Shikamaru sighed as he stepped onto the battlefield, his hands stuffed lazily into his pockets. He tilted his head back, staring at the ceiling as if contemplating whether or not this fight was even worth the effort. Across from him, Kin Tsuchi stood with her arms crossed, a smug smirk playing on her lips.
"You don't look like much," she said, flicking her long black hair over her shoulder. "Are you even taking this seriously?"
Shikamaru yawned. "Not really."
Up on the balcony, Naruto groaned. "C'mon, man, at least pretend to care!"
Ino rolled her eyes. "Oh, he cares. He's just too lazy to show it."
Raven chuckled. "She's right. He's already won."
Sakura frowned. "What are you talking about? The fight hasn't even started."
Raven smirked, her violet eyes gleaming. "Exactly."
Hayate coughed lightly before raising his hand. "Begin."
Kin wasted no time. She whipped her hands forward, launching kunai laced with thin metallic wires. The second the blades hit the ground around Shikamaru, the wires tensed, and the bells attached to them began to ring. The sound reverberated through the room, sharp and grating.
Shikamaru winced. "Ugh. That's annoying."
Kin smirked. "Let's see how long you last."
She flicked her fingers, making the wires dance. The bells rang erratically, filling the battlefield with an unpredictable rhythm. The genin watching from the balcony shifted uneasily. The sound was… disorienting.
Shikamaru didn't move, watching Kin with a bored expression. "Huh. You're trying to throw off my balance with soundwaves, aren't you?"
Kin's smirk widened. "Not just that. You won't even realize when I'm closing in."
She was already behind him.
Shikamaru's eyes flicked to the side, catching the faint movement of her silhouette. He sighed. "Yeah, okay."
Kin struck—but before she could land a blow, she froze.
Her breath hitched. Her arms wouldn't move.
She gasped. "W-what—?!"
Shikamaru exhaled, shaking his head. "You walked right into it."
Kin's eyes darted downward. Her shadow… was connected to his.
Shikamaru smirked lazily. "I had you five minutes ago."
Kin's mind reeled. That wasn't possible. She had been watching his hands the entire fight—he never formed a single hand seal.
She struggled against the hold, but her body wouldn't obey. Her arms lifted against her will, mirroring Shikamaru's movements perfectly.
Up on the balcony, Naruto's jaw dropped. "Wait—what?! When did he even use his Shadow Possession?!"
Raven leaned forward slightly, grinning. "The sun moved."
Sakura blinked. "What?"
Shikamaru sighed, stretching one arm above his head. Kin was forced to do the same. "See, I was never really trying to dodge your kunai. I was just backing up slowly, adjusting to the lighting. You didn't notice, but my shadow kept extending just a little bit further each time."
Kin's breath came in short, furious bursts. "You tricked me?!"
Shikamaru shrugged. "Not my fault you don't pay attention."
He snapped his fingers.
Kin's own kunai rose into the air.
Her hands trembled as she tried to resist, but she couldn't. Her grip on the kunai tightened, and then—with a sharp twist of Shikamaru's wrist—her own weapon was pressed against her throat.
The blood drained from her face.
Shikamaru yawned. "I could make you knock yourself out, but that seems like too much effort." He tilted his head. "Want to surrender?"
Kin gritted her teeth. She wanted to refuse, wanted to fight—but she was completely trapped. The realization set in slowly and painfully.
She dropped her kunai.
Hayate nodded. "Winner: Shikamaru Nara."
Shikamaru sighed in relief, releasing the jutsu. Kin collapsed to the ground, her body twitching from exhaustion.
Up on the balcony, Ino smirked. "I told you he was good."
Naruto pumped his fists. "That was so cool!"
Kin groaned from the floor. "I hate you."
Shikamaru yawned. "Yeah, yeah. You're not the first."
Before the audience could settle, the screen flickered again. The next matchup appeared.
Naruto Uzumaki vs. Kiba Inuzuka.
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"Alright! It's finally my turn!"
Kiba grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Heh. This'll be over in ten seconds."
The tension in the room shifted. This was a fight that everyone was eager to see.
Raven, watching from the balcony, smirked. "Now this is gonna be fun."
As Naruto and Kiba stepped onto the battlefield, the crowd leaned forward, anticipation thick in the air.
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