Despite being depressing, I actually prefer this to what we got. At least everyone was true to themselves.

Well written and poignant.

Futurefics have the ability to make me all sad and emotional and angsty like no tomorrow. I want someone to explain to me why because I know they're obviously not canon but still... they tug at my heartstrings because if canon!Naruto was not mostly for kid audiences then it could have ended this way with more tragedy. In a way I love it but at the same time it makes me sad... am I a masochist?

Thanks you for writing this piece~!

...

Since you asked: this is one head canon of mine anyway, and I love that it's found in this fandom now and then. And, in my opinion, you made a splendid job of this one.

I really like your writing style. It's sometimes a bit twisted, goes the other way round, rolls up the story from the ending - and I like it a lot. I like the present tense - I had to get used to it a few years ago, and now it comes naturally - and it fits perfectly with your way of story-telling. The introduction - starting off with everything the new Hokage isn't - and the next part, describing what the Sixth actually is - I'd label those my favorite parts, but truth is, I love the entire drabble. If I had to decide on one line: it's the one in which the name of the Sixth is stated. Perfectly set, beautiful to read.

Also, as sad as it is to read of all the deaths, it's nice to hear what happened with those still living. Shikamaru thinks the same, as well, doesn't he: life is for the living. I was a bit surprised at the name you used for Chouji's father (it's Chouza, as per canon, if I remember correctly?) but then, it's possible this story has been written at a point when his name wasn't clear yet and besides, I don't think it matters too much.
I miss Ino, though. I'd love to learn about her story, and who the father of her son is. Was.

Am I talking to much? I'm sorry. Thank you for this drabble, too: the stories of yours I read so far were enjoyable, well-done and beautifully told, and I am glad you shared them here!

You went a completely different direction than I thought you would with this... I thought you were going to imply that Naruto was the Sixth, but that Shikamaru was the real decision-maker, as it were.

Good story. Poor Shikamaru. So much for his original goals.

nice

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