Ch1: Life After Death

My name is Shikamaru Nara, and I died in my sleep.

I lived a good life. I married a girl who wasn't exceptionally pretty or ugly to most anyone else, but she was beautiful to me. I had two kids. A boy first, then a girl. I retired from ninja duty about 20 years ago. Since then I've been playing shogi and watching the clouds every day. Frankly, I was getting kind of tired of it, but it was the simplest option.

I was finished with the life I left behind,.completely ready to pass on and face whatever afterlife or nothingness which was ahead. I awoke in a dark room. There was a display with large floating red letters in front of me.

GAME OVER

Ending: According to Plan

Score Sheet:

Made Chunin +10

Got Hitched +100

Shogi Master +5

Loyal Shinobi +40

Good Father +500

Penalties:

Less than 10% of trophies unlocked -1000

Less than 10% of potential achieved -2000

Loveless Marriage -500

Total: -2845

Rating: Pansy

A tick mark formed on my head as I finished reading my score sheet. So, my entire ninja career can be summed up into 40 points huh. The score doesn't seem to show my accomplishments. It looks like it shows my apparent effort. What kind of troublesome mess have I gotten myself into? The display in front of me faded away, and gave way to a new display.

DO YOU WISH TO CONTINUE

YES/NO

The 'no' was faded away and it wouldn't respond no matter what I tried. I had no choice but to select 'yes'.

AVATAR SELECTION

SHIKAMARU NARA (BASE FORM)

There were no other avatars to choose from so I selected the base form. The display faded out and I again fell into darkness.

-At The Nara Residence-

I awoke, blinded by the light.

"It's a boy!" I heard someone say.

"Aww what a beautiful baby." My mother's voice. Oh how long has it been since I heard her speak, since I've heard that voice. A gargling wail escaped my lips.

"Let me see the little tyke." I felt myself being gently lifted up, head supported by rough, calloused hands. My vision focused a fraction more. It was fuzzy, but this man's identity was unmistakable. The wailing began anew.

-Two Years Later-

"… Happy birthday Shikamaru, Happy Birthday to you!" My mother blew out my candles, and set me down with the other children. I am Shikamaru Nara, two years old, and by golly, today is the day I will take my first steps. As I held myself up with my arms, I slowly made my way to my feet. I carefully balanced myself. 'One step... Another...' Chouza Akimichi's voice thundered through the house.

"Hey look! Shikamaru is taking his first steps." ' A third... A fourth...Looks like I'm at my limit.' I fell over and a word slipped from my mouth "Troublesome" Raucous laughter erupted from those present. Inoichi elbowed my dad.

"He sure does take after you Commander." Shikaku looked exasperated.

"I told you never to call me that." He let out a soft chuckle. "And yeah, good thing he takes after me. It's less troublesome that way."

I laid down next to Ino and Chouji who were bickering in baby gibberish. With a small smile on my face, I looked at them, then looked at the rest of my folks. 'It's so good to have my family back. This time, I'll make sure that they all have the long and full lives that they deserve.' Later that night I was carried to my crib. My mom said goodnight as I was pretending to sleep. When she left the room my eyes slowly opened.

"Menu" The world around me went dark. I tapped 'saved data', swished my hand through save game, and said "Replace save data one. Exit menu." 'There, first turning point established. Now I have to train my locomotion and chakra for the next few years till I enter the academy. Then I'll establish my next save point.' There were only ten spots to save at. I had to use them carefully else I jeopardize my effectiveness in ensuring the safety of my "precious people". I thought back fondly on the Hokage who made that phrase popular. 'I gotta look up Naruto in the next few years. His childhood was not one of the easiest ones.'

-Four Years Later-

Now, normally I wouldn't do this, but this is a special case. Naruto used the puppy dog eyes technique perfectly, and I found myself aiding in one of Naruto's extravagant escapades. But, I still needed to play the part of the responsible friend and do damage control.

"But Shika," Naruto whined "you said that any publicity was good publicity." I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Painting the Hokage's faces orange isn't publicity. It's vandalism."

"But, but you said publicity is getting people's attention, why would vanda-watsit matter? What does it mean anyway?"

"Vandalism is damaging the property of somebody else and-"

"You darned kids aren't getting away this time!" Naruto flipped the chunin the bird.

"Say that after you've caught us." Naruto darted between the man's legs, and I flipped over his head. Naruto then led me through a maze of tight corners and dragged me into a large crevice hidden by a thorny bush.

"You didn't have to drag me through the bush you know!"

"Yeah I did, it's the least spiky way to get in."

"Did you really have to pick this hiding spot?" We argued on that vein for a few minutes before we forgot what we were arguing about and gave up. I laid down to rest, and wait for the anger of the pursuers to subside. I needed to think of a plan to avoid my mother's wrath. I'd be nagged at for a month after this stunt. But, I got to be a part of one of Naruto's legendary pranks, all in all I think it's pretty worth it.

"Hey Naruto, can I crash at your place tonight?"

"Sure Shika! But why my apartment? Wouldn't it be more comfortable at your clan compound, with your family and everything?"

"There's a saying that goes: If the mother isn't happy, then no one is happy. And my mom will be downright pissed once she learns of our shenanigans today." Naruto started giggling. "What's so funny?"

"Shenanigans. I like that word! Shenanigans shenanigans shenanigans-"

"Stop saying shenanigans!"

"... shenanigans shenanigans shenanigans..."As Naruto kept saying shenanigans, I rolled my eyes.

'Kids.'

-First Day at the Academy-

While walking to school with Naruto, I gazed at the academy with fondness. My childhood revolved around this place. I met some of my best friends within these walls. I even met my wife here

We were never really meant for each other. We both had always had our eyes on someone else. Yeah, we had feelings for each other once, and in a fit of drunken debauchery she got knocked up, and both of our families honor rested on us getting married, so we did. We sort of made the marriage work, and sure, we loved each other despite the lack of passion. But honestly, we just stayed together for the kids. She didn't deserve a schmuck like me. Having to marry me because of social pressure, it was all so wrong. She was too good for that. 'I swear that you will get the man you deserve my dear Hinata-hime.'

As I stepped through the academy doors, darkness closed in. Bright golden letters appeared in front of me.

WELCOME TO KONOHA'S NINJA ACADEMY

You are training to become a shinobi of the hidden leaves! This is a moderately difficult course that can boost your potential caps up to twenty five points each depending on the effort you put forth (measured by total potential reached)

'So that is how you extend the potential caps! The bane of my training is finally coming to a close and my measly ten point caps will no longer be able to contain me MWUHAHAHAHA.' I'd already nearly exhausted what I could do with my ten point caps in chakra, strength, and dexterity. Filling those put me roughly at genin level. Even considering how troublesome it is to be labeled a genius, knowing the opportunities I've been given, I couldn't bring myself to care.

I walked into the academy with a smirk on my face.

"Why are you smirking Shika?" Naruto asked

"I'm smirking because I'm gonna make genin this year."