Chapter 177: Kin Tsuchi vs. Shikamaru Nara, Shikamaru Defeated!
In the previous match, Zaku Abumi from the Hidden Sound had used unheard-of ninja tools to crush Shino Aburame. This event was like a boulder thrown into the exam hall, the ripples still unsettling everyone. The complete defeat of the Aburame clan's secret technique not only dealt a heavy blow to Shino himself but also made the Konoha ninja deeply wary of the Hidden Sound's strength and their bizarre fighting style.
An unusual tension filled the air. On the giant electronic screen in the center of the tower, names scrolled rapidly. Finally, the new matchup slowly settled.
Konoha Genin, Shikamaru Nara.
VS.
Hidden Sound Genin, Kin Tsuchi.
In the spectator stands, many eyes focused on a boy who was yawning, looking like he hadn't woken up properly. Shikamaru Nara was famous for finding everything troublesome, but also for possessing an intellect far beyond his years.
His opponent was Kin Tsuchi, a kunoichi with short black hair and an equally arrogant expression.
"Ugh… seriously…" Shikamaru muttered, hands stuffed in his pockets. He shuffled slowly to the center of the arena, looking as unmotivated as ever. His eyes were half-open, as if he might just lie down and sleep right there. Fighting a girl is such a drag, he grumbled inwardly.
Standing opposite him, Kin Tsuchi smirked, crossing her arms. Her tone was provocative. "Nara clan's Shadow Possession Jutsu, huh? I saw it in the last round. Thinking of using that boring trick to bind me? Keep dreaming!"
Kin tapped her temple with a finger. "As long as I compress the range of your shadow to the limit, your secret technique becomes useless, doesn't it?"
As she spoke, she took a pair of strange, dark sunglasses from her ninja pouch and put them on slowly. The lenses completely hid her eyes, leaving only a faint, mocking smile on her lips.
Shikamaru lifted his eyelids slightly, glancing at her. The premonition of "trouble" grew stronger. Looks like she came prepared…
Hayate Gekko raised his hand, announcing in a routine tone, "Alright then, Preliminary Match: Shikamaru Nara vs. Kin Tsuchi. Begin!"
Before his voice faded, Kin moved. Her hands rapidly formed a few simple seals, and she shouted, "Summoning Jutsu!"
POOF! POOF! POOF! POOF!
Four or five plumes of white smoke exploded in the arena. When the smoke cleared, four or five sleek, fierce-looking ninja hounds appeared beside Kin. They were different colors, but all looked well-trained, their muscles taut with explosive power.
However, what made Shikamaru's eyes narrow wasn't the dogs themselves, but the strange device strapped to each of their backs. It was a metallic harness, from which extended a black metal tube about the thickness of an arm. The dark barrels radiated an unsettling chill.
"Woof! Woof woof!"
The moment the ninja hounds appeared, they growled low at Shikamaru, crouching in attack postures.
Shikamaru noticed that no matter how the dogs moved or adjusted their stances, the black metal tubes on their backs seemed to be guided, aiming precisely at him at all times. It was an intense feeling of being locked on.
Combined with Kin putting on sunglasses earlier and her claim about "shrinking the shadow range," Shikamaru's mind rapidly sketched out her tactical plan in a flash.
I see… so that's her game.
Strong light. She almost certainly had a means to create intense light. By using an artificial light source, she would compress his shadow to the limit, or even make it temporarily disappear. This would completely suppress his core technique—Shadow Possession.
And those dogs… the "weapons" on their backs were probably ninja tools similar to Zaku's bracer. Even if he managed to bind the dogs themselves with his shadow, those weapons seemed to have an auto-lock function. If they could fire ranged attacks automatically… combined with blinding light robbing him of his vision… he would be in an extremely passive position. His shadows neutralized, while constantly having to watch out for auto-targeting ranged fire…
"Tch, what a drag…" Shikamaru sighed heavily in his heart, his expression becoming even more lazy.
So, under the expectant gaze of the entire arena, Shikamaru Nara slowly raised a hand. He still looked sleepy. Then he let out a massive yawn and spoke listlessly.
"Ah— hey, proctor. I forfeit."
Silence.
The entire venue fell into a weird silence. Everyone was stunned. From the other Genin on the sidelines to the experienced Jonin. No one expected Shikamaru Nara, known for his tactical mind, to give up so decisively right at the start of the battle.
Even Hayate Gekko, who had just announced the start, didn't react immediately, his raised hand freezing in mid-air.
Kin Tsuchi's expression was first one of shock, seemingly not expecting this development either. But soon, that shock turned into even thicker contempt and disdain.
"Tch, how utterly boring." She pouted, her voice full of disappointment. "Sigh, I thought I could have some fun. I hope I meet some decent opponents in the finals."
With that, she waved her hand impatiently, releasing the Summoning Jutsu. The "techno-ninja hounds," poised to attack, vanished in puffs of white smoke. Kin walked off the field without looking back, as if staying a second longer was a waste of time.
In the spectator stands.
"Sigh…" Asuma facepalmed helplessly, letting out a low, bitter laugh. He was equally resigned to his most troublesome yet most reassuring student. This personality of finding everything troublesome to the extreme was sometimes laughable.
"Shikamaru, you idiot! What's wrong with you?! Giving up without even fighting?!" Ino Yamanaka put her hands on her hips, yelling angrily at the returning Shikamaru, looking more agitated than he was.
"Well, well, Ino, I told you," Choji mumbled around a mouthful of potato chips. "Facing an opponent who looks that troublesome, Shikamaru would definitely surrender right away."
Kurenai Yuhi's face, however, lost its usual composure. Her brows knit together, her expression grave. The ninja tools revealed one after another by the Hidden Sound, and the unknown power they represented, filled her with deep concern for the upcoming finals. This combat style, completely different from the traditional ninjutsu system, would undoubtedly bring a massive shock to the existing ninja world's understanding. Is a small village like the Hidden Sound really this powerful?
Not far away, Minato Namikaze watched it all quietly. His gentle smile remained, but deep in his eyes, the light of contemplation flickered. "Ninja tools… huh?" He had gained a deeper impression of this newly emerged concept and the changes it might bring.
In the center of the arena, Hayate Gekko finally snapped out of it. He coughed twice habitually to cover his gaffe, then announced the result loudly:
"Cough cough— Preliminary Match, Shikamaru Nara vs. Kin Tsuchi. Winner—Kin Tsuchi!"
As his voice fell, light flowed again on the giant electronic screen. Everyone's hearts rose slightly with the changing names.
Finally, the names of the next pair of combatants lit up and locked—
"Preliminary Match, next round—"
"Naruto Uzumaki VS. Kiba Inuzuka!"
Whoosh!
The focus seemed to sharpen in that instant.
Kiba Inuzuka held his inseparable ninja dog, Akamaru, in his arms. A confident, wild grin spread across the boy's face, his eyes filled with a burning desire for battle. Akamaru barked twice in support, seemingly cheering for his partner.
Opposite him, Naruto Uzumaki's face, usually full of goofy grins, was now written with excitement and soaring fighting spirit.
"Finally my turn! Awesome!"