As time passed, the brothers continued their secret training, growing stronger with each passing day. They mastered new jutsus, honed their skills, and learned to control their chakra with precision. They used their plot knowledge to anticipate events, staying one step ahead of everyone else.
But they also knew they couldn't do everything alone. They needed allies, people they could trust, even if they couldn't reveal their secret. They decided to approach Shikamaru, knowing his intelligence and strategic mind would be invaluable.
"Why are you two talking to me?" Shikamaru asked lazily, looking up from his game of shogi. "You've never shown any interest in hanging out with me before."
"We need your help," Divyansh said bluntly. "We're planning something big, and we need someone smart to help us."
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of plan?"
Himanshu leaned forward, his expression serious. "We want to get stronger, stronger than anyone else. We're going to train and prepare for the threats that are coming. But we can't do it alone. We need someone who can think ahead, someone who can see the bigger picture."
Shikamaru studied them for a moment, his usually lazy eyes showing a flicker of interest. "You two are talking about something serious. What kind of threats are we talking about?"
Divyansh exchanged a glance with Himanshu, both silently agreeing to tread carefully. They couldn't reveal everything, not yet. But they needed to give Shikamaru enough to get him on board.
"Think about the Chunin Exams," Himanshu said, his voice low. "There are going to be powerful shinobi coming from other villages. Some of them have hidden agendas, and it's going to put Konoha in danger."
Divyansh nodded, adding, "We have information about some of these threats. We can't say how we know, but trust us, Shikamaru, things are going to get messy. We need to be prepared. We need your strategic mind."
Shikamaru sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Man, what a drag. But I get it. The way you two are talking, it sounds like you're serious about this. If things are really going to get that bad, then I guess I don't have much of a choice." He leaned back, crossing his arms. "Fine. I'm in. But you better keep me in the loop about everything."
A wave of relief washed over Himanshu and Divyansh. They had secured their first ally, and Shikamaru's intellect would be invaluable. They didn't need to tell him everything now; just enough to keep him interested and on their side.
"Thanks, Shikamaru," Himanshu said. "We'll make sure you're ready for what's coming."
Shikamaru nodded, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Just don't make me regret this, okay?"