Shikamaru Shinden Chapter 7

Hi everyone, thank you so much for your patience! I have a few things I’d like to say before we get started!

1. Thank you so much to Cacatuasulphureacitrinocristata where ever you are nowadays, you always inspired me!

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PART 2: STRATEGY

CHAPTER 7





Naruto was silent at his desk, both he and Shikamaru were staring at the report in front of them. The report was written in Shikamaru’s own handwriting.

“So the Hidden Stone has done this…” Naruto muttered.

“This is our reality. Think about this, when the enemy was beyond our imaginations, it was easy to bond everyone together. But when the enemy is our fellow Shinobi, it’s much harder to gather everyone. Each country has their own ideals and values, it would be mere idealism that everyone would cooperate with each other.” Shikamaru explained.

Naruto clenched his teeth. He had always been pure-hearted and although he was strange, he’d changed many peoples hearts. Naruto’s noble character is why Shikamaru used those words. After all, when his best friend had left the village to walk the world, Naruto had let him choose it.

Shikamaru dared to say these things. Naruto had to understand the gravity of the situation. It was impossible to live on ideals alone, especially when the Land of Flowers was at such a risk.

“Why are they doing this now? If they’re in trouble, why couldn’t they just ask for help? If her Daimyo was being unreasonable, Kurotsuchi could have told us. If they don’t have enough land for food, why didn’t they just for our help, y'know?!” Naruto said sadly.

Shikamaru felt the same way. If any village or country on this continent was suffering, the alliance was there to help them when they asked. Everything could always be saved by negotiating. Still, the Land of Earth, and by proxy, the Hidden Stone, had decided to invade the Land of Flowers. On the other hand, there was no doubt that their pride was getting in the way.

“Oonoki, the old man was trying to tell me.” Shikamaru sighed.

Naruto raised his head.

“No matter how peaceful it is, Shinobi will be Shinobi,” Shikamaru explained.

“Shinobi will be Shinobi…” Naruto mused.

Shikamaru nodded silently.

If they chose to do nothing, the Land of Flowers would be invaded. Their peaceful lives would be destroyed by the Hidden Stone. It would be possible to win against them, the Hidden Cloud would intervene due to their alliance with the Flowers. The Hidden Mist would ally with Kurotsuchi, and from there, things would only get more and more confusing.

The 5th ninja war, the worst conclusion his mind came to.

Moreover, once they entered a war, it wouldn’t end the same as last time. There wasn’t some alien force rallying everyone together. The results of the last great war would mean nothing, the peace the world had made, what they fought so hard for, would be gone.

Ninja were the shields of the Daimyo. They’d decide who would fight who. Only bloodshed would end it, and that would never end. All for one dispute.

“Shikamaru,” Naruto said.

The hero who’d ended the last war, eyes were sad.

“If there’s going to be a war, we have to stop it. Our children shouldn’t have to learn about war. Our peaceful village is a shinobi village. It’s like Oonoki said.” Naruto said. “Boruto’s generation thinks differently from us, their parents. I don’t want them to think that we’d use them as fodder.”

Naruto closed his eyes. Shikamaru wondered who he was seeing in his mind’s eye. Neji Hyuuga or maybe Itachi Uchiha? They’d both died during the last events of the war.

Shikamaru’s mind went to his father and his Sensei, the scar they’d left him with still hadn’t healed after all this time. It still hurt to think about them. He took out a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth. He knew he wasn’t allowed to smoke in the room, but he just wanted to have it on his lips. It reminded him of Asuma when he did it, his Sensei used to love a smoke.

His shoulders slumped at the memory, it was always troublesome to think of that. The cigarette was just a small comfort.

“What do you want to do?” Shikamaru asked, removing the cigarette to talk.

“I have to stop Kurotsuchi, no matter what.”

Determination shone in his blue eyes. This was Naruto’s strength.

Shikamaru’s past thought suddenly came to mind.

‘I’ll definitely make him Hokage.’

Naruto had enough to potential to take any path. Shikamaru knew where he wanted to go, but not how to get there. So he’d always draw the maps for Naruto’s paths.

“If you want to stop Kurotsuchi, you have to have a meeting with her.”

“Yeah!” Naruto said, nodding.

While teasing the cigarette on his lips, Shikamaru went on.

“The invasion of the Land of Flowers is the Earth Daimyo’s decision. Kurotsuchi isn’t the Daimyo, so she’s not in charge of this whole affair. So we have to change her mind. We can stop the invasion if we manage to do it. If we manage to persuade Kurotsuchi, the Daimyo will think twice about the invasion.” Shikamaru said.

“If the ninja won’t attack, then the Land of Earth can’t invade!” Naruto exclaimed.

“So first things first, we have to change her mind. It seems Kurotsuchi is just being ordered around by her Daimyo.” Shikamaru said.

“Kurotsuchi was ready for war!” Naruto growled, standing up and slamming his hands on his desk. Shikamaru hadn’t seen him this angry in a long time.

Shikamaru kept calm.

“Shinobi will always want to fight. It’s not unusual.” Shikamaru said.

“Argh…”

At his calm response, Naruto felt remorse for his loud outburst. He gave Shikamaru a gentle look.

“What’s happened to us…” Naruto sighed.

“The Akatsuki were people who’d fallen into darkness, but the Tsuchikage and the Earth Daimyo aren’t like them,” Shikamaru muttered.

The Akatsuki was the trigger behind the last great war. They had consisted of ninja who’d abandoned their home villages and aimed to collect the 9 tailed beasts that were scattered around the world.

Their ultimate plan was to trap everyone in a never-ending genjutsu.

The Shinobi Alliance had put an end to it.

“Naruto!” Shikamaru spoke sharply to get his attention.

He then spoke gently.

“Kurotsuchi is a good kunoichi. No genjutsu can change that. Kurotsuchi would have been wary of the Daimyo, and if someone else was behind this, they’d already be dead. It’s too easy to make enemies when we turn our eyes away from reality.

But… You are Hokage of this land, not theirs. It’s not a matter two different villages, it’ll affect our whole world. It’s too easy to make enemies here, you have to look hard at reality and make the right choices.”

“Yeah… That’s right… It’s as you say.” Naruto muttered.

Shikamaru quickly nodded.

“So.. First of all,” Naruto said.

“It’ll be the Five Kage Meeting.”

Shikamaru couldn’t stop himself from interrupting. Naruto let out a laugh.

Being the Hokage had changed Naruto, he wasn’t purely emotionally driven anymore. He’d grown into his role, and become a fine Hokage.

Still, Shikamaru had a burden to carry too. Naruto was the light for the whole village. But shadows always gathered at the edges of strong lights and Shikamaru would control those shadows. Naruto was bright, and Shikamaru was the controller of the shadows made by him.

He talked, the cigarette flicking in his mouth.

“For the time being, regarding Kurotsuchi’s request, you’ll have to meet up again with everyone. You bring up the invasion to everyone. Depending on how Kurotsuchi reacts, Chojoro and Darui will be forced to choose which side to pick when it comes to light. We’d better talk to Gaara in advance about this.” Shikamaru planned.

“To bring our allies together?” Naruto asked.

Shikamaru shook his head in a no.

“We’ll remain neutral to the last on this. Darui will side with the Land of Flowers, but we won’t. As long as Konoha and Suna stand firmly in the middle ground, we can’t go wrong.” Shikamaru corrected.

“I should have asked more about all of this.” Naruto sighed.

“Leave it alone now,” Shikamaru said.

It was going to be an enormous job, organizing the embassy, creating schedules and negotiating with Gaara and so on. Shikamaru knew he wouldn’t be home for a long time. It was going to be a lot of work.

“Oi, Shikamaru!”

“Hmm?”

“Put out that cigarette before I get mad!” Naruto snapped.

He’d lit it without noticing.

“Ahh…”

Staring at the purple smoke that plumed out, Shikamaru muttered to himself.

“After all this, I really wanted a cigarette…”

“You suck! Go away!” Naruto barked.

Shikamaru leaped out of the open window to the Hokage’s room and walked up to the roof.

Sorry if this reads like word salad, I’m pretty tired today. Thanks for reading :D