And when his life had finally been about to end, the appearance of that towering figure had been so reassuring.
He had always thought of himself as a lazy bum. And that was indeed the truth. But after this incident, he seemed to have inexplicably gained a new source of motivation.
Because he seemed to have caught a glimpse of something he wanted.
And in order to fulfill his dream, he had to obtain that thing—that thing even he himself could not properly explain.
Memories were beautiful, unforgettable, and fleeting.
After a brief lapse of focus, he quickly came back to his senses.
He continued, "Maybe this isn't right. Maybe it's dangerous. And maybe it doesn't suit my personality at all."
"But although we're ninja, we're still human in the end."
"Maybe this is a genuine impulse. Don't laugh at me."
"Normally, I see you all as a bunch of reckless fools who never think before acting."
"Especially Naruto and Kiba Inuzuka. Do you know how much of a headache it is to go on missions with you?"
"Out of ten missions with you, eight or nine end up getting messed up."
Naruto and Kiba Inuzuka were clearly a little angry when they heard that, but after thinking it over, they realized they really were like that.
Their anger immediately turned into embarrassment, and they lowered their heads.
At that moment, Shikamaru Nara changed the subject. "Even though you're unreliable, when it truly matters, you make people feel so safe and secure."
He paused slightly, then said, "Everyone is someone I can truly trust."
"So, I'm really counting on all of you this time."
As he spoke, he bowed. At the same time, Choji Akimichi and Ino Yamanaka bowed as well.
This was not their usual horseplay, where they could