Shikamaru always wanted to be normal, but really, he's always getting himself into odd situations
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Normal
When he was the first of the genin to pass and become a chuunin he could slowly feel his ambitions of a safe and normal life slipping past. Temari just threw even more of a wrench into the works.
From then things got more and more hectic in his life, making him do more work.
Chase after Sasuke, come home defeated, chase after him again, save Naruto's ass, pass the jounin exams, get into a troublesome relationship with Temari, get to know her crazy brothers.
These days it seemed like he would finally get some rest when he was dead.