Ch 120

"You're looking at her." 

I jumped to another tree the next second because Shikamaur activated his trap and his shadows sprung into action, trying to get me. 

I knew that this was most definitely bait to get me, this conversation was too convenient for it not to be. 

I raised a brow as I jumped to a higher branch as kunai were thrown in my direction, embedding itself into the tree where I just was. 

I raised my right hand, a motion telling them to stop. Ino and Choji kept kunai in their hands and Shikamaru kept his kneeled position, just waiting for me to be close enough for his shadow possession jutsu. 

I was the first to speak, not wanting this to go wrong. 

Or any more wrong. 

"Asuma, long time no see." 

I called out, my voice light and airy. Asuma didn't move from where he was, keeping his hands in his pockets. 

"Ishi, stirring up trouble again?" 

His voice matched my own, too casual for the situation. He was still smoking a cigarette, a habit just as bad as my own. 

"It is a terrible habit, looks like we both need to quit those." 

He let out a chuckle, but it was humourless. Team 10 looked serious, they meant business. 

So did I. 

I could feel the weight of their gazes on me, each one sharp and unrelenting. But I stood my ground, refusing to let the old nerves take over. 

No matter how much they tried to creep in, I wasn't going to back down. 

Not this time. 

Asuma's eyes narrowed, his posture relaxed but betraying none of the tension simmering just beneath the surface. He exhaled a thick puff of smoke that lingered in the air, taunting, like it was meant to provoke me. 

"I never expected you to come back like this, Ishi," Asuma said, his voice casual, but with an edge of suspicion. "What exactly do you want?" 

I took a moment to weigh my options. Glancing to my left, I noticed Shikamaru standing poised, his body unmoving yet ready, his shadow just a breath away from striking if I made the wrong move. 

But I wasn't about to give him that satisfaction. 

"I don't want trouble. I just need to talk," I said, my voice steady, cutting through the tension in the air. 

I needed to make my intentions clear—this wasn't about confrontation. 

"I'm not here to fight." 

The words felt like a promise, but in this moment, I knew how fragile that promise was. They needed to understand that, if it came to it, I would defend myself. 

Ino's fingers twitched nervously at her sides, eyes flicking between me and Asuma, as if ready to spring into action at the slightest provocation. 

But it was Choji who finally broke the silence, his voice low and steady, cutting through the standoff. 

"So, you're really Ishi Uchiha... the one who survived the massacre?" he asked, his tone far more measured than I expected. 

I nodded, the memory of that night flashing through my mind in a vivid, painful rush. 

"Yes," I said quietly, "and no, I didn't come back to stir up old ghosts. I need your help." 

Shikamaru's shadow still lingered, unmoving, unyielding. He wasn't convinced. Not yet. 

"You'll have to do better than that, Ishi," he said, his voice sharp and calculating, always thinking three steps ahead. "What kind of help are we talking about?" 

I took a deep breath, the weight of my request pressing down on me. This wasn't easy to ask, but I had no choice. 

"I need to get back to Konoha," I began, my words careful, measured. "And I need to do it without anyone thinking I'm a threat. The last thing I want is to be hunted down again." 

Asuma took a long drag from his cigarette, his expression unreadable, but the flicker of understanding in his eyes was there, almost imperceptible. 

"So, you want us to vouch for you?" he asked, his voice steady now. 

I nodded. "If you can. But... I don't blame you if you can't. I just need a chance." 

The silence that followed felt like an eternity, stretching long and heavy between us. I could tell they weren't convinced, not entirely. 

But they were listening. And right now, that was all I could hope for. That was more than I could've asked for in this moment. 

Asuma hummed thoughtfully, exchanging a glance with Shikamaru. 

"Why are you coming back? Why now? You're known for being Orochimaru's student." 

His words were casual, but there was an underlying tension in his voice. Though Asuma appeared composed, I could tell he was biting back a few choice words for Orochimaru—and probably for me too. 

He did kill his dad. 

His eyes never left mine, they were cold and analytical. 

"Those rumors are exaggerated. I–" 

"No excuses, only explanation." 

Asuma cut me off sharply, his tone firm. Still calm and composed, he inhaled his cigarette deeply, not breaking eye contact. 

He was watching me carefully. So was Shikamaru. 

It was clear now: Asuma thought that because I needed them, he could be rude, maybe even provoke me just to see how I would react. I couldn't help but find that interesting. 

It reminded me of someone I used to know—maybe even three someones. 

I tilted my head to the left, stretching my neck until it cracked, then did the same on the right. I let out a light sigh, allowing my posture to exude calm. 

"Alright," I said, offering a polite smile. "I'm not his student. We just shared a space as fellow scientists. It was a mutual relationship, no strings attached." 

I waited for their response, trying to gauge how they'd take my words. The silence that followed felt heavy, like they were deciding whether or not to believe me. Asuma shared a look with Shikamaru, who then nodded slightly before speaking. 

"You kept going back to Orochimaru," he said, his voice calculating, almost like he was probing for the right weakness. 

His eyes never left me, waiting for a slip, a misstep. I didn't give him that, not ever. 

"Yes, I did," I answered bluntly, not bothering to sugarcoat the truth. There was no point in pretending otherwise. 

Shikamaru's eyes narrowed, his irritation obvious. 

"Why? You could've come to us." 

Now we were getting to the heart of it. 

Why? Why indeed. 

I wasn't about to tell them that Obito was the reason, or that I was being constantly threatened, or that being here now was a death sentence if he found out. I couldn't risk showing that weakness. 

This was my best option now—dead either way. 

"Every option was terrible," I said, my voice steady. "At least Orochimaru would fund my shit." 

I stared directly into Shikamaru's eyes, not looking away. I knew I wasn't telling the full truth, and I knew he knew that too. But I didn't lie. I just kept my real reasons hidden. 

There was no room for vulnerability here, no room for pity. It was a game of survival, and if they weren't smart enough to understand that, I was already on borrowed time. 

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes further, a frown pulling at his lips. The shift in his expression made Asuma sigh. 

"A lie?" Asuma asked, his voice calm but with an edge of frustration. 

Shikamaru didn't answer immediately. He kept his gaze locked on mine, as if trying to see through me. After a beat, he finally spoke. 

"Not exactly, but she is hiding something." 

I couldn't help but let out a sardonic chuckle. The tension in the air was so thick it felt like it could be cut with a knife. 

They could tell I wasn't being completely honest, but I wasn't about to make it easy for them. In this game, any slip could be fatal, and I wasn't about to show my cards too soon. 

"Look, Ishi, we can't help you if you're going be like this," Asuma said, his voice firm, though there was an undertone of annoyance. 

"I know," I replied, my tone steady. "All I want is to talk with Tsunade. I met her once, she'll recognize me." 

Asuma scoffed lightly, as if the idea was absurd. 

"The Fifth Hokage," he emphasized, making it clear I should show respect by using her title, "is an important figure in the village. Why would we allow a rogue to have an audience with her?" 

I let out a scoff of my own, holding back a frown. 

So now I was a rogue? 

The label stung, but it wasn't surprising. Still, being treated like one, especially when I was simply seeking a conversation, was irritating. 

"I'm fine if many of you want to be there," I said, trying to keep my tone calm. "This is a big deal, I get that. All I want is to go there—not as a prisoner, or anything like that. As long as that's agreed on, I'll come willingly." 

The stares were accusatory, but I had no choice but to push forward. If I didn't make my request clear, it would be pointless. 

It was my best chance, and I wasn't backing down now. Asuma glanced over at Shikamaru, his expression unreadable, before turning back to me. 

"You're asking a lot, Ishi," he said, his voice still calm, but the weight of his words was clear. "You know the risks. If this goes wrong." 

I exhaled slowly, feeling the pressure of the situation weigh down on me. "I understand the risks," I said, my voice steady. "But I'm out of options. I'm not asking for a favor, I'm asking for a chance." 

There was a pause, and I could see the gears turning in their heads. Asuma's eyes flicked to Shikamaru, then back to me, the silence hanging thick. 

I wasn't sure what would happen next, but I knew this was the crossroads. If they refused, I'd be left with nothing but uncertainty. 

If they agreed... it would be a slim chance, but one worth fighting for. Finally, Asuma spoke again, his voice softer but still firm. 

"We'll need time to think this through. It's not something we can decide on the spot." 

I nodded. "I can wait." 

The moment stretched on, but the smallest flicker of hope began to stir inside me. This wasn't over yet, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I might actually have a future. 

I stood up from where I had been kneeling, the motion causing everyone to tense. 

"How about this," I said, my voice steady, "we meet in front of the gates of the Leaf in four days. If the Fifth Hokage doesn't want to meet, you tell me and I'll leave. If she does, prepare a large room and escort me there. Does that sound reasonable?" 

Asuma didn't hesitate or consult Shikamaru before answering. 

"It does." 

With his agreement, I didn't waste any time. Without another word, I turned and leapt into the air, heading back to where I had been staying. 

A/n There we go! A new chapter with answers! Can't say i have much to write about now so I'll just write another chapter. Lucky you! Enjoy~