Welcome to Gaia! ::

Kishimoto liked Asuma too, but killed him off. They were a package. Kishimoto separated them. That was hard. For an artist, they're usually at least somewhat emotionally involved.

No. You always say he's like... a one trick pony and sucks major a** and winning by strategical movements is a lame copout for wishing he had actual moves.
You obviously don't understand what admiring a character is. Sure, you can make ANYONE do anything. But that doesn't mean you can make it make sense. Not only this, but a character is a character. Kishimoto designed them; he designed Shikamaru. What Shikamaru does is LIMITED to that design. That's why we don't see him doing cartwheels (often) or kicking people in the face with uber skills. Let's see... His taijutsu is level ONE.
See, characters have Skill Parameters. THESE PARAMETERS... DO change. But when a character is in battle, he or she IS, INDEED, limited to those parameters. Shikamaru doesn't get super strong when he needs it. His chakra doesn't go up when he needs it. He doesn't somehow gain a stroke of intelligence, when he needs it. See, you think because they're fictional, that there are no rules. That just plain isn't true.
There's this game called Dungeons and Dragons. Your character is not real. My character is not real. They are out own designs made by ourselves simply by rolling dice. We get stats. These stats aren't real numbers. But neither is algebra because most of the time it is hypothetical math. We are limited to these stats, as characters. Kishimoto actually happens to use a lot of thought into writing these stories. He pays close attention to those parameters.
To not admire someone's personality, ability, though, achievement-- FAKE OR REAL, is your personal choice. But there is no shame in viewing someone with positive emotion whether or not they are flesh and bone. It's the thought that counts, and it's better to think positively than negatively overall. For you to loath, hate, wish Shikamaru would die in a firely, boiling, painful death, is far more negative than my, well... affection towards him. Knowing this, a simple COMIC brings you hatred... and simple comic brings me joy. The cause is simple but the effect is still ultimately the same.

It does happen. IN THE STORY. These things DO happen. In the story.

As for your examples about Yamato, they are no different. They are no different because they both are just as real. And just because you like someone for looks and quirks doesn't mean I can't like someone for their personality and who they are.

Whoa. Sorry I talked so much.

No! D:< Kage Mane, Kage Nui, Kage Kubi Shibari! They're DIFFERENT (CLEARLY, I'm in some sort of denial about that).

ASUMA'S ONLY 30! gonk

I won't deny wishing I was a ninja. I love the forest. The best air in the world. If I could LIVE there... xd But I'm not sure what else you mean. I love their world. I'd never trade it for my own but I wouldn't mind being born there. I wouldn't mind being in Naruto's or Shikamaru's shoes. But I also like being me (That's why I take out THOSE desires in my drama class).
I think you're evading your own point. Because every time I say something... just... It's hard to explain, but would you dare take the effort to explain it anyway? Why not just come out and say you think it's ridiculous that I like a manga character? >_>;;

BUT HIS BRAIN IS TEH HAWT11!!one1!!

Well, uh... You're right about that? >O<;

Not really! DX I'm just saying you should be willing to admit when the boy has done right! But you can't. You hate him and your excuse is that it's okay to bash him because he isn't real? D:

Not in those words. Instead you made a rather... false comparison of myself to a Sephiroth fangirl. I know Shikamaru isn't real. And that I'll never see anyone like him.

You don't like him, so you tend to be overly negative and harsh about every aspect of him...

I get what you're saying, but it doesn't tend to match with what you're actually doing.

You can't pretend you don't SEE this. D:

Oh, let me say this then. You wouldn't dare say anything POSITIVE about Shikamaru. xd

What you're saying doesn't tend to match with other things you're saying. You bash the hell outta him! D: You say he's an immature scowling brat who just HAPPENS to be a genius, etc etc. People have flaws, yanno. D:

redface GREAT. So you think he's HOT now. gonk

SO YOU DO LIKE HIM?! DX GREAT. Just GREAT...

God no. Shikamaru is an ugly mofo, he just was even worse when he was a kiddo. He still sucks.