Just like Ino's mother, Yamanaka Saho, Matsuri was also forced into confessing her feelings under Shikamaru's pressure!
Hearing her words, a mischievous grin flashed across Shikamaru's lips. He turned around and pulled the petite Matsuri into his arms, holding her close face to face. The soft, yielding pressure against his chest told him those "jade rabbits" of hers had begun to mature.
"Matsuri, once I return to Konoha this time, come back with me, just like Temari did," Shikamaru said softly, holding her tightly. Matsuri's nervous expression immediately gave way to joyful surprise.
"Really? Shikamaru-sama?" Matsuri asked in disbelief.
"From now on, you should call me 'husband,'" Shikamaru replied with a domineering smile.
"I-I understand… H-hubby…" Matsuri replied, overjoyed yet bashful.
"Heh heh," Shikamaru chuckled in satisfaction. He leaned down, and before Matsuri could react, he kissed her deeply. His tongue gently pried open her clenched teeth and slid in to explore her soft, smooth,
"Mmph~" Matsuri's legs gave out as she collapsed into his arms, but soon, driven by instinct, she shyly began to respond, entwining with Shikamaru.
After a long moment, their lips parted. Shikamaru looked into her dazed eyes and smiled, "Matsuri, you're so cute when you're shy."
"Ah… H-hubby…" Matsuri blushed even redder.
Even as he flirted with her, Shikamaru's Shadow Wings flapped steadily, and he continued flying quickly toward Temari and the others. Gaara was still in Deidara's hands, and the Akatsuki needed at least three more days to extract Shukaku from his body.
⚔──────────────
Meanwhile...
"Gentle Fist – Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms!"
"Gentle Fist – Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms!"
Two identical Neji Hyugas faced off, each unleashing a flurry of blows as twin Taijutsu symbols appeared beneath their feet.
"Hmph… Just as I thought. He didn't copy the ability Shikamaru gave me," Neji muttered. After exchanging blows for a while, he noticed that the clone lacked his Spider Gold Binding ability.
Thwip thwip thwip, Boom!
From Neji's mouth, sharp Spider Gold needles shot out, instantly piercing the clone's shoulder, abdomen, and leg. The duplicate vanished with a puff of smoke.
"Thanks, Shikamaru," Neji murmured, catching his breath. His communicator soon confirmed that both Lee and Tenten had already defeated their clones. Only their teacher, Guy, was still fighting.
"Ah, as a teacher, I can't let my students show me up! Let youth explode!" Guy's familiar shout rang in Neji's ears.
"Guy-sensei, want us to help?" Neji chuckled. He activated his Byakugan, located Guy's position, and rushed over, Lee and Tenten following.
Elsewhere, Naruto and Kakashi were still chasing Deidara. Meanwhile, Chiyo and Sakura had joined Temari inside the cave in a fierce battle against Sasori of the Red Sand.
⚔──────────────
"Celestial Flower Scattering!"
When Neji arrived, he saw Tenten spinning into the air, scrolls swirling around her. Dozens of shuriken and kunai shot toward the Guy clone like a storm.
Whizz whizz whizz, With his Byakugan, Neji noticed several kunai suddenly vanish mid-air and reappear in front of the clone, catching him off guard.
Thwip thwip! The clone took direct hits to the arm and abdomen.
"It really is space-time ninjutsu! Impressive," Neji muttered. Though Tenten had mentioned Shikamaru gave her a spatial ability, seeing it in action was another thing. Both Tenten and the returning Sakura had grown incredibly strong.
"Hmph, 'Konoha's Ten Colors,' huh? Looks like we'll need to add two more." Neji felt immense pride, Konoha was stronger than ever, with powerful comrades everywhere.
Boom! A flash of green streaked across the field, Lee launched the clone skyward with a powerful kick, then sprang up after him.
"Forbidden Technique – Primary Lotus!"
With a shout, Lee locked the clone in mid-air and spiraled downward at blinding speed, dragging the air around him into a vortex.
BOOM! A massive crater twenty meters wide exploded into the ground. Lee leapt free as the clone lay defeated, soon fading into nothingness.
"Even I can't keep up with your speed now, Lee," Neji muttered, clenching his fists. But in his heart, it was all healthy rivalry.
⚔──────────────
Inside the cave…
Sakura inwardly cursed, "Enough with the chatter already!" As the long-winded exchange between Chiyo and Sasori finally ended, she wasted no time and formed hand seals.
"Cherry Blossom Release – Dancing Cherry Blossoms!"
"Sand Style – Sand Vortex!"
As Sakura attacked Sasori, Temari transformed the ground beneath him into a swirling whirlpool of sand, pulling him downward.
"Heh… Such powerful youngsters. Guess I'll have to bring out my prized collection," Sasori chuckled. He summoned the scroll that sealed the Third Kazekage and unleashed his most deadly puppet.
Boom boom boom! Sakura's barrage of cherry blossoms struck, exploding against the puppet's defense.
"Cherry blossom jutsu, huh…" Sasori muttered as he leapt out of the sand trap. His expression darkened. Puppet masters dreaded nothing more than powerful Taijutsu or explosive techniques like Tsunade's.
The cave couldn't contain the intensity of their battle, it soon collapsed. The four fighters reemerged in the open air.
"Ninja Art – Summoning Jutsu!" Temari bit her finger and summoned the massive Sand Emperor.
"Secret Technique – One Hundred Puppet Army!" Sasori's expression shifted as he summoned one hundred puppets in a single move. Even he couldn't handle the combination of Temari, Sakura, and the Sand Emperor alone.
"Cherry Blossom Release – Silent Bloom!"
"Sandstorm Style – Desert Tempest!"
Sakura and Temari showed no hesitation as they unleashed two forbidden-level techniques simultaneously.
Chiyo, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but worry for her grandson.
The Sand Emperor roared and charged, its giant tail sweeping through Sasori's puppets like a wrecking ball.
Boom boom boom!
Explosions erupted across the battlefield. From a distance, Sakura and Temari directed the fight like battlefield sorceresses. The terrain had become their arena, with Sasori tightly pinned in the center before sinking back underground.
When Shikamaru and Matsuri finally arrived, it was already over. There wasn't even time left to collect Sasori's shadow, he'd been taken out before he could showcase his true strength, just like Sasuke had been earlier.
"Sakura, Temari… You two sure don't hold back," Shikamaru grinned as he surveyed the devastated landscape. Deep down, he was proud of their growth.
If just the two of them could take down Sasori, maybe Konoha's Ten Colors really can take on Akatsuki… he mused, before shaking his head. Akatsuki wasn't that simple. The real threats were Pain, Itachi, and that ancient monster, Madara.
"Shikamaru!" Temari and Sakura called out joyfully as soon as they saw him. Temari, especially, rushed over and grabbed his hand.
"Shikamaru! Gaara's been captured! Think of something, quick!" The usually calm Temari was visibly shaken. To her, Shikamaru was her rock.
"Don't worry, Gaara will be fine," Shikamaru smiled confidently. He glanced at Chiyo. Even if he dies, she'll revive him.
"You… You're the Shadow Lord?" Chiyo asked, startled. The moment Shikamaru looked at her, it was like he could see straight through her soul. All her secrets felt exposed.
"That's right. Nara Shikamaru. Nice to meet you," he replied calmly, offering a simple greeting.
"Temari, Sakura, take a break. Matsuri, you stay too. I'll go check things out first," Shikamaru instructed. "Relax, Gaara won't die so easily. They need at least three days to extract Shukaku."
"You know their objective?" Chiyo's eyes widened in shock.
"Temari, you explain. I'm off," Shikamaru said, vanishing without waiting for a reply, he had no patience for old ladies.
"Temari-sama, d-do you think Shikamaru will be okay?" Matsuri asked nervously, almost calling him her husband out loud.
"Don't worry. Shikamaru's the strongest!" Temari smiled. Just talking about him made her go all lovey-dovey, Shikamaru's strength was everything to her.
Sakura glanced at Matsuri, her expression thoughtful. She came with Shikamaru, and he brought her willingly? Hmph… Typical pervy Shikamaru. I was right about him back when I warned Hanabi.
Following the True Shadow energy he'd left in Tenten's body, Shikamaru soon located Guy and the others. As he'd suspected, Kakashi and Naruto had gone after Deidara, and neither had his shadow mark, he couldn't sense them.
Shikamaru never gave his True Shadow to just anyone. It was a fragment of his soul, only his women received it.
Wait, right! Naruto had once been forcibly granted a shadow!
With that thought, Shikamaru closed his eyes.
"Shadow Ninjutsu – Shadow Sensing!"
A layer of dark energy radiated from his body, extending into space.
At that moment, no matter where they were, Land of Snow's Princess Koyuki, the girls in Konoha, or even those on missions like Shino, anyone who'd received a shadow from Shikamaru suddenly felt something stir inside them.
All those shadow energies sent their coordinates back to Shikamaru's mind. His eyes flew open, a black glint flashing within them. He locked onto one target.
"Found him. Naruto's the only one with more than two of my shadows," Shikamaru murmured, then spread his Shadow Wings and flew toward Naruto's location with the others close behind.
"Heh… Akatsuki… I won't let you take even Shukaku from us!"
Shikamaru smirked. He didn't feel afraid of Madara or the others anymore. Looking back, the original Shadow Squad he'd formed almost seemed like a joke.
"Deidara… your shadow's mine next."
⚔────────
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The Mountain of Ice and Fire (GOT) – 56 advanced chapters!
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