As Shikamaru rushed toward the Valley of the End, Sasuke and Naruto were still locked in an intense battle. Sasuke had already activated his second stage, and the outcome seemed imminent.
"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled, propelling a Rasengan forward as he charged at Sasuke. At the same time, Sasuke directed a black lightning-infused Chidori at Naruto. The clash was spectacular, one side glowing red, the other black. Shikamaru's shadow-enhanced eyes spun rapidly, capturing and memorizing the techniques in this heightened state. This Rasengan and Chidori were several times stronger than usual.
Boom!
The collision unleashed a cataclysmic impact in the skies above the valley, scattering energy waves and creating a shockwave that shook the surroundings.
"Long time no see, Sasuke!" Shikamaru emerged just as Sasuke glanced at the unconscious Naruto and was about to leave.
"Shikamaru!" Sasuke exclaimed, shocked at his sudden appearance. Shikamaru couldn't help but wonder why everyone seemed surprised to see him.
"Surprised?" Shikamaru chuckled lightly.
"Are you here to stop me too?" Sasuke activates his Sharingan, his gaze wary.
"Do you think you're a match for me?" Shikamaru retorted, opening his shadow-enhanced eyes, a playful smirk on his face.
"The Mangekyo..." Sasuke gasped in disbelief, stunned by Shikamaru's eyes.
"Shadow Technique: Shadow Imitation Jutsu!"
Shikamaru's shadow surged toward Sasuke, who leapt into the air, forming seals with his hands.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball erupted from Sasuke's mouth, hurtling toward Shikamaru.
"Ah!" Sasuke cried out as he plummeted to the ground.
"Didn't you know fire has a shadow too? How foolish of you to hand yourself over so easily." Shikamaru taunted, holding Sasuke in place with his shadow.
"You're nothing like Itachi." Shikamaru said coldly.
"Shadow Technique: Shadow Extraction Jutsu!"
Sasuke, exhausted from the intense battle, was powerless to resist. His shadow was quickly stripped away by Shikamaru.
"You know him?" Sasuke asked with a murderous glare.
"Of course. But don't you think asking me this is pointless? You'll soon die. Without your shadow, you can't survive under the sun." Shikamaru replied. He thought of Sasuke's life consumed by hatred, a heart filled with darkness that even rejected the affection of Sakura, who loved him dearly. Sasuke was willing to sacrifice everything for power.
"Is that so? Haha..." Sasuke suddenly burst into wild laughter, his demeanor turning frenzied. Slowly, his figure vanished before Shikamaru's eyes.
"An illusion?" Shikamaru smirked. He realized he had underestimated Sasuke. Stripping someone of their shadow render them useless for survival, so Sasuke escaping had seemed improbable. Yet, Sasuke had fled.
"Without a shadow, you'll never again walk under the sun..." Shikamaru muttered as he carried Naruto away, vanishing from the Valley of the End in a few swift movements.
A moment later, a figure emerged from the ground, watching the direction Sasuke and Shikamaru had disappeared into. "The Nine-Tails... the Sharingan... the Shadow Eyes... fascinating." the figure muttered.
Carrying Naruto on his back, Shikamaru moved swiftly through the forest. His shadow-enhanced eyes gleamed as he muttered,
"Shadow Technique: True Shadow Possession."
A sliver of shadow left Shikamaru's body and entered the unconscious Naruto. This risky technique condensed Shikamaru's consciousness into his shadow, allowing him to invade someone else's body. Only a small portion of his awareness remained in his original body. If something happened to his original body during the process, he would lose his identity forever and be forced to seize the host's body to survive, at the cost of damaging his soul.
Shikamaru entered Naruto's subconscious and made his way to the Nine-Tails' seal. A giant door loomed ahead, its presence unmistakable.
In the darkness, blood-red eyes opened, and the Nine-Tails' menacing voice echoed. "Who are you, brat? How did you get here?"
The Nine-Tails' immense figure emerged from the shadows, illuminated by a fiery red glow.
"So, you're the Nine-Tails?" Shikamaru asked, intrigued but unfazed. He knew the Nine-Tails couldn't escape the seal.
The Nine-Tails' eyes gleamed dangerously. "Come closer..."
Shikamaru approached, stopping just out of the beast's reach. He smirked. "Save it, Nine-Tails. Your illusions don't work on me."
Opening his shadow-enhanced eyes, Shikamaru caused the Nine-Tails to growl in surprise. "The Sharingan? No... these eyes are different. How is it possible? Your eyes aren't cursed..."
"Shadow Technique: Shadow Imitation Jutsu!"
Without further delay, Shikamaru captured the Nine-Tails' shadow. He had no intention of engaging in a drawn-out conversation. Based on the Nine-Tails' reaction, he confirmed the beast had been manipulated by Madara in the past.
"What are you trying to do, brat?" the Nine-Tails snarled as its shadow was restrained.
"Shadow Technique: Shadow Extraction Jutsu!"
Ignoring the Nine-Tails' furious roars, Shikamaru focused on pulling the shadow free. The process was painstakingly slow, but the seal binding the Nine-Tails gave him a slim chance.
"You'll regret this, human!" the Nine-Tails growled, its fiery aura intensifying.
Shikamaru gritted his teeth, pouring all his spiritual energy into the technique. The Nine-Tails' shadow gradually separated, inch by inch.
Finally, with one last pull, Shikamaru absorbed the shadow into his body.
Boom!
The instant the shadow merged with Shikamaru, an overwhelming surge of energy erupted from him. Nine chakra tails extended from his back, and his figure became indistinct. Letting out a thunderous roar, Shikamaru quickly stabilized himself.
"Shadow Technique: Shadow Release!"
He released the shadows he had previously absorbed, including those of the Anbu and Jirobo. The ownerless shadows quickly returned to Naruto, causing his unconscious body to react violently. Shikamaru returned to his body, watching Naruto writhe and scream.
The overload of shadows was dangerous, but Shikamaru believed Naruto could endure it. If he survived, it would make him stronger. If not...
Moments later, Kakashi arrived, alarmed by Naruto's convulsing form. "Naruto..."
"Wait, Kakashi!" Shikamaru stopped him. "Don't touch him. Just watch over him."
"Kakashi, I'm leaving him in your care. I have something urgent to take care of." Shikamaru said before disappearing. He needed to suppress and master the immense power of the Nine-Tails' shadow. That power would be his alone.
Kakashi, though perplexed, trusted Shikamaru and stayed by Naruto's side.
⚔────────
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The Mountain of Ice and Fire (GOT) – 56 advanced chapters!
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