104. Is Shikamaru a reincarnator?

(Powerstones! Pwease! 🥺)

"Wait, you were that guy releasing that flashy water-style jutsus?" Ino asked, her eyes wide. "How did you maintain the transformation for so long?"

"Seals, nee-chan!" Sora exclaimed excitedly, tapping his bracers. "Everything can be done with those! Want to see me pull a rabbit out of my hat? Or maybe turn Shikamaru's shadow into a dancing pineapple?"

"By the way," Sora turned to Shikamaru, curiosity getting the better of him, "how was it obvious that it was me? Did my awesome skills give me away?"

"Seals, Sora-chan!" Shikamaru mimicked Sora's excited tone, though his lazy drawl made it sound more like a parody. "Your seals have a unique style, like a signature. It's troublesome, but I noticed it during your prank war with Naruto."

Choji and Ino cringed at the uncharacteristic display from their usually lethargic friend, Choji even stopped eating and looked at Shikamaru with concern.

Sora's eyes widened in realization. "Right! I have a unique way of making my seals, just like the differences between handwritings. Note to self: develop seal-based handwriting analysis jutsu for future pranks."

As they neared the gates, Ino suddenly stopped in her tracks. "Wait! You were the one responsible for causing chaos in the first test by putting people under genjutsu and making them do funny things, right? I saw a genin actually bite another genin!"

Sora put on his best innocent expression, which fooled absolutely no one. "What do you mean? It was certainly funny, but I was in no way responsible for that. Maybe it was a mass hallucination caused by bad cafeteria food?"

None of them believed his blatant lie, but Sora continued to deflect their accusations as they reached the gates. After showing their passes to the guards, who seemed relieved to see Sora leaving the village, they set off on their mission.

After running for a few moments, Shikamaru suddenly stopped and placed a seal on the ground. Sora recognized it as a silencing seal and whistled appreciatively. "Nice work, Shikamaru! Though I would have added a little swirl here and a zigzag there for extra pizzazz."

"Actually," Shikamaru inspected his seal, ignoring Sora's critique, "I wanted to ask you last time, but when did you start learning Fuinjutsu? You seem advanced, maybe even expert level in my opinion."

As Shikamaru removed his chunin jacket, he explained, "I think it was around the time you were having that prank war with Naruto. It made me more aware of seals and barriers related to Fuinjutsu." He tapped his headband and removed it, wordlessly telling the others to do the same.

"One thing led to another, and I became a Fuinjutsu expert," Shikamaru continued, storing his headband and jacket in his pocket using seals. "My main motivation was the convenience it provided."

Ino rolled her eyes. "Well, you're even lazier now! Next thing we know, you'll develop a jutsu to watch clouds without having to go outside."

"Don't give him ideas, Ino!" Choji chuckled, munching on another chip.

Ignoring their banter, Shikamaru opened the mission scroll and activated a seal, projecting its contents as a hologram in the air. Sora whistled excitedly, already analyzing the seal responsible. "Ooh, shiny! Can it also project my favourite ninja drama? I've been missing episodes due to this whole 'being a ninja' thing."

"Our main task," Shikamaru explained, pointedly ignoring Sora's question, "is to capture a rogue chunin named Dorobou Hikari. He was originally from Konoha but defected when he was accidentally accused of stealing items from a higher-up's corpse. He specializes in stealth and movement-based techniques.

When ninjas were sent to inform him to bring him back to the village to resolve the misunderstanding, he was unable to be found, even by Anbus for the last 5 years. We're given this task as an experience, though the Hokage probably doesn't expect us to actually capture him."

"Heh, you're overestimating ANBU tracking abilities," Sora smirked, clearly hinting at his numerous pranks on the elite ninja. "I once led them on a wild goose chase across the village using nothing but a rubber duck and some glitter."

"Anyway," Shikamaru continued, pretending he hadn't heard that potentially incriminating statement, "he was spotted near the Land of Hot Springs yesterday. We need to move today and reach there before tonight."

Ino protested, "That's too much! It should take us nearly a day with rest in between. How are we going to reach in around 6 hours? Aren't you lazy yourself, Shikamaru? This doesn't sound like your usual 'minimal effort' plan."

With a smirk that was entirely too smug for his usually bored expression, Shikamaru pulled out a storage scroll and summoned a cart. "Here's the answer," he said, pointing to a large seal on the cart. "This is one of my new Fuinjutsu creations. It allows us to power the cart with our chakra, moving at speeds comparable to ninja. We don't really need to stop for rest."

Sora's eyes sparkled as he examined the intricate seal system. It was like looking at a work of art - if that art could also break the laws of physics and make lazy ninjas move at superhuman speeds. "Shikamaru, you beautiful, troublesome genius! This is amazing!"

"Woah, this is amazing!" Choji exclaimed, his eyes wide with wonder. "Now I can eat faster while travelling!"

Sora did a double-take at Choji's words. Of course, that would be his first thought.

"This is incredible, Shikamaru," Ino added, clearly impressed. "We can relax while travelling. You've officially made being lazy into an art form."

Both Ino and Choji hugged Shikamaru, who looked mildly uncomfortable with the sudden display of affection. Sora debated whether to join in the hug, partly because he was genuinely impressed and partly because group hugs were excellent opportunities for pickpocketing. Not that he would, of course. Probably.

However, before Sora could make a decision, he felt water droplets on his skin. In an instant, he was on high alert, summoning a chakra-laced kunai and spreading out his chakra field. Finding no one but his team, he grew even tenser. Was this some new Jutsu? A trap? Had Dorobou Hikari somehow found them first?

"Calm down, it's just raining," Shikamaru's words caught him off guard.

Realizing his overreaction, Sora tried to play it cool. "I was practising a technique," he said, not lowering his kunai. "It helps keep your core strong when using chakra enhancements. Also great for impromptu water balloon fights."

The trio's unmoving expressions made it clear they didn't buy it. Sora could practically hear Shikamaru thinking "troublesome" in his head.

"Anyway, let's get in," Shikamaru sighed, gesturing to the cart.

They quickly piled into the cart, with Shikamaru taking the first turn to power it. As they sped along, Sora studied the hologram seal, occasionally muttering things like "Ooh, clever!" and "I wonder what would happen if I added a squiggle here..." Ino kept her senses alert for enemies, while Choji munched on chips, enjoying the scenery and rain.

"You know," Choji said between bites, "I think I finally understand why nobles and rich people like to travel in carts so much. This is nice!"

An hour into their journey, with Ino now powering the cart, Sora abruptly jumped onto the roof. The others tensed, ready for action.

"Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu!" he shouted, weaving hand signs. Water bullets formed from the rain around him, neutralizing incoming projectiles with explosive tags. The air filled with the sound of small explosions and hissing steam.

Ino stopped the cart and began sensing their surroundings. "14 enemies," she reported. "10 genin and 4 chunin."

Shikamaru frowned but remained calm. "Fine, let's go for the usual. I'll protect this area." He summoned a brush and began drawing kanji on the ground, his hands moving with practised ease.

"One's a sensor! Attack the cart!" a voice shouted from the trees. Instantly, four ninjas surrounded them, each weaving hand signs.

"D-rank Four Elemental Attack!" they cried in unison. From four directions, a D-rank jutsu of fire, water, wind, and lightning rushed at the cart.

***

Latest Chapter on Patreon- 123. At End of Space-Time

Join My Patreon- P@treon.com/Desire96