eyes on him."
Shikaku tilted his head. "You're asking me to spy."
"I'm asking you to observe. As you already do." The old man smiled. "You've taken a liking to him."
"Not the point," Shikaku muttered. "But he is… engaging. He has a sharp tongue." He tried to curb his thoughts on what other talents his tongue might have.
Get a grip Shikaku, he scolded himself.
Hiruzen's brows lifted knowingly.
Shikaku coughed and looked away. "He's a skilled politician. He'll hold his own in the clan meetings."
"He'll need to," the Hokage said. "If he's to survive Danzo, Hiashi, and Fugaku in the same room."
Shikaku nodded, expression neutral. "I'll prepare a report on the mission. You'll have it within the week."
"I'm glad your son is home," Hiruzen said quietly.
"So am I."
He turned to leave, already calculating how best to begin sharing custody of Shikamaru.
"Shikaku," the Hokage said suddenly.
He paused at the door.
"There's one last thing."
The tone in Hiruzen's voice made Shikaku's stomach twist.
"Hari-sama may have escaped the standard protocol for entering the village. But Shikamaru hasn't."
Shikaku turned back slowly. "What are you saying?"
The Hokage's gaze was solemn. "We need a mind walk."
Shikaku's heart stopped.
"No."
"Protocol exists for a reason," Hiruzen said gently. "He's been missing for months, raised by a foreign man. You and I both know the risks. We've had children trained as plants before."
"He's six," Shikaku hissed. "My son is six years old."
"And if we want to reintegrate him into the ninja system, the Academy, his clan—this is required."
Shikaku was seething. Every muscle in his body screamed to refuse. To take Shikamaru and Hari and Teddy and vanish from the village altogether.
But logic—damn logic—kept him still.
If he said no, Shikamaru would be barred from the Academy. From his rightful place in the clan hierarchy. He would lose his future before it even began.
And Shikaku saw it for what it was. This was a trap. A ploy to gather more information.
He exhaled. Slow. Measured, as his thoughts ran to take back control. If only slightly.
"Only Inoichi. He's the only one I trust to be in my sons mind," he said at last. "And I'll be present. Every step."
Hiruzen inclined his head. "Done."
"Hokage-sama, I have to remind you," Shikaku added sharply, "that clan law protects secrets of lineage, bloodline, and rites. Whatever Hari-sama has shared with my son—if it qualifies—it stays buried."
"You will report anything that poses a threat to the village," the Hokage said coolly.
Shikaku met his gaze evenly. "Of course."
The silence felt heavier than before.
At last, Hiruzen nodded. "Dismissed."
Shikaku turned and walked out.
Out in the corridor, Shikaku stopped for just a moment, hand braced against the wall.
What was he going to tell Shikamaru? How could he look Hari in the eyes and say, "You can't see my son for a few days, but I can't tell you why."
Would he see through it?
Of course he would. Hari was clever. Too clever, and so was Shikamaru.
But what choice did he have?
He would do what he must.
For Shikamaru.
Even if it meant betraying his son's trust—just once.
Please, Kami. Just once.
~
Touring Konoha was… nicer than Harry expected.
The village was alive in a way few places he'd visited had been. Children darted around corners with laughter trailing behind them. Shopkeepers shouted cheerful greetings from their stalls. The scent of roasted chestnuts and miso soup lingered in the air.
Shikamaru walked at his side, chatting animatedly about the best cloud-watching spots near the Nara compound. Ensui added in teasing remarks here and there, his voice low and familiar, pointing out where the best dango was sold, where he used to drag Shikamaru as a toddler to bribe him into behaving with sweet buns.
"You have to see the deer," Shikamaru said suddenly, eyes wide. "If you bring snacks, they'll eat from your hand."
Harry smiled at the boy's enthusiasm. "Then I'll need to stock up on treats, won't I?"
Shikamaru nodded solemnly, then brightened again as they rounded a bend in the village path.
"LOOK!" he pointed ahead, nearly bouncing on his toes. "That's the Senju compound, and the Nara one is right there! See? That means we're neighbours! Will you come and read me a story every night?"
"Of course," he said, soft and sure, "as long as your father doesn't mind."
Ensui snorted beside them. "Oh, I'm sure my cousin would enjoy having you close by."
Harry gave him a sideways look. "I don't know what you're implying."
"That you're both obvious," Ensui drawled with a grin. "And that we're all watching."
Harry made a strangled sound and mumbled something about rude Nara.
They passed through the arched gates soon after.
The Senju compound still bore signs of disuse—garden paths in need of trimming, moss clinging to the stone steps—but there was strength in the bones of it. A place that was once alive with power.
Tsunade led the way through the estate, her voice steady but her eyes distant. Harry touched her arm briefly when she slowed near an old sakura tree.
"You alright?" he asked quietly.
She shook her head once, a bare flicker. "Too many ghosts," she murmured. "But I'm glad I split the grounds. I wouldn't want them all crowding your home."
Harry's heart tugged. "If I find any artifacts or heirlooms, I'll return them. They belong with you. Or… with him. When we find him."
Their eyes met, and something silent passed between them. A shared vow. They would find Tenzo. No matter what it took.
They reached the boundary they had marked when first discussing the compound split. It was even larger than Harry remembered—his side held a large main house and at least a dozen smaller buildings scattered throughout the trees. Beyond them, more structures peeked out between branches.
"It's more than I expected," Harry admitted.
"Senju land always was larger than others," Tsunade said. "Grandfather added onto it for a growing clan, not one destined to vanish only decades later."
Before Harry could answer, movement caught his eye by the gates.
Shikaku had arrived. He looked calm at first glance, but there was something in the tightness around his mouth, the weight in his eyes.
Harry approached him with a quiet, "Everything alright?"
Shikaku gave him a vague smile, not quite reaching his eyes. "Meetings with the Hokage are always draining."
Harry tilted his head. "Are you sure...?"
The words came out softer than he meant, but Shikaku didn't flinch. He just nodded.
Harry cleared his throat, changing the subject. "Would it be alright if I came by to read Shikamaru a story tonight?"
Shikaku's smile turned a little pained. "Actually… I was going to ask if you'd mind waiting a couple of days before coming over. He and I need some time with the clan. Just… to settle."
Something inside Harry twisted sharply, but he could understand the need. He forced himself to nod, voice rasping slightly. "Yes. Of course. You need time together. I wouldn't want to intrude on any reunions."
"I didn't mean—" Shikaku started.
Harry waved it off, hiding the sting behind a polite smile.
It wasn't his place. Shikamaru was his son—but Shikaku had been his father first. The one who held him as a baby. The one who has loved him for the last six years.
And Harry had to remember that.
They stood in awkward silence before Harry cleared his throat again.
"Actually… there are some things we need to talk about. Important things. Things that might affect Shikamaru's future."
Shikaku's shoulders stiffened. His eyes darted over to where the children were playing.
"Nothing harmful," Harry added hastily. "I would never hurt him."
"I know," Shikaku said after a long pause. Then he gave Harry a quiet, tired smile. "I know you wouldn't."
Harry felt some of the tension ease from his spine.
He excused himself and walked over to Shikamaru, who had Teddy in a cuddle and was attempting to stuff a leaf crown on his head.
"Little dragon," Harry called.
Shikamaru's head whipped up. "Are you coming over tonight? Did dad say yes?"
Harry crouched down. "Not tonight. I wanted to tell you that I won't be reading a story for the next two nights."
"Why not?" Shikamaru frowned. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, sweetheart," Harry said gently. "It's just… your dad only has two days free. He's been away a long time, and I think you two need this time together."
"But you're my family too," Shikamaru said, voice barely above a whisper.
Harry closed his eyes briefly, heart aching. "Always," he whispered, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I'll always be your Maashah. But your father—he's missed you. He needs you. Just for a little while."
Shikamaru pouted. "What about Egg? I thought we were going to make it a nest."
"I'll watch over it. I promise. You'll still feel it. Just like I'll feel you."
The boy's expression softened, and he leaned into Harry's chest. "You promise?"
"I swear it."
Then Shikamaru whispered, "Okay, but I'm your son too."
Harry's throat closed up, and he pulled the boy into a tight hug.
"You are," he said hoarsely. "You're mine, Shika. And after these two days… we'll talk to your dad about the adoption. Together."
Shikamaru nodded solemnly. "Okay. But I still want you to come meet grandma."
Harry laughed softly. "Deal."
With the children off playing again, he made his way back to the others. Tsunade raised an eyebrow and asked, "So… do you want to hire someone to build a wall between our compounds or—"
Harry gave her a teasing look. "You've already forgotten? You might break mountains, and I raise them, remember?"
"Oh, right," she said with a smirk. "Our landscaping miracle."
Harry rolled his eyes, stepped forward, and let his magic sink into the ground.
A deep pulse echoed through the earth—then with a crack and groan as he slammed his foot into the earth, a massive stone wall erupted from the earth, clean and curved, splitting the Senju side from the newly named Ryūjin compound.
The silence that followed was stunned.
Ensui blinked. "That's cheating."
Tsunade cackled. "No such thing as cheating."
Shikaku, ever dry, said, "Well, I suppose that adds 'stone mason' to your list of potential careers."
Harry turned, brushing dust off his robes. "I'm a man of many talents."
Shikaku smirked and held his eyes, "I can't argue with that."
Heat curled in Harry's belly, and he quickly turned away, focusing instead on little Teddy who was babbling at a squirrel.
He needed to stop.
He needed to stop looking at Shikaku like he was more than just Shikamaru's father. More than just an ally. Because nothing good would come of that.
Absolutely nothing at all.
But when Shikaku walked by him and brushed his arm—just slightly—Harry felt the flutter anyway and cursed to himself.
~
The Ryūjin compound was eerily quiet.
Harry stood at the threshold of the main house, arms crossed tightly over his chest, eyes fixed on the gate that had closed behind Shikaku and Shikamaru. The ache in his chest was a dull throb. It wasn't supposed to be this hard.
Just two days, he reminded himself.
Two days without Shikamaru's voice tugging on his sleeve to talk about stargazing or shogi. Two days without little arms wrapping around his middle, without soft giggles or sleepy smiles.
Two days shouldn't feel like forever.
"Bloody hell," Harry muttered under his breath, scrubbing at his face.
Even Teddy had been unusually unsettled—refusing to nap properly, fussing while Harry tried to settle the guest rooms for Tsunade and Shizune. The familiar weight of the baby in his arms now was the only thing grounding him.
"He'll be fine," Tsunade murmured as she returned from setting down the last of the groceries, brushing dirt from her hands. "Shikamaru's in good hands."
Harry smiled thinly. "I know."
The main house was cleaned and charmed into order within hours thanks to a few motivated cleaning spells and the occasional enthusiastic mop zooming across the floor. He'd even found a leftover music box in one of the rooms—most likely a relic of the compound's younger days—which now sat gently spinning lullabies in Teddy's nursery.
But despite all his efforts, the house still felt hollow.
Too many empty rooms. Too many quiet corners.
Nox decided to stay at the Keep for now, until they had space prepared for all the dragons.
The cliffside adjoining the Ryūjin compound would be perfect for a set of nested caves, and he'd already made a mental note to excavate them with earth magic once the dust of settling in had cleared. But tonight? Tonight, he couldn't summon the energy to so much as call a candle to life.
He'd warded the perimeter and layered on a few protective spells for good measure. A proper wardstone would come later, something keyed into the land, into his blood and magic. But for now, it would do.
With Teddy finally dozing in his arms, Harry crawled into bed and stared at the empty half beside him.
"G'night, Shika," he whispered.
But the silence didn't answer back.
Just two days.
~
Bringing his son home was like pulling a buried piece of his soul out of the earth.
Shikaku's arms tightened around Shikamaru as they passed through the gates of the Nara compound. Ensui walked beside them, quiet but alert, his eyes tracking every movement of the clan members gathering at the entrance.
It was a sea of gasps and wide eyes.
"Shikamaru-sama?"
"Is that—?!"
"Praise Inari, they found him—!"
The two guards at the front nearly dropped their weapons in shock, rushing forward with disbelief written across their faces.
"Shikaku-sama," one choked, "we… we thought—!"
"We've got him," Shikaku murmured, voice rough.
He felt Shikamaru tense in his arms, small hands clenching in the fabric of his shirt. "They… They're happy I'm back?"
Shikaku stopped, head bowing slightly so they were eye-level. "Of course they are."
Shikamaru's lower lip trembled. "They really wanted me?"
A sob cracked from the boy's throat before he buried his face in his father's shoulder, tears soaking the cloth.
Shikaku just held him tighter.
"They missed you every day," he whispered, his own voice cracking. "I missed you."
They bypassed the growing crowd, stepping into the house he'd scoured of every trace of Yoshino. No more garish cushions. No lime curtains. No stiff, awkward family portraits that made the place feel like a showpiece.
This was their home now. Just them.
The moment Shikamaru saw the main room, he let out a small breath and said, "It looks better."
Shikaku laughed—genuinely, this time. "That's the idea."
A louder voice echoed down the hall.
"Is that my grandson I hear?"
His mother appeared around the corner like a whirlwind, grey hair pinned back in a high bun, eyes wide with disbelief that quickly melted into joy.
"My boy!" she gasped, and snatched Shikamaru out of Shikaku's arms, hugging him tightly. "You're really here!"
Shikamaru clung to her, eyes watery. "Hi, Grandma…"
"Oh, you've grown," she sniffled, running her hands over his cheeks. "And you've been eating well. And look at your hair! So long! We'll tie it up like your dad's, huh?"
Shikaku watched, warmth settling deep in his chest.
Dinner was a quiet, cosy affair. Ensui had gone home to give them space, and Shikamaru—despite yawning by 5 p.m.—insisted on helping set the table and tell his grandmother all about Hari, Teddy, and his precious egg.
"…Maashah's taking care of the egg while I'm here," he said proudly. "He's gonna help me raise my dragon when it hatches."
Saeko blinked, clearly unsure if she had misheard. "Dragon?"
"Big, scaly, very polite," Shikamaru nodded sagely. "Mine's gonna be blue."
Shikaku chuckled as he poured himself tea, catching the slightly horrified look on his mother's face.
"It's true," he said. "I've seen it."
"A dragon," Saeko said flatly. "Living in the capital. Taking care of your grandson. I—good gods. I'm going to need something stronger than tea to hear more about you Maashah."
When dinner wrapped and Shikamaru was tucked into bed, whispering a request for a story, Shikaku obliged, settling beside him and started telling the old tale of the Nara deer pact—the sacred agreement between shadow and stag.
The boy was asleep before he even finished the second part.
Back downstairs, Shikaku waited for the knock he knew was coming.
It came twenty minutes later, and he opened the door to find Inoichi standing there, already frowning.
"You look worse than I do," Inoichi said dryly.
"Come in," Shikaku grunted. "Let's get this over with."
They sat at the kitchen table while Saeko poured them tea, her own posture tense as Shikaku explained the ultimatum the Hokage gave him.
"The Hokage's forcing your hand," she guessed.
Shikaku nodded grimly. "If we don't do a mind walk, Shikamaru can't join the academy. No academy, no clan heir."
Saeko's face darkened. "He's only six."
"He's a Nara, his mind is strong," Inoichi leaned forward, fingers steepled. "I will be careful. Just surface checks, recent memories, trauma markers."
Shikaku sighed. "I believe you. But Hari—if he finds out—he'll feel betrayed, so will Shikamaru. I don't think he'll trust us again if he finds out."
Saeko glanced between the two men. "Is that why you asked Hari-sama to stay away? Why not just tell them you have to do the mind walk?"
"He'll never say it fully, but he's already claimed him as his own," Shikaku murmured. "And honestly? Shikamaru has claimed him right back. If Shikamaru knows were doing the mind walk then theres a chance he will relive the memories…I don't want that for him. And of Hari finds out then it will be like we've betrayed his privacy."
Saeko blinked, then grinned slowly. "Oh Shikaku, you're fond of him."
"He's good," Shikaku said quietly, valiantly trying to avoid the knowing gaze of his mother. "To his core. And he loves my son."
Inoichi raised a brow. "So co-parenting, huh?"
Shikaku groaned. "Don't you start."
Saeko chuckled. "Well, you always had a type."
Teasing done, Inoichi stood and asked Shikaku to lead the way.
"He's still asleep."
"Good," Inoichi replied, setting down Shikamaru's bed. "That'll make the process smoother."
Shikaku glanced over at his son—his boy—sleeping deeply, unaware of the conversation happening around him, the plans being made. A heaviness settled over Shikaku's shoulders.
"I hate this," he muttered.
"I know," Inoichi said gently. "But you're right—we have to get it over with. The sooner we do this, the sooner we can protect him from the rest of the village's paranoia."
Shikaku nodded, biting down the bitter frustration that threatened to rise. He knelt by the bed and brushed a hand across Shikamaru's temple. "Sorry, kiddo."
Inoichi, seated cross-legged beside the bed, took a slow breath. His hand hovered just over Shikamaru's temple, his expression professional but drawn.
With practiced grace, Inoichi's fingers settled, and the connection shimmered to life.
Shikaku stepped into the mindscape beside his friend. It took only moments before the surroundings materialised—like mist solidifying into memory. The scene that emerged stopped them both in their tracks.
They assumed that the first trauma marker would be his kidnapping three months ago.
This wasn't three months ago.
It was Shikamaru at three years old.
A small, round-cheeked boy with wide eyes and hair still learning how to be spiky. He was reaching upward, tugging on a pale green sleeve.
"Mama?" he asked, voice soft. "Can I have a cuddle? I'm sleepy."
Yoshino turned around and slapped him.
The sound echoed through the memory, loud and abrupt. The child stumbled backward, clutching his face.
"Useless," she snarled, her voice dripping venom. "Always whining. Can't you do anything right?"
Shikaku's hands curled into fists beside him, his body shaking.
"Shikaku." Inoichi's voice cut through his fury like steel. "You lose control here, we could destabilise the walk."
He forced himself to breathe. One, two, three…
"Move on," he said tightly.
The mindscape shifted. A kaleidoscope of quiet, bruising memories bloomed one after another. Shikamaru drawing quietly in the corner, flinching at loud footsteps. Yoshino yanking away his toys, berating him for asking "stupid questions."
And interspersed—bright flickers of joy. Shikaku handing him a shogi piece with a half-smile. Holding him once while reading. One perfect evening under the stars, lying in the grass together.
Each instance of light struck Shikaku deeper than the darkness. Because he saw the hunger in Shikamaru's eyes. The desperate joy when Shikaku chose to spend even a single hour with him.
He hadn't realised.
He hadn't seen.
And that failure would live inside him forever.
"I was too focused on clan affairs, on work," he muttered bitterly.
Inoichi's voice was low. "You were surviving a poisoned marriage. It doesn't excuse it. But don't shoulder all of it alone."
Shikaku swallowed thickly. "Let's keep going."
The next shift brought them to a newer memory. Shikamaru walking with Yoshino, the day after his birthday. Her smile was saccharine as they passed through the outer market of Konoha.
They took side roads, back alleys.
She moved carefully—deliberately. No chakra. Her scent trail was nearly non-existent. But she was being watched. By Inoichi and Shikaku, now seeing it all unfold from within the boy's recollections.
And then… darkness.
Then the voices.
"Unwanted little clan rat."
"Pretty thing like you'll fetch a fortune."
"—might make a good breeder."
Shikaku's blood turned to fire as he heard what his son had.
"ENOUGH," he snarled.
The mindscape twisted. Inoichi grabbed his shoulder tightly, grounding him.
"We need to see all of it."
Shikaku nodded, his jaw clenched so tight it hurt.
They watched as Shikamaru was held captive on a boat. How he clawed at the floorboards in quiet desperation. How he listened. Learned. Watched.
And then—freedom.
A storm. The sea.
The boy dove into blackness rather than be sold.
And then—light.
A hand. Warm and strong.
Green eyes.
"Is that him?" Inoichi asked.
Shikaku nodded staring at the dripping face of his sons saviour. "Hari."
The memory continued. Hari whispering words in a language they couldn't understand, pulling Shikamaru into an embrace, wrapping a glowing seal of protection around them both. The missing-nin hitting the shield—only to be flung back by invisible force.
"He's using no seals," Inoichi murmured. "All that power—just using gestures."
They watched as Hari commanded the sea, called ice into being, entombed the enemy shinobi with little more than a snarl and a flick of his wrist.
And then the final man. Hari stepped forward, eyes glowing. His eyes met the nins and there was a scream—gut-wrenching, soul-tearing.
"Is he… mind reading?" Inoichi asked, perking up at the scene. "That looks very… Yamanaka-like."
Then they heard it the nin jeering about Yoshino selling Shikamaru.
And they watched as Hari's fury exploded once more.
The man's screams were cut off by a rising tide of hardened ice, and Hari cast him into the sea like broken trash.
Shikaku felt a terrible satisfaction. Entirely justified.
The scene shifted again. Hari, now crouched beside Shikamaru, speaking softly in broken Japanese.
They watched the makeshift raft of ice form. Watched as Hari bundled his shivering son in his own cloak.
And then, a massive shape coiled through the clouds.
"No way," Inoichi whispered. "That's…"
"Nox, his dragon," Shikaku confirmed quietly.
The dragon, gentle and slow-moving, lowered its body to allow Hari and his son to climb into the saddle. Inside a crib, they saw a baby, blinking sleepily.
"Who's that?"
"Teddy. Hari's son."
Shikaku said nothing as the memory focused on Shikamaru watching the child.
'He has a baby. Maybe he won't hurt me,' the thought echoed through Shikamaru's mindscape like a record.
Shikaku felt himself break inside.
They saw the tent next. Bigger on the inside. Shikamaru nestled into cushions while Hari checked him for injuries, using healing potions and creams that worked in an instant.
The next morning, a gift. A tiny earring. Shikaku felt his own hearing change in the mindscape as suddenly, every one of Hari's foreign words became understandable.
"some sort of language comprehension seal," Inoichi guessed. "Or artifact. Genius work."
Then came the moment Hari offered to take Shikamaru home.
And Shikaku watched as his son panicked.
Screamed.
Cried.
Held up a broken hair tie and whispered, "It was my father's."
He could barely breathe.
"From that sentence alone…" Shikaku rasped, "No wonder Hari thought I was dead."
The scene softened.
Hari knelt, silent, and gave the boy a choice. Go with him to Iron country or elsewhere.
Shikamaru chose Iron Country.
Hero worship in his gaze.
Hari didn't seem to notice, but they did.
They watched as Hari, after sending the dragon away, cloaked them in shadows—sealing their presence from even chakra sensors. The darkness obeyed him like a living thing.
Inoichi gave a low whistle. "Shadow manipulation and mind arts. If you don't ask him to marry you, I will." The blonde sent him a teasing smile.
Shikaku shot him a look. "Not the time."
They watched the trip into the capital. The clever use of gold, the way Hari coached Shikamaru through safety planning, giving him his own coin pouch. "Just in case."
They watched every clue from their journey come to life—the pawn shop owner, the seamstress, the clueless samurai and bank teller.
"Handy skills to have, to be able to redirect attention like that," Inoichi muttered.
Later, in an inn, a strange figure appeared. A… servant?
A house elf, they later learned.
She doted on Shikamaru and Teddy alike, telling stories of a homeland filled with floating candles, castles and real spells.
"It doesn't sound like Hari-sama is from here," Inoichi said with a frown.
"Definitely not."
Then came the night they decided to leave Iron. Shikamaru saying no to Fire and Lightning. His distaste was visceral.
They learned Teddy was adopted.
And Shikaku felt the last of his skepticism vanish.
He watched as Hari treated not one, but two boys not his own as sons. And Shikaku had never felt more grateful.
"I'll target the next anchor point," Inoichi muttered, and the world shimmered again.
This time, the air was humid. Crickets sang in the distance. They were on a riverbank at dusk.
"Ah, here we are," Inoichi whispered. "In Waterfall Village?"
They watched as Shikamaru trained beside a green-haired girl with sharp eyes—Fu. The chakra flaring from her screamed of something sealed and potent. "Jinchūriki," Inoichi murmured. "I'd bet money on it."
Shikaku observed silently, noting how Hari stood to the side, quietly overseeing their control exercises. He was careful, steady. The children responded to his calm presence instinctively. Shikamaru's expression was focused, free from the weight that had once bowed his tiny shoulders.
"I've never seen him so light," Shikaku whispered.
"Because here," Inoichi said gently, "he felt safe."
They watched as Fu giggled beside Shikamaru, and the boy admitted in a quiet murmur, "I wish Hari was my real mother."
Shikaku flinched.
His gut churned at every comment, every longing look toward Hari. Even though the bitterness wasn't aimed at him—it still hurt.
They watched Shikamaru heal, grow, learn to laugh again. Hari brought him scrolls, helped him meditate.
And then…Waterfall burned.
Flames licked the sky, screams echoed. Shikamaru was clutching Teddy as Nox took to the air, Fu with them, and Hari balancing on the saddle explaining to Okada how to steer.
"He jumped off the dragon?" Inoichi gasped.
Shikaku winced. "He's alive…" He reminded himself.
And when it was over, they saw the village kneeling to Hari and his dragon.
"Maashah-sama," they whispered.
Shikaku raised a brow. "The people really do worship them. It was worse in the capital."
"Explains why Taki gave us nothing," Inoichi said. "Would you give up a hero who saved your village and healed your people?"
They watched as Shikamaru used a strange mirror to speak to Fu.
"An impressive tool," Inoichi said, impressed again. "Ingenious."
The scene changed again.
Hari and the children stood in a clearing.
"Where are we now?" Shikaku muttered.
"An island. I think this is the hidden place they spoke of earlier."
Except when Shikamaru repeated the name of the island—static blared in their ears, minds buzzing and everything blanked out for a moment.
"White noise," Inoichi muttered, massaging his temples. "He's protected the name so thoroughly. Not even the mindwalk can see it. How—"
Inoichi cut himself off when he saw what happened next.
A massive twisting pillar of wood burst from the ground under Hari's touch, roots spiralling outwards.
"Mokuton," Shikaku whispered in awe. "I knew he was related to Tsunade, but—"
Inoichi grinned. "The Senju legacy lives."
Shikaku gave him a look. "It wasn't the Senju gift to begin with."
"Killjoy," Inoichi muttered.
Things got more bizarre and wonderous from there.
The Keep, Hari called it.
Sprawling magical grounds unfurled before them, unreal in their beauty. Great beasts of legend grazed freely. The sky was clearer than any they had ever seen. And the castle itself shimmered with power even in the distance.
"This isn't a summoning realm," Inoichi breathed.
"No," Shikaku said, equally amazed. "This is his home."
They met Sirius, still in stasis. Saw Teddy's nursery. Saw the room made for Shikamaru—Uo the fish, moving paintings on the walls, his name stitched in silver on a pillow.
Then Hari sat with Shikamaru, speaking gently.
And the words dropped like stones into silence.
… not from this world.
Shikaku reeled and Inoichi choked on nothing.
They watched Hari explain about a world with flying brooms, hidden trains, talking paintings, and monsters that feasted on happiness. They watched Shikamaru giggle and ask if Hari was a god or an alien. Hari only laughed.
Then came the libraries.
Miles and miles of books. Ancient, glowing scrolls. Knowledge too vast to comprehend in a single lifetime.
Shikaku's ghostly fingers twitched.
"I can feel your envy," Inoichi teased.
"I am physically restraining myself from begging him to take me there," Shikaku growled.
They met Ignotus, the portrait smiling kindly.
"I knew a Nara once," the man said. The painting confirming Saeko's wild theory of Hari's ancestors.
Then came the dragons.
Six of them. Great wings. Deep rumbles. And Shikamaru in the centre of it all, laughing with Teddy as Nox and a smaller black dragon curled protectively around them.
Inoichi's grin was near maniacal. "I'm going to write a story. This is too magical not to be written down."
"Absolutely not," Shikaku deadpanned.
They watched as time passed—Shikamaru studying, exploring, learning. And his thoughts… they echoed.
"I wish he'd blood adopt me."
"I want to be his real son."
"Please, please don't leave me."
Shikaku nearly crumpled.
And then the Pensieve incident happened.
Shikamaru slipped and fell in.
And they saw it all.
Hari's childhood. His abuse. The cupboard. The snake. The book. The ghosts. The battles. His DEATH.
Hari walking willingly to his death for children chained like cattle.
"I do this willingly, Tom."
"Avada Kedavra!"
Shikaku gasped aloud as those beautiful green eyes went empty.
"No—NO—HARI!" Shikamaru collapsed, sobbing in the memory.
And then—the beach.
Soft linen. Wind. Sun.
Hari alive.
Hari kissed.
The boy from before was there again. This time the kiss was… goodbye.
Light danced. Dust scattered.
Hari sobbed into Ignotus's robes. The man from the portrait come to life.
Then Hari was carrying Shikamaru away, and Ignotus looked directly at Shikamaru.
And winked.
"Did—he—" Inoichi stammered.
"He saw Shikamaru…how?" Shikaku rasped.
They moved on.
Hari offered his blood to Shikamaru.
"It won't erase your dad. It'll just mean you have one more."
A short, but beautiful ceremony and the blood glowed. A bond was made in blood and Shikamaru changed.
Hair darkened. Cheekbones lifted. Green shimmered behind brown.
And Shikaku hadn't noticed.
Hadn't seen until now.
"I need a break," Shikaku croaked.
Inoichi blinked. "We can end the walk."
"Get me out."
The light shattered and Shikaku gasped, body heaving, hand pressed to his chest.
"Shikaku—breathe, breathe with me—come on," Inoichi said, grabbing his shoulders.
"His blood is in my son's veins," Shikaku whispered, shaking. "And I didn't even know."
He stared at his hands.
"I failed him, Inoichi. How could I have failed him so badly!"
"He's alive. He's safe," Inoichi whispered.
Shikaku laughed bitterly. "And it was someone else who saved him. Who died, and travelled to a new world, and then gave my son what I couldn't."
"Will you tell the Hokage?"
"Gods no," Shikaku snapped. "If the Hokage or—worse—Danzo knew what that blood adoption could do."
Inoichi shivered. "He'd be dissected for that alone."
"I'll protect him," Shikaku vowed. "Both of them. All of them."
No wonder Hari wants to talk, it would be hard to hide Hari's bloodline if it manifested in Shikamaru.
Because if Shikamaru had the Mokuton now… there'd be no hiding the blood adoption.
And those dragons don't bond with strangers.
They bond with kin.
"They took a short break. They had been in Shikamaru's mind for over 6 hours already.
Determined to end this, Shikaku rolled his shoulders and said, "Lets finish this."
This time they were in Suna.
Blistering winds rolled over endless dunes. They watched as Shikamaru, swaddled in a white scarf, trudged through the desert beside Hari, Teddy bundled in his arms. The dry heat shimmered in waves, but none of the children complained.
Then the park, meeting a little red-haired boy. Shikamaru's rising confidence allowing him to befriend another child.
Inoichi let out a low whistle. "That's definitely the Kazekage's son. Gaara I think."
Shikaku nodded slowly. "Another Jinchuriki I think. That makes two now Shikamaru's bonded with."
They watched Hari meet Yashamaru again, whose posture shifted instantly with familiarity. He stepped forward to clasp Hari's arm and whisper something making Hari laugh.
"Suppose they've gotten to know each other well," Inoichi observed, brows arching.
Shikaku didn't respond. His jaw clenched. There was a sharp flicker of emotion in his chest that he didn't want to name. Not right now.
The memory progressed, and they heard Shikamaru's off-handed mutter, "You stole me, maybe you could steal Gaara too."
Shikaku snorted despite himself, but the comment hit hard.
They continued watching as Gaara was left behind, the sadness in his eyes stark as Shikamaru pressed a two-way journal into his hands.
"That journal…" Inoichi murmured. "It must use similar seals as the mirror. Linked. Two-way sealed communication."
Shikaku said nothing. His focus was on his son, who was smiling gently at Gaara. He looked older. More stable. This journey was changing him.
Then, the desert scene bled into a town square—and Tsunade.
The memory of her meeting with Hari was explosive. She stood there like a storm contained in a woman's body, and Hari… his nervousness was nearly comical. They learned about Tenzo—her nephew—and Shikaku's stomach turned when he realised how close the boy had always been.
The memory shifted again. Hari was back at their inn, looking exhausted, lying on the bed.
Tsunade turned to Shikamaru and, in the memory, spoke proudly. About how 'his Maashah' fought Orochimaru. Turned the rain into shards of ice and forced him to retreat.
Shikaku blinked. "He did what? He fought Orochimaru?!"
They moved to the next memory, where Hari cast a silencing jutsu over a conversation with Tsunade. Shikamaru pouted in the corner. They couldn't hear the words—but the worry on both adult faces was enough to suggest seriousness.
They watched Hari leave for the capital. He returned looking devastated.
"Something must have happened," Shikaku murmured.
Hari tried to hide it, but Shikamaru noticed immediately. They watched him struggle with it—until he took Shikamaru back to the Keep. To see the dragons, he claimed.
But his shoulders were tight.
Then came the confrontation.
Shikamaru finally released all the trauma he was carrying. His words tore through the memory like a blade.
"Gods," Inoichi whispered, eyes wide as he heard everything.
Hari's response was immediate. Fierce. Devoted.
The pain in Shikaku's chest was tangible.
They watched Hari gently coax the truth from Shikamaru about his father.
Hari's devastation was visible.
"He really didn't know I was alive," Shikaku rasped.
Then came the egg.
Nox—massive and regal—laid her egg specifically for Shikamaru. The moment was sacred. Beautiful.
Shikamaru promised to protect it, cooed to it, hissed in mimicry of his Maashah.
"Shikamaru…a dragon rider," Inoichi murmured in wonder, maybe envy.
Then Hari returned from his meeting with the Daimyo. His dragons—six of them—had been summoned in full force. The bounty was dropped. A new clan granted. A royal decree secured.
"All so he could bring him home," Shikaku said, voice barely audible. "My—Our son."
They laughed a little at Shikamaru's pout about wanting Hari in the Nara clan.
"He's bold," Inoichi said, grinning. "A Nara to the core, already planning ahead."
Then Nox chimed in, smugly declaring that Shikamaru would be worshipped one day. Shikaku's protective instincts nearly buckled.
Then the reunion.
Asuma. Ensui. The capital. Hari meeting the prince again.
The moment Shikamaru saw his father, his face lit up. The reunion was soft, emotional, overwhelming.
Shikaku and Inoichi both flinched when they saw it from the outside. Saw the moment Hari and Shikaku met—tense, relieved, grateful.
Saw how Shikamaru clung to them both.
Then the memory ended.
The world tilted, and suddenly they were back in the quiet darkness of Shikamaru's room.
Inoichi was pale, his eyes wet with tears he hadn't noticed.
Shikaku was trembling, both hands fisted in his lap. "That was everything. All of it."
"Nearly three months of memory," Inoichi said faintly. "In 18 hours. I think we've seen enough." He looked at his friend. "I need water. Food. Something."
Shikaku nodded absently.
The flicker of candlelight danced across Shikaku's fingers as he stroked Shikamaru's hair gently, still barely believing his son was back—warm, breathing, sleeping. His lips pressed to the boy's forehead, a whisper of a kiss.
"I'll protect you," he murmured. "No matter what. No matter who I have to go through to keep you safe."
His hand lingered just a moment longer before he rose and stepped from the room, his shadow stretching long in the hallway. His thoughts, however, refused to stay tethered in the present. They wandered instead to the other people he felt the overwhelming need to protect.
Hari.
And Teddy.
Alone now, in that grand Senju compound—quiet halls and old walls holding a new clan with too many secrets and not enough defenders. Danzo and his roaches were already stirring, no doubt. Salivating over the potential in Hari's dragons, his strange power, his undeniable influence in the royal court. Add Tenzo to the mix—Tsunade's missing nephew, her own blood—and Shikaku could see the twisted gleam in Danzo's eye as if the man were already in the room, whispering poison into the Hokage's ear.
He'd witnessed too much in Shikamaru's memories to sleep soundly tonight. He'd need days, weeks even, to unpack it all. But for now… he needed to document the parts that mattered. The parts that could be safely told.
He found Inoichi in the sitting room, two cups already poured, the bottle of sake open beside them. Shikaku dropped heavily onto the cushion opposite him with a loud groan.
"You look like shit," Inoichi said simply.
"I feel worse," Shikaku muttered, lifting the cup and downing the first sip like it was medicine. "We need to get the report done. Before Shikamaru wakes up."
Inoichi sighed, nodding. "Agreed."
They didn't waste time. They couldn't afford to.
Together, they began drafting a summary of the mission, careful and deliberate with every word.
"Start from the top," Inoichi said, summoning a scroll and pen.
"Right," Shikaku muttered. "We include the circumstances of the kidnapping. That Yoshino planned it. That she delivered him to missing-nin. And that he was rescued at sea by a foreigner with no allegiance to any village—Hari-sama."
Inoichi's pen scratched quickly.
"We specify Hari saved him at sea during a storm and killed the kidnappers—confirmed missing-nin from Kiri and Iwa," Shikaku continued. "Then we detail the travels that followed. The journey through Iron, Wind, Waterfall."
Inoichi added, "Mention the presence of foreign dignitary children. Do not identify Fu or Gaara. Just that Hari interacted briefly with heirs of other villages."
Shikaku nodded grimly. "We don't give anyone a reason to view Shikamaru as a connection to them. Especially not Danzo."
"Agreed."
They continued:
—Hari-sama is confirmed to have a summon contract with at least six dragons.
—He encountered Orochimaru in the Land of Rain. The Sannin retreated. Tsunade and Shizune were there.
—He is affiliated with the Fire Daimyo's court, specifically Prince Shinji and the Daimyo.
—Confirmed personal connection to Asuma Sarutobi, who told him about the search and that Shikaku was alive.
Inoichi paused his brush. "You sure you want to include Asuma?"
Shikaku exhaled. "Yeah. Asuma's presence verifies the timeline. Besides, the Hokage already knows he was in the capital. It might make him hesitate a bit more. Include that more of his clan will be making their way here at some point as well."
"Right."
Inoichi finished writing, then sat back.
They stared at the completed summary for a long moment.
"I won't include anything about Hari's other abilities," Inoichi said at last. "No mention of the blood adoption. No mokuton. No… mind magic. Nothing about the Keep or his magical servants."
Shikaku gave him a grateful look. "Thank you."
Inoichi just shrugged. "I'd die before I gave Danzo anything."
They sat in silence again, and then Inoichi's expression shifted—just a little too amused.
"What?" Shikaku asked warily.
"Oh, nothing," Inoichi said breezily. "Just thinking how you might want to move fast before Hari-sama is surrounded by suitors."
Shikaku groaned. "Don't start."
"What? Tsunade called him a golden goose, didn't she?"
"I'm not…" Shikaku rubbed a hand over his face. "I can't court him."
"Oh, you absolutely could," Inoichi said with infuriating calm. "He's the mother of your child, after all."
Shikaku gaped at him. "That's exactly why I can't! He's Shikamaru's saviour, his guardian. I can't just—just—"
"Fall head over heels?" Inoichi suggested.
"I'm thirty-two."
"And he's… what? Seventeen?" Inoichi tilted his head. "Fifteen years. Not that bad, considering our line of work."
"It's inappropriate."
"It's convenient," Inoichi countered. "You're both clan heads. You're both powerful. You both love Shikamaru."
"That doesn't make it less—"
"Shikaku." Inoichi leaned forward. "You haven't been with anyone in over seven years. Not since you married Yoshino. And even then…"
Shikaku groaned. "Don't remind me."
"I have to remind you," Inoichi said, his voice softening. "You honoured that marriage. You took the pills to fulfil the contract. You did your duty. You endured it. For the clan. For your father's sake."
Shikaku's jaw clenched.
"And now?" Inoichi continued. "Now you're free. She's gone. You can stop pretending. You can have something for yourself for once."
The silence stretched between them.
"I'm not sure he'd want me," Shikaku finally said.
Inoichi gave him a look. "He admires you already, Shikaku. Every time when they were talking about you, it was obvious. That man adores you and he hasn't even seen you with your hair down."
Shikaku's throat felt tight.
"I want him," he confessed quietly. "From that first moment—I wanted him."
Inoichi smiled. "Then don't let some stupid sense of propriety stop you. You deserve to be happy."
Shikaku closed his eyes.
"…We're both clan heads," he said eventually. "It won't work."
Inoichi just smirked. "Hari said something in Shikamaru's memory. You remember it?"
"…What?"
"I'm the clan head," Inoichi quoted, lips twitching. "I make the rules now."
Shikaku blinked.
Then he laughed—a low, startled sound.
"…Damn him," he muttered. "He's going to be impossible to say no to."
"Exactly."
Inoichi poured another cup. "So maybe say yes."
They clinked glasses together in quiet toast.
"To freedom," Inoichi said softly.
"To second chances," Shikaku replied.
And deep in his chest, a spark caught flame.
This time, he wouldn't run.
This time, he would choose happiness.
For Shikamaru.
For himself.
And maybe—just maybe—for the green-eyed dragon-tamer who might give him a chance.
He just had to not fuck it up…