Just wanted to say I'll be uploading weekly on Saturdays. I think overall I will keep this fanfiction short. My hope is to write 2k in each chapter, and overall I wanna write at least 40k but this might change if I feel like I'm rushing the story.


The game took about an hour, but Naruto was messing around. He knew Shikamaru from his past life, and he was the person who thought him shogi. They used to play from when they were younger, and over time, Naruto improved.

While he wasn't the best strategist, he was good at thinking on his feet, making outrageous plans, and making them work in a way he could. While he couldn't beat Shikamaru when they were young after the beginning of the war and multiple lessons and games with Shikamaru and reanimated Hokages and others, he was finally able to pose a real challenge against Shikamaru.

He even won a few games, but he suspected that Shikamaru threw those games to give him the confidence to lead them in real life. Naruto was so familiar with Shikamaru's thought process that he could see the embers of the most excellent strategist in all nations in the child in front of him.

Naruto knew that he couldn't throw the game. He could get away with doing so against Danzo. While Danzo was by no means stupid, and he could be considered a great strategist, he didn't know the truth about Naruto.

Naruto would often use textbook strategies against him. He would do precisely as he was told. When Danzo would ask him to change parts of his gameplay or strategy, he would exactly do what he was told.

Danzo believed him to be a perfect soldier. Someone who listened to his every command, but that was not all. He wasn't a mere pawn for Danzo. Danzo wanted much more than that. He wanted to make Naruto into his masterpiece.

Someone who will take his place and protect the leaf from the shadows. Someone who would lead Konoha into greatness without being remembered. Naruto knew this much because he was told so.

Shikamaru was very different. Naruto knew that he would only become more determined when he beat him. Shikamaru would try to figure him out. To understand him through the board. With time hopefully, there will be mutual respect between them.

Naruto lost his comrades to war once. He was not going to let it happen again. He would sacrifice everything and go through hell, but he would ensure they were safe. He would nudge them all in the right direction.

They all needed different things at this age. For Shikamaru, it was to be humble. While Shikamaru was never cocky or underestimated his opponents, he knew that he was a genius. He believed that just by being average, he could get through life.

Naruto didn't blame him. This Shikamaru has never seen war. He was pure and innocent and a bit naïve. While there are situations that can be avoided by being a good strategist, he also needs to train his body.

The first time around, it was the death of Asuma that made him open his eyes. It was as if the reality of being a shinobi hit him. Even then, it wasn't until the war and death of the ones he was leading that changed him.

The Shikamaru of war was someone who truly understood the reality of strategies. That life was not a shogi board. Sacrificing a piece in real life could mean hundreds of deaths. Each piece is priceless, yet you must send your pieces to death for the king's survival.

Naruto was lost in his thoughts when he heard Shikamaru and Choji gasp in surprise. They were both looking at the board with wonder in their eyes. Naruto looked at the board. It looks like he won the game.

Naruto was lost in his thoughts when he heard Shikamaru and Choji gasp in surprise. They were both looking at the board with wonder in their eyes. Naruto looked at the board. It looks like he won the game.

Shikamaru glared at the board for a few more seconds. You could see the tension in the air. He finally said, "I want a rematch."

Naruto nodded his head and helped him set up the board. They started playing. Shikamaru looked a lot more serious this time. Any sign of his usual aloofness was gone. Naruto knew he could beat him but didn't want to make it look easy.

The game lasted for 2 hours. Naruto had a few chances to finish the game early, but he wanted to give Shikamaru a chance. He kept changing his strategies, and although he mainly stuck to textbook ones, he used a few of his own.

In the end, he won again, and Shikamaru said, "Again."

"No," Naruto said calmly.

"What? You can't just beat me like that and then stop playing. I…" Shikamaru started.

"I can but hear me out. I won our first game and only agreed to a second to prove to you that it was due to skill and not a fluke. If we keep playing now, there would be no point because, at this point in time, I am a better player than you." Naruto said.

"You mean I should give up? Shikamaru said, slightly annoyed.

"No, what I am saying is that you need patience. We are acquainted now, and I am allowed to visit the village on weekends. You have time to prepare, and then we can have a rematch on one condition if you want." Naruto said.

"What's your condition?" Shikamaru said as he put his hand under his chin, looking thoughtful.

Naruto picked up a leaf from beside him and handed it to Shikamaru. "Here, I know you guys are academy students, so you should already know the leaf exercise. Hold this leaf on your forehead as long as you can." Naruto said.

Shikamaru accepted the leaf reluctantly and did as he was told. He managed for a while before tiring out and dropping the leaf. "That was about 35 seconds. Once you manage to hold it for a minute, we can have a rematch." Naruto said.

"What's the point of all this? Shogi is a game of mind. What does chakra control have to do with it?" Shikamaru said.

"I believe a great ninja needs a sharp mind and a strong body. So as long as I beat you in our shogi matches each week, we can test one of your physical skills, and when you improve it to a certain level, we can play again. This way, you will improve in both aspects simultaneously."

"One day we are both going to be shinobi of this village and I want to able to rely on my comrades. We might be in peace time now but who knows when the next war will break out. You also at least have a week now before we can have a rematch, so I'm sure you'll be able to do it before then." Naruto said.

Shikamaru kept glaring at him for a bit before sighing. "What a drag. Fine, if it's the only way to get you to play, I agree, but when I win, you will have to listen to me." He said.

Naruto brought his hand forward and shook hands to seal the deal. "By the way, Choji, what do you like to do?" Naruto asked.

"Me?" Choji asked, shocked.

"Yes. Shikamaru and I have been playing for a few hours, and you must be bored. Is there anything you like to do? We still have time before it starts to get dark." Naruto said.

"There is this new café that I wanted to try," Choji said with a small voice.

Naruto knew that Choji always was a gentle and kind soul. In his previous life, he was one of his first friends. He would always share his snacks with Naruto. Naruto suspected that it was because he knew that Naruto didn't have anyone to take care of him.

Naruto never brought lunch or any snacks with him to the academy. Some days when he was starving, he would sneak out during lunchtime to buy some Ichiraku ramen, but most days, he would wait until he could get back home and make some instant ramen.

The villagers were never kind to him. While most shops outright kicked him out, some would sell expired food or overprice them. Naruto was heavily malnourished, and he survived only because of Kurama.

He was an Uzumaki and a jinchuriki. He naturally needed to eat a lot more than an average person, but instead, he would go days before finding a proper meal. Sometimes he had to search the trashcans for food, but after the villagers found out, they started putting poison in the trash.

Naruto stopped himself before going any further. Long ago, he learned that he had what was called by Ino, a fractured mind. He went through a lot of abuse and trauma as a child, and for his brain to survive, it had to shatter.

All the memories and things that he couldn't handle were put into an entity created by his mind. He liked to call him Yami Naruto or just Yami. Yami had an important job. To make sure all the negative stayed hidden from Naruto.

After accepting Yami as a part of himself before the war, Naruto became aware of Yami's role. Yet it wasn't until after Madara captured him that he started going through those doors.

Each door held a part of his memories and when something triggered a door, he would see some glimpses of the memory. He learned how to stop the flashbacks with the help of Ino but couldn't hold them back forever.

During the war, whenever he had the time, he would meditate and go through some of the doors. When he went through a door, it would give him back a part of his memories, and when he was done with all the memories of the door, it would disappear.

It didn't mean he wouldn't experience flashbacks and panic attacks afterward. It only meant that they would become a part of his memories. It would take time and healing to reach a stage where those memories wouldn't hurt anymore.

Some memories were too harsh for him, and he wasn't ready to deal with them yet. They would hurt for a long time, and Naruto wondered if they would ever stop being so painful. During his first year of this life, he explored some of the doors since there wasn't much he could do.

He knew he would meet his old friends and comrades at some point, so he wanted to be ready for it. Even now, after all that preparation, he could still see the lifeless bodies of Choji and a broken Shikamaru wailing while holding his body close to his chest.

Naruto came back to his senses and smiled at Choji. "I would love to try the café." Choji beamed at that, and after helping Shikamaru pack his board, they headed back to the village.

The café was a small place. It also seemed to be a bakery since they had a large pastry selection. They all sat at a small corner table and ordered food. Since it was Naruto's first time, he asked Choji to choose for him.

They sat there for a while and made small talk but soon, it was time for them to leave. Naruto said goodbye to his new friends, and when he was far enough, he shunshined to the agent following him.

After giving him a nod, they made their way back to the base. Naruto first went into his room to change and write a report of the events. Of course, he left out a few details of his conversations as the agent wasn't with him when they happened.

He then went to Danzo's office and gave his report. Danzo gave him a nod of approval and dismissed him. Naruto ate dinner and returned to his room to prepare for tomorrow.