Chapter 10: Fight versus Shikamaru

Chapter Text

I gaze at my opponent, feeling the weight of the moment as the finals of the Chunin Exam commence. Before me stands a large crowd of spectators, but my focus is solely on the challenge ahead. This is my chance to prove myself, to overcome someone as formidable as the opponent before me.

My eyes lock onto the genius strategist, Shikamaru Nara, standing calmly across from me. Determination surges within me, fueled by the desire not only to win for myself but also to avenge Kin's loss to him in the preliminaries. I know Shikamaru is a formidable adversary, renowned for his intellect and cunning.

As I prepare for the battle ahead, I raise my gaze to meet Shikamaru's. "Shikamaru Nara, I'm here to fight," I declare boldly, my voice ringing out confidently. "I intend to show you that things will be different from your match against Kin. I've studied your tactics and I'm ready to counter them, Mr. One-Trick Pony."

Shikamaru narrows his eyes slightly, his expression betraying a hint of amusement at my bold declaration. "Troublesome," he mutters, his tone lazy but tinged with a sense of confidence. "Guess I'll have to show you that one trick is all I need."

With that, he assumes his trademark nonchalant posture, hands tucked into his pockets as he waits for the match to begin.

I take a deep, long breath, closing my eyes momentarily as I lightly press my hands into the sides of my face before pressing them together and cracking my knuckles. It's time to act. With a smile, I sense the shadow coming at me, using the mass of shadows around us to attack. I step back, my hands swiftly forming a few hand seals with one hand as I toss a small jar into the air. The glass jar hangs there for a moment as I smile.

"Lightning Release, Lightning Spark," I call out, directing the small bolt of lightning not at my foe, but at the jar. The lightning hits the jar and the material within, creating a flash of light that illuminates the area. For that moment, the light hangs in the air, shining down on the shadow and cutting it off immediately. Shadows cannot travel into the light.

"Lightning jutsu, homing lightning bullets," I called out, firing them from my right index finger a second later, the homing bullets all focusing on their target.

I watched the move cut in on him. This is just the opening move of this match, and it's going to take a lot of work on my part, but it's still a good move. I observe how Shikamaru reacts as I want to understand more of his thinking process, preparing myself for anything coming my way. I can feel the tension in the air, being a Suna ninja fighting a Konoha ninja. Things seem particularly tense in this final, but I'm not sure why yet.

I realize that Shikamaru will likely anticipate and plan around this trap, as he's undoubtedly aware of my abilities. To gain an advantage, I need to think outside the box and catch him off guard with unpredictability. I prepare myself for whatever comes next in the fight, determined to outmaneuver the genius ninja.

I moved back, ensuring I was out of Shikamaru's immediate range. However, I noted the current range with my foot, understanding that he might have ways to extend his attacks beyond that limit. Assuming a fixed range would be a fatal mistake; I must always anticipate the unpredictable and be prepared for the changing battlefield. Shikamaru will likely adjust the terrain to his advantage, and I need to be ready for it.

As I observe, Shikamaru maneuvers among the trees, allowing the lightning bullets to collide with them. One tree is knocked down by the force of the impact, showcasing the power of his strategic maneuvering. My mind is locked in; I don't hear the cheering from the crowd or the sounds of any person. My focus is entirely on the moment, and I am not going to back down at all.

"That was a nice warm-up, Shikamaru-san," I called out from my spot where I was standing. I know he is contemplating his next move, just as I am planning mine. I fire off a few stray shots that miss aimlessly and knock another tree down with a spread of light bullets.

Shikamaru glances over at me, his expression unreadable. "You're not making this easy, are you?" he remarks, his tone laced with a hint of annoyance. He takes a moment to assess the situation before formulating his next move.

"That's my job," I reply calmly, meeting Shikamaru's gaze. "They say nothing good comes easily, and without work, my friend. I want to find my limit." As he ponders his next move, I visualize the possible combinations he might employ. Will he choose the path of least resistance or do something out of the box? I'm not entirely sure, but I have a general idea of each potential path.

Shikamaru nods thoughtfully, acknowledging my words. Without further hesitation, he swiftly manipulates his shadows, utilizing the fallen trees to extend their reach towards me. The shadows advance with alarming speed, converging towards me with seemingly unlimited range. Yet, it is the path of least resistance, the one obvious move, meaning that I have to be careful. However, I have a plan.

"Lightning release, lightning explosion," I call out as electricity forms in my hand and explodes in a massive flash of light, temporarily blinding Shikamaru and disrupting his shadows. "Lightning release, chain lightning," I call out while the lightning bullets are still lodged in the trees. The lightning chains them together, causing the trees to explode and send shrapnel in all directions. "Lightning release, static charge," I call out, collecting the shrapnel together before launching it at Shikamaru with full force, using the remains of the shredded trees as my weapon.

"That took a good bit out of me," I admit to myself, feeling the strain of the intense attack. "A month earlier and I would be passed out on the ground, but now after that intense training, I am okay. I can keep going, keep fighting, and pushing myself."

I watch as Shikamaru moves behind a rock for protection, shielding himself from the brunt force of the attack. The debris slams into the boulder, leaving Shikamaru relatively unharmed, aside from a few small cuts on his arms and body. I smile, knowing that was not something he would have predicted. Additionally, I have neutralized the obvious elements that he could use to extend his shadows in the match.

I watch as the shadows extend towards me once again, utilizing the remains of the tree to gain extra reach. This time, they almost catch me off guard. Thinking quickly, I form a ball of lightning energy in my hands, holding it up with static electricity like an electric light bulb.

The fight is becoming a battle of attrition rather than one of skill, which is not a favorable situation for me at all. If I want to emerge victorious today, if I want to win the tournament, then I have to conserve my energy for later, for the battles that lie ahead. But wait a second, this tournament isn't solely about winning or losing. It's not just about luck determining a winner, as that winner might be totally unworthy of promotion. There's more to it than just the outcome of individual matches.

I contemplate how much more I need to demonstrate, how much more I must show these people to prove that I am capable of being a Chunin of Sunagakure. Taking a deep breath, I realize that winning this fight might be within reach, but pushing myself to the limits would not be worth it if I am too tired to perform well in my next match. With my plan in mind, I smile at the audacity of my attack. "Here goes," I say confidently, "Lightning Release: Lightning Arrow," I announce, firing a single shot at Shikamaru. Then, moments later, I call out, "Lightning Bullets," as six electric bullets and one lightning arrow are unleashed. One of them hits the wall of the arena, while the others fly in wide, arcing trajectories. The lightning flashes around the handrail of the arena, converging towards Shikamaru, who finds himself in the midst of the onslaught.

As the lightning bullets close in on Shikamaru, he swiftly reacts, maneuvering his shadows to intercept the incoming attacks. However, I anticipated this move and had already accounted for it in my strategy. With a surge of determination, I channel my chakra, guiding the lightning to arc around the shadows and strike directly at Shikamaru.

The lightning crackles through the air, closing in on Shikamaru with unstoppable force. Despite his efforts to defend himself, the lightning strikes true, engulfing him in a brilliant flash of light. As the light fades, Shikamaru falls to the ground, defeated.

I stand victorious, the crowd erupting into cheers around me. Despite the exhaustion that washes over me, I feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that I have overcome a formidable opponent. With this victory, I move one step closer to achieving my goal of becoming a Chunin.

I am surprised; I was just about to give up on the match. Seriously, I was going to concede, assuming that Nara would figure out some trick. But it seems like my move actually won. I am more shocked at winning than anything else. I know that I have hardly anything left in the tank; fighting Temari would basically be a no-go at the current spot I am in. As I prepare myself for that, I quickly find out the match has been delayed and moved to the end of the next round, as it is seen as more fair for my odds.

I work my way to the side and find a bottle of water, leaning against the wall and breathing hard. I see my sensei smiling at my victory. "The wild card lasts another round," I think to myself as I wave at her. "Seems that training and practice really paid off, Maki-sensei."

Maki smiles warmly at me. "Indeed it did, Miraju. You've shown great improvement and determination. Keep up the good work. Temari will be a tough opponent, but I have faith in you."

"Yeah, I know," I say with a smile as I notice the dark haired oto ninja sitting next to me with a rather proud smile upon her face. "Kin-chan, what did you think of me?" I asked a bit proudly.

Kin returns my smile. "You did great out there, Miraju. Your strategies were clever, and your execution was impressive. I'm proud of you," she replies with a hint of admiration in her voice.

I sit there, observing as Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuuga prepare to fight. Glancing over, I spot Amara in the crowd, seated with Hinata and Hanabi Hyuuga. It seems the sand genin has made quite an impression on the Hyuuga clan. A smile creeps onto my face as I consider this, noticing her wave in my direction, a proud smile on her lips. I ponder the future, the upcoming matches, but little do I know, I won't participate in another match in this tournament-style exam. My life is on the brink of a significant change within the next couple of hours.