Published at 20th of September 2024 7:01 am

Chapter 138 The Weight of Strategy, Shikamaru's Journey: Part 1: A Troubled Morning

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Shikamaru Nara was not one to enjoy mornings, especially not when they came with a thick blanket of fog draped over the Hidden Leaf Village. He stretched lazily, rubbing his eyes as he gazed out the window. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting dim, early rays through the mist. Everything was quiet, peaceful—almost too peaceful for Shikamaru’s taste.

“A troublesome day,” he muttered to himself, rising from his bed and lazily pulling on his ninja gear. The village had changed since the end of the Fourth Great Ninja War, becoming more modern, more peaceful. But peace never seemed to sit right with him. It wasn't that he missed the chaos of battle—he hated fighting, after all—but in peace, he felt the weight of responsibility heavier on his shoulders. Strategy wasn’t just needed on the battlefield; it was in the politics, the rebuilding, and the relationships that now defined his world.

"Shikamaru, you better not be late for the council meeting!" Temari's voice cut through the fog like a kunai. She was standing in the doorway, arms crossed, giving him that familiar look. She was every bit the fierce, disciplined kunoichi he had come to admire. Maybe even more than admire.

"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled, pulling his hair back into its signature ponytail. "I’m on my way."

As he walked toward the Hokage's office, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Something had been bothering him for weeks. He couldn’t quite place what it was, but it gnawed at him like a problem left unsolved. The village had been quiet lately, too quiet. After years of conflict, perhaps he was just struggling to accept that peace could be this simple. Or maybe it was something more. The balance of power was shifting—he could feel it. The surrounding nations were strengthening, not necessarily with hostile intentions, but power attracts power. The fog of the morning felt like a prelude to something larger, something darker.

At the Hokage’s office, Naruto was already waiting, leaning casually against his desk. He looked up and grinned when Shikamaru entered, though the grin didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Shikamaru! Glad you could make it. We’ve got a lot to talk about today.”

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Shikamaru replied, settling into his usual spot near the corner of the room. The rest of the village’s advisors were already there, but Shikamaru’s mind wandered. His eyes flickered to the map of the Five Great Nations on the wall, tracing the borders, the rivers, the terrain. His mind began to work, connecting dots, building strategies, even though no one had asked for one yet.

Naruto cleared his throat. "So, there's been some strange activity reported near the borders of the Land of Fire. Nothing major, but it's... unsettling. The Land of Wind has also had some unusual movement near its northern borders."

Temari was quick to interject. "My brother’s already deployed scouts. But the reports are vague, and nothing’s confirmed. It could just be bandits, but we can’t take chances."

Shikamaru’s brow furrowed slightly. "Bandits don’t operate that close to the borders of the Great Nations, not without getting caught. Something’s off." He knew from experience that random movements on the map were rarely random. They were chess pieces, shifting into place. The question was, whose pieces?

Naruto leaned forward. "That’s what I was thinking, too. I’m not ready to send a full squad out there yet, but I want eyes on this. Someone who can think through the situation before it turns into a problem."

Shikamaru knew what was coming.

"Shikamaru," Naruto said, confirming his thoughts. "I need you to lead a small team and check things out."

Shikamaru sighed, his trademark response to anything that wasn’t sitting on a hill staring at clouds. "Troublesome... but fine. I'll go."

The meeting adjourned quickly after that, with Naruto giving him a few more details about the mission. Shikamaru was to take two team members with him, scout the area, and report back before any action was taken. He stepped out of the Hokage’s office and into the fading morning fog, already thinking about who he would bring along. His mind instantly went to Choji and Ino, his old teammates. But this wasn’t a routine mission, and Shikamaru had a feeling it required something more.

That feeling—the unease—crept back into his thoughts. He couldn’t shake the sensation that something bigger was at play here, something that reached beyond the borders of the Land of Fire. His instinct was telling him that this mission would be anything but simple.

As he walked through the village streets, still quiet in the early hours, he spotted Ino outside her family’s flower shop, arranging a new bouquet for the day’s customers. Her face brightened when she saw him.

"Shikamaru!" she called, waving him over. "What brings you here this early? Thought mornings were your least favorite time of day."

"Yeah, they still are," he replied, stopping beside her. "I’ve got a mission. Something near the border. Could use your help."

Her eyes widened, sensing the weight in his tone. "Sure. Let me guess, Choji's coming too?"

Shikamaru nodded. "Of course. Wouldn’t be right without the old team together."

Ino smiled, but her expression quickly became serious. "Is something wrong, Shikamaru? You look... worried."

He hesitated, then shrugged. "I don’t know. But something feels off. Can’t quite put my finger on it."

Ino tilted her head, studying him for a moment. "Well, if anyone can figure it out, it’s you."

"Let’s hope so," Shikamaru muttered under his breath. The trio would meet later that afternoon, but for now, he let himself relax for a moment. Whatever was coming, he had to be ready.

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