Shikaku Nara

Shikaku Nara is the father of Shikamaru Nara. "Shika" means "deer" but "shikaku" can mean "assassin." He is the father of Shikamaru Nara and the husband of Yoshino Nara. He is rarely seen in either manga or anime, but when he is seen, he greatly ressembles his son with the exception of his more matured appearance and the few scars on his face.

Background
Nara Shikaku is the father of Shikamaru Nara and the husband of Yoshino Nara, and, like his son, he was part of an Ino-Shika-Cho trio, together with Chouza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka. Like his son he was once a student of Asuma Sarutobi, he is the Shika in the group name. He is married to Yoshino Nara who, as his son says, has him whipped. Despite his claim that "a woman is always tender to the man she loves," his son is never convinced. As a member of the Nara clan, he raises deer, whose antlers can be used to make a medicine which halts the destructive effects of the Akimichi clan's three colored pills.

Personality
When he is first seen he is portrayed as a bit of an alcoholic, and at times uses some of Shikamaru's catchphrases ("What a drag" in English, "How troublesome" in Japanese). Like his son, he think that Woman should be tender and sweat, but as his son says, he is beeing wiped by his wife. Like his son he is also a very lazy man, but he is also quite carring person, and is ready to jump into action when needed.

Chunin Exams
Shikaku is first seen during the Chunin Exam festivals, sitting alongside Choza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka, talking to Inoichi how troublesome it must be to have daughter. A little while later he is seen, talking to Shikamaru about the festivals saying that he should enjoy them, when all Shikamaru wants to do is drag his father home, before he gets to drunk, as he knows its his responsebility anyways.

Konoha Invasion Arc
He makes his next appearance during the end of the Konoha Invasion Arc choking three Sand Shinobis with the Shadow Neck Bind Technique and then again next to Choza and Inoichi saying that it is the reunification of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio

Sasuke Retrieval Arc
When Shikamaru returns unsuccesful, he is there to help Tsunade cure the destructive pills taken by Chouji and later encourage his son to keep his responsibility as team captain as it might be that a team on a mission could have several casualties, but if he was there that team might end up with no casualties.

Hidan & Kuzan Arc
In Part II, Shikaku only appears in the end of the Hidan and Kuzan arc, after Shikamaru had defeated Hidan. There he is seen playing Shogi with his son and proves to be much better than Asuma Sarutobi when playing Shogi, as he could easily beat his son at the game while Asuma never could, displaying genius beyond that of even Shikamaru's.

Quotes

 * "How Troublesome"