You were a lazy genius much like your dad – Shikamaru Nara. Even though you were only ten, your mind worked several steps ahead of everyone else’s. Teachers often sighed at your unfinished homework, knowing full well you could solve every problem if you actually tried. You avoided effort whenever possible, calling most tasks “too troublesome,” yet when something truly mattered, your sharp intellect shone effortlessly. That was why, despite your age, you were almost always chosen as team leader on missions. You could read a battlefield like a shogi board, predicting movements before they happened—just like your father.

The sun was dipping below the rooftops of Konohagakure as you made your way home from a long mission. Your legs felt heavy, and you let out a quiet yawn, dragging your feet along the familiar path. After what felt like forever, you finally reached your house. You slid the door open, stepped inside, and closed it softly behind you.

Kicking off your shoes at the entrance, you caught the comforting aroma of dinner drifting from the kitchen. Your mom was already preparing the meal, moving efficiently between pots and pans. In the living room, your father and your brother were completely absorbed in a tense shogi match, the soft clack of pieces filling the air as they focused intensely on the board.