Name: Nara Shikamaru
Age: 15
Gender: Male
Village: Konoha
Ninja Rank: Chuunin
Clan Name: N/A
Clan History: N/A
Physical appearance:
Personality: Shikamaru is chronically lazy, refusing to even pick up a pencil to take a test because he found it so boring. He has a catchphrase of sorts, "Mendoukusei" which is frequently translated into English as variants of "This sucks…" or "What a drag!" Shikamaru is a master Shogi player, which raises questions due to Shogi being more of an old mans game. He would rather sit under a tree and look at clouds or take a nap then get excited about something. A testament to that is the fact that Shikamaru even decides to sleep during the attack on Konoha by the Sand and Sound villages, as he thought it would be too troublesome to get up and fight. Another example occurs before his fight with Temari. Shikamaru contemplates forfeiting, but is forced to compete when pushed into the arena by Naruto. When thrust into action-laden situations, uncomfortable situations, or indeed, any situation at all that would require him to exert himself, he tends to remark "How troublesome." He is fully aware of this side of his personality and even dubs himself "the number one at running away" or "the number one coward."
Special Characteristics: Control over shadows (Nara clan)
Elements: N/A
Skills/Specialties: Ninjutsu
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Jutsu
Kage Mane no Jutsu - Shadow Imitation Technique
Rank: C
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m), Mid (5m ~ 10m)
Type: Supplementary
Description: Kage Mane no Jutsu is a Ninjutsu technique developed by the Nara clan. It's original purpose was as a skill to help delay any pursuers. After forming the needed hand seals, the clan member is able to manipulate their shadow along any surface. By using other nearby shadows they can further extend the reach of their shadow, however they are limited to the surface area of the original cast shadow. Once the clan members shadow reaches the target shadow, it will attach itself. While attached the target will be frozen, only able to replicate in mirror form the actions of the clan member. If the clan member is low on chakra, the Kage Mane will falter and the shadow will return to its normal form.
Kage Kubi Shibari no Jutsu - Shadow Neck Bind Technique
Rank: B
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m), Mid (5m ~ 10m)
Type: Attack
Description: Kage Kubi Shibari no Jutsu is a Ninjutsu technique developed by the Nara clan. To perform the technique the clan member will first bind their target using the Kage Mane no Jutsu technique. Once the target can no longer move, they form the needed hand seal to initiate this technique. The clan member uses their shadow to form a hand which will creep up their opponents body to their neck. Once the hand reaches the neck, it will constrict in such a manner so as to strangle the opponent. However, the clan member will need to be careful. If their target has a lot of chakra, they can turn back the shadow hand and prevent it from binding their neck.
Kage Mane Shuriken no Jutsu - Shadow Imitation Shuriken Technique
Rank: -
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m)
Type: Supplementary
Description: Kage Mane Shuriken no Jutsu is a Ninjutsu technique developed by the Nara Shikamaru. Using Asuma's knives, Shikamaru can imbue his shadow chakra to create "pins" to stick his opponent in place. These knives absorb the chakra nature of the user and give off the nature's effect. In this case, the knives take on the Nara clan's shadow binding properties. By implanting the shadow chakra enhanced blade into the shadow of his target, they will be frozen in place; just as if they were caught in one of the clan members extended shadow bindings.
Kage Nui - Shadow Sewing
Rank: B
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m), Mid (5m ~ 10m), Far (10m+)
Type: Attack
Descrition: Ninpou: Kage Nui is a Ninjutsu technique developed by the Nara clan. To perform the technique Shikamaru will first form the needed handseal to extend his shadow. Shikamaru will then change the handseal to cause the shadow to emerge from the ground in tendrils. The tendrils can extend and whip about and are strong enough to pierce nearby targets.
Kage Yose no Jutsu - Shadow Gathering Technique
Rank: -
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m)
Type: Supplementary
Description: Kage Yose no Jutsu is a Ninjutsu technique developed by the Nara clan. This technique uses the Kage Nui threads to extend from a Kage Kubi Shibari bound on the body. These threads can then pull an object back towards the one bound. In this case, the shadow thread was used to pull in wire and explosive tags which were surrounding the target. The Kage Nui then sewed the wire into the target, binding them with the wire and lacing them with explosive tags.
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Summons: None
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History/Background Story: Shikamaru was akways a lazy kid. As a child he met Choji, who was a member of the Akimichi clan. Choji was teased about his weight, and while kids were playining ninja in the village Choji asked if he could play. The response was that who evers team Choji was on would lose, so Choji walked away and sat on a bench with his father. Shikamaru, not likeing how the other boys treated Choji followed him and asked if he could sit down. Choji then asked if Shikamaru wanted some chips, and that is how their friendship started.
While in the academy Shikamaru was known as a slacker. He was often held after class with fellow slackers Naruto, Choji and Kiba. Despite being lazy Shikamaru was actualy quite smart. This was shown when he would play games like Shogi, or Go. Despite not even trying in the academy he still passed and made it to genin. He was placed in the new "Ino-Shika-Cho" Trio along with Ino Yamanaka and Choji Akimichi. They had great team work, they were created as a mirrior image of their fathers former team. They soon went to the chuunin exams.
The first test for Shikamaru was easy, he knew all the answers to the test and was able to give them to Ino and Choji without getting caught. During the second phase of the Chunin Exam, Shikamaru, along with Choji and Ino, come to the aid of Team 7 during Sakura Haruno's battle with the attacking Team Dosu. Choji attempts to run away, claiming that he is reluctant to die. Shikamaru tells him that he too thinks the situation "troublesome", yet says that after Ino has revealed herself, there is no way that they men can back out of it. Shikamaru takes his place in the Ino-Shika-Cho battle formation, Choji having been fired up by Abumi Zaku's comment that he was fat. Dosu Kinuta attempts to come to Zaku's aid, as Choji's Human Bullet Tank technique threatens to crush him, but is unable to due to the fact that he has been trapped by Shikamaru's Shadow Imitation Technique. Shikamaru proceeds to make Dosu perform some humorous motions. Ino tells Shikamaru to protect her body as she uses her Mind Body Switch Technique on Kin Tsuchi. Ino readies one of Kin's kunai as she threatens the rest of Team Dosu that she will kill Kin if they don't retreat and surrender their scroll. Shikamaru was the first to notice that Dosu and Zaku were planning on killing Kin, thus killing Ino. It was then that Sasuke awoke with his new curse seal activated. Shikamaru and Ino and Choji left Sasuke to finish the sound three.
Initially introduced as nothing more than a lazy person who is always complaining, it is during his organized matches in the Chunin Exam that Shikamaru earns acclaim as a keen strategist. In his preliminary battle, he defeats Kin Tsuchi by sneaking his shadow under the thin strings she is using to control her bells. Shikamaru then takes a shuriken from his pouch, with Kin, caught in his Shadpw Imatation Technique, doing the same thing. Because of Kin's increased proximity to the wall of the arena, she knocks herself unconscious as Shikamaru ducks under her projectile.
Shikamaru's shining point during the arc is his battle with Temari, where it initially seems as if he is just pointlessly attempting strategy after strategy, and that it is only a matter of time until one of her powerful wind attacks catches him. His strategies range from simply buying time for the sun to set, furthering the range of his shadow, to sending out a makeshift parachute, made from his own jacket and a kunai knife, to make a new shadow for the same purpose. He is in fact manipulating her into a position in front of the exit to a tunnel which was dug out by Naruto during an earlier match, where he can guarantee that she is caught by his shadow from behind. But once Temari is caught in the jutsu, Shikamaru simpley gives up stating that there were 200 different ways he could have ended the match, but he was running low on chakra from all the falied attempts at shadow jutsus.
Later, when Konohagakure is attacked by Sunagakure and Otogakure, Shikamaru is one of only three Genin who successfully dispels the sleeping genjutsu cast on the Chunin Exam third phase stadium. However, he pretends to be caught in the illusion so that he can lie there and not do anything, only to be 'awakened' by Sakura attempting to dispel the genjutsu for him. Shikamaru, Naruto, and Sakura head off to find Sasuke, who has followed Gaara's trail determined to end their battle. As they pursue Sasuke, they discover that eight Sound ninja are following them, and Shikamaru chooses to stay behind so he can stall them while the others continue to pursue Sasuke. He used a keen stratgey to trap all eight sound ninja with a shadow, but a ninth hid in the trees protecting the others from attack. Shikamaru relesed that shadow, but his sensei Asuma came in and defeated all the ninja single handley.
Shikamaru leads the Sasuke retrieval squad during the Sasuke Retrieval arc. Shikamaru's first job as a Chunin is to lead the team, consisting of Naruto Uzumaki, Neji Hyuga, Choji Akimichi, Kiba Inuzuka and Akamaru on a mission to retrieve Sasuke when the latter flees Konoha. Shikamaru forms an intricate plan in which the team travels in a line. Kiba and Akamaru are placed in front, for they know the geography well, would easily detect any traps laid before them, and would be safe even when isolated from the rest of the group, due to their working together. Shikamaru places himself second, for he would be able to converse with Kiba easily, and send hand signs to the rest of the group. Naruto is put in the center of the group, as his "explosive" nature would make him perfect at the "center of help." Choji is placed fourth, for his strength makes him perfect for use as a "home base" by the rest of the group. Neji is placed last, as his Byakugan would allow him to perform the most difficult job of scanning the area, detecting any attacks from the rear. Their plan falls apart when the sound four attacks them, resulting in one member leaving each time.
In the end, the team ends up splitting up one by one and taking on fights individually. Shikamaru's opponent is Tayuya, a ninja who specializes in long-range sound attacks using her flute. She uses her flute to control three demon-like creatures, called Doki, and to create genjutsu that binds the opponent. Shikamaru once again demonstrates amazing strategy in his attacks. Forced into hiding by the Doki, whose control has been made easier by Tayuya's cursed seal, he attempts to discover a pattern between the melody of the flute's song and the movements of the Doki. Just when he thinks he's figured something out, the melody of the song changes, confusing Shikamaru, who is once again forced to hide. He quickly thinks up a strategy in which he can potentially defeat Tayuya in just nine moves. First, Shikamaru sets off an explosive tag attached to a kunai. His second move takes advantage of the cover provided by the explosion, as it requires setting up a specialized lantern without being noticed. Before Shikamaru activates the lantern, he gives away his position by tossing another kunai, and the Doki advance to attack him. He then proceeds to toss five more kunai, forcing the demons to defend themselves and Tayuya. Finally, Shikamaru activates the lantern, which floods the area with bright light, allowing his shadow to grow and possess the Doki.
Tayuya replies by saying, "This flute is my only weapon. I told you, anyone who hears this flute's song is dead!" Having memorized Tayuya's finger movements across the flute during the previous charade, he easily attacks Tayuya with her own monsters. Tayuya, however, simply disspells the beasts. Shikamaru then reveals his Shadow Neck Bind Technique, in which he gives physical form to his shadow to constrict his opponent. Tayuya once again counters the attack by advancing her cused seal to Level 2. Tayuya goes on to trap Shikamaru in a musical genjutsu. Shikamaru tosses a kunai at Tayuya, but misses, seemingly because of the disorienting technique. Shikamaru realizes that he is unable to move, and it looks as if he is finally through. However, just as Tayuya attempts to kill him with his own kunai, so he breaks his own finger with his shadow. He knows he cant beat her from far away so he gets up close to use the shadow neck bind, but her brute strength outmatches his. He was saved again, this time by sand ninja Temari.
Although Shikamaru tried his best as team leader, When he returned the mission failed, along with most of his team members neer death. Shikamaru's initial reaction to the failed mission is to quit being a ninja altogether. His father scolds him for being such a coward, then explains to him that if he quits being a Chunin there will still be missions and somebody else will lead his friends; then he will only experience worse pain when somebody else leads his friends to their deaths while he would have been able to prevent it by remaining in charge of them. Shedding tears of relief when a report arrives that his friends are all right and taking his father's advice to heart, Shikamaru resolves to do better next time for their sake.
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Roleplay Sample: Shikamaru sat under a big oak tree and watched the clouds go by. The shadow that was casted by the tree covered much of the area. Shikamaru yawned as he sat up and looked out in the distance, everything so peacefull. A drop of water fell upon his nose and he looked up to see dark clouds had taken the place of the white ones. "Mendoukusei." He said as he got up and started to walk home. With his eyes closed the patter of the rain hitting the leaves of the trees and his footsteps seem to make a calming song. He walked to the song of the rain and his feet through the forest, a few deer jumped across his path and he smiled. "All Nara clan members one day belive that they will return to this great forest as a deer." He said with a smile. He looked up in the sky, the thoughts of his former Sensei clouded his mind. He reaced into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette and used Asuma's lighter to light it. Upon reaching home the rain had dulled into a slow drizzel, He walked into his home and with a yawn he sat himself down in a chair, and closed his eyes while listining to the pitter patter of the rain hitting the window. He drifted off to sleep, with nature as his lullabye.
