Naruto: Shikamaru's Story (Naruto Secret Chronicles)

Shikamaru's Story: A Cloud Drifting in the Silent Dark

The second book in the Secret Chronicles is Shikamaru’s Story: A Cloud Drifting in the Silent Dark. It’s no inside secret that Shikamaru has always compared himself and envied being a cloud which is why the title of the book is spot on. Shikamaru is a go-with-the-flow, little effort, lazy, genius. He represents the sin of sloth better than King does in Seven Deadly Sins. In Shikamaru’s story, we get to see (technically read) him perform a mission with comrades that aren’t from his original squad including Ino and Choji. He is sent on an assassination mission and he doesn’t want his pure hearted comrades to take on a such a burden.

His attitude in this book has changed compared to the anime, and he even calls himself out about it because he wonders what made him change and when he stopped saying “what a drag.” He shuts himself away from everyone even Temari (a ninja from the village hidden in the sand that he’s rather close with). Shikamaru may be lazy and unambitious, but he never second guesses his decisions which makes this book that much more intriguing and enlightening.

Shikamaru is in my top list of favorite Naruto characters because of his sloth-like personality and genius level intellect. Everything’s a drag to him because of how easy it is for him to come up with a solution to provide minimal effort. However, he puts his whole mind and heart into a game of shogi.

Long time fans of the show know that Temari and Shikamaru were bound to get together. Temari is a tough girl and witty girl that fits Shikamaru like a puzzle piece. She keeps him in check by calling him out when he’s being lazy to avoid effort. I loved that Shikamaru’s Story added a scene of him asking Temari on a date with the most precious response from her.

I definitely recommend this book to the Shikamaru fans looking for some nostalgia and closure with his love life and soon to be family life.