6 Chapter 5: A King’s Gambit

It was a sunny Saturday day, and the streets of the village were much quieter than usual. Yet, this did not stop Asuma and Junpei, as they made their way through a gate, where they were greeted with a respectful nod from two black-haired ninjas.

Trees surrounded them as they passed by a collection of Japanese-style houses, and soon they arrived at a large mansion. The servant who appeared at the gates greeted them with a kind smile and said, "The clan head is awaiting your arrival."

The servant slowly guided them into the living room of the mansion. There, waiting at a table with a steaming cup of tea, were the clan head of the Nara clan, Shikaku, and his son Shikamaru.

The two of them sat calmly, sipping their tea.

'He looks completely different…' Junpei mused as his eyes fell upon Shikamaru. Despite keeping the same pitch-black hair, now tied in a tidy little ponytail, the biggest difference was his bloody red eyes. He also now sported a sharp jawline, looking much more mature than in the anime. 

{It's nice to finally meet you in person.} Junpei said, a small smirk gracing the sides of his lips.

{Likewise.} Shikamaru responded, his tone polite.

As Asuma began to talk with Shikaku, Shikamaru softly requested, "Father, can I go and play shogi with Junpei outside?"

"Of course, my son," Shikaku replied with a large smile on his face, his focus once again shifting back onto his conversation with Asuma.

Shikamaru nodded his head at Junpei, gesturing for him to follow. He then walked towards the door, sliding it open.

When he did, a familiar sight appeared

This was the spot where Shikamaru was always seen playing shogi with Asuma in the anime. 

With a smile Junpei sat down on a cushion on the floor, crossing his legs as he saw Shikamaru set up the shogi board.

{Have you ever played before?} Shikamaru questioned politely. 

{Yes, but I was never really good at it.} Junpei replied, giving a slight nod in acknowledgment.

{What were you in your last life?} Shikamaru questioned curiously, playing as the blacks.

Starting, Shikamaru moved forward with his left silver general to secure control over the center of the board.

{I was just a high schooler and then I died.} Junpei stated plainly, as he moved his right silver general forward, trying to maintain a balance of power in the center of the board.

{In my former world, there were no powers, nothing. It was just a normal place.} He then paused for a moment before continuing.

{But don't mistake my former world circumstances for a sign of weakness.} He added, his tone now carrying more intensity.

{You know the weak are always the loudest about their strength. That's typically how they try to make up for said weakness. So, I hope that you are not one of those weak fools in that regard then} Shikamaru said with a snort, his tone now carrying with it a faint hint of condescension.

{Oh, if I am so weak…} Junpei replied, his tone mockingly soft as Shikamaru lazily advanced his rook forward. 

{Perhaps you should speak to me more kindly. Because when a weak man is backed into a corner, then he becomes even more dangerous than a strong one.} Junpei continued as he firmly moved his bishop to an active position.

{You aren't wrong.} Shikamaru admitted as he momentarily reflected on his previous life.

But on the shogi board, they were still locked in "battle", every move carefully planned. Both of them were careful to maintain their position while also attacking each other's pieces.

{We aren't the only reincarnators that have been placed in this world. But we are the weakest among them. To secure our safety in the case these reincarnators become our enemies, I propose a deal. I am willing to share information on my abilities and future plans with you in exchange for your training and a promise that you will not attempt to harm me indirectly.} Junpei explained.

{What do I gain from this agreement?} Shikamaru inquired in a skeptical tone.

{An ally who won't betray you, and one who knows the future.} Junpei responded.

{You're bluffing.} Shikamaru said dismissively.

{Do you know what the name Naruto means in my former world?} Junpei inquired rhetorically, noticing Shikamaru's expression shift from a skeptical frown to a confused look.

{The name "Naruto" is a reference to an anime about a boy who is ostracized for being the host of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox that was sealed inside him. That boy was able to achieve his goal of becoming the Hokage to receive the respect he desperately wanted.} Junpei stated dramatically.

{It's an interesting anime to watch, although not one I would want to live in personally. Especially during the time his son comes around. But here we are. Having seen all the episodes of the anime, I know the future of this world and the important people who make it up.} Junpei said with a broad smile on his face.

Shikamaru remained silent for a moment as they finished their moves. He had lost his knight in an attempt to create a path for his rook.

Junpei, noticing the danger, moved his gold general to block the path for Shikamaru's rook.

{By the way, it seems like you truly love your father. How unfortunate would it be if that relationship between father and son were to come to an end prematurely because of an unforeseen fate?'} Junpei said with a sly grin.

Shikamaru responded immediately with a harsh glare.

But after a few seconds, Shikamaru sighs in resignation.

{It must be mutual. Neither you nor I will be permitted to cause any indirect harm to each other. You must tell me how you plan on protecting us from the other reincarnators. I will not follow your plan blindly.} Shikamaru said, as he shifted his pieces around, preparing an attack on Junpei's king.

{Fair enough} Junpei says with a small smirk on his face.

Ding! 

[Deal Accepted - Type: Binding]

The system notification became visible to both of them.

{I suppose this is one of your abilities.} Shikamaru comments on the translucent screen as he spots a flaw in Junpei's strategy, exposing his king to his rook.

{You can call it that.} Junpei snorts, sounding rather irritated at losing the game. 

{So, what's your plan?} Shikamaru asked as he set the board again. 

{The first step of my plan is for us to befriend Naruto Uzumaki and become the brothers he never had. We will start by spending time with him and getting close to him. As we do so, we will teach him all the skills needed for him to become a capable Ninja. However, there is one thing you should know. I refuse to utilize him as a pawn, and neither should you. We will treat and protect him as if he were our younger sibling.} Junpei finishes speaking, putting extra emphasis on the last part as he remembers a piece of his past.

{Alongside this, we will also become close with Sasuke Uchiha and offer our help during his training. We will wait until the Uchiha clan massacre. Where we will offer our help in Sasuke's pursuit of revenge. However, this will only be successful if we manage to rank in the top two students in our class Academy because Sasuke has a superiority complex. Slowly but surely, he will start to see both you and myself as close as family. During this time, we shall push both of them to the limit during their training. So, the four of us can graduate early together. By the age of nine, we will begin going on missions together and further cementing our bonds in life-or-death situations}

Shikamaru's eyes grew wide as he asked

{If we prevent the Uchiha massacre, couldn't we attract more allies when the other reincarnators awaken?}

{Haha, we would be killed for meddling because the one who orchestrated the entire affair was the second-most powerful antagonist in the entire series. I certainly have no desire to meet such a premature death a second time.} Junpei responded. 

Shikamaru gave a contemplative hum {Who was it that wiped out the clan?}

{It was a combination of Itachi preventing a revolt within the village, and following the orders of Danzo while Obito Uchiha assisted him in the massacre. Anyway, we will direct Sasuke's hatred toward Danzo rather than towards his brother. In doing so, we will gain an additional powerful ally.} Junpei answered.

{How can you be sure that they're not the other reincarnators?} Shikamaru asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

{I can't guarantee they're not. However, I do believe it's highly unlikely that they are the second set of reincarnators. Since both of them are already the incarnate forms of the grandkids of an actual alien. If they are the second pair of reincarnators then we can only hope they think about the good relationship we had with their former selves. }Junpei answered as he shrugged his shoulders. 

{It would seem that we have a lot of work ahead of us.} Shikamaru said casually as he yawned and let out a murmur: "What a drag."

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{}= Means they are talking through their psychic link.

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