Yo!! Two of the strongest members of the Konoha 12 meet for a battle that will answer the age old question: Does Brains or Brawn bring power? Personally, I had lots of fun writing this chapter. It was fun thinking up different moves for the two ninja to use. But that's another story. Have fun!!

Chapter 23: The Fox vs. The Sloth!! Power of Will vs. The Power of Mind!!!

Naruto jumped into the arena, and began jumping in anticipation, as Shikamaru walked down lazily. "You ready, Shikamaru? I'm going to mop the floor with you!!" Naruto said, as Shikamaru sighed.

(Maybe I should just call it quits. I have no intention of becoming a Jounin. It would make my life all the more annoying.) Shikamaru thought to himself. Before he could even weigh the outcome of his decisions, Tsunade stood, glaring.

"SHIKAMARU!!!! IF YOU EVEN DARE TRY TO QUIT, I WILL BUST YOUR ASS BACK DOWN TO GENIN, AND FORCE YOU TO DO D-RANK MISSIONS TILL YOU DIE!!!!" Tsuande threatened.

Though this kind of threat wouldn't work on him normally, the fact that Ino and Temari would never let him live it down motivated him to actually try and defeat Naruto. "Sorry Naruto. I guess that it's more troublesome to let you win than it is to fight." Shikamaru said. "Good. I didn't want to win due to you wussing out!" Naruto said.

"Unlike the rest of you, I have no wish to become a Jounin. This exam is a mission to me." Shikamaru said. "But Shikamaru, you are one of the smartest people here. I believe you to be stronger than a Chuunin!!" Naruto said.

"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. The only way to find out is if I do my best, or some crap like that." Shikamaru said. He yawned, but showed he was ready, while Naruto smirked.

(Outside Arena)

"Hey Sasuke, do you think Naruto will win?" Sakura asked, as they headed for the hotel rooms. "The idiots not going down until I take him down." Sasuke said, and Sakura smiled.

They entered the hotel, and headed for the hallway where the competitors were staying in. They stopped when they heard a guitar coming fron Koji and Sanosuke's room, along with a loud 'FUCK!!!!'

Both sweat dropped, and peered their ears to listen to what was happening. "Give up Koji. You've been trying for the last hour now. Just let it die." "NO!! I won't let that prick have the satisfaction of believing he can beat me in a game I KICK ASS IN!!!" "Funny, because the only ass getting kicked is yours, loser." "THAT'S IT!!! YOU WANT TO STEP OUTSIDE!?" "Koji. Let it die. He's better, so what? He looks like he plays it religiously." "Are you implying I have no life?" "Look at your guitar! It's tricked out! You're a religious player!" "Who kicked your ass 15 in a row." "THAT DOES IT!!!!"

Sasuke and Sakura left when they heard crashes, explosions, and jutsus being launched. Maybe Naruto hasn't started yet. That would be less noisy than what they just left from. Apparently the argument led to a hotel room Battle Royal.

(The Arena)

Begin was called, and Naruto charged like a bull. Shikamaru pulled out two Trench Knives, and took a defensive stance. Naruto made 4 Shadow Clones as he charged, and Shikamaru tossed some shuriken.

All the clones scattered, and Shikamau stood, in a ready stance. He turned, just as a clone was about to hit him in the back of the head. He dodged the punch, and cut the clone, making it poof away. Another two clones appeared, charging from behind. Shikamaru spun, and sliced them in mid-air. He then turned, and tossed the knives to the ground.

The knives hit the ground, and a black blob shot out. "Sorry Naruto. You got caught." Shikamaru said. Indeed, the two knives had sprouted some Shadows, and snared the two Narutos. Shikamaru thought something wasn't right, but couldn't put his finger on it.

His eyes widened, and he jumped back, as Naruto blasted through the ground. Naruto landed on his feet, as Shikamaru smirked. "Not bad at all Naruto. You almost got me." Shikamaru said, as the clones his knives caught poofed into thin air. "Your Shadow Clones are such a pain." Shikamaru said, and Naruto smirked. "You ain't seen nothing yet!" Naruto said, as he created 5 more clones.

(Sand District)

Shinji walked through the Sand Village, bored. Since his talk with Zabuza, he had been questioning the mission they were currently on. Koji, from what he saw when he fought Gale, was stronger than he first thought.

And that chakra. He had felt it. Koji had access to another supply of chakra. All he knew for sure was that it held electric powers, and he was going to be ready when the time came to battle him.

(Even if it's meant to be his death, I really want to fight that power.) Shinji thought to himself. He walked some more, before he got lost in his thoughts and bumped into someone. He looked up, and standing in front of him was Kimimaro, along with Tayuya.

(Sand Arena)

Three of the Narutos jumped into the air, as Nauto stayed back to prepare the Rasengan. Shikamaru dodged the three Narutos, and tried to dispatch them. He managed to kill two of them, but was distracted by a fierce flash of chakra, he turned, his hands in a seal, as Naruto was three steps away, Rasengan about to plow dead into his back.

One step away, and Naruto froze.

Rasengan was an inch away from plowing into Shikamaru's back, but he managed to Shadow Bind Naruto before the attack could hit. "Almost." Shikamaru said, taunting Naruto. "Damn!!" Naruto screamed, as his Rasengan sizzled away. "I will admit you aren't as stupid as you were Naruto, but you are dealing with someone who isn't a fighter like yourself. I am a thinker." Shikamaru said.

"And I will beat you!" Naruto said, as another Naruto wielding the Rasnegan appeared behind Shikamaru. Shikamaru cursed seconds before the Rasengan hit…nothing. Shikamaru smirked, as Naruto's hand went right through him. "Seems like you have become quite acquainted with my Shadow Walker." Shikamaru said, as his Shadow Walker binded Naruto where he stood. Shikamaru had disappeared to the entrance of the arena.

"Eh!? How did you get there, Shikamaru!?" Naruto asked, confused. "Shadow Step Jutsu. Allows me to disappear into the shadows and reappear from another shadow in a 100 yard radius." Shikamaru said, smirking.

(Sand District)

"And you two are?" Shinji asked, as Kimimaro and Tayuya sized him up. "None of your damn business." Tayuya retorted, thinking she could take the kid. Shinji fixed his glasses, and sighed.

"I don't feel like dealing with hot-headed bitches right now. If you don't mind." Shinji said, as he walked by both Shadow Blade nin. Tayuya glared quite fiercely, and was about to talk his ear off using some colorful language, but Kimimaro held his hand up to silence her.

"Shinji, what is your goal here in these exams?" Kimimaro asked. Shinji turned to glance at them, and smirked. "What reason should I tell you?" Shinji asked. "Those who seek strength using their own powers are not ninja. They are merely trash." Kimimaro said, and Shinji actually glared at him. "Are you trying to say I'm a trash ninja?" Shinji said.

"I frankly would agree with Bone Boy here. You don't seem like a ninja. Merely a lone wolf who works alone." Tayuya quipped, as the Sun gave Shinji's glasses a glare. "Then excuse me." Shinji said, glaring at them. Neither Nin felt it, but Shinji had them in his gaze, and he was going to give them some mental beatdowns.

(Sand Arena)

"Ready to call it quits Naruto? My Shadow Walker will off you whenever I feel like it. Since these matches are no holds barred, I can kill you without fear of being reprimanded." Shikamaru said with such a calm that Naruto thought he was being dead serious.

In fact, Tsunade also believed he was serious because the glare she leveled at him caused Shikamaru to feel like he was going to die for this. "Well Naruto, it was fun." Shikamaru said. "It's not over yet." Naruto put his hands into a seal, and began gathering chakra.

His chakra stayed blue, until a burst of red chakra caused the Shadow Walker to burst. (That red chakra from before. He's going to use it on someone like me, eh?) Shikamaru thought to himself, amused. He never figured that Naruto would have to fight seriously to take him out.

"Let's go!!" Naruto said, as he charged. Instead of being in sight, he ran so fast, dust picked up from where he was. Shikamaru stood in the middle, as a dust storm encircled him. He was forced to do the only thing that could help him. He dropped to one knee, and made the sign he made for deep thought.

(Sand District)

Tayuya and Kimimaro were wondering why Shinji was just standing there, smirking at them, before something that wasn't normal happened. Kimimaro turned to look at Tayuya, who was blushing fiercely, and moaning.

Kimimaro raised an eyebrow. (What's going on?) Kimimaro thought to himself. Her moans were becoming more erotic and loud, and Kimimaro couldn't see what was happening. He turned to look at Shinji, and saw that his gaze was leveled directly at Tayuya.

As if to make the situation more confusiong, she was muttering things like 'faster!' and 'yes!' and Kimimaro couldn't place where the hell this effect on her was coming from. "Don't bother trying to locate what is causing the Genjutsu, Kimimaro of the Kaguya Clan." Shinji said, and Kimimaro glanced at him.

"Who gave you my name?" Kimimaro asked, and Shinji's smirk got even broader. "You won't know unless you ask the correct question, Kimimaro-san." Shinji said, and he closed his eyes. "Hope you got to enjoy this little show, because all it took, was one minute." Shinji said, and reality shattered.

(Sand Arena)

Shikamaru had a plan. It was dicey, and because it was Naruto, chanes were 50/50. But he believed (more like hoped) that his plan would work. He stood to his feet, as Naruto charged. Ninja reflexes was the only thing that saved Shikamaru from a blow to the back of the head.

He slid out of the way just in time to watch Naruto barrel into the wall, and launch off of it, causing the wall to shatter. "Just adds more problems." Shikamaru said, as he fished out a Flash Bomb. "A Flash Bomb!? What the hell makes you think you can blind me?" Naruto asked. "Who said it's to blind you?" Shikamaru said, as he tossed them into the air.

The bombs went off, and a bright light shone throughout the arena. Naruto covered his eyes, but was surprised when Shikamaru gave a victorious smirk. He put his hands into a seal, and his shadow turned into a giant deer-like beast.

"Naruto, meet my Shadow Beast. Shadow Beast, meet Naruto." Shikamaru said, as Naruto sweat dropped. (You've got to be kidding me…) Naruto thought to himself, as the deer ran it's head down, nearly crushing Naruto with it's antlers. Naruto jumped away in time, but the deer monster shuffled it's head, launching shadows in the forms of needles at Naruto. Naruto managed to dodge all of them, and even attempted to block one of them with a kunai.

The Shadow Needle slithered along the kunai, and dug itself into his chest, like it was aimed there. It felt like a stab wound, and Naruto realized that blocking them would be a very bad idea. So he went with the alternate plan. If he couldn't fight that thing one-on-one, he knew someone who would. So, biting his finger, he made the seals, and smirked.

"SUMMONING JUTSU!!!" Naruto screamed, slamming his hand into the ground. A large amount of smoke shot out, and Shikamaru groaned in frustration. (I should have figured this. He WAS trained by Jiraiya.) Shikamaru thought to himself, as Gamabunta appeared, Naruto sitting right on top of him.

"Boss Toad!! See that black deer! It said your mama was a tadpole!" Naruto said, and everyone sweat dropped. "HE SAID WHAT!?!?!" Gamanbunta screamed, and Shikamaru sweat dropped. "I'LL KICK HIS ASS!!!" Gamabunta charged the Shadow Beast, and they took their battle outside.

Shikamaru groaned in frustration. Naruto fell from the sky, charging head first. The best Shikamaru could do was to get into a defensive stance. His Shadow Beast had taken his whole shadow to conjure, and his knives were nowhere to be seen.

Then he felt it. Gamabunta defeated his Shadow Beast, so that meant his shadow would be returning. Shikamaru jumped out of the way of the attack, and a Naruto charged from behind, ready to punch him. Shikamaru didn't move, and he didn't need to.

Naruto was an inch away before Shadow Tendrils had him immobilized. "Seems like Shadow Sewing saved my hide." Shikamaru said, sighing. "Not so fast!!" Shikamaru turned in time to see Naruto right in front of him, Rasengan a foot from his chest.

"Got you! RASENGAN!!!" Naruto screamed, as the swirling sphere ran into Shikamaru's gut. (Guess this is it. I screwed up, and Naruto pulled it off.) Shikamaru thought to himself, as he spun in the air, and hit the wall upside-down. He wasn't unconscious, but that attack hurt like hell. He slowly stood to his feet, and groaned.

"Yo, Kankuro. I'm done. I can't hope to keep up, and my chakra is near the end." Shikamaru said, and Kankuro smirked. "You aware that Temari will never let you live this down, right?" Kankuro said. "It can't be helped. If I had a third of the chakra that Naruto had, then I would continue, but that Shadow Beast took a dent in my reserves. It can't be helped." Shikamaru said, shrugging. "If you say so, then the winner is Naruto Uzumaki." Kankuro said, and everyone began cheering.

(Sand District)

Shinji turned his back to the two Shadow Blade Nin as he began to walk away. "What was that move you did?" Kimimaro asked. Shinji smirked, and glanced back at them. "It's a jutsu that is exclusive only to me, and me alone. Besides, aren't you curious as to what, or who, made her act like that?" Shinji asked, walking away.

Kimimaro turned to look at her, but her face was blazing red, almost the same color as her hair, and she refused to look him in the face. Kimimaro looked confused. "Tayuya, what happened?" Kimimaro asked. Tayuya didn't answer, but her blush got even darker. Kimimaro decided to drop it, since he wasn't going to get any answers from the foul mouthed nin.

"Whatever that attack was it's dangerous. He isn't someone to take lightly." Kimimaro said to himself. "I know. He's in a league of his own." Tayuya muttered. This time, Kimimaro looked at her, surprised. "You not talking shit? What did he do to you?" Kimimaro asked. Tayuya turned crimson again, and looked away.

"Personal." Was her reply, before she disappeared in a poof of leaves. (Reason: Since Orochimaru is originally from Konoha, he learned Body Flicker the way Leaf Nin do, with the swirling leaves.) Kimimaro sighed. It wasn't his business, but the way she said it, he figured that she woud tell him eventually.

Sighing, he pulled out a bone in the shape of a back scratcher, and began to get the itch that was on his back. (Anyone who saw this would be stupefied) After that was taken care of, he poofed away as well.

(Sand Arena)

Naruto and Shikamaru walked out of the arena together, Naruto bragging about his victory, and Shikamaru ignoring him. "Hey Naruto!!" Both turned, as Sakura ran to them, Sasuke walking behind her. "Hey Sakura-chan!! I won against Shikamaru!!!" Naruto gloated, and Shikamaru sighed.

"You only won because I didn't have the chakra to continue." Shikamaru said. "That sounds right." Sasuke said, and Naruto glared at him. "You quit!?" Shikamaru turned just in time to get whacked over the head by Ino.

"What the hell!?" Shikamaru said, irritated. "You could have beaten him!!" Ino screamed. "Well I'm sorry my chakra reserves don't agree!" Shikamaru replied, obviously annoyed. "Leave it, Ino. You really expected him to defeat Naruto of all people?" Chouji asked. "YES!!!" Ino screamed.

"He made it farther than any of us." Tenten said, as her, Lee, and Neji walked towards them. "He has the power of youth! Stronger than any of us!!" Lee screamed, and everyone sweat dropped.

"Shikamaru did get farther than any of us." Kiba said, as his team appeared. "Shino probably could have gone far, but he got Naruto early." Shino shrugged. "Hinata got Koji, though she tried her best. Wonder what kind of training he got to do all of that?" Kiba mused outloud, as everyone headed for the hotel.

They all thought on it. Koji seemed pretty strong before, but now, he was on a level where even Naruto and Sasuke would be given a run for their money. They saw the hotel, and everyone breathed a breath of relief. They were going to take the rest of the day off. Of course it couldn't be that easy, and a corner of the hotel exploding told the tale.

(Hotel Lobby)

"WHAT IN THE FUCK WERE YOU THREE DUMB BASTARDS THINKING!?!?!?" The manager screamed at a sheepish looking Koji, an irritated Sanosuke, and a not-so-concerned Gale.

"I'm sorry, but my father was very much married when I was born." Gale said, and it took everything Koji had not to snicker. "My father is dead, but he was alive at some point." Sanosuke said, and Koji smirked. "My dad is not of this world." All three nin began to snicker (yes, even Gale) before the manager's face turned red from fury.

"YOU THREE ASS-HOLES OWE ME AN ENTIRE SECTION OF THE HOTEL!!!!" He screamed in fury. "Well, excuse me for trying to put an overconfident arrogant prick in his place." Koji said, and Gale smirked at him. "Said 'prick' still kicked your ass in Guitar Hero." Gale stated, smirking, while Koji glared.

"Let it die for the love of Kami-sama!" Sanosuke said, stepping in between them. "ARE YOU THREE IGNORING ME!?!?!" The manager yelled in sheer anger. "Oh, you say something?" Koji asked, and they all got a little nervous when they could see the smoke coming out of his head.

"Umm…can we make a deal?" Sanosuke asked, sweating. "What kind of deal?" The manager asked, trying his best to reign his anger. "How about you ignore this little issue, and we get free rooms?" Koji asked, as his two friends gave him 'what the fuck!?!?!' looks.

"GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HOTEL!!!!" He bellowed in pure anger. "Sorry, I see no fucks in this hotel area." Koji retorted, before a Rocket Launcher was pointed dead at his face.

"O.O You're allowed to carry this!?" Koji asked, as he slowly raised his hands into the air. "It's for my 'special tenants.'" He stated in a really satanic voice. "Does the Kazekage allow this?" Gale asked, something close to awe in his voice. "Wouldn't you like to know?" He said in same satanic voice, his expression stating 'Koji is one smart-ass comment away from getting his face blasted off.'

"One last question?" Sanosuke said. "Is the fact that you wield a Rocket Launcher compensation for a small pair of balls?" The Lobby met Rocket Launcher. Lobby never stood a chance.

(Sand Hospital)

"So that's why you three are in my hospital." Gaara said, as Koji, Gale, and Sanosuke were sitting in the hospital. This is number two for Koji and Sanosuke, and Gale's first time.

"You should do something about that guy! He almost killed us!" Koji said. "It was deserved, we know." Gale said. "I won't make you guys pay, but Koji, this is the second hotel." Gaara stated. (Back in Chapter 12.) "Sorry." Koji said, scratching the back of his head.

"Luckliy, I'm a somewhat 'nice' guy, so I'll somehow get you back into that hotel. One more mishap involving them, and you better hope you have camping gear." Gaara said, as he left. "Kazekage seems nice. I bet he's real cool!" Koji said. (If only he knew what he was like a few years back…) They both thought, as shivers ran down their spines.

ShadowRonin: So this section is over. The rounds end with Shikamaru still quitting, but with good reason. He was out of chakra, and a Shikamaru with no shadow is useless. More so than any other ninja due to a lack of good Taijutsu. But besides that, the round is over!!! Now, we have one intermission chapter of randomness, and go to the next sets. For now, wait it out, and hope for the best!

Next Chapter: Finding nothing better to do, Koji decides to make trouble in the only way he knows how: Strip poker. (Before any yaoi enthusiasts start frothing, no yaoi is involved. Yuri? Well…I guess none of that either…) Revelations, battles, and a rare Naruto moment of insight. All surrounding the awkward topic of sex. Join the sheer randomness in:

Chapter 24: Random Life Education from Sand Village! Koji Raises Hell AGAIN!!!