The Naruto Experience TM is liking one character or a handful of characters because you found the idea of their personalities and backstories compelling and then clinging to those characters and ignoring everything else for ten years
I feel like we very often make it sound like ShikaNaru is one-sided by talking too much about Shikamaru loves Naruto and “Shikamaru is the only one who” this, “Shikamaru is the first and best” that, and “Shikamaru always see Naruto as Naruto and not as a Jinchuuriki NOR a hero”
but friendly reminder that wayyy back in the chuunin exams, while everybody was talking about Shikamaru’s IQ and stopping at “lol lazy bastard could try a bit” Naruto was the only one who talked with conviction about his loyalty and his bravery as a friend, a person and a shinobi.