Very well-written future fic. Shikamaru is a very interesting person, isn't he? What you've written is very realistic. Even more so than the actual series. Tragedy, but not overwhelming, and Shikamaru was very in-character. Well done.

I really loved it! Poor Shika-kun. I feel sorry that they all died.

That was entirely poetic. Beautiful. Thank you.

This sounds awful, but I loved the paragraph explaining the deaths of each character-who was still left and who had moved on. They were all perfect.

Somehow, this captures how Shikamaru would approach being the sixth very well. That is, it is very "in character", i would guess.

You put together a few very striking lines too. "That’s the only nice thing about having half the population wiped out at a go. Less old people... Less people from his generation, too, of course, but not as many less. If that makes any sense"

That is a very nice turn of phrase. thought-image provoking, cynical, and very slightly optimistic all at the same time.

ooh...that's just like shikamaru... i like the descriptions while shikamaru went through them.

I don't understand why this concept isn't more popular- no, not the 'everyone is dead' part but the 'Shikamaru as Hokage' bit. The only other place I've seen it is in the "Naruto Primer," which is a very (VERY) different kind of fic.

Which isn't a bad thing- I loved the tragedy that never really went into angst because this is Shikamaru and he doesn't brood like that. There were times that it almost went to humor- Hinata and Anko, for example. Your last paragraph is pure Shikamaru: he hopes it works but if it doesn't he's done what he can. And also, cloudgazing.

Oh God. Almost cried. You made it so realistic. Poor, poor Shikamaru. Poor everyone. It's such a perfect one-shot. It's sad but a nice-sad. As you have everyone together on the Memorial Stone. The ending was brilliant of course. And totally Shikamaru-like. So brilliant.

I love Shikamaru one shots. They always get to me. Wonderful perspective!

Great job once again

Good companion piece. liked seeing Shikarmaru's POV

God youi killed everyone... Good story thought...

Wow, this is really, really good. I liked the other one as well.

]

I could see this happening.

Intriguing idea, but it fits, somehow. I like the tone, and the way you made everyone's deaths so REAL. Amazing job, all n' all.

classy

O_O Gee. That popped my happy bubble. O_O

See, the reason I actually am about to cry is because that's so well-written that I can actually see it happening.

I'll shut up and leave now before I start blubbering.