The Shadows Whispers

It was the only village that could never blame the forecast for their inability to see the stars. If they couldn't, they were either blind, or simply not looking hard enough. Shikaniku almost envied the citizens, but a glance in the village's direction was all he needed to revoke those feelings of envy. Several of the buildings were charred, the village was littered with the bones of those who defied their enemies, but more than all, he could see the fear of the faces of everyone he watched pass. Despite the catastrophe, Shikaniku couldn't help but feel fortunate for the events that had occurred. Since Naruto had failed to return, Konohagakure had been without a tailed beast for quite some time, and that was dangerous; they were vulnerable, and vulnerability was something that he failed to accept. Typically, since he had assumed the position as the head of Konoha's root, it was often a rare occurrence for he, in person, to leave the safety of the village. He was a central focus in its protection, and government, but this was a mission that he felt that only he could truly fulfill.

Releasing his, Shikaniku crept off of the wall, as the group of shinobi walked by. He scurried through the garden behind the palace of the raikage and his family, people that he was relatively acquainted with. The wife of the cloud shadow was the daughter of his master; it had been a shame that she departed so Konoha. Her mother's heart was broken, and Shikaniku had ultimately lost out on a chance to acquire a treat of such elegant taste. Nevertheless, he had found love of his own within time, and her mother had moved on. Though, it still surprised him on how well everything turned out: him acquiring a wife of his own, Sayuri learning to accept her daughter's choice, and Shigemi being accepted by the people of Kumogakure despite Konoha indirectly causing the disappearance of their previous Kage. Exiting the garden, he crept through the window of a palace bedroom, and stopped as he looked onto the bed. A figure rested under the bed sheets quietly. "Whomever decided that this was a good spot is an idiot, but shigemi, you never were that smart." Shikaniku ripped the sheets off of the figure, welcomed by a warm kick to the stomach that forced him backwards. He gazed at the person, dumbfounded.

"Who are you?"