“All that annoying stuff I tried to run from changed me. I always wanted to turn my eyes away from every hassle that popped up before me, but I couldn’t. And every time I overcame one, this feeling grew stronger inside of me, like I couldn’t just keep drifting along the way I was. I started to feel like I had to stand and face whatever came at me without adverting my eyes, no matter what a drag it was. I felt like if I did that, I’d be able to find my true self.”
I always loved the growth of Shikamaru as a young boy who didn’t care about much to his teen self post timeskip, determined to be the leader he was born to be and make up for the near destruction of his team in the retrieval arc. He’s got huge growth by the time of the war arc, and this is a great furthering of that.
Appreciate this intimate glimpse into Shikamaru and his relationships. From his introduction, his friendship with Naruto was something special. Loved the short brief moment where he’s able to connect with Sasuke for the first time in his life.