**Authors Note:
Okay so the next chapter will be the final chapter in this is arc as well as the bridge between this and the three-tails.
The three tails will be brief and then we'll be getting right into the Itachi Pursuit arc. There will be a brief Hiatus somewhere in there.
This is more for the fact that I want to write out the entire Uchiha Sibs battle before I post it, so that way I can just post the chapters one after the other and not leave you guys in suspense.
So please enjoy this chapter and of course feel free to comment :)
**
Shikamaru
I caught Rin as she clutched her chest. I held her tightly, making sure to shield her from Hidan as I dropped to my knees. She struggled for air as she gripped my vest.
"How about that? Pain can be so addicting can't it?" Hidan taunted. It had worked exactly how I thought it would. Hidan fell for it from start to finish.
"C'mon Rin stay with me" I begged and she smiled slightly a she looked up at me.
"This isn't a date Shikamaru" She managed. I was surprised when her hand touched my cheek.
"I-It's a mission" I remembered those words. The same words she said the first time we lead a mission together. I felt her hand slip from my face and held her a little tighter. I knew it wasn't real, but it made me think that it could easily be. That one day Rin would just be gone and I wouldn't have had the chance to say good-bye.
"Rin, I-I still-"
"Pathetic" I looked up at Hidan.
"At least keep your dignity and don't cry over the bitch, she isn't worth it."
"Her name is Rin" I replied shortly.
"And she is worth more than you'll ever understand" He laughed as he turned slightly, looking towards the previous battlefield.
"Kakuzu should be wrapping it up soon" He muttered. Rin opened her eyes slightly and glanced up at me. I nodded and reached for her Katana taking it by the handle as she cautiously slipped from my arms. She winked as she stepped back, her face blurring before she disappeared. I set the Katana behind my back hiding it from view.
"Guess I should end this now" He turned and I noticed his eyes widen.
"What the hell"
"Did you really think it'd be that easy to kill an Uchiha? I survived a massacre idiot" Hidan turned when Rin appeared behind him and I took this chance to run forward. I swung the Katana around taking advantage of his dropped guard and sliced deep into his neck. Rin side stepped avoiding Hidan as he stumbled back.
"Nice swing" I smirked slightly as I gripped the Katana, but my smirk was quickly replaced with a frown when I saw Hidan clutching the wound in his neck.
"Not deep enough" I muttered.
"How are you still alive!?" Hidan screamed and Rin smirked.
"Shikamaru was three steps ahead of you this whole time. I told you Hidan, this fight wasn't my play." She replied as she wiped her cheek. There was no scratch; the blood of course wasn't hers.
"All that blood dripping off your weapon, it not even Rins. It's your partners" I explained. I was quick with my jutsu as he tried to get up. I felt the strain but managed to wrap him in my shadows.
"You know I might not be that smart but I can see right through your jutsu" He started, amusement still in his voice.
"After doing it so many times, any idiot could figure out the in's and out's of your jutsu"
"What'd you say?" I demanded.
"I can tell your jutsu wasn't as strong as it was before, it hasn't even been five minutes and I can already move" I lessened my chakra, letting him move his arm up as I faked a struggle. I felt Rin touch my arm, her chakra connecting with mine. I still had some left but the boost was definitely appreciated.
"The thing is every time you use your jutsu it weakens." He said pulling the staff from his chest as he slowly got to his feet.
"Until you have nothing left, and it's safe to assume that your chakra is reaching its limit about now. Even Rin only has so much she can offer" He spat and Rin followed my movements as I dropped to one knee. Hidan steadily got closer to us but Rin didn't cut her jutsu. I looked up at Hidan as he laughed, once again raising his staff above his head.
"If only you believed in Jashin you'd still have a chance, he could jump in and save the both of you right now."
"I'm not interested in your imaginary friends Hidan" Rin replied curtly and Hidan shot her a glare.
"You could still convert though, change your ways" He continued and I could practically sense Rin rolling her eyes right now.
"What does Yugakure put in their water" She muttered as Hidan lingered closer.
"That's it, you're still first to die you little bitch!" I shot my hand forward the second Hidan moved for Rin, his arm frozen in place as I strengthened my shadows.
"Thanks anyway, but I can save the both of us" I replied and closed my hand.
"Shadow pull jutsu" My shadows pulled in the wires I had set up and wrapped tightly around Hidan, the explosive notes now covering most of his torso.
"You, you little bastard!" Hidan shouted and I smirked.
"Well, well guess we're not out of chakra. Go figure" I replied. I felt Rin's chakra disconnect from mine as we got to our feet. I threw her Katana and it landed right in the symbol I had left earlier.
"What are you doing?" Hidan demanded.
"Just watch" I replied and on cue, the earth beneath him cracked until it caved in.
"What is this? When the hell did you set this up?" He shouted.
"A while ago, long before we caught up with the two of you." I replied and pulled out Asuma's lighter.
"You killed my Sensei. I can't just let you run around living, free. So that's your grave you're hanging over" I could sense his panic, the realization that came over him that there was no way out of this one.
"I can't die! Even if you dismember and bury me I'll just chew my way out and come seeking your throat!" I smiled slightly and looked towards the forest. The deer began to step out of shadows curious about the commotion.
"This is very important ground in the land of fire. Anyone that is not part of my clan is forbidden. Once you set foot in here we can watch you for eternity" I explained. I released a slow breath as I stared down at the lighter, the flame that flickered.
"What are you doing with that!?"
"It's the Will of Fire, the will to protect our village" I replied and threw the lighter forward.
"Farewell Sensei" I muttered as Hidan went up in flames. I felt Rin touch my lower back and reached out taking her hand instead. I felt her tense but she didn't pull away as I held her hand. I looked down into the hole, at Hidan's body parts strewn here and there.
"Just look at what you've done to me! Jashin will make you both pay!" He shouted, his laughter echoing off the walls of the hole.
"You and your god don't frighten me." I started as I pulled a kunai from my holster, a string of explosive notes following it.
"The thing you should be worried about is me because I'm the one about to pass judgment" I threw the kunai, the note immediately going off. The hole started to cave in and I felt Rin pull me back as Hidan shouted profanities. I waited for the earth to settle and the grounds were quiet. I felt Rin stoop down.
"Shikamaru" I turned facing her and was surprised to see Asuma's lighter hand. I smiled slightly as I took it from her then met her gaze.
"Thank you"
Rin
I returned the smile as I let go of Shikamaru's hand. He stretched as he walked over and pulled my katana from the ground.
"C'mon let's head back" I nodded as I walked with him. He handed me my Katana and I slid it into my belt.
"You were really something Shikamaru" He glanced at me as he slid his hands into his pocket.
"I mean I knew were smart but this was something else," I noticed him smile slightly.
"Couldn't have done it without you" I rolled my eyes.
"Please, you could have done it without me easily. All I did was fake die and give you a chakra boost" I replied.
"Well you didn't have to be here, but you were anyways. I appreciate it Rin"
"I know you well enough to know you'd go after them, and I wasn't going to risk your life too" I admitted and he nodded letting us fall into silence. I noticed a clearing up ahead and released a slow breath as I recalled something from the battle.
"When I was in your arms" I started.
"You began saying something until Hidan interrupted," I noticed him tense, stopping for a moment before quickly picking up his pace.
"I knew it was part of the plan, but the idea of you dying without getting the chance to tell you the truth didn't sit well with me" He explained and I had to run a bit to keep up with his long strides.
"What is it that you wanted to tell me?" I asked slowly and he sighed.
"You already know Rin" He replied and I was silent for a moment.
"I thought you had moved on, you know with Temari and all" I reminded and he shrugged.
"I tried, I even dated Jazmine for a few weeks but she knew I was still hung up on you." I suppressed a laugh. The thought of Jazmine and Shikamaru dating for some reason was amusing to me. They were polar opposites.
"Then Temari and I started planning the chunin exams and one thing lead to another." He sighed.
"You may have been gone Rin but you were still everywhere. Every mission, every village I heard your name. When we got our new bingo books I threw it at Asuma" He recalled chuckling at the memory.
"First loves are messy, hard to forget and they never really stop. I'd say that describes us pretty well." He said as we stepped out into the clearing.
"I never said I-"
"You did before you left. I mean your exact words were I can't love you Shikamaru" I raised an eyebrow as I faced him and he smiled slightly as he reached up, touching my cheek.
"I've known you long enough to know what you wanted to say. It was just the wrong place, wrong time"
"That also describes us pretty well" I added and he chuckled. I looked up at him as he lowered to my height. I felt his breath on my lips and for a minute I considered closing the distance. Yet the moment I felt him move closer I stepped back.
"This is really confusing Shikamaru." He opened his eyes and I sighed.
"Fighting alongside Kakashi really brought up some old memories, plus I just broke up with Gaara a few nights ago and you're still dating Temari. I mean I'm not her biggest fan but this wouldn't be fair to her." I explained quickly, the words tumbling out of my mouth. I heard Shikamaru sigh and tensed when he pulled me into a hug.
"I'm sorry, and you're right." He admitted and I felt his grip tighten.
"Just let me know when you've figured it out" He let me go slowly and I smiled up at him.
"You too"