A/N: Wow, I actually wrote for temps_mort again. O_O Le shock, everybody. Right . . . Shikamaru and Chouji. Yay?

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"Mr. Saves the Day"

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You don't believe in "heroes." You don't believe in Mr. Saves the Day coming in at the last second and making everything okay. Sure, people like Naruto and Lee play that game- but really, you know better. Hotshot superheroes and attention-starved kids are pretty much the same thing around here.

That's all any of you are.

You don't believe in heroes, in people who are selfless and brave and always do the right thing.

So what you believe in are people like Nara Shikamaru, who have a job and do it, and that's all. They don't make righteous speeches and they don't pretend they're fighting for anything better than what they really are. They don't need reassurance or recognition or to tear other people down. Because they believe in themselves.

Other people can say that Shikamaru is lazy or stupid (not that you'd let them) and he won't care at all. Other people can say anything they want to and he'll just roll his eyes and talk to you instead, or maybe go cloud-watching again. And then he'll go do his job, and protect the people who've insulted and doubted him.

But he's Shikamaru, and he'd never point that out.

Because Shikamaru is Shikamaru. And because he is Shikamaru, he was your first friend and never doubted you like the others did.

And because he is Shikamaru, you don't mind dying for him. Because he is Shikamaru, you don't mind . . .

But you're not a hero. You're just a kid who wanted somebody to look at him. And Shikamaru . . .

Shikamaru is still just Shikamaru, and that is more than enough.

After all, you never asked for a hero. All you ever wanted was a friend.

You don't really understand, but really, it's the same thing.

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. : i don't believe in perfect people but i do believe in you : .