Chapter 64

When Ino mentioned Shikamaru, Avie chuckled a little.

- Yes? As for me, he is quite ordinary ... And his appearance is not particularly that ...

- Hey! - Ino frowned her brows and said with displeasure: - I know you don't like him, but I like it! So don't say that ...

Avie laughed and ruffled Ino's hair slightly.

- You are such a sweet girl, but does he know about it?

"Well ..." Ino hesitated slightly, and then slightly pouting muttered: "He keeps leaving, and I can't even talk to him. During the breaks, he also disappears somewhere with this Chоji ... After we stopped spending time together, I don't often manage to talk to him. Chоji said he had some kind of job at the Hokage residence ...

Avie was slightly surprised and asked:

- What kind of work? Isn't he too small for that yet?

"Well, I don't know." Ino shrugged. "Chоji loves to chat, but when I ask about Shikamaru he always gets off topic. I don't like it ... I thought we became friends after everything.

- Hmm, no wonder this guy was probably only interested in training. I doubt that he even remembered our names ... - For some reason, Avie turned away and continued training with a displeased face.

Ino wrinkled her brow and said softly:

"It's not true… you yourself know he's not like that!" - the girl turned sharply and quickly ran away, not saying any more words. Following the rapidly retreating Ino, Avie immediately felt a slight prick of guilt. She didn't want to offend her, but for some reason everything turned out like this ...

"I shouldn't be so… He really isn't that bad, and what ever came over me? Eh ... "- Shaking her head, Avie decided to apologize to Ino later. Yes, and she had a desire to talk to Shikamaru, to discuss why he decided to end everything earlier and why now he also avoids Ino.

"Well, not that I really want to see him ... Maybe at least it will cheer her up" - without noticing herself, the girl unexpectedly smiled for herself. One way or another, she simply could not admit to herself that although Shikamaru was annoying, he had already become a friend to her. So Ino only pushed her to meet him, so the girl's mood even improved.

***

That evening, an unexpected meeting for Shikamaru took place in Konoha.

In the shadows of the buildings, when the sun had already set over the horizon and the village was illuminated only by bright stars and the moon, in one of the Yamanaka neighborhoods, a man appeared right in the middle of the street. He immediately caught Shikamaru's attention. The atmosphere immediately became unusual, a quiet wind lifted several leaves into the air, and a lone kitten disappeared into the shadow of the block, flashing its amber eyes at last. Thus, an oppressive silence covered the silent quarter ...

Tired before this, Shikamaru, as soon as he saw a blurry silhouette in the distance, suddenly became serious. Not his abilities, but rather instincts made the guy wake up from fatigue and his gaze slowly focused on the dark silhouette. Shikamaru clearly felt that someone in front of him was very dangerous ... When his vision cleared up, he knew for sure that he was not mistaken at all.

Ten meters from him, a tall man was standing not very hidden in the shadows. Although, rather, it was already an old man. But, of course, if he were an ordinary old man, Shikamaru would not even pay attention to him. This one was very special, Shikamaru immediately recognized him, he simply could not recognize ...

An old man with a cane, with an arm and head wrapped in bandages. The bandages covered absolutely all of his right arm and the right side of his face. His cold gaze and a noticeable scar on his chin left Shikamaru in no doubt about his identity.

"Shimura Danz ... Damn it. What an inopportune moment. "Even though Shikamaru sensed danger, he didn't show it. He knew for sure that one slightest manifestation of fear would not hide from the gaze of this old man. Fear will be the first thing that makes him think. After all, Shikamaru doesn't even have to know who is in front of him. The head of the hidden organization of the Root was not such a famous person. A simple six-year-old Genin should not even have heard his name, let alone his face, information about which, of course, should have been erased long ago.

Of course, Shikamaru couldn't act like an innocent fool. Therefore, he wrinkled his forehead even more and asked loudly:

- Who are you?

Danz did not change his face at all and calmly replied:

"I am Shimura Danz, the village elder.

- I see ... - Shikamaru nodded and fell silent, he clearly understood that Danz was not just walking around here. He's definitely here because of him. Therefore, the guy decided to get straight to the point:

"Senior, you didn't just walk here…" Shikamaru pulled his hands out of his pockets and calmly asked: "And what did the elder want from me?

Danz's gaze has long appreciated the guy in front of him. This was their first meeting, and although he had heard a lot of the boys about it, he was still slightly surprised.

"He's holding up pretty well, indeed the talent of the Nara clan ..." Danz wondered not at the many abrasions indicating hard training, but at Shikamaru's behavior. The Shinobi's strength is naturally important, but he had no doubts about Shikamaru's strength. It was also very important for the shinobi to control themselves and not show true emotions. This boy coped well with this ... And this despite the fact that he was only six years old. A really special case.

Danz couldn't read it, but he still noticed some nervousness on the guy's face. But, it was natural, Danz's face and aura always influenced everyone in this way. Few could remain calm when someone is so serious in front of you, assessing you with an icy gaze like an instrument.

Shikamaru understood that the old man had a Sharingan, so he was on guard. But, naturally, he did not even try to interact with the chakra. Not only was he too tired now, but he was simply powerless to do something. Now he was like a rabbit caught by a lion and escape is impossible. Quiet dark alley, what better place to kill?

Naturally, Danz не was not going to kill Shikamaru, moreover, he would rather protect him from the assassins. That is why he is here today ...

When Shikamaru asked his expected question, Danz answered without hesitation:

- I came to talk to you about your abilities. You may not know, but I am no ordinary elder. In the villages, I am responsible for the hidden security of the entire village.

- And you so simply tell me about it?

- Naturally ... - Danz слегка slightly lifted the corner of his lips: - Sooner or later you will become a village jonin, you will somehow learn about Root. Even some Chūnin are aware of this. It's not such a secret. Although, in the library in which you spend a lot of time about this, of course, there is nothing.

"Hmm, he even knows where I've been ... Well, that's natural." Without focusing on this, Shikamaru asked:

- Then, what do I have to do with this? I'm just a simple student of the Academy.