Despite his bold declaration, Shikamaru knew that Temari wasn't an ordinary opponent.
He had realized this during the preliminary rounds.
In her match, Temari, a Wind Style specialist, had overwhelmed Tenten with a commanding performance, leaving a deep impression on him.
Unfortunately, Shikamaru's Shadow Imitation Technique had too many limitations.
If his opponent were a taijutsu-type ninja, it wouldn't be as much of a problem. But against someone capable of long-range jutsu, the battle became significantly more complicated.
"Troublesome... So troublesome!" Shikamaru clicked his tongue in frustration and began formulating a plan.
With his genius-level intellect and IQ of 200, Shikamaru preferred outsmarting opponents over engaging in direct confrontations.
Even his squad leader, Asuma Sarutobi, had described him as a "strategist-type" ninja.
After some deliberation, Shikamaru launched his Shadow Imitation Technique against Temari.
This was the Nara clan's signature move, which could completely immobilize anyone caught in its grasp.
Temari was well aware of its danger and skillfully evaded each attack with caution.
What she didn't expect was that Shikamaru was using her evasive maneuvers against her.
With repeated attacks, he lured her into a pre-designed trap and successfully immobilized her using the Shadow Imitation Technique.
Victory seemed inevitable!
However, just when everyone thought Shikamaru would decisively defeat Temari, he did something completely unexpected—
He raised his hand and forfeited.
His explanation was that his chakra was nearly depleted after continuous use of the Shadow Imitation Technique, leaving him insufficient reserves to secure victory.
But the real reason? He simply found it too troublesome to continue.
"I've done my part. Showed my capabilities. I don't need to fight a woman, nor do I want to get beaten by one. Giving up here works just fine."
And so, Shikamaru, despite demonstrating remarkable strategy, forfeited the match.
His friends were disheartened, but the observing Konoha ninjas saw things differently.
"A lack of combat enthusiasm aside, his calmness under pressure is an essential trait for a Chūnin."
"By squad leader standards, he's more focused on protecting his team than just completing a mission."
"Accomplishing the mission is meaningless if the whole squad is lost. A team leader must prioritize survival, or they aren't fit to be a Chūnin."
"Considering this, Shikamaru might actually be a better candidate than either Neji or Naruto."
Amid the discussions, Shikamaru exited the arena.
Meanwhile, Sasuke was still absent.
At the Fourth Kazekage's insistence, Hiruzen Sarutobi extended the wait time by another ten minutes.
As time ticked away and the wait approached its limit, Genma Shiranui prepared to make an announcement.
"The final match has exceeded the waiting period, so—"
Before he could finish, leaves began to swirl and scatter around him.
A gust of wind rose.
Moments later, a whirlwind appeared, and as the leaves settled, Kakashi and Sasuke emerged before Genma.
The crowd in the stands erupted in astonishment.
Kakashi seemed entirely unbothered by the commotion, scratching his head with a lazy smile.
"Ah, sorry we're late!"
Genma raised an eyebrow and turned to Sasuke.
"What's your name?"
Sasuke lifted his head confidently and declared, word by word:
"Uchiha... Sasuke!"
The crowd, which had been waiting in eager anticipation, erupted in cheers at the sound of his name.
Excitement surged throughout the arena.
Amid the roar of the crowd, Gaara descended from the stands.
His aura was thick with murderous intent. Along the way, he casually killed two Grass ninja who blocked his path, shocking both Shikamaru and Naruto as they passed by.
These actions didn't escape the keen observation of Shigeo Aburame.
Hidden camera bugs scattered around the arena transmitted all the information to him.
However, he had no intention of collecting the bodies of the Grass ninja. His focus was entirely on the Fourth Kazekage—or rather, Orochimaru in disguise.
From Kankurō's earlier forfeit, Shigeo had confirmed that the Kazekage was indeed Orochimaru in disguise.
This meant that the *Konoha Crush Plan* had entered its final phase!
"First, I'll ensure the Third Hokage's safety. After driving Orochimaru and the Sand ninja out, I'll deal with Koharu and the rest of those fools later!"
Having made up his mind, Shigeo couldn't help but smile faintly.
Noticing his expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled.
"Heh, Shigeo seems to be in a good mood. Are you perhaps looking forward to Sasuke and Gaara's fight?"
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Shigeo adjusted his sunglasses with a slight push.
"One is the son of the Uchiha clan leader, and the other is the son of the Fourth Kazekage. I genuinely anticipate this battle."
"Oh?"
Hiruzen turned to the disguised Orochimaru in surprise.
"Gaara is your son? No wonder you insisted on delaying the match. You must want to see how he fares against Sasuke. Hahaha..."
"Indeed. Forgive my indulgence, Lord Hokage," Orochimaru replied with a nod, narrowing his eyes at Shigeo.
"Knowing even such small details about the Sand Village... Konoha's security forces are truly impressive."
"Hahaha, you flatter us!" Hiruzen laughed heartily.
As they exchanged words, Gaara entered the arena, his eyes filled with killing intent as he stared down Sasuke.
At Genma's signal, the match began.
Sand poured from Gaara's gourd, swirling protectively around him.
Sasuke made the first move, hurling two shuriken at Gaara.
*Thunk! Thunk!*
The shuriken were blocked by Gaara's sand, which then transformed into a sand clone to counterattack.
The probing phase concluded as Sasuke rushed toward Gaara, and the two engaged in fierce combat.
The fight quickly escalated.
To counter Sasuke's relentless taijutsu, Gaara used *Sand Shield*, forming a spherical defense of sand with no openings.
The high-density sand not only blocked attacks but also retaliated with spikes, making it both defensive and offensive.
To break through, Sasuke unleashed the Lightning Style technique he had learned from Kakashi—*Chidori*.
If Sand Shield was an ultimate defense, then Chidori was pure offense, characterized by its speed, precision, and devastating power.
With a burst of crackling lightning, Sasuke shattered the Sand Shield in one strike, severely injuring Gaara within.
The breathtaking exchange captivated the entire audience.
Except for Shigeo Aburame.
Though he appeared focused on the match, his eyes behind the sunglasses were locked on Orochimaru in disguise.
Under Shigeo's watchful gaze, Orochimaru slowly turned, meeting his stare.
Their gazes locked, and then Orochimaru's narrowed.
"Move!"