The Decision

Hearing his usually lazy son speak to him so seriously for once, Shikaku Nara turned around and looked at Shikamaru with a deep gaze. In his eyes was both the pride of seeing his son grow up and worry over the decision he had made.

Still, a mature man ought to carry himself this way.

Whether he was right or wrong,

what mattered most was the conviction in his heart.

"Is this what you want? Or are you doing it just for your friends?"

This was the most serious kind of conversation between a father and son.

There was no room for jokes.

Shikaku regarded Shikamaru with an equally solemn expression and asked in a low voice.

"Dad, I've made this decision myself. Besides, haven't you always said that a man needs to take responsibility?"

Shikamaru remained seated upright and answered solemnly.

"A man's responsibility, huh? Shikamaru, you've grown up."

Shikaku was momentarily taken aback, then a faint, gentle smile appeared on his face, and his voice softened.

"Since you've made up your own mind, I won't interfere. I just hope you make every decision with a clear head—not only for your own sake, but for your friends' too. Understand?"

"Yes, Dad! I understand!"

Shikamaru nodded emphatically.

"Good."

Shikaku knew his son well enough to know he wouldn't just humor him. Shikamaru might seem lazy most of the time, but that was only when it came to unimportant matters. When the moment came, he was absolutely a reliable person who embodied the finest traditions of the Nara Clan.

That was no exaggeration.

As long as the scale of a battle hadn't reached the monstrous level of Senju Hashirama or Uchiha Madara,

then in any disadvantageous situation,

if a "genius strategist" like Shikamaru was given even a chance to turn things