Answer: 997

Small Hint:

Start by evaluating $f(995),$ $f(996),$ $\ldots,$ $f(999)$

Big Hint:

Use downward induction to find a parity pattern for every integer below $1000$

Solution:

Directly from the definition, $$\begin{aligned} f(999)&=f(f(1004))\\ &=f(1001)=998,\\ f(998)&=f(f(1003))\\ &=f(1000)=997. \end{aligned}$$ Continuing gives $f(997)=998,$ $f(996)=997,$ and $f(995)=998.$

We now use downward induction. If $n<995$ is even, then $n+5$ is odd, so the established pattern above $n$ gives $f(n)=f(f(n+5)).$ Thus $f(n)=f(998)=997.$ If $n$ is odd, the same argument gives $f(n)=f(997)=998.$ Thus every even $n<1000$ has value $997.$ Since $84$ is even, $f(84)=997.$