NARA SHIKAMARU

First Manga Appearance: Chapter 34
First Anime Appearance: Naruto Episode 1
Name Meaning: Nara (Prefecture), Shika=Deer, Maru=Boys name
Hidden Village: Leaf Village
Rank: Chuunin - Team 10
Age: 16
Jounin Master: Sarutobi Asuma
Signature Abilites: Kagemane no Jutsu
Notable Features: Lazy, Finds everything to be troublesome
Notable Quotes: "How troublesome."
See also: Akimichi Chouji, Yamanaka Ino, Sarutobi Asuma, Nara Shikaku, Nara Yoshino

HISTORY:

A Genin from Leaf Village, Shikamaru hails from the Nara Clan, known for their ability to control their shadow.

Though Shikamaru appears a young man bored with life and his job as ninja, he holds a firm respect for his job and his duty to protect his friends and teammates. And though he is lazy and had low grades at the Ninja Academy, Shikamaru is highly intelligent with an I.Q. of over 200. A young age he became friends with Akimichi Chouji, and their friendship would extend later into life as teammates in Team 10 under their Jounin sensei Sarutobi Asuma. Shikamaru would rather relax and look at the clouds, than expend any energy doing school work. His general desire is to make a good living and be able to retire, successful and happy with himself.

Shikamaru studied under his father Nara Shikaku and learned many of the kage (shadow) manipulation jutsu. As the years passed, Shikamaru has added many shadow attack variations to his arsenal. Shikamaru's mother wanted the best for her son and pestered him constantly, which led him to be cynical of women and their supposed bossiness. His troubles with women would extend to many of the battles he faced, having to combat Tsuchi Kin, Temari and Tayuya. His testy relationship with Temari would extend over the years, with the two ninja becoming friends. Though Naruto would accuse the two of being something more than friends, both Shikamaru and Temari would deny such a relationship.

Alongside his team Shikamaru participated in the Chuunin Exam. After the third test preliminaries and the final third test itself, he was the only one to be acknowledged as worthy Chuunin material. From this point on he was able to don the Chuunin flak jacket with honor. Though the mission to return Sasuke failed and Shikamaru felt horrible for the near deaths of his team, the words of Temari and his father helped him realize that if he stopped being a ninja, someone else would have to look out for his friends instead. This caused him to reevaluate his feelings and reaffirm his desire to become a better ninja.

Over the next years Shikamaru would further develop his skills and be selected as a Chuunin Examiner when the exam returned to Konoha. Alongside Sand kunoichi Temari who acted as an advisor, they would begin preparations for the new exam.