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Silence reigned over the Nara clan's table, but it wasn't a silence of confusion. It was a silence of deep appreciation for the brilliance that had unfolded across the manga's pages.
Nara Hikitsu, the clan head, had his hand resting on his grey beard, his eyes gleaming with a light his son Shikaku hadn't seen in a long time.
"Isn't my future grandson absolutely remarkable?" Hikitsu murmured, his voice trembling slightly with restrained excitement.
"He didn't just extend his shadow across the ground, he made it climb along thin threads. This boy doesn't follow the rules; he writes his own. That final trick… calculating the distance between himself and the wall to force his opponent to crash into it… that is pure combat intelligence."
Shikaku, who was still trying to wrap his head around the idea that this lazy genius might one day be his son, nodded slowly.
"Yes, Father. He turned his opponent's weakness, her arrogance, and over-reliance on the strings, into a lethal weapon."
"His opponent thought she was controlling the battle, but she was nothing more than a puppet in Shikamaru's hands from the moment he began pulling on the bell strings."
Nearby, Inwi Yamanaka, head of the Yamanaka clan and father of Inoichi, laughed softly and leaned toward Hikitsu.
"It seems your future grandson is going to keep you very busy, Hikitsu! But he is, without a doubt, the mastermind that the next trio will need. Inoichi, did you see how Shikamaru kept his composure despite being hit by the needles? That is the kind of partner I want you to trust."
Inoichi Yamanaka nodded appreciatively, his eyes still fixed on the panel of Shikamaru leaning backward.
"Indeed. His intelligence is as terrifying as it is impressive. Ino in the manga is fortunate to have him on her team."
On the other side of the table, Hōzho Akimichi, the Akimichi clan head, was devouring a piece of grilled meat with a broad smile, while his son Chōza watched him, mouth practically watering.
"Now that is true teamwork!" Hōzho bellowed.
"We Akimichi provide the strength, the Yamanaka provide the support, and the Nara provide the brains. Shikamaru just proved that a sharp mind can crush both power and illusion alike. Now it's time to see what you're made of, Chōji… my future grandson, isn't that right?"
Chōza burst out laughing, thumping his chest with his fist. "Your grandson? What do you mean, Father? I'm still fifteen! Are you saying I'm going to get married and have Chōji someday?!"
"And what else did you think?!"
"This is actually kind of exciting!"
…
Elsewhere, far from the clans' commotion, Hiruzen Sarutobi was exhaling dense plumes from his pipe, eyes narrowed as he analyzed the battle.
Danzō sat beside him, his shadow stretching across the polished metallic floor of the Art Store.
"Shikamaru Nara…" Hiruzen murmured.
"That boy undoubtedly has an IQ exceeding 200. His ability to plan ten moves while under pressure is a rare gift. Konoha is fortunate to have a mind like his in its ranks."
Danzō, in his usual cold tone, remarked: "Intelligence alone is not enough, Hiruzen. The laziness he displays could be fatal in missions that demand peak efficiency. Nevertheless, one cannot deny that his use of the Shadow Imitation technique through the strings is a tactical innovation that ought to be taught at the Academy. This boy is raw material for an ANBU commander someday."
"A fascinating child," Uzumaki Mito remarked with astonishment. The more she lived, and the more she read of this manga, the further her vision stretched toward a future she was never supposed to exist in.
Through these pages, she was discovering the potential of a generation yet to come for Konoha.
…
In another corner of the store, where the three Sannin sat in an atmosphere charged with memories and rivalry, the reactions were something else entirely.
Tsunade was smiling with admiration, tapping the table lightly with her fingers.
"What a clever boy! He reminded me of you, Jiraiya, when you try to sneak out without paying the bill. But with actual intelligence this time!"
Jiraiya laughed loudly, unbothered by her jab. "Hahaha! The kid is incredible! His lazy face hides a storm of calculations behind it. This is exactly the kind of ninja who changes the course of wars without breaking a single sweat."
Orochimaru, meanwhile, watched in silence, his golden eyes gleaming with an unreadable light.
"Nara Shikamaru… The human mind is the most fascinating instrument of all. He crushed Kin, a kunoichi from the Village of Sound, not through brute force, but through a simple understanding of physics and shadows. He proves that intellect is the truest power."
'Perhaps I should observe this boy's development more carefully.'
That was Orochimaru's thought before he turned to the next scene.
Uzumaki Naruto vs. Inuzuka Kiba.
"Oh, how interesting… I had completely forgotten about Naruto, who is supposedly the protagonist of this story."
"Just let Sasuke-kun be the sole protagonist… Naruto-kun is nowhere near the aura of a true protagonist that Sasuke-kun possesses."
Such was Orochimaru's opinion; his favorite character had become Sasuke after everything he'd witnessed in the manga so far.
"Tch… what nonsense are you talking about? You haven't even seen anything from Naruto yet. Why the rush to judge?"
Jiraiya said with an irritated tone upon hearing that.
…
[— Manga Scene —]
'Those remaining are: the Sound boy and myself, and Hinata, and Naruto, and Chōji and Neji and Lee, and the Sand boy… Please, anyone but the Sand boy.'
Kiba was tallying up who had yet to fight, desperately hoping the random draw wouldn't pit him against Gaara of all people.
'This year, fighting the rookies is going to be fun…'
Neji thought to himself as his gaze drifted to Hinata's visibly anxious expression.
"The next match then… Uzumaki Naruto versus Inuzuka Kiba."
The proctor Hayate's voice rang out through the arena.
"Finally!! It was only a matter of time!"
"It's finally my turn!!" Naruto shouted with excitement, pumping his fist now that his moment had come.
"Yeaaah, lucky me!!! We can definitely beat him, Akamaru!"
Kiba visibly relaxed the moment he saw that his opponent was Naruto.
'If I'm not up next, Sakura will call me the kid with the thick eyebrows.'
Rock Lee thought with a slightly deflated spirit when he saw his turn still hadn't come.
"It's finally my turn!!!" Naruto raised both arms high and cheered.
[— End Scene —]
In that moment, the pages trembled in Kushina Uzumaki's hands, and she couldn't stop herself from cheering just as enthusiastically as Naruto in the manga.
"Amazing! His turn has finally come! That fang-toothed boy is about to learn what it means to face an Uzumaki!"
Minato, who had been trying to maintain his usual composure, couldn't hold back the wide smile spreading across his face.
"He's got your energy, Kushina. That confidence he has... He's not even slightly afraid of Kiba; he's happy the fight has started. But Kiba looks confident too, which means this battle won't be easy."
"Looks confident? He's completely underestimating Naruto, he's scared of the Sand boy, but perfectly happy to face Naruto? I really want to see the expression on his face when he gets hit."
…
Deep within Kushina, in the depths of the dark seal, a great entity stirred. The Nine-Tails opened one of its enormous red eyes and exhaled a scorching breath that shook the very foundations of Kushina's consciousness.
"Finally. I've grown tired of watching these children play with shadows and needles. I want to see what that kid will do, the one who carries my counterpart in that distant future."
"Don't disappoint me, kid. Or I'll shatter this cage from the inside out of sheer boredom!"
…
Back where Sakumo and his son sat together, Sakumo was watching the scene with focused attention.
"Kakashi, what do you make of this matchup?"
Young Kakashi answered in a calm, analytical voice: "Kiba has the advantage in speed and senses thanks to Akamaru. Naruto in the manga doesn't appear to have a specific technique beyond Shadow Clone Jutsu, and if he doesn't use it cleverly, Kiba will win. But…"
Kakashi paused briefly. "There's something in Naruto's expression… He doesn't look like someone who's going to lose."
Sakumo nodded. "Exactly. Naruto possesses a fighting spirit that can't be measured in techniques alone. This battle will be a test of will more than a test of power."
…
Elsewhere, Tsume Inuzuka was growling in frustration at the sight of Kiba's relief in the manga.
"Lucky?! Does he think Naruto is easy prey? You moron, you never underestimate an Uzumaki! If he goes into this fight with that kind of arrogance, Naruto will wipe the floor with him. Kiba, wake up! Don't wag your tail in excitement, bare your fangs with caution!"
And with that, most of the readers flipped swiftly toward the next chapter, whose pages held the events of the coming confrontation.
Every last reader held their breath, waiting for the first strike of this battle, a battle whose outcome most of them had already predicted before it even began.
The protagonist of the story cannot lose. Isn't that obvious?
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 172: Uzumaki Naruto VS Inuzuka Kiba!
Chapter 173: No One Ever Tried to See the Real Naruto!
Chapter 174: The Main House and the Branch House!?
Chapter 175: A Future Beginning to Change…
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