Nara Shikamaru strolled slowly through the streets of Konoha, one hand lazily resting behind his head as he glanced up at the sky. His thoughts were like a wild horse, breaking free of its reins and galloping into the unknown.
"I still can't believe it... Hyuga Gakuya and Chiba Mokushū are actually the same person," he muttered to himself, his brows furrowed tightly as a look of confusion and conflict clouded his face.
"And seriously, Dad... how could you dump something this complicated on me? Saying something like 'it's easier to talk to someone your own age'? You've really set me up this time."
That morning, Shikaku had handed him a heavy responsibility—breaking the news to the Hyuga sisters. He'd insisted that it would go more smoothly if it came from a peer.
Shikamaru had been walking around with a sullen face the entire way, each step heavier than the last until he finally reached the Hyuga household. Taking a deep breath, he paused at the door to compose himself, organizing his thoughts before lifting his hand and knocking gently.
Inside, Hinata was in the middle of training. She paused when she heard the knock, quickly walked to the door, and opened it with a soft smile.
"Please, come in. I'll grab some fruit for you," she said kindly, already turning to head toward the kitchen.
At that moment, the energetic Hanabi noticed a guest and skipped over.
"No need, really," Shikamaru said quickly, waving a hand. "I'm actually here to talk to you both about something important, uh…"
He scratched the back of his head, visibly uncomfortable. This wasn't the kind of conversation he was used to having.
"It's just… well…" Shikamaru hesitated, his face an unreadable mix of reluctance and tension.
Hanabi, impatient with how long he was taking, blurted out, "Ugh, just spit it out already! Stop beating around the bush!"
"Alright, alright…" Shikamaru drew in another breath, then, as if tearing off a bandage, dropped the news all at once. "Chiba Mokushū is actually Hyuga Gakuya's second personality. The two personas have merged."
"Gakuya could try to infiltrate Konoha at any time. We believe that despite the fusion, his feelings for the two of you may still remain intact. That's why… we're hoping you can reach out to him if he shows up."
He stopped and closely watched the sisters' reactions.
The moment the words hit them, both Hinata and Hanabi froze as though struck by lightning.
Hinata's gentle eyes widened in shock, filled with disbelief. Her face turned ghostly pale, her lips trembling like autumn leaves caught in a gust of wind.
She stood there as if her soul had been drained, whispering in a daze,
"No… that can't be true… It can't be real…"
Her voice was barely audible, fragile and quivering. Her hands clenched the hem of her clothes so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Hanabi, meanwhile, stared with eyes ablaze, trembling with rage.
"You're lying!" she screamed. "There's no way that's true! Shikamaru, you're messing with us, right?!"
Her voice was sharp and furious, her chest heaving with every breath as her face flushed red with emotion.
"I don't believe it! I won't believe it!"
The truth was too cruel to accept—that the person they loved, the one they called "Mokushū," was also the one they'd sworn to kill.
Even if it was two different personalities, the emotional blow was too much to bear.
Shikamaru gave a resigned sigh, his expression pained.
"It's true. I didn't want to believe it either, but… for the safety of the village, we need your help."
"This isn't completely hopeless. There's a chance you can bring him back—help awaken his original self through your love."
He continued, offering more details—everything the village had uncovered and theorized about Hyuga Gakuya's dual personality.
The sisters listened in silence for a long while. Their hearts churned like stormy waters as memories of Gakuya flooded their minds.
Hinata recalled the time she was trapped in one of his genjutsu. Within that illusion, she'd lived through his painful past, experiencing every moment of his suffering. Each scene had carved itself deep into her soul.
She could hardly imagine a childhood that should have been filled with warmth and hope, instead twisted by darkness and torment.
Gakuya had been persecuted by the Hyuga clan—shunned, abused, used as a pawn in the clan's internal power struggles.
Growing up in such oppressive, hopeless conditions, his heart had long since become warped. The rage inside him had reached its boiling point, culminating in that bloody massacre.
The Gakuya who stood before them now—this "monster"—was the very result of what their own clan had created.
And the ones who had done it… were their own parents. Their own kin.
If the Hyuga clan had started this nightmare, then it was only right that they be the ones to end it—no matter the cost.
Hinata's gaze, once shaken, gradually became firm. Her voice was soft but resolute.
"If this is true… then we'll do what we can."
Hanabi clenched her fists, her expression filled with determination.
"That's right. I'm going to bring back the Chiba Mokushū I knew!"
...
Shikamaru let out a sigh of relief. He'd feared the sisters might do something reckless in response, but thankfully, they'd taken it well enough.
At least his task was complete.
He offered some strategic advice.
"Think carefully about what you want to say to him. If he does come, we'll make sure you're protected and set up a place where you can talk safely."
"Try to remind him of the good times—memories that might stir the real Mokushū inside."
"Got it," the sisters replied in unison, nodding.
Shikamaru gave a small nod in return.
"You won't be doing this alone. Someone else will be joining you. Let's head to the Hokage's office. You might share some common ground with her—it'd be good to talk things over together."
"Alright," Hinata said.
But both sisters couldn't shake the sudden, sinking feeling in their chests. They knew that Mokushū had shared deep bonds with many women.
Following Shikamaru to the Hokage's office, they pushed the door open—and immediately saw a blonde girl waiting inside.
Their eyes met.
Each of them already had a pretty good idea who the other was.
The girl spoke first, her voice clear and pleasant. "You must be Hinata and Hanabi. I'm Temari."
Hinata and Hanabi nodded subtly, silently sizing her up. Temari's face showed a hint of pain as she continued,
"I knew Mokushū too. I'm here for the same reason—to help bring him back."
Hanabi couldn't help but snap, "Hmph. And how do we know you don't have some other agenda?"
Temari didn't flinch. Her voice was calm, steady.
"Right now, we all share the same goal. That's the only thing that matters."
Hinata gently tugged at Hanabi's sleeve. "Let's hear what she has to say first."
So the three of them sat down, beginning to share everything they knew about Mokushū.
Temari spoke about her time with him.
Hinata recounted the memories she saw in the illusion.
Hanabi occasionally added her own interjections, piecing together their collective understanding of the man they once knew.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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