Zenko Chapter 11: Beat Them at Their Own Game, a naruto fanfic

Chapter Eleven: Beat Them at Their Own Game

Summary: "Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings." ― Salvador Dalí

"There's a stark difference between the words 'prodigy' and 'genius.' Prodigies can very quickly learn what other people have already figured out; geniuses discover that which no one has ever previously discovered. Prodigies learn; geniuses do." ― John Green

ヽ(' ∇' )ノヽ(' ∇' )ノヽ(' ∇' )ノ

Everyone was watching the interaction between the Sandaime's son and the mysterious shop owner with both attentiveness and apprehension.

Naruto had already told the other sensei of the rookies how he felt about their teaching methods or lack of thereof. It appears that it was Asuma's turn and the man wasn't taking the criticism well.

In fact the man was gritting his teeth, clenching his fists appearing for all the world that he wanted to punch Naruto in the face, but couldn't. Naruto was a civilian after all and providing Naruto did not physically assault him or excite a riot of some sort there wasn't anything Asuma could do.

Naruto, like most citizens was entitled to his opinion, but many people would never have the audacity to voice them to a Shinobi's face especially one with the reputation Asuma Sarutobi earned.

"What?" Asuma growled, repeating himself hoping that the blond would get the hint and drop the subject, apologized, or become silent. Regrettably that is not Naruto's style; confidence is something the young male had in spades.

"Your laziness is going to get your team killed," Naruto reiterated slowly as if talking to a child. He shrugged his shoulders in mock nonchalance, giving off the impression that this conversation was tedious or rather obvious.

Naruto clarified, "From what I've heard you are a hybrid of Kakashi and Kurenai in terms of teaching styles. You focus on one student while being lazy in your instruction all together. They are talented, heirs of powerful clans however they need someone to guide them to reach their full potential. Luckily Ino and Chouji were smart enough to seek help from other sources to achieve their goals…"

"… Shikamaru on the other hand lacks the motivation to do better therefore in a way you are worse than Kurenai was in regards to Hinata, at least she cared if she was harmed. You don't if you're allowing Shikamaru to believe he is a genius and that intellect alone can solve his problems. What good is all that brainpower with no ambition?" Naruto smirked, noticing Shikamaru stiffened in his seat at the sly insult.

Asuma sneered, "You're just saying all of this because Shikamaru is strategic genius and you lack the ability. If you faced him in battle you wouldn't be able to win."

Shikamaru grunted in agreement, he usually didn't feel the need to prove others wrong, but his usually quiet ego reared its ugly head.

Ino and Chouji gasped a little, they knew what their sensei was doing stop them, but the gauntlet was already thrown and neither side looked to be backing down.

"Very well then I'll battle Shikamaru, but not in the way you're thinking instead how about we play a little game to decide things," Naruto said. A gleam mischief flashed in his sapphire eyes sending chills down Asuma's and Shikamaru's spines making them feel they made a horrible mistake.

"What game?" Shikamaru asked hesitantly, sweat gathering at his brow.

Naruto replied, "Shogi." Asuma and Shikamaru nodded their heads in accord, feeling confident. No one besides Shikaku has beaten Shikamaru in Shogi.

"One last thing, we will play with a very special board. Do you accept the terms?" Naruto asked. Once again getting nods from Asuma and Shikamaru, confident they would detect any tricks Naruto might plan.

"Excellent, let us be off then. I shall meet you at the field you use train," Naruto stated before getting up and leaving.

A few moments later Naruto arrived with a Shogi board and placed in between him and Shikamaru.

"You don't mind if I examine this board and the pieces?" Asuma asked in false pleasant tone walking over to the competitors.

Naruto could tell Asuma was only faking, but he played along smiling and gestured that it was alright while the few that come to see Naruto as a friend were thoroughly insulted on Naruto's behalf. After checking for any Genjutsu or other means Naruto could possible cheat Asuma put everything back.

Within minutes this competition gathered a bit of a crowd, filled with both civilians and ninja including Shikaku and the Sandaime.

"I didn't know Shogi was so popular," Kiba commented sarcastically.

"The question is how all these people knew of this event," Shino said before they all turned their attention back to Naruto and Shikamaru.

"Place your bets!" Anko announced earning a sigh from Kurenai answering the question of how people knew, but she placed a bet on Naruto. Something told her the boy wouldn't do this if he couldn't win.

"I see you two are also watching…" Asuma folded his arms, still very much annoyed with the young blond.

To add to his irritation he saw Kurenai, Kakashi, their students, and the girl with the buns on her head bet on Naruto to win even Sasuke begrudgingly did. "At least Ino and Chouji didn't participate in the betting," He sighed in relief, never seeing that they were passed betting slips.

The older Sarutobi grinned enigmatically, "Yes I decided to bring Shikaku along when I found out."

"Well there's nothing to concern yourself over I know the kid is close to you so I'll get Shikamaru to not trounce him too badly," Asuma said confidently.

"Is that what you think?" Shikaku murmured. The Jounin commander's eyes narrowed at the younger Sarutobi. "Maybe he was right …" He sighed and walked closer to the action without saying another word, confusing Asuma.

"What did he mean by that?" Asuma turned to his father who only chuckled.

"You shall see," The Sandaime replied and followed Shikaku to stand closer.

ヽ(' ∇' )ノヽ(' ∇' )ノヽ(' ∇' )ノ

"I believe to make things more interesting we'll need a timekeeper, how about it Lord Hokage?" Naruto glanced at the Hokage who nodded and accepted his role. They shared a secretive smile, knowing Naruto did not call him by his usual nickname of "Old Man".

"Are we ready to start?" Naruto asked.

Shikamaru's eyes narrowed in determination, "Yes."

"Good," Naruto purred then suddenly white mist expelled from the board and surrounded the area. When the mist cleared nearly everyone's eyes widen in shock. The simple Shogi board transformed into giant one, the wooden pieces was changed into people.

Each one dressed in costumes symbolizing their designated positions, and the two competitors were standing in the King's position on the board.

"What the hell is this?" Asuma growled.

Naruto replied without even turning his head to face him, "This board is special in order to make the game more realistic the pieces are altered into people consequently you truly feel the weight of the decisions made. To make this more interesting the player is also a piece on the board, but you may choose which one and you switch with that piece."

"This has to be a Genjutsu," Shikamaru murmured, trying to banish it. "Kai… it's not working," He sighed.

Kakashi raised his Hitai-ate to use his Sharingan, "This is no illusion." This revelation startled quite a few people, murmurs echoed through the crowd, some scared while others excited.

The young generation of Shinobi wasn't surprised to see that Naruto's Shogi board was capable of such a feat in fact it wouldn't seem normal otherwise.

"Typical Naruto," Sakura sighed while the others nodded their heads.

Hinata smiled, "He wouldn't be him if he did things normally."

"And it certainly makes things more interesting," Tenten laughed.

Back at the giant Shogi board Naruto grinned, he always loved seeing people impressed by the mystical items that came into his possession.

"Which piece will you be? I will be the Rook," Naruto said and in a flash his kingly attire changed into clothing more suited for the Rook and a man dressed as the King was in Naruto's place.

Shikamaru thought for a moment then sighed, "I'll be a Rook as well." Thus he switched out with his piece and he took the place as King.

"To be fair I'll flip a coin to decide who plays Black and White. Naruto you choose which side," Sarutobi said and tossed a coin, turning attention on him and hushing the audience. He was sitting in a rather comfortable high seat to watch the board and keep the time.

Naruto beamed serenely, "Tails…" Everyone's eyes locked onto the coin that landed in the Hokage's palm, face up. "Well it seems like you will go first, Shikamaru," Naruto stated not being worried in the least.

Shikamaru's eyes narrowed, "I know he could follow the coin's movements, he let me go first…"

Choosing to not let this, in his opinion psychological tactic, to throw off his game Shikamaru made the first move. Naruto responded, but to Shikamaru's shock Naruto did not look to be thinking about his advancement since he did all in mere seconds.

This process repeated, Shikamaru would command a piece to move then Naruto would seemingly immediately react. "Is he only picking his moves at random… he's making his moves only seconds after me. Does he even know how to play at all, he's not following any strategy that I recognize," Shikamaru pondered.

Time passes and Shikamaru haven't himself moved from his position watching Naruto, as the Rook walked across the board and gasped. Shikamaru finally understood what Naruto meant by feeling the weight of his decisions when his first pawn was lost to the shop owner.

Naruto unsheathed his katana and stabbed Shikamaru's pawn in the stomach. Pain-filled screams echoed in the air, chilling the atmosphere, all eyes were on the board.

Blood pooled beneath their feet and Naruto stood unaffected by what took place. The fallen pawn vanished and was teleported into a change on Naruto's side of the board, captured.

"Now you see… the gravity of the situation. You can't always rely on one thing to defeat your enemy. In your case it is your intelligence making you a prodigy. However, all the plans in the world mean nothing without the will to carry them out because a true genius is one who takes action," Naruto stated, sheathing his weapon after wiping away the excess blood with a cloth.

Shikamaru's body stilled gazing down at the board, blood still stained the area his pawn once stood and gulped.

"Do you wish to continue?" The Sandaime asked and it was apparent that the man knew that Naruto's Shogi board was capable of this, because he looked equally unconcern as the blond.

The Nara heir answered, "Yes I'm continuing." He did not want to lose especially in front of his father and sensei also he had something to prove to himself.

Shikamaru tried to use his usual methods, thinking ahead coming up with contingency plans, but then Naruto would make a strange choice and kill another one of his pieces (men) then he would have to come with new plans.

After having his plans in place Shikamaru start again, make a move thinking it would be enough to outwit Naruto, but the blond was unrelenting in using unpredictable techniques. That was unfortunately for Shikamaru perfectly legal, and this repeated the entirety of the game.

Before he realized it, Shikamaru was trapped and his King was captured, his pieces (army) decimated, and he didn't even remember how it happened.

"I believe this makes me the winner," Naruto smiled beautifully. Shikamaru signed in resignation and nodded his head conceding defeat. "Excellent game," Naruto held out his hand surprising Shikamaru, the Genin expected the blond to gloat.

Shikamaru mirrored that happy expression, "Yes you're a hell of a player." Then in a flash of light the players, the board and all its pieces returned to normal.

The crowd dispersed once the game was over and money exchanged hands leaving the Hokage, Shikaku, Naruto, Tenten, the Rookies and their instructors in the training ground.

Shikaku gave satisfied smirk at how gracefully his son was taking the loss, but Asuma seemed stricken by the turn of events receiving a comforting pat on the shoulder from the Sandaime.

"You knew this would happen," Asuma accused.

The Sandaime laughed, "Yes Naruto here had faced Shikaku in a game many a time. The outcome of their games is usually an impasse. Whoever taught Naruto was a genius at the game or has been playing for numerous years."

"And the only person Shikamaru could never beat is his father, but Naruto knew this, didn't he?" Asuma glared.

Sarutobi frowned at his son, "Let this be a lesson to you as well as Shikamaru."

Asuma groaned in dismay, "I understand."

"You never came across someone who was Shikamaru's age that could beat him in a strategy game thus you supposed no one could after all Shikamaru is able to defeat even veterans players several years older than him sans his father. In turn that made Shikamaru supercilious without meaning to," Naruto remarked to Asuma before sighing.

"Anyway I apologize if I came off abrasive, but it was important you felt angry enough to challenge me," Naruto whispered. "I have to say you really put me through the paces, it may have not looked like it out there, but I was doing my best," He grinned at Shikamaru who smiled back.

Sasuke glared at Naruto at the little remarked, he didn't believe the boy when he said that. He had the same impassive look his brother did that cool confidence that nothing could touch him. It made his blood boil.

Asuma glanced over to Shikaku, "So why are you here? You never elaborated on what you said before."

Shikaku replied, "I was to have a meeting with the Lord Hokage at his office, but when I arrived Naruto was already there having tea. He seemed interesting and like a smart kid so I challenged him to a game of Shogi whenever we had free time." Little did they know there was far more to the story…

[Flashback]

"Lord Hokage you summoned me," Shikaku entered the office expecting to see the Hokage pouring over his abnormal stack of papers, but instead he found the elder man not at his desk. No the man was in the corner of the room sitting at a low table drinking tea, eating snacks, and laughing with a young blond male?

"I think he's male… he is rather androgynous," Shikaku mused. The blond in question was no older than his son, long sleek hair that cascaded down his back, glimmering sapphire eyes, and dressed in a lapis kimono, dark blue obi, black hakama, white tabi, and black leather zori.

"Ah Shikaku sorry I seemed to have lost track of time. Naruto stopped by with snacks and I could not refuse," Sarutobi apologized with a sheepish grin.

Shikaku jolted, "Naruto? The rumors are true then."

The Sandaime's smile faded, "I see word of your being among the living is already spreading." He turned to his young companion.

"It was bound to happen, your advisors aren't as discreet as they believed or rather they are not when it suits them. It doesn't help matters if Danzo is attempting to usurp authority by playing these little games of deception. He should know better than trying to outfox a fox in trickery," Naruto leered, sipping his tea delicately.

"Excuse me, but what exactly is going on?" Shikaku asked, not liking being the only one in the room uninformed.

Sarutobi replied, "After I became aware of Naruto being alive we reconnected. We both knew that he wasn't going to continue living the peaceful existence he obtained. We brainstormed on what we could do to make things bearable."

"I assume he is not joining the Shinobi forces," Shikaku stated.

"You would be correct I have no interest in it even if both my parents were I don't exactly have to follow in their footsteps to make them proud," Naruto uttered making Shikaku wince.

Shikaku sighed, "I see that won't work on you then."

"No it will not. I'm passed emotional blackmail. Also materialistic pleasures are of no importance to me, all I truly need to be happy is tranquility and a good cup of tea. Therefore let's not waste time in you trying to get me under the village's thumb, shall we?" Naruto raised a brow gesturing the man to sit down with them.

"Very well now why am I here?" Shikaku questioned, taking a seat at the table.

"Naruto has been observing the village and is very much knowledgeable of all its machinations," Sarutobi hinted.

Shikaku hummed folding his arms, "I see that is why you are familiar with Danzo."

"Yes so to get right down to it, the village is in danger, not that it isn't always with being one the strongest villages and having many enemies who hold old grudges or new villages who want to come up in power. However there is a threat heading your way soon," Naruto passed Shikaku a cup of tea.

"Who exactly is this threat?" Shikaku accepted the cup, quite tense the last thing he wishes is another war. Konoha's forces aren't the numbers it used to be mainly after what happened with the Kyuubi.

Sarutobi answered, "Orochimaru." His face looked like it was etched in stone resembling his likeness craved upon the Hokage Mountain.

Shikaku's eyes widen in alarm. "He has two goals in mind. He wishes to get revenge for being overlooked for the position of Hokage and there is something in the village he wishes to steal away," Naruto explained.

"The Sharingan is what he is after. He'll try to take Sasuke away from the village. It is no secret that the man wants to learn the secrets of all Shinobi techniques and the Sharingan is the ultimate tool to do so. Along with his quest to find true immortality he wishes to be ultimate Shinobi," Naruto added.

Shikaku sighed, "You certainly know a lot about this."

"Knowing the enemy enables you to take the offensive, knowing yourself enables you to stand on the defensive," Naruto quoted.

"Sun Tzu, a fan of classic strategy I see," Shikaku commented then began to smile. "Have you ever played Shogi?" He asked only to receive a downright devious smile.

Shikaku was pleasantly surprised to find that they tied, "You truly are something else."

"Thank you," Naruto grinned.

"Naruto I have a question to ask, I am aware that you've been helping the Genin why is that?" Shikaku asked.

Naruto sighed, "They need it… badly well some more than others. Your son is one of them."

Shikaku felt slightly affronted, but decided to be quiet and listen. Seeing how he wasn't going to be interrupted Naruto continued, "Your son is a prodigy that is no doubt, but he has come to rely on that. He isn't improving on other aspects that make a Shinobi. Do you know why?"

Shikaku knew the answer, but let Naruto finish, "It is because he has never faced someone his age that could outmaneuver him, seeing an older Shinobi outsmart him is of no consequence, one must account for experience."

"He also doesn't care if someone beats him due to being physically stronger or is able to use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu. Shikamaru knows that he's not specialist in any of those fields, but as I said before no one his age has been able to beat him in strategy," Naruto remarked.

"So what do you plan on doing to get him to improve?" Shikaku asked. Naruto only grinned foxily making the man nervous and the Sandaime laugh.

[End of Flashback]

"Dad?" Shikamaru spoke snapping Shikaku out his little world.

Shikaku apologized, "Sorry, anyway I better head out. Good work out there Shikamaru." He left via Shunshin no Jutsu.

The Rookies and Tenten made their way over to Naruto and Shikamaru while the teachers, Anko and the Sandaime stepped away to form their own huddle.

"Troublesome, why didn't you guys tell me this guy was a genius?" Shikamaru groaned to Ino and Chouji.

Ino placed her hands on her hips indignantly, "You're the one that let your ego get in the way. We told you about Naruto before, you just didn't listen."

"I thought he was some new obsession after getting over Sasuke," Shikamaru admitted, feeling a little ashamed at not listening to his friend and teammate.

Ino huffed, "Okay I see how you could think that from past behavior, but I've grew up and you forget Chouji and I have gotten together."

"True, well I'm not making that mistake again," Shikamaru said determinedly.

"It'll help if you train with us more, so how about it?" Chouji asked.

Shikamaru sighed slumping slightly, "This so troublesome, but I'll do it I can't let you guys leave me behind. How am I going to lead you out of trouble if I don't know what you're capable of?"

"What do you mean you lead us?!" Ino shouted earning laughs from everyone sans Sasuke who only smirked and Shino who remained stoic, but they all knew he was amused.

ヽ(' ∇' )ノヽ(' ∇' )ノヽ(' ∇' )ノ

"It's good to see the younger generation getting along so well," The Sandaime smiled as the instructors reflected his expression, they all were proud of them.

Inwardly the Sandaime was also a bit disheartened, "I hope those bonds grow stronger because what awaits them will put those bonds to the test."

ヽ(' ∇' )ノヽ(' ∇' )ノヽ(' ∇' )ノ

End of Chapter

Author's Note: Nothing really to say, but I don't know a damn thing about Shogi. Anyway thanks for reading! Until next time…