As for the future, Naruto, filled with longing, was the first to speak: "Of course, I'll become a Ninja, and then the Hokage!"
So it's like that, huh.
Shikamaru shook his head, already accustomed to Naruto's passion and persistence. Instead, it was Chizhao's thoughts that sparked a hint of curiosity in him.
"So, what about you?" His words carried a hint of inquiry.
Feeling Shikamaru's gaze on her, Chizhao couldn't help but feel a little awkward, gently pursing her lips.
"Me? ...I haven't thought about it yet..."
"Then it seems we're the same kind of people."
Shikamaru withdrew his gaze, continuing forward with a somewhat lazy stride.
Chizhao and Naruto exchanged a look, then followed him.
"I bet you think becoming a Ninja will be more troublesome than it is now, right?"
Shikamaru neither confirmed nor denied, glancing at Chizhao's eyes with a faint smile: "How do I get the feeling you understand me so well..."
"Come on, it's not our first day knowing each other."
Meeting the girl's smile, Shikamaru's mood lightened slightly, but then he continued to tease: "But we've known each other for so long, and you still haven't paid off your debt to me."
This sentence instantly stiffened Chizhao; it was as if something was caught in her throat, and dark memories of debt collection surged over her like a tide.
As if an emergency switch had been flipped, she clenched her fists and said indignantly: "Then let's go to your house and play Shogi right now! I'm going to defeat you today and pay off all my debts at once!"
"Hmph, gladly."
Shikamaru's lips curved upwards, and his usually dull eyes now glowed with a bright light.
Naruto, who was completely confused by their conversation, jumped up excitedly when he heard they were going to Shikamaru's house: "I want to go too, I want to go too!"
Shikamaru gave Naruto a sly smile: "I'm afraid not. This is a match for two; there's no room for a third person."
Naruto, excluded, stomped his feet in anger and shouted at them: "I don't care!! I'm going!!"
I won't let Chizhao be alone with you!
In the beautiful courtyard, green plants swayed vibrantly in the breeze, and occasionally a few butterflies danced among the flowers.
The bamboo pipe in the pond, slowly filling with clear water as the waterwheel turned, suddenly tipped over due to gravity, emptying its contents.
With a "thump," the bamboo pipe returned to its position, colliding with the stone surface and producing a long echo, adding an indescribable tranquility and depth to the courtyard.
The Shogi game before them was complex yet uninteresting.
Naruto frowned and pouted, trying hard to look like he was intently studying the board, but the solemn and serious atmosphere was truly at odds with his lively personality.
He awkwardly used his fingers to smooth his hair over his forehead, covering his face, and showed a pained expression: "What are they doing? I! Don't! Understand! At! All!"
Then he boredly leaned back, lying on the ground looking at the inverted courtyard outside, his tone full of powerlessness: "So boring~~ Can't we not play Shogi...."
"You insisted on coming along, so it's not my fault."
Shikamaru responded to Naruto with a hint of ease, but when he saw a sharp move made by his opponent, his thin eyebrows twitched.
Truly an unexpected attack.
He looked up at the focused and determined girl before him, shedding his lazy attitude, and finally sat up straight.
During her games with Shikamaru, Chizhao had also been constantly growing and adjusting her strategies.
But what gave her a headache was that Shikamaru's mind was simply too sharp.
Through their constant maneuvering and clashes, she had almost never gained the upper hand on the board, which led to a period of intense frustration, and she stopped coming to play with him.
Since he brought up the debt today, she was determined to win at least one game and clear all her debts!
Fighting spirit blazed in Chizhao's heart; her eyes seemed to flicker with flames, and she placed her pieces with noticeably more force.
Feeling the pressure from his opponent, Shikamaru's lips curved into an arc, and he smiled playfully: "A man can't lose to a woman, so I'll get serious too."
"Perfect, defeating a serious Shikamaru will be even more satisfying, won't it?"
Chizhao's response was resounding, and the contest between them had quietly escalated.
Naruto, who had fallen fast asleep at some point, was completely oblivious to the fierce battle on the Shogi board.
Meanwhile, Yoshino, passing by, watched the three children from a distance, one hand on her cheek, a hint of worry in her eyes: "I wonder if that blockhead Shikamaru can seize this opportunity..."
The clicking sounds of the pieces on the board rose and fell, and fine beads of sweat subtly appeared on both their foreheads.
When Chizhao captured one of Shikamaru's pieces, Shikamaru secretly thought, "This is bad."
Damn it, I fell into her trap.
The game before them suddenly became tense.
After Shikamaru captured many of her pieces, Chizhao had few pieces left to use.
But it was a few inconspicuous pawn pieces that became the key to turning the tide.
"Heh heh, what will you do, Shikamaru?"
Facing the fierce offensive, Shikamaru found himself in a crisis for the first time, but this only made him more excited.
"I didn't expect to be pushed to this point by you. Your Shogi skills have improved incredibly fast, Chizhao."
"Then I have to thank Lord Shikamaru for his careful guidance."
Shikamaru closed his eyes, about to begin a brainstorm, when Naruto's shout from the ground broke the silence: "Ramen is the best!"
He raised his arm and, in the process, kicked over the Shogi board in front of them.
Shikamaru and Chizhao were both startled.
Pieces immediately scattered across the floor. Naruto, awakened by the sound and unaware of what had happened, rubbed his eyes and lifted his head.
Through the haze, he saw Shikamaru, who looked a little helpless but also secretly relieved.
And then there was... Chizhao, radiating a dark aura.
Her expression was hidden in shadow, her hands clenched into fists, and her shoulders trembled slightly as if she was suppressing something.
Her usually gentle eyes now glowed with a terrifying red light.
Even Shikamaru nervously shrank back to the side.
"Na... ru... to..."
The drawn-out, low tone made Naruto feel a sense of dread. He shakily propped himself up from the ground, scratching his head guiltily: "Wha... what happened?"
"Bang!"
After a loud bang, a wail came from the Nara household: "Ouch--!!"
【Bad Deeds Progress +7】
"Are you really not going to stay for dinner?"
Yoshino stood at the door, looking a little disappointed at the two children.
"No need, Auntie. My grandma is waiting for us at home, so maybe next time."
Chizhao tugged on Naruto, who had a large bump on his head, and the two bowed politely to Yoshino.
Then she looked at Shikamaru, who was still in a lazy posture, and pulled out the coin that had just fallen to the ground from her pocket.
Placing it between her thumb and forefinger, she flicked it with a "ding" in his direction.
"Shikamaru, catch."
The coin rapidly spun in the air, tracing a graceful arc. Shikamaru caught it steadily, gripping it in his palm.
"It's a shame, but I'll definitely beat you next time." The confident look on the girl's face was actually quite cool.
Shikamaru smiled, one hand on his hip, chin slightly raised.
"Don't worry, your debt won't be paid off that quickly."
At this moment, Naruto felt the atmosphere between them had become a bit subtle. He grabbed Chizhao's wrist and waved goodbye to them.
"Then we won't bother you anymore! See you, Shikamaru!"
Seeing the fleeting look of triumph on Naruto's face, Shikamaru's lips immediately drooped.
Tsk, that Naruto guy.
Noticing her son's subtle change, Yoshino covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
"What's wrong, Shikamaru? If you don't act fast, Chizhao will be snatched away by someone else, you know."
Upon hearing this, Shikamaru's cheeks flushed slightly. He put his hands in his pockets, feigning composure, and scoffed: "I don't care about such things. What a bother..."
Watching Shikamaru go back inside, Yoshino suddenly felt her son had grown quite a bit, and a relieved smile appeared on her face.
This boy, Shikamaru, is finally going to stand on his own.
