Day 3 – The Problem with Friends
Shikamaru decided two things that morning:
Clouds were still perfect.
Naruto Uzumaki was a problem.
"SHIKAMARU!"
He flinched as a blur of orange slammed into the seat beside him.
"…You're loud," Shikamaru said without opening his eyes.
Naruto grinned. "I figured it out!"
"That sentence scares me."
Academy Yard – Free Training Period
Iruka had given them "self-guided practice."
Which meant chaos.
Naruto puffed out his chest. "We should train together!"
Shikamaru stared at him. "Why."
"Because friends train together!"
"That sounds exhausting."
Choji, sitting nearby with snacks, nodded sympathetically. "It really does."
Naruto crossed his arms. "You're always lying down! How are you gonna get strong?"
Shikamaru opened one eye. "By thinking. Thinking is efficient."
Naruto scoffed. "Thinking doesn't make you strong!"
Shikamaru glanced at Naruto's shadow, then back at his face.
"…Wanna test that theory?"
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Yeah!"
Immediate regret.
The "Training" Match
They stood facing each other.
Naruto bounced on his feet. "Okay! No rules!"
Shikamaru sighed. "That's the worst kind."
Naruto charged.
Shikamaru didn't move.
Naruto tripped over a rock.
Again.
Shikamaru stepped slightly to the side.
Naruto missed him entirely and skidded across the dirt.
Naruto popped up. "HEY! You dodged!"
"I adjusted my shadow," Shikamaru replied.
Naruto blinked. "Your what?"
Shikamaru pointed at the ground. "See? It moved."
Naruto stared hard.
"…It looks the same."
Shikamaru shrugged. "Exactly."
Naruto froze. "WAIT—AM I STUCK?!"
He wasn't.
But Naruto panicked anyway.
"I CAN'T MOVE—SHIKAMARU YOU CHEATER!"
Shikamaru lay down mid-match. "You're doing this to yourself."
Choji laughed so hard he dropped his chips.
Iruka Intervenes
Iruka arrived just in time to see Naruto dramatically yelling at the ground.
"…What's going on here?"
Naruto pointed. "SHIKAMARU ATTACKED ME WITH THINKING!"
Iruka pinched the bridge of his nose. "Shikamaru?"
Shikamaru sat up. "He ran at me."
Iruka sighed. "Naruto…"
Naruto crossed his arms. "It was scary!"
Lunch – Ramen Stand
Somehow, they ended up together anyway.
Naruto slurped noodles happily. "You're funny, Shikamaru."
"That wasn't intentional."
Naruto grinned. "We should hang out more!"
Shikamaru hesitated.
Friends were troublesome.
But Naruto was warm. Loud. Honest.
"…As long as you don't yell," Shikamaru said.
Naruto immediately yelled. "DEAL!"
Shikamaru sighed. "…I regret this."
Afternoon – Cloud Strategy
They lay on the grass behind the Academy.
Naruto pointed at the sky. "That cloud looks like a frog!"
Shikamaru nodded. "That one looks like a kunai."
Naruto turned to him. "Hey, Shikamaru?"
"Hm?"
"Why do you help people even when you act like you don't care?"
Shikamaru thought for a moment.
"…Because it's more annoying if things go wrong."
Naruto smiled. "That's a cool reason."
Shikamaru glanced at him.
This kid's gonna change everything, he thought.
Troublesome.
End of Day 3
As the sun set, Naruto stretched. "Tomorrow, I'm gonna beat you!"
Shikamaru yawned. "Statistically unlikely."
Naruto laughed. "You're my rival now!"
Shikamaru groaned. "I never agreed to that…"
But he didn't move away when Naruto sat beside him.
Their shadows stretched together on the grass—messy, uneven, but side by side.
"…Friends," Shikamaru muttered.
Naruto grinned. 😊