Asami felt disappointed. The ninja academy was... boring, terribly boring. Some days were interesting. Some days were less interesting, but most days were boring, and amusement a sparse commodity. The tediousness and monotony killed her. She even told Okaa-san.
Okaa-san, of course, agreed; school was boring. But unfortunately, nothing could be done. She was trapped here for the next few years. Nobody could save her from this prison.
"..." Asami sighed. The academy turned out to be an elementary school in all but name. The only difference was the fancier curriculum. Classes treated ninja history, techniques, and theoretical knowledge, but the majority of time was dedicated to more basic skills. Shuriken, kunai, taijutsu, and ninjutsu were important, but reading, writing, and arithmetic were equally important, if not more so. The village needed ninja, not idiots. The future canon fodder should at least know how to read and write. Illiterates were a troublesome bunch. They made for poor ninja.
The non-ninja-related classes had their use, but they were tiresome. They bored her, providing her with little challenge considering her background. Their endless monotony felt like gruesome torture, like a cruel joke of fate. She was already familiar with the curriculum, having studied the subjects before. Due to her birth, she enjoyed a privileged education. Okaa-san spared no efforts. In her eyes, her daughter deserved only the best education. Thus, Asami received only the best education. Tutors instructed her in the literary arts and more since a young age.
Even the dedicated ninja classes quickly lost their appeal. They piqued her interest at the beginning, but their fascination did not last long. Classes became dull, uninspiring, to the point that she stopped caring. She decided to ignore Iruka-sensei and his classes. Overnight, life became much easier.
Since then, Asami had plenty of time available for the important matters of life, like playing chess during school, which was far more interesting than learning kanji.
Asami finished her turn, moving her bishop to threaten Shikamaru's queen.
"Your turn, Shikamaru." Asami smiled.
"Tsk, what a drag... Your moves are annoying as usual," Shikamaru grumbled, clicking his tongue. His best friend, Choji, stood by his side, munching on a bag of chips. He followed the game with little interest. His chips proved more interesting.
"..." Asami chuckled. "I hope so, Shikamaru. You are an intelligent boy. I do not intend to disappoint our famed genius by not providing an adequate challenge. I have heard that you have scored high on your IQ test, have you not? What were the results again?"
"..." Shikamaru ignored her, his attention concentrated on the board. "I know what you are trying to do, Asami... So stop distracting me, I am thinking."
"..." Shikamaru folded his hands, pondering his next move.
Asami sighed in exasperation. "You are no fun, Shikamaru. Be careful, with this awful attitude of yours you will never get a woman... or a man perhaps?"
No reaction at all. Her teasing had no effect whatsoever. Shikamaru ignored her entirely, his mind far too engrossed in the game.
"..." Asami clicked her tongue. "Do not take everything so seriously, Shikamaru. Chess is just a game. Try to have some fun for a change. Try to relax. Sometimes I win. Sometimes you win. And sometimes neither of us wins, but most times I win. That is how things work in this world."
Shikamaru grumbled, "Why are we even playing chess? I told you I prefer shogi..."
Asami rolled her eyes. "You did, but I told you that I do not know how to play shogi. I know chess, though, and you know chess. I am the girl, so I decide. That is why we play chess. Pretty simple, is it not, Shikamaru?"
"..." Shikamaru scowled. "Father was right, women only cause trouble. The same is true for girls, apparently, especially when their name is Asami."
Asami touched her chest. "Oh, you flatter me, Shikamaru, you truly do."
Shikamaru scowled. "This was not meant to be a compliment."
"I know." Asami smiled. Teasing Shikamaru was so much fun.
"..." Shikamaru moved his queen, placing it right in front of her bishop. "As far as I remember, you promised me that you would learn how to play shogi. Unless I am mistaken, that was a few weeks ago."
"Did I?" Asami tilted her head.
"You did."
Asami stroked her chin. "How unfortunate that I cannot remember, but I think that I said I would learn it... one day, one day in the future. One day is not today."
"Tsk, if you say so..." Shikamaru appeared to be annoyed, but Asami could not tell for sure. He always looked annoyed. He always wore the same bored face every day.
Asami made her move, capturing his queen. She would lose her bishop, but exchanging her bishop for his queen was a worthwhile trade.
Shikamaru smirked. "I knew that you would take my bait. You are far too predictable, Asami. You have stepped right into my trap."
Asami narrowed her eyes. "What are you talking about..."
Shikamaru moved his rook, threatening her king. "Checkmate, Asami."
Moving her bishop created an opening that Asami did not notice. Her greediness had blinded her. Shikamaru's queen was a bait, a costly bait, but a bait. She had fallen for it.
"Your arrogance, your hubris will be your downfall, Asami. You should pay more attention to the game and spend less time talking." Shikamaru grinned in triumph.
"..." Asami pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly annoyed. She had lost. How troublesome. "It seems that you have won. Congratulations on your victory, Shikamaru, even though it was a close call. But do you know what the difference is between chess and reality, Shikamaru?"
"..." Shikamaru wrinkled his eyebrows. "Care to explain?"
"You see, Shikamaru, chess is a game that simulates a battle. It is a game designed to sharpen the mind of the players." Asami motioned at the board. "But in the end, chess is just a game. Chess is merely an approximation of reality. Chess is a game with perfect information. You are always aware of your opponent's moves. Nothing escapes your eyes. The rules are set in stone, their cold logical efficiency merciless. Chess offers no room for uncertainties. The very concept of uncertainty is alien to the game, but reality is different. Reality is full of uncertainties, full of the unexpected. You are not bound by rules. Nothing is set in stone, as each of us has the power to change fate, to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat."
Asami smiled and moved her king, capturing Shikamaru's rook. "Your move, Shikamaru."
Shikamaru froze, his mind unable to comprehend. Asami did the impossible. How... How was this possible? She lost. He defeated her. His trap was perfect. There was no escape. His knight covered his rook...
"..." Shikamaru noticed, as realization dawned on him. His knight was moved one field to the left. The figurine did not stand where it was supposed to stand.
"..." Shikamaru clenched his fist. "Asami..., you cheated, didn't you?"
Asami tilted her head. "..."
"I don't know when, or how, but you moved my knight when I didn't look! You cheated!"
"..." Asami sighed, shaking her head. "Shikamaru,... Shikamaru,... I must say that I am gravely disappointed in you. To level such a shameless accusation against me. Rest assured, I did not cheat. You merely made a poor move. You thought it was checkmate. I thought it was checkmate. Such was not the case. We both erred. You can even ask Choji if you do not believe me. Choji, did you see me moving any of his pieces?"
"..." Choji stopped eating, laughing uneasily. His chips lost their importance. "Well,... I can't tell. To be honest, I didn't see her doing anything."
Asami beamed. "See, Shikamaru, I did nothing."
"..." Shikamaru grumbled, but he relented eventually. It was his fault. He should have known better. He knew that Asami was a sneaky opponent. Her little speech caught him off guard.