Disclaimer: Refer to chapter 1.

'Everything that has happened has changed too many of my plans.' His team had been eliminated without issue, decimated in truth by Genin having skills no Genin should have. He had expected as much later on but not in the preliminaries. Kin was a fool to think her Genjutsu was greater than an Uchiha so her defeat was a fact once she began talking. She did provide useful date on the Uchiha's mental state though. Zaku could have proven himself against the Uzumaki but failed just like his teammate had. He had provided no useful information and would be dealt with appropriately. And Dosu. 'It's a shame how ill matched he was against Lee-kun.' The Oto Jonin withheld the urge to laugh. 'Who would have thought a Genin would be capable of surpassing sound.' Amusement left his eyes swiftly. 'Regardless of that, everything's been ruined now. It looks like I'll need to rely on my back up after all.' His eyes glanced to the sole Suna team in the preliminaries. 'I admit, I'm curious to see what you can really do.'

'Show me why you are titled Gaara of the Sand.' His eyes traveled to the display that showed the matches next. 'I can't wait to see who you'll kill.'

"Gai-sensei! I succeeded!" Lee leaped up from the arena floor back to the viewing area as Dosu was carried out by the medics. "The results of your training have shown themselves today!"

"You have made me proud with your burning display of youth, Lee!"

"Gai-sensei!"

"Lee!"

All those watching would swear a sunset burst into existence around the embracing Konoha Shinobi.

"I am so embarrassed right now." Tenten sighed into her hand, Neji still dead on his feet and most likely asleep. "Why can't these two act like adults every once in a while?"

'Man, Lee's too happy.' Shikamaru wanted to yawn after what he had just seen. 'What kind of guy trains to move so fast that he beats sound?' Seeing Lee's insane speed made him want to go to sleep. A glance revealed that Lee was just as dead on his feet as Neji and Shikamaru couldn't help but sigh at his luck. 'If Neji and Lee are like that, what does Tenten have to be like to be on a team with those two?' Already his lazy mind wanted him to sleep. The thoughts that had been compiled in seconds made him develop a fear of pointy objects and want to keep a solid object, preferably a shield, between him and Tenten. 'This is such a drag.'

"Looks like the arena's going to take a minute or two to get put back in order for your match." Asuma looked towards the Nara of this generation's Ino-Shika-Cho Trio and sighed. "This is just a suggestion b-"

"Yeah, I got the message Asuma-sensei." Shikamaru looked out as the arena was hastily made ready for the Genin again, Hayate Gekko overseeing the speedy repair. "Don't worry about me, it's too troublesome for these fights to drag on too long for me."

Asuma merely laid a hand on his student's shoulder.

"Don't disappoint me, kid."

"I'll try not to."

"Alright, we're good here."Hayate dismissed the Chunin working on the arena with a nod before he coughed into his hand. He glanced around, the stone tiles one again in place and the worst of the damage covered up with either new additions from Jutsu or shifted material. "I may actually get home on time." He spoke to himself before turning to the viewing area.

"Misumi Tsurugi and Shikamaru Nara are to come to the arena!"

'Let's see.' Shikamaru turned from the railing with a yawn as he began his trip down to the arena. 'The guy I'm fighting is part of Megane-sensei's team and I've seen two of those guys in action. Kabuto dropped out before things got any harder but that Yoroi guy could absorb Chakra from direct contact. Neji still beat him through. From what I saw of Kabuto, he was hiding something but it's all too much of a drag to think about. Doesn't matter since I can guess what this guy can do from the bodies we ran into in the Forest of Death. Ino told me one was drained dry of Chakra and the other had his neck snapped clear as day. Yoroi killed one and that means this guy took out the other kid.'

The Nara began his slow descent down the steps to the arena.

'That means he's pretty strong. The way the neck was bent shows that he was probably close to popping the guy's head off with how much force he used so that means he's strong, too strong to bother with trying to fight or trick. He's too much of a hassle to do anything but get serious with I guess.' Unbidden, Shikamaru's mind was filled with an image of Lee. 'Here I was thinking Lee was some pity case taken on by Gai and it turns out I was very, very wrong. There's no reason to underestimate this guy and get my neck snapped for my troubles.'

His thoughts came to a conclusion a step from the bottom.

'I can't let this match go on any longer than it has to.'

Across from him and in the center of the arena, Misumi stood in front of Hayate. The Nara's eyes narrowed as he focused on his opponent.

"Yeah…or hopefully they all just give up and we don't have to do anything." He remembered his words from a few days ago and couldn't help but sigh.

'I wish I knew being a Shinobi would be this troublesome.' Shikamaru came to a stop in front of Misumi. 'I would have never asked to go to the Academy until I actually had some training.'

"Alright, you guys have already heard me say the same thing enough times to understand how this works." Hayate raised a hand into the air, both Genin focused on the other across from them. "When I bring my hand down, you can use that as the symbol to begin, got it?"

'I need to take him out.' Shikamaru's fingers twitched at his side. 'No mercy.'

"I hope you don't do anything stupid, Shikamaru." Ino looked down at her teammate from the viewing platform, worry shining in her light blue eyes. "Don't be lazy like you always try to be."

"Shikamaru's fine." Choji was certain as he spoke those words. "He's going to end this in one attack."

"Begin!" Hayate leaped away.

Misumi lunged forward. Shikamaru crouched down.

"Shadow Possession Success." His shadow had shot out like a bullet, taking hold of Misumi in the midst of his lunge and leaving him trapped where he stood.

Shikamaru didn't waste time talking, he rose, forcing Misumi's body to mirror him, and reached behind him.

"I'll give you a choice." Shikamaru drew out a kunai but something was added to this one. It was an explosive tag like in so many of the other fights between the Genin aiming to become Chunin. "Either forfeit before I throw this thing or forfeit before the explosive tag explodes." The explosive trailed on a string behind the kunai, tied at the ring at the end. "It's your choice."

Shikamaru drew his arm back. Misumi's struggles to free himself from the Nara's Shadow Possession Technique were worthless. His body was not his to control any longer and would merely mirror Shikamaru's. A Genin stood no chance of breaking out of his technique.

"You don't have the guts to throw that knife." Misumi made a mistake.

Blood fell to the ground as bored eyes took in the new sight before him. Misumi's shoulder was impaled by the kunai and Shikamaru began to take several steps back, his shadow stretching to be thinner and thinner as his victim was forced to do the same.

His attempt to call what he thought was a bluff only ended up with him trapped on his feet, a kunai in his shoulder, and an explosive tag beginning to burn. Detonation was imminent now.

"I've modified the blast of that thing since my shadow won't stretch forever. It's going to be funneled towards you." Shikamaru placed his hands into his pockets as he held back the desire to yawn. "It doesn't matter what you try to do. I made sure to hit a bone when I threw that thing to lodge the kunai's stuck there. Too bad for you but I never felt like paying for the high quality stuff, the explosion will tear that thing to shreds thank to how cheap it is. That produces a large amount of shrapnel that the explosion is going to focus towards you. Unsurprisingly, your odds of being struck by it are a lot higher than mine. One may even strike your neck right here." Shikamaru pressed a hand to his neck, Misumi forced to mirror him. "If it does, you may bleed out before you can tell me you give up."

"To prevent any of that, you should say you forfeit now." Shikamaru yawned once more. He stretched his arms over his head and Misumi bit down his pain as the kunai shifted. "I don't really care what you do but I don't want to be responsible for the mess you'll make if you let something like pride get in the way. You're probably going to lose that arm if you don't forfeit the match by the way."

The Nara rolled his shoulders back, blood falling from Misumi's wound as the weapon embedded there shifted further and further with each movement he was forced to mirror.

The seal that would cause the explosive tag to detonate was brought closer and closer to the fire.

Misumi was no fool. Nara's were frighteningly intelligent and this one was no different. Death was the only outcome if he stubbornly refused to give up. His only chance for survival would be to surrender.

"I forfeit!"

"Shikamaru Nara wins his preliminary match." Once those words were spoken, Shikamaru's shadow retreated from Misumi's. A thin strand still connected them but already Shikamaru was turning to leave. Misumi still mirrored his movements. The paper bomb still burned, moments away from detonation as Misumi's eyes widened in panic.

"What are you doing? W-" The bomb exploded.

"I'm tired." The gag explosive tag erupted into a shower of confetti around Misumi. "Trying out for a Chunin is too much work."

He left the arena and, once he was back in the viewing area, slid down the wall and fell asleep.

'You're a bit too big on the results of laziness kid.' Asuma shook his head at his student's actions, a good natured smile on his face. 'I never thought you'd win your match like that through. Honestly thought I would see a bit of your genius shine through but there's always next time I guess.'

"Hinata Hyuga and Kankuro of the Sand are to come to the arena!"

'Maybe I will get home in time.' A smile played across Hayate Gekko's pale face. 'Yugao won't kill me then.'

AN: No comment towards the match really. Misumi never stood a chance. Shikamaru was determined to end the match as soon as possible.