Naruto; Emperor

Shikamaru And Naruto

Shikamaru sits in the traditional room with tatami mats and low dining table, his bottom being supported by a fluffy cushion. The outer sliding door opens to an idyllic garden, the sound of bamboo fountain clacking like a ticking clock oddly comforting. A singly crow sits on a grey rock jutting out of the water collected inside a small bowl made out of rocks. The night wind blows the glass bell, tinkling calmly over his head. He finally looks away from the garden and at Naruto lying on the tatami mat across him, limbs spreads out without a care as they wait for the kitchen to deliver.

When he saw the blond walking on the street while on his way home, he didn't know what had gotten into him to directly confront him. Naruto...looks nothing like the scrawny and bordering feral boy in his memory. For one, he lacks the whiskers on his cheeks. Also, his eyes are no longer the sky blue in his memory, instead like storm clouds with lightning slashing through the middle like a golden blade. However, even though his appearance change, it isn't as shocking as his personality...or rather the way he conduct himself.

The loud boy is still there somewhere but it is tempered by courtly etiquette. And although Naruto always acted stupid, he isn't really. The few times Shikamaru played with him, Naruto showed a deep sense of empathy and perception. Besides, he has a mind for on the fly strategy and not the collected manner of planning that the Nara are famous for. Otherwise, none of his pranks would have worked in a village of people practically trained to be paranoid.

Besides, Shikamaru had spent the last 4 years going over every interaction that he had with Naruto and everything that he had observed about the then whiskered blond. He had spent many a sleepless night thinking over not just Naruto but the populace of Konoha in general and the interaction between the two. He himself does not know why he obsessed over Naruto's disappearance but perhaps the lack of panic in the adults around him had grated against his nerves more than he thought. Added with the fact that the teachers had always been happier whenever Naruto isn't in the classroom, barring Iruka who had to take a few weeks leave. Apparently the man had tried to look for Naruto on his own time.

This caused him to wonder just how many children of Konoha had disappeared and left an unsolved mystery. This also caused him to investigate more about Naruto as for what reason would anyone be interested in him other than his orphan status. That was how he discovered the uncovered history of Konoha; the Uzumaki Clan and the Fall of Uzushio. Digging deeper to learn about this clan the his teacher had seemingly forgot to teach them, he learned that Naruto's energetic personality and his inability to focus in class is actually genetic.

Shikamaru had been taught about the overabundance of Yin chakra inside his clan is the reason why they are so smart but also so lethargic most of the time. Like the shadows on the ground, they prefer to follow than to lead. But the Uzumaki Clan suffers from the opposite; they have an overabundance of Yang chakra. More than even the Akemichi Clan whose technique require a large amount of physical energy but as they easily burn through it, they covered the deficits with constant feeding.

However, Chouji's clan has less Yin than Yang which is why every techniques are so physical heavy. But the Uzumaki Clan has such an overabundance of Yang chakra that they had been known to create physical chakra weapons out of their Yang chakra. Because of this, they thrives on the battlefield and are considered extremely dangerous for their mind are clearest in battle. This also means that they are quirky, loud, somewhat obnoxious, a little foolish, and impulsive the more Yang chakra they have in their body. They have to be in constant motion just to balance out their innate chakra.

That is why, to see a more composed and relaxed Naruto is so jarring. But if he is the Emperor...

Shikamaru asks, "Can you still use chakra?"