Shadow of Nara [102]

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes, observing Neji Hyuga carefully. His body sank slightly as he tensed up, muscles primed for movement, while his mind raced to evaluate their respective strengths and weaknesses.

There was no question: Shikamaru was at a disadvantage.

His strengths lay in taijutsu and ninjutsu. The taijutsu he'd learned from Asuma Sarutobi—"Flying Monkey Fang Style"—focused on swift footwork and unpredictable movement. The goal was to keep the opponent within a circle of attacks, slipping out of their line of sight and striking from multiple directions. Enemies caught in this assault struggled to keep up, often wasting energy trying to follow Shikamaru's pace. If they spun around too much, disorientation was inevitable.

But that tactic was useless against someone with the Byakugan.

Neji's near-360-degree field of vision meant he didn't need to track Shikamaru's movements with his body or eyes. His unique perception let him follow any attack with ease, neutralizing one of Shikamaru's key advantages.

As for ninjutsu, the Nara Clan's shadow techniques were incredibly versatile but not ideal for direct confrontations. They were slow-moving and easily spotted, which was why Shikamaru often relied on environmental trickery or teamwork to land them—creating distractions to sneak his shadow in from unexpected angles.

But in a one-on-one match like this, there were no teammates to support him, and Neji's Byakugan would easily detect any chakra-based tricks, even subtle shadow manipulations. Combined with his vast visual range, Neji effectively nullified Shikamaru's signature jutsu.

Simply put, a bloodline like the Byakugan gave Neji a massive advantage. His innate abilities countered Shikamaru's tactics almost perfectly.

All this analysis ran through Shikamaru's head in a matter of moments, right after their initial exchange. He'd already concluded that while their taijutsu skills were evenly matched, he lacked a definitive edge. Even though his broader ninjutsu repertoire should've given him an advantage, in truth, aside from his clan techniques, he didn't know that many jutsu.

Up in the stands, Asuma Sarutobi—who knew Shikamaru's abilities inside and out—was watching with a furrowed brow. Unlike some of the other jonin who were enjoying the high-level clash, Asuma was quietly concerned.

"Neji's Byakugan almost completely counters Shikamaru's skill set," Asuma muttered under his breath, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Even taijutsu won't give him a clear upper hand. And using the Rasengan in this match… it's pointless."

Asuma's eyes shifted from the battlefield to Gaara, seated in the stands nearby.

Earlier, Rock Lee's intense fight with Gaara had shocked everyone. Despite having a modest reputation before the exams, Lee had revealed astonishing strength. But it was Gaara's performance that had left the greatest impression—his impenetrable sand shield and sand armor forming a nearly absolute defense. The jonin were already beginning to view him as a serious threat.

With a full month between the preliminaries and the final rounds, the time could be used to analyze enemy abilities and prepare strategies. If Shikamaru ended up facing Gaara in the finals, the Rasengan might be his ace to break through Gaara's defenses. Using it now would only tip his hand and waste precious chakra—especially if it failed to hit Neji in the first place.

After all, the Rasengan wasn't a guaranteed win. It packed incredible power, yes, but landing a clean hit was another matter. The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, used it with deadly precision because of his Flying Thunder God technique—giving opponents no time to dodge. Naruto, in contrast, struggled to land it due to lack of speed and control. If Shikamaru couldn't pin Neji down, the Rasengan would be wasted.

Asuma could only hope his student wouldn't act recklessly.

"Something wrong?" Neji's voice cut through Shikamaru's thoughts, laced with smug amusement. "You're hesitating, aren't you?"

"I did some research before this exam," Neji continued. "Your family's shadow techniques? They're completely countered by my Byakugan. And that little clash we had? Proved you're no match for me in close combat either."

He raised his hand, thumb pointing toward his own chest as he sneered. "They might call you a genius, but in front of these eyes... you're just a stepping stone."

Neji's stance shifted subtly, his body coiling low like a spring ready to snap.

"These eyes are a gift from birth. Running into me… is fate's way of mocking you!"

With that, he launched himself forward in a blur of motion. His expression was cold and confident, lips curled into a smirk.

Neji's analysis wasn't wrong. The Nara Clan's techniques were well-known within Konoha. A talented shinobi like him would naturally gather intel on his biggest threats before the exams. That brief exchange earlier had given him everything he needed: Shikamaru's movement style, reflexes, and limitations. Now, with no reason to hold back, he moved in to end things with the Hyūga Clan's signature Gentle Fist.

His plan was clear—strike quickly, overwhelm Shikamaru with speed, and finish the match before he had time to pull off one of his elaborate plans.

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