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The sun hung high over the Chunin Exam arena, casting long shadows across the battlefield. The crowd buzzed with excitement, but a noticeable tension hung in the air. Everyone was waiting—waiting for the last fight of the round: Sasuke Uchiha, the last of his clan, whose appearance was delayed.
"Where is he?" murmured one spectator. "The final match hasn't even started, and everyone's talking about Sasuke."
Meanwhile, the arena announced the next match: Temari of the Sand Village versus Shikamaru Nara of Konoha. A wave of murmurs spread through the stands.
"Finally… someone strategic against a powerful wind user," one fan said.
Shikamaru stepped onto the field, hands in his pockets, his usual lazy expression hiding the sharp calculation behind his eyes. Temari's four giant fans flared in the sunlight, the wind around her already stirring, shifting dust across the battlefield.
"Looks like I'll have to work a bit harder than usual," Shikamaru muttered, surveying the area.
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The Battle Begins
Temari unleashed a torrent of wind from her fan, a massive cutting gust that tore across the field. Shikamaru ducked instinctively, barely evading the edge of the attack. Dust and debris filled the air as the crowd gasped.
"You're too slow," Temari taunted, spinning her fan in a deadly arc.
Shikamaru's eyes narrowed. Speed isn't always everything… it's about predicting the pattern.
He activated his Shadow Possession Jutsu, extending his shadow across the ground, attempting to catch Temari's movement. She leapt, using her wind attacks to sever the shadows as she moved, forcing Shikamaru to constantly adapt.
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Strategic Maneuvers
The battle quickly became a test of wits rather than brute strength. Shikamaru darted between debris, luring Temari into overextending her attacks. He timed his Shadow Possession with precise predictions, forcing her to hesitate as the shadow crept closer.
Temari laughed, impressed but not deterred. "You think you can control me with a little shadow trick?" She swung her fan again, this time combining multiple bursts of wind in a spinning vortex.
Shikamaru gritted his teeth. It's not about overpowering… it's about making her work for it.
He lured her toward the edge of the battlefield, carefully calculating each step. When she overextended, her own wind currents lifted a cloud of dust and debris around her. In a split second, Shikamaru extended his shadow to bind her using the hole made by Naruto in previous battle causing her to stumble and lose control.
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The Finish
Temari's fan crashed against the ground, spinning uselessly as Shikamaru's Shadow Possession fully immobilized her. He smirked, panting slightly from the mental strain.
"You're too… predictable," he said quietly.
Temari gritted her teeth, unable to move, and finally conceded. The crowd erupted in cheers—not for brute strength, but for strategy and clever thinking overcoming power.
Shikamaru exhaled, returning his shadow to normal. "Hmph… what a drag," he muttered, dusting himself off, though a faint smile crept across his face.
But then something unpredictable happened, shikamaru surrendered and temari won the match..
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The Crowd's Focus Shifts
As Temari left the battlefield, whispers spread through the stadium. "Now… it's finally time for Sasuke."
"Yeah… the last Uchiha. Everyone's been waiting."
Even Kirito, hidden in the shadows, noted the timing. Perfect. All the weaker battles are clearing the field. Now, when Sasuke appears… everything will have a perfect stage.
The crowd's anticipation reached a fever pitch, and the arena seemed to hold its breath. The next battle—Sasuke versus Gaara—would decide everything, and the stage was set for a clash that would shake the stadium.
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