"What are you doing?" Shikaku heard a voice right from behind him.
He slowly turned around to see his son staring at him.
"Shikamaru..." Shikaku sighed in relief.
("What is dad hiding…?") Shikamaru thought.
"Looks like I got caught huh…?" Shikaku murmured.
"It's all right, dad"
"I'll pretend as if I did not see anything…" Shikamaru said as he walked away.
"Shikamaru," Shikaku called out.
"Hmm…?" Shikamaru turned back to face his dad.
"Let's have a talk," Shikaku said.
"Where are we going dad?" Shikamaru asked.
"You'll find out" Shikaku said.
Shikamaru and Shikaku walked for a while as they reached the outskirts of the village.
Shikamaru however was confused.
"Why are we going out of the village this late?" Shikamaru asked.
Shikaku finally stopped walking and so did Shikamaru.
The two waited in silence.
*Sound of Footsteps*
Shikamaru turns towards the source of sound to see a deer.
"A deer?" Shikamaru asked.
Soon more deers started to appear one by one.
A deer approached Shikaku and Shikamaru.
"huh…?" Shikamaru stared at it.
The deer then bowed towards Shikamaru and Shikaku.
Shikaku also bowed down in return.
Shikamaru followed the gesture and bowed as well.
As the trio stood upright once again.
Shikaku reached into his vest and pulled out a small bag.
*Zip opens*
"Here," Shikaku said as he presented a food item, which probably seemed to be the same food that they fed to the deers that the Nara clan reared.
The deer ate the food from Shikaku's hand.
Soon, the other deers approached the duo.
Shikaku then handed over the bag to Shikamaru.
Shikamaru did not question what was going on.
The deers bowed down to Shikamaru, which he did in return as well and fed them the food that was prepared.
*Sounds of chewing*
"That was the last one," Shikamaru said as he approached his dad.
"Shikamaru,"
"Do you know that this area of the forest is protected by this herd of deers?" Shikaku asked.
"I didn't," Shikamaru shook his head.
"The members of the leaf village are allowed to pass through the area and that's it,"
"Only our clan members can interact with these deers," Shikaku said.
"What about other ninjas?" Shikamaru asked.
"They will be attacked," Shikaku replied.
"I see…" Shikamaru stared at the deers in awe as he thought about the intelligence these deers possessed.
"In the past however, there was one who was an exception," Shikaku said.
"Hm…?" Shikamaru looked at Shikaku.
("Is it related to what is in that envelope…?") Shikamaru thought.
"I know what you are thinking Shikamaru," Shikaku said.
Shikamaru was stunned; however, his expression recovered.
"Dad, do you have to tell me, I find it troublesome having things weighing on the back of my mind," Shikamaru said.
"I would have told you this sooner or later, but with things proceeding now, and after you seeing me with that envelope, I guess this might just be the right time…" Shikaku said.
("This is such a drag…") Shikamaru thought as he stared at Shikaku helplessly.
Shikamaru and Shikaku sat down on the ground.
"So who is he/she?" Shikamaru asked.
"Let's see,"
"In order for me to tell you, I must start back at the time I was at the academy," Shikaku said.
"…" Shikamaru stared in silence.
"Would you believe me if I told you that I was more lazy than you were…?" Shikaku said.
("It does run in the family, you know…") Shikamaru continued to listen.
"Back then, I noticed that ninja life would probably be filled with lot of troubles so I quit academy back then," Shikaku said.
"What?" Shikamaru stood up.
——FlashBack——
In a living room of a particular house in the Nara clan.
"Shikaku, are you sure you want to do this?" Shikaku's dad asked.
"For the last time dad,"
"I am certain," Shikaku said.
Shikaku's dad sighed, following which he stamped a seal on the letter for Shikaku dropping out.
Shikaku walked through the hallways as he bid good bye to the classmates he had hanged out with.
Inoichi and Chōza approached Shikaku.
"You are leaving us?" Chōza asked.
Inoichi on the other hand stared in silence.
"You guys,"
"We will hang out with each other in the evenings just like before," Shikaku said.
Inoichi walked towards Shikaku.
"It's a deal," Inoichi raised a hand towards Shikaku.
"Yeah," Shikaku shook in return.
*Bell Rings*
Shikaku packs up his stuff.
He then looks out of the window to see Inoichi and Chōza waiting for him on the school grounds.
The three met each other on the school grounds and headed out together for lunch.
"How's school?" Inoichi asked.
"Same like Academy I suppose, just different subjects and more in depth studying," Shikaku explained.
Chōza kept munching chips as usual, while the three stared at the scene of the everyday busy street in front of the restaurant.
Days turned into months as Shikaku studied at school following which he would hang out in the evening with Chōza and Inoichi.
Shikaku aced his tests while his ninja abilities kept him in top 5 when it came to sportsmanship.
However he became less interested in studies as time passed.
*Bell Rings*
Shikaku was walking down the hall way during break.
*Sound of hurried footsteps*
(Bump!)
"Ah!" The girl reacted upon seeing the box she was carrying flew from her hands as she bumped into Shikaku.
(Bang!)
The box opened up following which the shoji pieces fell on the floor.
(Ouch!)
Shikaku reacted upon falling on the floor.
"Sorry!" The girl apologised to Shikaku.
Shikaku stared at the shoji pieces that were lying on the floor.
"Do you like Shōgi?" Shikaku asked.
The girl's eyes gleamed.
*Sound of a piece being placed*
"Checkmate!" Shikaku declared.
"Narsan,"
"You are impossible to beat," The girl sighed in defeat.
"There are many strategies for this kind of game," Shikaku said.
"What's your favorite piece?" The girl asked.
"King," Shikaku said.
"If you compare the pieces to the village, what do you think the king represents?" The girl asked.
"Probably the Feudal Lord, or the Hokage?" Shikaku said.
The girl smiled.
"What?" Shikaku asked.
"It's nothing," The girl replied.
Soon Shikaku introduced the girl to the group and all four started to hang out during the break.
During exam times The girl approached Shikaku for help.
"What do you want to become in future?" The girl asked.
"I am not really sure…" Shikaku scratched his head.
"I want to become a teacher some day," The girl declared.
"I don't see that happening with your results." Shikaku laughed.
As holidays arrived the two hanged out more often.
Shikaku also taught her, how to throw shurikens for fun.
Shikaku, Chōza, Inoichi and the girl would play in the forests during the day.
He also introduced her to the deers in the Nara clan district, where they would feed the deer together.
On a certain day,
Shikaku was busy feeding the deer in the forest.
"Shikaku-san," The girl called out.
Shikaku's eyes went wide.
("Why did she come here?")
("The deers are going to attack,") Shikaku thought as he immediately got up.
Just as he was about to run towards her,
He saw one of the deer approach her and calmly placed its head on (bowed towards) her hand.
"What the…" Shikaku was stunned.
The girl rubbed the deer on its head gently as the deer closed its eyes.
Soon, two more deer approached her following which they rubbed their body against her as though she was a very close being to them.
Shikaku's mouth was wide open as he continued to stare.
Shikaku finally finished serving the deer their food and was about to leave.
"Shikaku-san," The girl called out.
"Hmm…?" Shikaku paid attention to her.
"Are you happy?" The girl asked.
"Why do you ask?" Shikaku asked.
"You don't seem to be happy in the school, however when you play Shōgi or hang out with Inoichi-san and Chōzsan,"
"You are very happy," the girl replied.
"…" Shikaku stared silently.
"When I asked what your dream was, you said you didn't know…" The girl said.
Shikaku wanted speak, but words couldn't deny what she said.
"Shikaku-san,"
"Are you happy as a non-ninja?" The girl asked.
Shikaku thought deeply.
The girl he hanged out with, though she was not good at studies, she put her efforts for her dreams.
("Am I doing the right thing?") Shikaku thought.
The two continued to hang out as usual till the end of the academic year.
On the last day however, the girl did not show up.
"What happened?" Shikaku asked the lecturer in charge.
"Apparently the girl and her family were forced to relocate under unexplainable circumstances," The lecturer explained.
Shikaku shook his head slowly as he left the classroom in disappointment.
Chōza and Inoichi were sad upon hearing the girl's news.
Later that evening…
Shikaku approached his dad.
"Dad,"
"Hm…?" Shikaku's dad looked at him.
"I shouldn't have shirked my responsibilities," Shikaku said.
Shikaku's dad's expression changed to that of a smile.
"You're lucky you are intelligent,"
"If you start tomorrow, you should be able to catch up on the theory in a week," Shikaku's dad replied.
Shikaku lifted his head.
"You are not going to say anything?" Shikaku asked.
"Now, Why would I do that?"
"You understood what you had to do, on your own…"
"Though it took you an entire year," Shikaku's dad sighed.
"…" Shikaku stared in silence.
"Do you want to play Shōgi?" Shikaku's dad asked.
*Sound of a piece being placed*
"Tsk!" Shikaku cursed, for his dad's intellect was a hard challenge.
"Good move," Shikaku said.
"Gotta protect the King," Shikaku's dad replied.
"Dad?" Shikaku called out.
"Hm…?" Shikaku's dad responded.
"When the pieces are compared to the village, who's the king?" Shikaku asked.
"Mm…" Shikaku's dad thought for a moment.
"Now that you have decided to become a ninja, who do you think the king represents?" Shikaku's Dad asked.
——End Of FlashBack ——
"What do you think?" Shikaku asked Shikamaru.
Shikamaru thought back to everything Naruto told him about the future, though Naruto did not tell him an exact answer, the meaning of the battle itself sufficiently explained everything.
"Is it the village?" Shikamaru asked.
Shikaku smiled.
"It is." Shikaku said as he started to walk back.
"Hey dad!" Shikamaru called out.
"Hm…?" Shikaku turned back.
"That envelope,"
"Does it have a picture of her?" Shikamaru asked.
"Oh that…" Shikaku paused.
"It just contained those pørn mags," Shikaku laughed.
Shikamaru stared at his dad as he walked away as though nothing happened.
The next morning…
Naruto felt something stink near his nose.
He opened his eyes to see…
Jiraiya's leg next to his face.
"Whoah!" Naruto got up from his bed which was on the floor.
"You're up early," Minato smiled as he placed breakfast on the table.
Naruto cleaned his eyes a bit.
"Take a quick bath or you might get late for the promotion ceremony,"
"Damn it!" Naruto cursed as he quickly went to take bath.
He then had breakfast and left the house with a smile as he headed towards the Hokage office at full speed.
(Whoosh!) Naruto landed at the entrance, following which he ran up the stairs.
Shikamaru and Sasuke were waiting outside Hiruzen's room.
"Naruto," Sasuke called out, following which Shikamaru saw Naruto as well.
"Hey guys," Naruto greeted following which he approached the two and brought them closer.
"Listen Up,"
"I've got a mission for you guys," Naruto said.
"Huh?" Shikamaru and Sasuke stared at Naruto.