By utilizing the terrain's shadows, the Shadow Imitation Technique's extension limit was increased.
Dosu Kinuta felt his body stiffen again.
Although the control was not as strong as the first direct connection due to the shadow's distortion, his rushing movement was forcibly interrupted, and his body was frozen!
"Damn it! This move again!"
Dosu Kinuta roared, and the amplifier on his left arm buzzed again, attempting to break free with vibrations as before.
But Nara Shikamaru was waiting for this moment!
His purpose in rushing just now was, first, to enter the shadow zone for easy shadow connection, and second, to— "Look up!"
A hint of a successful scheme appeared on Nara Shikamaru's lips as he pointed above Dosu Kinuta's head.
Dosu Kinuta subconsciously turned his eyes upwards, only to see a large, thin piece of cloth, which Shikamaru had shot into the air with a Kunai at some unknown point.
"Is that my tablecloth?!"
Akimichi Choji in the audience exclaimed, patting his pockets up and down, realizing his tablecloth was indeed gone.
"Just a piece of rag."
Dosu Kinuta smiled disdainfully.
But the next moment, Dosu Kinuta, who was about to break free from the restraint, suddenly felt the shadow's control power drastically increase.
"What? That—that is—"
Dosu Kinuta immediately realized that the tablecloth slowly falling in mid-air had formed a shadow precisely between him and Shikamaru,
Completing the connection strength of the Shadow Imitation Technique!
What an astonishingly absurd calculation this was!
Nara Shikamaru did not hesitate at all; he knew that this control, formed by external force, would not last long!
"Fall—down!"
Nara Shikamaru used all his strength to control Dosu Kinuta's body, making him violently smash his head into a rock on the ground.
With a "bang."
Dosu Kinuta hit his head so hard that he was bleeding, the rock shattered, and he himself almost fainted.
Before Dosu Kinuta, who was disoriented from the fall, could get up, Nara Shikamaru had already closed in, placing a Kunai against Dosu Kinuta's neck.
"You lose."
"I—"
Dosu Kinuta, unwilling to give up, still wanted to struggle, but Nara Shikamaru gave an "Mm" and pressed the Kunai even tighter.
It was as if the sharp blade of the Kunai could cut Dosu Kinuta's throat at any moment.
Shiranui Genma instantly appeared in the arena, looked at Nara Shikamaru, who was disheveled but clearly in control of the situation, and loudly announced: "The winner is Nara Shikamaru!"
"Well done, Shikamaru! Though it was close!" Akimichi Choji cheered.
"Out of you three, one finally won."
Asuma Sarutobi nodded with satisfaction.
According to the promotion bracket, Nara Shikamaru would fortunately get a bye in the next round.
Nara Shikamaru, who won the match, did not seem overly excited, panting heavily and rubbing his still aching back.
"Phew—I won—but it was such a pain—"
He glanced at the climbing Dosu Kinuta, whose cold right eye was filled with unwillingness and a hint of apprehension.
Dosu Kinuta brushed off the dust from his body, gave a cold snort, did not look at Nara Shikamaru again, and silently turned to leave the arena.
"It's good that Dosu Kinuta wasn't smacked to death by Gaara."
Naruto shook his head helplessly, seeing Dosu Kinuta's unwilling expression.
"And the Nara Clan's Shadow Imitation Technique, while it can be seen as a bit useless, also has its unique points when used well. However, compared to the Shadow Monarch, it's still far inferior."
Naruto now could be said to be the patriarch of shadow manipulation.
Shadow Instant Kill Array, Shadow Sneak, Dark Dusk Court, and so on—Naruto could absolutely dominate shadows. If Nara Shikamaru were to meet Naruto, he wouldn't even have a chance to play.
With Nara Shikamaru's victory,
The first round of the official matches concluded.
Orochimaru seemed not to be in a hurry to make his move.
By the second round of matches on the next day, the atmosphere in the arena was even more enthusiastic, with the audience increasing rather than decreasing, all coming to watch today's matches.
The first match was the great battle between Naruto and Sasuke.
The second match also drew extra attention due to Temari's provocation yesterday.
"Naruto, avenge me, defeat Sasuke, and preferably give him a good beating!"
Yamanaka Ino excitedly waved her pink fists.
"Hahaha, not to the extent of a beating."
"Go—go, Naruto-kun—go!"
Hinata blushed as she cheered for Naruto.
Naruto stood up and smiled.
He didn't even know how Sasuke planned to win?
Perhaps Sasuke from the Ninja War era could put up a fight.
Inside the arena.
The clamor and cheers from the audience seemed to be blocked by an invisible barrier, and everyone's eyes were focused on the two young men in the center of the arena.
Uchiha Sasuke, during the Chunin Exams, wore a black short-sleeved top, his two-tomoe Sharingan already activated, slowly spinning in their crimson base, a cold killing intent like a tangible chill, locking onto the figure opposite him.
Uzumaki Naruto was not limited to his orange tracksuit; he had changed into a black inner shirt, a red-based, gold-feathered haori over it, wearing dark blue long pants, and black Ninja shoes. He stood casually, his face devoid of his usual boisterousness, only a profound calmness, as if capable of encompassing all things.
The golden sunlight falling on him even seemed to emit a subtle glow.
"Naruto, we're opponents again."
Sasuke had already ignored Shiranui Genma's presence, his eyes only on the blond youth standing opposite him.
"Yes, the last time we faced off was last time."
Even with the serious and solemn atmosphere in the arena, Naruto couldn't help but crack a joke.
Sasuke snorted, his face cold and solemn as he replied: "The time at the Ninja Academy graduation exam, I lost to you, but in the past few months, I've trained hard, constantly improved, and constantly surpassed my limits."
"Now, I can defeat you! To redeem myself!!"
Sasuke clenched his fists, the two tomoe began to spin around his pupils, and Naruto's figure was reflected in his crimson irises.
"Then—the match begins!"
Shiranui Genma's voice was like a stone thrown into still water,
Breaking the stagnant atmosphere between the two.
"Swish"
Uchiha Sasuke moved!
Without any probing, he went all out from the start!
His figure transformed into a black lightning bolt tearing through the air, moving so fast that only afterimages were left in the eyes of ordinary Chunin.
"So fast! Is this the talent of the Uchiha Clan?"
"As long as they have those eyes, even without putting in ten or a hundred times the effort like me, they can reach this level in Taijutsu."
Rock Lee in the audience couldn't help but tightly clench his bandaged hands.
Might Guy squinted at Rock Lee, then raised a hand to pat his shoulder, encouraging him: "Look at Uzumaki Naruto. He was just a dead last at the Ninja Academy at first. It's because he put in hundreds, even thousands of times the effort behind the scenes, shedding the sweat of youth and burning the blood of his prime, that he achieved what you see today."
"R-really?"
Rock Lee was momentarily stunned by Might Guy's persuasion.
Might Guy gave a thumbs-up, revealing his trademark smile: "Of course! How could your sensei lie to you!"
"What does Uzumaki Naruto have?"
"He has neither the Byakugan nor the Sharingan. If he were a genius, how could he have been the dead last at the Ninja Academy?"
"You're right! Guy-sensei is right!!"
"Oh oh oh—!!!"
Rock Lee was instantly ignited by Might Guy, bending his arms and clenching his fists, his eyes sparkling with stars, his whole body seemingly burning with the flames of youth and passion, excitedly declaring: "I will definitely make Naruto my goal and train even harder!"
Might Guy nodded, his face solemn as he looked towards the arena.
"The Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, combined with the Whirlpool Clan's physique—which one is stronger when put together, compared to the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan?"