"Fair-weather friends aren't so bad," Nara Shikamaru joked, but Nara Shikaku didn't take it to heart.
"You don't understand the affairs of adults." The closer the friends, the more careful one had to be about boundaries. Otherwise, a seemingly unbreakable friendship could become a set of mutual shackles. Nara Shikaku sighed and ruffled his son's hair.
"You, Ino, and Choji passed without a hitch. What are you still unhappy about?"
"Something just feels off, but I can't quite put my finger on it..."
"Can't put your finger on it, or just unwilling to admit it?"
Nara Shikaku was the head of Konoha's Jonin forces, a position a cut above even new-generation Jonin like Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy. Only the Hokage and a few advisors gave him pause. What hadn't the experienced Nara Shikaku seen in his time? There was nowhere for Shikamaru to hide his petty thoughts.
"Admit? You think I'm unwilling to face reality..."
"See? I haven't even said anything, and you've already given yourself away. I'm not too worried about that sharp mind of yours, but intelligence isn't the same as wisdom."
Shikamaru's eyebrow twitched. "You mean I'm just a fool who thinks he's clever?"
"A fool who thinks he's clever? You probably look down on any kid who isn't as smart as you, which is why you'd say something so thoughtless. During the written exam, you were cornered by Genin less intelligent than you, forced to rely on Ibiki's charity just to scrape by. It stung your pride, didn't it? That's why you're so resentful."
"I'm not..." Shikamaru tried to argue, but Nara Shikaku continued as if he hadn't heard.
"Your powerlessness bred anger, and that anger led to pain..."
"Stop it!" Shikamaru shouted, cutting off his father's merciless words. "Please, just stop!"
"You think I've gone too far?" Nara Shikaku stood. "It's good to have confidence in your intellect, but don't overestimate its value. Why else would the saying 'great wisdom appears foolish' exist? Think on that, my son. The son I am so proud of."
With that, Nara Shikaku turned and left, leaving Shikamaru alone to gaze at the moon.
*What an irresponsible father, leaving before he's even finished. Does he really have that much faith in me? Thinking I'll understand even if he doesn't spell it out...*
Shikamaru smiled bitterly and pulled a kunai from his pouch.
*"The son I am so proud of," huh? Looking like this... even I'm ashamed of myself.*
***
The night was deep, and many of the day's weary workers were already asleep. Daigan, however, who had let loose a little during the day, was still writing something under the dim incandescent light of the inn.
As he wrote furiously, a soft knock came from the door.
Daigan put down his brush, tidied his cluttered desk, and then went to open it. Standing outside was Kankuro, dressed in thin clothes. Without his iconic puppet costume and the paint washed from his face, he looked like any other ordinary, slightly pudgy teenager.
"It's late. What's up?"
Daigan hadn't seen Kankuro's plain face in years. If not for the faint resemblance to his childhood self, he might not have recognized him at all.
"Couldn't sleep. I saw your light was still on, so I came to check."
"Insomnia at your age? Was the book I lent you too stimulating? This brother-in-law of yours is a true menace..."
"Stop talking nonsense! Why are you still up? Are you still worried about what happened today?"
"Not really. Just preparing for tomorrow's exam." Dwelling on the past wasn't Daigan's style. "Come in. The doorway is no place to talk."
The inn Konoha had arranged for the Sand Ninja was rather spartan. Aside from a bed, a desk, a low stool, and a dining table, there was little else. The room had no lived-in feel to it at all.
Kankuro found a random place to sit and glanced at Daigan's desk. "So you really are busy. I thought you were just making excuses."
"Excuses? Why would you think that?" Daigan poured himself a glass of cool water and took a large gulp, moistening his dry throat.
"Staying up this late... are you whispering sweet nothings to some girl?"
"Little brother-in-law coming to catch me in the act? Sticking up for your sister?"
"Stop with the 'little brother-in-law' this and 'brother-in-law' that. I was just curious, so I came to see."
"Curious?" Daigan's eyes darted toward the uncomfortable-looking Kankuro. "You still haven't told me why you can't sleep," he asked with a grin. "Or why you're in the mood for a late-night chat."
"What's with that look? I haven't done anything shady. Don't let your imagination run wild."
"I get it, I get it. Personal privacy. I won't pry." Daigan wasn't that curious. Whatever was on Kankuro's mind, he didn't feel the need to press him for details.
"Saying it like that just makes me sound more suspicious, doesn't it?" Kankuro said helplessly. "Talking with you is always such an effort."
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