As they walked through the forest, the atmosphere grew quieter. Ino, with her short, sleek hair catching the sunlight.
Ino darted ahead, her impatience getting the better of her.
"You two are way too slow," she called over her shoulder.
"We'll never find the scroll at this pace! I'll scout ahead and let you know if I find anything." she said confidently, not waiting for their response.
Tomaru watched her disappear into the trees and immediately felt a sinking sensation in his stomach.
Ino, you can't just leave me here with Shikamaru! he thought, panicking.
Oh no, this is how it all ends for me.
Ino, I'll be fucked up if you can't be right here
Shikamaru let out a low sigh, shaking his head as he watched her disappear into the trees.
"She's reckless, but at least she's enthusiastic."
Tomaru shrugged, his gaze narrowing as he scanned their surroundings.
"Enthusiastic doesn't stop her from triggering traps or walking into an ambush."
"True," Shikamaru replied with a faint smirk, his tone amused.
"But she's predictable. Let her burn off some energy. She'll be fine."
With Ino out of sight, an unusual silence settled over the two boys.
As Tomaru adjusted his position on a mossy tree root, Shikamaru strolled over, hands tucked into his pockets and his gaze scanning the treetops as though he were more interested in the patterns of the branches than in Tomaru.
"You've changed," he said, his voice casual, almost disinterested.
Oh, great, Tomaru thought, his forehead already beginning to glisten. Why does it feel like I'm about to be interrogated?
"What do you mean?" he asked carefully, masking his nerves.
"You're not the same as when you first joined the Academy," Shikamaru replied, his sharp gaze flicking toward Tomaru.
"Back then, you barely made an impression. You stayed quiet, never volunteered for anything, and avoided attention. Now.." He tilted his head slightly, studying Tomaru like a puzzle.
"You're different. Focused. Like you're carrying something."
Tomaru tried to stay calm, but his thoughts spiraled.
Seriously, Shikamaru? What is this? A performance review?
Tomaru frowned, his expression neutral but his fingers curling slightly at his sides, trying to steer the conversation away. "Maybe I just learned to pay attention."
"Sure," Shikamaru said, smirking faintly. "But people don't change without a reason. And you didn't just start paying attention. You started thinking differently. I can see it in the way you act. The way you talk."
Tomaru's smirk faltered, but he kept his expression neutral. "You're overthinking things."
Shikamaru yawned, leaning further back. "Probably. Overthinking's kind of my thing." He closed his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched in a small, knowing smirk. "Still... I don't think I'm wrong."
Why are you like this, Shikamaru? he thought, sneaking a glance at the boy. You're too observant. Are you a stalker?
Tomaru raised an eyebrow, his tone edging on defensive. "You're overanalyzing."
"Maybe," Shikamaru replied, shrugging. "But that doesn't mean I'm wrong. Take the way you observe things." He gestured vaguely to the forest around them. "You don't just look—you process. Like earlier, when you spotted that tripwire. You didn't just see it; you calculated what it would do, how much noise it'd make, and how it'd affect the mission. Most people would've just stopped at the wire itself."
Oh, come on! Tomaru thought, his sweat starting to feel heavier. How do you notice stuff like that?
Tomaru didn't respond immediately, his thoughts turning over Shikamaru's words.
Shikamaru pressed on, his tone growing sharper. "Then there's how you move. You don't take unnecessary steps, and you avoid loose ground without even looking at it. It's like you're instinctively minimizing risk." He tilted his head slightly, his expression thoughtful. "But that's not just caution. That's training—or practice. Something most Academy students don't bother with outside of class."
Tomaru felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple. Are you a ninja or a private investigator? Relax, dude.
Tomaru's jaw tightened. "What are you getting at?"
"I'm getting at the fact that you're different," Shikamaru said, his tone growing quieter but more pointed. "You don't just act like someone trying to pass. You act like someone trying to survive. There's a difference."
Hey, Shikamaru, how could you do this to me? Tomaru screamed internally. I liked you before, but now you're ruining everything. Are you trying to make me hate you?
Tomaru's expression darkened slightly, but his voice remained calm. "Why do you care?"
Shikamaru chuckled softly, the sound low and almost disarming. "I don't, really. Not personally. But as someone who studies people, you're interesting. Most of the others are predictable—loud, impulsive, or coasting by on talent. You're none of those things."
"And then there's the way you observe people," Shikamaru added. "You listen more than you talk, but it's not shyness. It's like you're gathering intel. Watching and waiting."
Tomaru forced a small laugh. "That's a lot of assumptions for someone who just watches clouds all day."
"Maybe," Shikamaru said with a faint smirk. "But I see patterns. You don't just sit back anymore—you're always planning. Adapting. That's not something most academy students figure out naturally."
Planning? Adapting? Tomaru's thoughts raced. What are you, a mind reader? Are you going to start predicting what I'll say next?
Shikamaru studied him for another moment, then said, "You've got something to prove. Or maybe something you're hiding."
Tomaru's jaw tightened. "You're giving me too much credit."
"Maybe," Shikamaru admitted, his tone light but probing. "But assumptions are built on patterns. Like the way you always keep your hands close to your sides when you walk—ready to defend, but not obvious about it. Or how you don't react to most provocations, but when you do, it's always calculated. You don't say or do anything without thinking first, and that's... rare. Especially for someone our age."
Tomaru chuckled lightly, trying to mask his discomfort. "That's rich, coming from the guy who naps through most exercises. Maybe I'm just a fast learner."
"Maybe," Shikamaru replied, his tone thoughtful. "But most fast learners don't think three steps ahead. You do."
Tomaru glanced at him, his expression guarded. "So what? You think you know me?"
"No," Shikamaru said, shaking his head. "Not yet. But I know enough to see that you're not just a quiet kid who happens to be smart. You're deliberate. That makes you interesting—and hard to trust."
Interesting? Hard to trust? Tomaru's thoughts raced. No, Shikamaru, you're the hard one to trust! You're too smart for your own good. Why are you doing this to me?
Tomaru's voice grew colder. "Why should I care if you trust me or not?"
"You shouldn't," Shikamaru replied smoothly. "But people like you are usually one of two things: someone others can rely on, or someone they should fear. I just haven't figured out which one you are yet."
The silence between them stretched, the weight of Shikamaru's words hanging in the air like a storm cloud.
Tomaru's voice, when he spoke, was quiet but firm. "You're making a lot of guesses."
"Maybe," Shikamaru said again, smirking faintly. "But the thing about guesses is that they're usually based on something real. Like how you keep glancing at the trees, even when there's no sound or movement. You're not just watching for traps—you're watching for people. Almost like you're expecting someone to be out here, even though you know it's just a test."
Tomaru stiffened slightly, his gaze flicking forward.
"See?" Shikamaru said, his tone almost amused. "I don't know what you've been through, but it's written all over you. You move like someone who's used to looking over their shoulder."
Oh, come on! Tomaru thought. What's your deal? Did I wrong you in a past life or something?
Tomaru shifted uncomfortably, not liking how easily Shikamaru seemed to see through him. "Isn't that what we're supposed to do as ninja?"
"Sure," Shikamaru said, leaning his head back against the tree trunk. "But most people don't start thinking like that until they've been through a few real missions. You? You're already there, and we haven't even graduated yet."
This guy is dangerous. I should've brought Ino back. At least she distracts him with her talking.
Tomaru's steps faltered, but he quickly recovered, his voice low. "What are you trying to prove?"
Before the tension could build further, Ino's voice rang out from the trees. "Hey! Are you guys coming, or do I have to do everything myself?"
Thank you, Ino. I owe you one for this. Never leave me alone with him again.
Tomaru exhaled in relief, silently thanking her for the timely interruption.
Shikamaru sighed, his hands slipping back into his pockets. "Well, let's not keep the princess waiting."
"She's loud, bossy, and honestly kind of exhausting... but she's a good friend. I don't like it when things disrupt her peace."
Tomaru met Shikamaru's gaze now, sensing the undercurrent of seriousness in his voice. "You think I'm a disruption?"
"I think you're… interesting," Shikamaru said, leaning his head back against the tree trunk again. "Interesting can be good, or it can be bad. I'm just figuring out which one you are."
Tomaru's jaw tightened slightly, but he forced a small smirk. "And? Figured it out yet?"
"Not yet," Shikamaru admitted easily, his tone as lazy as ever. "But I will. I always do."
Tomaru laughed, a quiet sound that carried a mix of amusement and tension. "Well, good luck with that. Let me know what you decide."
Shikamaru's smirk deepened slightly, his expression unreadable. "Don't worry. I will."
As they walked toward her, he glanced at Shikamaru out of the corner of his eye. Shikamaru was one of my favorite characters, but now? Nope. I'm officially done with this guy. Way too observant for my taste.