A
After leaving the mission hall, Daigo's thoughts drifted to the brutal training Lee had endured to reach his current strength in the cannon. As much as he hated it, their cruel pain were not without truth. And in that moment, Daigo felt the weight of it all pressing down on him. He couldn't return to the apartment just yet; there was something else gnawing at him. He needed to take the edge off, to drown the thoughts in something—anything. So instead of heading home, he made his way to the Nara pharmacy, seeking something to numb the ache in his bones and the turbulence in his mind.
And that's when he ran into...
[Talent Insight Activated]
Target: Shikaku Nara
— Talent 1: Strategic Genius (S+)
In a world where the mind is as deadly as a blade, Shikaku's intellect is a force of nature. He can analyze battlefields in the blink of an eye, weaving complex strategies that obliterate enemy forces before they even know what hit them. A master tactician trusted by the Hokage themselves, his mind is an ever-shifting labyrinth of schemes and counter-schemes.
— Talent 2: Shadow Jutsu Mastery (S)
A puppet master of darkness. Shikaku commands shadows with an unmatched level of precision, manipulating them not just for offense or defense, but as extensions of his own will. In the chaos of battle, he is the unseen hand that pulls the strings, dictating the flow of life and death on the battlefield.
— Talent 3: Tactical Composure (A+)
A mind as cold as steel. Even in the most dire of situations, Shikaku remains calm, detached—like a predator assessing its prey. When others crumble under pressure, he stands unshaken, his mind calculating, his decisions merciless.
— Talent 4: Leadership Intuition (S)
To command others is an art, and Shikaku is a master. He has an innate ability to read people, to understand their motivations and weaknesses. He doesn't need to issue orders with force—his very presence commands respect, and his strategies, though sometimes unspoken, are followed without question.
— Talent 5: Cross-Disciplinary Knowledge (A)
Shikaku's intellect is not confined to mere combat. His vast knowledge stretches across medical logistics, intelligence gathering, and inter-clan relations. He is a strategist in every sense of the word, capable of handling multiple fronts with a level of efficiency that few could ever hope to achieve.
Daigo's breath hitched. His mind reeled. What the hell? This was... him? No wonder the Daimyo had asked Shikamaru to step into politics. With a father like Shikaku, even if the boy inherited only a fraction of his skills, he could rule nations without breaking a sweat. But here Shikaku was—standing before him in the heart of the pharmacy, like some lazy ghost slinking through the shadows.
Shikaku's POV
War? It's such a drag…
The old man holds grudges like a vice. Assigning me all the initial deployments—he's clearly trying to wear me down. And then there's the whole defensive strategy he insists on. Defend? We should be attacking, we should be taking advantage of the buffer zones in neighboring countries. We could set the stage for a crushing blow, but instead, he wants to sit back and wait. Idiots.
And don't get me started on that one-eyed bastard... assassination plans for the Kages and their heirs. Sure, it could've worked if we still had Sakumo, but no, they dropped him like a dead weight. I'm the one left to clean up this mess, sneaking away from the madness to rest in this luxury store of all places.
Ding… Ding...
What now? Who dares disturb me...?
Ah, it's him. The arrogant prick. What the hell is he doing here?
End of POV
"How can I help you?" Shikaku muttered, his voice heavy with the weariness of someone who had been forced to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders for far too long. His eyes were half-lidded, barely acknowledging Daigo's presence.
Daigo was momentarily stunned. The man who stood before him, the great strategist, looked like nothing more than a lazy, disinterested ghost. The dissonance between Shikaku's reputation and his current demeanor was unsettling. The man was clearly slacking off, but Daigo couldn't shake the feeling that, despite the appearance of idleness, this was a man whose mind was always two steps ahead—even in his rest.