While Naruto focuses mainly on the star of the show and his immediate teammates Sakura and Sasuke, there are many notable characters that deserve some appreciation as well.
Shikamaru may seem like the underwhelming, sarcastic comedic relief of the show, but he has proven wiser than commonly viewed. Throughout this series, Shikamaru proves to be a well-developed, smart character who has the ability to learn from his faults and lead a team as he grows up and becomes a valued shinobi.
He Grows Up
"The Problem Is The World Won't Let Me Be A Kid Forever, So I Can't Lie Around Crying About It."
Throughout the series, Shikamaru spends a lot of time complaining about what he has to do and what is expected of him.
In fact, he may be one of the characters that would be least likely to say something like this. However, with much of their childhood involving rising tensions and concerns about an invasion from the Akatsuki and knowing being a shinobi means growing up and protecting his home, Shikamaru realizes he has no choice but to grow up and take responsibility.
He Learns To Be Present
"Sorry I Am Late, But I Won't Hesitate Anymore."
Shikamaru struggles a lot with the realization that once he loses Asuma, he needs to step up and be a leader.
After he learns he has the potential to be a good leader, he takes action and starts developing great combination techniques for himself, Ino, and Choji. By being present, in the figurative and literal sense, he is able to be confident in his decisions. It is easy to see, especially as he advises a few Hokage through the series, why Shikamaru would make a great Hokage.
He Owns Up To His Own Faults
"Laziness Is The Mother Of All Bad Habits. But Ultimately, She Is A Mother, And We Should Respect Her."
Though some fans can see the potential Shikamaru has of being a great Hokage, there are also some Naruto characters that would make a better Hokage because of his faults.
But one thing that makes Shikamaru so wise (and often the comedic relief) is him owning up to his own laziness. He does not make excuses or feel the need to justify his own faults. On the contrary, Shikamaru is one of the most authentic characters, being frank about the faults that make him who he is.
His Unapologetic View Of People Owning Their Own Actions
"If Women Made You A Better Person, I Wouldn't Want To Know What You Were Like Before."
While it is hard to call Shikamaru a feminist, given how he finds the two women in his life growing up (Ino and his mother) to be overbearing, he has no problem calling men out on using women as a crutch for their own personalities.
He does not use excuses to explain why he becomes a better person, and he does not let people get away with that excuse, either. In his eyes, he sees people being who they are because of their own actions and not because of how someone has influenced them.
Knowing It Is Best To Be Oneself
"It's Stupid To Talk About Things You're Not. Be Yourself, And You'll Be Fine."
There are a lot of characters in the show that have large ambitions, like Shikamaru's teammate and close friend Choji, that cause them to struggle a lot with who they are.
One of the many reasons Shikamaru is a relatable character is because he is simply himself, and he does not know why people would want to imitate others. While he looks up to his mentor, Asuma, and fears a leadership role, he has a knack for simply being true to his own personality. Perhaps the reason he is such a valuable advisor to leaders in the Leaf Village is that he knows people should always go with their gut.
His Bravery
"The Only One Bringing Down Vengeance Is Me."
There is a reason Shikamaru is one of the characters ranked for bravery in Naruto, and it is not just because he grows to be a great leader.
When Asuma sacrifices himself to protect Shikamaru, he does not let his sensei's death be in vain. Instead, he takes down the Akatsuki villain, Hidan, immobilizing and burying him. He is able to become brave, despite trying to stay out of the pool of those welcoming dangerous situations, to avenge Asuma's death and gain closure. Shikamaru is not brave because he goes headfirst into any battle, but because he will do what he has to in order to protect those that matter to him.
His Honesty
"I Know I Usually Seem Like A Pretty Lazy Guy, But Not Today. Because Now, I'm Responsible For You Guys Too."
When Shikamaru is entrusted to lead a team, he owns up to how they have perceived him and establishes that things are about to change.
Shikamaru, because of his skill, is entrusted to lead the team when they go off to recover Sasuke. However, he does not pretend to turn the tables and be the best leader he can be. Instead, he is honest with his team by pointing out his relaxed, minimalistic behavior is not the part of him that is going to take the reins when he is responsible for his team's safety.
His Leadership Skills
"Never Avert Your Eyes, Because If An Opening Arises, Even Our Insignificant Power May Be Enough To Determine The Fate Of The World."
Many of his best quotes prove how good of a leader Shikamaru is, but he is not a great leader just because of the decisions he makes.
Shikamaru has a knack for being able to say the right thing when those around him need to hear it the most. He is even entrusted to advise different battalions during the Fourth Shinobi War (and is able to do so even after losing his father in the same war). He is encouraging and emphasizes the fact that even the less powerful of them (which quite possibly includes himself) can make a difference in a fight.
His Views On Humanity
"Sometimes, I Wish I Was A Cloud, Just Floating Along."
He is known for being a down-to-earth individual, but Shikamaru also has dreams of his own, and his dreams are not just about the life he wants to live.
While he may not want to be a literal cloud, Shikamaru is overtly aware of the burdens of being human. He understands that no matter how much he tries to live simply, burdens, like having to grow up and lose those he cares about, will always be a factor. Throughout the series, Shikamaru is seen staring up at the clouds, lost in his thoughts.
His Views Of Life
"There's No Advantage To Hurrying Through Life."
Shikamaru knows better than to yearn for an extravagant, exciting life. On the contrary, he is vocal in his desire to eventually settle down and live a quiet life with a wife and children.
This may be precisely why he always seems put off by over-excited, ambitious characters like Naruto. While many of the characters have wild ambitions that drive the show, like Naruto wanting to be Hokage or Sasuke avenging his whole clan, Shikamaru is very much a realist through and through.