Left Not Wanting
Shikamaru had decided long ago that wanting was troublesome. Not nessacaryily the desire of wanting, that was fine. It was the planning and actions that went into the procurement of the want that was troublesome.
He was four and a half, almost five years old when he decided this. He had wanted a blue lollipop that sat in the bakery window. Of course since he was only four and a half, he asked his mother if he could have said blue lollipop. She of course, as every good parent would say to their child before supper, said no.
This left the young Nara in a pickle. Since he was of the opinion that he should have the blue lollipop. So he did what every Nara was good at, strategy. He spent all night planning on how he would get the blue lollipop. In the end he did get to eat it, but he failed to get away for the lollipop left a blue stain on his tongue. His mother decided that instead of sending him to his room, he would have to help her clean the house for the rest of the week.
So after that incident, Shikamaru decided that wanting was troublesome. 13 years later he was still of that opinion. Although it wasn't he that was wanting, Shika was the wanted.
Ino and Temari were almost a public spectacle in the battle that they were having over him. His indifference to them both only fueled them harder to attack each other. Shikamaru thought that the whole spectacle was quite troublesome and unnecessary.
In times like these he would hide out with his best friend Chouji. Chouji was the ying to Shika's yang. Where Shikamaru was all planes and bones, Chouji was curves and fat. Shika was the brains, the logic, and the leader; Chouji was the heart, the emotions, and the much needed follower.
Shikamaru knew that Chouji wanted much. Chouji wanted the world to be a happier place. Chouji wanted people to become more tender hearted to their neighbors. Chouji wanted to give everything he could just so he could help a friend in need. Chouji was the perfect balance to Shika's indifference.
But Shikamaru knew that Chouji didn't want him. He needed him, and Shika needed Chouji. Two parts to a whole.
Chouji looked up to see his friend staring at him. Watching the clouds the ninja lay on the hill. Chouji decided to bring his friend from his 'mental stupor', as he liked to call it when Shikamaru was thinking so hard that he forgot what he was doing. Crinkling the chip bag he waved a chip in front of his friends face.
"Hey Shika, want a chip?" the larger boy asked, his head band falling off. Shikamaru blinked once, then twice, before shaking off the thoughts that plagued him. He took the chip bag and pulled out a hand full.
"Sure, thanks," he said. The salty chip crunched as Shika bit into it. Maybe, he thought looking at his best friend eat a chip of he own. Maybe wanting is that bad after all.