Shikamaru's own personality is lazy, avoids trouble, fears change, and yearns for a peaceful life.
Coupled with the influence of his family elders and his squad leader Asuma, Shikamaru is a staunch guardian of traditional rules.
The villain in Shikamaru's Secret Story arc was someone who questioned why ninja should obey corrupt Daimyō and wealthy merchants.
This was exactly the same question Bai Mo posed to Kurotsuchi.
The difference was that this villain was a frog in a well, unaware of the strength of Naruto, Sasuke, and the Five Great Nations, and despite his reasoning being correct, he used jutsu to brainwash and control others.
Shikamaru pointed out these issues and defeated the villain.
This method can convince most people, but it doesn't allow a few to think deeply.
Because this was not a clash of ideologies at all, but rather like an argument online.
If you can't win a debate, you start digging into the opponent's homepage and past remarks, then try to label them.
Because the villain used genjutsu, because the villain also had ambitions, everything he said was wrong, and his ideology was overturned using this black-and-white approach.
Nagato's original plan, he didn't know about Kaguya, didn't know about Ōtsutsuki, and didn't know he was a pawn.
You can only say his actions were wrong, but you cannot prove his ideology was wrong.
It's like you post a screenshot on QQ saying "The sun rises in the east."
And then someone refutes it by saying, "Does anyone believe a QQ screenshot?" — it's equally absurd.
Shikamaru's intelligence naturally makes him aware of the problems within this.
But as mentioned before, he is a guardian of traditional rules; he doesn't need to ponder whether differing viewpoints are reasonable, he only needs to firmly believe in his own convictions.
That's why Bai Mo said just now that he originally didn't approve of Shikamaru and wasn't going to talk much with him.
Shikamaru is a smart person, but his intelligence is different from Nagato, Mei Terumī, and Kurotsuchi, whom Bai Mo had previously persuaded.
However, Bai Mo decided to conduct an experiment, and although he didn't know if it would succeed, he intended to try it on Shikamaru.
After all, Shikamaru approached him, and this experiment wouldn't be a bad thing for Shikamaru; it would even fulfill his dream of being an ordinary office worker.
"You want to be an ordinary ninja; you don't need to deliberately make yourself ordinary. You only need other ninja to be excellent enough, and then you naturally won't attract attention.
With your role as a strategist and your friendship with Naruto, I imagine you would strive to assist him in becoming Hokage, wouldn't you?
That would go against your dream again.
However, if Konoha were to learn a little from Iwagakure and Kirigakure, it could achieve both.
—As long as there are enough excellent people assisting the Hokage, your work will naturally become countless times easier."
Bai Mo's words were reasonable yet contained an absurdity that Shikamaru couldn't comprehend.
Indeed, even if Konoha didn't seize the Daimyō's power through revolution, merely decentralizing the Hokage's authority so that the Hokage didn't have to review so many documents every day would be a good reform.
Also, as long as other ninja are strong enough, he doesn't need to hide anything.
—The other party also had another meaning: he wanted Hinata and Hanabi to go with him outside the village to become stronger, which was an embodiment of his plan to make other ninja stronger.
In other words, if Shikamaru wanted to achieve his dream, the best way was to follow the other party's direction?
What Shikamaru found most puzzling was that the other party had no mocking tone at all and simply assumed that Naruto, the dead last, could become Hokage.
Even his friends felt that Naruto's dream would be too difficult to achieve and could only offer as much support and encouragement as possible.
"And what else?"
Shikamaru looked up after a moment of thought.
"Whether you want to have a boy or a girl first, I can't help with that. Maybe you can go to Orochimaru later and see if he can help you control it.
As for your 'wanting to marry an ordinary woman,' I can provide a case study. See if you can glean anything from it."
"Oh? Please enlighten me."
Shikamaru's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
This was good news.
Shikamaru, with his current experience, couldn't discern the truth of what Bai Mo had said earlier and was planning to discuss it with his father when he got back.
But this was different.
Shikamaru had observed Bai Mo for a while before coming to ask him questions.
Bai Mo's popularity was quite good; in terms of quantity, he might not surpass Sasuke, but in terms of quality... the Tsuchikage, the Mizukage, and even the Amegakure leader all had a very good attitude towards Bai Mo.
In this aspect of experience, Bai Mo was indeed qualified to teach him.
Moreover, this kind of knowledge, once learned, could be used frequently in the future.
"Take your next match, for example. Your opponent is the Sunagakure's eldest princess, three years older than you, and quite strong.
So, what should you do to ensure she doesn't fall in love with you?"
Bai Mo's question completely bewildered Shikamaru.
—What strange things was this guy saying?
What did he mean by ensuring the other party wouldn't fall in love with him?
He, Shikamaru, wasn't Sasuke.
Even Sasuke wasn't the ultimate heartthrob whom everyone fell in love with instantly, was he?
Hiss, wait.
The other party asked, "ensure not," meaning it had to be one hundred percent.
Even if there was a slight possibility, it had to be eliminated.
Then this was indeed an academic question.
Shikamaru stroked his chin and began to ponder, looking down.
Finally, he gave up; he had too little experience in this area.
His father was also henpecked and had no qualifications to pass on experience to him.
Shikamaru could only turn to Bai Mo for help.
"I really can't figure it out. Why don't you tell me?"
"Actually, I don't know either."
"?"
"Is there a problem with that? Humans are complex creatures, and women are even more complex.
Whether you surrender immediately, surrender after a while, or instantly defeat her, it's all possible to attract attention, but..."
Bai Mo pulled out a book from behind him and handed it to Shikamaru.
"This is?"
"This is a new work by your Konoha ninja, Kakashi Hatake. I only got this unreleased version early because I have connections at the publishing house.
It seems to contain the answer you're looking for, so it's yours."
Bai Mo patted Shikamaru's shoulder.
"Kakashi-sensei's work?"
Shikamaru looked down at the book's cover—"Tough Guy's Guide," by Kakashi.
"There's less than twenty minutes left. This is your last chance. Good luck, find the method within, and then apply it skillfully. It's time to test your intelligence."
After saying this to Shikamaru, Bai Mo stood up and left.
Shikamaru, with a determined look, sat down, placed the book on his lap, opened the first page, and began to read quickly with full concentration, trying to find the answer.
After reading for a while, Shikamaru suddenly scratched his head: "I seem to have forgotten something? Oh right, Hinata's matter... Never mind, the Hyūga clan head and the others can worry about it themselves, it's such a bother."
After complaining, Shikamaru immersed himself in reading again.
Ino, who was unconscious in her seat behind him: ?
On the other side, Bai Mo went to the restroom. After coming out and washing his hands, he looked at himself in the mirror: "Oh, I almost forgot."
Thud.
Ino, in her seat, finally woke up.
As soon as she woke up, Ino looked at her hands with a look of despair.
Mind Transfer Technique feedback damage to oneself, so pain, or rather, touch, would naturally also feedback to oneself.
What had she just touched!
Damn Shikamaru!
Ino saw that Shikamaru was still engrossed in reading, not showing any concern for her safety, as if he had forgotten about her, and anger immediately surged within her.
She had come to help out of good will, and this was how she was treated?
Ino clenched her fists and walked over step by step.
"What book are you reading so intently? Didn't you always sleep during Ninja Academy classes?"
Ino became curious and glanced at it before acting.
Shikamaru happened to be reading an interesting little story in the book.
Konoha's Ino–Shika–Chō had a very good relationship and lived in the same dorm. They agreed to take turns turning off the lights every night.
One day, everyone was lying down, and no one turned off the light.
Yamanaka asked: Whose turn is it to turn off the light? Why isn't anyone turning it off?
Akimichi replied: It's Shika's turn today.
"..."
Ino suddenly recalled the touch she had just felt and took a deep breath.
"Die, Shikamaru!"
Bang—
....
The journey continues right now for our Jade Dragons! 🐉
For just $6/month, you can step into the advanced chapters and never face a cliffhanger again. Gain instant access to 50+ chapters immediately, support the story you love, and help decide its course.
🔗 Become a Jade Dragon:
patreon.com/J_Dragon