Shikaniku Hiden: The Shifting Shadows

Chapter One: Weights
The sound of his advisor gentling pressing his knuckles against the wooden door tore Shikaniku from his slumber. He aggressively shot awake.

Wiping the saliva dripping from the edges of his mouth, he answered. "C-Come in."

"Lord Hokage sir," Shikaniku's advisor replied, "You can't simply continue falling asleep."

She was a tall, but slim woman by the name of Minori. Although she was not renown for her skills, Shikaniku's predecessors chose her for her intellect, wisdom, and sternness.

He never questioned her judgement either; those traits were visible. Everytime he looked into her sanpaku eyes, he witnessed her hardships first hand. He understood that even if she hadn't fought on the same battlefield he did as a child, she battled in some way. She overcame some tragedy. All he questioned was what it was.

"Asleep...what? I've been awake the entire time," Shikaniku nervously retorted.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, I'm serious."

Minori put her hand on her hip. "Then, I guess you wouldn't mind showing me the work that you obviously finished since you weren't asleep then," she sarcastically inquired.

A drop of sweat dripped from the edge of Shikaniku's face. "Right, well..it just so happens that I left--" Shikaniku stopped.

"Okay, I was asleep."

"See, Lord Hokage. Was that so hard?"

Shikaniku knew full and well that it was a rhetorical question. Whenever his stories were unearthed by his wife, she'd say the same exact thing. He had come to the conclusion that it was woman for, "Don't fucking lie to me again." or something else more dangerous that he simply didn't harbor enough hate to conceive.

He sighed. "It's a lot of work."

Minori nodded. "Yes, I understand. But, if we stay—"

"You don't understand though," Shikaniku calmly interrupted. "Minori, I'm a warrior first and foremost. I should be on the battlefield."

"You've served your village on the battlefield long enough. It is now your responsibility to lead the rest of the village as our head.