Answer: ( ) person.
Man, woman, elderly, oneself, or someone whose name contained the character "person"—those options covered far too much ground and had nothing to do with the Chakra Blade.
That left only two possibilities: himself, or someone whose name contained that character. But it was obvious that, to protect that "someone," the future commander-in-chief of the Allied Shinobi Forces would not hesitate to give up his life…
All of those assumptions were overturned the moment Naruto gave the correct answer.
Even though "Naruto" technically fit the overlap of Shikamaru's earlier theory, it still made no sense.
Naruto was just an ordinary genin from the Hidden Leaf Village—no talent, no background, nothing special to speak of.
Even three years from now, there was no way he could grow into someone worth the Allied Shinobi Forces' commander-in-chief sacrificing his life for.
So within Naruto's long-winded explanation, the most reliable answer by far was the word "Hokage." At least, that was what Shikamaru Nara and his father, Shikaku Nara, both believed.
Of course, Shikamaru had no idea about the unease quietly gnawing at his father.
But when Shikamaru saw that the one commanding the Allied Shinobi Forces was actually Gaara of the Sand—the same Gaara wrapped in a raging sandstorm—everything he'd sensed being off before suddenly felt even more wrong.
Why was it that, in the army shown in the projection, he saw himself, Choji, and Ino; saw Hinata and the older Neji; saw Sakura—yet didn't see Naruto or Sasuke anywhere?
Their class's Kakashi-sensei was the captain of the Third Division…
Memories surfaced unbidden: the way Naruto had always been treated in the village, the time he'd asked at the dinner table as a child, "Why does everyone hate Naruto?" His mother's face had changed instantly, and his father had given him a vague, evasive answer…
A strange, inexplicable anger surged up in Shikamaru's chest.
"Why?!" he demanded in a low voice, sharp and irritated. "What the hell is going on?!"
His father's expression darkened, but he still said nothing.
As smart as Shikamaru was, he understood immediately—this was classified information, at least S-rank.
"Sorry, Shikamaru," Shikaku Nara said quietly. "Before I'm your father, I'm the head of the Nara clan—and a jonin captain of the Hidden Leaf Village."
He didn't avoid his son's gaze. Instead, he made a few subtle hand signals toward the Third Hokage and the Anbu. In an instant, the number of hidden Anbu around them more than doubled.
Receiving the message—the Nine-Tails' secret may no longer be containable—the Third Hokage frowned deeply and looked toward the man beside him.
"Second Hokage-sama."
"Mm. I already know," Tobirama Senju replied.
[The image once again shifted to a bird's-eye view of the entire Allied Shinobi Forces.]
"Truly unprecedented," someone said. "At least eighty thousand shinobi. Every village's fighting strength must be gathered here."
But Tobirama Senju, who had personally experienced the final battle of the Fourth Great Ninja War, knew the truth—fewer than twenty thousand would survive in the end.
This was war. The very thing his older brother and he had spent their entire lives trying to put an end to.
They had planned for everything… except Black Zetsu's existence, and Madara Uchiha's feigned death at the Valley of the End.
Had they truly known nothing back then? That he might still be alive?
Thinking back to the sudden upheaval during the alliance talks with the Hidden Cloud, Tobirama let out a quiet sigh and continued watching.
[Temari: "Gaara is the captain of our Fourth Division, and at the same time the commander-in-chief of the Allied Shinobi Forces. Even if you're acting captain, you're effectively leading the Fourth Division. Do your best."]
[Shikamaru: "Being assigned to such a troublesome unit… what a pain."]
Separated by some distance, the two exchanged a glance. Neither could understand why, in the future shown on screen, they spoke to each other with such familiarity.
"Hmph." Since they didn't get along now anyway, both turned their faces away.
Off to the side, Naruto Uzumaki squatted down, grumbling, "Compared to that guy becoming Kazekage and then some kind of alliance commander, Shikamaru being an acting captain doesn't surprise me at all, ya know… But where the heck is future me? How come I don't even get a cool shot, believe it!"
[The image froze once more on the commander-in-chief of the Allied Shinobi Forces' battle divisions—Kazekage Gaara of the Sand.]
At the same time, everyone gathered before the projection in Konoha turned their eyes toward the real Gaara standing there, disbelief written plainly on their faces.
The sand around him stirred restlessly, carrying a thick, metallic scent of blood…
Gaara crossed his arms and stared coldly at the image. "A boring trick."
No one understood him. He was a demon who lived in hell; only endless killing had ever proven his existence. There had never been any other way.
["All right, Gaara." A familiar voice sounded in the projection—it was the always-unreliable jonin who carried a little orange book everywhere, Kakashi Hatake. "You're the commander-in-chief of this great army. Calm down and say a few words to everyone."]
"A pre-battle address, huh," Tobirama said, glancing at the Sand ninja brat who radiated an aura of keep your distance, then back to the more composed youth in the image.
"He doesn't look like someone with much charisma. Uniting the strength of shinobi from the Five Great Nations, all carrying centuries of hatred, isn't an easy task."
Of course, the Second Hokage knew Gaara succeeded.
That was precisely why he was curious—what had this junior of his said back then?