The members of the Nara clan had, to some extent, all heard of Shikamaru. After all, Nara Shikaku, his father, had been active on the battlefield as a Jonin for many years, gaining a reputation alongside Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza. Shikaku's name was well known, and as Shikamaru's father, his achievements undoubtedly drew attention. As a result, Shikamaru had also attracted the notice of many within the clan, particularly his fellow ninja.
A clan that wanted to have a stronger voice within the village needed to have the strength to back it up. For the Nara clan, some foresighted members, after observing Shikamaru's consistent performance since graduating from the Ninja Academy and analyzing available intelligence, were certain that if Shikamaru continued to grow, he would inevitably become a prominent figure in the ninja world. He could one day carry the weight of the Nara clan's reputation and bring more benefits and status to the clan within the village.
Thus, when Nara Shikaku spread the news within the clan that Shikamaru and Asuma had teamed up to kill Zabuza Momochi during a mission, the Nara clan members began to subtly spread the story in Konoha. People were naturally attracted to dramatic rumors — or, more accurately, gossip. For the villagers of Konoha, who had always lived closely with the ninja world, Shikamaru's story was intriguing and even legendary. It spread quickly, especially among those familiar with ninja affairs.
Three days had passed since Shikamaru and the rest of Team 10 returned from the Land of Waves, and the scene shifted to Ichiraku Ramen shop.
Team 7, who had just completed a C-rank escort mission, were sitting down to a meal. At the urging of Naruto, and with Sakura and Sasuke agreeing, their sensei, Kakashi, reluctantly agreed to treat the three younger ninjas to lunch. Naruto insisted it was for "strengthening their friendship," though it was clear he was eyeing Sasuke when he said it.
"Naruto, isn't Shikamaru someone who graduated from the Ninja Academy around the same time as you?" the ramen shop owner asked as he placed bowls of ramen in front of Team 7.
Naruto, eagerly eyeing his ramen, shifted his gaze to the shop owner. Upon hearing Shikamaru's name, for some reason, a slight unease gripped his stomach, and his joy in the moment diminished a bit. "Huh? What's up, boss? Is Shikamaru not paying for his meal? We were in the same class, but we're not exactly close…"
"Didn't you guys hear the rumor?" the ramen shop owner asked, slightly surprised when he noticed that Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura didn't seem to know what he was referring to. He continued, "It's about the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
"Ninja Swordsmen? What's that, some kind of weird ranking?" Naruto asked, confused. He looked to Kakashi, who seemed to react to the term with a more serious expression. Kakashi clearly knew something, so Naruto asked, "What's going on?"
"In the Hidden Mist Village, which, like Konoha, is one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, there are seven legendary ninja swords passed down through the generations," Kakashi explained, crossing his arms and frowning. "The seven ninja wielders of these swords are called the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and they're some of the most powerful ninjas in the Hidden Mist, second only to the Mizukage. Unfortunately, after a civil war in the Water Country, they've kept their isolationist policies, and some of these swords have even ended up outside of the Hidden Mist Village."
"Exactly," the ramen shop owner said, nodding in agreement. "And one of those swords is now in Konoha."
"Oh?" Kakashi, normally disinterested, sat up straighter, intrigued. "What happened?"
"I heard about it yesterday, and I confirmed it with Gennou," the ramen shop owner said, thoughtfully rubbing his chin. "Apparently, Asuma and his Team 10 were on an escort mission when they encountered one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Zabuza Momochi, and his subordinates. In the end, Team 10 wiped them out, and one of the Seven Ninja Swords, the 'Kubikiribōchō,' was left behind. It's now a trophy of Nara Shikamaru, a Chūnin."
"A C-rank escort mission… and Shikamaru ended up with the 'Kubikiribōchō'?" Kakashi murmured, his mind working. He was familiar with Asuma's abilities, and even though he'd never fought Zabuza directly, he knew their strengths were fairly similar. For Asuma to defeat Zabuza while protecting someone seemed unlikely unless Shikamaru played a major role in the battle. "Shikamaru must've been pivotal in the fight."
"I heard Shikamaru used a special technique to restrict Zabuza's movements, allowing Asuma to finish him off easily," the ramen shop owner added, looking at Kakashi with admiration.
"To think that Zabuza, the so-called 'Demon of the Hidden Mist,' ended up dying at the hands of a Genin…" Kakashi sighed.
"Well, that's not the whole story," the ramen shop owner chuckled, his tone playful. "I hear Shikamaru was already number one in the Ninja Academy, and he even invented a technique once used by the Fourth Hokage. He's a genius from the Nara clan, and honestly, he might have already qualified to be a Jonin in other villages! Maybe this incident proves just how much Konoha's ninjas have surpassed others in strength."
Kakashi gave a light chuckle and shook his head. He knew the shop owner was joking, but there was a definite sense of pride in the statement. Konoha's reputation had certainly grown with this news.
"Zabuza Momochi? What a weird name…" Naruto mumbled, as he had been quietly listening to the conversation. He furrowed his brow and looked at Kakashi. "Was he strong?"
"I've told you before, Naruto. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen are among the best in the Hidden Mist, second only to the Mizukage," Kakashi said, his voice low as he recalled the rumors about Zabuza. "Zabuza was known as the 'Demon of the Hidden Mist,' and when he was your age, he killed every single graduating student at the Ninja Academy."
"Wait, he killed everyone at the academy graduation?" Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all gasped in unison.
Kakashi turned his head to see the look on Sasuke's face. Noticing his discomfort, Kakashi realized the Chūnin Exams were approaching, and he almost warned them not to provoke Shikamaru, but decided against it. Growth in a ninja came not only from success but also from challenges and overcoming their own doubts and fears.
Sighing, Kakashi leaned back. "Well…"