Naruto: I am Nara Shikamaru

"Ah…"

Rock Lee roared out, "Eight Gates Opening, next is Gate of Healing… then the Gate of Life… now the Gate of Pain…"

With each gate he opened, an overwhelming surge of chakra burst forth from Lee's body. Everyone watching was stunned. Kakashi, who had returned, even activated his Sharingan, and Neji's eyes widened in disbelief. He hadn't expected Lee, someone he'd never thought a serious rival, to possess such formidable power!

Boom! 

Lee's blood-red eyes flared as he violently broke free from Shikamaru's hold, turning into a blazing red shadow that launched straight at Shikamaru. The crowd's vision blurred as Lee disappeared in an instant, and Shikamaru was blasted into the air!

Thud! 

Shikamaru immediately transformed into a wooden stake. His form reappeared on the other side, but before he could react, Lee's assault struck again, once more it was a substitution jutsu!

What? The crowd gasped in awe. Two substitution jutsus in less than half a second? What kind of terrifying speed was that!?

"Ah… Asuma, is Shikamaru really this strong?" Kurenai asked beside Asuma, still amazed. Lee opening four gates was shocking enough, she was sure no one in their group could match him, but Shikamaru's counter was even more surprising.

"Uh…" Asuma, who had been distracted by smoke, barely responded. "This… it's the first time I've seen anything like this…"

"Hmph, is this kid hiding something? I wonder what his stance is toward the village?" The Third Hokage watched Shikamaru thoughtfully as he stood still.

"Heh heh… Shikamaru, huh? Things are getting interesting…" Orochimaru licked his lips quietly from the shadows.

"So? Want to keep going, Lee? This state of yours can't last long, can it?" Shikamaru smiled at the equally surprised Lee, secretly pleased to see their stunned expressions. This was the result of six years of hard training, mastery of the Triple Body Technique and lightning-fast substitution jutsus!

"Phew… Shikamaru, I admit you're strong, but I won't give up unless I'm down for good!" Lee stared fiercely and instantly took an offensive stance again.

"Alright!" Shikamaru admired Lee's never-say-die spirit inwardly. "Then Lee, watch out, I'm going all out!"

He shifted immediately into a defensive posture.

"What's that?" Neji's eyes widened as Shikamaru formed a Tai Chi stance. "Soft Fist? But Shikamaru doesn't use Byakugan!"

Many others were confused too, curious about what Shikamaru was up to and eager for his next move.

"Hmph, this isn't Soft Fist!" Shikamaru muttered. "Shadow Jutsu, Shadow Tai Chi!"

A low hum arose as a two-meter diameter Tai Chi symbol in shadowy black energy formed beneath Shikamaru's feet, pulsing with his chakra.

Shikamaru didn't know much Tai Chi, just the basics of controlling and redirecting force, but he'd devised this Shadow Tai Chi technique based on those principles. It wasn't taijutsu but a jutsu manipulating shadow energy for offense and defense.

"Alright! Here I come!" Lee vanished in a flash and reappeared right in front of Shikamaru. The crowd blinked, and suddenly Shikamaru's slow yet swift pull and push of shadow energy sent Lee flying back ten meters, shocked.

"Slowing down the opponent's speed…" Kakashi murmured, eyes sharp behind the Sharingan. Lee's speed dropped dramatically inside Shikamaru's two-meter Shadow Tai Chi range, allowing the shadow energy to manipulate and push him away.

"So many new jutsus… Is Shikamaru really only twelve? Looks like we need to give Shikaku a talking-to…" the Third Hokage muttered.

"Ah, " Not thinking too much, Lee realized his body was about to give out. He unleashed a furious assault, vanishing and reappearing only to be pushed back repeatedly by Shikamaru's shadow energy.

The crowd watched as Lee's attacks came like a storm, but Shikamaru stood firm like an unmovable rock amid a raging torrent.

Thud! Finally, Lee exhausted his last ounce of strength and collapsed unconscious. Shikamaru won!

"Shadow Tai Chi, Release!" Shikamaru dispelled the technique, utterly draining it. His chakra nearly spent, he sat against the wall to recover.

Next came Gaara versus Kin from the Sound Village. Gaara ruthlessly crushed Kin, who died in battle.

Tosu defeated the last remaining Mist ninja.

With that, ten competitors advanced to the exams one month later: from Konoha, Sasuke, Naruto, Shino, Neji, and Shikamaru; from the Sand Village, Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro; and from the Sound: Dosu.

The next day at home, Shikamaru's father, Shikaku, suddenly smiled and said, "Boy, the Hokage wants to see you…"

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A/N: If you're enjoying the story, you can read up to Chapter 45 (28+ chapters ahead of the current one) on my Patreon: patreon.com/vynthor