Seeing Shikamaru reverse his grip on "Kagehide" and lunge forward with a swift stab, Temari's heart skipped a beat. She bent her knees and leapt backward, clutching her Giant Folding Fan, trying to evade the attack.
Shikamaru, however, didn't pursue. Instead, he smoothly retracted his arm and used the hooked blades on both sides of Kagehide to slice backward toward Temari's wrist—the one gripping the fan. His reflexive counter was a clear testament to his combat prowess. Temari, mid-air and off balance, couldn't match Shikamaru's speed while wielding her cumbersome fan. She couldn't dodge in time. If she didn't release her grip, she'd undoubtedly be injured. The attack targeted her wrist's vein—if cut, it would lead to severe bleeding and potentially be fatal if not treated immediately.
Her thoughts raced. Left with no choice, Temari released her grip and dropped the fan. Twisting her body slightly, her left hand reached for her ninja pouch while her right hand formed a blade, swinging down toward Shikamaru's neck.
Smack!
The moment her fan hit the ground, Shikamaru stepped on it and kicked it away behind him with a sliding motion. Maintaining his forward momentum, he drew an elegant arc with Kagehide along his forearm, positioning the blade just in time to block Temari's hand strike.
"So this is Shikamaru Senpai ? He's... incredible!" Konohamaru's teammate Udon, shielded by Sakura, couldn't help but murmur in awe. He sniffled as he watched. Just moments ago, Kankurō and Temari had looked unstoppable. But since Shikamaru's arrival, they'd been put completely on the defensive. Temari had even been forced to abandon her weapon—everything had shifted in the blink of an eye.
"Konohamaru, get over here!" Moegi, also shielded behind Sakura, waved at Konohamaru and shouted toward him.
Konohamaru was stunned. He looked nervously at Shikamaru locked in combat with Kankurō and Temari. The three stood squarely in the middle of the path, cutting Konohamaru off from Naruto and Sakura.
"Konohamaru, don't move! It's too dangerous!" Sakura, more tactically aware as a Genin, quickly assessed the situation. If Konohamaru rushed through the chaotic battlefield, he could easily get hurt. She stopped Moegi and warned Konohamaru immediately.
"Damn it! But Konohamaru's in danger over there too!" Naruto clenched his teeth, frustrated. He didn't trust someone like Kankurō—who'd attacked a kid earlier—not to use dirty tricks just because he was losing. "Besides, why should I let Shikamaru hog all the spotlight!?"
"I can do the Shadow Clone Jutsu too!" he shouted. Naruto planted his feet and formed a hand seal, preparing to unleash a swarm of clones to overwhelm the already pressured Kankurō and Temari.
"That's enough."
Just as Naruto began gathering chakra, a cold voice rang out from above and to the right. The tone was devoid of emotion—calm and icy.
"Kankurō, Temari. Stand down. Don't disgrace our village."
Kankurō and Temari froze at the familiar, frosty voice. Their expressions changed as they tried to break away from Shikamaru's attacks.
Shikamaru, too, felt the sudden, watchful pressure behind him—a gaze laced with scrutiny and hostility. Startled, he backed off and didn't pursue further.
Poof!
As Shikamaru pulled Kagehide back into its sheath, a shadow clone in front of Kankurō vanished in a puff of smoke. Shikamaru turned slightly, scanning the trees flanking the path.
Among the towering branches above the road, a figure stood upside down—a red-haired boy with striking dark circles under his eyes and a massive gourd strapped to his back. On his forehead was a bold red character: "愛" (Love).
It was Gaara of the Sand—Jinchūriki of the One-Tail.
"Gaara? What are you doing here?" Kankurō asked nervously, drenched in sweat despite the mild weather. He looked up at Gaara.
"Did you forget why we came here?" Gaara's eyes swept the scene. "Looks like I arrived too late—you've already disgraced the village."
Temari's fan was lying on the ground. Kankurō's face was bruised. Meanwhile, Shikamaru stood perfectly composed. A two-on-one, and they were losing.
"They started it, Gaara!" Kankurō said with a nervous smile, nothing like the arrogant brat from earlier. He pointed toward Shikamaru and the others. "It's not our fault…"
"Shut up."
Gaara's voice was low and lifeless. His gaze fell on Kankurō like a statue's stare. His words weren't laced with malice, but the threat was crystal clear:
"Or I'll kill you."
"I-I got it… I'm sorry, Gaara."
Both Kankurō and Temari immediately raised their hands and apologized repeatedly, fear etched on their faces.
"The boss showed up?" Naruto watched the pair shrink back in fear and instantly recognized Gaara's dominance. "His tone and his eyes... totally piss me off."
Gaara turned his gaze toward Shikamaru. Their eyes met—one pair cold and dead, but with a subtle twitch of annoyance; the other calm and sharp, squinting slightly as if in deep thought.
"I apologize, Leaf ninja," Gaara said. Though Shikamaru's strength had stirred murderous intent in him, Gaara still had some restraint. After briefly locking eyes with Shikamaru, Gaara looked away first. His attention shifted to Shikamaru's right hand, which still gripped the hilt of Kagehide—clearly still on alert.
"Let's go, Kankurō. Temari," Gaara ordered indifferently. "We're not here to play."
"Yes, I understand."
Kankurō nodded repeatedly and exchanged a glance with Temari. They turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Sakura suddenly stepped forward and stopped them. Though she had stayed quiet earlier out of caution, with Shikamaru present, she now had the confidence to speak up.
"I see your forehead protectors—you're from the Hidden Sand Village, right? Even though we're allies, the treaty clearly states that shinobi from either village are forbidden from entering each other's territory without permission."
She slowly drew a kunai from her pouch, holding it in reverse grip. Her gaze hardened.
"State your purpose. Otherwise, we won't let you leave."
"Hmph, how could you not know? This is directly related to you!" Temari frowned in frustration, then glanced at Shikamaru. Despite her irritation, she had to admit—based on what she'd seen, Shikamaru was more than qualified to participate in the Chūnin Exams.
"We're Genin from the Hidden Sand. We're here to take the Chūnin Selection Exams!"
"Here's our pass!"
Temari pulled out a small booklet marked with both the Leaf and Sand Village emblems. Ignoring Sakura, she held it up for Shikamaru to see, pouting as she said indignantly:
"Look closely—we're not spies!"
"Chūnin Exams?" Naruto narrowed his eyes in confusion, glancing between Temari, Shikamaru, and Sakura.
"The Chūnin Selection Exams," Sakura explained, "are a joint event hosted by the Hidden Leaf, the Hidden Sand, and several nearby nations' shinobi villages to evaluate Genin..."
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin