The early morning sun spilled through the slats of the Nara household, casting golden rays over the traditional wooden floor. The scent of tea leaves drifted from the kitchen as Yoshino Nara, dressed in a simple yukata, moved with quiet purpose.
"Shikamaru! Breakfast!" she called from behind the sliding door, her voice sharp but warm.
Inside his room, Shikamaru groaned, tangled in his sheets like a captive cloud. He sat up sluggishly, rubbing his eyes. "Tch... troublesome," he muttered under his breath.
He shuffled into the kitchen, yawning as he dropped into place at the low table. Yoshino placed a bowl of miso soup and rice in front of him and sat opposite with her own tray. She studied him between sips of her tea.
"You've been spacing out a lot lately," she said matter-of-factly. "Usually you only look this dazed when you're pretending to be lazy."
"I'm not pretending," Shikamaru mumbled, spooning rice into his mouth.
She arched an eyebrow. "You only say that when something is bothering you. Out with it."
He paused. "...It's nothing. Just… someone I met. A guy named Kaizen."
Yoshino gave a thoughtful hum. "That the boy Ino keeps talking about?"
Shikamaru blinked. "You heard about him from Ino?"
She gave him a pointed look. "Mothers talk. So do shopkeepers. And Ino has never been good at keeping excitement to herself."
He stared into his soup for a long moment. "He's... different. Smart. Scary smart. He's training us harder than the Academy does, like we're already Genin. Makes you feel like you're part of something bigger."
Yoshino's expression softened just a little. "Then maybe you are."
He looked up.
"You're smart too, Shikamaru. Smarter than most adults I know. But even smart people need someone to challenge them—pull them out of that lazy shell and make them think bigger. If Kaizen is that kind of person for you… maybe it's not a bad thing."
Shikamaru didn't answer, but something in his eyes shifted.
Yoshino sipped her tea again. "Just don't let someone else's ambition drown out your own. Support your friends, but don't lose your own voice."
He gave a small grunt of acknowledgment. Then, after finishing his soup, he stood up.
"I'm gonna play shogi with Dad."
"Try not to lose too fast," she called after him.
---
The soft, rhythmic clack of shogi pieces echoed like a gentle metronome in the quiet living room. Shikamaru sat cross-legged across from his father, Shikaku Nara, eyes half-lidded and body slouched—but inwardly, his mind was more active than ever.
Click.
Shikaku moved a piece and looked at his son through the corner of his eye. "You've been distracted lately. Your moves are decent, but you're hesitating more than usual. Something bothering you?"
Shikamaru gave a small grunt. "Tch. Troublesome… You always notice that stuff."
Shikaku smirked. "Comes with the territory. A strategist has to see more than what's on the board."
They continued in silence for a few more turns. The movements were mechanical, but Shikamaru's thoughts were anything but.
"...It's about a guy I met recently," Shikamaru said finally. "Kaizen Kurohane."
Shikaku made no verbal response, only tilted his head slightly in curiosity, waiting.
"At first I thought he was just another overachieving prodigy. But he's more than that. He's… I dunno, focused. Intense. But calm too. Weird mix. When he talks, people listen. When he moves, people follow. Naruto, Ino, Choji, Hinata—everyone's changed just by being around him."
He moved a piece slowly, then sat back with a thoughtful look.
"In just over a week, he's built a real team. And not just a bunch of kids playing ninja. A real, functioning, efficient unit. He trains us like we're already Genin. Choji and I went through that tree walking exercise—same as Naruto and Hinata. Took us three days, but we got it. Ino too. She almost fell more times than Choji, but she's stubborn."
Shikaku raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. That kind of leadership at his age... rare."
"Yeah," Shikamaru murmured. "He's got this method. Shows us how to do it once, then starts throwing rocks at us while we're walking up the tree. Not hard, just enough to throw us off balance. You fall, you start over."
Shikaku let out a small chuckle. "Brutal."
"That's not even the worst part. When Naruto and Hinata finished tree walking, he made them master walking on water next. And he made the water uneven. Kept splashing it around while throwing rocks again. Said it helps build precision under pressure."
"You went through that too?"
"Nah, not yet," Shikamaru replied. "Kaizen said we'll move to that after our balance and control get better. But he's pushing us harder than any Academy instructor ever has."
Shikaku moved another piece with ease. "So, is that what's bothering you? The training?"
Shikamaru shook his head. "No. It's what he says. Kaizen talks about the future like it's a chess game he's already halfway through. Peace, balance, structure... fixing the village from the inside out. Changing how the system works. Making sure kids like Naruto don't have to suffer for something that's not their fault. He says things like he's lived two lifetimes."
Shikaku finally looked up. "And you?"
"What about me?"
"Do you believe in that future? Or in him?"
Shikamaru exhaled slowly. "...Yeah. I think I do. He doesn't ask for loyalty. Doesn't demand attention. But somehow, it's like we all just want to stand beside him. And not because he's strong, but because he believes what he says."
Shikaku leaned back, a contemplative look on his face. "It's rare to find someone like that. If he's genuine—and it sounds like he is—then maybe he's the kind of person who changes the world. The question is, do you want to be part of that change?"
The silence stretched for a moment. Then Shikamaru moved his piece.
"I guess... I already am."
They played a few more moves before the game ended in Shikaku's favor. As Shikamaru cleaned up the board, Shikaku added, "Just remember: every great leader needs someone to watch the board when they're busy moving the pieces. Maybe that's your role."
---
Later that afternoon, Shikamaru found himself standing in their usual training spot—an open clearing in the forest near the edge of the village. The sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The sound of laughter, splashes, and shouts filled the air.
Kaizen stood at the edge of the stream, arms folded, watching as Naruto and Hinata struggled to maintain balance on the water's surface while dodging rocks he flicked at them with casual precision.
"Hinata! Loosen your shoulders, focus on the soles of your feet. Naruto, you're bending too far forward—you'll fall if the current shifts again."
Ino stood at the edge of the water, cheering for Hinata while adjusting her own chakra flow on the riverbank. Choji sat nearby, munching on a snack, legs crossed but alert. Shikamaru walked over and sat beside him.
"Hey."
"Yo," Choji said, offering him a piece of dried meat. "Want some?"
"Pass."
They watched in silence as Naruto managed to stay upright through a volley of three pebbles. He jumped up, pumping his fists. "Yeah! I did it!"
Kaizen gave a nod. "Good. Now keep it up while I change the current."
The water shifted subtly—Kaizen had moved a rock underneath the streambed, creating a disturbance. Naruto almost fell, but steadied himself with a grin.
"That guy's insane," Shikamaru muttered. "But he's good."
Choji chuckled. "I've never been this exhausted after training, but… I don't hate it."
Ino walked over to them, brushing her bangs aside. "You guys better catch up. I'm going to be the first to master water walking. Just watch."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Don't trip and fall."
Ino stuck her tongue out at him before flashing Kaizen a bright smile and waving. Kaizen didn't react much but gave a short wave back, then returned to instructing Naruto.
Choji leaned in toward Shikamaru and whispered, "She's totally into him."
Shikamaru gave a slow nod. "I noticed. Hinata too."
"Kaizen knows, right?"
"Oh, he knows," Shikamaru said. "He just doesn't say anything. Typical leader move. He's letting it play out naturally… unless it gets out of hand."
"You think he likes either of them?"
"Who knows. Probably not ready to deal with that. He's more focused on our progress."
They both looked toward the center of the stream, where Naruto had just fallen in with a splash and Hinata managed to stay upright, blushing as Kaizen clapped lightly.
That night, as the group disbanded with the promise of another full day of training, Shikamaru lingered behind. He found Kaizen standing alone, staring at the slowly rippling water.
"You did good today," Kaizen said without turning.
"Same to you," Shikamaru replied. "You've got them all improving fast."
"That was the plan."
Shikamaru stepped closer. "Hey. All this stuff you say about the future. You mean it?"
Kaizen turned to him, his Six-Eyes glowing faintly in the dusk. "Every word. I've seen what this world becomes when people let it rot. I'm going to change that. One step at a time."
Shikamaru looked away, then back. "Then I'll help you. Just don't expect me to jump through hoops like Naruto."
Kaizen smiled faintly. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Shikamaru sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Tsk. What a drag."
But his voice was lighter.
And his mind was clearer.
He had made his move.
And there was no going back.
---