For several days in a row, Shikamaru relentlessly pestered Tsunade. He didn't care whether or not she agreed to take up the position of Hokage, his aim was simply to irritate her. Meanwhile, he casually built rapport with Shizune and spent passionate nights with Uzuki Yugao, showing no urgency to return to Konoha.
"Enough! If you don't get lost, kid, don't blame me for not holding back!"
At last, Tsunade's patience snapped, and she shouted in fury.
Boom!
With one punch, she shattered the table into splinters, glaring daggers at Shikamaru.
"Heh, calm down, Tsunade-senpai. Don't be angry. How about we make a bet? If you win, I'll leave immediately. If I win, you come back to Konoha with me. What do you say?"
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, his calm smile unfazed by her display of strength. Internally, though, he marveled. Seeing Tsunade's legendary strength in person was far more intimidating than watching it in the anime.
"What kind of bet?" Tsunade asked without hesitation.
"I challenge you to a duel. If I win, you agree to return to Konoha. What you do about becoming Hokage is your decision. All I care about is that you come back."
"And if I win?"
"Then I'll leave right away and won't bother you again."
"Oh? So confident, aren't you, kid?"
Tsunade arched a brow, skeptical. Though she knew Shikamaru had defeated Orochimaru, she wasn't overly impressed. After all, Orochimaru had been severely weakened, his hands disabled and exhausted from previous battles.
"That's my concern. The question is, do you dare to take the bet?"
Shikamaru's confidence remained unshaken.
"One condition: let's do this now!"
Tsunade was always quick to agree to a gamble.
⚔──────────────
In an open field atop a hill, Shikamaru and Tsunade faced each other. Shizune and Uzuki Yugao stood at the sidelines, watching intently as the duel was about to begin.
"Shadow Eye, Activate."
With a thought, Shikamaru closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them, his Shadow Eye had awakened. Facing one of the Sannin, he couldn't afford to be careless.
"Tsunade-senpai, watch out!"
He called out a warning before rapidly forming hand seals.
"Shadow Ninjutsu: Multi-Shadow Shuriken Technique!"
Shikamaru flung a torrent of shadowy shurikens, which filled the sky and hurtled toward Tsunade.
"Hmph."
Though surprised by the advanced technique, Tsunade scoffed. With a mighty punch, she unleashed a wave of force that deflected the incoming shurikens.
"Shadow Ninjutsu: Shadow Shuriken Mimicry Technique!"
Shikamaru's hands moved swiftly through another set of seals. The fallen shurikens morphed into shadowy tendrils, snaking toward Tsunade's shadow.
"Annoying jutsu!"
Tsunade cursed under her breath. Slamming her fist into the ground, she created a massive fissure that swallowed the approaching shadows. She then dashed toward Shikamaru, determined to seize the offensive.
"Shadow Ninjutsu: Shadow Trap!"
A pulse emanated from Shikamaru, forming a five-meter-wide shadow barrier. Before Tsunade could react, she stepped into the trap.
"Shadow Imitation Technique!"
"No way…"
Tsunade gasped, caught off guard by Shikamaru's rapid hand seals. Her shadow was captured before she could escape.
"Shadow Strangle Technique!"
Without missing a beat, Shikamaru cast another jutsu, tightening his shadow around Tsunade. He doubted a mere Shadow Imitation could hold someone of her caliber.
"Ah!"
Feeling phantom hands crawling across her body, Tsunade yelped. Fury ignited within her as she realized the audacity of Shikamaru's jutsu. Enraged, she unleashed a burst of chakra, breaking free from the shadows and charging at Shikamaru.
"Shadow Imitation Technique!"
Shikamaru's attempt to re-capture her failed as Tsunade's overwhelming strength shattered his hold. She forced him to retreat as her punch cratered the ground where he once stood.
"My god, that strength is insane!"
Shikamaru leaped back, dodging her strike by a hair's breadth.
"Shadow Ninjutsu: Shadow Tai Chi!"
As he landed, a dark field of energy formed around him, radiating shadow energy.
Tsunade scoffed at the black domain surrounding Shikamaru, assuming it was another variant of his earlier technique. Channeling her chakra, she charged in.
Each of Tsunade's powerful strikes was subtly redirected by Shikamaru's Tai Chi-like movements, leaving the ground around him a pockmarked mess but failing to touch him.
"Tsunade-senpai, you might as well give up. If this keeps up, you'll lose from exhaustion." Shikamaru called out.
"Is that so?"
Tsunade smirked knowingly. Slamming her foot into the ground, she created a fissure that disrupted Shikamaru's footing. As his domain dissipated, she took the opportunity to close in.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Poof!
Two shadow clones appeared at Shikamaru's side.
"You're not the only one with tricks!"
Tsunade lunged, her fists meeting the clones in rapid succession. After a heated exchange of blows, she managed to land a direct punch on Shikamaru's abdomen, only to realize too late it was a substitution.
"Shadow Imitation Technique!"
The real Shikamaru caught her shadow from behind, binding her in place.
"Shadow Strangle Technique!"
Three shadowy hands emerged, gripping Tsunade. Though she struggled mightily, the combined strength of Shikamaru's technique was too much to overcome.
"Give up, Tsunade-senpai." Shikamaru said, his usual calm demeanor tinged with triumph.
"Not in your life!"
Tsunade roared, her fighting spirit unbroken even in defeat.
⚔────
A/N: You can read up to Chapter 68 (30+ chapters ahead of the current one) on my Patreon: patreon.com/vynthor