Shikamaru Nara (奈良 シカマル, Nara Shikamaru^?) is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Naruto created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is a member of Asuma Sarutobi's Team 10, consisting of himself, Choji Akimichi, and Ino Yamanaka. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Masashi Kishimoto , born November 8, 1974) is the Japanese manga artist, most well known for creating the manga series Naruto. ... Showtaro Morikubo (森久保 祥太郎 Morikubo Shōtarō, born February 25, 1974) is a Japanese voice actor (seiyÅ«) who has voiced characters in anime, drama CDs and video games. ... Nobutoshi Canna ) is a seiyÅ« who was born Nobutoshi Hayashi ) on June 10, 1968 in Tokyo. ... Tom Gibis is a voice actor. ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Naruto universe is an unnamed fictional universe in the anime and manga series Naruto created by Masashi Kishimoto. ... The universe of the anime and manga series Naruto is a home to a wide array of fictional characters. ... A fictional character is any person, persona, identity, or entity whose existence originates from a work of fiction. ... Animé redirects here. ... This article is about the comics created in Japan. ... Serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump Shonen Jump BANZAI! Shonen Jump Weekly Comic Original run November 1999 – Ongoing No. ... Masashi Kishimoto , born November 8, 1974) is the Japanese manga artist, most well known for creating the manga series Naruto. ... The universe of the anime and manga series Naruto is a home to a wide array of fictional characters. ... The universe of the anime and manga series Naruto is a home to a wide array of fictional characters. ... The universe of the anime and manga series Naruto is a home to a wide array of fictional characters. ...

Creation and conception

The trio of "ino-shika-cho" is a hand that can be played in the card game Hanafuda, "ino" means "boar," "shika" is "deer" (Shikamaru's family raises deer, and his last name, Nara, is the name of a park in Japan that is famous for its group of free-roaming deer) and "cho" is "butterfly."^[6]

Masashi Kishimoto commented during an interview that he likes Shikamaru because he is "dry," so he does not show off his ability.^[7] Masashi Kishimoto , born November 8, 1974) is the Japanese manga artist, most well known for creating the manga series Naruto. ...

Character outline

Personality

Shikamaru is an extremely unenthusiastic person, and as such lives his life avoiding work. This is partly due to seeking paths of least resistance, as he often chooses to do things he would otherwise not do if people nag him enough. His plans on life reflect this aspect of his personality, as he plans to be an average ninja making an average salary, and retire once his children become independent. In his free time he typically takes naps, watches clouds, and plays strategy games such as Shogi and Go. When put into a situation where he potentially needs to put effort into something, he attempts to try to find a way to avoid it such as forfeiting a battle or by pretending to be preoccupied with something else. In the instances where he can't avoid these situations, Shikamaru tends to remark "how troublesome" (めんどくさい, mendokusai^?, English TV "what a drag" or "such a pain"). He is fully aware of this side of his personality, even dubbing himself "the number one at running away." This article is about the Japanese board game. ... Go is a strategic board game for two players. ...

Shikamaru as he appears in Part II

Despite his lazy tendencies, Shikamaru is extremely intelligent. Asuma, wondering why Shikamaru was always able to beat him at Shogi and Go despite receiving abysmal grades at the Academy, disguised an IQ test as a series of puzzles to see how smart Shikamaru really was. In doing so, Asuma found Shikamaru to have an IQ of over 200, and learned that Shikamaru's poor grades were a result of him finding lifting a pencil to be too much work for him. Nevertheless, Shikamaru works very well with his teammates as their fathers were teamed together in their youth as well. Of his teammates, Shikamaru is closest with Choji, who repays Shikamaru's confidence in him with unyielding loyalty to Shikamaru. Shikamaru also has a strong bond with Asuma, often spending time with him playing strategy games. He even vows to protect Asuma and Kurenai's unborn child for Asuma's sake. IQ redirects here. ...

One of Shikamaru's more distinctive characteristics is that he finds all women to be bossy and "a pain." He also often discusses how women ought to act. This viewpoint seems to be largely due to his mother's tyrannical personality, though it also seems to be influenced by his father's identical view of women. Contrary to this opinion, he has expressed a notably mature interest in marriage and raising a family with a son and daughter. Ironically, Shikamaru seems to constantly find himself surrounded by the very same strong-willed and bossy women he dislikes. In addition to his own mother, and being surrounded by bossy females, he usually ends up fighting against such women.

Shikamaru has had a number of his appearances coincide with those of Temari. The two face each other during the final matches of the Chunin Exams. Shikamaru has a chance to claim victory in this match, but he forfeits the match instead, having run low on chakra. Temari later comes to his aid during the Sasuke Retrieval arc and defeats Tayuya of the Sound Four to save him. Shikamaru returns the favor in the last of the anime's filler arcs and saves her from one of the Shiitenshounin. In addition, the two are seen together in their Part II debuts. In this instance, Naruto Uzumaki asks if the two are on a date, though both state that this is not the case. Temari ranks as one of the women he finds most troublesome, along with Ino Yamanaka and his mother. The universe of the anime and manga series Naruto is a home to a wide array of fictional characters. ... This is a list of major villains in the anime and manga series Naruto. ... Naruto Uzumaki ) is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Naruto created by Masashi Kishimoto and the main protagonist of the franchise. ...

Abilities

When the need arises, Shikamaru is quick to abandon his lazy nature and act appropriately to complete a mission or save his teammates. Using his Shadow Imitation Technique he can capture the shadow of an opponent to either keep them immobilized or force them to mimic his movements. This ability causes Shikamaru to frequently take the task of stalling enemies so that his comrades can get to safety or to simply buy time. Although this role puts him in a dangerous position once he can no longer stall the opponent, Shikamaru is willing to serve it, feeling that sacrificing his life to ensure the safety of his friends is worth it. While he frequently exercises this sense of self-sacrifice, his genius has thus far allowed him to escape these encounters relatively unscathed. When given the chance, Shikamaru touches the tips of his fingers together, forming his fingers into a circle, and closes his eyes so that he can concentrate. He then considers every element that is relevant to the situation at hand and analyzes the information to its fullest. Once finished, Shikamaru is able to plan out a battle ten moves in advance and can devise over a hundred strategies to use against an opponent. In the anime and manga series Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto a jutsu technique or skill) is a general term referring to any technique a ninja might use that an ordinary human would likely be unable to naturally imitate. ...

This combination of intelligence and dedication to his teammates causes Shikamaru to become the first of the primary Konoha Genin to advance to the rank of Chunin. As such, Shikamaru is forced to lead his fellow Genin in their various missions, first seen during the Sasuke Retrieval arc. At the end of this mission most of Shikamaru's team is left gravely injured and their target manages to escape, causing the mission to be a complete failure. While he starts to question his capability to be a leader in this instance, he realizes, with help from his father, that if he steps down, he is passing on the responsibility to a potentially less able successor who may not be able to keep his team alive. Shikamaru resolves to never put his team in danger again. During the anime's filler arcs Shikamaru is assigned as an instructor at the Ninja Academy, and also proves to be much more comfortable with his leadership position.

Once becoming a Chunin, Shikamaru's father teaches him how to use the Shadow Neck Bind Technique (Kage Kubi Shibari no Jutsu, English TV: Shadow Strangle Jutsu), allowing him to use his shadow to have more interaction with an opponent by using it to choke an opponent. This more interactive capability with his shadow is put to great use over the timeskip, and by Part II's start he can use Shadow Sewing (影縫い, Kage Nui^?), which allows his shadow to lift from the ground and either grab and throw weapons or simply pierce an opponent. He also starts to be able to utilize an opponent's shadow for the same purpose with Shadow Summoning Technique (影寄せの術, Kageyose no Jutsu^?), allowing him to use their own shadow against them.^[8] After he comes into the possession of Asuma's trench knives, Shikamaru creates the Shuriken Shadow Imitation Technique (影真手裏似の術, Kagemane Shuriken no Jutsu^?). By channeling his shadow into the knives, Shikamaru obtains a portable source of immobilization that he need only throw at an opponent's shadow to capture them and save himself the energy.^[9] Likewise, Shikamaru becomes able to use multiple shadow-based techniques at once, predominately involving the use of one of his new abilities to restrain a target and follow up with the Shadow Imitation Technique to capture them.

Plot overview

Shikamaru went to the Chunin Exams without a particular objective. Although he gives up in the finals he became a Chunin anyway, because of his incredible way of thinking through the match. During the invasion in Konoha, Shikamaru helps Naruto and Sakura to find Sasuke by staying behind and creating a diversionary ambush against the Sound Ninja who were pursuing them. As a result of his early advance to the rank of Chunin, Shikamaru plays a considerably more active role in the plot than most members of the Konoha 11, albeit more indirectly than the primary cast. His first assignment as a Chunin is to assemble a team to retrieve Sasuke Uchiha which forces him to defeat his escorts, the Sound Four. While his teammates defeat their enemies, Sasuke is able to escape despite their best efforts. Initially Shikamaru wants to quit as squad leader, but is sharply rebuked by his father, who tells him his friends will still go on missions with or without him, and could die under another person's leadership. Sasuke Uchiha ) is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Naruto created by Masashi Kishimoto. ... This is a list of major villains in the anime and manga series Naruto. ...

In Part II, Shikamaru is assigned to track down two members of Akatsuki. While he and his team manage to find their targets with relative ease, Akatsuki member Hidan is able to kill Asuma during the course of the battle. After Asuma's funeral, Shikamaru sets out with the surviving members of Team 10 to avenge their sensei. As his team deals with Hidan's partner, Shikamaru is able to defeat Hidan in Asuma's memory, single handedly weakening Akatsuki by one member. The Akatsuki roster as of Naruto manga Chapter 317. ... The Akatsuki roster as of Naruto manga Chapter 317. ...

Appearances in other media

In the second Naruto movie, Shikamaru Nara, Naruto and Sakura deliver a lost pet to its village, where through a chain of events they eventually get involved with a war between Sunagakure and a mysterious clan that resides in a pre World War I dreadnought. In the movie Shikamaru fights Kamina, who can transform into a large bat. With the help of Kankuro, he is able to defeat her. Shikamaru appears in most video games whose story arcs takes place since the Chunin Exams, in which he is given variations of the Shadow Imitation Technique. The Naruto universe is an unnamed fictional universe in the anime and manga series Naruto created by Masashi Kishimoto. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... HMS Audacious, a British super-dreadnought launched in 1912 A dreadnought was a battleship of the early 20th century, of a type modelled after the revolutionary HMS Dreadnought of 1906. ... The universe of the anime and manga series Naruto is a home to a wide array of fictional characters. ...

In an episode of Yu-Gi-Oh! (episode 187 6:07), Shikamaru, along with teammates Ino Yamanaka and Choji Akimichi and Ryoma Echizen, the protagonist of The Prince of Tennis, appears in the audience.^{[citation needed]} Serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump Shonen Jump BANZAI! Shonen Jump Comics House Original run 1996 – March 2004 Volumes 38 volumes, with 343 total chapters TV anime: Yu-Gi-Oh! Director Various Studio Toei Animation Network TV Asahi Original run April 4, 1998 – October 10, 1998 Episodes 27 TV anime: Yu... The universe of the anime and manga series Naruto is a home to a wide array of fictional characters. ... The universe of the anime and manga series Naruto is a home to a wide array of fictional characters. ... Ryoma Echizen ) is a fictional character and the protagonist of the manga and anime series The Prince of Tennis. ... Serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump Original run July 1999 – present Volumes 39 volumes TV anime Director Takayuki Hamana Studio Trans Arts Network Animax, TV Tokyo Original run October 10, 2001 – March 30, 2005 Episodes 178 OVA: Zenkoku Taikai Hen (The National Tournament) Director Shunsuke Tada Studio M.S.C. Episodes...

Reception

During the series, Shikamaru has ranked within the Top 10 characters ever since the third official Shonen Jump popularity poll.^[10][11] There has not been another official poll since the 2006 poll. Merchandise based on Shikamaru has also been released, including action figures, key chains and patches.^[12][13][14]

Several publications for manga, anime, video games, and other related media have provided praise and criticism on Shikamaru's character. IGN mentions that Shikamaru is the poster child for any card-carrying member of Generation X. They also mention that while he proves himself to be perhaps the brainiest ninja in the current crop, he simply refuses to recognize his potential.^[15] In a review of episode 110 in the Sasuke Retrieval arc, IGN comments that Shikamaru keeps surprising the audience with his leadership qualities and his demeanor can often make him quite unpredictable.^[16] Anime Boredom states that Shikamaru is the most human characters of the series and comment that laziness is almost comforting.^[17] Anime News Network comments that the strategic abilities of Shikamaru are one of the best things about the fights in the series.^[18] Animeondvd praises Shikamaru as one of the most fascinating characters in the series remarking his way of fighting.^[19] IGN - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... For other uses, see Generation X (disambiguation). ... This is a list of episodes from anime series Naruto, covering the fifth and sixth seasons of the series. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

See also

• List of Naruto characters
• List of Naruto manga volumes
• List of Naruto episodes
• List of Naruto media

Image File history File links Wikipe-tan_face. ... The universe of the anime and manga series Naruto is a home to a wide array of fictional characters. ... The cover of the first tankōbon of the Naruto manga released in Japan by Shueisha. ... This is a list of episodes for the anime series Naruto. ... This is a list of media franchise associated with the anime and manga series Naruto created by Masashi Kishimoto. ...

Notes and references