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The Nara Clan would never be monitored by the Anbu—at least not while the Third Hokage held the hat. Shikaku was certain of this. The Ino–Shika–Chō alliance was the bedrock of the Sarutobi faction; to spy on them would be to poison the well of his most loyal support.
However, Shikaku's gaze grew deeper, a hint of cold vigilance reflecting the moonlight. Shimura Danzo is a different story. The leader of Root did not believe in the "Will of Fire" or the bonds of friendship. To Danzo, trust was a vulnerability. He would infiltrate anywhere, suspect anyone, all for the sake of his "foundation."
Shikamaru lowered his head, the moonlight casting fine shadows across his face. His voice was lower than usual. "Then... is this why, when I asked you last year why the villagers hated Naruto, you wouldn't give me a straight answer? Why you just told me to get closer to him?"
"Yes and no." Shikaku turned to his son. "I think you've long since made your own judgment. Does it really matter if Naruto is a 'Demon Fox'? What matters is who he chooses to be, and how you choose to see him."
He tapped the edge of the board. "You are Nara Shikamaru. Your attitude represents this clan. And our clan must see all paths while taking our own step. Do you remember when he helped you and Choji out of that mess last year? You made your decision then, didn't you?"
Shikamaru's fingertips stroked a black Go piece. "So," his father continued softly, "don't overthink it. Right now, you are Nara Shikamaru, and he is Uzumaki Naruto. That's enough."
Silence spread between them. Finally, Shikamaru placed his stone on the board with a crisp, decisive clack.
"No," he said, his voice calm but firm. "I will always be Nara Shikamaru, and he will always be Uzumaki Naruto. But we aren't bound by those labels. Precisely because I am a Nara, I must see my own path. Precisely because he is an Uzumaki, I must see the person he truly is."
The black piece landed on the tengen—the center point of the board—glowing under the moon. Shikaku looked at his son, seeing a rare, fierce spark in those usually half-closed eyes. A proud smile touched the father's lips. Even with a mind that bordered on the demonic, Shikamaru still possessed the hot-blooded spirit of a youth.
Shikaku's thoughts drifted. He thought of Naruto's prowess—defeating the Uchiha heir in Taijutsu and utilizing advanced Sealing Techniques. Yet, the boy's performance in basic Ninjutsu like the Clone Jutsu was reportedly abysmal. It was a bizarre, uneven distribution of talent.
I wonder if he can reach your level... Minato, Shikaku mused.
"Father," Shikamaru said, his urgency breaking the silence. "Teach me the Nara Clan's secret techniques. I don't want to be left too far behind."
Shikaku was startled, then relieved. He had planned to give his son two more years of freedom, as the Shadow Secret Techniques were mentally and physically taxing. But the determination in Shikamaru's eyes was undeniable.
"Alright. Starting tomorrow, I will guide you in the Shadow Imitation Technique (Kage Mane no Jutsu)."
Shikaku's voice grew serious as he explained the fundamentals. "Our techniques are driven by Yin Release, which represents spiritual power and controls form. The Akimichi use Yang Release for life force and vitality. Mastering these is far harder than you imagine. Most wait until they are older because their chakra reserves are simply too small."
He looked at his son one last time. "Are you sure? This path is not easy."
Shikamaru didn't hesitate. "I've thought it through. If I want to stand beside him, I can't afford to be lazy anymore."
The Path of the Shadow
As Shikamaru begins his grueling training to master the shadows, the power balance within the "clique" shifts. Naruto's influence is already forcing the heirs of Konoha to grow faster than the original timeline ever intended.
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