Next month

At the annual Akimichi Feast

The child bowed. "I am Yoshiko of the Ikeda Clan. Thank you for inviting me to this feast."

Chouza made sure to give her a welcoming smile and loosened his stance. "There's no need for such polite language. I am Akimichi Chouza, Head of the Akimichi Clan. I wanted to meet the girl that has my R&D department in a frenzy."

"Should I apologise?"

"It's a good thing! Everyone is fired up! It's rare for ninja to be so eager to clock in overtime hours."

"I am grateful to Saburo-sensei for introducing me to them and training me. The lovely people over at the R&D have been rather… enthusiastic."

Chouza laughed. "You can say it. Ninja are pushy and less concerned with formalities."

"Yes. I used to be from Konoha."

"Really?"

"I was an orphan. I was almost a ninja myself."

"It's not too late."

The little girl shook her head. "I sought higher education. Father and Mother have been kind to provide that."

"Ah, yes. Saburo-san did mention how you gobbled up every book in his home. The Akimichi have a huge library. We are perfectly willing to trade recipes for recipes."

"Thank you for the offer. I look forward to working with the Akimichi Clan." She motioned to her handmaid. "Sachiko, could you bring out the biryani?"

Chouza's nose twitched. "A new recipe?"

"Something I'm working on. Would you like to try it?"

Chouza nodded and Sachiko opened the lunchbox. It was a yellow chicken and rice. He tasted it and nodded. "Not bad."

She frowned. "I thought so."

"No, no, it's good. It's just a taste I've never tasted before."

Her frown deepened and she shook her head. "No. This is a disgrace. The rice is too short and sticky and I can't get the proper spices at all." She sighed. "I shouldn't call it a biryani."

"It is a weird name. But it's your creation. You can name it whatever you want."

Her eyes glazed over. "…You're right. My creation." She motioned for Sachiko to keep the food. "It won't be possible to get this one right but all I can do is improvise. I'll call it Japanese biryani."

He didn't see how adding another strange word made the name less weird but he decided to ignore it. "You're pretty hard on yourself, aren't you?"

The girl swept her eyes across the room. "Not as hard as some. There is always someone above you."

She really didn't talk like a civilian or even a ninja child. Tough upbringing? But she was well-spoken… "Your parents have raised you well."

She bowed her head. "I shall pass on your compliments."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chouji looking lost in the corner and he beckoned his son over. "That is Chouji, my son and heir."

Chouji made his way over and bowed, slightly intimidated by her cool demeanour. "I am Chouji. Of the Akimichi Clan. Nice to meet you."

To Chouza's surprise, Yoshiko's face broke into a pretty smile and she spoke in a soft and gentle voice. "I'm Ikeda Yoshiko. It's nice to meet you, Chouji-kun." Instead of bowing, she briefly embraced Chouji.

Slightly taken aback, Chouji returned the embrace and mumbled 'nice to meet you', completely forgetting he'd already said that.

They separated after a few seconds, that warm smile still on her face. "How are you, Chouji-kun?"

"I'm fine. And you?"

"I was chatting with your father. He is a passionate and talented man with a kind heart." She placed her hand on his chest. "I'm sure you've inherited his heart too."

Chouji looked away, face slightly red as he mumbled. "Well… but we're ninja so…"

She giggled. "Ninja are humans too! The ideal is to be perfect but that's it. An ideal. It's impossible. Once you accept that, you have to strategize and play to your strengths!"

"I am still in the Academy and umm… I am not that strong…"

She placed her hands lightly on his cheeks and guided his eyes to face her. "Chouji-kun, do you love food?"

"O-of course I love food!"

"Do you love the smell of baked bread? The layers in a perfect ramen broth?"

"Yes!"

"To be the Akimichi head, you have to handle many things. Fighting is important but there's also managing the restaurants, the business, the allies and many more. As a leader, your job is not to be good at everything. It is recognising the talents of others and using them correctly. As long as you have people managing what you're bad at, that's fine. That's what friends are for. You just have to be very good at one or two things in life to succeed."

"Soooo… I get Shikamaru to do business, Ino to allies and I can do restaurants?"

"That's the basic idea."

Chouji looked at Chouza and Chouza shrugged. "She's not wrong. Shikamaru-kun and Ino-chan will be busy with their own clans but you do have to find other people to do some jobs. I can't do everything."

"Really? You can't?"

Ahh… perhaps he should've had his conversation with his son earlier. "Of course. Even ninja can't do everything. You need basic skills in everything but the advanced stuff can be left to the experts."

Chouji's eyes widened and that was when Chouza saw it. Just like that, Chouji had finally understood what Chouza had been trying to say ever since the bullying started. There was more to being a ninja, to being an Akimichi, than raw strength and fighting.

Chouza, a little ashamed he hadn't conveyed this earlier, patted Chouji on the head. "I am not the strongest fighter in the clan by any means. As long as you're good at other things, that's okay." Chouji nodded mutely. "Go on and eat."

Chouji walked away before turning around, hastily bowing to Yoshiko and scurrying away.

The two of them stood in silence before Chouza spoke up. "Thank you. You have no idea how much of a difference you just made."

Yoshiko looked into his eyes, that gentle smile a little more muted, but also a little more natural on her face. "I know, Akimichi-sama. I know."

There was a brief moment of quiet connection as they locked eyes. The world faded to a blur of white noise. He studied her. Little though she was, she carried a dignity and elegance about her that made her stand out like a lighthouse in the midst of the jovial and loud Akimichi gathering. She spoke with intention, looked with discernment and thought with calculation. This…

"The Nara gathering is a week after ours. Would you like to be there?"

"Someone you would like me to meet?"

He grinned. "Someone who would love to meet you."

"Oh? Should I be afraid?"

"What does someone like you fear?"

Her smile grew genuinely larger. "I carry healthy caution."

Next week

The annual Nara gathering

The Nara gathering was a decidedly less rowdy event. Instead of long rows of tables decked with food, there were servants going round with trays to smaller tables. There was a small shogi section and soft shamisen music wafting through the area with a murmur of voices.

"I am Yoshiko of the Ikeda Clan. Nice to meet you, Nara-sama." Yoshiko presented herself to Shikaku with a bow.

Shikaku returned her bow with a dip of his head. "I am Nara Shikaku, Head of the Nara Clan. Chouza has told me some impressive things about you."

She gave a polite smile. "There are some abnormalities in my life but nothing of impressive note."

"You're ten and opening a restaurant."

"With the incredible help of my honoured Father and the noble Akimichi Clan. I am not here of my abilities alone."

"You are here of your own initiative, though."

"There are many people who have helped me along in my life. What I have been given, I must repay with gratitude."

Shikaku stroked his chin as he considered Yoshiko. "Are you up for a game of shogi?"

"I am but an amateur. I would be honoured to play against you."

"If you're uncomfortable, you could always play against my son."

"I would love to meet your son."

Shikaku pulled out a kunai and threw it at Shikamaru. The blunt end smacked Shikamaru's head and he turned around. He grumpily rubbed his head, picked up the kunai and strolled over to them.

Shikamaru passed the kunai to his father. "Was that necessary?"

"It was efficient." Shikaku smacked the back of his head. "Go on. Where are your manners?"

Shikamaru rubbed his head again and bowed shoddily. "I'm Nara Shikamaru. Nice to meet you," he droned.

Yoshiko was unfazed and her polite smile didn't waver as she bowed as well. "I am Ikeda Yoshiko. It is a pleasure to meet you. I've heard that shogi is a favourite past time of yours."

Shikamaru shrugged. "I suppose."

"I'm afraid your father has offered you up as a sacrifice."

Shikamaru stared up at his father. "What did I do?"

Shikaku smiled sharkishly at his son. "Not everything is about you. No slacking."

Shikamaru sighed. "Do I have to?"

Yoshiko's polite smile grew a little and she tilted her head to the left slightly. "I'm afraid that's not how involuntary volunteering works."

Shikamaru grumbled a little more as Shikaku forcibly ushered him over to a private shogi room. Shikaku threw his son another warning before leaving.

The two children sat on their knees and bowed to each other before starting.

"How much do you know of shogi?"

"Not much, I'm afraid. I've studied some in preparation for this event but I'm very much an amateur. I am honoured to play against you and hope to learn from you."

Shikamaru sighed. "We're both children. That's no need to be so formal. The Nara believe in efficiency over pleasantries."

"I've noticed. I understand your culture but old habits die hard. Don't mind me. I will not find your frankness and informality to be a source of concern."

Shikamaru paused for two seconds before answering. "Well, it doesn't really matter as long as I can't screw up. I find all that annoying so I automatically get annoyed at polite speech."

"A conditioned response. Perfectly explainable. I will say that the liberty to speak frankly is appreciated even if I choose not to exercise it."

"You talk like one of those old man politicians."

"Well, thank you."

"It wasn't really a compliment."

"A matter of perspective. For example… hmm… well, let's just say I've never seen such a huge disparity between intelligence and willpower in my life."

Shikamaru stared at Yoshiko. Yoshiko smiled back innocently. Shikamaru groaned. "You're going to be such a huge pain in the ass."

"Well, thank you."

"… I'm not the smartest in the clan, you know."

"Really? Then who is?"

"My father."

"I'm pretty sure I saw one or two with comparable intelligence back there. I'll check your claim later."

"… How would you measure intelligence?"

Her smile grew artificially bright. "Instinct! Ah, but you will be smarter than your father."

"And how would you know that?"

"Because your talent is substantially higher. If you live to… let's see…" She cocked her head to the side thinking before sighing "what I would do for a spreadsheet and graphing software. I really need a higher maths level. Anyway, this is only a very rough estimate but if you live to your early 20s, you should surpass your father."

"… Okay… so how do you know that?"

She smiled brightly. "Instinct!"

"… You did all that calculations based on some instincts?"

"Yes! Don't you do that too?"

"… No. No one does that."

She completely ignored him. "There are many talents out there. My talent is to see the talents of others."

"A kekkei genkai?"

"No. I'm pretty sure it couldn't be passed to my children."

"And how do you know that?"

"Instinct!"

"… You know… they say instincts are important but they are not everything."

"My instincts have never been wrong in my life," Yoshiko uttered with complete conviction.

Shikamaru frowned. "Is that so?"

"Yes."

"How do they work?"

"It's instinct."

"So you won't explain it."

"Instinct is instinct. Everyone can understand that."

"Not everyone's instincts are perfect."

"But this is an odd world we live in, don't we? Senju Tsunade will always lose a bet except when it matters. Maito Gai's smile will always be eye-burningly bright. Those are nonsense yet constant rules. Ikeda Yoshiko's instincts are always correct. Is that really that weird?"

Shikamaru shrugged. "I suppose."

Later

Family dinner

"That girl is weird."

Shikaku chewed his rice. "Is that so?"

"Yes. She says her instincts are never wrong."

"I was listening in."

"…"

"I think she's right. Eventually, I hope you will surpass me."

"Do you believe her?"

"About the instincts? I have no particular reason not to. She's a rational agent. She won't reveal something so useful for no reason. My guess is that she wants us to trust her word with no more proof than her feelings. It'll be useful for covering up information she can't explain later on. If that's her goal, she will prove herself to us of her own volition. I doubt she'd make such a large claim without having a way to prove herself."

"Can such a thing really exist?"

Shikaku shrugged. "Who knows. Strange abilities pop up in strange people all the time. Her parentage is also unknown. There's still a lot we don't know about genetic mutation, chakra inheritance and kekkei genkai."

"A kekkei genkai?" Shikamaru looked off to the side. "… Is… that so…"

Shikaku eyed his son. "One of the daimyo's favourite concubines is an Ikeda and she has given him two children. He won't be happy if we do anything to the daughter of the Clan Head. Unless it's a matter of national security, there's no way Hokage-sama will sign off on it."

"… It's creepy."

"At this point, we haven't even proven if she has any abilities. She may just be perceptive. If it makes you feel better, she isn't exactly hiding it. Someone else would've discovered it. Better us than someone with… less than pure intentions."

"… I guess."

"… Well…" Shikaku scratched his head. "It's all very uncertain. It may just be a character quirk unique to her. I'll only pass the information on if I can confirm it. It's not like she's an enemy or a threat and she doesn't seem willing to share details. Even if she proves herself, investigating it would be low priority. Konoha has limited resources and many much greater threats and potential research."

"… I see."

"…"

"Do you think she's telling the truth? That she's only played shogi for a week?"

"Chouza invited her a week prior."

"I couldn't get an image of her."

Shikaku shrugged. "Neither could I."

Shikamaru looked up. "You couldn't?"

"The girl is an iron fortress of politeness and platitudes. She smiles as she is bade to, bows as she is demanded to and compliments as she is required to. She's a little doll. It's very hard to see who she is underneath."

"That's like a ninja infiltrator. Could she be a spy?"

Shikaku laughed. "Oh, you'd be surprised, my son. The civilian nobility may not have sharpened teeth or razor-sharp shuriken but they can be far more vicious than ninja society. Not to mention she was apparently an orphan and it's always a scramble amongst orphans for resources. It doesn't happen so often so young but it's not surprising that the system could produce something like her.

"… She's… not bad. For a one week player." Shikamaru muttered, eyes cast to the side.

Shikaku looked at his son with new, curious eyes. "Well, well, isn't that rare?"

Shikamaru grumbled and slouched further. "It's just shogi. It's not work."

"Our clan hosts many opponents."

"I know. I'm… I'm just a little… frustrated. She's weaker than me but I feel like I can't see anything."

"Is that so? Then, I'll leave it to you." Shikaku picked up his cup and hid his smile behind a sip of tea. "This should be a good learning experience. Use it well."

Three days later

There was a loud "THUD!" as the sliding door was violently thrown open. "Shikamaru! It's 2 pm! Get your ass out of bed now!" His mother roared.

Shikamaru responded by snuggling further under his sheets. His mother let out a grunt of irritation and easily wrestled the sheets away from the academy student. She grabbed him by the leg, dragged him out of his room, opened the front door and threw him out. His back slammed and skipped across the mud.

"Go do something outside and do not come back until dinner!" She ordered before slamming the door shut.

Shikamaru collapsed onto the mud, eagle spread. It stunk a little, but the mud was rather nice and cool. Hell, it was nicer than his room's half broken air-con. Shikamaru was even half-certain his mum had broken it to get him out. Sleeping outside was technically doing something outside, right?

Apparently, his mum didn't think so. 45 minutes later, a very unamused Nara Yoshino pelted her son with rocks until he fled. He sneaked to the river and jumped in to get rid of some of the mud. Now he was a mud stain rather than a mud drip. Still, if he walked around town all muddy, his mum was going to be pissed as all hell. (Even though it was her fault for throwing him in mud.) He needed a place to shower and the mud was a nice solution to Konoha's insane heat and humidity.

He sighed. Well, he had been planning on playing shogi with Yoshiko. It's just that her house was five kilometres away. If he explained his circumstances, maybe she'd understand and let them play shogi outdoors.

So he made the trek over to her house, constantly wiping his face with his muddy but wet shirt to cool down. A maid opened the door and stared down at him.

"Are you lost?" The maid asked.

"I'm Nara Shikamaru. I came for shogi."

The maid looked at him doubtfully. "Ikeda-sama is busy now."

"It's just shogi. I can wait." Indoors. With air-con.

The maid hesitated for a few more seconds before letting him in. "Would Nara-sama like a shower?"

"That would be great. When's she coming back?"

"I'm uncertain."

"I see." Well, it was fine with him if he stayed here for the rest of the day.

He showered quickly and spent the next two hours lounging about in a fluffy bathrobe with a free flow of tea and snacks. Best. Two. Hours. Ever. The food was delicious, the air-con actually worked and the couch was fabulously soft. Far better than his thin futon.

Yoshiko came back two hours later. "Ah, Nara-san! Sorry to keep you waiting."

Well, all goods things had to come to an end. "Not really. I dropped by unannounced."

Yoshiko scanned the room, her eyes resting on her maid who looked none too pleased with his existence. "Have you been enjoying your stay?"

"Fine."

Yoshiko giggled and girlishly hid it behind her hand. "Is that so? I'm glad. Sachiko said you were here for shogi."

Shikamaru shrugged. "Mum kicked me out. Said I had to do something outside."

"What wonderfully vague instructions. Let us play at the terrace door. I'll sit on the indoors side of the entrance and you'll sit out. The outside is nice and shaded and we'll turn up the air conditioning so you can have a lovely breeze."

Shikamaru looked at her appreciatively. "You read my mind."

"Just give me some time to change."

The maid guided him to the terrace and set up the shogi board. Shikamaru stayed indoors. He would not step a foot out any earlier than he had to. A few minutes later and Yoshiko emerged.

Shikamaru gaped.

Yoshiko smiled. But it wasn't her usual polite smile. It was tinged with a little more… life? No… character. Character was the word. "Is it that surprising?"

Indeed, it was. No longer was she confined in her fine kimono and rigid posture. She was now free of any binding hair accessories, jewellery and makeup. She simply stood there. Casually. In a blue t-shirt and brown cargo shorts.

She strolled over, her gait no less graceful but it had a loose and flowing quality to it. She sat and invited him to take his seat across her. "I believe being casual is a thing of the Nara."

He slowly took his place opposite her. "Yes."

She continued to look at him questioningly.

He sighed. "You know I don't mind."

She laughed. "I know. I just need to initial confirmation. Shall we start?"

The next day

"Chouji… you are… reading?"

Chouji looked up to see Shikamaru's curious shadow falling over him. He let out a squeak and slammed the book shut, hugging it to his chest. "Shi-Shikamaru! You scared me!"

Shikamaru sat next to him. "There's no need to be so on edge." He glanced at Chouji's book. "Chemistry?"

"Yes… dad said it would help me understand cooking a bit better. It's a little complicated."

"I would bet."

A peaceful silence resumed as Chouji sat relaxed and Shikamaru quietly observed him.

"Something's different," Shikamaru declared.

"What?"

"I don't know. This picture of you sitting there is just different somehow. You're… less tense?"

Chouji blushed and look away. "Actually… I met this girl last week. It was only for five minutes and I can't really remember her name but she said some amazing stuff about being clan head and it just clicked in my head."

Shikamaru's eyes narrowed. "Is it a girl from our school? Be careful if it is. Half are vicious, power-hungry harpies and the other half are lazy, dreamy and pathetic."

Chouji frowned. "You shouldn't say that about girls, Shikamaru. Some of them are really nice."

"Like?"

"Umm… Hyuuga-san? She's strong and nice."

Shikamaru grunted. "Hinata-chan's a weird one. But she's a clan heiress and still young. Plenty of time for her to show her evil side."

"I can't imagine Hyuuga-san doing anything mean."

"You'll see. My dad used to talk about how sweet my mum was."

"Not everyone is like your mum."

"Kiba's mum?"

"My mum is nice!"

"As long as you stay in line."

"That's what mums are like. They're nice if you're nice and mean if you're not. Dad always says that mums being mean means they love you."

"So they love you if they're nice and they love you if they're mean? That makes sense," Shikamaru said scathingly.

Chouji scrunched his face up, pouted and turned away. "My mum is nice," Chouji mumbled obstinately.

Shikamaru read his face for a brief few seconds before sighing. "Well, some confidence is good. And? What is this girl?"

Chouji immediately forgave and forgot everything. "She's really pretty and nice! Almost like a doll!"

"A doll-" Shikamaru's stomach lurched forward so hard that he coughed. "Did you- where did you meet this girl?"

"The annual feast. Why?"

Shikamaru took in a deep breath and exhaled. "… Nothing. It's just-… no, nothing."

Later

"Ikeda-sama?" Sachiko knocked on the door. "There's a letter from the Nara."

Yoshiko opened the door, took the letter and opened it.

Chouji is a pure-hearted boy. Anything that touches him will be eliminated.

Yoshiko let out a snort of laughter. Sachiko sucked in a surprised breath. "Ikeda-sama?"

Yoshiko shook her head, smile still firmly across her face. "No, no. It's just a very cute letter." She folded the letter back up. "Tell the messenger that I'm free tomorrow from 1pm to 2pm… and from 6pm onwards."