Time for a disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto, nor any of its characters except for the ones I created prancing around in this fanfic of mine. If I did, Naruto would have had a ramen shop on every corner of Konoha.

This arc is finally about to be over, just one more chapter to go. Oh, you people don't know how much I've thought about the next ones, I'm practically jumping in excitement… or maybe it's just a sugar rush from all the snacks I've been eating while writing.

Talking: "You're arrested."

Thinking: 'You're arrested.'

OoO

"We're surrounded."

Shikamaru raised his eyebrow. Surrounded? They were far from town, and given the distance, he estimated it would take a day for the people of Sakuragawa to locate them—if they employed any shinobi to track them. "How many are out there?"

Naruto shut his eyes briefly, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Seven. They've encircled the house." He replied, standing up and moving over to where Kenta leaned against the kitchen wall. "What do we do?"

Shikamaru was about to respond when Ayaka beat him to it. "We look for a way out. The success of the mission doesn't hinge on defeating them outright, especially given our numerical disadvantage."

Shikamaru considered her words carefully. "Actually," he began, "I think we should assess the enemy's strength before making our next move."

Ayaka fixed him with a stern gaze. "Are you questioning your team leader's orders?"

"I'm not questioning. I'm offering a suggestion," Shikamaru countered calmly. "Respectfully presented, it should be seen as constructive output."

"That's not how it came across to me."

"My suggestion is logical and falls within my expertise as a strategist, making it a valid contribution to the team's decision-making process."

"I see it as defiance."

"And I see it as bullshit!" He exclaimed. The room grew quiet after he spoke, his gaze fixed on hers. "I don't know what's wrong with you or if something is troubling you, but it needs to stop now. If you're mad because I suspected you and Naruto of planting that explosion seal, then get over it. You are a shinobi. We are shinobi, and mistrust is sometimes necessary for the safety of everyone involved. Right now, your actions are rushing things which might jeopardise our decision-making which could make our decisions risky and uninformed. Kenta may go easy on you, and Naruto might avoid upsetting you, but I won't hold back. I'll say what needs to be said, emotions aside."

Still leaning against the kitchen wall, Kenta had his arms crossed over his chest as he watched Shikamaru with a mix of amusement and curiosity.

"Man, Shikamaru's really giving it to her," Naruto muttered under his breath, glancing sideways at Kenta. "Reminds me of how the old man used to do it to me."

"She does need to hear this though. She's been all over the place lately." Kenta's lips twitched into a small smile. It had been a long time since Ayaka had received a lecture, and the last time he remembered that happened didn't really go so well.

Naruto sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, Shikamaru's not exactly known for sugar-coating things. I just hope she takes it the right way." His gaze softened as he watched his friend trying to help in his own way, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of empathy for Ayaka. He knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of a tough lecture.

Meanwhile, Shikamaru maintained his gaze that locked onto hers. "Right now, you're not in the right state of mind to make decisions. And unless you still don't understand, I think someone else needs to step in, which, I'm sure neither of us is willing to," he turned to Kenta and Naruto who shook their heads in agreement and turned back to her. "Now get your shit together and start thinking like a leader again. We need your focus if we're gonna get through this."

Shikamaru's voice echoed around the house as a deep silence settled in its wake. The usual tension had risen and Ayaka paused for a moment, her gaze shifting to her hands as her fingers nervously intertwined. Strangely, she felt calm now. His words hit hard, confronting her lack of attentiveness to her team's thoughts. Yet, in all of it, her mind was clear—free from the chaos and doubt that had clouded her thoughts, and from the negative influences on her judgement. With all these burdens lifted, she could now see everything clearly.

She turned her gaze to Naruto and Kenta, who looked at her with concern etched on their faces. Was it the fact that they feared she would lash out again, or the fact that they were unsure how she would react next? Nevertheless, she nodded, indicating she understood their concern, and that she understood what Shikamaru had told her. The thumbs-up they both held made her smile as she appreciated their silent support and encouragement.

She turned to Shikamaru before taking a deep breath. "You're right. Assessing their strength first makes more sense." She glanced at Naruto and Kenta. "What do you think?" They nodded, confirming her decision. "Now, we need to know the status of their positions. Naruto?"

On cue, Naruto nodded, as he shut his eyes and focused. Moments passed before he opened them and replied, "There are three stationed at the front door, two guarding the back, and two more near the large window on the east side."

Ayaka nodded, absorbing Naruto's report. "Ok. Are you sure there's no additional people?" she asked, receiving a nod in response. "Good. Shikamaru and Naruto, I'll need you to assess the ones at the front. Watch how they position themselves and determine their skill level. Take this," she said, handing them an earpiece. "Keep me updated through this. Kenta and I will do the same with the ones at the back."

"Got it," Naruto nodded as he accepted the earpiece and inserted it comfortably in his ear. "But what about the ones near the large window?"

She waved off the question with a flick of her hand. "I've already assessed the layout inside and out since we arrived. Their view mainly faces outward at about a forty-degree angle , meaning they're covering the immediate exterior but not fully extending to the front and back entrances."

Naruto blinked in surprise. In a way, she just told him that she had a picture of the whole house in her mind, and anything she could lay her eyes on. That, according to him, was damn cool. Did that mean she had some sort of photographic memory?

The sound of snapping made his ears twitch as he came back to the present. "Stop zoning out and let's go," Shikamaru said, pulling him along by the collar.

Kenta followed Ayaka silently to the back of the building, staying close as they approached the two guards stationed near the entrance. The men seemed relaxed, chatting casually and glancing around with lazy movements. Their guards were up, but barely.

Ayaka observed them closely, noting their lack of vigilance and the sloppy way they held their positions. "They're definitely not the elite type," she said, communicating through the earpiece.

Meanwhile, Shikamaru and Naruto discreetly positioned themselves near the front door to analyse the behaviour of the guards there. Just as the ones at the back, the ones at the front didn't look particularly special.

"They're amateurs," Shikamaru muttered, relaying the information through the earpiece. "No signs of advanced training or positioning. We shouldn't have any trouble handling them."

"Alright. Shikamaru, do whatever you can to take them out silently without alarming the pair near the window. Kenta and I will handle the ones at the back," she said through the earpiece.

"She does know I'm here, right?" Naruto asked, removing the earpiece with a sigh. "You're not the only one who can come up with plans, you know."

Shikamaru shrugged as he removed his earpiece. "Got a plan?" Naruto nodded. "Well, go ahead. Just keep it quiet."

Naruto weaved a hand sign, summoning two shadow clones that transformed into kunai. He took off and emptied his pouch, scattering his weapons on the ground and replacing them with the transformed ones. "Go with the flow."

Shikamaru rolled his eyes, keeping his back against the wall to avoid being seen as Naruto cautiously slid the door open. The chattering of three men abruptly ceased when Naruto stepped into view. They were caught off guard when he hurled his pouch, releasing the kunai stored inside. The kunai transformed into the two clones that swiftly subdued two of the men in tight chokeholds, rendering them unable to utter a sound.

Shikamaru appeared from hiding and quickly executed his Kagemane no Jutsu(Shadow Possession Jutsu), ensnaring the third man while Naruto knocked him out in the process.

"That wasn't too bad, actually," Shikamaru said, glancing at Naruto, who was picking up his weapons. He smirked. "But I still think I would have come up with a better one."

"Douchebag," Naruto remarked dryly.

He shook his head. The banter was interrupted by a buzz in Shikamaru's earpiece as he adjusted it quickly. "What is it?"

"No time to explain," Ayaka's voice was ragged, as if she was running. "There's trouble. Head to Sakuragawa Town with Naruto, and make it fast. We'll meet up there. Kenta and I already took care of the pair near the large window, so don't worry about them."

The connection from the earpiece cut off before Shikamaru could respond. He sighed heavily. Just when he had thought everything was under control, this mission was turning out to be troublesome for just finding three missing Konoha shinobi.

He turned to Naruto. "Something's up. Ayaka wants us in Sakuragawa, fast."

"But aren't we hated there?"

Shikamaru shrugged. "Beats me. She didn't bother to give me all the details, but it sounds serious. Let's just get moving."

Naruto nodded, and the two wasted no time in setting off to Sakuragawa. Watching them from the shadows of his cottage, the old man smirked. He pulled out something from his pocket and whispered to it, "They are coming."

OoO

"What… What the hell is this?" Naruto wondered aloud, his eyes widening in shock.

Just a few hours ago, he and his team had left Sakuragawa Town, fleeing under a cloud of suspicion after being accused of starting a massive fire, knowing fully well that staying would lead to baseless accusations and trouble.

Now, as he and Shikamaru arrived, the town had been unrecognisable. In place of the bustling streets and humble homes was a vast crater, its edges jagged and raw. The remnants of the town lay in ruins, charred and broken. Houses that once stood tall had collapsed into twisted heaps of wood and stone, their destruction so complete that the slightest breeze threatened to topple the remaining fragments.

Fires had begun to spread from the rubble, their flames licking hungrily at the remains of the town, growing larger and more menacing by the minute. The air was thick with the acrid stench of smoke, a suffocating cloud that clawed at their throats and stung their eyes. An eerie silence of desolation hung heavily in the air, broken only by the intermittent sounds of the dying town.

Naruto and Shikamaru stood frozen, struggling to comprehend the devastation before them. The faint, heart-wrenching sobs of the surviving townsfolk that cried their hearts out for their deceased loved ones, mingling with ear-piercing screams of those trapped beneath the rubble, their desperate cries for help echoing through the ruins.

Shikamaru's heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of disbelief and horror coursing through his veins. The transformation from a bustling town to this smouldering wasteland had occurred in mere hours. Exactly who,or what, could have caused such destruction? And more importantly, why?

Had this catastrophic attack been a calculated move, executed because someone knew he and his team had been there, or was it a message, a warning to be exact, or maybe even something more sinister?

Regardless, whoever did this must have been powerful enough to wipe out a whole entire town in a short time. A force of unimaginable power, a force that could obliterate an entire town without hesitation. The thought sent a shiver down his spine.

Shikamaru's fear was washed away after Naruto had dashed past him, focused on helping a woman trapped under the rubble. The blonde summoned two clones that together, strained against the weight of a large plank of wood that pinned the woman's legs, threatening to trap her as the flames licked closer.

"Thank you so much!" the woman exclaimed gratefully as Naruto's clones lifted the plank, freeing her. Overwhelmed with relief, she pulled Naruto into a heartfelt embrace, tears glistening in her eyes. A smile had tugged at his lips as she released him and turned to comfort her sobbing son, his arms wrapping around her tight.

"Not a problem ma'am," Naruto said, warmly giving her a reassuring thumbs-up. "Do you have any idea who did this?"

At the mention of 'this,' fear flashed across the woman's face, her voice trembling as she recounted the sudden devastation. "It was horrible," she began. "One moment, my son and I had been returning home, and then, a colossal fire dragon descended upon our town. Everything was obliterated in an instant and the town was raided by some unknown group of attackers."

Naruto nodded solemnly, his mind racing with thoughts of who could be responsible and why. With a nod to one of his clones, he instructed it to escort the woman to a safer location, while creating others that dispersed to aid more survivors in need.

"A fire dragon huh?" Shikamaru's expression turned serious. "Looks like there were other shinobis around."

Naruto clenched his teeth, his mind racing with anger and disbelief. What possible justification could these shinobis have had for destroying a town full of innocent civilians? The devastating fire earlier had already been bad enough. Did they have a hand in that, too? If so, it could be possible that they were responsible for Mr. Akimitsu's death. The thought of it made his blood boil in anger.

"We need to look for Ayaka and Kenta. Who knows what—"

Shikamaru's words were abruptly cut off by a sudden crash. A body hurtled through the air, crashing into one of the already crumbling houses. Chunks of wood exploded outward from the impact, scattering in all directions.

Before Shikamaru and Naruto could even register the crash or turn towards its source, a figure materialised right in front of them. A malicious smirk twisted their features as they swiftly closed the distance, seizing both Shikamaru and Naruto by the collars with a vice grip.

With a sudden, brutal force, the unknown assailant hurled them through the air. The two of them soared like rag dolls, their bodies hurtling towards the nearest row of already dilapidated houses. Splintering wood and crumbling bricks exploded in all directions upon impact.

Shikamaru struggled to push himself upright, his muscles protesting with every movement. Blinking away the haze, he focused on the figure standing amidst the wreckage. Their smirk had deepened into a cruel grin, eyes glinting with malevolent satisfaction.

"That felt really good. I've been waiting to do that for a while now," the voice taunted, dripping with malice. A menacing laugh followed, echoing ominously through the crumbling ruins.

Shikamaru, still reeling from the impact, gasped in disbelief as he recognised the figure standing before them. "Impossible," he muttered, his eyes wide in shock. "You. You were killed back in the forest. How the hell are you still alive?!"

The burly man before them was unmistakably familiar. He was the one they encountered deep in the forest, the man Zankoku Akimitsu had supposedly killed. Yumi Takahashi, a notorious missing-nin with a B-rank missing designation. His broad frame and cruel smirk were etched into Shikamaru's memory. How could he be standing here, alive and smirking, when he had been dead?

Shikamaru's mind raced, trying to piece together the impossible. Last time they had seen Yumi, the man had been incapacitated, his life seemingly extinguished by Zankoku Akimitsu's needles. Ayaka had even checked the man's pulse back then and didn't find any, presuming he was dead. Yet here he was, alive.

Yumi's eyes gleamed with sadistic pleasure as he took a step forward, his presence radiating an unsettling confidence. "Surprised to see me?" He sneered, relishing the fear and confusion etched on Shikamaru's face. "Oh come on. Did you really think a pair of needles could kill me? You disappoint me," he said, his voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. The sadistic smirk on his face returned as he cracked his knuckles. "Save your shock for later, because I'm gonna enjoy beating the shit out of you and that girl, that being she isn't dealt with."

"Hold your horses Yumi. You'll get your fun later," a voice commanded, cutting through the chaos and gaining Shikamaru's attention. He squinted through the thick haze of dust, his vision gradually clearing to reveal another figure emerging from the debris. The new arrival bore the same sadistic smirk as Yumi, a large scroll slung across his back.

This was not at all what Shikamaru had expected. Furthermore,he didn't expect this person to be here.

"Orochimaru?" Naruto's voice pierced the tense air as he pulled himself from the rubble, his expression a mix of shock and anger. His question echoed what Shikamaru had been about to say. "What the hell are you doing here?!"

The man chuckled darkly. "No, no, no child. I'm not Orochimaru-sama, although if I got the chance to be him, I would take it in a heartbeat." He laughed again, the sound still dripping with the same chilling menace.

Shikamaru's eyes narrowed as he studied the man. His appearance and demeanour, creepily enough, bore a striking resemblance to Orochimaru. Not to mention the large scroll on his back which could suggest that he had some powerful and dangerous techniques or weapons.

Naruto clenched his fists, saying in a demanding tone, "Who are you, then?"

The man ceased his laughter, placing a contemplative hand on his chin as if striking a thinking pose. "Who am I?" He murmured loudly to himself. "Who am I? Who am I?" He repeated the question several times, each iteration growing more and more unsettling, until a maniacal grin spread across his face. "I'll let you find that for yourselves. Well, three of you."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. The man's words made him realise that only he, Naruto, and presumably Kenta, who had crashed into the crumbling house were present. Ayaka was the only one absent.

"If you're thinking about your girly friend," the man said, almost as if reading Shikamaru's thoughts, "She's occupied, if that's the right term I can use."

Shikamaru's mind raced. This mysterious person's words only heightened his unease. "Three on two is a bit unfair, don't you think?"

He wasn't referring to their apparent numerical advantage, but rather highlighting the risky situation they were in. If Yumi, a B-rank missing nin, was merely an underling to this man, it meant their opponent was even more dangerous and powerful. Up against three chunin, their chances were slim to none.

"Oh you're very mistaken about that," the man said with a chilling smile. "See, I don't remember saying it was only the two of us." He raised his hands in a theoretical gesture. "Come on out boys!"

Naruto and Shikamaru's eyes widened in shock, nearly popping out of their sockets. Realising it was a signal, they heard voices rising in volume, growing louder and closer. Figures began to emerge from the haze of dust, revealing a large group of men, all armed to the teeth with weapons.

"Fresh meat for us!" one voice exclaimed with glee.

"Let us rip them apart,leader!" another shouted, eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

"Unlucky boys. I've been dying to fight for a long time now!" a third added, brandishing a wickedly sharp blade.

The leader's smirk never wavered, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Three on… how many are we?" He cast a casual glance over his shoulder at the formidable group behind him, then turned back to face Naruto and Shikamaru. "Three on one hundred. That seems a little bit fair, doesn't it?" He broke into a hearty laugh. "Don't worry. I won't be fighting you myself. I'm saving that for a special someone." He turned to Yumi with a commanding nod. "Deal with them for me, won't you? But send that boy you sent crashing into that house to me. He's mine." With that, he sauntered away.

Yumi locked eyes with Naruto and Shikamaru, a predatory glint in his gaze before he turned his back to them. "They are all yours, boys!" he bellowed to the group. "Make 'em suffer! Just don't kill the idiot I sent crashing. Leader's orders!"

The mob of men roared in response, their bloodlust palpable. Weapons clanged as they advanced, their faces twisted with malicious glee.

Shikamaru glanced at Naruto. "No headbands on any parts of their bodies, or any shinobi attire. These guys might be regular bandits. I think we'll be fine."

"We?" Naruto muttered, his gaze still fixed on the large group that was slowly advancing towards them. "Even if they're a group of bandits, they're too many for you to handle. Your speciality is long-range, so this might be trouble for you."

Shikamaru hated to admit it, but Naruto was right. His strategic prowess was best utilised from a distance while using his shadow manipulation rather than engaging in direct combat with overwhelming numbers. Yet, d knew what Naruto was implying, and he loathed the idea. "So you're saying you want to handle a hundred of them by yourself?"

Naruto nodded confidently. "You and Kenta can focus on the big guy over there," he said, pointing at Yumi. "He might be B-rank, but two skilled chunin could be enough to beat him."

Shikamaru frowned. "Still, even alone,a hundred of these guys could overwhelm you."

"Alone?" Naruto chuckled. "Shika, I think you've forgotten that I have these things called 'Kage Bunshin(Shadow Clones).'" he weaved a hand sign. "Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu(Multi shadow clone Jutsu!)" He exclaimed, as a large group of clones materialised with a puff of smoke.

Shikamaru just blinked in surprise. They were now level just by a single hand sign. Just leave it to Naruto to do something unpredictable to turn the situation around. "Alright. You handle the crowd, Kenta and I will deal with Yumi."

"Leave it to me Shikamaru."

The bandits had hesitated momentarily, giving Shikamaru precious seconds to search for Kenta amid the rubble. He found him, battered and unconscious, with a broken nose bleeding profusely. The sight was grim; Shikamaru dreaded to think what damage the brute could inflict if an attack landed on him.

He slapped Kenta repeatedly until he groaned and his eyes fluttered open. "Shikamaru? Where are we?" Kenta asked, his voice groggy.

"Battlefield. Remember him?" Shikamaru pointed to the thick crowd at Yumi.

Kenta's eyes narrowed in fury as he held his broken nose. "That's the bastard who broke my nose and sent me flying. I'll kill him."

"Good. Hold onto that anger when we face him. Naruto's handling the—"

"Sorry to burst your bubble, Shikamaru, but here they come," Naruto interrupted,sending his clones charging towards the battle crying bandits. "We've got no time." He headed towards Shikamaru, a clone beside him. The clone tossed him in the air, held him by the legs, and threw him over the heads of the bandits, soaring towards Yumi.

Naruto turned to Kenta, who was slowly crawling backwards, trying to avoid the same fats. "W-wait a minute. I'll walk on my own, no need to throw me." His plea was ignored as another clone flipped and launched him.

"Have a safe landing!" Naruto exclaimed, before turning towards the large group of bandits. He smirked. "Time to kick some ass."

OoO

The air whistled around Shikamaru as he flew, his surroundings a dizzying blur until he landed with a heavy thud near Yumi. He shook off his disorientation, rolling to his feet just as Kenta landed beside him, albeit less gracefully. 'Stupid Naruto,' he thought, vowing to get him later.

Up close, Shikamaru could finally study Yumi's attire in detail. It was simple yet striking: a purple haori draped over bare skin, with black trousers adorned with jagged lightning motifs. His untamed mane of brown hair swayed gently in the breeze, framing a scar that traced a slovenly path down his chest.

Kenta muttered something similar as he rose to his feet, shaking his head to clear it. Before them stood Yumi, his face twisted with a malevolent smirk as he watched them recover. The smirk widened as he recognised Kenta.

"Unlucky, eh brat? I broke your nose input last meeting, but now, I'm planning on breaking every bone in your body," Yumi taunted with a menacing laugh.

Kenta clenched his teeth, his fists tightening with rage. "I'll beat you up so badly, all those muscles of yours will turn to mush. You'll be begging for mercy long before I'm done with you."

Shikamaru observed the heated exchange with a blank expression. He sighed inwardly. What was the point of him being part of this if these two were set on having a one-on-one match? Not that he wanted to be involved. In fact, he'd rather be somewhere else far from this chaos, perhaps back at that old man's house, sipping on the unfinished tea he had served them.

Still, he recognised an opportunity. With Yumi's attention squarely on Kenta, he could use the distraction to his advantage.

Meanwhile, Yumi's hulking figure loomed like a mountain, his muscles rippling with barely contained power. He blinked first, breaking the heated death glare between them.

Yumi lunged at Kenta, his fist swinging in a brutal arc. Kenta dodged, his movements quick and precise despite his injuries. The ground beneath them trembled with the force of Yumi's missed blow, dust and rubble scattering in all directions.

Shikamaru's mind raced. He needed to find a way to tip the scales in their favour, lest Yumi's overwhelming strength overwhelm them. He glanced around, spotting a large, partially collapsed wall that could be used to trap Yumi if he played his cards right. He quietly manoeuvred into position, using the chaos of the battlefield as cover.

Kenta and Yumi clashed again, this time, Yumi's punch landing squarely on Kenta's arms as he tried to shield himself, causing him to groan in pain. He swore he could feel bones crack under the impact. Shikamaru took advantage of the moment.

"Hey Yumi!" he shouted, hoping to draw the brutes attention. Yumi glanced his way, just as Shikamaru finished weaving hand signs. "Kagemane no Jutsu(Shadow Possession Jutsu!)"

Yumi's shadow stretched and merged with Shikamaru's, freezing him in place. "Kenta now!" Shikamaru called out. Kenta didn't hesitate, launching himself at Yumi as he drove him backwards punch after punch after punch.

The wall loomed behind Yumi, and with a final, powerful kick, Kenta sent him crashing to it. The structure groaned under the impact, and collapsed on top of him with a thunderous roar.

Dust and debris filled the air, limiting their vision. Shikamaru and Kenta stood tense as their hearts pounded waiting for the dust to settle. For a moment, there was silence, broken only by the distant sounds of Naruto's ongoing battle with the bandits.

Then, a laugh. A deep, guttural laugh that sent chills down their spine. The dust cleared to reveal Yumi, rising from the rubble unscathed. "Nice try, brats," he growled, brushing off the debris. "But it'll take more than that to bring me down."

Yumi charged faster than before, his rage evident in every step. Kenta barely had time to react before Yumi delivered a bone-crunching that sent him sprawling. Shikamaru's eyes hadn't even registered that he was flying until he crashed into a tree.

Yumi's blows kept raining down on them, each one more powerful than the last. Shikamaru and Kenta struggled to keep up, enduring with their battered and bruised bodies. His mocking laughter echoed in their ears as he toyed with them.

"Is this all you have?" Yumi sneered, holding Kenta by his hair. "Pathetic."

Kenta's defiant smirk revealed his blood-stained teeth as he spat in Yumi's face. The glob of blood landed on Yumi's cheek, earning Kenta another punishing blow that sent him tumbling across the uneven ground. Yumi wiped the blood from his face with a grimace of annoyance, then sauntered over to a solitary tree, leaning against it with casual indifference.

"You two are nothing," he taunted, shaking his head in disappointment. "I expect more. Now I have no choice but to kill you," he mused, pausing. "But I can't kill you," he pointed at Kenta, then shifted his gaze to Shikamaru. "But you I could. Yet, what a waste. You've got brains worth sparing. So I'll give you three minutes to come up with a plan to kill me, since that's the only possible way for you brats to beat me. Unless, of course, I grow tired of waiting and decide to randomly spring on you. Tick-tock, brats."

Kenta struggled to his feet, every movement sending sharp pains through his battered body. He wiped blood from his split lip, casting a final glare at Yumi, though the man seemed unfazed as his eyes were closed. He slowly made his way over to Shikamaru who was doubled over, coughing violently from the aftermath of Yumi's devastating blows.

"To hell with all of this," Shikamaru managed between laboured breaths. "I can't… I can't let that blonde idiot down."

When Kenta had first encountered Shikamaru, he had dismissed him as a strategist rather than a fighter, judging by his slender frame and unassuming demeanour. Even with his attitude towards fights or anything that related to being work related, you could barely tell he was a shinobi. Yet, over time, Shikamaru sometimes revealed an unyielding resilience that rivalled Ayaka's steel and even Naruto's relentless spirit. But toughness alone wouldn't be of help against Yumi's overwhelming strength.

"He's too fast and strong for us to handle together," Kenta admitted.

"I know,"Shikamaru wheezed, still catching his breath. "Tell me about our surroundings."

"We're perched on the crater's edge," Kenta replied, scanning the barren landscape. "It's not too high. No vegetation in sight except for the distant forest."

"What about the sun? Where is it?"

"It's low, setting in the west."

Shikamaru nodded, his mind already racing to formulate a plan. His voice was becoming steadier and the pain had subsided. "We'll need to use the terrain to our advantage." He bent down and scooped up a handful of coarse sand. "This might sound gross, but bear with me." He motioned for Kenta to approach. "Open your mouth."

Confused but doing so reluctantly, Kenta complied. Without hesitation, Shikamaru deposited a handful of sand into Kenta's mouth. His eyes were a mix of disgust and shock, emitting muffled protests until Shikamaru hushed him with a firm gesture. "Trust me. When he's distracted, let it all out."

"What are you two whispering about?" Yumi's voice sliced through the air as he leaned in between Kenta and Shikamaru,a smirk playing on his lips.

Reacting swiftly, Kenta darted away, while Shikamaru jumped back, a feigned look of surprise on his face. Yumi scratched his head in puzzlement but dismissed it with a nonchalant shrug. "Time's up. What's the plan?" his tone held a dangerous edge as he gazed at Shikamaru. "And if it doesn't work, I'll have to kill you."

"You never mentioned that as part of the deal," Shikamaru retorted.

"Didn't I?" Yumi shrugged indifferently. "No matter. Just make sure it—"

Yumi's taunt was cut short by a sudden blur of motion— a swift kick aimed directly at his head. Deftly dodging the initial kick aimed for his head, his dark hair swaying in the wind as he sidestepped with an almost effortless grace.

"Whoa! Nice try, but put some more power into it," Yumi taunted, parrying Kenta's subsequent blows. Despite Kenta's relentless assault, Yumi maintained his composure as he countered every punch and kick with calculated precision. He caught Kenta's right hook with ease and deflected an unexpected left jab, their arms locking in a fierce struggle. It was evident that Yumi's superior strength and size gave him a clear advantage.

Yumi regarded Kenta with a disappointed shake of his head. "I gave you three minutes, and this is the best you could come up with? Honestly."

Despite the verbal jab, Kenta gritted his teeth, biding his time and waiting for the opportune moment. The edge of the crater loomed dangerously close, rocks crumbling underfoot. "What? Was my hit so hard that it made you mute?" Yumi pushed forward, aiming to force Kenta over the edge. "Hope you can fly."

Without hesitation, Kenta's mouth erupted with a sudden explosion of gritty sand directly into Yumi's face, blinding him momentarily and causing him to stagger back in surprise as his grip on Kenta loosened.

Yumi was disoriented long enough for Kenta to regain his footing and closed the distance between him and Yumi, who was dangerously close to the crater's edge.

"Hope you can fly," Kenta retorted, echoing Yumi's familiar words. With a final push, he delivered a powerful kick that sent Yumi tumbling over the edge of the crater's rim. Yumi disappeared from view, his triumphant smirk replaced by a look of disbelief.

Kenta breathed heavily standing at the edge of the crater watching Yumi's figure disappear into the darkness below.

"We're not finished yet. Lure him into the forest. I've got a plan."

OoO

Decided to stop here. I know, I know , ending is shit, but my hands also feel like shit. I've been going at this after immediately releasing the last chapter. You cannot fathom my pain! You cannot!

Anyway, I'm feeling a little disappointed by limiting Shikamaru's jutsu arsenal to only the Shadow Possession. Good thing I invented one for him to use next chapter. Sorry, no spoilers.

Until next chapter. Kaiokenika out!