Shikamaru Shinden Chapter 19

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CHAPTER 19

On the main street of Konoha, there was a large building that was built several years ago. The building had a large LCD screen, which was usually displaying ads like for the latest toys. But today was different. Today, the hero of the villages face was on the screen.

A lot of people were gathered near the screen, Shikadai was standing among the crowd with Chocho to his right and Inojin to his left. They were all watching the Hokage’s speech.

“I have something to say to Danjo,” said the Naruto on the screen.

The Continental Talks was the event where all the lands had gathered, and Naruto’s speech was what was really sticking out to Shikadai.

“Shinobi are born for battle, it may be true. If it is, then Shinobi do not belong in this world,”

The murmuring between the members of the Continental Talks was transmitted through the screen.

“What is the Hokage saying?” Inojin wondered aloud.

Still looking at Naruto, Shikadai listened to his friend.

“Aren’t we shinobi? Hokage-sama… Why don’t you think that shinobi should exist?” Inojin sighed.

Although he was talking in a condemning voice, Shikadai somewhat understood what the Hokage was saying.

“Maybe peace isn’t like the way we think it is,” Shikadai said vaguely.

Even if they kept talking, they wouldn’t find the answer.

“Shut up and look,” Inojin said, watching the screen.

“We are going to take a part of the Land of Fire and give it to the Land of Earth. And as the leader of Konoha, there’s something else I’d like to propose,”

Naruto sucked in a breath.

“That!” Chocho suddenly said.

It was important, Shikadai’s eyebrows rose up.

“Dad was saying! At this conference! Your dad is there!” Chocho explained.

“Shikadai jolted, his friends not understanding his surprise. As he listened to Chocho’s voice, his chest tightened.

"He said if Shikadai’s dad wasn’t there, we’d be in a war. Dad looked so happy,” she said.

Shikadai’s heart beat hard, his body shaken slightly.

When he was at home, Shikamaru was always scolded by Temari, “Take off your shirt and clean yourself up if you’re going to be home late!’.

On his occasional day off, his dad would sit on the porch and look up into the sky and the yard. To Shikadai, his dad was a slob.

Had his father done such an important job?

Shikadai had no words.

For a moment, the venue was shown. Mirai and some Konoha ninja were there. Shikadai searched, but he did not see his father.

Why wasn’t his dad there?

If Chocho was right, during the Hokage’s speech, they should have shown his dad.

Still…

His dad was always there. Not on the screen, but he was always watching Naruto. What Chocho’s dad said was probably true.

How troublesome, it was something he could say without feeling weary. It wasn’t an excuse to run away. So many things are troublesome.

But you have to keep moving on. Otherwise, their catchphrase would just be a scapegoat.

His dad had told him that. So he trusted in him.

"Shikamaru-san is some kind of amazing,” Inojin muttered.

Shikadai couldn’t answer. If he did, he would cry.