Chapter 5: A Friend's Counsel
The following morning, Naruto sat alone in a quiet corner of the training grounds, absently tossing a kunai into the air and catching it. His mind was a storm of thoughts he couldn't make sense of. Memories of Minato's life continued to surface, each one leaving him more confused than the last. He needed to talk to someone, someone smart enough to help him figure this out—someone he could trust.
He decided to find Shikamaru.
Naruto found Shikamaru lounging under a tree near the Nara clan's deer grounds, staring at the clouds with his hands behind his head.
"Hey, Shikamaru," Naruto called, approaching him.
The shadow-user glanced up, his lazy gaze sharpening slightly as he took in Naruto's tense expression. "What's up? You look like you've got something on your mind."
Naruto hesitated before sitting down beside him. "I… need your advice about something. But you gotta promise not to tell anyone. Especially Granny Tsunade."
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "Tsunade? That's serious. What's going on?"
Naruto fidgeted, unsure where to start. "You remember everything that happened with the Blood Prison, right?"
"Hard to forget," Shikamaru replied dryly. "The way you got tossed in there for something you didn't do? Yeah, I remember."
"Well, ever since then, something weird's been happening to me," Naruto admitted. He rubbed the back of his neck. "I've been seeing things… like memories. But they're not mine."
Shikamaru sat up, his curiosity piqued. "Not yours? What kind of memories?"
Naruto took a deep breath. "They're from the Fourth Hokage… Minato. I think… I think he's my dad."
Shikamaru blinked, stunned into silence. It took him a moment to process the weight of Naruto's words. "Your dad… the Fourth Hokage? That's—"
"Crazy, I know," Naruto interrupted. "But I've seen it. I've felt it. He sacrificed himself to save me and the village. And now, for some reason, his memories are merging with mine."
Shikamaru's sharp mind quickly pieced together the implications. "That's… a lot to deal with. No wonder you're keeping it quiet. If the wrong people found out, it could get messy."
"Exactly," Naruto said. "I don't even know what to think about it yet, so I don't want Tsunade or anyone else getting involved."
Shikamaru nodded thoughtfully. "Fair enough. But why come to me? What do you want to know?"
Naruto leaned back against the tree, staring up at the sky. "It's not just the memories. They're… changing me. They're making me think about stuff I've never thought about before. Like what it really means to be Hokage."
Shikamaru remained quiet, letting Naruto continue.
"I always thought being Hokage was about being the strongest and protecting everyone, but Minato's memories… they show me how hard it really is. The decisions he had to make—sacrificing people, risking everything. It wasn't just about strength; it was about responsibility. And now… I'm not sure I want that anymore."
"That's heavy," Shikamaru admitted, his tone serious. "But it makes sense. Seeing the reality of it would shake anyone up. And let's be honest, Naruto, being Hokage isn't for everyone. It's not a job you can do just because you want to."
Naruto shot him a look. "You sound like you've thought about this before."
"Of course I have," Shikamaru replied, smirking faintly. "My dad's in the inner circle. I've seen what Hokage life does to people. It's not something I'd want, and it's not something you should want unless you're absolutely sure it's the right path for you."
Naruto frowned, his mind racing. "So you think it's okay if I… don't want it anymore?"
Shikamaru sighed. "Look, Naruto, you've always been about following your own path, right? If being Hokage isn't what you want anymore, that's fine. But you need to figure out why. Are these memories just scaring you, or are they showing you something deeper about yourself?"
Naruto stared at the ground, Shikamaru's words striking a chord.
As they sat in silence for a moment, Shikamaru asked, "So, why don't you want Tsunade to know about this? She could probably help."
Naruto's jaw tightened. "Because she's the one who sent me to that prison in the first place. I know it was to test me or whatever, but she still didn't trust me. And after everything I've done for the village, that still pisses me off."
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "Fair point. But I doubt she meant it personally."
"Maybe," Naruto admitted grudgingly. "But I can't stop thinking about how it led me to Ryūzetsu. If she hadn't sent me there, I never would've met her. So I guess… part of me's grateful, too."
Shikamaru smirked. "Sounds like you've got a lot to work through, huh?"
Naruto snorted. "Yeah, no kidding."
Before leaving, Shikamaru offered one last piece of advice. "Naruto, whatever you decide—whether you still want to be Hokage or not—make sure it's yourdecision. Don't let these memories or anyone else make it for you. And don't let the Fourth Hokage's legacy overshadow your own. You're Naruto Uzumaki, not Minato Namikaze."
Naruto looked at him, surprised by the wisdom in his words. A slow smile spread across his face. "Thanks, Shikamaru. I knew I could count on you."
Shikamaru shrugged. "That's what friends are for. And don't worry—I won't say a word to Tsunade."
As Naruto walked away, his mind felt a little clearer. The memories still lingered, but Shikamaru's words had given him a new perspective. He didn't have to figure everything out right now. For now, he could focus on being himself—and on the people who mattered most to him, like Ryūzetsu.