The Hokage Asked Me to Be Friends with You

"Shikamaru, I can't help it. Lord Hokage believes only you can complete this mission. You've seen Naruto's file. Although he's a Jinchuriki, he hasn't harmed anyone in years, so there shouldn't be any danger. That's why..."

"Sigh~ Father, that's not what I'm worried about. I just want to tell you that this is a mission destined to fail."

Night had fallen. After repeatedly discussing the plan to approach Naruto in the office, Shikaku had just returned home with his son, Shikamaru, after leaving the Hokage's office.

Both sat on the tatami mats with troubled expressions. Although Shikaku was trying to comfort his son, his own face looked even more distressed than Shikamaru's.

"Hmm?" Shikaku asked, confused by his son's words, "Why are you so sure the mission will fail?"

Shikamaru shook his head and closed his eyes. He first stretched his arms, then clasped his hands together in a strange pose.

"It's a hundred percent guaranteed to fail!"

"You've never interacted with Naruto before, so why are you so certain?"

Shikaku watched his son close his eyes and calmly state his conclusion, his worried expression gradually turning solemn.

He knew this was his son's well-considered answer, but he wanted to know the reason.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain to the Third Hokage. Their role in Konoha was to be the Hokage's shadow, confidants, and strategists.

Moreover, it was important to remember that the Nara Clan had received considerable promotion and favor since the Third Hokage took office, which had allowed the clan's status in the village to steadily improve.

"Take a closer look," Shikamaru opened his eyes and fumbled in his clothes, producing two photographs. "These two photos are of Naruto when he was 3 years old and first went out, and a recent photo taken when Lord Hokage had someone take it."

"Both photos show his true appearance."

"The photo from when he was three was taken when he was being cursed and discussed by everyone on the street. The recent one was taken when he escorted Miss Hinata home. Look at the expression on his face, especially his eyes."

Shikaku took the photos his son handed him and examined them repeatedly for a long time, frowning. "Is something wrong? His eyes don't seem any different."

"Exactly! There's no difference at all!" Shikamaru replied with absolute certainty. He then pointed to the photos in his father's hand and continued, "Father, from the first photo, you can see that Naruto stood in opposition to everyone. Yet, I don't see any fear, hatred, or desire to escape in his eyes in the photo."

"If someone stands against everyone, even an adult would find it terrifying. But the expression I see on Naruto's face is far too calm. If it were another child, they might have already burst into tears from fear."

"There's nothing but indifference in Naruto's eyes. This makes me feel more like Naruto is the one isolating everyone."

Shikaku remained silent upon hearing this. He stared intently at the first photo for a while longer before slowly speaking, "What did you see in the second photo?"

Shikamaru pushed himself up from the tatami mats with his hands and said, "Normally, the eyes are the windows to the soul, and expressions can reveal a person's truest psychological state at a given moment."

"But Father, look closely. Although Naruto is smiling in the photo, his eyes haven't changed at all. You noticed it immediately, didn't you? His eyes in both photos are equally dead and indifferent, devoid of any emotion."

"Have you ever seen eyes like that?"

"Furthermore, Miss Hinata in the second photo is arguably the one most likely to become friends with Naruto. But you've seen the file, Father. After he escorted Miss Hinata home, he didn't even say her name."

As Shikamaru analyzed, Shikaku's eyes were fixed on Naruto, who was smiling in the photo. Looking at those azure eyes and familiar hair color, a hint of nostalgia flickered across his face. After a long moment, he let out a long sigh.

"Alas, Shikamaru, it seems we're in real trouble now."

Half a month passed quickly.

One morning, Naruto was walking alone on a road beside a small river. Before long, a dense forest appeared before Naruto, silent as a natural green barrier.

Since encountering Shisui Uchiha that day, he hadn't returned to the Uchiha compound. The Uchiha Clan and the Konoha higher-ups, led by the Third Hokage, were already at odds. It was too conspicuous and no longer suitable to go there.

This forest was a place his father, Minato Namikaze, had pointed out to him. He had come specifically today to set up his training grounds.

"Is this the Nara Clan's crest?"

As soon as Naruto passed a main path, he saw a stone monument on a slope, clearly engraved with the Nara Clan's family crest.

"Yes, Naruto. There are no ferocious wild beasts in this forest. Only the docile deer raised by the Nara Clan for harvesting their antlers for medicine. However, no one from the clan will be here during this season."

Minato Namikaze explained from within the Sealed Space.

"I heard that people from the Nara Clan are very intelligent, with extremely high IQs?"

"There is such a saying. It's just that I was Hokage for too short a time back then, and my interactions with their clan were very limited."

Naruto pondered for a moment before entering the forest. Finding a clearing, he sat down on the ground. His consciousness immediately descended into the Sealed Space, and then Minato's fist met Naruto's.

Minato was transmitting the introductory techniques for practicing the Flying Thunder God Technique to Naruto using Kurama's chakra.

He had finally agreed to teach Naruto the Flying Thunder God Technique!

Hokage's Office.

"Heh heh! I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence. Naruto appearing in that forest of your Nara Clan."

The Third Hokage chuckled as he looked at the crystal ball.

Shikamaru, standing in front of the desk, was also extremely surprised. He had been on the verge of a breakdown recently, trying to find a suitable opportunity to approach Naruto.

The main reason was that ever since he returned home injured that day, Naruto only went out once a day, and his departure time and location were unpredictable.

This had caused Shikamaru's carefully planned chance encounters to all fall through.

He had just been playing shogi with his father at home when an Anbu suddenly appeared and summoned him without a word.

"Lord Hokage, do you mean I should go now?"

Shikamaru asked the smiling Third Hokage.

"Shikamaru, you need to understand, this is a rare opportunity. Naruto might not be visiting your clan grounds tomorrow," the Third Hokage's expression immediately regained its sternness, his gaze sharp and almost intimidating.

"I'll leave immediately."

Shikamaru's heart skipped a beat. He could tell the Third Hokage was somewhat displeased.

"Naruto, these are the basic principles of the Flying Thunder God Technique. Honestly, the introductory stage of the Flying Thunder God Technique isn't difficult for you. My three guards only needed a bit of my cultivation experience to get started."

"Huh? Did those three also master the Flying Thunder God Technique?"

Naruto found this odd. In the anime, he'd seen those three only barely manage to use the Flying Thunder God Technique when cooperating.

"Uh, no, they only understood the basics, they didn't master it independently. Their individual sensory precision wasn't enough, so they could only barely use the Flying Thunder God Formation Technique I developed when they worked together. After the Third Great Ninja War, under the Third Hokage's arrangement, I started handling the village's political affairs and didn't have time to guide him in this area."

After saying this, Minato Namikaze glanced at Kurama, who was lying nearby, then continued, "Later, your mother became pregnant, and after I became Hokage, I was incredibly busy. Then, what happened five years ago occurred."

Hearing this, Kurama opened his eyes, a fierce glint flashing in his crimson pupils.

The Fourth Hokage mentioning five years ago immediately reminded him of that mysterious person with the Mangekyo Sharingan. It was a very unpleasant memory.

Naruto saw the displeasure in Kurama's eyes and quickly waved his hand, "Alright, Father, I was just confirming if they had mastered the complete Flying Thunder God Technique. You don't need to explain so much."

Minato Namikaze gave a slightly awkward smile, "Oh, I thought you had some other plans."

Inside the sealed space, Naruto didn't see his father's awkwardness. He was silently contemplating how to avoid surveillance, especially the Third Hokage's Scrying Jutsu.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to cultivate the Flying Thunder God Technique with peace of mind.

Even though no one was tracking him now, as long as that crystal ball was there, the Third Hokage had the potential to spy on his secrets at any time.

A moment later, Naruto casually asked, "Father, are you sure there's only one of those crystal balls in the Third Hokage's office?"

"There's only one," Minato Namikaze answered instinctively, but he immediately realized, "Naruto, are you planning to destroy that crystal ball?"

Naruto calmly replied, "I'm planning and considering the possibility of this succeeding. Or do you agree with them constantly spying on my life like this?"

Minato Namikaze's eyes widened, then his head shook like a rattle.

"I need to plan this carefully. Otherwise… huh? Is someone heading this way?"

As Naruto was deep in thought, he suddenly sensed a chakra signature leave the village center and head directly onto the road leading to these grounds.

The road by the small river led straight to this green barrier, and the person he sensed had initially come from the direction of the Third Hokage's office. They had already been on this road for some time.

"Naruto, is someone coming?"

"Maybe, maybe not, but it's certain this person is coming from the Hokage's office."

Minato Namikaze, inside the sealed space, was stunned into silence.

He had just brought up the issue of surveillance, and the Third Hokage had immediately responded.

The one rushing towards Naruto now was Shikamaru.

As he got closer to his destination, Shikamaru's heart sank deeper.

Just before he left, the Third Hokage had emphasized again that he wasn't assigning Shikamaru a mission, nor was he asking Shikamaru to be a spy.

He was asking Shikamaru to befriend Naruto, to understand Naruto's thoughts by gaining his trust.

And then report to him regularly!

Thinking of this, a hint of self-mockery flashed in Shikamaru's eyes.

If this isn't being a spy, then what is?

Does the Third Hokage truly not understand the definition of a friend, or does he not know what trust feels like?

If he did as the Third Hokage requested, would he ever be able to make friends in this lifetime?

And would he still have a sincere heart to make friends?

Thinking of this, a chubby figure flashed through Shikamaru's mind.

How important friends are, Choji had already told him that long ago.

Since Lord Hokage asked me to befriend Naruto, then he will be my true friend!

With his true resolve confirmed, Shikamaru felt his steps on the road become exceptionally light. He soon entered the forest and, following the location he'd seen in the crystal ball, after circling around for a bit, he saw Naruto for the first time.

Naruto, sitting on a rock, had been waiting. The moment Shikamaru entered his line of sight, he recognized him.

It was obvious Shikamaru was heading for him.

Because he saw Shikamaru stride towards his position as soon as he spotted him.

When he saw Shikamaru approach him with a lazy expression, before he could even speak, Shikamaru's entire demeanor immediately became exceptionally serious.

"Hello, my name is Shikamaru Nara. The Hokage asked me to come and befriend you!"