"Alright! This year's graduation exam will be the Clone Jutsu. When your name is called, head to the next room!"
Iruka announced from the podium. As soon as he finished speaking, Naruto let out a wail, it had to be the one jutsu he was worst at!
Shikamaru's lips curled into a faint smile. Just as he'd expected, the story was unfolding exactly like the original timeline. Which meant… tonight Mizuki would trick Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Seals. Should he get involved? Heh…
"Nara Shikamaru!"
As his name was called, Shikamaru stood up lazily. Choji, munching on snacks beside him, immediately called out:
"Shikamaru! You got this!"
He said it with his mouth full, but the confidence in his voice was solid.
"It's just the Clone Jutsu. We really have to take an exam for that? So troublesome…"
Shikamaru muttered as he slowly walked toward the next room.
Over the past six years, Shikamaru had kept a low profile at the academy. To everyone else, he was still the same lazy guy who hated trouble.
Inside the exam room stood Iruka and Mizuki. Mizuki nodded and said, "Alright, Nara Shikamaru! You may begin."
Shikamaru quickly formed hand seals, poof! With a burst of smoke, an identical copy of himself appeared at his side.
Iruka's eyes lit up, clearly pleased. "Excellent! Well done, Shikamaru. You pass. Here, this is your Konoha forehead protector. From today onward, you're officially a genin!"
"Fast hand seals, under a second. No wasted chakra either." Mizuki commented with a hint of surprise in his tone as he glanced at Shikamaru.
"Thanks, Iruka-sensei." Shikamaru said, taking the forehead protector. He turned and walked out, sparing Mizuki only a dismissive smirk. You think your praise means something? My tree-climbing and water-walking training wasn't for nothing. I even slowed down my hand signs on purpose.
One by one, other students were called in, each looking nervous as they entered and thrilled as they exited, clutching their new forehead protectors. Except for Naruto, who came out dejected and sat alone on the swing, swaying silently.
"Haha! I passed too, Shikamaru! Come on, I'll treat you to a barbecue!"
Choji came out beaming and called to Shikamaru. Just like in the original story, the two had become best friends.
"Sure."
Shikamaru replied simply and, without sparing Naruto another glance, walked off with Choji. They even called Ino to join them.
Their fathers had all been comrades, so the three had known each other since childhood. As for the so-called "balanced team assignments" in the manga? What a joke.
"Shikamaru! Do you think we'll end up on the same team?" Choji asked, chomping on his grilled meat.
"No idea. Why bother thinking about it? We'll know tomorrow."
Shikamaru replied lazily while chewing.
"Hmph! I don't want to be on a team with you two! I want to be with Sasuke!"
Ino huffed, eyes sparkling as she mentioned Sasuke, clearly lovestruck.
"Well, that's not really up to you."
Shikamaru chuckled, already knowing how the teams would be assigned. Since arriving in the Naruto world, he hadn't tried to change the story. His greatest advantage was knowing the plot, and he wasn't about to shoot himself in the foot.
That night, in the forest where Mizuki was supposed to meet Naruto, Shikamaru leaned back against a tree trunk, gazing quietly at the starry sky, waiting for the "main event" to begin. His target tonight was Naruto's signature technique, Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu. Sure, he'd thought about stealing the scroll before, but he'd decided to wait. The defenses around it were too tight on normal days. Tonight was his only real chance. Honestly, in the original story, how could Naruto have stolen it so easily? Shikamaru suspected Hiruzen had allowed it on purpose.
Rustle, rustle,
Shikamaru's ears twitched. They're here?
His heart beat a little faster as he spotted Naruto sprinting through the forest, carrying the Scroll of Seals on his back. Shikamaru dashed forward and intercepted him.
"Ah! Mizuki-sensei! Look, I got the scroll! Can I graduate now?" Naruto cried excitedly, handing over the scroll to what he thought was Mizuki.
But it wasn't Mizuki.
It was Shikamaru, transformed using the Transformation Jutsu.
"Hmm, let me check if it's real first." he said quietly, taking the scroll.
He opened it, and there it was, the jutsu he had long desired: Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu. One glance was all he needed to commit it to memory. Then he feigned concern, handed the scroll back, and said, "Go wait where we agreed, I'll meet you there." And with that, he disappeared, allowing the plot to proceed as intended.
On the way back, Shikamaru passed the real Mizuki rushing toward Naruto, a nasty gleam in his eye. Shikamaru smirked. Heh, can't wait to see you get your face smashed in.
Back in his room, Shikamaru quickly formed the hand signs from memory.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof!
Five identical Shikamarus appeared before him.
Satisfied, he smiled and gave them each a name: Shika-One to Shika-Five.
He assigned Shika-One to chakra refining, Shika-Two to Shadow Possession training, and Shika-Three to Shika-Five to focus on Transformation, Clone, and Substitution Jutsu respectively.
As for the original?
He crawled into bed and pulled the covers over his head.
Finally, time to slack off.