Would you like to know everything about Shikamaru's life? Do you know when he appeared in the Naruto series? Do you wonder why he is very popular with otakus?
We have the best parchment to inform you about this. Passionate about the Naruto universe, we decided to take you on a journey into this universe that is as mythical as it is interesting.
Growing up with Naruto Uzumaki, Shikamaru became a member of Team 10 under Asuma Sarutobi. He passes the chunin exam with flying colors before his companions thanks to his insight and proves himself as a leader. This fictional character of Masashi Kishimoto has gradually become one of the most respected in Konoha in front of fans.
Many questions arise about him in this very popular animated series. The time has come to have the answers to all your questions.
On this, let's discover together in this article:
- The different points which describe the prodigious character of the Nara clan
- The story of young Shikamaru, his journey as a shinobi
- Shikamaru's skills, physical and mental abilities as a ninja
After reading this article, you will understand why this valiant character deserves your attention. He inspires, just like Naruto, the quality of hard work which can only lead to success.
Young ninja, let's teleport to the village that houses the life of this great character! 💨
Who is Shikamaru Nara?
Shikamaru Nara's identity
A member of the fictional world, Shikamaru Nara is one of the protagonists of the manga as well as the anime Naruto. Born on September 22 in the hidden village of Konoha, he is a full member of the Nara clan. The latter has for father the valiant ninja Shikaku Nara and for mother Yoshino Nara. It is in Konoha that he will grow up.
He then joins the ninja academy like all children his age before becoming a true Konoha ninja. Having reached the rank of chunin, he forms the trio Ino-Shika-Cho under the tutelage of their sensei Asuma Sarutobi. Shikamaru's closest companions are Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akimichi. Without forgetting his master: Asuma Sarutobi.
This name attributed to it is often used in Japanese culture, its meaning relates to the deer. Throughout his life, he was a member of various teams, starting with Asuma's. The latter is the Sasuke recovery team. Then, he continues with the Konoha 12 team. And finally, he joins the fourth division team during the ninja war.
Physical description Shikamaru Nara
Shikamaru very often displays a particular expression linked to boredom or irritation. He has brown eyes, spiky black hair tied back with a gray band. The latter still wears his two earrings as well as his Konoha ninja belt. During the first part of his story, he follows two different clothing styles depending on his rank. At the rank of Genin, he wears maya (mail armor) accompanied by a gray short-sleeved jacket. On his back is the symbol of the Nara clan, without forgetting his usual brown pants.
Once at the rank of Chunin, he keeps the same style but simply completes a special vest. Which confirms his rank in the second part of his story and significantly changes his usual clothes. He puts on his chunin vest which tops a black long-sleeved t-shirt and black pants. 👖
Personality of Shikamaru Nara
Shikamaru is a young man who never shows a sign of motivation. In fact, he gives the impression of being tired. He is lazy and does not hesitate to express his weariness with each task that he considers a chore. It is this character that pushes him to avoid all responsibility in order to have moments of peace and quiet. 😴
Although he is a lazy person, he proves to be very competent when put to the test. Unlike the others, Shikamaru is a kind and simple person who doesn't want much in his life. As he grew up, he acquired a sense of responsibility following the death of Asuma , who entrusted him with a decisive revelation.
It was through his change in mentality that he managed to open the eyes of Naruto who was depressed. According to Asuma, his IQ is too high that he cannot avoid boredom because he understands everything, too quickly. Shikamaru demonstrates a certain attachment to the game of shougi which often makes him work his brains out with Asuma.
The Story of Shikamaru Nara
Shikamaru Nara's childhood
Being the only child of Shikaku and Yoshino Nara , Shikamaru often played ninja like the other children. During one of his playing periods, he met Choji Akimichi with whom he teamed up. Their friendship began after Shikamaru defended him from mocking Choji's physique. Since then, the two became best friends. Their first discussion took place when Shikamaru decided to abandon the idea of playing with his comrades. They having rejected Choji decided to continue without Shikamaru who for his part was observing the clouds from his favorite place. Touched by Shikamaru's reaction, although he was unknown to him, Choji did not hesitate to join him for a chat.
Once he entered the Ninja Academy, Shikamaru quickly gained a reputation as a turbulent student. We are far from the cute kid imagined. Certainly, he owes this reputation to his less than commendable habits. He often skips classes in order to rest and engage in other distracting activities. 🥋
Shikamaru's passage and admission to the chunin exam
During this part of his story, Shikamaru is a pre-teen of 12 or 13 years old. He became a candidate for the chunin exam. This selection is carried out in several respective stages, one of which is a written evaluation. The other is the test in the forest of death where he fights the Genin from a village, that of sound. At this stage, he served as reinforcement for his comrades of team 7 and fought valiantly despite his habits. In the final phase of the exam, he had to face Temari and was treated to a fierce fight despite himself. 🔪
Shikamaru eventually gave up after judging that he no longer had enough chakra to continue. Against all odds, it was this lucidity and his ability to make the best decisions that earned him this rank. He demonstrated logic and a keen mind capable of facing any challenge. From then on, his talent as a fine strategist gave him a certain popularity and made him a good team leader.
The invasion of Konoha
During this period of instability, there was a climate of mistrust between all the villages in each country. Shikamaru is one of the shinobi who fought against the attackers of the Sound Village while pursuing Gaara . Under the orders of his superiors, he had to follow his friends who were tracking down the Suna ninjas who had come as traitors. 👁🗨
The young strategist faced several sound ninjas whom he was able to master with his shadow jutsu. He thus manages to retain them but the risks were too great for him, because eliminating them will be very difficult. However, it was the right thing to do and he was prepared to take the fallout from this suicidal tactic.
Knowing that victory is impossible for him, he holds off the sound ninjas until his chakra runs out. It was at the fateful moment that Shikamaru fortunately obtained reinforcement, his master Asuma appeared and saved him. He wasn't able to defeat them all, but his sensei cleaned up in record time. 💨
Shikamaru's team against the Oto ninjas
Shikamaru's first mission after his promotion to chunin was to retrieve Sasuke Uchiha. He was declared leader of the recovery team made up only of his friends still able to help. The mission consists of bringing back, willingly or by force, Sasuke who deserts the village to join Orochimaru . Sasuke is driven by a desire for revenge against Itachi, but he had to face his comrades. The team led by Shikamaru is made up of Choji, Naruto, Kiba and Neji with each member carrying a specific role. They travel while following online training to best ensure their safety whatever the situation. 🔐
Gradually, the group breaks up by confronting each member of the sound quartet, helped by Kimimaro later. Shikamaru, for his part, faces Tayuya and proves himself capable of parrying all enemy schemes and strategies. He manages to surround his opponent who is practicing the invocation via his flute. However, he was saved by Temari. This mission was a failure and the team members found themselves in critical condition, except Shikamaru.
Pursuit of the Akatsuki Immortal Duo
In this second part of his story, Shikamaru reaches adolescence, his age fluctuates between 15 and 16 years old. We find ourselves three years after these unfortunate incidents. He has surprisingly grown up and he meets Naruto Uzumaki back. His friend, for his part, interpreted differently the presence of Temari who is working with him on the chunin exams. It's also a dark time for Shikamaru who is assigned the mission of tracking down an Akatsuki duo. This is a criminal and extremely dangerous organization which is responsible for the death of one of the twelve guards. After several searches, they come across the famous duo and during the confrontation, Shikamaru finds a way to eliminate Hidan . 💥
This deduction was made after analyzing his fight against Asuma, but the unexpected happens after a fatal blow. Hidan having lost his head continues to speak and thus proves that he is immortal before the arrival of Konoha's reinforcements. Unfortunately, Asuma is injured and dies after Hidan's ritual. His master encourages him to become Hokage and dies. ☠
Shikamaru's response
Once his master's funeral was carried out, Shikamaru was driven by the firm desire to avenge Asuma. This idea does not enchant everyone around him, even less the 5th Hokage, but he was able to obtain the support of Kakashi. The young ninja develops a strategy to trap the immortal duo, which does not fail to surprise Kakashi. 👀
The duo was hunted down and found again, so a new battle begins between them and Team Konoha. A fine tactician, he managed to isolate Hidan and force him to reach a place known to his clan. This is ground prepared in advance for this fight to get rid of Hidan.
During the confrontation, he tricks Hidan's vigilance and makes him begin his ritual to try to kill Kakuzu . Hidan is trapped again a second time and is tied up by wires strewn with explosive scrolls . Suspended by wires above a huge hole, the cursed man ended up buried by several huge stones after the explosion. 💥
The death of Jiraiya and the revelation of the mystery about Pain
After the death of Jiraiya, a legendary ninja from Konoha, he is one of the characters who must decode his message. Comforting Naruto during this ordeal was a failure, but he still managed to help him pull himself together. Shikamaru makes him understand that his sadness does not have to be eternal and that they still have a long way to go. Reminding him that their goal is to surpass their mentor in order to honor their memory, Naruto felt better. One day or another, they will be called Sensei . They will have to protect and guide the following generations. Shikamaru explains his way of thinking by stipulating that moving forward is only his concern, he shows maturity.
Ultimately, the deciphering team, including Shikamaru, manages to decode the message with Naruto's support. It all started from the katakana that Naruto was able to distinguish while he was confused with the number 9 by the other investigators. The message read “The real one is not among them.” Decoding it remains a little complicated for them. 🕤
Akatsuki attacks Konoha
It all begins with a terrible explosion that disturbs the peace of the village. Shikamaru accompanied by Sakura turns towards the place. Like all the other ninjas, he is called into battle and we later see him severely injured. He was able to escape, despite the Shinra Tensei technique which destroyed almost the entire village of Konoha.
Pain being in search of Naruto or rather the fox demon, will stop at nothing to find the host. After being defeated, Shikamaru and his friends guess Nagato's position and set out to find him. Unfortunately, Shikamaru is forced not to move because of his broken leg. Through a discussion, he was able to deduce with his companions that the Pains were not real but rather puppets. The leader of the Akatsuki group should therefore be the one who controls Pain's bodies. They finally see a possible end to the tailed demon hunt. 🦊
The Rise of the Fourth Great Shinobi War
After the tragedy suffered by Konoha, Shikamaru shows up with Choji when Naruto returns, welcomed as a hero. As the reconstruction of Konoha continues, he and his comrades learn that Sasuke is linked to Akatsuki. Shikamaru, who felt responsible for this situation, announced the news to team 7 in relation to the Uchiha. 🩸
The failure of the rescue mission seemed to him to be a cause of this embarrassing situation. He then meets Sakura and Sai to convey the news to them, but Naruto was absent in order to implore the Raikage . This is explained by Sasuke's attack on the Land of Lightning in order to capture Hachibi and his abductor Killer Bee.
The situation worsens during the Kage summit after the intrusion of Madara who declares war on the great nations. Thus the 4th great ninja war was announced and Shikamaru's role was most significant because he was able to impose himself. As deputy commander of the Fourth Division of the Shinobi Alliance, he joined the long-distance fighter squad.
Shikamaru's skills as a ninja
The great strategist of Konoha village
Shikamaru prefers fighting, because he considers them chores and this disturbs his usual tranquility. His insight very often helps him get out of delicate situations and avoid the worst as best he can. He is gifted and often forces those around him to recognize him, whether it is a friend or an enemy.
He managed to surprise a lot of people, particularly during the chunin exam, even the 3rd Hokage was stunned. His prowess during his fight against Temari was able to reveal his talent in broad daylight and for all to see. When he runs out of ideas, all he has to do is sit down and put his fingers together to develop several strategies. ♟
His strength no longer needs to be proven because his plans rarely fail or at least necessarily pose a problem to adversaries. Asuma lives inside him, a ninja capable of fully assuming the role of Hokage because he has the skills. That said, his desire to not want to rise to such a rank does not surprise many people.
Mastery of Shadow Jutsus
Shikamaru belongs to the Nara clan, naturally mastering their special technique of manipulating their shadow in various ways imaginable. The most basic is the shadow imitation technique which allows you to join your shadow to that of the enemy. Once this condition is met, he can force the target to replicate his movements with little possibility of resistance. 🛑
He later learns to use the Shadow Strangler technique which allows him to create shadow hands. These can hinder, overpower or strangle the enemies targeted by this technique but he does not stop and always trains. He then learns many other techniques and does not hesitate to perfect his old jutsus in order to evolve as a ninja. Among his new techniques, we can cite the shadow interweaving justu with which he can summon shadows. These form tentacles that can be controlled individually to trap or attack multiple targets at once. After the death of his sensei, he used his chakra blade technique in homage to him. 😥
Ninjutsu Techniques of the Nara Clan Prodigy
Shikamaru naturally has many techniques for overcoming adversity, but let's start with the most essential. We have the shadow imitation jutsu which allows him to control his targets via his shadow. This jutsu is dangerous because the target is exposed to all attacks and projectiles with or without a seal.
The shadow strangler jutsu which materializes shadows to strangle its enemies or the shadow imitation shuriken. This allows you to paralyze the target using a blade of chakra which will touch the opponent's shadow to trap them. Not to mention, the shadow stitching jutsu which skewers the enemy through its shadow transformed into long cutting thorns. 🌱
There is also the chakra bathed blade technique which consists of infusing chakra all along the blade. The weapon in his possession becomes more formidable. Next came, the Giant Shadow Strangulation technique which creates a giant shadow. This one in the shape of a hand grabs the enemy to strangle him. And many other techniques are just waiting to be revealed.
Let's finally close this big parchment!
As you will have understood, Shikamaru deserves his place right now and teaches us that we need to protect the next generations. He became one of the most beloved characters in the Naruto anime and ended up head of the Nara clan. It must be recognized since his appearance at the very beginning of the animated series that he has come a long way.
With all this information, you are now an expert on the life of the greatest Nara. This character now has no more secrets for you and you are well on your way to answering all questions concerning him.
