Konoha: I, Uchiha, am brimming with positive energy

Chapter 367 Deer Pill Found

That night, the three members of the Nara family ate dinner at the table.

Nara Shikamaru and Nara Shikadai exchanged a glance. They sensed that the food tasted off tonight, either too salty or too bland. However, seeing Temari's expression, the father and son dared not say anything.

I had no choice but to soak the tempura in miso soup to neutralize the saltiness, so I could still eat it.

"I"

Temari thought of what Uchiha Yoichi had said to her that afternoon, so she put down her chopsticks and uttered a single word; however, when Nara Shikamaru and Nara Shikadai looked at her, the words caught in her throat.

"What's wrong, Temari?"

"I want to go back to Sunagakure."

Temari silently apologized to the Nara father and son beside her, but still said it aloud; although she knew that if she didn't go, Uchiha Yoichi might not release the video, there was still a slight possibility.

And after two more times, she will be free. Once she gets those things back, Temari will definitely find a chance to make Uchiha Yoichi pay with his life.

"That matter is in the past now. When I went back last time, I didn't have a proper talk with Gaara and Kankuro, so I want to go back and see them this time."

"Going back? That's fine too. The accident last time was indeed a bit sudden. If it weren't for recent events, Gaara and Kankuro would probably have come looking for you already."

"Father, what exactly happened last time? Why did I forget about Mother?"

Nara Shikadai asked curiously, "That incident last time was too strange, but neither my father nor my mother would tell me anything about it."

"This is a secret of Konoha, Shikadai. I should have taught you not to pry into secrets you shouldn't know."

Nara Shikamaru put down his chopsticks and then asked, "Shikadai, after you finish eating, you should also go and prepare to go back with your mother."

"Okay, I got it."

Nara Shikadai was a little reluctant after hearing this, but he still agreed. In the past, when Temari returned to Sunagakure, she would often take him with her. Last time, she didn't take him back because of the Ninja Academy's assessment. This time, since there was nothing else, she would definitely return to Sunagakure.

However, he also promised Inojin that he would help investigate Aunt Ino's matter.

"No need. Shikadai should stay in Konoha. Focus on your studies; your grades aren't even among the top in your class."

Temari spoke, and her words startled the Nara father and son, who stared at her in a daze.

Previously, Temari had insisted on taking Nara Shikamaru back with her, but this time she used Shikamaru's academic performance as an excuse not to take him back. Moreover, the Nara family had never valued Shikamaru's academic performance, and Temari had always left the responsibility of raising her son to Nara Shikamaru.

Nara Shikamaru took a breath. He noticed that unnatural feeling again. Ever since he forgot about Temari, he had been able to sense this unnatural feeling, and it was getting stronger and stronger.

"Alright then, since you put it that way, be careful on your way back."

Nara Shikamaru's expression remained outwardly unchanged, but only he knew what he was thinking.

After dinner, Temari tidied up the dishes and went upstairs to take a bath.

After hearing the sound of water coming from upstairs, Nara Shikamaru put down the newspaper in his hand and returned to his bedroom without making a sound; he had suspected something before, but had not found anything.

With his hands forming a hand seal, Shikamaru's shadow instantly came to life, then moved to the floor under the bed, into the wardrobe, and into the bedside table. After using the Nara clan's Shadow Technique, there was no need to do something as foolish as opening the wardrobe door; the shadow could slip into any gap without leaving a trace.

No. No, no.

Nara Shikamaru closed his eyes and began to analyze everything. He had already memorized all the furnishings in the room last time, so this time he could verify them one by one by using the shadows to explore.

Nothing unusual or strange happened, but... um!?

Nara Shikamaru suddenly opened his eyes, and his shadow found a small bottle under Temari's clothes.

After using his Shadow Technique to retrieve the small bottle, Nara Shikamaru opened it and looked inside. He didn't recognize the pills in the bottle, but all the medicines in the house were kept in a cabinet on the first floor. Why was this hidden at the very bottom of the clothes in the wardrobe?

Is Temari's recent change related to this pill?

Noticing the sound of water gradually subsiding, Nara Shikamaru poured out a pill, wrapped it in a piece of paper, and put the bottle back in its original place in the wardrobe. Then, without making a sound, he left the bedroom and went back to the living room on the first floor to read the newspaper.

In the bathroom on the second floor, Temari wasn't about to finish her bath and get dressed when she saw the corvée pattern on her buttocks through the mirror, which startled her.

However, Temari quickly realized that no one except Uchiha Yoichi could do anything to her.

"That bastard."

Temari, furious, punched the ceramic tile wall. The flower mark on her lower abdomen hadn't faded yet, and this bastard had made another one behind her. Luckily, Shikamaru had refused her advances these past few days, otherwise he would definitely have found out.

After a moment of rage, Temari slowly calmed down, clenching her fists tightly. Suppressing her anger, she repeatedly told herself, "Only two times. If that bastard doesn't keep his promise after those two times, I'll fight him to the death."

However, when Temari recalled the videotape, images of the violent collisions and the feeling that almost made her faint involuntarily popped into her mind.

Temari's hands unconsciously went down, and slowly, without her noticing, she sat on the edge of the bathtub, a towel already in her mouth, her breathing slightly rapid as she quickly shook her fingers.

Breathe~ Breathe~

"Shikamaru."

He murmured something, but the image that appeared in his mind was that strong body with streamlined muscles.

Only when she recalls this scene does Temari feel that she is constantly climbing higher.

"Waaah"

She bit down hard on the towel, and her rapidly moving fingers stopped. After a minute or two, Temari finally recovered and spat the towel out.

She then washed her body again with hot water before getting dressed and coming out.

Back in her bedroom, Temari began packing her change of clothes for the trip. Although she had just discovered what Uchiha Yoichi had done to her, she had to endure it. After enduring it twice, she could return to her original family.

When Nara Shikamaru returned to his room that evening, the lights were already off. Temari was facing inwards, and he didn't know if she was asleep. Shikamaru didn't ask, changed into his pajamas, and lay down on the bed, but he was back to back with Temari.

Although they are a married couple, their behavior is completely like that of strangers sleeping in the same bed.

next day

Temari got up early to cook breakfast, and then woke up Nara Shikadai. After the father and son finished eating breakfast, Temari said, "Then I'll be going now. Shikadai, I'll take care of you for the time being."

Nara Shikadai nodded and said, "Yes, I understand, Mom."

"Shikamaru, I'm leaving."

"Be careful on the road."

Nara Shikamaru looked at Temari with a meaningful look in his eyes and said, "Temari, if you need any help, just ask. We're family."

Temari was taken aback by his words. Noticing Shikamaru's gaze, she nervously looked away, then tilted her head slightly and said, "I understand. I'll bring you some good food when I return from Sunagakure."

"Have a safe trip!"

Before Shikamaru could finish speaking, Temari turned around, went to the door, put on her shoes, and left the house.

"Lu Dai, did you buy lunch outside today? I have something to do, I'll be going now."

After Temari left, Nara Shikamaru left a stack of money and also departed; Shikadai was left alone at the table, looking at the unwashed dishes, and sighed, muttering, "What a nuisance."

------------

"Thank you for your help, Shizune-senpai."

"It's alright, it's just a small matter. Although my research on medicine is not as good as Sakura's and Tsunade's, it's nothing."

After receiving the pills from Nara Shikamaru, Shizune said this and then walked into the medicine room.

Time slowly passed, half an hour went by, but for Nara Shikamaru, it felt like a whole day had passed.

Suddenly the door to the medicine room opened, and Shizune walked out.

Upon seeing this, Nara Shikamaru quickly stepped forward and asked, "How is it, Shizune-senpai?"

Shizune sighed, then calmly glanced at Shikamaru and said, "Shikamaru, what do you need a vitamin pill for?"

"Wh-what?"

Nara Shikamaru was taken aback upon hearing this, then wondered if he had misheard, and quickly asked, "Shizune-senpai, what did you say this is? Vitamin tablets? Are you talking about those vitamin supplements?"

"Hmm, besides this, what other vitamin tablets are there?"

Silently said in a somewhat unfriendly tone that although she had agreed to help, she was not that free; she really thought it was some kind of new poison, but after careful examination, she found that it was just a very ordinary vitamin tablet.

"If there's nothing else, I'll head back. I have things to take care of at the hospital!"

After saying that, Shizune left.

Nara Shikamaru stared at the pills split in two in his hand, deep in doubt. Had he guessed wrong? Was Temari's change unrelated to the pills in the wardrobe? Or was he simply being paranoid?

"You've been too stressed lately, haven't you?"

Nara Shikamaru stayed in the hospital corridor for a while, then shook his head and went back. However, before leaving the hospital, he bought a bottle of vitamin pills.

Since it's such a common medicine, it's probably not that Temari deliberately hid it. Maybe she forgot it there when she was tidying up the closet. He's just overthinking it.

As Nara Shikamaru left Konoha Hospital, on the Lightning Train bound for the Land of Hot Springs, Uchiha Yoichi found Lady Temari at the very back in the last carriage.

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(End of this chapter)