Naruto vs. Neji!

I surrender!

On the arena, Shikamaru looked at Temari, whose movements were firmly controlled by his Shadow Imitation Technique and who was glaring at him with resentment Temari raised his hand and shouted loudly without hesitation.

Gekko Hayate Shikamaru's brilliant battle of wits and had not yet fully recovered.

He remained silent for a while before hesitantly asking Shikamaru for confirmation:

"Shikamaru Nara, are you... sure you want to admit defeat?"

By all accounts, you've already secured the victory, haven't you?

"That's right! I have no way to counter you now, I'm completely at your mercy, aren't I?!"

Temari frowned, gritting her teeth as she spoke:

"Are you looking down on me by admitting defeat now?!"

"Tsk, didn't I let you win? Why are you still unhappy? You're such a nuisance."

"What did you say!!"

Temari instantly turned red.

Shikamaru scratched his head, casually pointed to the slowly dissipating dark shadows on the ground, and explained unhurriedly:

"As you can see, my Chakra is running out."

Continuing to fight will only result in defeat, so it's better to just admit defeat now; it'll be much easier.

As he spoke, he glanced at the still-stunned Gekko Hayate and added matter-of-factly:

"Anyway, what determines whether you can become Chunin isn't who wins or loses, but your overall performance during battle."

My abilities have already been fully demonstrated in that battle just now. Winning or losing is no longer important to me.

Gekko Hayate listened to Shikamaru's self-consistent yet twisted logic and nodded in bewilderment.

What this kid said actually makes some sense...

He raised his hand to rub his head, finally deciding to give up thinking, and turned his gaze back to the audience, loudly announcing:

"Second round results - Konoha Shikamaru Nara concedes defeat."

Sand Village Temari wins this match!

Temari, seeing Shikamaru already turning around impatiently to leave the ring, shouted angrily:

"Kid, I'll remember you!!"

After saying that, she turned around angrily and left the ring.

"Tsk, what a troublesome woman."

Shikamaru listened to the receding footsteps behind him, he muttered something under his breath, a sense of foreboding rising within him.

"I have a feeling I'll suffer a huge loss because of this woman in the future... but it must be just my imagination."

He shook his head vigorously, suppressing the ominous premonition, and then slowly left the ring.

On the platform, Jiraiya watched Shikamaru's lazy back and couldn't help but mutter a complaint under his breath:

"This kid, I must say, truly lives up to his Nara Clan reputation. Whether it's his exceptionally high intelligence or that inherited lazy, good-for-nothing demeanor..."

Unlike Jiraiya, who seemed to have anticipated this outcome, Rasa, who had maintained an indifferent expression, had suddenly become unusually solemn.

That brat from the Nara Clan is quite something.

Looking at Rasa, Temari had returned to Gaara and Kankuro's side, Rasa felt a complex mix of emotions.

"Why do geniuses like these keep being born in Konoha...?"

Rasa sighed inwardly with complicated emotions, then, as if he had thought of something, a cold, dark light flashed in his eyes.

But it doesn't matter. As long as the plan can proceed smoothly, Konoha will cease to exist!

At that time, a genius like him will either choose to join the Sand Village or—die!

Meanwhile, in the fighters' preparation area on the other side of the ring.

Kankuro, seeing Temari trembling with anger, suppressed his gloating and carefully tried to comfort her:

"Temari, don't be too angry. No matter what... well, at least we won, right?"

Temari's temple throbbed, and she abruptly turned her head, roaring at Kankuro:

"Shut up! If you can't speak properly, then don't speak at all!!"

Kankuro was so startled by her shout that he took a step back, quickly raised his hand to cover his mouth, and nodded repeatedly.

Temari a deep breath and murmured to herself:

"It's alright, it's just a competition, there's no need to get so angry."

The important thing is the task.

"As long as Father's plan can be successfully implemented, nothing else matters."

She kept repeating these words to herself, but found that instead of calming down, her emotions were filled with increasing unease and doubt.

Will Father's plan really be able to be implemented smoothly?

But were his actions truly... right?

Temari thought to herself with concern, and subconsciously glanced at her younger brother beside her, who had remained silent the entire time.

At this moment, Gaara was completely unaware of his sister's unease.

He simply stared coldly at Shikamaru on the opposite stage, who was shaking Naruto wildly with his hands on his shoulders, and Sasuke standing aside, watching the show with schadenfreude.

A slow, excited, and bloodthirsty smile spread Gaara's pale face.

It'll be here soon!

Which of these two prey will be his opponent?

I'm really... looking forward to it.

On the arena, Gekko Hayate turned to the next page of the match schedule and announced loudly to the crowd:

"The third match will be between Naruto Uzumaki from Konoha and Neji Hyuga Konoha from Konoha!"

Both contestants, please proceed to the arena immediately to begin the assessment!

In the contestants' preparation area, when Naruto heard his name called out by Gekko Hayate, a gleam of excitement instantly ignited in his eyes.

But when he realized that his opponent was not Sasuke, the light in his eyes dimmed instantly.

His hand, which had been frantically rubbing Shikamaru's head, involuntarily stopped, caught up in his sense of loss.

Shikamaru quickly escaped from Naruto's clutches and hid behind Sasuke as fast as he could.

"... Sigh, what a pity, the opponent isn't you."

Naruto slowly withdrew his gaze from Neji Hyuga, who was coldly watching him from the arena, and sighed with regret.

"This is a rare opportunity for you to embarrass yourself in front of so many people."

Sasuke snorted coldly, turned his head away, and remained silent for a long while.

Although he felt a little disappointed that he couldn't fight Naruto, he ultimately didn't say much.

Sasuke simply raised his hand, held his fist in front of Naruto, and said arrogantly:

"Don't lose, Naruto."

Remember, the only one who can defeat you... is me!

"Ha, arrogant guy."

Naruto looked at Sasuke's fist raised in front of him, and with Minato and Kushina's teasing gazes in his mind, he calmly raised his hand and steadily met Sasuke's fist:

"Just you wait and see, Sasuke! Watch how I... win against you!!"

After saying that, Naruto turned around and looked back at Neji Hyuga, who was already on the arena, a slowly rising smile of excitement on his lips.

He leaped into the air, his entire body flashing like an orange streak as he soared from the fighters' preparation area, landing steadily on the ring opposite Neji.

Meanwhile, a pair of eyes hidden in the shadows were quietly watching the impending duel on the arena.

"Is this already... the third game?"

Kou slowly shifted his gaze from the two boys on the arena to the guard standing silently behind Rasa on the podium.

Only one final match remains before Xiao's plan officially launches.

This is the last dialogue scene in this chapter; from now until the fight against the entire Akatsuki and Obito, it's all action.