The excitement in the stadium had yet to settle after Naruto's stunning victory over Neji. The audience was still buzzing with chatter, but the proctor, Genma Shiranui, wasted no time in moving forward.
"Next match: Aburame Shino vs. Kankuro!"
As the crowd turned their attention back to the arena, two figures stepped forward.
Shino, clad in his signature high-collared jacket and dark sunglasses, remained as calm and composed as ever. His posture was relaxed, but those who knew him understood—Shino was never to be underestimated.
On the opposite side stood Kankuro, dressed in his black hooded outfit with purple face paint. A large, wrapped bundle was strapped to his back—Karasu, his puppet.
Kankuro clicked his tongue in irritation. "Damn it… I really didn't want to fight."
The plan had always been to keep his puppet techniques a secret until the invasion began. If he fought seriously, he risked revealing his abilities to the Konoha shinobi.
Genma raised his hand. "Begin!"
Kankuro sighed dramatically, making it seem like he was preparing for battle. But instead of taking a stance, he raised his hand.
"I forfeit."
A moment of silence spread through the crowd before murmurs of confusion erupted.
Shino barely reacted. He had anticipated this possibility.
Genma raised an eyebrow before nodding. "Winner: Aburame Shino!"
The audience grumbled in disappointment, with some booing Kankuro's lack of participation. But the Suna shinobi simply shrugged, walking away as if nothing had happened.
Shino adjusted his sunglasses and turned away without a word. Though the fight never happened, he had gained insight—Kankuro was hiding something, and that meant Shino had the advantage for the future.
As the proctor waited for the murmurs to die down, he stepped forward again.
"The next match: Temari vs. Nara Shikamaru!"
Temari vs. Shikamaru – The Battle of Wits
Temari confidently stepped forward, her giant fan slung across her back. She smirked as she eyed her opponent—a boy who looked like he couldn't care less about this fight.
Shikamaru sighed as he lazily walked into position, slouching slightly. He looked up at the sky, already regretting entering the tournament.
"Man… what a drag."
Genma raised his hand. "Begin!"
Temari wasted no time. She immediately unfolded her giant battle fan and swung it with a powerful motion.
"Wind Scythe Jutsu!"
A massive gust of wind roared toward Shikamaru, kicking up dust and sending debris flying.
But Shikamaru had already moved.
Instead of standing in the open, he ran sideways toward the arena wall, using it as cover from the attack. The wind crashed into the wall, but he remained unscathed.
Temari narrowed her eyes. "So he's not just going to stand there and take it…"
She swung her fan again, sending another violent gust toward him.
Shikamaru jumped behind a large rock, letting the wind smash against it instead.
Temari smirked. "Hiding won't help you."
She swung her fan a third time, unleashing an even stronger gust of wind that shattered the rock into pieces.
Shikamaru rolled away just in time, barely avoiding getting caught in the blast.
"She's aggressive… and way too strong." He clicked his tongue. "If I get hit by one of those attacks, I'm done for."
Shikamaru's Strategy
Shikamaru quickly scanned the battlefield. The sun was at an angle where shadows stretched further—that was his advantage.
Temari smirked as she confidently stepped forward. "What now? Are you just going to keep running?"
Shikamaru sighed dramatically. "Man… you're annoying."
Temari's eyebrow twitched. "What did you just say?"
Shikamaru lifted his hands, forming a familiar hand sign.
"Shadow Possession Jutsu… Complete."
Temari froze. Her eyes widened.
"What?! When did—?!"
She looked down and saw it—Shikamaru's shadow had already reached her.
He smirked. "Gotcha."
The crowd gasped as they realized what had happened.
While dodging Temari's attacks, Shikamaru had been carefully positioning himself, extending his shadow bit by bit. The final attack she launched had created additional shadows from the debris—shadows that he had used to extend his jutsu's range.
Temari couldn't move. She was completely trapped in Shikamaru's jutsu.
Shikamaru raised his right arm, and Temari unwillingly mimicked his movement.
"Damn it… he's smarter than I thought…" Temari gritted her teeth.
Shikamaru smirked. "Well, looks like I win—"
Then he suddenly dropped his hands and released the jutsu.
"I forfeit."
The crowd went silent.
Temari blinked. "What?"
Genma looked just as surprised. "Are you sure, kid?"
Shikamaru stretched his arms lazily. "Yeah. I only had enough chakra to hold that jutsu for a few more seconds. After that, I'd be too exhausted to fight properly."
He shrugged. "Plus… this whole thing is a drag."
The audience exploded in shock and disbelief.
Genma sighed and raised his hand. "Winner: Temari!"
Temari stared at Shikamaru, a mix of confusion and irritation in her expression. "I would've lost… and yet he just gave up?"
Shikamaru shoved his hands into his pockets and walked off, completely unfazed.
As he left the arena, he muttered, "Why did I even sign up for this?"
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's Seating Area
Minato Namikaze chuckled at the match's outcome.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked his beard. "That boy… quite the strategist."
The Kazekage (Orochimaru in disguise) smirked beneath his veil. "A brilliant mind, but lacking a true fighting spirit."
Minato leaned back. "He's just lazy, but when it matters… I'm sure he'll step up."
Jiraiya, who had been casually watching, snickered. "That kid would make a great shinobi… if he wasn't so lazy."
As the stadium buzzed with discussions about Shikamaru's unexpected forfeit, Genma stepped forward again.
"And now… for the match you've all been waiting for."
The crowd hushed, excitement building once more.
"The next match: Ryuga Uzumaki vs. Kaguya Mitsuki!"
The tension skyrocketed.
Both Ryuga and Mitsuki stepped forward, their eyes locked on each other.
The battle that would shake the entire exam… was about to begin.