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Shikamaru's POV (Courtyard of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Shikamaru spat out blood as he was launched back after a harrowing taijutsu barrage from Sasuke. The ability to teleport at a whim was difficult to counter. If you trained yourself to absurd levels like some of these monsters, you could react with pure speed. Shikamaru had no such ability nor will to gain such. Hell, Neji and, to a lesser extent, Fuu had shown this was countable. Mercifully, perhaps the Uchiha had hurt his fist, punching him, and the beating stopped.
"It's time for you to take back what you said and surrender," Sasuke spoke now, somewhat more in control. "I think I've proven my point."
"I certainly feel inclined to agree. Unfortunately, I gotta stand my ground." Shikamaru said as he climbed to his feet. "In fact, I can turn things around with only a couple of moves."
"Already falling back onto manipulation tactics that is a new low even-" Sasuke stopped as Shikamaru whipped a hand-sized orb at him. With impressive reflexes, Sasuke drew and sliced with his kunai in one motion. It split the orb in two and sent both halves on either side of him. Both halves suddenly exploded with smoke as Sasuke was shrouded in a thick cloud. He coughed slightly before activating his Ash Step to allow him to escape the smoke instantly. Sharingan spun and saw a smoke trail quickly heading toward the forest. 'Using smoke to counteract my Sharingan allows him to safely retreat to more favorable ground. Unfortunately, I can use my superior speed to fish you out!' Sasuke Ash Stepped several times in quick succession to close the distance. He activated Besmirched Flambe as he flew through one cloud in a fury of steps.
Shikamaru flinched as Sasuke flew through the smoke with his blade of flames and nearly landed a blind strike. Shikamaru winced further when he ducked and luckily managed to dodge another. Unseen and therefore unburdened with the audience. Shikamaru dropped to the ground and crawled as Sasuke continued to zip through the clouds of smoke, slashing blindly. Shikamaru sighed as he used another smoke to continue to hide himself. Tenten would surely be furious he was being so wasteful. But if Shikamaru fought the Uchiha head, it would likely only last seconds. He needed more obstacles between them, and the forest was the perfect location.
Before Shikamaru could continue his crawl to safety, his entire body ached as he was suddenly launched through the smoke. His rib ached as he flew through the air. 'Bastard found me. Part two then!'
Shikamaru crawled to his feet again and faced Sasuke. He forced his expression to look frustrated and desperate. Even faked a stumble as Sasuke marched out of the smoke cloud.
"Found you." Sasuke said simply.
"D-damn bastard!" Shikamaru said. "Let's see you deal with getting blown up!" He said as he made a show of drawing a kunai and attaching an explosive tag.
"As if that would ever hit me." Sasuke taunted as Shikamaru threw the kunai. He blurred forward as soon as it left the Nara's hand.
Shikamaru merely smirked as the tag suddenly shined brightly. "Let's see you dodge light." He countered as he covered his eyes. Sasuke could do no such thing as he rapidly zoomed in using Ash Step. But it was no mere explosive tag Shikamaru threw. It was a light grenade one. Said light brilliantly shined, causing Sasuke to scream in pain and the audience to gasp. Sasuke, now blind and disoriented, missed his attempted attack on Shikamaru and instead smashed into a tree bodily. The stunned Uchiha stumbled back, heedless of the approaching Nara.
Shikamaru was never much of a taijutsu guy, but… he swept Sasuke's legs and viciously followed it by smashing the down Uchiha with a dropping punch. Not worried about style but beating the Uchiha unconscious, the Nara didn't bother with style. No, as he mounted the downed Sasuke. Instead, he launched a sloppy but powerful ground and pound landing three whole blows before Sasuke recovered.
Said recovery was Sasuke activating Ash Step. This typically propelled him at massive speeds, letting him virtually teleport. But with him being mounted, it sent the two violently careening towards the forest instead. Sasuke smashed into a tree in a collision that nearly knocked him out. Shikamaru was sent skidding across the ground, landing a short distance away. Sasuke Ash Stepped to close the distance and noticed Shikamaru attempting to pull another tag. Sasuke zoomed in and snatched it from his slow hands. "No more flashes!"
"That isn't a flash. Just needed a second." Shikamaru said with a voice full of pain. He was on edge; he had taken much punishment and landed a minor offense. Yet Shikamaru smiled happily. "Thanks for falling for that bluff; look up if you wouldn't mind."
Sasuke did so cautiously, noticing several floating kunai in the sky; each was carried by what appeared to be a small parachute. "Cute craft's project. Any point Nara?"
Shikamaru offered no response as the kunai in the sky were dropped as the parachutes suddenly freed themselves. They revealed each to be much larger than they seemed and momentarily coated the arena in shadows. Sasuke, wisely knowing such would be less than ideal against a Nara, managed to fire off a fireball to destroy such. But Shikamaru didn't care. "Checkmate. Shadow Possession Successful." He informed Sasuke.
"The shadow was up for a mere second." Sasuke stopped as Shikamaru raised his hand, and he followed suit. His expression grew more bewildered when the two crouched in sync. "How?"
"I can't keep up with you, monster, in this exam. But if I can catch you? Well, it becomes my kind of fight. See, the smokes and flashbangs were merely red herrings. Something for you to fixate on until you give me the chance to set it up. Making you angry only ensured you wouldn't catch onto it." Shikamaru explained. "The kunai parachutes I used are perfected and suited to create a moment. I rigged them to explode the cloth outwards, blocking out the sun for an instant."
"Y-you surely can't possess my shadow that quickly," Sasuke remarked.
"No," Shikamaru said with a shrug. "I didn't have to. Our shadows merged when the sun was blocked. It allowed near instantaneous possession. You're undoubtedly the better man, but I win."
"N-no," Sasuke said as he strained against it.
Shikamaru went to counter such before he realized something shocking. Sasuke Uchiha was twitching. Shikamaru sighed as he focused more of his chakra on it. Only for Sasuke to groan in pain as he somehow managed to twitch. "H-how the hell are you doing this? Even with chakra enhancing yourself, forcing your way out should be nearly impossible!"
"I-I've trained every day for y-years, forgone a social life, dealt with the hatred towards the Uchiha, I-I'm used to struggling with all I have. I-it's all I have. I'm w-willing t-to-d-die for this! ARE YOU?!" As Sasuke finished his decree, he flexed his chakra and muscles and managed to break the possession in an impressive display of force. Causing Shikamaru to fall to one knee and both to pant heavily.
"No, I'm not." Shikamaru panted out earnestly. "Can't believe you escaped that, poured all my chakra into it. You damn Uchiha are something else!" He complained. Sasuke chortled at such. "Anyway, I'm out of chakra and have no interest in any more pain. I surrender." Sasuke nodded at such, showing both forgiveness and respect.
Shikamaru would've responded or cheered but was too busy relaxing on the ground. Unlike last time, Kakashi did not remove them; instead, medical personnel came and loaded him on a gurney.
Kakashi announced Sasuke as the winner, but Shikamaru had no complaints. At least he could rest now.
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Naruto's POV (Entrance to Courtyard of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Naruto stretched his body and relaxed as he prepared for his next match. Samui was different from the opponent Naruto had been hoping for. He would've preferred Gaara or Sasuke. Both of them were dicks he would've loved to smack around. But Samui was a friend, a newer friend, but a friend. It wasn't going to be fun to defeat her. It took work. Ino had come quite a long way, yet Samui had defeated her. Naruto wouldn't let his guard down.
Before he could walk out to the field, he heard a voice call for him.
"Oi, you brat! Your wise and noble Sensei has come to offer three pieces of advice and wish you luck! Be excited to see the enigmatic Jiraiya!" Jiraiya roared as he marched down the hall, locking eyes with Naruto.
"Pervy Sage?" Naruto asked, confused. He had grown rather fond of his temporary sensei during their training, and Jiraiya had even offered him more in the future. Yet he hadn't expected to see him during the exams. The man already explained that he would be on guard duty in the Kage Box.
"I keep telling you, add super, or it isn't accurate." Jiraiya joyfully replied. "Besides, I wasted a favor to come talk to you. Don't exactly get breaks on guard duty."
"Right, thanks, Pervy Sage," Naruto nodded. "You said you had advice or something?"
"Like any good sensei would!" Jiraiya agreed with a prideful nod. "Wanna hear?"
Naruto shrugged his shoulders, which Jiraiya balked at.
"Damn youth so indifferent…" Jiraiya complained with a shake of his head. "Though the wisdom shall breakthrough! The first and second both pertain to the match coming!"
"Woah, I assumed it would be something stupid…" Naruto said, surprised.
Jiraiya flinched but confidently continued. "Your opponent is a unique one! A cloud beauty! Do you recognize such a thing?"
"Um, I mean, I guess she's pretty," Naruto answered, confused.
"She already has you!" Jiraiya bemoaned, full of despair. "See cloud kunoichi are known for their rare beauty! Especially the one before you; it could bewitch you."
"Ahuh."
"It could! See, she has the same refined beauty as your teammate. But with peaks of a much higher level!" Jiraiya ranted.
"Watch it."
"Yes, beware, my dear boy, for she may bewitch you-" Jiraiya could not finish this as Naruto promptly kicked him away.
"You damn pervert, I thought you were being serious!" Naruto yelled angrily at the now twitching pile of pain that was Jiraiya. Naruto sighed at his ridiculous sensei before he slowly marched off. "Damn waste of time."
However, the Blonde did not flinch when Jiraiya reappeared before him. The man often let him and Tsunade land hits but never seemed truly affected.
"Violent student…" Jiraiya grumbled. "I was just pointing it out. Anyway, truthfully came to let you know I'm proud of you and counting on you to win me some money~! We'll go to the club and party, right!" Naruto raised his fist warningly, and Jiraiya chuckled before his game face appeared.
Naruto had learned that he could be serious despite the man's goofy nature when he wanted to. Seemingly switching into a professional at will.
"I did wanna let you know I expect you to win. And tell you something about Tsunade." Jiraiya said simply. "She told me about you two's argument. One that likely is one I'm all too familiar with."
"Yeah, she told Ino some crazy shit!" Naruto replied angrily. "What the hell is her problem?" How could anyone be so defeated? Naruto just couldn't understand it.
"It's a story that isn't my place to tell. A by-product of this cold world we live in. But I wanted to assure you, assure you that she has simply lost her way. Tsunade thinks she merely trying to spare you the pain that broke her. Not realizing she has become jaded and bitter. I've tried to break her of such for years but haven't succeeded yet."
Naruto pondered over this. Was this what tragedy did to a person? Tsunade had lived it, but was her state genuinely living? Was this the future of Shinobi? Surely, Naruto could avoid such.
"I see the concern in your eyes, brat." Jiraiya said with a teasing smile. "I have lived something of a comparable life as well, yet I disagree with her. My point is that when it comes to women, anyone, I guess, you can't always listen to what they say. Instead, consider what they haven't said."
Naruto was confused by such, but Jiraiya pushed him on anyone. "Make us Proud!" He called as he shoved him into the Courtyard. Naruto would have to reflect on Pervy Sage's words. But for now…
Kakashi - Courtyard (Iron Arena)
Kakashi watched as Naruto walked onto the field. The amount of pride that flowed through him made him feel as if he was buzzing. Neji and Ino had undoubtedly improved and impressed him. But Naruto had blown his expectations out of the water. Naruto had yet to indeed seem troubled or in any actual danger. Kakashi was confident that Naruto may even be a match for Sasuke or Gaara.
It was painful that his sensei or team weren't here to see the next generation begin. To see the son of Minato shine as brightly as he could. But it mattered little; Kakashi was here. And after these exams, it would be fair to get something nice for the blonde. Perhaps a gift?
His mind focused again, noticing Naruto doing odd stretches, seemingly bored. How long had it been? Where was Samui?