Third edited chapter installed! Yahootie!

Silence.

More silence.

"Okay. I get that. But why me?"

"We…don't know. He never said. He wants someone from the Nara bloodline. And he wants a child. You're currently the only child of the Nara clan, as big as it is. And he's made it…clear, that you're who he wants." The boy had figured it out the moment he'd stepped in the office. Of course, Tsunade supposed that was why he was called a genius.

Shikamaru drew in air. Who he wants. Who he wants. He had to think calmly, but it was hard when all the possibilities flew through his head. He let the air out.

"No other way." Of course not. He wouldn't be there if there was another way.

"No other way." The Hokage echoed, cautiously looking over the boy. He looked surprisingly calm, but looks could be deceiving, like all ninja had learned. Tsunade closed her eyes. Shikamaru Nara wouldn't exist tomorrow night. The boy in front of her would just be another name on the monument. No, his name wouldn't even be on the monument. He would just be a nameless dead soldier, an unknown sacrifice.

When she opened her eyes, the boy was no longer looking at her. Instead, outside her window. Like this conversation was already over.

"Shikamaru Nara, as the Fifth Hokage, do I have your permission?"

A pause.

"You do."

"Do you understand what will happen to you?"

"I do."

Ignoremei'mjustabreaklineignoremei'mjustabreaklineignoremei'mjustabreaklineignoremei'mjustabreakline

" Did I ever tell you that you were an idiot?"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "Yeah."

Asuma sighed. He had known all along that it would end like this, but it didn't mean he had to like it. Shikamaru wasn't just a ninja. He was a kid. He was only a kid. A special kid, but a kid at that. They shouldn't have to do this. They shouldn't need to do this. They shouldn't have agreed to this. But they did. And now it was all over.

"I'm proud of you, you know?"

That earned him another pair of rolling eyes, followed by a half smirk.

"I know."

Sometimes, he hated being a genius. Why couldn't he be dumb and gullible, like Naruto? Hell, Shikamaru knew the kid went through some tough stuff, but at least he didn't think about it twenty four seven. Or why could he be Chouji? Chouji cared about three things. Family, Friends, and Food. He'd even go for Lee! Of course, he'd probably annoy himself to death, or die from being overly optimistic, but still.

Well, maybe not Lee. It still sucked to be a genius though.

All right, how was that? I know, still not that long…but longer? Hopefully. Don't forget to review! They make me happy :D