Back to the past, Believe it!

Ch.62 Shikamaru final perspective

Shikamaru sighed and finally lifted his head from his post. The sun was on the horizon, and he felt a cold twinge of air pass his cheek. Morning. Some things never change. He hates mornings with a burning passion. Maybe his hate for mornings is what makes him tired all the time. The good old days of wishing he was a cloud is long gone however.

Shikamaru stretched as he got up from his very uncomfortable chair. He definitely felt old, but maybe that was just him.

He looked over the village one last time before heading down from his post along the outskirts of the village.

It had been a few years since the whole, pein thing. And Konan, is still alive. As much as Konan didn't like the idea, they had told her for the sake of the future to burn Nagato's eyes. She reluctantly agreed and now there are no Rinnegan eyes to steal.

The village was almost entirely rebuilt thanks to Yamato, and several workers.

Shikamaru looked to his right. And just as he suspected. His old friend's, Ino and Choji were charging at him. They had been following him around ever since they found out Shikamaru was Shikamaru.

This time however, Kiba was tagging along. It hurts Kiba's ego to be around the three of them. Angry he isn't the strongest.

Ino started hitting Shikamaru. "We got assigned a team today!" Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "Asuma, right?" Choji nodded. "He seems cool." Shikamaru nodded. "I think so to." Ino smiled. "Shikamaru didn't want to admit that, but now that you said it, we know how he really feels!" There was something evil about Ino's laugh.

"Uhh. Yea I guess." Shikamaru shrugged in response.

Kiba made a hmph sound and crossed his arms. "What?" Shikamaru finally said. He was being followed, he was not going to tolerate a sassy child, especially a sassy Kiba.

"What about me? Huh? Where's us?" Shikamaru stopped for a second. "Why was it just you three?" Kiba looked at Shikamaru's face. It was blank. "Ah." Shikamaru scratched the back of his neck.

Telling them their dead probably isn't the best idea. But lying isn't something he really wants to do.

"It's... Complicated." Ino stared at Shikamaru for a hint of emotion but received nothing. Kiba sighed. "Whatever." Kiba started walking his own way Akamaru following after him.

Ino and Choji followed Shikamaru for a couple more minutes. "What happened?" Choji finally asked. Shikamaru looked at his old friends. "I'm not going to lie to you. You really want the answer?" Ino looked over at Choji hesitantly but they both nodded.

"You both didn't make it." Ino was silent but her eyes went big. "What does that mean?" Choji looked at his blonde friend with a frown. "How didn't we make it?" Choji asked. Shikamaru looked away from them. "You both died, out of our whole generation, it was just me, Naruto and Sasuke left." Ino was silent.

"It won't happen this time around though. Why do you think we came back in time?" A smile formed on both Choji's and Ino's face.

"Well duh!" They almost said in unison. Shikamaru smiled at them. "You have a team now?" Shikamaru changed the subject. He could tell Ino and Choji were bothered that they died. But if the promise remains that Shikamaru will protect them, they won't let it bother them.

The strong will of a friendship, as weird as it is.

Ino and Choji were talking for a while after that. Talking about the missions they are going to go on. The complaints they have as well. They younger Shikamaru walked in at the dango shop with Asuma himself.

"There you two are. Did you lose track of time?" His younger self said with a huff. Asuma laughed. "I suppose it's bound to happen." They sat at the same table. "Sorry." The older Shikamaru said. Asuma raised an eyebrow before nodding.

Their previous meetings with each other hadn't exactly gone well. "Sure." Asuma shrugged. Ino looked at both Asuma and Shikamaru. "So your the future version of my own student." Asuma said looking over Shikamaru. "I am indeed." Shikamaru said quietly. He was tired. He had been followed by Ino and Choji as soon as he got off work.

"You had beaten me easily when we fought." Choji looked up. "you two fought each other?" Shikamaru nodded. "Before he knew anything." Asuma nodded. It was quiet for a few moments.

"Can you tell us the future?" Asuma finally said. Shikamaru sighed. "I can. No guarantee it will still happen though." Asuma nodded. "You and Kuranai." Asuma face went red from the implication. Ino laughed. "You died, but from an Akatsuki member." Asuma looked at him silently. "Though... We already had the Akatsuki disbanded.

Asuma nodded. "The Pein guy? Wasn't he in the Akatsuki?" Shikamaru nodded. "He was the leader, Obito in a way was the true leader of the Akatsuki in my time." Asuma stayed silent. "Obito?" Shikamaru nodded. "He wasn't going to be the good guy Asuma." Asuma face looked down at the table.

"Yea I know." Shikamaru looked at his sensei. "Of course, it won't happen now. Though I suppose our third eye, is slowly fading as we continue." Asuma smiled.

"Enough future talk." Shikamaru finally said standing up. Ino and Choji even his younger self looked upset that he wasn't going to talk about the future anymore. Even if most of it was pretty grim.

"I'm tired." Shikamaru said walking out of the shop. He heard Ino yell at him. "Some things never change!" Shikamaru looked behind him and smiled. Until finally he turned into a swirling wind of green leaves.

Shikamaru feels a sense of tranquility, for some reason. Despite his shorter life span. Maybe it's selfish to think this way but... He's excited to be reunited with his friends, not their child selves. Sasuke and Naruto probably feel the same way, its a positive way to look at things. In a way, their existence here, was everything selfish defined. Going back in time was probably the most selfish thing they could do. Justifying it saying "it's to save our friends and the people we love." But, in the end, maybe being selfish isn't always a bad thing.