Arc VI Chapter 4


    <strong>VI</strong>


    <hr noshade="noshade" size="1">


    <strong>━━━━━━┓???┏━━━━━━</strong>


    <hr noshade="noshade" size="1">


    <strong>Arc VI Chapter 4


    </strong>


    <hr noshade="noshade" size="1">


    <strong>━━━━━━┛???┗━━━━━━</strong>


    <hr noshade="noshade" size="1">


    “Shikaku, how do you think the next matchwill be?” Inoichi stroked his chin. He observed the arena and awaited the next match.


    Shikaku massagedhis temples. Once again, he fought ahangover. Stupid alcohol, he should seriously drink less.“No idea, and to be honest, I don''t care.”


    “And you? What do you think, Yoshino?” He passed the question to his wife to not get bothered further. Yoshino should gain him some time.


    Yoshino smiled. “I am happy that Shikamarues next, but I am curious who he will be up against. Hopefully, not someone strong. Shikamaru isn''t the most physical fighter. He might get injured.”


    Shikaku agreed. Shikamaru was a tactician, not a brawler. He didn''t even expect him to get this far.Heknew his son. He would give up at the first best opportunity.


    Yoshino pped her hands. “Look, the next round is about to start!”


    Two genin entered the arena. Shikaku inspected the opponents, an Oto-nin, and a kunoichi.


    “...” Shikaku raised his eyebrow. The girl looked familiar...


    ...


    ...


    ...


    “Holy shit, what the fuck is she doing here?” Shikaku panicked. It was her. This was Asami, but how? Why? Why was she in this tournament?Luckily, Shikamaru didn’t haveto fight her. He was ced inthe following bracket...


    The following bracket...


    The following bracket...


    ...


    ...


    ...


    His son was fucked. Now he could only trust in his intelligence and survival instincts. He would be safe, no need to worry.


    Yoshino tuggedhis arm,and Shikakufinally reacted.


    His wife smiled. Her lips were strained. “So, you know this girl down there?”


    “No... Yes... No ... Yes, Iknow her.” Shikaku scratched his head.


    Yoshinomaintained her cold smile. “And how?How does my loyal husbande to know a little girl without my knowledge? You never told me about her.”


    “That''sa rather ...plicated story.” Shikakuanswered with an uneasyugh.He talkedtoo much.


    Yoshino narrowed her eyes. “Don''t worry, I have time.”


    <hr>


    <strong><b>━━━━━━┛</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>┗━━━━━━</b></strong>


    <hr>


    Asami observed her enemy, asmirkon his lips.Dosu stood before her.They exchanged frosty stares and ufortable silence reigned. “Unless Iam mistaken, your name is Dosu?”


    “...” Dosu didn''t answer. He readied his arm. A heavy steel gauntlet was his primary weapon, used to produce deadly sound waves. Like all Oto-nin, he was specialised in fighting with sound.


    Asami touched her heart, disappointed by hisck of cooperation. “Deep down in my heart, I am a benevolent person. Therefore, I offer you onest chance, forfeit, and you will live.” Dosu would die during the invasion, but her gracious act would prolong his life for a few more hours.


    “...” Dosupreferred silence. He declined.


    Asami smirked. “So be it. I hope you don’t regret your decision.”


    Hayate started the match.Her opponent capitalised on her disinterestand increased the distance. He retreated backwards in the belief distancewould save him. He erred, he wasn’t safe.


    “...” Asami closed her eyes and drew her sword. Confidenceapanied her.“Naruto, I want to demonstrateyou an undeniable truth, protracted fights like between you and Neji are rare on the real battlefield.”


    Chakra coursed through herde. Hersteel glowedpurple,coatedinsma.


    “Fights between professional ninja don’tst long.They aredecided by disparity in skill and ability.Theiroue is usually quite predictable. Never forget, will and determination alone won’t ovee superior skill. Most ninja are forgotten, destined to die a lonely death. Not victory, not glory awaits them, but ... death.” Asami struck, deliveringjudgement.


    Her sword drew first blood. Her speed unmatched, her de impaledDosu. Her zing fireshreddedhis torso. Heated smadisintegrated bone and burned flesh alike, leaving behind nothing but a gaping hole.His lifeless corpsehit the sandy ground. His crimson blood stained the arena.


    Asami tilted her head and looked at the stands, her eyes focused on Shikamaru. “Unless I am mistaken, you are the next in line, Shikamaru?”


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Shikamaru gulped. “Shit.”


    <hr noshade="noshade" size="1">


    <strong>━━━━━━┛???┗━━━━━━</strong>


    <hr>