Chapter 67: Meeting Naruto

At the same time, Naruto was beating a large stump wrapped in rice straw. Surprisingly, there weren't usually very many of them in the village. More often than not, shinobi simply practiced strikes on trees or living targets ... Well, and in rare cases it was stones or something harder. Thanks to chakra and physical energy, the ninja's bodies were noticeably different, so that they were able to literally break trees and stones with their feet. Only Naruto was not strong enough to break rocks yet. It was just an ordinary little boy, with quite the usual force of impact.

In general, Shikamaru himself had such a "simulator" at home, though a little smaller. Although, the straw was no longer there, and the tree itself was in a sad state.

Slowly approaching Naruto, Shikamaru became even more convinced that he was right. The voice was very much like the voice of that same nine-tailed jinchūriki that he had once heard in his past world ... The guy beat the stump and sometimes counted the blows while commenting on his actions.

- Get it!

- And more!

The hard thuds from the blows were barely audible, but even so, Shikamaru could draw some conclusions. Naruto's blow was quite okay, for a child ...

Stopping a meter away from the blonde, Shikamaru smiled and shouted:

- Take it below!

Naruto suddenly stopped and lowered his raised leg to strike, and then slowly turned around ...

- What? You ... who are you?

- I am Shikamaru - Shikamaru Nara, - the guy calmly walked to the stump and knocked on the straw a couple of times: - Hmm, not bad ... I've already forgotten what it feels like. You should hit lower, with your height you are unlikely to hit an adult's head, so it is better to aim at the liver, well, or a little lower ... And aiming at the head is actually not always wise. Believe me, I learned this from painful experience, '' grinning, Shikamaru asked:

- What is your name?

Naruto's face changed noticeably. It seemed to him it was very surprising that someone just spoke to him, and did not express the standard hatred like the rest of the inhabitants. Shikamaru looked like a pretty cheerful and open guy. He directly disposed others to communicate with him.

"I ... I am Naruto Uzumaki," the guy replied rather uncertainly, not at all what Shikamaru had expected. Apparently, he also met that Naruto, who had not yet begun to fight oppression, but was the most ordinary incomprehensible child. If so, then it was even a little dangerous, one wrong word or action could somehow affect the worldview of the young Uzumaki. It seems like the Third at one time influenced the boy's desire to become Hokage. Shikamaru was not averse to acquiring such a valuable ally, but who knows how this communication will affect the guy ...

"Hmm, well, I think it shouldn't be worse if I exchange a few words with him ..." - in general, Shikamaru had planned this meeting from the very beginning. He just didn't think it would happen so soon. It was quite unexpected that Naruto would start training on his own at this age.

Shikamaru didn't want everything to come out nice and kind, but rather hoped it would turn into something unpleasant, like an argument or a fight. The rivalry raises the spirit and gives motivation to grow further, so Shikamaru had his own thoughts on this ... Since the guy had not yet become a bully, smearing paint on the face of the Third, it was possible to cheer him up a little.

Taking a look at one task on the list, Shikamaru could only chuckle.

"It looks like this option is the only one ..."

- "Demon Fox"

Unlike other tasks, this one had as many as three ways to accomplish:

1. Support Naruto Uzumaki

2. Ignore.

3. Do harm

Since there could be no speech about support, since support can affect the character of the guy, which can result not in the Naruto who tried to prove to everyone that they were wrong, but rather in Naruto, who would have a friend whose opinion to him may be more important. Such an early recognition can drastically affect the future ... If this happens, then Shikamaru can undoubtedly acquire not just an ally, but someone else more loyal, but for him it was already superfluous. He didn't really want to observe the canon, only the canon situation can be useful. Naruto's influence on Sasuke can create a lot of interesting situations, like Sasuke leaving Konoha or something else ... And the situation with the tailed beasts is also interesting.

Well, ignoring the boy was already impossible, so there was only one thing left. Just what Shikamaru was sure of from the start. As much as he wanted, it all came down to this option. Although the reward was not bad, the elixir of muscle strengthening is a worthy reward for such a simple deed. But Shikamaru had doubts about how to harm Naruto ...

When the boy introduced himself, Shikamaru thought things over quickly, so he immediately nodded.

"Nice to meet you Naruto, you hit quite well ... How about fist swinging?" By the way, I know a thing or two about Taijutsu ... I can show you a couple of tricks.

Naruto nodded without thinking, to which Shikamaru grinned and stood up.

"Blame the guy, but you are guaranteed a couple of bruises ..." - when Naruto took a stance, Shikamaru immediately jumped from his place. He moved at a fairly normal speed, so that even Naruto could keep up with her. Except, the guy definitely didn't know anything about taijutsu at all. It was immediately apparent that he had never fought. He couldn't even stand up properly, probably all he could do was just practice the punches. Therefore, it was not difficult to understand the result of this easy confrontation ...

When Shikamaru approached the young jinchūriki, he didn't even have time to react as the opponent's fist landed right in his stomach. Naruto immediately doubled over like a match and flew off a meter, falling on his side, starting to cough loudly.

Shikamaru stopped and smiled apologetically. It was a little unpleasant to beat children, and even those who were completely lacking in combat skills. Although the blow was terribly weak, it was still enough for a simple boy.

But, it was necessary ... The guy could come in handy for the passage through the Barrier or something. So this beginning was only the first step.

And Shikamaru Naruto didn't really like it either. Maybe his fate was difficult, but there were people in the world with a worse fate. Sure, Naruto was not recognized and hated, but was it really that hard for him? He had lodging, food, and was probably also protected by the Third Hokage. Besides, has he ever been severely punished for all his misdeeds?

The guy was always protected, there is no doubt about that. Plus, he had very good genetics from both parents. And of course, the Bijuu within himself, which helped him to increase his chakra reserves. Therefore, to say that his life was so terrible is a greatly exaggerated opinion. Sad moments with a lonely guy on a swing made me cry, but it's worth looking at things intelligently. Naruto lives quite well ... Definitely, in some things Shikamaru understood him. Gnawing scraps in the trash and fighting for food is such an experience. Contempt and hatred in people's views? Easy ... In the past world, Shikamaru was like that at every step.