The afternoon sun shone gently through the window.
In the Nara household's dining room, Shikamaru, his father Shikaku, and his mother Yoshino were sitting down to a quiet lunch. Four dishes and a bowl of soup—two meat, two vegetable—and a grilled fish for each of them. Simple. Warm. Peaceful.
Yoshino gently added more food to Shikamaru's bowl as he ate silently, her eyes full of both love and pride.
Like any parent, she wanted her child to succeed. And being born into the Nara clan—especially as the son of the widely respected Nara Shikaku—meant that mediocrity wasn't an option. In a world like theirs, the only real path forward was to become a capable ninja.
For Yoshino, it wasn't about vanity. A strong ninja wasn't just someone admired—they were someone protected.
In times of war, weak shinobi were often treated as expendable. But those with exceptional skill? They were assets. Protected by the village. Prioritized. Shikamaru's growing strength meant security—not just fame.
Still, watching her son's performance in the Chūnin Exams had filled Yoshino with pride beyond anything she'd expected.
Only one day had passed since the preliminary rounds, yet the details of the matches had already spread across the village. And Shikamaru—who had defeated Neji Hyūga, widely regarded as the Hyūga clan's greatest prodigy—had become a hot topic among both villagers and shinobi.
Many of Konoha's jōnin, upon hearing the detailed accounts of the match, were genuinely impressed. Shikamaru's tactical brilliance, displayed at such a young age, had caught the attention of more than a few higher-ups.
Now, the question wasn't if he would be promoted to chūnin.
It was where he would be assigned.
Unlike genin, who relied on team missions and the oversight of a jōnin sensei, chūnin were qualified to take on solo missions—and could even be placed within the infrastructure of the village itself.
Departments like the Intelligence Division, Medical Corps, Konoha Military Police, Academy, or even Administration were potential destinations. And then, of course, there was ANBU.
Konoha, though only a village in name, had an internal structure and complexity that rivaled entire nations. With highly trained personnel and streamlined efficiency, its bureaucratic system was as sophisticated as any country's.
Considering Shikamaru's rising reputation, there was already widespread curiosity about which department the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the Konoha leadership might place him in.
But while the villagers whispered of his "guaranteed promotion," Shikamaru himself didn't let it go to his head.
His next opponent was Gaara of the Sand—a Jinchūriki who would go on to become Kazekage. No one understood the gravity of that better than Shikamaru.
After lunch, Yoshino stood and began clearing the dishes. With a quick wave of her hand, she sent both Shikaku and Shikamaru into the living room, kicking them out of the kitchen without discussion.
Unlike the perpetually laid-back Shikaku, Yoshino was brisk, efficient, and direct. Shikaku, while a genius strategist on the battlefield, always maintained a lazy, disinterested façade during daily life.
That was part of his own wisdom—no one likes someone who acts clever all the time.
Shikamaru understood this well. Though Shikaku didn't always act like a traditional father, nor did he project the intensity of a battlefield commander at home, Shikamaru still deeply respected him.
His father's mind was razor-sharp, even if his body couldn't keep pace.
Shikamaru didn't fully agree with Shikaku's withdrawn, subtle approach to life, but he understood it. For someone like his father, low visibility had always been the safest—and most efficient—way forward.
"So… what are you planning to do with the next month?" Shikaku asked, flopping onto the couch with a dramatic stretch before gesturing lazily at his son. "Need any help?"
Shikamaru took the seat beside him and thought for a moment.
"My opponent's the same guy who crushed Rock Lee in the prelims—Gaara of the Sand. His sand defense is too strong. I'm thinking of asking Lee or Guy-sensei to help me train. If I can increase my speed and get past that sand barrier… then maybe I can land a Rasengan."
He didn't bother asking Shikaku for help directly. He knew his father didn't have any real ties to Might Guy or Lee. It was something he'd have to pursue himself.
Shikaku narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression unreadable.
There was a brief pause, and then his voice—usually so casual—sounded just a bit hoarse.
"…You're right to take this seriously," he said. "A real ninja never underestimates his opponent."
Shikaku had quietly worried that the village's sudden praise might make Shikamaru overconfident. But seeing the calm, focused look on his son's face, he knew those fears were unfounded.
Shikamaru wasn't just preparing for a match.
He understood the deeper purpose of the final round—it wasn't just a tournament. It was a public display. A chance to show his value to the entire village and its allies.
Who he defeated was only one part of the equation. How he fought mattered more.
"And what about Asuma?" Shikaku asked casually. "Is he training your team?"
"Yeah," Shikamaru nodded. "Both Ino and Chōji passed the prelims. Chōji's getting help from his dad, but Ino's kind of stuck. Inoichi-san has some kind of assignment, so Asuma-sensei said he'd help train her for now."
At that, a flicker of something passed across Shikaku's face. For Inoichi Yamanaka to prioritize work over personally training his own daughter—especially after she advanced—was unusual.
But then again, in Konoha, nothing was ever simple.
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