KONOHAMARU SHIPPUDEN

The midday sun hung lazily in the sky as Shikamaru Nara ambled into the academy training grounds. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, and his ever-present look of mild annoyance at life's general inconvenience was firmly in place.

Class had ended for the day, and most of the other students had scattered, leaving the grounds quiet and peaceful. Just the way Shikamaru liked it.

As he strolled past a tall tree near the swing where Naruto usually sat, something caught his eye.

"Hmm?"

There, tied securely between two sturdy branches, was a hammock. It swayed gently in the breeze, its fabric taut and inviting. Shikamaru stopped, tilting his head to examine it.

"Now, this… this is genius," he muttered, a rare hint of admiration creeping into his voice.

He looked around, ensuring no one was watching, then climbed into the hammock with all the enthusiasm of someone who had just discovered the ultimate life hack. His lanky frame fit perfectly, and as he stretched out, the hammock cradled him like a cocoon.

Shikamaru let out a long, contented sigh. The world seemed to fade away—the rustling of leaves above, the distant chirping of birds, and the faint hum of the village all blended into a soothing symphony.

"This is perfect," he said to himself, draping an arm over his eyes to block the sunlight. "Whoever put this here deserves a medal. No, they deserve to be Hokage. This is the kind of forward-thinking leadership we need in this village."

He chuckled softly at his own joke, but there was genuine respect in his voice.

Time slows down as Shikamaru lay there, his thoughts began to drift. He imagined the person responsible for the hammock—a fellow genius who understood the beauty of simplicity.

"Probably some kid who's way too smart for their age," he mused. "Someone who gets that life isn't all about running around and exhausting yourself. It's about… balance."

He shifted slightly, the hammock swaying gently beneath him.

"This is the ultimate balance," he continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "Relaxation and efficiency. You can rest, think, and plan all in one spot. It's like… the pinnacle of ninja ingenuity."

For a fleeting moment, Shikamaru considered finding out who had put the hammock here. But then he shrugged, the idea of exerting effort to track someone down quickly dismissed.

"Too much trouble," he muttered, closing his eyes. "I'll just thank them in my head."

The tranquility didn't last long. A loud voice shattered the peace, and Shikamaru cracked one eye open to see none other than Konohamaru Sarutobi bounding into the training grounds, his tail swishing behind him.

"Hey, Shibi! Moegi! Udon! Let's test out the hammocks again!" Konohamaru shouted, his voice echoing through the clearing.

Shikamaru groaned. "Troublesome kid," he muttered, pulling his arm back over his eyes.

Konohamaru froze when he spotted Shikamaru in the hammock. "Whoa, who put you there?"

Shikamaru didn't bother sitting up. "Does it matter? I'm here now. Find another tree."

Konohamaru crossed his arms, his tail flicking in irritation. "Hey, I worked hard putting that up! It's for my team."

Shikamaru yawned. "Congratulations. It's also perfect for sleeping, so… thanks."

The younger boy frowned, but then his expression shifted into a mischievous grin. "You like it, huh? Pretty genius, right?"

"Yeah," Shikamaru admitted, reluctantly opening his eyes to glance at him. "It's smart. You made the academy ten times better with this thing. Honestly, I should've thought of it myself."

Konohamaru blinked, clearly not expecting the compliment. "Uh… thanks, I guess?"

Shikamaru adjusted his position, turning slightly to face the boy. "You've got a knack for solving problems in the laziest, most efficient way possible. That's rare. You might actually grow up to be someone useful."

Konohamaru's grin widened. "You hear that, guys?" he called to his team, who were just arriving. "This guy thinks I'm a genius!"

Moegi rolled her eyes. "He didn't say that exactly."

"Close enough!" Konohamaru declared, puffing out his chest.

Shikamaru shook his head, letting out a small chuckle. "Troublesome kid," he said again, though this time with a hint of amusement.

As Konohamaru and his friends spread out to test the other hammocks, Shikamaru closed his eyes once more, tuning out their chatter.

"Whoever this kid grows up to be," he thought, drifting back into that blissful state of half-sleep, "at least he knows how to make life a little easier."

The hammock swayed gently, the world fading into the background once again. For now, all was right with the world.