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The average age for someone to manifest their soul mate marks is between 15 years old and 21 years old. Of course, there are cases where the marks manifest earlier or later but never more than a year.
He’s already celebrating his 15th birthday a couple of month ago. And yet, no marks ever manifest on him. No symbols, no words or numbers, heck he didn’t experience or have any mark, not even the most obscure that ever exist. Of course, he’s not that worried, after all he still have a couple of years yet before he’s considered too late to manifest mark.
Most of the Rookie Nine (those that still at Konoha at least) already have their own marks. Only he, Shino and Hinata still haven’t manifested their mark yet. And out of the three of them, only Hinata doesn’t have mark due to she didn’t celebrate her 15th birthday yet.
‘I wonder if Naruto already have his mark yet or not? As far as I know, his birthday already passes,’ Shikamaru couldn’t help but wonder as he sat there, bored.
All around him, his friends especially Ino and Sakura was busy talking and showing off their marks. It’s almost December so most of their focus are on Hinata. Questions like when she might expect her mark will manifest, what kind of mark and especially who her soul mate could be was asked, those who are the most excited about the questions are mostly the other two girls. Grinning teasingly, Ino even ask whether she might hope her soul mate could be Naruto considering how she has a crush on him.
Hinata’s face turn from pink to red, she even looks like she might faint from embarrassment.
Not to mention somehow, that question irritated him. ‘Why would she bother ask that, it’s not like Hinata could choose who her soul mate is,’Shikamaru think, irritated.
Chouji who sat next to him nudge him gently, “Hey Shikamaru, I heard from my dad that Hokage-sama chooses you to be the Konoha representative for the Chunin Exam. Is it true?” There’s a knowing glint in his eyes, it as if he purposely changing the subject from who Hinata’s soul mate is to his role as Konoha representative for Chunin Exam.
Eyeing his best friend curiously, Shikamaru took a sip of his sake before replying, “Yeah. Honestly, it’s so troublesome.”
“There’s nothing troublesome about that,” Sakura interrupted, “In fact, you should feel lucky being chosen to by Tsunade-sama.”
Rolling his eyes, Shikamaru decided to keep quiet. Not because he’s afraid of Sakura but because as blunt as he is, he did have some self-preservation. Huffing indignantly, Sakura turn back to Ino and Hinata, continuing their talks about soul mate.
Grimacing slightly, (maybe cause out of all of them he’s the one who always keep being beaten by Sakura, usually due to his habit of speaking without thinking) Kiba shot a commiserating look at him.
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Soul mate marks are unique to each person. Nobody ever have the same soul mate marks as anyone else (well, unless you’re that person soul mate of course). The types could be the same, but the marks themselves are unique only to the pair.
For example, Ino’s mark is a bouquet of small red, yellow and pink roses blooming on her left palm every morning. Only her soul mate could have done the same as her. Another example is Sakura’s mark. She could taste anything her soul mate ate or drink.
Despite the uniqueness of each mark, it doesn’t mean it was that easy to find their soul mate. Perhaps that was also due to their profession as shinobi who always conceal everything that could be considered as weakness.
Of course, that doesn’t mean they won’t ever meet their soul mate. It just going to take some time.
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After almost 3 years, the first time Shikamaru ever saw Naruto again was when he goes to Hokage’s office to pass some paperwork regarding the Chunin Exam with Temari. At first, he almost couldn’t believe his eyes, but when Sakura confirm that, that was really Naruto he saw, he could help but feeling happy.
Being able to spend the day with him (even when they’re being attack by some weird pale kid) makes him so happy. Deep inside, he knows that this didn’t help the crush he had for Naruto but somehow he didn’t care. It’s worth it. Perhaps that’s also why he didn’t really care about not getting his soul mark.
It’s rare for someone not to be with their soul mate, the only exception is familial or parental soul mate.
Of course he wishes Naruto could be his soul mate, but nothing hurts more than holding onto hope and then having it destroyed. For him, it’s enough to be able to stay by his side as a friend.
Not only that, he’s also realize that he’s not the only one who have feelings for Naruto. At this, his thought flash to Hinata and the way she acts or blushes whenever she was near Naruto. His lips curled downward in displeasure at that thought.
And if he’s being a little bit mean and wishes that Naruto’s soulmate is someone else other that Hinata, well that’s his secret.
Being able to spend time with someone he loves, he could help but treasure those moment. Unfortunately, they were shinobi. And as shinobi, it’s their duty to serve their village. It’s hard to spend time together when they both are busy with their duty to the village but he did his best to be able to spend time with him.
‘I wish this moment could last forever,’ Shikamaru couldn’t help himself but wish after spending the day with Naruto, not knowing that those moment wouldn’t last.
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The peace didn’t last. First, his teacher died due to his incompetence. After that, the only thing in his mind is revenge, on how to kill and defeat the one who kills Asuma-sensei. His grief at losing his teacher did faded a little after he managed to defeat Hidan.
Then, Jiraiya-sama died and leaves a weird code. The only reason they’re able to de-code it is due to Naruto and Kakashi-sensei’s help. Even after they’re able to decode it, they’re still could decipher the meaning, not until Konoha’s being attack by Pain.
Even after Pain was defeated, a lot of things still happen. He has no time at all to thing about romance or soul mate. Not when he’s busy helping his father and the village in recover after being attack.
His hopes of getting some rest after helping restore the village were dashed when he and his friends were told about the upcoming war. They were also told the truth about Naruto. He might have some suspicion about it, but Naruto is Naruto. It didn’t matter at all whether he was the Jinchūriki or the only child of Yondaime, he’s still that little boy who loves to prank everyone in the village, that unpredictable boy who always defied any expectation he had, the boy with a heart of gold and the one that he loves. It didn’t change anything at all.
And watching the reaction on his friends faces, he knew that they feels the same way as he is.
All this time, he always tries to help and saves them, he even go over and beyond in saving their village. This time, it’s their turn to help saves him.
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To be a shinobi is to endure, yet the harshness of the war, the loss of lives and the feeling of hopelessness is enough to crush any spirit. It just the thought of what will happen if they fail to stop Madara that made them keeps on fighting.
The presence of Naruto in the battlefield surprise a lot of shinobi yet Shikamaru couldn’t help but feels hope blooming inside him. If there’s anyone who can find a way to defeat Madara, it’s Naruto.
The fight feels like it dragged on for eternity, surprise and miracles keep on popping out like candies. The myriads of feelings that keep on crashing and changing inside Shikamaru is enough to make him want to lie down and slept for weeks yet he force himself to stand up and keep on fighting.
The grief of seeing his revived teacher, the happiness at seeing the pride etched in his teacher’s face when his team and he defeat their teacher, the pain and sadness at hearing his father’s last words, the surprise and disbelief at the arrival of the revived past Hokages, the awe he feels seeing the powers of the legendary and bijuus, the brief panicked fear before he’s being trapped inside the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
As blackness swallow his sight, he couldn’t but prayed for miracles to happen.
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Due to being shinobi, Shikamaru is used to be able to wake up instantly, yet being woken up from Infinite Tsukuyomi feels different. His body feels sore and groggy, the feelings is the same one he feels when he overuse too much of his chakra.
All around him, groans and complains was heard as all the allied shinobis woken up. He ignored all the sounds around him, eyes blinking rapidly to clear his sight. Despite the fatigue and pain his body is under, he forced himself to stand up, trying to seek the one he know responsible for woken them all up.
A small smile, tinged with pain and grief carved at his face when his eyes found Naruto, looking well standing near his father, crying. He couldn’t help the small relieve sigh that came out from his mouth. Looking around him, he starts to look for his friends, trying to ascertain their condition.
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The months after the war is hard, they might have won but the lives that lost during it is too high. Despite both being busy after war, the Rookie Nine is still able to find time to spend with each other. It was during this that he heard the news of Hinata’s soul mark manifestation. Apparently, it happens during her 17th birthday. Her mark is the name of her soul mate in gold ink. The most surprising thing is the name manifest is not Naruto but someone else.
It’s dangerous but somehow that fact brings hopes to him. Not to mention that out of all nine of them, only Naruto and he haven’t gotten their soul mark yet.
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His 18th birthday comes and pass without any hint of soul mark, a part of him is disappointed, while another is relieved. No soul mark means he still have chance of being Naruto’s soul mate. Of course, that if he’s lucky. But almost dying, not to mention the dream world he live in Infinite Tsukuyomi bring hope that he never dare to keep before. Even in his dream now, he can still see. A world where all his love ones still live, a world where he could be with the one he loves.
There’s beauty in its cruelty.
Weeks goes by, tomorrow is Naruto’s 18th birthday. It’s been a year after the war, the world have start to heal.
Somehow, Shikamaru couldn’t help himself from asking Naruto when they met that day for lunch, “Hey, Naruto. Tomorrow’s your birthday isn’t it?” Naruto froze, his chopstick hovered in the air as he whipped his head to the side to look at Shikamaru, making a shocked questioning sound. “Do you have anything plan for tomorrow then?” he asked, still calm outwardly yet nervous inside.
Swallowing the ramen down, Naruto cautiously answer, “Nah, I don’t have anything plan for tomorrow. Usually, I just eat the special edition ramen I save for special occasion. It’s not like I ever celebrate my birthday anyway,” he mumbled softly for the last sentence yet he was able to hear it.
“Hm... is that so. Then tomorrow meet me at Ichiraku Ramen for lunch. I’ll treat you,” Shikamaru promise. Naruto’s eyes goes wide in delight, “Really?! Thank Shikamaru. You’re a really good friend, dattebayo.” A wide happy smile bloom on his face, eyes squeeze shut from the wideness of his grin.
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The morning of Naruto’s birthday are supposed to be as other morning. Yet, when Shikamaru opens his eyes, his body stiffens in alarm. ‘Where is this?’ He quickly shut his eyes and forces his body to relax. Spreading his senses and chakra around, he tried to detect any anomalies or shinobi around. Yet, the only things he detects are the familiar chakra of Konoha shinobis around the building he’s inside. Not to mention, he could detect any other living being inside the room he is.
Opening his eyes, he almost chokes in surprise. He might only visit for a couple of time only but he will never be able to forget Naruto’s room. Standing up from the bed, he staggered and almost falls down on his face. Holding his hands out to catch himself, he stare perplexes at the foreign yet familiar looking hands in front of him, ‘What…what happen?’.
A gruff voice greets him from inside his mindscape, “Oi, kit. What the hell are you….” The voice cut off suddenly. He didn’t know how but he can feel the presence inside him to wake and studying him in alarm. “You’re that shadow brat, the kit’s friend”.
An almost impossible thought appeared in his mind. Could it be? But he can’t be that lucky isn’t he?
Shikamaru sit up and address the presence, “You’re Kurama. And I’m inside Naruto’s body aren’t I?”
Huffing a laugh, Kurama agree, “It seems you are. And here I wonder what kind of soul mate mark my kit will get. Never thought he will get a body swap as a soul mate mark.”
“Body swap? And I’m Naruto’s soul mate?,” Shikamaru choke out, he’s feeling overwhelmed. Joy, happiness and disbelief warred inside him. Another thought jolt him out of his blissful state, “Wait, then if I’m inside Naruto’s body, then he must be inside mine. Shit, I need to get home. He must be panicking right now.”
“Usually,” Kurama cut into his panic as he quickly get ready to shunshin out to his home, “Soul mate who get body swap as their soul marks can switch back into their own body once they have sexual relation with each other. Just food for thought.”
Shikamaru decide to take Kurama’s advice in consideration. Yet, even he could help his cheek from blushing red from the thought.
‘Yeah,’ Shikamaru could help but thought ‘I never thought I will be this lucky but I’m happy.’ Silently, he vowed inside to always cherish Naruto, his soul mate forever. After all, he is the one who he always hopes for.