[Yusuke Sarutobi]

The morning sun streamed through the branches of the trees, creating small beams of light and casting shifting shadows as the breeze shifted the leaves overhead in the forest surrounding Konohagakure. Yusuke made his way among the towering trunks beneath the green canopy above.

He walked at a casual pace, having woken early that morning and donned his standard shinobi attire. He had left his apartment above the Drunken Monkey, his tavern, and began the wall that had brought him here.

Things had changed, and with seemingly no warning. Not long ago he would have been happily sleeping off a good night of drinking. Now he was in the running for the clan head position. The previous night had been spent talking and meeting with the elders who supported his claim. A surprising number of members of the Sarutobi had begun coming to him for advice on clan matters. He was being assigned more important and difficult missions, and then there was the training.

Kazuto had pushed the young Ssrutobi to his limits whenever he found time for a session. When Kazuto was busy, he had given Yusuke instructions to maintain a proper regiment. It meant long days of pushing himself, clawing to be better an inch at a time.

Yusuke passed through some of the trees and found himself in a small clearing. The happy morning sky above visible in the break in the trees. He walked over to an oak tree and sat, his back pressed against the bark.

It was surreal. He felt like he was on stage again, pretending to be something he wasn't. He had never wanted all this, yet at the same time he couldn't deny he was proud of his accomplishments.

Thoughts if the future brought back memories of his past, specifically those who were fine now. His mother and her kind smile, those who he had failed to protect, and more recently those who he had been forced to kill in the line of duty. Before he realized it he was singing. An old song, he'd heard many years ago. Now he seemed to understand it a bit better. The melancholy tune sweeping through the woods in his rich baritone.

"tis the Last Rose of Summer left blooming alone
all her lovely companions are faded and gone
No no flower of her kindred no rose bud is neigh
to reflect back her blushes or give sigh for sigh

I'll leave thee thou lone one to pine on the stem
Since the lovely are sleeping go sleep now with them
Thus kindly I scatter thy leaves o're the bed
where thy mates of the garden lie scentless and dead

So soon may I follow when friendships decay
and from love's shining circle the gems drop away
when tru hearts lie withered and fond one's are flown
Oh who would inhabit this bleak world alone?"

The song faded and Yusuke tilted his head back, looking used at the sky above.

[Nara Shikajin]

the worst case scenario is you

The morning had started like so many others in the past: a groggy Nara violently waking from his sleep as nightmares would plague his slumber once more. He often laid in bed for a few minutes trying to piece himself back together, checking his pulse, wiping the sweat from his forehead.. the usual. Where he could not find solace in his dreams he would in the forest that weaved in and around the village. He spent more time in them than most and had managed to find some decent spots to clear his mind in the twilight between night and day.

One such spot, a clearing not too far from the main entrances had been Shikajin's go to when even the sprawling woods near his clan compound weren't enough. The chunin loved being around trees and nature in general but even he got tired of seeing them all the time, and that heaven sent piece of freedom was just what he needed in those situations. However, there would be another occupying it today which put a stale look on the already stone faced shinobi. He wasn't there yet to see who it was but could hear the singing from a good distance given there wasn't too much else awake at the moment to make noise.

Nearing his supposed secret spot, dark hues would lock in on the subject in question, coming across a blonde man sat up against a tree singing... something. He didn't very much care for the lyrics and would have preferred those of the birds doing their morning check ups with each other, and if he kept this up they'd be too afraid to chirp themselves. He had to put a stop to it.

"You're going to scare the birds." Shikajin spoke plainly as he walked into the clearing, his gaze unwavering from the other man though there was no malice behind his words or stare, just... confusion.

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[Yusuke Sarutobi]

As Yusuke finished his song looking into the sky he heard a soft noise and a voice speak from the other side of the clearing. He tilted his head down as a man entered the clearing. Pale skin shone in the morning light, contrasting the man's dark hair. Under his eyes were circles of sleeplessness that were darker than Yusuke's after a three day drinking bender.

The Sarutobi sat the guitar in the grass next to him as the man's unsettling eyes stayed locked on him. He rose, his right eyebrowed shifted upward in confusion. He looked around in the trees and up into the sky, unsure what birds the strange man was referring to.

"The birds?" He said slowly, "Right...sorry about that man."

He offered the man a small wave. The stranger was oddly intense, though his gaze and words seemed to have held no anger in them. Perhaps it was the simple intensity of them that unsettled Yusuke, it was like the man was studying him, trying to understand what could have possessed the Sarutobi do be there.

"I was just out here trying to clear my head," he continued, "I'm Yusuke, by the way. What brings you out into the forest this early? I don't usually run into people out here."

[Nara Shikajin]

the worst case scenario is you

It took the man a few moments to realize that what was scaring the birds was his own voice, but in time he'd get the gist. Had this become the 'clearing of clearing heads' all of a sudden? Shikajin wasn't pleased and he could have easily made his way to another part of the forest that he knew would be unoccupied, but that would be more walking and the chunin simply wanted to relax. The blonde didn't seem at all peeved that someone interrupted his singing and even offered a wave to beckon the Nara closer. Human interaction was not something he wanted so early in the morning but it seemed inevitable at this point.

"Yes, this part of the forest seems to have a penchant for doing just that." Shikajin would reply as he took a look around. He had sat under or on most of the trees here at one point or another over the years, a testament to just not how much sleep he was getting. This... Yusuke, would ask the Nara his own reasoning for being out so early and though he didn't necessarily care it probably wasnt in good taste to let a stranger know he suffered from nightmares about his dead teammate. No, that would be awkward.

"Shikajin, and the early mornings are perfect for collecting my thoughts for the day ahead. Usually no people around for miles but... today seems to be different." He would reply not so subtly implying that Yusuke was the odd man out in this situation. He wouldn't go so far as to try and kick the man out, partly because it didn't look like he could, but also because he very much knew the stressors that came with life and if someone was seeking an opportunity to reprieve themselves for even a few moments the last thing the Nara wanted to do was add more strife.

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[Yusuke Sarutobi]

As the man spoke and looked around Yusuke nodded his head I'm agreement with the man's words. It was true enough that the forest surrounding Konohagakure was usually a wonderful place to relax and get away from the stresses of the shinobi life.

The man offered his name, and still seemed unwilling to sit despite having said he came to the clearing to relax. Yusuke let out a chuckle ad the man finished, the not so subtle jab being completely missed by the Sarutobi.

"True enough. Sometimes some peace and quiet is the perfect way to start the day. Good to get away from the crowds and just chill." he said in an agreeable tone.

Feeling slightly awkward standing in the clearing with the man for no reason Yusuke slid back down the trunk of the tree and rested his head against it.

"Go ahead, grab a seat. I'll keep it to a low roar for the birds. Plenty of clearing for the two of us." he said looking at the man.

From the pouch on his side hip Yusuke produced a small bottle of water and a pair of apples. The water he had brought with him, while the apples had been a lucky find on his way to the clearing. He placed the bottle on the ground next to him and held up one of the apples to Shikajin.

"Care for a snack?" he asked

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[Nara Shikajin]

the worst case scenario is you

Shikajin listened to the man talk about peace and quiet, but even a crowd of two was still a crowd. He could have very easily went about his way to find another spot to relax and let his mind wander for a bit, he had a quite a few in fact, and adaptability was essential in every person's life, shinobi or not. Alas, the Nara had set both his mind and heart on coming to this exact clearing and had a suspicion that any other locations wouldn't be able to give him the right feeling he needed right now. Ugh, he was starting to think like Inoyami.

With the stranger retaking his seat it was now more clear than ever that Shikajin wouldn't be granted his solace at this location today, and if he wanted to stay there would be company and perhaps worse than that... small talk. The chunin loathed it, especially when he knew nothing of importance was going to come from it, empty words thrust to fill the void of silence that some found awkward. Shikajin didn't much mind silence and would have been fine not saying a word but he had made a promise to work on his 'bedside manner' with patients and their families in the hospital and this seemed good practice for his next shift.

"Sure, early breakfast." The medic replied as he accepted the apple from Yusuke before finding his own tree to sit at the base of not too far from the other man. The piece of fruit cradled in his hand didn't have the familiar sheen of one bought from a market stand which made the Nara question its origin; he'd wait to see the other man's reaction from his first bite.

"How'd you find this spot?" Shikajin would inquire to the man, curious as to how out of all the forested area that surrounded their home he was able to find one of the few clearings.

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[Yusuke Sarutobi]

Shikajin accepted the apple and sat at a tree nearby. The man looked exhausted, and Yusuke found himself feeling sympathetic towards the plight. He too just felt so damn tired sometimes with everything coming at him. He took a bite of the red fruit as Shikajin spoke, juice spilling slightly down his chin as he chomped on the sweet apple. He gave a small shrug as he swallowed

"Stumbled upon it a few years ago. Been walking this forest for years. Growing up wasn't a big fan of being home if that explains anything. I'd end up out here, where my father wasn't likely to come looking." he explained.

In truth he'd used the forest to avoid his father and the older Sarutobis since he was a Genin. His father constant berrating and his lovely views that pain was the best teacher had been unbearable.

"Its a nice place to get your head on agrsifht when you feel like you are losing it. You might get that. Not to pry, but seems like you've had some sleepless nights lately, so thought you could relate." Yusuke said.

"What do you do in the village?" he asked out of curiosity, looking over at the other man.

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[Nara Shikajin]

the worst case scenario is you

Their methods had been similar: wandering about the forests until they came across the clearing. Life had a funny way to knowing when and where to send a person, granted sometimes the circumstances to get to that point were less than ideal, but people were in places for a reason. Shikajin was a man of science, so that 'reason' was mostly due to circumstance and choices made and the thought of divine intervention didn't really sit all that well with hm, but he wouldn't argue against it in a scenario like this.

Albeit, the Nara's reason for wandering the woods wasn't family related like the blonde's... or rather, not directly family related. He had lost someone close to him, akin to a brother, and the nightmare from that event replaying over and over again was what kept him up at night, but it wasn't the negative relationship that the other man seemed to be hinting at. Alas, the dark circles that had been under Shikajin's eyes long enough to make people think he had been born with them allowed enough insight for Yusuke to infer that the Nara was trying to clear his mind as well. He wasn't wrong. At all. In all honesty he wasn't sure just how to go about getting rid of them, well that wasn't true, but he was more afraid if the methods he took didn't work. Working in a hospital gave the man access to plenty of departments that could help with his various troubles, and knowing that was the tiny sliver of hope that kept him going, but also scaring him into inaction as if said methods proved unfruitful then there would truly be no options left.

A wicked conundrum.

"I work as a medic, also on one of the operations teams for the village." Shikajin would reply, unsure if putting one position ahead of the other mattered in terms of importance. He did both equally, well, would have liked to do both equally but in truth the hospital had been taking a bit more of his time as of late. Ailing grandparents, blind children, and... rabbit people. His days had been varied and somewhat stressful, but informative. "And yourself?"

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[Yusuke Sarutobi]

Yusuke enjoyed the peaceful morning, taking another bite of his apple as Shikajin spoke of his role in the village. Yusuke leaned his head back looking up into the clouds as they floated by.

"Medic seems like good work," he mused,"So much of what we do is destruction. We fight for the village, but it costs. We take lives, and when we fail see lives taken. Helping people, curing people, Yeah I think I can get behind that."

A sad smile spread across the Sarutobi's face. Yeah, he was definitely off today. It was very much like him to ramble to a stranger, but to speak the way he had was not quite usual for him. He looked back at Shikajin, hoping he wasn't putting to much of a storm cloud over the sunny morning.

"I'm on an operation team as well, and I run a tavern in the village." he said, perking up a bit,"The Drunken Monkey. If you ever find yourself stir crazy on a sleepless night come on down. I'm usually open to sunrise, and its not all a party crowd. We got music, food, drinks, or a nice rooftop lounge to enjoy a good book. Shinobi never get charged a cent."

He felt a swell of pride as he spoke of his establishment. It was his. The Sarutobi had no claim on it. He had purchased the building, cleaned it and repaired it with his own two hands. Most surprising was that it seemed to be doing well, and he actually enjoyed the work.

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[Nara Shikajin]

the worst case scenario is you

The Nara hadn't been looking for a cosign, per say, when giving his job within the village but it was nice to hear that the work was appreciated outside of times when it was necessary. Medics had gained a less than stellar battle reputation and the prevailing joke was always that they needed saving. While it was true that they weren't raging battle machines like some of their counterparts their jobs were just as, if not more, crucial. No one was impervious to all damage and there would come a time that they or a teammate needed healing, and if you couldn't keep your team alive and in fighting shape then you were as good as dead. Most knew that at some level, but it was rare to hear some admit it.

"So long as we keep more people above the ground than under it I consider my day a success." A bit cynical of a response, but there was a twinge of hope in the chunin's voice as he spoke. He wouldn't have used such phrasing in any official setting but out here in the middle of the forest formalities didn't concern the Nara all that much.

A bar? Well that was interesting. How the man had enough time to run a business while performing his various shinobi duties was a mystery. Granted, one could ask the same for the Nara and the deer they tended but dealing with docile animals every few days was vastly different than the daily grind of running a tavern. They were far too loud and filled with less than desirable people for Shikajin's taste, and the last time he had drank his throat had almost disintegrated from how strong the sake had been, so the Nara wasn't in any rush to step foot in a place that specifically served fire water.

"I'm not much of a drinking type, but if the lounge is as peaceful as you make it out to be then I may have to pay a visit. How do you find the time to run a bar along with your shinobi duties?" He'd inquire before taking a bite into the gifted apple. It definitely wasn't one you'd be able to buy in the village, but was good in its own natural kind of way.

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[Yusuke Sarutobi]

Yusuke took another bite of his apple, enjoying the fruit, leaving him with about s quarter of the treat left. He nodded as Shikajin replied, and grinned slightly at the man's Frank statement.

"Good way to look at it I suppose. I'd take a good medic at my back on a mission anytime. The statistics don't lie, survivals rates shoot up." he said remembering some report he had read recently as the Sarutobi had been reviewing shinobi risk assessment.

Shikajin considered Yusuke's statement about the Drunken Monkey's lounge area. It was a simple place. Some couches, a canapy to stop rain from bothering the patrons, and string lights for a homey feel.

"You are welcome anytime. I love above the place, so the stairwell to get up there isn't for everyone. I know sometimes after a long mission a shinobi need a nice quiet place to hang out." he said with a small nod,"You can have food and drunk brought up to you.

The question on his time management brought a chuckle from the man.

"Good planning mostly." he said.

The laughter had come at the notion of him planning. Prior to taking over the bar the idea of Yusuke putting out the time and energy to properly plan anything was laughable. Now he found himself scheduling shifts and coverage for the tavern.

"I have some temp workers to help when I'm on missions, and honestly shadow clones make prep and cleaning a breeze." he explained, "Sometimes if it gets too late I'll leave a clone to finish up and I'll head upstairs to sleep."

He tapped his index finger to his temple.

"Thankfully anything that happens ends up right back in here, so I didn't miss anything." he concluded.

---

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[Nara Shikajin]

the worst case scenario is you

Well, Yusuke wasn't wrong about shinobi needing a place to unwind after a tough mission or some exhaustive training and if there were more spots like his around then perhaps less people would find their way to the Nara's own secret spots. Shikajin didn't know when exactly he'd pay the tavern a visit but at some point he would, and if the atmosphere was as chill as Yusuke made it seem then perhaps it would become a somewhat regular spot for the chunin to clear his head.

The medic was surprised to hear that Yusuke not only owned a bar but generated enough revenue to pay others to keep things running while he was away. Was business really that lucrative? Well, that and being able to utilize shadow clones definitely helped in getting things done. "An entire staff? Must be a popular place." Shikajin replied, half inquiring and half impressed. Inoyami and her clan ran rather successful flower shops throughout the village but it was mostly a group effort from what he understood and it wasn't just one person carrying the entire weight of the business on their shoulders. This, however, was the first time Shikajin had met someone who not only ran their own place but did so in addition to their regular shinobi duties. The thought alone sounded taxing and more than the Nara would ever want to deal with.

Another bite of the apple, same slightly off taste but one the medic was slowly becoming accustomed to. With any possible amount of sleep now fully out of the question the man's mind wandered to his plans for the rapidly approaching day. No missions, thankfully, but that only left room for other busy work. Training, clan duties, being on the lookout for possible drop by's from his teammate, anything was possible. He hadn't minded all that much the first time for the sole reason that she had brought a plethora of sugary treats with her, but if she did so again sans desserts then there was a good chance he wouldn't let her through the front door.

Then, a thought, one that had been swirling around the Nara's head for a few minutes now. "No interest in becoming a medic?" He'd ask, thankful for the praise that Yusuke had given the profession but equally curious why the man hadn't pursued the medical arts himself.

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[Yusuke Sarutobi]

Yusuke finished off the wild apple and dropped it beside him, leaving it to naturally decompose or for the seeds to take root. Shikajin noted his success and the Sarutobi let out a laugh. The Drunken Monkey had been a huge undertaking for him, and had survived more on the generosity of the patrons who wished to see it succeed. The small community the place was slowly forming was quickly becoming its life blood.

"I do okay. I don't charge shinobi for food or drink, I just ask them to donate what they can. Seems that those who enjoy the place wanna keep it alive, and my pay from missions keeps me above the line, if just barely." he explained.

Truth be told he was sinking most of his shinobi income into the place. While using one job to support another wasn't the best financial situation to be in, he was okay with it. Living upstairs meant any funds spent on the place could really just be considered costs of maintaining his home or at least that's how he justified it.

The Nara asked why he hadn't persuded a medic career and Yusuke let out a rich chuckle of laughter.

"No talent for it myself. I can't keep a plant alive let alone a human being. I learned some basic first aid of course, but my talents leaned more towards combat than medicine. Too much studying too." he said, "I've just had my ass pulled out of the fire enough times to not take the guys doing the saving for granted."

He looked over at his new companion, a question of his own forming.

"What made you decide to be a medic?" he asked.

---

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[Nara Shikajin]

the worst case scenario is you

The more Shikajin listened to the other man speak the less he believed that Yusuke knew exactly how businesses ran. He didn't charge shinobi, a great favor, but that probably meant that word of mouth spread quickly and more non-paying customers flocked to his establishment. How was he paying for all the food and drink the restaurant went through? How was he paying his staff? Donations were great and all but that relied solely on the goodness of others. Granted, non-shinobi did have to pay so that helped a little and without knowing the ratio of non-shinobi to shinobi customers then the Nara could not know for sure if the place was doomed to fail, but he wouldn't be too surprised to hear if it shuttered sooner rather than later; not that the chunin wanted to see it fail but it just wasn't making sense.

Then, to the medical stuff. Where Shikajin didn't really agree with the man's business plan he could agree that studying to be a medic was perhaps one of the most arduous things in the world. Many long nights of staring into books and scrolls learning the ins and outs of the body, the chakra circulatory system, how to fix it --and by association how to damage it-- and that wasn't counting the practical stuff. First on dummies, then onto fish simply trying to resuscitate them and after months of that finally getting able to see human patients. "I can agree there, I've probably spent more time studying medicine than actually using it. Truth be told I still have much to learn and I don't think the studying ever stops." Shikajin replied as he took another bite of his gifted apple. Though he had done well in being able to combine his medical acumen with the Nara hijutsu there was still a lot the chunin could improve upon. He was proud of his skills but not dumb enough to think he had reached anywhere near the top of his profession.

Hearing the next question caused the chunin to drop his apple, the fruit rolling slowly across the ground before coming to a stop near his feet. The man looked to be in a daze of sorts, his eyes sunken and hidden beneath the low light of the early dawn. He could feel his breathing shortening and his palms beginning to clam up. No no no no, why did he have to bring that up? He could keep the memories at bay during the day by keeping himself occupied unless someone brought them to light. "I... uh..." Shikajin stammered as he felt a pain begin to well in his chest. "... lost a teammate some years ago. Didn't want that to happen again so I took the path that would let me achieve that goal." He finished before taking a deep breath. It wasn't Yusuke's fault, he would have never known, but the pain hurt all the same.

In reality the trio were more than teammates, they're families bonded together for generations upon generations. Shikajin and known Inoyami and Chouza for as long as he could remember, they were basically siblings to him, and perhaps that was what made the loss hurt so much, even after all this time.

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[Yusuke Sarutobi]

Yusuke listened as Shikajin spoke about the complexity of studying medicine, and the continued education that was expected of him to be prepared to provide the support needed for those in dire emergency. He nodded his head, remembering the days he had spent in the academy sitting before textbooks, fighting to keep concentration as he found himself rereading the same line over and over again. Yusuke liked reading, but only when it was a good story. Figures and diagrams might as well be another language for the Sarutobi.

”Yeah, put me in front of all those scrolls and books and my head would be spinning in less than an hour.” Yusuke said.

Yusuke heard the apple hit the soft grass after he asked Shikajin about why he had chosen to pursue a medical career. He looked over and saw the man and saw the change in him. His eyes were unfocused, his now empty hand seemed to refuse to respond to him. The Nara seemed to suddenly be hundreds of miles away and Yusuke felt a swell of concern for him. What was happening.

Then Shikajin spoke, first in a stammer before expressing his motivations. Yusuke lowered his eyes for a moment. So that was it. The man had known loss. It was not an uncommon experience in the shinobi life, but knowing that it happened was very different from seeing a loved one die.

”I’m sorry for your loss.” he said quietly with sincerity. ”And I respect you fighting to protect others from that pain.

His mind wandered to his own loss, and he fought down the dry pang that was welling up in his throat.

”I wasn’t raised in the village. I grew up on the road with my mother. She got sick, and it didn’t matter how strong anyone was. I watched her waste away, day by day, until she was gone. Maybe that’s why I respect medics so much, there are more types of strength than people realize. I hope you achieve your goal, for you and for the people you save from feeling that loss.” Yusuke said, his eyes still looking down at the grass beside him.

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