Anticipation and tension were growing quickly even though all Neji and Naruto were doing was standing in front of each other while muttering profanities and insults. Akira could barely hear them, only occasionally picking up a word here and there, but she thought it was better that way. There was no point in hearing their pre-match bickering. The proctor moved between them to say a few words and as quickly as he moved back, Naruto and Neji got into position.

"Let the first match begin!"

Despite the cheering of the crowd, neither Neji nor Naruto moved an inch from where they were standing. In fact, it took quite a long time for either of them to attack at all. They continued to insult each other, to bicker, to talk until, finally, Naruto decided to launch a frontal attack. Neji blocked every single one of his attacks with rather annoying ease and though Akira wasn't allowed to shout help at Naruto, she couldn't help but try to analyse Neji's movements to figure out a weak spot. Her dark eyes were dead set on the fight, her fists clenched tightly around the railing before her. As Neji went in for another hit, Naruto pulled back and created four shadow clones.

Naruto sent his clones in to attack and he waited behind to sneak in. However, Neji predicted his tactic. When Naruto went to sneak in, he dodged Naruto's attack with ease. Naruto did the same thing again. This time, Neji jumped up and kicked two of the clones in the head, making them disappear in clouds of smoke. The two remaining clones charged as well, but they were easily pushed forward and destroyed. After exchanging a few more words, Naruto produced at least one hundred shadow clones. They all charged at Neji and, again, he blocked every single one of their attacks with impressive speed and ease. Neji then ran straight for the Naruto that was keeping himself the furthest and jabbed a Chakra-filled finger into his shoulder.

Akira assumed that Neji thought this was the real Naruto. Suddenly, that particular clone left in a cloud of smoke and two other Narutos jumped out from behind Neji. Just as their fists touched Neji's face, they were blown back by a wave of blue chakra. Another swarm of Narutos charged at Neji, but he deflected them by exuding chakra from every point in his body and spinning around, essentially creating a protective chakra dome. Neji then charged at Naruto with a flurry of jabs and he went flying.

The proctor got closer to determine whether the match needed to be called but, before he could reach him, Naruto was on his feet again, more determined than before. Neji charged at him once more and hit Naruto directly in the chest. It was the same attack that he'd used on Hinata to disable her. Neji turned, waving to the proctor to come check Naruto, but once again, the boy was up. This time, a familiar aura of rage filled the air. A swirl of bright red chakra rose around Naruto, healing all his wounds, and spiralled out into nine distinctive tail-like branches. Cloaked in the Nine-Tailed Fox's chakra, Naruto began attacking Neji repeatedly. He was barely able to keep up with Naruto's newfound speed and accuracy. After one last clash that resulted in an enormous explosion that made a crater in the arena, Naruto came out victorious.

There was a short silence, as the crowd sat stunned that Naruto won, but slowly the cheers came pouring in. Neji was carried off by medics, unable to move, and Naruto ran up to the waiting area. Everyone, even Shikamaru, congratulated him on his win.

"Now I'm probably the worst competitor," Shikamaru sighed. "What a drag."
"Look alive, Shikamaru," Akira chuckled. "We're next."

As the proctor called Akira's and Shikamaru's names, Akira jumped down from the viewing area and onto the battlefield eager to start the battle. Shikamaru took the long way down and took his time going down the battlefield.

The bright summer sun was beating down on Akira and Shikamaru, making them sweat without having to move, but a shiver ran down Akira's spine. She smiled and let out a breath of laughter, shaking her limbs to relieve the nervousness. Glancing up at the crowd, Akira was nearly blinded by the spotlights, but as her eyes adjusted she could see all the faces beaming down at her. It was a strange feeling. Akira hated the spotlight, but there was a small part of her that was eager to show every single one of them what she was made of.

"Worried?" Shikamaru asked.
"No, I'm excited to kick your ass."

Shikamaru scoffed and shook his head. Akira turned to the proctor.

"We don't need an introduction and we're not gonna insult each other, can we begin?"
"Ugh, sometimes I forget you're spunky," Shikamaru sighed. "I hate spunky."

With a shout, the proctor declared the match started and Akira charged forward in a flash. Shikamaru was a little taken aback by her speed and barely dodged in time to save himself from getting chopped in half by Akira's katana. They hit the ground and created a large cloud of dust which Akira hid in.

"I'll go easy on you," she called. "I won't use my Sharingan."
"Hey, it doesn't make a whole lot of difference whether I make Chūnin or not, but don't go easy on me!" Shikamaru replied, annoyed. "And I'm not about to let myself get beat by a girl."
"Is that any way to treat your best friend?"
"Let's do it, kid."

Akira tossed her katana into the air and performed hand signs faster than Shikamaru had ever seen. She caught her swords as they fell and spun one around, planting it in the ground. Bright white lighting cracked through the ground and rushed towards Shikamaru. Chunks of rock and dirt blasted up through the air again, reducing the visibility, and when it cleared Shikamaru was nowhere to be found. Akira pulled out her katana and stared around the arena, minding the shadows around her. Shikamaru was far behind her, crouching beside the arena's wall, thinking and biding his time.

"Oh, no, you don't."

Akira brought her hands together and, while still holding her katana, performed a few simple seals. White chakra covered the blades and the crackling sound it made resonated throughout the battlefield. Akira repeatedly swiped her katana at Shikamaru, sending several cutting waves of electricity. He groaned, forced to move from his thinking position, but Akira anticipated. She dashed forwards and intercepted Shikamaru and swiped her blades within mere inches of him. They slammed against his chest, electrocuting him and sending him flying into the concrete wall. However, it seemed that Shikamaru had anticipated her moves too. As she landed, a shadow was heading her way. With an irritated sigh, Akira was forced to pull back and out of reach of Shikamaru's jutsu.

"Dammit, Shikamaru," she growled.
"You're not getting close," Shikamaru said playfully.
"Ass."

As Shikamaru resumed his thinking position, Akira began to think as well. A lot of her attacks relied on creating storm clouds which, by definition, would create shadows, so those were out of the question. If Akira got close again, she'd just be pushed back with the threat of a shadow. She could evade them to some extent, but Shikamaru had a habit of finding and creating shadows from the most ridiculous things. Somehow, Akira had to figure out a way to get him at a distance. She could use the water in the gourd attached to her back, but Akira didn't want to reveal that unless she really had no other choice, and there was clearly a way to defeat Shikamaru without it. She had to do it quick, however. The longer the battle took, the longer the shadow cast by the arena wall—eventually, Shikamaru would be able to reach her wherever she was.

Just then, Shikamaru shot a kunai at her. Akira deflected it easily with her katana but was caught off-guard by the shadow coming at her beyond its prior limits. As she jumped back to avoid it, Akira glanced upwards. Shikamaru's jacket was tied to a kunai and it was floating above the arena, creating a second shadow for him to use. Akira tossed a shuriken at the makeshift parachute and it fell to the ground.

"All right, I see how it is."

Akira tossed one katana to the side, its blade embedding itself in the earth. She put up a single hand in half a ram seal and stared directly into Shikamaru's eyes.

"Mahi."

Shikamaru's eyes widened and he tried to move but to no avail. It was as if invisible ropes were tying him down. Akira kept her half seal up and, with the other hand, completed it into a tiger seal. As the paralysis justu began to fade, Akira performed a quick series of three other seals. The power behind the jutsu created a crater at her feet and, before Shikamaru could move, an incredibly powerful gale of wind shot directly at him. He flew back with such force that the concrete wall of the arena shattered where his body hit, and Shikamaru fell to his knees.

"Oh, the hell with this," he complained, getting to his feet. "I give up."
"What!? You can't just give up!" Akira shouted.
"I can and I did."

The proctor stepped forward and looked at Shikamaru, confused.

"Are you forfeiting the match?"
"Yup."

The crowd was in an uproar and Akira shook her head. Eventually, her displeasure turned into a laugh. She walked over to Shikamaru as the proctor declared her the winner, and they shared a fist bump.

"You're so lazy."
"Sue me," Shikamaru chuckled. "Besides, my only strategy was to bide my time."
"Come on, I'm sure you thought about pulling shadows out of the craters I kept making," Akira said.
"Yeah, but you'd have figured that out and, well, I don't care."
"You know, just because you forfeited the match, doesn't mean they won't promote you to Chūnin."
"Ugh," Shikamaru groaned. "If they recommend me, put in a bad review."