Day 2 – Morning Clouds
Shikamaru decided that if he watched the clouds long enough, maybe the Academy would forget he existed.
It didn't.
"SHIKAMARU—YOU'RE LATE!"
He winced as Iruka's voice echoed across the classroom.
"…What a drag."
He shuffled to his seat, dropping into it like gravity had personally insulted him. Choji slid over a chip bag in silent solidarity.
"Breakfast?" Choji whispered.
Shikamaru accepted it without looking. "You're a good friend."
The shadows under their desks stretched lazily, perfectly matching Shikamaru's mood.
Warm-Up Exercise
"Today," Iruka announced cheerfully, "we'll be doing team coordination drills!"
Groans.
Naruto pumped a fist. "Team stuff is easy!"
Sasuke ignored him.
Shikamaru sighed. "This is gonna require effort, isn't it…"
Iruka paired them up randomly.
Shikamaru, Choji, and—unfortunately—Naruto.
Naruto grinned. "Hey! Cloud guy!"
Shikamaru glanced at the sun. "That's not my name."
The Exercise
Objective:
Carry a training scroll across the field without dropping it.
Simple.
Naruto grabbed it immediately. "I'll lead!"
He took three steps, tripped, and face-planted.
Scroll flew into the air.
Shikamaru watched it fall.
Too much effort to move…
The scroll landed gently.
Too gently.
Naruto blinked. "Huh?"
Shikamaru blinked too.
The scroll was resting on a soft, round shadow cushion, like the ground had decided to help.
Shikamaru coughed. "Wind?"
Choji nodded instantly. "Yeah. Wind."
Iruka squinted but said nothing.
Naruto laughed. "Cool! Let's go again!"
Lunch Break – Academy Roof
The roof was warm. The breeze was nice. The clouds were excellent today.
Shikamaru lay flat on his back, hands behind his head.
"This is the best part of being a ninja," he said.
Naruto sat cross-legged beside him, slurping ramen from a cup. "Huh? Not the fighting?"
"Nope. Clouds don't fight back."
Naruto squinted up at the sky. "That one looks like Iruka-sensei!"
Choji nodded seriously. "And that one looks like meat."
Shikamaru smiled faintly.
The darkness inside him was quiet. Content. Like a cat napping in the sun.
Afternoon – Chakra Basics (Again)
Iruka handed out candles.
"Today's goal is simple," he said. "Use chakra to keep the flame steady."
Shikamaru stared at his candle.
Okay. No swallowing light. No weird gravity.
He focused—just enough.
The flame flickered… then became perfectly still. Not a single wobble.
Sakura gasped. "That's amazing control!"
Shikamaru scratched his cheek. "I was aiming for 'acceptable.'"
Naruto's candle exploded.
Iruka sighed. "Naruto…"
After School – Cloud Watching Club (Unofficial)
Shikamaru, Choji, and Naruto sat on a small hill behind the Academy.
Naruto asked, "Hey Shikamaru, why do you like shadows so much?"
Shikamaru thought for a moment.
"Because they don't rush you," he said. "They just… wait."
Naruto hummed. "That's kinda cool."
Choji nodded. "Yeah."
The sun dipped lower. Long shadows stretched across the grass.
They didn't move on their own this time.
They just existed.
Evening – Heading Home
Shikamaru walked back toward the Nara compound, hands in pockets, mind quiet.
Day two, he thought.
No disasters.
Above him, the first star appeared.
Shikamaru smiled.
"Being a kid again…" he murmured.
"…isn't such a drag after all."
The darkness followed him home—not as a weapon, not as a threat—
but like a loyal shadow, keeping pace.