Nara Shikadai. Same name as the previous life—but a girl this time.
She inherited her mother's hair and temperament. Her father's face and brains.
Making it to the final circle solo? Luck played a part. But skill got her here.
She'd used Shadow Possession to freeze Toneri.
Mitsuki and Sarada moved to counter.
"Wait." Toneri's voice.
Both stopped. Confused.
"She's not stupid," Toneri said. "Made it this far. Why pick a fight now?"
"Looks like I found the right person."
Shikadai smiled. Released the jutsu.
"So." Toneri's eyes narrowed. "What's your angle?"
"I'll be blunt." Shikadai's grin widened. "Round Two? You can advance on luck. But the arena battles test real strength. Even if we scrape through, we'll get eliminated. No Earth-class promotion."
"Your solution?"
"Simple." Her voice dropped. Deadly serious. "Take out all the adults. We control the arena."
All three froze.
Sarada's internal monologue: This girl's brain is broken.
Toneri recovered first. "You're confident you can pull that off?"
"Hehe..." Shikadai reached into her pack. Pulled out a black cube. "Scientific ninja tool bomb. Enough firepower to level everything within several kilometers."
Toneri's pupils shrank.
Outside the arena—chaos.
Equipment staff: "WE NEVER PLACED THAT ON THE ISLAND!"
Toneri's gaze deepened. "Deidara got disqualified years ago for self-destructing. This kind of weapon isn't standard issue. You smuggled it in."
Competition rules: thorough body searches before boarding. Standard packs only. No unauthorized tools—especially dangerous scientific weapons.
"Guilty." Shikadai's smile never wavered.
"How'd you bypass the search?"
"Searches are external only, right?"
Toneri's eyes narrowed. "You didn't—"
"I did. Sealed it in a scroll. Swallowed it." She grimaced. "You have no idea how hard it was getting it back out."
Three faces. Identical shock.
"Isn't that cheating?" Sarada's voice pitched high.
"Nope. The Exhibition's been running for years. Rules are airtight. Internal contraband should be detectable." Shikadai's eyes gleamed. "So why wasn't mine? Because this is a legal loophole. Undiscovered until now. Tacitly approved by the organizers."
Crowd erupted.
"Is that real?!"
"Does that loophole actually exist?"
"Makes sense. Previous searches were external only. No Byakugan users—privacy concerns."
VIP area.
Naruto watched the feed. Voice low. "We knew about this loophole. Wanted to add X-ray machines last year. Kakuzu rejected it—budget reasons." He sighed. "Never thought someone would actually swallow something."
Shikaku—the girl's grandfather—held his head. "Shikadai's nothing like Shikamaru. Adventurous since childhood. Unconventional. I thought... she's a girl, let her have freedom." Groan. "Never expected this."
Konan: "Should we intervene?"
Naruto pondered. "No. This is our oversight. We'll fix the rules later. For now—let it play out."
Worried murmurs.
Naruto waved them off. Smiled. "Don't panic. It's manageable."
Inside the arena.
"What's your plan?" Toneri asked.
"Simple. Final poison fog's coming. Safe zone shrinks. All survivors converge." Shikadai unfolded her map. "Sixty seconds before the fog spreads, the safe zone location appears. That's our window. You use a shadow clone—carries the bomb. Everyone's running from poison. Won't notice. When they cluster—boom. Mutual destruction. Only we advance."
"ARE YOU INSANE?!" Sarada's voice cracked.
"They won't actually die. Yomotsu Hirasaka revives everyone. It's a game. Follow the rules to the end—you win."
"But this method—"
"Wishy-washy like this? You call yourself a ninja? Go home and play house, brat."
"You—!" Sarada's face flushed. No comeback.
Shikadai turned to Toneri. "It's not against the rules. Imagine the adults' faces when we advance. Kids winning the supreme ninja tournament? Earth-shattering news."
Mitsuki checked his watch. "Final circle. Sixty seconds."
The map's safe zone contracted. Shrank to a barely visible dot.
On the island—all combat ceased. Everyone converged.
"..." Toneri's fist clenched. Head down.
Shikadai's innocent face—urgent. "Come on, come on! Let's do it, Toneri!"
Toneri raised his head. Resolute.
"Sorry. I refuse."
"What?!" Shikadai's confusion—genuine. "Why?!"
"Using a borderline exploit—we become Earth-class. So what? What does it accomplish?"
"It's an earth-shattering achievement!"
Toneri shook his head. "Maybe. But nothing changes."
"Our abilities don't improve. Overall ninja skill level doesn't improve."
"So what?!"
"My dad told me—the Exhibition's purpose is promoting martial prosperity. Countering external threats. Earth-class and Heaven-class titles? Just encouragement. Don't get it backwards, Shikadai."
His voice strengthened. "You said even if we advance, we'll get eliminated. I disagree."
Under her shocked gaze, Toneri turned.
"I'll prove it. Even as kids—with talent and effort—we can become Earth-class ninja fair and square."
Outside.
Naruto's knowing smile. "That's my son."
Three children sprinted toward the final zone.
Mitsuki smiled. He'll become a sun to many people.
Sarada gazed at Toneri's back. Could his father be... my father?
WHOOSH.
Poison fog—spreading.
Shikadai sat. Small hands cradling the bomb. "What have I done? Acting like an idiot. Now I'll need someone to revive me. Ugh. Should just blow myself up..."
"Little kids shouldn't talk about dying."
Steady voice. Sudden.
"Uncle Naruto?!"
"Go back. Though a lecture's unavoidable." Elder's smile. Large hand on small shoulder.
Flying Thunder God light.
Gone.
WHOOSH.
Fog swept past.
Final ten-meter safe zone.
Nine adults. Three children. Packed.
Tenten: "Ugh—Akatsuchi, you NEED to lose weight!"
Akatsuchi: "Throw away the rocket launcher!"
Konohamaru: "Thank god Chōji didn't come this year..."
Hanabi: "Toneri, come give auntie a hug!"
Toneri: "..."
Sarada: "Ugh, it's all sticky!"
Suigetsu: "Hehe, saves space!" (Currently liquefied)
Rock Lee: "Youth is—"
Temari: "Save the Eight Gates for next round!"
Kimimaro: "Why won't anyone get close to me..."
Mitsuki—hanging from Ōnoki's feet via snake hands: "Sorry, old man. No room down there."
Ōnoki floated above. Kindly smile. "Oh ho ho... this tournament's truly lively."
Three days. Three nights.
Battle royale—over.
The Ninja Grand Martial Exhibition entered its final stage.
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