Hello! I've come to rattle your noggin with my endless supply of 'what if' questions regarding the much loved series that is Break to Breathe... Coming back to On the Cusp and the scene where Shikamaru was questioning Neji on the cause of his bruised jaw got me thinking - what would Shikamaru's reaction be IF he was ever privy to how Hitaro treated/treats Neji?
Hello there, my luv!
Rattle away!
[...] what would Shikamaru's reaction be IF he was ever privy to how Hitaro treated/treats Neji?
Oh ho! Well, let’s just say there’s a very solid line between how Shikamaru would FEEL about it and what he would DO about it -- which is precisely nothing, unless he wanted to bring down Neji’s wrath upon his well-intentioned head.
Shikamaru would hate it, absolutely. He already has strong opinions on the backward system in the Hyuga clan. But he’d grit his teeth and bare it because there is nothing he could do about it unless he wanted to go behind Neji’s back all sneaky like...which sadly, wouldn’t end well for any of them. Case in point being how BtB Shikaku had once attempted to do just that. But interfering in Hyuga affairs cost him Hiashi’s friendship and engendered nothing but mistrust and antipathy between him and the Hyuga Lord. Unlike his father, Shikamaru wouldn’t overstep unless severe urgency demanded it (such as when Neji was killing himself to stay in control). He’d edge strategically around the topic with Neji, express his thoughts on the matter in the least troublesome way and guard his own emotions surrounding the issue to keep from triggering or insulting Neji. It’s humiliating and infuriating enough for the Hyuga and Shikamaru would sense and respect this, regardless of how he personally felt about it.
If, later on, Shikamaru was in a position to DO something without toe-stepping (though this would mainly be regarding Neji) or red-tape hopping? Well...heaven help Hitaro.
Thanks for the question, Anon! Argh, but I miss those two crazy kids...</3
