MHA; Shikamaru With A System!

**Chapter 5: Under the Moonlight, A Father's Trust**

The moon hung high in the sky, its silver light spilling over the Nara estate like a tranquil river. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of pine and damp earth, and the night was alive with the soft rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets. The wreckage of Shikamaru's room lay scattered across the grass, a stark reminder of the chaos that had just unfolded. Shikamaru stood amidst the debris, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable, while his father, Shikaku, leaned against a nearby tree, his hands in his pockets and his shadow stretching long across the ground.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken questions and the weight of what had just happened. Finally, Shikaku broke the stillness, his voice calm but probing.

"So," he began, his eyes fixed on his son, "you want to tell me what that was about?"

Shikamaru sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "It's… complicated," he said, his tone reluctant.

Shikaku raised an eyebrow. "Complicated doesn't even begin to cover it. A samurai materializes out of thin air, tries to kill you, and then vanishes when I intervene. And you're standing here like it's just another Tuesday. Start talking, Shikamaru."

Shikamaru hesitated, his gaze drifting to the holographic screen that had reappeared in front of him. It glowed faintly, displaying a message:

**[PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND QUIRK ABILITIES UPGRADED TO LEVEL 2.]**

He dismissed the screen with a flick of his hand and turned back to his father. "It's called the System," he said finally. "It's… some kind of interface that appeared in front of me a few days ago. It gives me tasks, and if I don't complete them, it punishes me. That samurai was the penalty for failing today's tasks."

Shikaku's expression remained calm, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "A system, huh? And I'm assuming I can't see this interface?"

Shikamaru shook his head. "No. I figured as much when I tried to ignore it at first. But it's real, and it's not going away."

Shikaku exhaled slowly, his breath visible in the cool night air. "Well, that's… something. A mysterious system that only you can see, tied to your abilities and apparently capable of summoning deadly enemies. Not exactly what I expected to deal with tonight."

Shikamaru's lips twitched into a faint smirk. "Yeah, tell me about it. What a drag."

Shikaku studied his son for a moment, his gaze steady and thoughtful. "You know," he said after a pause, "if anyone else told me this, I'd think they were crazy. But you… I trust you more than anyone in this world, Shikamaru. If you say this is real, then it's real."

Shikamaru looked at his father, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. "You're not going to question it? Or tell me I'm imagining things?"

Shikaku chuckled softly. "I've seen enough in my life to know that the world is full of things we don't understand. And you've never been one to exaggerate or make up stories. If you say this System is real, then I believe you."

Shikamaru's shoulders relaxed slightly, some of the tension leaving his body. "Thanks," he said quietly.

Shikaku stepped closer, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "Listen to me, Shikamaru. This System… it's dangerous. But for now, you need to play along. Do what it says, complete its tasks, and stay alive. I'll do everything I can to figure out what's going on and how to get rid of it. But until then, you need to be careful."

Shikamaru nodded, his expression serious. "I know. I'll do what I have to."

Shikaku smiled, a rare warmth in his eyes. "Good. And remember, you're not alone in this. I'm here, and I've got your back. No matter what happens, we'll face it together."

Shikamaru felt a flicker of gratitude, though he didn't show it. "Yeah," he said simply. "Thanks, Dad."

The two of them stood in silence for a moment, the moonlight casting long shadows across the grass. Then Shikaku gave his son's shoulder a reassuring squeeze and stepped back. "Get some rest," he said. "You've had a long night. We'll talk more in the morning."

Shikamaru nodded, watching as his father turned and walked back toward the house. He lingered outside for a while, his mind racing with thoughts of the System, the samurai, and the uncertain future that lay ahead. Finally, he sighed and made his way back to what was left of his room.

---

The room was a mess, the wooden floor littered with splinters and debris from the collapsed ceiling. Shikamaru grabbed a broom and began cleaning, his movements slow and methodical. It took him over an hour to clear away the worst of the wreckage, and by the time he was done, the room was bare except for a thin futon laid out on the floor.

He sat down on the futon, his back against the wall, and stared up at the night sky through the gaping hole where the ceiling used to be. The stars twinkled faintly, their light mingling with the silver glow of the moon. Shikamaru leaned his head back, his thoughts drifting.

"It's going to be annoying waiting three days for the repairs," he muttered to himself. "Stupid System…"

He lay down on the futon, his hands behind his head, and gazed up at the stars. The events of the night replayed in his mind—the samurai's attack, his father's intervention, the strange upgrade message from the System. It was all so overwhelming, and yet, for the first time in a long while, Shikamaru felt a flicker of determination.

"Whatever this is," he said quietly, "I'll figure it out. I always do."

With that, he closed his eyes, the cool night air brushing against his skin. The stars above watched over him, silent and unchanging, as he drifted off to sleep, the weight of the world momentarily lifted from his shoulders.

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~ More Chapters Always On!

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