#but school first... ugh

He spent hours on thinking what Mirai had implied on why she was named this way from Asuma. Well, ‘Mirai’ does mean future. So, what does the future has to relate to this ‘king’ concept?

His father had said he’d only knew the answer when he was 16. Maybe Shikadai could find the answer then. But when he hit 16, he was still trying to find the relevance between future and king. He often consulted Ryogi on this matter, only to get a simple shrug from the latter.

“I think if this is something your father wants you to find out on your own… Then I don’t think I should help you with any hints” Ryogi kept his gaze on the shogi board

“So you know the answer already?” He quickly looked up, hoping he can pry a hint out of him. Ryogi could only chuckled as he set his finger down onto a piece, moving it.

“If I were to give a hint… I guess it’s that… You ninjas are like the pawns to this king”

“Pawns?” Shikadai tried to piece them together. He was so focused that their game was long forgotten and Ryogi couldn’t help but to just chuckle at his friend

“You know…” Ryogi broke him out of his focus, reverting his attention to the red-head “You may be smart but you sure are dense.”

Shikadai walked home that day even more frustrated. If he was a pawn for this king, and if the king isn’t the Hokage. Could it be the villagers? They are trying to protect the village from danger.

“Nope. You’re close, though” Shikamaru laughed “What made you think that?”

“I don’t know… Ryogi compared ninjas to being pawns… So I thought” He grumbled, frustrated that he didn’t get the actual answer. “He called me dense…” And that reeled a bigger laughter from his father.

“He’s not wrong” Shikamaru snickered, moving his piece “But you are indeed close”

“Something even more specific than the villagers?” Shikadai crossed his arms, thinking hard as he tried piecing the clues together. He even remembered back to the conversation he had with Boruto.

“Well, I don’t know what thing king is supposed to be but if I were to consider someone my king” Boruto hummed before giving him a huge smirk “Then wouldn’t it be Hima? I know I would want to protect her from any danger”

Ah… How could he be so stupid. Shikadai let out an audible groan and collapsed onto the shogi board, surprising his father. God, he felt like such a doofus for not realizing any sooner.

“Shika-“

“Is it the next generation?” Shikadai cut him off, quickly looking up and Shikamaru blinked “The future of the children in this village. We have to ensure that they have a future to grow up” Determination in his voice.

“That’s right” Shikamaru crossed his arms “The king we ninjas must protect at all cost” He smirked “Good job”

Shikadai couldn’t help but to smile at his compliment.

King

Shikadai repeated in his head as he held onto his newborn tightly. His father’s lesson engraved deep into his mind as he stared at his newborn.