Shikamaru's Dilemma

"Your woodcarving shop really does make a lot of money. No wonder you said a while back that you didn't want to attend the ninja academy."

Watching the two members of the Uchiha Clan leave the room, Shikamaru wore a complicated expression.

This single transaction alone showed just how profitable Samu Kokaze's woodcarving shop was. While deals this large were rare, the monthly profit was probably equivalent to the reward for an S-rank mission posted in Konoha—and without taking any risks. No wonder he did not want to be a ninja. He made far more this way than he would by risking his life as one.

That was only because Shikamaru did not know Samu Kokaze's standing in the Land of Fire's carving world. If he knew how much the nobles of the Land of Fire paid for a single carving request, his feelings would surely have been even more complicated.

"It's not that much!"

Samu Kokaze turned to look at the wooden shelves on either side. "I'm a pretty laid-back person. If I became a ninja, I'd have to follow orders, and I absolutely can't stand being bossed around."

"Besides, I got the Chakra Refinement Technique from Konoha too, and I've studied it carefully. I'm actually really strong now."

As he spoke, a confident smile appeared on his face.

Choji and Shikamaru exchanged a glance, then gave a few awkward laughs, unsure what to say.

As members of ninja clans, they naturally did not believe Samu Kokaze's words. Still, it did not matter. If he believed he was strong, then so be it. Refining chakra could strengthen the body anyway.

"I knew you wouldn't believe me!" Samu Kokaze muttered under his breath, then quietly said to Ino, who was still examining the newly displayed woodcarvings on the shelf, "You aren't really planning not to prepare gifts, are you? Ino came over early yesterday morning to ask me for one. She said a friend named Sakura would be coming too."

"When the time comes, you'll make her lose face in front of her new friend!" He paused, looking at the two with deep sympathy. "I'll light incense for you."

Hearing Samu Kokaze's words, Choji and Shikamaru looked at each other.

"What a drag!" Shikamaru scratched his head.

Choji grabbed a huge handful of chips and stuffed them into his mouth, glancing at the sun that had already begun setting in the west outside the window. "What do we do now? It's almost time, and there's no time at all to prepare anything!"

"You know, Choji, I've been craving your family's food for ages." Seeing their troubled expressions, Samu Kokaze's lips curled slightly as he said with feeling.

"I'll have it delivered to you tomorrow!" Shikamaru agreed immediately before Choji could react.

"Oh, I suddenly remembered that I need some special minerals to practice my carving art, but I have absolutely no way to get them!"

"Tell me what you need, and I'll help you!" Shikamaru agreed through gritted teeth, his face dark.

"I remember I'm still lacking..."

"Hey! Don't push your luck!" Shikamaru, his face darkening, suddenly shouted as he listened to the endless list of demands.

"Tch, what a pity!" Samu Kokaze muttered as he looked at Shikamaru's dark face and Choji, who was chewing chips while staring at him expressionlessly.

"What are you talking about?" Hearing the noise from their side, Ino ran over and asked.

"Nothing. We were just discussing how to celebrate your birthday, right, Choji? Shikamaru?" Samu Kokaze said with a smile in his eyes as he looked at them.

So the two of you tried to play tricks on me just now? Master Feng always settles his grudges on the spot. If I don't screw you two over this time, I'll write Feng backward from now on.

Thinking of that, the smile on his face grew even broader.

"Really?"

Ino looked suspiciously toward Choji and Shikamaru.

Pressed by Ino's gaze, the two nodded repeatedly. At the same time, they cast threatening looks at Samu Kokaze.

They looked as though, if Samu Kokaze could not settle this matter, Choji and Shikamaru would not mind dragging him down with them before they died.

Ignoring their threatening stares, Samu Kokaze coughed twice and said, "Ino, who did you invite for your birthday this time? It can't just be the few of us, right?"

"Other than you guys and Sakura, there's no one else. Oh, right, Naruto too."

Ino froze slightly at Samu Kokaze's question, then responded.

"I see!" Samu Kokaze propped his chin on one hand. As if he had suddenly remembered something, he slapped his fist into his palm. "Now that you mention it, after knowing each other for so long, I've never properly looked around your house. Later, let's go take a look at your room together!"

"Huh? M-My room!?"

Ino cried out in surprise, her cute little face blank as she turned to ask.

"Yeah! Right, Choji? Shikamaru?" Samu Kokaze said, shooting them a meaningful look.

"Yeah! We really haven't seen it!" Shikamaru nodded, his face twisting.

Choji grabbed another huge handful of chips, stuffed them into his mouth, and nodded as well.

"I-Is that so?" Seeing them nod, Ino looked a little awkward. Then she suddenly said, "Oh, right, I remembered there's still some preparation work at home that isn't done. I'll head back first. You can come over later." With that, Ino headed for the door as though she had only just remembered.

"Do you need us to help?" Samu Kokaze shouted from behind her as he watched her hurried steps.

"No, it'll be done soon!"

The shop door slammed shut with a bang, and Ino's voice carried in from outside.

Hearing Ino's voice outside, Samu Kokaze looked smugly at Shikamaru and Choji.

"You really understand her well," Shikamaru sighed as he watched Ino run away.

"That was amazing!" Choji looked at him with admiration.

"Haha..."

Bang...

Just as he was laughing, the shop door that had just closed was violently thrown open. The wooden door groaned under the strain as a yellow figure rushed inside with a blast of cold air. Before he could even see the situation in the room clearly, an excited shout rang out from the newcomer.

"Feng, I came to see you! Look..."

Naruto, who had rushed in with a purple hair clip clutched tightly in his hand, froze when he saw Samu Kokaze chatting with other children his age. He looked uneasily at Shikamaru and Choji.

"Naruto, you're here!"

Samu Kokaze smiled at Naruto, who had run into the shop.

"Shikamaru, what do we do?" Choji, standing nearby, leaned close to Shikamaru's ear and quietly asked.

As ninja clans, the Nara Clan and the Akimichi Clan did not treat Naruto like an ordinary person would treat a monster.

If the five great ninja villages were considered the peak of the ninja class, and powerful bloodline clans and ninja villages second only to the five great nations were considered the upper tier, then the three secret-technique clans of Ino–Shika–Cho could be considered the middle tier of ninja society. Naturally, their clan leaders knew Naruto's circumstances and had long told the younger members of their clans what attitude they should take toward him.