The shadows

ch5

Just wanted to say I'll be uploading weekly on Saturdays. I think overall I will keep this fanfiction short. My hope is to write 2k in each chapter, and overall I wanna write at least 40k but this might change if I feel like I'm rushing the story.

The game took about an hour, but Naruto was messing around. He knew Shikamaru from his past life, and he was the person who thought him shogi. They used to play from when they were younger, and over time, Naruto improved.

While he wasn't the best strategist, he was good at thinking on his feet, making outrageous plans, and making them work in a way he could. While he couldn't beat Shikamaru when they were young after the beginning of the war and multiple lessons and games with Shikamaru and reanimated Hokages and others, he was finally able to pose a real challenge against Shikamaru.

He even won a few games, but he suspected that Shikamaru threw those games to give him the confidence to lead them in real life. Naruto was so familiar with Shikamaru's thought process that he could see the embers of the most excellent strategist in all nations in the child in front of him.

Naruto knew that he couldn't throw the game. He could get away with doing so against Danzo. While Danzo was by no means stupid, and he could be considered a great strategist, he didn't know the truth about Naruto.

Naruto would often use textbook strategies against him. He would do precisely as he was told. When Danzo would ask him to change parts of his gameplay or strategy, he would exactly do what he was told.

Danzo believed him to be a perfect soldier. Someone who listened to his every command, but that was not all. He wasn't a mere pawn for Danzo. Danzo wanted much more than that. He wanted to make Naruto into his masterpiece.

Someone who will take his place and protect the leaf from the shadows. Someone who would lead Konoha into greatness without being remembered. Naruto knew this much because he was told so.

Shikamaru was very different. Naruto knew that he would only become more determined when he beat him. Shikamaru would try to figure him out. To understand him through the board. With time hopefully, there will be mutual respect between them.

Naruto lost his comrades to war once. He was not going to let it happen again. He would sacrifice everything and go through hell, but he would ensure they were safe. He would nudge them all in the right direction.

They all needed different things at this age. For Shikamaru, it was to be humble. While Shikamaru was never cocky or underestimated his opponents, he knew that he was a genius. He believed that just by being average, he could get through life.

Naruto didn't blame him. This Shikamaru has never seen war. He was pure and innocent and a bit naïve. While there are situations that can be avoided by being a good strategist, he also needs to train his body.

The first time around, it was the death of Asuma that made him open his eyes. It was as if the reality of being a shinobi hit him. Even then, it wasn't until the war and death of the ones he was leading that changed him.

The Shikamaru of war was someone who truly understood the reality of strategies. That life was not a shogi board. Sacrificing a piece in real life could mean hundreds of deaths. Each piece is priceless, yet you must send your pieces to death for the king's survival.

Naruto was lost in his thoughts when he heard Shikamaru and Choji gasp in surprise. They were both looking at the board with wonder in their eyes. Naruto looked at the board. It looks like he won the game.

Naruto was lost in his thoughts when he heard Shikamaru and Choji gasp in surprise. They were both looking at the board with wonder in their eyes. Naruto looked at the board. It looks like he won the game.