Prologue - The Fated Conversation

Shikamaru Nara

Today marks our graduation from Konoha Gakuen, one of Japan's most prestigious Junior High Schools and home to many influential figures in Japanese society, including four Japanese Prime Ministers: Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Namikaze Minato.

The academy is notorious for having approximately 10% of its students graduate each batch. Although this would normally lead to people thinking that it has a defective means of teaching, the quality of students that manages to survive in this school would tell you otherwise.

It was simply the school for the elite--not in terms of money and influence, but the elite in terms of capabilities.

I guess you could count me now as one of the so-called elites since I managed to survive until graduation.

What a drag!

But I suppose this was the only school that truly fits me. I know my capabilities, and I know my personality like the back of my hand.

I doubt I'd be able to bear attending your typical academic institution because I would just intimidate our teacher and probably be ostracized for being a cut above the rest.

Here, I was able to be average.

A liberty I wouldn't be able to enjoy in another environment.

I suppose I should give my thanks to those two idiots, Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto, for taking all the attention in our batch.

God knows I'd be doomed if I'm lumped in the same category as those two.

They're too famous!

Sasuke, for being part of the Uchiha Clan, one of the most prestigious political families in Japan and a notable prodigy in his own right; and

Naruto, the heir to the Uzumaki Clan and the son of former Prime Minister Namikaze Minato, and a man who somehow carries a distinct brand of charisma that surpasses even that of his father. I will say this, Naruto's dream of being a future Prime Minister is not a matter of "if" but rather a matter of "when."

Still, their annoying rivalry had turned them into childish idiots in my eyes.

It's... a little embarrassing to be seen with them when they're in one of their "who can pee higher" competitions.

That said, they're also among my greatest friends, with Naruto being my other best friend aside from Akimichi Chouji, who I practically grew up in diapers with.

Chouji... was Chouji.

He is a loyal guy who would stick with you through thick and thin--an honorable man. But unlike us, he's fairly normal aside from his insane culinary skills.

As expected of the scion of the Akimichis, I suppose.

Ah yes, I said, unlike us.

I am not unaware of my talents.

If you remove Sasuke and Naruto from the equation, I would definitely be heralded as the most talented individual of our batch.

But... it's a drag taking over the spotlight. I mean, I could still live a financially-stable life even without being a nationwide superstar.

To quote the inspirational Hikigaya Hachiman, "To work is to lose."

Not that I'll live a mediocre life, alright?

I just don't have the same insane drive Naruto has.

I was interrupted in my thoughts when a familiar boisterous voice made itself known.

"SHIKAAAAA!"

Not now, you annoying loudmouth! Go away. Go bother your girlfriend Hinata instead. Let me stare at the clouds, for God's sake!

I released a sigh before I turned my head to my blonde menace of a best friend. As usual, he wore that bright grin on his face, which a lot of females somehow found attractive.

"What now, Naruto?" I asked.

"Man, why the hell are you too grumpy, 'ttebayo? We just graduated, so we should be in a celebratory mood!" Naruto exclaimed.

"That's the point of why I am here. We spent plenty of time being slaved off to the education system. The least we can do upon graduating is to take in the calming sights gifted to us by the environment. Look at the clouds. I wish I were one of them," I replied.

Naruto laughed, so I sent him an annoyed glare.

"Hard to believe it's now over, isn't it?"

Naruto's voice had a nostalgic tone to it.

I could relate to what he meant because the curriculum in Konoha Gakuen was insane. Even I myself found it unbelievable that we somehow survived and graduated.

"I get that. Plenty of memories through the years as well," I replied.

"Remember when I found out Kiba mistakenly ate my ramen?"

I snorted in amusement.

Inuzuka Kiba, one of our classmates, for the lack of a better term... was a budget Naruto with none of the talent.

He and Naruto were seatmates, and that day, they both bought the same meal for lunch. Kiba, who didn't properly check where he put his food, ate the lone ramen bowl that was on the table. That ramen was actually Naruto's, and the blonde didn't take kindly when he found out Kiba ate his food.

Naruto gave Kiba the ass-whooping of a lifetime.

"Where was his actual ramen bowl again?" I asked.

"He forgot to pick it up but thought that somehow my ramen was the ramen he ordered," Naruto replied.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the memory.

"How did he even make that mistake?" I shook my head at the idiocy exhibited by Kiba.

"He's Kiba," Naruto replied.

"We really weren't short of fun memories, huh?"

"You got that right! Remember when you got temporarily engaged to that girl from Suna Gakuen because you walked in on her while she was changing?" Naruto guffawed in laughter as he asked that question.

"Please don't remind me of that," I replied.

"Hey, at least you lost your virginity to a total babe!"

I glared at the blonde.

"How did you even know of that? I never told anyone," I replied, my glare still focused on Naruto.

"Gaara's one of my best buddies, you know? He heard you guys doing it since he was just in the next room," Naruto revealed.

"I'm glad I'm still alive," I said in realization.

Naruto nodded his head at my words.

Gaara was a scary kid... and really protective of his sister.

"I bargained for your life, you know? You owe me," he joked.

"As if I'd believe that, you dumb blonde," I retorted, leading Naruto to laugh.

"You should! I'm one of your best friends, 'ttebayo! Have some faith in me," Naruto replied.

I stared at Naruto for a good few seconds before I patted a spot right next to me, signaling Naruto to sit on it.

The blonde shrugged and obliged at my request.

"You said we should be in a celebratory mood... so why exactly are you still here, Naruto? You're normally the one to welcome everyone in and be the annoying loudmouth you are," I said.

Naruto chuckled at my blunt assessment.

"Nothing really gets past you, Shika. You're amazing," he replied.

"Get to the point already," I replied.

Naruto looked up at the skies before letting out a heavy sigh.

"Shika, I'm going to be the Prime Minister of Japan in about two decades," he said.

"I know. You've already said that plenty of times before. I even memorized your spiels whenever you tell people of your dream," I dryly replied.

Naruto laughed before he turned his head in my direction.

"I would never be able to do it on my own, you know? I respect you and the way you want to live your life, but do you remember that time when I asked if you would be willing to be my right-hand man when that inevitably happens?"

I raised an eyebrow at the strange question.

"Naruto, we're still fifteen, but that being said, you already know my answer to that. Get to the point already," I countered.

"I know, but... if you were to be that person, I need you to establish yourself in Japanese society as well. What I'm practically asking you, Shika is... can you finally emerge from the shadows?"

I turned my eyes to the blonde, and we engaged in what was practically an eternal staring contest.

None of us wavered in this contest of determination... just as expected, I suppose.

Naruto once again spoke up.

"Many people have had this conversation with you before, so I'm not conceited enough to think that my words alone could convince you otherwise. But here's the thing, Shikamaru... it's not enough to have skills and competence. If you truly want to be the man who stands by my side, I need you to be at your very best. I need the world to know just how great Nara Shikamaru is. The world must know that you and I... we're unstoppable together."

I remained silent, and Naruto took that as his cue to continue.

"You're probably even better than you give yourself credit for, Shika. That's why... I want you to promise me that when you finally go to ANHS, you will show them exactly how great a product of Konoha Gakuen really is. This isn't just a mere show of force, Shika. This is a showcase of your determination to step out of the shadows. What good are dreams when you're uninterested in doing something about it?"

"What a troublesome boss you are, Naruto," I snarkily pointed out, leading the blonde to laugh.

"Damn it, man, you're going to be gone for three freaking years! I need to get that shit in your head, you know?" Naruto responded.

"I'm still not sold, though. Continue with your pitch," I sent the glaring Naruto a smirk after saying this.

"Want me to go full Shia LaBeouf?" Naruto replied in jest.

"I'd probably walk away if you did that," I bluntly replied.

"Tch. So stingy!"

"You should already be used to it, dumbass."

"Alright alright, I get it already!" Naruto grumbled before his lips formed a smile.

"I want you to live a life with few regrets, Shikamaru. I don't want you to wallow in what-ifs when things go wrong. ANHS is the perfect avenue for you to simulate the stage you'll eventually step foot in. Plenty of elites are there, are they not?"

I nodded my head in affirmation.

"Why did you even accept the invitation to go there anyways? That's three years gone from the outside world, you know?" Naruto asked.

"Because it's three years gone from the outside world. That's an amazing proposition," I replied.

"Haaah, I could never do that," he replied.

"Of course, you can't, Mr. Prime Minister. You still have to shake hands and kiss asses, or else people would forget who you were," I joked.

Naruto whacked me on the back of my head.

"Man, you're a dick."

"It's the only way I could survive your insanity, you blonde idiot," I replied.

"Going back to where we're at... I want you to promise me one thing, Shika. Emerge from the shadows. I'm not there, Sasuke's not there... it's time for you to make your mark."

Naruto's eyes had never been as serious as the ones I currently saw gazing straight through my soul.

I see where he's getting at.

It's not your usual cliche of "you're wasting your talent" that I've been getting from similar conversations that I've had over the years.

Naruto has a simple request... for me to do something about the dream that we shared.

Naruto wanted to rule Japan, and I wanted to be there to lend him everything that I could offer.

I want to be his right-hand man.

To be the Tobirama to Naruto's Hashirama.

But that wouldn't be possible if I remained the way that I am now.

It's a painful realization that I'm forced to accept.

Maybe... if I "emerge from the shadows," I could help make a world where my children or grandchildren can live the life they want to live.

That's a beautiful life to live, isn't it?

"You really have your way with your words, you troublesome blonde," I said and sent Naruto a smirk, which he returned.

"Idiot. Of course, I do! Prime Minister Uzumaki needs to be able to do charismatic speeches to rally his people, you know?" Naruto retorted.

"You're the idiot," I replied.

"So... what do you say, Shika?" Naruto asked.

"Emerging from the shadows, huh?"

Naruto smirked.

"If emerging from the shadows would wipe that annoying smirk on your face, I'll be happy to do it. But don't expect too much out of me, alright?"

Naruto chuckled and patted me on the back.

"I do not expect you to shed the very identity that makes you Nara Shikamaru. I only want you to have a direction of your own. Shika... you're not Shika if you're not a lazy bum," Naruto said in his usual roundabout way of complimenting someone.

"So let me be a lazy bum then," I replied.

"And who would I make my right hand, then? That bastard Sasuke? He'd somehow cause a war between the United States and Japan! I'll say no to that," was the animated reply of the blonde.

I chuckled at his words because it's actually plausible.

Sasuke Uchiha... had a weird disposition of being a composed guy most of the time, but a single trigger word would make him even more irrational than this idiot next to me.

"Haah. Guess it's up to me to stop World War 3, isn't it? How troublesome," I replied in jest.

Naruto laughed at my response.

"Indeed! So whatcha say, Shika?"

"If 'emerging from the shadows' would get you off my back, I have no choice, you know? I'll try, Naruto," I replied.

"Nah, I'm not accepting 'I'll try,' you noncommittal bastard. That's why Temari broke off your engagement!" Naruto protested.

I rolled my eyes at this.

"You blonde people are too pushy for your own good. Alright alright! I know what I have to do. Don't pester me about it," I replied.

Naruto then extended his hand, offering a fist to me.

I shook my head, chuckled, and extended my own hand, bumping my fist with Naruto.

"Shika, it's showtime."

"They won't be ready," I replied.

"That's on them, Shika."

"Heh. I suppose you're right," I replied.

Naruto then stood up and offered a hand to me. After taking his hand and standing up myself, I couldn't help but sigh deeply.

Not out of frustration, but out of anticipation of what's to come.

"What's up with that sigh?" Naruto asked.

"Just thinking how close April is. It's just a couple of weeks away," I replied.

"You ready?"

"I just hope there's no one like you or Sasuke at that school, because that'll be a pain in the ass," I replied.

"I doubt there's anyone like that. Unless if they're manufactured from a lab, that is. Well... it's about time we go back to the party. Let's go, Shika!"

"What a troublesome, demanding boss I'm going to have," I joked.

Naruto simply shook his head and began walking back to the gathering, with myself not that far behind.

New school... new life, huh?

You're truly amazing, you damned troublesome blonde.

In three years, I'll show you just how far I've gone.

It's the promise of a lifetime... just like how you always say it.

Thank you, Naruto.

End of Chapter