The next morning, Shikamaru carefully extracted himself from the embrace of two beautiful women, Hinata and Kurenai, whose soft bodies were entwined around him like octopus limbs. He gently kissed both of them on the forehead before getting up.
After leaving home, Shikamaru made his way to the Anbu headquarters, only to be greeted by the sight of a stunningly voluptuous woman he didn't recognize. She had long chestnut hair tied in a high ponytail, large expressive eyes, and a captivatingly beautiful face. Dressed in a revealing red outfit, she looked at Shikamaru with a faint smile in her eyes.
"Mai Shiranui…?" Shikamaru muttered in disbelief. How could someone from King of Fighters suddenly appear before him?
"Who are you?" he asked, startled. Don't tell me she crossed into the Naruto world just like I did…?
"Hehe, don't you recognize me, Chief?" the woman said with a melodic laugh, clearly amused by Shikamaru's shocked expression.
"Wait… Mai?!" Shikamaru immediately caught on from her familiar voice. It was Mai, no wonder her eyes had seemed so familiar. He'd imagined her being beautiful, but he never expected her real appearance to be identical to that Mai Shiranui. Hold on, Shiranui?
"Mai, are you related to Shiranui Genma?" he asked suddenly.
"Huh? You know my brother?" Now it was Mai's turn to be surprised. How did Shikamaru know her brother's name so easily?
"Then your full name is…?" Shikamaru asked, wanting to confirm his hunch.
"Mai Shiranui, of course! Surprised by how I look?" she asked cheerfully.
Surprised? Shikamaru thought, I'm more than surprised. Same looks, same name, it's almost too uncanny. He didn't know what to say.
"Hehe, Chief you've been away for a while. There's a stack of documents waiting for your personal review," she said, changing the subject smoothly.
"Got it," Shikamaru nodded, deciding to put aside the mystery of Mai for now as he began to go through the paperwork on his desk.
Soon, he came across a report that made his eyes narrow slightly. He turned to Mai. "Mai, have any Anbu members gone missing recently?"
"Yes, Chief. Four Anbu agents assigned to guard Yakumo Kurama have disappeared," she replied at once.
"Wait, did you say Yakumo Kurama?" Shikamaru interrupted. That's right, I nearly forgot about her, Kurenai's student. The one with the kekkei genkai that controls the five senses.
"Yes, from the Kurama clan. She's Kurenai-sensei's student," Mai confirmed.
"I see. I'll handle it," Shikamaru said, and instead of having Mai pass the message along, he directly summoned Kurenai through a soul-linked channel with her shadow clone.
"Chief," Mai spoke again, "I suspect Yakumo is behind the disappearances."
"Oh? Why do you think that?" Shikamaru asked, curious. I only suspected her because I know about her kekkei genkai. But how did Mai figure it out?
"First of all, the area around her residence shows no signs of a struggle. The Anbu stationed nearby never saw anyone enter or exit. That means the only person who could've caused the disappearance, without a trace, is Yakumo, whose kekkei genkai affects the five senses," Mai explained calmly. She had memorized all of Konoha's data and analyzed it thoroughly.
"Alright, come with me to check on Yakumo. I've already called Kurenai," Shikamaru said with a nod.
"Yes, Chief," Mai responded, though internally she cursed: Couldn't he at least admire my looks a little? Am I not attractive enough?
She didn't realize Shikamaru had been sneaking glances at her curvy figure all along.
They then discussed other Anbu matters, and Shikamaru found that under Mai's management, the division was running extremely smoothly.
Soon after, Kurenai arrived, still looking half-awake from being pulled out of bed by Shikamaru's summons. Upon seeing Mai, she paused in surprise.
"Mai? You're back to your usual outfit?" Kurenai asked, clearly already acquainted with her. Then she shot Shikamaru with a suspicious look. Did he already hook up with Mai too?
"I just feel more comfortable dressing like this," Mai replied with a smile. "Kurenai-sis, you got here so fast!"
"Oh, right!" Kurenai snapped back to attention. "Shikamaru, you called me because of Yakumo. What happened to her?"
"Don't worry, Kurenai-sis," Mai cut in, "just a few Anbu posted at her place have gone missing."
"Wait, don't tell me Yakumo did it?!" Kurenai exclaimed in alarm. If so, wouldn't that make her a rogue ninja?
"Relax," Shikamaru chuckled, seeing Kurenai's worried face. "I didn't call you here just for that."
"Oh? Then what is it?" Kurenai asked curiously.
"I want to help Yakumo," Shikamaru said suddenly. "I have the ability to destroy the monster inside her."
He'd planned to do this for a while, just kept forgetting. Yakumo's kekkei genkai, controlling the five senses, was no joke. In the original story, Yakumo defeated the monster herself, but due to poor physical health, she faded into obscurity. Shikamaru wasn't about to let that happen to someone with such potential, not when he could enhance a person's body himself.
"Really?!" Kurenai's eyes lit up. The Third Hokage had once given her the same mission, but she never had the means to complete it. She wasn't surprised Shikamaru knew about the monster, after all, the Anbu had records on Yakumo.
"Let's go now," Shikamaru said, eager to stop Kurenai from worrying any longer.
As they approached Yakumo's residence, Shikamaru felt a slight tremor in the scenery around them. Subtle, but everything else appeared normal.
So we're already inside Yakumo's sensory illusion? What an incredible genjutsu, he thought, impressed. If his spiritual strength wasn't so absurdly high, he might not have noticed.
"Be careful," he said aloud. "We've entered Yakumo's illusion."
"No way!" Mai gasped, she hadn't sensed anything at all.
"It's true," Kurenai added gravely. With her genjutsu expertise, she could tell they were under an illusion, but she couldn't dispel it.
"Are you sure you can handle this?" Kurenai asked worriedly.
"Hmph. This little trick? Piece of cake," Shikamaru smirked.
Just then, a soft but disdainful voice echoed from inside the house. The door opened by itself, and a figure stepped into view.
"Yakumo!" Kurenai called out.
"Why are you here again, Kurenai-sensei?" Yakumo said coldly. In her eyes, Kurenai had sealed her powers out of fear she'd outshine her. She even believed Kurenai conspired with the Third to have her killed. But now Yakumo's abilities were surfacing again.
"Kurenai, just tell her the truth about her parents," Shikamaru said quietly.
"What? Are you sure?" Kurenai turned pale. She had always feared Yakumo couldn't handle the truth.
"What truth?! Tell me now!" Yakumo demanded.
"It was the monster inside her, not Yakumo herself. There's nothing to hide. I'll deal with the monster once it's out," Shikamaru said softly, putting a hand around Kurenai's shoulders.
"I'll tell her," Mai stepped forward. No matter the truth, it would hurt Yakumo, better she hear it from someone outside.
"Alright," Shikamaru nodded, pulling Kurenai close.
"Yakumo Kurama," Mai said firmly, "you've always believed the Third Hokage sent people to kill your parents. But the truth is… the real killer was your own inner demon, born of your hatred and resentment."
She explained everything: how Yakumo's resentment had manifested as a second personality, a heart-demon that ultimately killed her parents.
"No… No! That's impossible!" Yakumo screamed, clutching her head. Memories began to return, and she couldn't accept that she had killed her own parents.
"Yakumo!" Kurenai cried, rushing forward, but Shikamaru stopped her.
"Wait. The monster's coming out…" he said grimly. He, too, wanted to hold the suffering girl in his arms.
The illusionary space around them rippled, shifting into a new dimension. Yakumo's inner demon, Iina, spoke up.
"Too late. I've already gained full control of Yakumo's body! In this genjutsu realm, I am God. You'll all die. Konoha will fall, HAHAHA!"
As she laughed, blood-red tendrils shot out from the air, wrapping around Shikamaru, Kurenai, and Mai.
"Shikamaru! If we die here, our real bodies die too!" Mai shouted in panic.
"Relax. I'm here," Shikamaru said calmly. He realized Yakumo's illusionary space worked just like Tsukuyomi or his own Four Symbols technique, dragging others into a spiritual dimension where death meant real death.
"Yakumo…" Kurenai said softly, calling to the girl, who now hung her head.
"Kurenai-sensei…" Yakumo whispered, terrified.
"Only you can defeat your inner demon. This space is yours too. That thing is not you. Kill it, for your parents," Shikamaru said gently. He believed in her.
"Can I… really?" Yakumo murmured, clutching her paintbrush and staring at Iina.
"You can do it," Shikamaru encouraged her. "Avenge your parents, and once you do, I'll personally grant you status as a full-fledged ninja."
"Really? But my body, " she hesitated.
"I can fix that too," Shikamaru smiled.
Fueled by hope, Yakumo stepped forward. Ignoring Iina's shrieks, she gathered her courage, and struck.
With Iina destroyed, the world around them twisted again, and they returned to the real Yakumo residence. Yakumo's legs gave out, and she collapsed into Shikamaru's waiting arms.
As she fainted, the last thing she felt was the warmth and safety of his embrace…
"Kurenai-sis, let's head back," Shikamaru said with a smile, carrying Yakumo.
"Shikamaru…" Kurenai said, then suddenly threw her arms around him. "Thank you… thank you…"
Yakumo had haunted her heart for so long, and now, the girl was finally free.
"Mai, the missing Anbu are still inside. Go dispel the illusion. I'll take Yakumo back," Shikamaru said, patting Kurenai's shoulder.
"Yes, Chief," Mai replied, glancing at the girl in his arms and at Kurenai, unable to suppress a hint of envy.
As Shikamaru walked back, carrying Yakumo with Kurenai at his side, a strange thought crossed his mind: Why hasn't anyone from the Kurama clan shown up? In the original timeline, they were desperate to take her away…
Looks like his presence really has changed a lot in this world.
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