The world of Naruto is populated by colorful characters. While some are used primarily for comedic relief and deliver outlandish lines, others frequently drop pearls of wisdom. There are rare instances, however, when a character does both.

While titular protagonist Naruto Uzumaki is someone who matures from an overactive child to a determined adult, he's not the only one to see his lines change from hilarious to inspirational. Shikamaru Nara, Naruto's classmate and eventual advisor, walks a similar path. He begins the series as a bit of a slacker, but grows into one of the most responsible and formidable shinobi in Konohagakure. Some of his best quotes perfectly track that growth.

Updated on March 19, 2024 by Jenny Melzer: Shikamaru Nara remains one of the most memorable strategists in the Naruto anime and manga. With his young son Shikadai following closely in his father's footsteps in Boruto, one can easily imagine Shikamaru sharing many of his life philosophies at the breakfast table, probably outside of earshot of his wife, Temari. Fans watched his journey from a lackadaisical complainer who'd rather skip school and cloudgaze than worry about the important stuff, into one of the Hidden Leaf Village's most respected advisors and protectors. His amazing journey can be witnessed through the evolution of his important quotes, which have been updated to not only explore their origins, but to meet with CBR's most current standards in formatting.

10 "What A Drag..."

Multiple Episodes in Naruto & Naruto Shippuden

Anime shikamaru Cropped

What a drag...

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When Shikamaru begins his journey in the Naruto franchise, he doesn't want to be bothered with much of anything at all. He just wants to relax and do his own thing, and anything that he doesn't consider his own thing is a drag. Whether it be responsibility or any kind of work he's asked to do, it's usually met with this phrase and a sigh. He freely admits that he's lazy, but, honestly, what kid doesn't want to spend their days lying on the ground and staring up at passing clouds?

It set the tone for his early character, but with life experience and growth, his approach began to change. The more time he spent with his sensei, Asuma Sarutobi, the more seriously he started to take his life and his duties as a ninja. Because of his lackadaisical approach, many people mistook him for being weak, but sometimes being more laid back gives a great strategist like Shikamaru plenty of time to think carefully through everything in front of him and make great decisions. Still, even on successes, he'll be the first one to admit the entire process was a drag.

9 "Sometimes, I Wish I Was A Cloud..."

Naruto Season 1, Episode 64, "Zero Motivation: The Guy With Cloud Envy"

A young Choji and Shikamaru stand together in a Naruto flashback

Sometimes I wish I was a cloud, just floating along, going wherever the breeze takes me.

The animated arm of the Naruto franchise is actually very adept at fleshing out its large cast of characters. While most of Naruto's generation gets the spotlight at some point in the manga, not all of them get much additional backstory on the page. One aspect added to Shikamaru's backstory as the anime flashes back to Naruto's childhood is his love of just watching the clouds.

He's seen doing this a few times as a teen. Flashbacks reveal that Shikamaru would actually skip class at the Academy with some of his friends, and this time was largely spent just watching the clouds and picking out shapes within them.

8 "It's Stupid To Talk About Things You're Not."

Season 5, Episode 1, "The Battle Begins, Naruto vs. Sasuke"

Team Asuma dines together during Naruto Shippuden

It's stupid to talk about things you're not. Be yourself and you'll be fine.

Ambition and trying to prove oneself is a big part of the storyline for many members of the Konoha 11. Sasuke wants to have enough power to get revenge for his clan; Hinata wants to prove herself as capable to her family; and Sakura wants to be useful in the field, as just a few examples. That ambition can lead to a lot of characters struggling with who they are, like Shikamaru's teammate Choji.

Shikamaru, however, doesn't see the point in trying to twist himself into someone else's vision of him. He knows who he is, and he accepts it. Sure, he might change over time, but at his core, he's still someone who likes a good strategy game instead feeling like he's working.

7 "Now Who's Pathetic? I Don't Hide In the Shadows."

Naruto Shippuden: Season 4, Episode 16, "When You Curse Someone You Dig Your Own Grave"

Now who's pathetic? I don't hide in the shadows. I become them.

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Shikamaru's battle against Hidan was one of the most compelling stories in early Shippuden. Driven by grief and the desire to avenge his sensei, he really had to study Hidan's jutsu hard to find the cracks in it, so he could exploit them. All of the worst villains like to draw attention to their oppenents techniques, mocking them as though they have no fear, but Hidan was definitely starting to sweat a little when it became obvious Shikamaru was starting to outsmart him.

His shadow jutsu is an intriguing ability, and one that took him a fair amount of time to master. Once he did, however, outsmarting him was going to be difficult, no matter who his enemy was, including the sadistic and overconfident Hidan.

6 "I Know I Usually Seem Like A Pretty Lazy Guy, But Not Today."

Season 5, Episode 4, "Formation: The Sasuke Recovery Team"

Naruto, Choji, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Neji prepare to leave for their Sasuke Recovery Mission

I know I usually seem like a pretty lazy guy, but not today. Because now, I'm responsible for you guys, too.

There are two things in Shikamaru's life that cause his priorities to begin to shift: one of those is Asuma's death, while the other is the mistakes he makes on the Sasuke Recovery Mission. When Shikamaru's skills mean that he's trusted to lead his friends on a dangerous journey beyond the walls of the village, he realizes that things have to change.

He can no longer relax and get by doing the bare minimum — even if his minimum involves more skill than most of his peers can muster up. Shikamaru takes responsibility for his friends' survival very seriously. Seeing his friends get injured and left behind one by one nearly breaks him.

5 "The Problem Is The World Won't Let Me Be A Kid Forever..."

Naruto Shippuden, Season 5, Episode 1, "The Price of Power"

I could say I'm not sad, but that would be a lie. The problem is, the world won't let me be a kid forever, so I can't lie around crying about it.

The younger Shikamaru would absolutely find reasons to whine about having to grow up. He'd do it while also thinking himself more mature than his friends, of course. The Shikamaru who passes his Chunin Exams and leads his friends into battle, however, knows that the shinobi world isn't going to coddle him or sympathize with him.

Shikamaru and his friends spend most of their formative years with their village on the brink of war. The threat of Orochimaru looms in the shadows, tensions between villages intensify, and the Akatsuki become an ever-present threat. Shikamaru has no choice but to grow up, and he knows it.

4 "That Pathetic Lord Jashin Or Whatever Isn't Your God Anymore. I Am."

Naruto Shippuden: Season 4, Episode 16, "When You Curse Someone You Dig Your Own Grave"

The pathetic Lord Jashin or whatever isn't your god anymore. I am. The only one bringing down veangeance is me.

If there's any one person in Shikamaru's life who most shaped the shinobi he becomes, it's Asuma Sarutobi. Asuma isn't just Shikamaru's sensei, but also his friend; they're like family. It's Asuma who understands that Shikamaru has a head for strategy and that games aren't just a sign of laziness for him. When Asuma sacrifices himself in a match against Hidan so that Shikamaru can live, Shikamaru can't let the Akatsuki villain get away with his crimes.

Shikamaru's confrontation with Hidan is heartbreakingly emotional, but it's also the first time the teenager is truly fierce in battle. He leaves nothing to chance as he immobilizes Hidan and buries him in the forest the Nara family controls. Shikamaru challenges Hidan completely on his own and doesn't just live to tell the tale, but thrives. Getting closure for Asuma helps Shikamaru become the leader and the fighter he needs to be.

3 "...I Wouldn't Want To Know What You Were Like Before."

Naruto: Season 2, Episode 41, "Tsunade's Warning: Ninja No More!"

Shikamaru talks with Shikaku in Naruto

If women made you a better person, I wouldn't want to know what you were like before.

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Shikamaru's feelings about the women in his life are complicated, to say the least. His mother and Ino are the two closest with him growing up, and he sees them both as overbearing and pushy. He goes as far as to call the women around him "troublesome" on a regular basis, and even as he grows closer to Temari, he thinks of her the same way.

That being said, Shikamaru's assessment about a man only being better because of his interaction with the women in his life really isn't far off. Shikamaru grows and changes because he wants to be better, not because of the influence of a woman. He sees the world around him becoming a more dangerous place, and he steps up to the challenge on his own.

2 "Even Our Insignificant Power May Be Enough To Determine The Fate Of The World."

Naruto Shippuden: Season 18, Episode 2, "An Opening"

Shikamaru leads his friends during the war in Naruto Shippuden

Never avert your eyes because if an opening arises, even our insignificant power may be enough to determine the fate of the word.

It's honestly no wonder why Shikamaru went on to become an advisor to three separate Hokage. He grew from a little boy who would rather stare at clouds all day into a man who gives inspiring speeches before leading his friends into battle, and potentially their deaths.

Though he claims to have no ambition as a child, he certainly ends up being one of the most important people in Konohagakure. As he grows older, Shikamaru's intelligence leads to him becoming advisor the leaders of the Hidden Leaf Village, starting with Lady Tsunade as a mere teenager. He also finds himself as the one person advising multiple battalions during the Fourth Shinobi World War after his own father dies in a strike. He might not see his single contribution to the effort as significant, but the village absolutely does.

1 "I Believe In The Will Of Fire."

Naruto Shippuden: Season 4, Episode 16, "When You Curse Someone You Dig Your Own Grave"

See, you and I have different beliefs. I believe in the Will of Fire.

Shikamaru doesn't initially put a lot of thought into the Konohagakure tradition of passing on the "will of fire" to the next generation. The idea is that Konoha's shinobi improve with each subsequent era, with each generation teaching the next and fostering growth among those who follow in their footsteps. It wasn't until Asuma died that he finally understood that the kings a ninja needed to protect above all others were the children who would inherit the future.

When Asuma dies before his daughter is born, however, Shikamaru makes a vow to do everything he can to protect the shinobi to come, including his former sensei's little girl. His belief in the next generation is what keeps pushing him forward even when things look bleak.