Chapter Text
“The seal is ready!” Naruto’s shout was heard over the sounds of battle around him. The array of Kanji’s was big enough to fit even Gamabunta. “Just a little more time-ttebayo!”
“Copy that, Naruto!” Lee dodged away from a bunch of kunai headed his way, some of which Tenten caught in the air and flung back at the enemy. Five enemies were downed by her precision, but she couldn't even smile at that as there were thousands of white Zetsus closing in.
The Kyuubi’s Jinchuuriki started the long list of hand signs for the activation of the seal. The frustration of being protected by his friends gnawing at him while Neji's and Hinata's sacrifices played on repeat in his head. Zetsu was not supposed to be here. This hideout was supposed to be hidden. But they shouldn't have been surprised that he found them. They could only hope that this last plan worked.
“Shikamaru!” Naruto heard Sakura's yell. A quick glance back told him that he had been struck in the chest by a mokuton jutsu while protecting Shino, their best sensor now that he was the last one of team 8 still alive.
The medic-nin smashed through a row of Zetsus to get to their war strategist. Zetsus and copies alike went flying. She was only able to do this because Shino was still shouting out the locations of the real ones still standing. Once she got to her destination she held her hands over his chest, green chakra surrounding them. “Stay with me, you lazy bastard!” Her A Hundred Healings mark still a stark contrast on her dirty skin. If Tsunade-sama was here she'd be worried by the overuse, but the dead can't talk and the pink-haired kunoichi wouldn't let anyone else die. She couldn't.
“I’m almost done!” Naruto yelled, a spark of hope trickling through their group. Naruto could feel Kurama's chakra slowly draining, doing the same hand signs as his kit from within Naruto's mindscape. This was their last resort against Kaguya and that Black-Zetsu bastard. The Sage's last gift from when they were still dealing with the God Tree.
Oh, how relieved they were to finally destroy that thing, the Shinobi world finally able to rest. Until they couldn't. Until Zetsu had arrived, somehow still alive. He had attacked when everybody had their guards down. He had used the remains of the Tree to supply his rapidly growing army and wiped out almost half of the Shinobi Alliance in a few days. The war went on for 3 years. The last survivors are Naruto and some of his closest friends.
The Bijuus had been eliminated, but Kurama hadn't cried because he knew that their chakra was still surrounding them and that they were reforming. He had wished that they would hurry it up one afternoon when hearing Isobu's cries, the humans having retreated to form another plan. Form a new strategy.
Yet, he knew that no matter how much he wished for it, he couldn't change the fact that it would take thousands of years. They don’t have that time.
“Watch out!” Lee's warning shout was slower than his body, having already thrown himself at Shino, the katon flying past them as they landed in a heap on the ground, Shino reflexively having grabbed Lee's arm to prevent him from being hit by the flames as well.
The Taijutsu specialist and Bug shinobi met horrified blue eyes as Naruto finished the last hand-sign.
Before anyone could process what was going to happen, Naruto finished the Space-Time Jutsu and a bright light blinded them for less than a second. In barely a blink they were gone.
Together with the seal.
“Sage save us all. It’s in their hands now.” Is all the nine tails says for his kit.
That wasn’t the plan. And once again, all of the blame is on Zetsu.
His head was in agony. It was like someone had taken a Tantō and split his head in two. His body ached as if he had run for days without rest. And... where was his kikaichū?
“Isn’t that the bugs inside Shino?”
Shino was confused, but also terrified. Someone was speaking through him.
“What? No! It’s me Rock Lee!”
“What is happening?”
The same voice said. Even if the tone of it changed a little, it was still the same one.
Well, that’s obvious. Also, to answer your question from before; I have never ever had bugs inside me. That is something that your clan has.
Okay. Why is Lee inside his head? His recollection of the battle they had fought was mangled. He hadn’t been able to react - Shino didn’t see the Katon - then Lee - I pushed him in Naruto’s direction - and then I grabbed him - I was pulled towards Shino-kun - we fell - we both fell - then a light - the seal under us lit up -
The headache coming back with vengeance made a groan escape from them, memories of both perspectives at the same time overlapping, both making sense but also-
What in carnation?!
Who still says that? Never mind, the important thing is that they’re still alive. The odd thing is that they both share thoughts and memories.
We need to move.
Right.
When Shino tried to sit up he felt his control falter, falling back onto the ground. Eyes opening to see grass.
Aww. What- Why is my body not working!?
Your body? Wait. No. Stop a second Lee .
But, Shino! My body isn’t obeying me! What if I can’t get up?! Then I won’t be able to fight or-
Shino bit his tongue hard enough to draw blood.
Argh! Why did I bite my tongue?! Shino! Someone is controlling my body! Be careful! If you see me attacking you just know that it isn’t me!
Lee, calm down. It was me.
Uh? But- What- Uh?! Shino, what are you saying?!
Lee stumbled over his words, full sentences not a top priority in his panic.
Don’t you find it strange that we are both thinking and listening to each other’s thoughts? Or how I find myself having the visions of your memories?
Yes. It is strange. Maybe our brains are connected? Like, how Ino-san could enter someone’s mind?
Their heart ached at the reminder of Ino. She had died during the second year of battle after going berserk from witnessing Chouji go down protecting his teammate. Her body had been found in a sea of thousands of white bodies. Not a spark of chakra or life left in her.
Sakura-chan was heartbroken and cried until she blacked out that day.
They stayed silent for a moment, a few tears falling, tracking down their face.
Focus Lee. I don’t think what is happening to us is anything like a Yamanaka mind-walking Jutsu. Why? Because what you feel I feel too and vice versa. The conclusion I have arrived at is that we are in the same body.
What? That’s!... Not impossible. Naruto-kun told us the seal was meant for a one-person journey back in time. Since we both were on it when it activated…
Yes. Now please, cooperate with me and let’s try standing up and open your- our - eyes. I will refrain from doing anything myself.
Hai.
Shino stayed still. Yet, his body moved on its own. He stayed completely relaxed. And yet…
With their eyes open, the forest could be seen. Felt. The grass tickling their palms. The smell of Fire Country’s warm forest. The sounds of bugs and other animals.
“Everything seems so calm,” Lee said, astonished.
“Too calm, compared to the war we were fighting just moments ago.” Shino felt obligated to point it out.
“So we really time-travelled?” Excitement made their body quiver.
“It wasn't supposed to be us…” A solemn dread took over.
“Shino…” A hand grasping the cloth over his heart. Their heart, now.
“The plan was to make Naruto do it. Time travel! Just him! He was the one who made this last-ditch attempt! He was the one who should've gone back and saved the world !”
Shino's voice kept rising in volume and he couldn't care less that it was out of character coming from him. Guilt, not anything new, was eating at his soul.
“It’s not your fault Shino-kun.”
Lee breathed in slowly, forcefully filling their lungs and then letting the air out just as slowly to calm him.
“We all know that Naruto is the light we could follow even when the world was falling apart. He was the leader we decided to follow until the bitter end, but both of us are great shinobi, just like him!”
Lee raised their arms and embraced their torso to make a self-given hug. Shino chuckled at how strange and awkward it felt.
“Things didn’t go the way we wanted, sure, but since when has that ever stopped us? We are Konoha Shinobi! We can fight and win against any odds with our comrades! Naruto taught us that!”
Yes, he did.
“Shino-kun! It may seem as though we are in an impossible situation, but I’m sure that together we can do what Naruto-kun would in our place! We’re going to save our friends! Konoha! And all the elemental Nations!”
He closed his eyes, and even though he couldn’t face his friend, Shino was sure that the other was waiting for a response.
“I’ll do my best and I’m pretty sure you will too. Why? We don’t have any other option than thriving.” The sadness had subsided with his friends words and Shino was thankful.
Rock Lee nods rapidly but that only brings back the pangs inside their head.
“Sorry, I got very excited.” A sheepish smile formed on his lips before Shino answered “It’s okay.”
The light of the sun that passes through the leaves and reach them makes the body warm up and a pleasant feeling of peace makes both war veterans calm. How long has it been the last time they could just sit down and talk? Make conversation that didn’t involve tactics, reports or war-related matters.
“The plan was to go back to when the third Shinobi War started .” The Aburame remember for both of them. “ Which means we aren’t born.”
Lee inhaled while thinking that everyone’s sensei is now probably a genin team. Gai-sensei is alive. And didn’t that thought make Lee hopeful, happy and sad at the same time?
“ We need to find shelter and think about what actions need to be taken. Also, find something to confirm we are when we intended to be .” Shino dismisses the memories of Gai-sensei as well as the ones of Kurenai-sensei that surely come from him. He couldn’t afford to be distracted now, noting how lucky they were that no one attacked them until this moment.
They were vulnerable with how uncoordinated the body being shared is. And wasn’t that too easily accepted? So no time for remembrance and past memories. They are on a mission, no time to waste.
“My speculation is that if we try to act at the same time, our actions will overlap each other. We need to find a way to go around that quickly. Why? The sooner we can move and not interfere with the other, the sooner we can share control of the body.”
“Yosh! I don’t think either of us would be willing to stand back during a fight. We would be risking our safety if we react without thinking. We’d hesitate or go tumbling. Nothing good would come out of that in a life or death situation.”
Both discussed and made use of the time to make sure both of them could control their limbs accordingly, make some defensive moves in a hypothetical battle and use chakra. Which Lee got super excited again at the prospect of being able to mold and shape it to make Ninjutsu. Took some minutes for him to calm down.
“One thing at a time Lee.” Shino had said and his partner listened.
Shino did not, and he will say it again, did not want to count how many times he tasted dirt because Lee made some Taijutsu move he was not used to and, reflexively, made him hyper-aware that it would hurt his body that wasn’t used to the extreme training Lee’s body is used. Adding to the fact he couldn’t feel his bugs on the body made him sad and, honestly, a little lost. At least both of them were apologetic and understanding to one another.
They decided to scout and find a safe place to rest when the sun was almost setting, making the sky turn orange. Both remembered a blond smiling to them and that fueled their spirits even more. The will of fire burning so bright inside that it warmed them through the night.