[That sounds like a terrible way to get stronger, Shikamaru thinks, too used to bribes and encouraging words as with Asuma. Too used to kindness and friendship, because he learned that from Chouji, and for the longest time it was the only thing that could make his friend strong.

He doesn't begrudge Silver for it. It goes unspoken that whatever happened in that Time Before wasn't a good reflection of him. Even before this story, Shikamaru could tell you he's grown past it.

He could also tell you that it's probably weighing heavily on Silver now, just as Shikamaru's lost memories from that experiment are hanging over him. They have their different reasons, but in the end it's the same.

...It's a lot easier to talk about the bird. Some things are better unsaid. The bird has as many problems as the rest of them.]

I figured he'd tried enough. I've already put one animal through the ringer for this. It's one thing when it's just me.