VI

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Arc VI Chapter 6

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Asami pulled out two shuriken and attacked. The shuriken left her hand and lightning covered them. She would gift Shikamaru like his father two nice scars.

Taken by surprise, Skimaru dodged. Asami aimed for his head.

Shikamaru bent backwards and evaded the incoming shuriken. His athleticism saved him from an unpleasant experience. The shuriken struck the wall and cut through the stone like butter.

Shikamaru gulped. Her beloved shuriken were sharp, and they were fast. He should better avoid them. Her shuriken caused some nasty wounds.

Shikamaru survived the first attack and jumped up.” Nice try. Next time ... Shit!”

He jumped right into her next salvo and paid the price.

Shikamaru rolled sidewards and escaped the worst. Three shuriken missed their mark, but the fourth shuriken grazed his shoulder. The spikes slit open his vest and the flesh below.

Shikamaru gritted his teeth. A cauterized cut running across his shoulder. He got lucky, the wound didn't go deep.

Perhaps he shouldn’t have baited her. Luring her into the range of his shadows didn’t work. Asami didn’t bite his bait. Instead, he pissed her off.

Shikamaru clicked his tongue. This was going to be a complicated match. Stupid Asami and her stupid shuriken. They were really getting on his nerves.

”Shikamaru-kun, I am not finished yet.” Asami's lips formed a smile. Her hands presented six additional shuriken. More little toys to play with.

“I have enough shuriken to spare. We can continue with our target practice.”

Shikamaru glimpsed sidewards. The trees. They were close. He had to get out of here. Hiding was the best option.

Shikamaru ducked and dodged another friendly shuriken.

Asami spun a shuriken around her index finger. Playing with people was so much fun. “Are we trying to hide? Not a good idea.”

Shikamru clicked his tongue and hid his annoyance. Asami knew, but how?

Asami giggled. “Shikamaru-kun, you are way easier to read than you think. Your unsteady breathing, your tensed up muscles, your erratic eye movements, your twitching fingers, they betray you.”

Asami tilted her head. “Do you perhaps feel nervous?”

Shikamaru frowned and resorted to his smoke bombs. Asami didn’t disappoint, the girl was still as annoying as back then at the academy, if not worse. The years treated her kindly. How annoying.

Shikamru threw his smoke bombs. It was time for a tactical retreat. Facing the princess on open ground was suicidal.

Concealed by his smoke screen, Shikamaru ran, but a polished kunai intercepted him and blocked his way. The kunai missed him miserably, but not so the attached explosive tag. He was within the blast radius. Dammit.

Shikamaru accelerated and left his protective smoke screen, only to be greeted by a burning sensation cutting through his legs.

The pain cut deep and made Shikamru trip. Unable to move, he crashed onto the dusty ground.

A single shuriken was stuck into the wall. Electric sparks danced across the surface and blood dripped from the spikes. The little thing nearly amputated him.

Adrenaline shot through his veins and Shikamru endured the pain.

How the fuck did she locate him. Her two attacks were perfectly timed Asami knew his position despite the smoke.

Asami grinned in a sense of pure schadenfreude. “Be careful where you go, Shikamaru. The world of ninja is a dangerous place.”

Her tender heart enjoyed his suffering. Shikamaru was a naughty little boy, and he deserved some punishment.

Asami confronted Shikamaru. Her small figure approached his broken body. Her black eyes looked down on him.

Asami leaned down and smiled. Her black hair blocked the sun. “Shikamaru, do you remember your words?“

”Didn’t you say you wouldn’t lose to a girl? And now you lie here in the dust.”

”Do you still think you can win? Or do you recognise the hopelessness of your situation?”

Asami waited for an answer. She waited, and waited, and waited, but Shikamaru refused to respond.

Asami knelt down and offered him her hand. A smile accompanied her.“Do you need help, Shikamaru? We don't need to fight anymore. It's time to end this match. ”

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