BASIC INFO: First Name: Shikamaru Age: 17 Birthday: 22 September Clan (Second Name): Nara Gender: Male Height: 170cm Hair Colour: Black Eye Colour: Brown Blood Type: AB Chakra Nature Types: Fire & Earth Village: Konohagakure Rank: Chunin Affilation: Hidden Leaf Shinobi Legal Classification: Ninja STATS: Intelligence - 5/5 Experience - 2/5 Morality - 3.5/5 Ninjutsu - 3/5 Genjutsu - 3/5 Taijutsu - 1.5/5 APPEARANCE: He has shoulder length hair, which is tied into a spiky, high ponytail on the crown of his head. I his hair usually appears black, but in some lighting, you could call it an incredibly dark brown. He has brown eyes, and a typical resting face that makes him appear either bored, or irritated. He wears a pair of stud earrings gifted to him by his late teacher Asuma. He wears his ninja headband around his left arm, instead of the usual forehead placement. He does this because he thought it was cool as a genin, and just couldn’t get used to wearing it on his forehead after that. When in typical day-to-day ninja gear, he wears a black, long sleeve turtleneck and black trousers, with the standardised green, leaf ninja’s flak jacket and thigh kunai pouch. PERSONALITY: Shikamaru is naturally a lazy person, and his inclination is to do as little work as possible. As an Academy student, and even during his early career as a genin, Shikamaru is able to get away with this, spending his days sleeping, watching the clouds, or playing games of shōgi. Even when told by many that he could be a great Hokage, he stated that he didn't want to deal with such responsibilities. He is slightly sexist, but not discriminatory. During the chunin exams, when facing off against a kunoichi from another village, he insisted that he shouldn’t be outdone by a girl, because that would be embarrassing. He then ended up forfeiting his battle with her, and has respected her specifically ever since. He is still slightly disrespectful to Sakura and Tenten though. His goal is to live unremarkably, free of anything of noticeably good or bad, and then to die just as unremarkably as he lived. When he is faced with the potential for conflict or commitment, he responds first by saying, "what a drag," and then does his best to avoid or simplify the situation. RELATIONSHIPS: Mother: Yoshino Nara Father: Shikaku Nara Siblings: None Best Friend: Choji Teacher: Asuma Sarutobi (Formerly) BACKSTORY: When Shikamaru was young, he once played "ninja" with other children his age. Choji Akimichi wanted to play with them, but the other children refused to allow him to do so, claiming he was too stupid and bad to participate. When Shikamaru couldn't convince the others to let Choji join, he left the game and went to his favourite spot to watch clouds. Choji happened to be sitting in the same spot when he got there, so Shikamaru introduced himself, and invited Choji to watch the clouds with him. Choji asked Shikamaru if he wanted some snacks. From that point onward they were best friends; they'd usually both pay practically no attention in class, and then hang out together afterwards. Shikamaru had very little interest in the class itself, preferring to spend his time sleeping rather than listen to Iruka’s lessons. Shikamaru showed the same lack of enthusiasm for the tests he was given and couldn't be bothered to actually answer the questions, leading to his poor grades. During his first year at the Academy, despite not making much effort to socialise, Shikamaru made more friends; Naruto Uzumaki, Kiba Inuzuka. Himself, Naruto, Kiba and Choji would often skip lessons together in the school basement. This eventually lead to a new friendship, or new friendships, that would last a lifetime. Though, all this feels like ages ago now, back when he was seven; he’s now sixteen. BACKGROUND: Like most mainstream leaf ninja, from ages 7-12, Shikamaru attended what is known as the ‘Academy’ - a five year long children’s school for those who want to become ninja. Graduation of the academy is the most common way to become a Genin. He is a member of the former academy class, commonly referred to as the Konoha 12. He cares deeply about all members of the Konoha 12, but especially his best friend since early childhood, Choji. For reference, here are the original teams, and current positions and a ranking of the Konoha 12. Original Teams: Team Asuma: Choji, Ino, Shikamaru Team Guy: Neji, Rock Lee, Tenten Team Kakashi: Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke Team Kurenai: Hinata, Kiba, Shino Ranking: 1. Sasuke (Rogue Shinobi) 2. Naruto (Genin Shinobi) 3. Sakura (Chunin Kunoichi) 4. Neji (Jonin Shinobi) 5. Rock Lee (Chunin Shinobi) 6. Hinata (Chunin Kunoichi) 7. Shino (Chunin Shinobi) 8. Tenten (Chunin Kunoichi) 9. Choji (Chunin Shinobi) 10. Shikamaru (Chunin Shinobi) 11. Kiba (Chunin Shinobi) 12. Ino (Chunin Kunoichi) Despite his poor grades in Academy, Shikamaru's potential quickly showed itself, as demonstrated when he was one of the only two members in his graduating class to become a chunin during the chunin exams, (alongside Hannah). Despite being a newly made chunin, he could hold his own against jonin level opponents like Tayuya of the Sound Four. Shikamaru’s most incredible feat would have to be defeating Hidan of Akatsuki after leading the latter to a trap. He did so to avenge his teacher Asuma’s death. After Shikamaru was assigned to Team 10, Asuma noticed that Shikamaru was much sharper than his Academy scores indicated. By disguising a number of intelligence tests as games and puzzles – the only way Asuma could get Shikamaru to be interested – Asuma discovered that Shikamaru has an IQ of over 200; his poor grades were because he was too lazy to take any of the written exams. It is chiefly because of his intelligence that Shikamaru receives as many responsibilities as he does and why the Fifth Hokage routinely pushes Shikamaru to use his intellect for his allies' and village's benefit. Indeed, the Hokage's faith in him is well-founded, as Shikamaru remains acutely aware of his own and others' limitations, allowing him to avoid surprise and unnecessary risk. He has experience on the battlefield, and knows how to keep levelheaded and calm. He holds onto his late teacher Asuma’s lighter, as a way to remember him by. Though, he is mostly over his grief by now. He is 17 years old, born September 22nd, and has been a chunin level ninja since age 12. Everyone agrees that he is easily skilled enough to be promoted to jonin, but he refuses to apply, because he doesn’t want the extra responsibility. ABILITIES: As a member of the Nara clan, Shikamaru is able to manipulate his own shadow. His signature move is the Shadow Imitation Technique, which he had learned before even entering the Academy. By connecting his shadow to a target's, Shikamaru can use the Shadow Imitation Technique to restrain their movements and force them to mimic his own. When used against superior opponents, they may be able to resist his control, requiring that Shikamaru exert additional effort to keep them bound; when used for whatever reason on allies or others who have been incapacitated, no resistance occurs and the process is accordingly much easier. After he becomes a chunin, Shikamaru is taught the Shadow–Strangle Technique by his father, which allows him to use his shadow to strangle those who have been bound with the Shadow Imitation. SUMMARY: Shikamaru Nara is a shinobi of Konohagakure's Nara clan. Though lazy by nature, Shikamaru has a rare intellect that consistently allows him to prevail in combat situations. The responsibilities that these successes leave him with do cause him frequent annoyance, but he gladly accepts them so that he may be of service to his fellow members of Team 10/Team Asuma (Choji and Ino).