Chapter 248: Qualifying Stage


    *


    The second stage of the exam went on as usual, and after only a few days, finally began toe to an end. All this time, Shikamaru spent at his base, sometimes receiving information from the bracelets of Ino and Sakura. That day, before he left, he found Kabuto and watched him for a bit, then disappeared. After that, he was no longer interested in anything, and only on thest day did he appear to hand over the scrolls to the Third. Of course, all this is just a convention, there was no special use in the scrolls at all.


    With that out of the way, Shikamaru sat down on the couch next to Anko and nced at the pair of surprised Chūnin. Then Hiruzen looked at them and sent them away from the observation room with a nod. Only three remained, Anko was silent, only asionally throwing a thoughtful nce at Shikamaru, like the Third. The guy was watching TV with a smirk and watching recordings from the Forest of Death.


    "What''s wrong with Orochimaru?" Hiruzen asked while smoking his pipe.


    - Who knows, - the guy shrugged his shoulders: - If he retreats, let him go. Come back, I''ll figure it out.


    "That''s it," the Hokage nodded calmly, not asking any more questions.


    - What does it mean? the girl was surprised.


    - What are you talking about? Shikamaru asked and took a close look at Anko''s gorgeous body.


    She immediately noticed his lustful look and frowned a little:


    "All this, why are you talking about it so calmly?


    "Because there is nothing wrong with it. Whatever Orochimaru nned, he just didn''t have the strength to implement it. Sasuke will stay with me, and you... - ncing at the girl with a smirk, Shikamaru shrugged his shoulders.


    - We''ll talk to you again. In any case, I removed the Seal of Heaven, now you have nothing to do with it. Don''t worry about the rest - it''s just nonsense, do whatever you want.


    Standing up under Anko''s puzzled gaze, Shikamaru lightly touched her face and smiled.


    "Your skills are good, if it''s not this worthless Seal you need, I''ll give you mine." With it, you will be much stronger. Well, that''s another story." Turning around, Shikamaru nodded to the Hokage and left the room.


    Anko''s cheeks turned slightly red, and then she grinned strangely and said:


    This guy... He''s so weird.


    Standing at the window, the old man exhaled smoke and let out a chuckle:


    "You don''t even know how much.


    What did he mean about His Seal?


    "Who knows," Hiruzen shook his head, "Even I don''t know what he''s thinking or nning." If you want to know something, go to his tower.


    "B-tower..." Anko asked in surprise, "Is that the thing on the Hokage rock?"


    The Hokage just nodded briefly and started to leave.


    "Okay, it''s time to start the selection, get ready.


    *


    A couple of hourster, many genin gathered in the great hall of the Academy. Hiruzen made his speech, and then Hayate appeared and announced the preliminary tests. Then everything smoothly turned to duels between genin in order to determine the strongest candidates for the third stage.


    Shikamaru stood among the crowd of genin and scanned his surroundings with a slight smirk. Winking at an embarrassed Temari, he did the same to Anko, to which he received only a yful grin. It contained a lot, including something filled with excitement... It seemed like she didn''t mind ying at all.


    "Yeah... I wonder who my opponent will be..." Shikamaru muttered thoughtfully, looking at the people around him.


    "He''s clearly out of luck," remarked Sasuke, who was standing nearby, Sakura nodded as well, moving closer to Shikamaru.


    "Why not just go straight to the third stage…"


    Surprisingly, Hayate heard her - starting to exin the rules and reasons for this qualifying stage.


    After a while, the long chatter ended and the moment of battles came. Kabuto expectedly gave up and retreated, while his tworades remained behind.


    Everything went ording to a predictable scenario, only Shikamaru identally felt the attention of this kid with sses. But, he did not react in any way, allowing him to move to the exit. He already knew everything he needed - as soon as he arrived at this ce, he immediately sensed Orochimaru''s chakra. even if he tried to hide it under a disguise. If he was here, it only meant that he was ready to move on. Decisively, even self-confidently. After such a loss to a thirteen-year-old genin, he still found the courage to fight on. Although, perhaps this is what made hime back. Yet his sharp eyes have touched Shikamaru more than ten times since this show began... If he wanted to continue ying, there was no one to stop him. For now.


    Yoroi Akado vs. Sasuke Uchiha - the first fight has begun.


    Shikamaru turned to watch his student with some interest. Unlike the situation where Sasuke couldn''t really go all out because of the Sky Seal that Orochimaru was supposed to ce, things are different now. The current Sasuke was at his best, he wouldn''t even need the power of the Ancestral Seal. It all happened...


    Yoroi attempted to grab the opponent and perform his chakra drain method. But Sasuke easily dodged and released a fireball at this guy. He did not even have time to react, as his scorched body flew from a dozen meters from the fiery wave. Hayate intervened in time and was able to save Yoroi. The Uchiha calmly shoved his hands into his pockets and walked towards his team with a victorious step. He didn''t even tense up. However, it is understandable, an opponent whopletely relies on his chakra absorption method without proper skills is just a stepping stone for a strong shinobi.


    Shikamaru nodded approvingly at the student, causing him to smirk proudly.


    "Eh, this guy... He''s so easy to please." Grinning, Shikamaru squatted down bored and closed his eyes. These children''s games did not particrly interest him. He didn''t mind watching a few special people fight, but their time hadn''te yet.


    Then there was the fight of Shino Aburame. Of course, it would be too shameful for someone from his n to lose to some pathetic shinobi from the Sound. Zaku quickly lost - Shikamaru did not even doubt that. Only a few ns in Konoha earned him a sense of respect, the bug masters being one of them. There are few people who are capable of resolutely agreeing to the method of breeding such small and sometimes terribly dangerous creatures in their bodies.


    Following Shino, Kankuro entered the battle, he managed to win even easier. The Leaf Guy might have had Modified Limbs, which is fine, but against a puppet it was useless.