pertwk Chapter 537 Shikamaru: We'll Lose Terribly
Chapter 537 Shikamaru: We'll Lose Terribly
Chapter 537 Shikamaru: We'll Lose Terribly
Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza, who were on the veranda, had already noticed Shikamaru's return.
"Yo, Shikamaru's back." Inoichi's previously sullen face changed, and he asked with a smile, "Looks like my Ino's home too?"
Shikamaru nodded: "Yeah, I came out with Ino and Choji."
Inoichi and Shikaku exchanged a glance, both seeing a knowing look in each other's eyes.
It seems that this acting Hokage still had some reservations and did not do anything to the heirs of their three clans.
At least for the time being, we are not prepared to do anything to their three clans.
As for the other children—it's anyone's guess when they'll be able to leave the Dark Side.
Haiyi got up from the cushion, exhaled and said, "Then I won't disturb you any longer. I'll go back and check on my daughter first."
Choji, that mountain of flesh, slowly got up and said to Shikaku, "Then I'll head back first. Choji's back, and my wife will definitely cook lots of delicious food. I'll have to go mooch some."
The two walked together, waved to Shikamaru and his son Shikaku, and quickly disappeared into the corridor.
"Those two." Shika watched their figures disappear, then looked at the unfinished game on the chessboard and sighed.
He knew the two were worried about their child, so they wanted to go home early, but halfway through the game, Lu Jiu still felt a little itchy.
Shikaku looked at his son, who was standing to the side, and said, "You finish this game for your Uncle Inoichi."
U=
"Huh?" Shikamaru looked at the game board. The endgame left by Inoichi was clearly a very unfavorable situation.
"This is so troublesome. Do I have to do this mental work as soon as I get back?" Shikamaru complained.
Since it was his father's request, Shikamaru sat down cross-legged, resting his right elbow on his thigh, his hand supporting his chin, and asked, "Whose turn is it?"
Lu Jiu smiled slightly, picked up a chess piece, and moved it forward.
Shikamaru pondered the game for a moment before slowly picking up a piece and making his move.
Before long, only the clattering sound of the two playing chess remained in the courtyard.
A night rain gradually arrived, pattering sparsely in the courtyard. The chess game between the father and son entered its later stages, with both of them moving their pieces more and more slowly and taking longer and longer to think.
Snapped-
After making another move, Shikaku suddenly spoke up: "How was the trip to the Land of Stars?"
Ultimately, the topic came up.
Shikamaru knew from the moment he returned that he couldn't escape this topic, whether it was explaining things to the Anbu or to his family.
"It's broadened my horizons considerably." Shikamaru frowned as he watched his side's situation on the chessboard deteriorate. "It's hard to imagine that Menma, while hiding in Konoha, was secretly manipulating the rise of the Land of Stars."
"However, we were greeted by Kimimaro and Neji, who are among the new generation of ninjas. We didn't see any big names like the Uchiha clan head or the Hyuga branch clan head."
Upon hearing this, Shikaku nodded silently.
Both father and son were intelligent. Shikamaru knew what his father wanted to ask, and Shikaku also knew that his son had already revealed most of the key information about their journey to the Land of Stars.
The fact that no important figures were seen is the greatest piece of intelligence.
Even Minato Namikaze, whom the Konoha higher-ups had long suspected of faking his death or coming back to life, did not appear before Shikamaru and the others.
"So what do you think about the upcoming Fourth Shinobi World War?" Shikaku asked, then looked up at his son.
Shikamaru sighed and closed his eyes to carefully recall his week-long journey to the Land of Stars.
From being semi-kidnapped by Kimimaro and Neji and brought to the Land of Stars, experiencing the resettlement of refugees in border cities, the rescue operation in a small mountain village, the shock of the vast modern metropolis of the Star Capital, the grassroots activities they participated in with Naruto and Sasuke, and the star ninjas and ordinary people they encountered along the way whose eyes were full of light.
There was also the late-night conversation with Menma during the final dinner.
When Shikamaru opened his eyes again, he already had a clear answer in his heart.
"We'll lose." Shikamaru's voice was soft, and his tone seemed to be filled with helplessness.
"Hmm?" This was the first time Shikaku had seen such a look on his child.
He knew his son was someone who hated trouble, but was just as intelligent and discerning as he was.
"Konoha—no, the entire Allied Shinobi Forces." Shikamaru took a deep breath, his mind flashing back to the resolute gazes of the Star Country ninjas he had encountered, such as Kaguya Kimimaro, Hyuga Neji, Otsutsuki Toneri, Uchiha Taichi, and Miyagi Chino.
The film flashed past the joy and prayers of the disaster victims as they were resettled, and the peaceful lives and yearning for a better future of the ordinary people of the Star Kingdom.
It also flashed past those endless scientific ninja tools that even ordinary people could use.
"We'll lose badly."
A sudden, brief but rapid downpour pounded against the roof, dripping down the eaves and into the courtyard.
This also made Shikaku feel much more depressed.
As a ninja from the old era, Shikaku couldn't imagine what Shikamaru, who grew up in Konoha, the largest ninja village, had seen in the Land of Stars to make such a judgment.
We lost, and we lost badly.
Not Konoha, but the entire Allied Shinobi Forces!
"Is that so? It seems the journey to the Star Kingdom has greatly impressed you." He was still incredulous, but in the end, he chose to believe his son's judgment.
"Just like how Menma revealed his identity as Shura more than half a month ago and fought a great battle with those two mysterious enemies." Recalling the earth-shattering battle of the Chunin Exams, Shikaku was unsure who in the ninja world was capable of fighting against Menma.
"It's hopeless," Shikamaru said sullenly, looking at the chessboard.
It's unclear whether this refers to the soon-to-be-formed Allied Ninja Army or the entire strategic game being played.
Or perhaps both.
"Haha, thank you for your hard work, Shikamaru." Shikaku laughed heartily, arms crossed.
"Ouch, I've been sitting for so long, my bones are about to fall apart." He got up from the cushion and stretched his body under the eaves.
At the same time, he was also thinking about when to find another reason to visit Hiashi Hyuga.
Both were ninja clan leaders with hundreds of years of tradition, and he didn't believe that guy's daughter had really lost contact with Menma.
"Oh, right." Shikaku remembered something, looked at his son who was still sitting cross-legged in front of the chessboard, and said, "Take a good rest today, and remember to go see your teacher with Choji and Ino tomorrow."
"Huh?" Shikamaru, who was reviewing the game, paused for a moment, then looked up at his father.
"What's wrong with Asuma-sensei?"
As Shikaku watched the rain in the courtyard intensify, he said in a deep voice, "On the very night after you set off, two S-rank rogue ninjas infiltrated the village. Whether they were there to gather intelligence or by chance, Asuma, who was escorting Kurenai Yuhi home, was attacked. If Kakashi hadn't happened to be passing by, both of them would have been in danger."
"Asuma and Kurenai are still in the hospital, and they'll probably be there for about a month."
Shikaku didn't say anything; both of them were instantly defeated by a single glance from the other, which was considered giving Asuma some face.
Upon hearing his father's description, Shikamaru's eyes widened.
A rogue ninja of the S rank who could put elite Jonin Asuma and special Jonin Kurenai in danger?
Seeing the shock in his son's eyes, Shikaku thought of the two people his son had chased after. After a moment of thought, Shikaku decided it was time to let his son experience some of the darker side of Konoha.
Shikaku exhaled a breath of stale air and said with a solemn expression, "Moreover, according to Kakashi's description and Asuma and Kurenai's accounts afterward, only one of them was involved in the entire attack."
"That person is called Uchiha Itachi."
7
Shikamaru's pupils trembled slightly.