Inheritance

CHAPTER 18

Shikamaru nodded in understanding. Everyone knew Naruto was an orphan, and not particularly well-liked, although the idea that the reason for this was because of his reputation as a prankster was highly dubious in the Nara's eyes. At any rate, it was obvious why that would have appealed to the blonde.

"And now?"

"I get what being Hokage really means." Naruto answered, as though it was the most simple thing in the world. "A Hokage has to be the best, not because they want people to care, to see them; but because they're the ones who have to protect everyone. Every ninja, every civilian - a Hokage has to be able to ready to fight for everyone, no matter what it takes. And, once I realised that, I realised that it's exactly what I want to do, too. Konoha is my home, and the home of those precious to me, and as cheesy as it sounds, I'll die before I let anyone hurt them, or it."

Naruto sighed deeply, and stared into his own bowl of ramen, just as Shikamru had been doing before.

"But, as I am I'm not nearly strong enough to protect everyone the way I want to. So I've got to train as hard as I can, for as long as I can, until I am that person that can protect everyone. And I won't fail. I'll become Hokage, and I'll keep everyone safe."

For a moment, Shikamaru almost found himself believing that last part. At the very least, Naruto was proving to be interesting to be around. He was like a jigsaw whose pieces kept changing. He hadn't expected such an honest or detailed answer, but somehow, he knew it was the one he needed.

That, however, didn't make the answer any less troublesome.

"Say, Naruto." Shikamaru noticed the blonde had finished the bowl of ramen he was on, and decided that now was as good a time as any to break the comfortable silence that ha broken out after Naruto had spoken. "Hana's gone to explore some more of the village. How about you head out and join her? Kakashi's given me enough money to pay for the food anyway."

"How about you, Shikamaru? You're not coming?"

"I'll come and find you guys later on, I've got some things to do."

Naruto looked curious, but decided not to question the Nara before getting up from the stand and heading off to find the Inuzuka they had set out on this mission with, something for which Shikamaru was very grateful. He thanked the chef, and paid for the food before setting out in the opposite direction to Naruto. He needed to think some more, and could do without the distraction of an energetic blonde.

In truth, their mission was still heavily weighing on his mind. He knew he should have been able to do more, but in the end, he had been little more than a distraction. In the end, Naruto had gotten injured saving his skin.

He had often repeated his mantra of wanting to be an 'average shinobi'. But it was only now he had truly gotten started as one that he realised the massive error and oversight involved with that line of thinking. Being a shinobi was not some 9-5 desk job, where average was the name of the game. The average die more often than they live, or someone dies trying to keep them safe. He, or a friend could be killed because the Nara wasn't as good as he could, or should be.

Yet, could he just back out? Could he really leave those same friends to risk their lives as shinobi, whilst he went and took an easy civilian job? It was out of the question.

When he had been assigned to Asuma, his Jonin sensei's team, and they had discussed their dreams and plans for the future. When he had heard Shikamaru's 'average life' plan, Asuma had chuckled, and smiled knowingly. He had told him that his attitude wouldn't last past his first few missions. Now, the Nara thought he understood what he had meant.

All of a sudden, Shikamaru got the feeling that him being requested for this mission had more to do with his own sensei, then the Hokage himself.

It didn't matter either way. Shikamaru had made his decision. He guessed he didn't have much choice in the end, because he, like Naruto, wouldn't be able to just stand by and watch his friends fight. Which really only left him with one option, no matter how very troublesome it was.