The rising sun slowly climbed into the eastern sky, and its warm light gradually covered the rooftops of Konoha. Through the rooftops exposed to the east, it streamed into rooms of every kind.
"When did I fall asleep?!"
As if feeling the warmth and dazzling sting of sunlight on his face, Shikamaru Nara, who had unknowingly fallen asleep, suddenly opened his eyes. The sunlight jolted him awake, instantly banishing all drowsiness and leaving him fully alert.
The exhaustion of the past few days had been swept away.
Despite worrying about this and that, he had slept wonderfully—one of those sleeps where you closed your eyes and woke up refreshed.
"What time is it?!"
Then, almost instinctively, he looked toward the clock.
"Shikamaru! How long are you planning to sleep? Today's the final trial! Get down here and eat breakfast!"
But before his gaze could focus on the clock, a familiar lion's roar came from downstairs.
"Yes!"
Almost reflexively, Shikamaru Nara answered.
Then, without another word, he headed downstairs.
It was just past eight. There was still some time before the final trial, so he had plenty of time to get up and eat breakfast.
Besides, since he knew something was bound to happen next, there was no need to rush too much right now.
No matter what, he had to maintain a calm mindset. He could not be impatient, nor could he be too afraid. This sleep had come at exactly the right time. After a good rest, Shikamaru Nara's mental state and mindset were both in excellent shape.
At the very least, the fact that he could still eat breakfast meant he had calmed down.
It doesn't feel real at all.
As he ate the breakfast his mother had prepared and looked at the unchanged furnishings in the house,