Upon entering the Sound Village, Shikamaru immediately mimicked Naruto by creating a swarm of shadow clones, unleashing a brutal assault on the village's ninjas.
As his clones joined Naruto and the others in the melee, Shikamaru, guided by his extraordinary sensory abilities, pushed deeper into the village. It wasn't long before someone appeared in the hallway before him, a figure whose face turned pale at the sight of Shikamaru.
"Long time no see, Kabuto-senpai!" Shikamaru remarked mockingly, his tone laced with sarcasm.
Kabuto chuckled bitterly, his eyes darting nervously. "Indeed, it has been a while, Shikamaru." He hadn't expected the chaos in the village to be Shikamaru's doing, even though Orochimaru had sent him to investigate.
"Is Orochimaru here?" Shikamaru's voice was calm, but his sharp gaze betrayed his intent.
Kabuto hesitated briefly. "Oh? So you've come specifically for Orochimaru, then?" He tried to maintain his composure, but his fleeting expression did not escape Shikamaru's notice.
Shikamaru sneered. "I see. So Orochimaru is indeed here. Good. I planned to annihilate this village anyway."
Kabuto's pupils contracted as Shikamaru vanished, reappearing instantly before him.
"Shadow Ninja Art: Dark Shadow Chidori!"
With a resounding impact, Shikamaru struck Kabuto's midsection, only for his body to collapse into mud.
"A mud clone, huh?" Shikamaru muttered, unimpressed. Without waiting to locate Kabuto's true position, he bit his thumb, swiftly forming hand seals.
"Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!"
With a puff of white smoke, Tutu appeared before him, a luminescent stag radiating light.
"Tutu, amplify my shadow with strong light!" Shikamaru commanded.
"Got it, Shikamaru!" Tutu responded promptly, moving behind Shikamaru. The deer's glowing antlers emitted an intense light, stretching Shikamaru's shadow to envelop the entire corridor.
"Shadow Ninja Art: Shadow Possession Jutsu!"
Shikamaru's shadow snaked out, capturing Kabuto's. With a smirk, he activated another technique.
"Shadow Ninja Art: Shadow Stripping Jutsu!"
The augmented shadow recoiled swiftly, tearing away Kabuto's shadow with incredible force. Kabuto, hidden in the shadows, paled as the implications struck him, he knew all too well the consequences of losing his shadow.
"Ah!" Kabuto's scream was cut short as a blinding light engulfed him. His body went limp, and silence followed.
"Orochimaru!"
The anguished cry from Kabuto reached Orochimaru's ears deep within the Sound Village. His slit pupils narrowed in shock. "Kabuto... defeated so swiftly? Could it be the Akatsuki?"
Fearing retaliation from his former organization, Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with apprehension.
Suddenly, a bestial roar echoed from the village's center. Shikamaru recognized the sinister chakra signature immediately. "Naruto's gone berserk again."
When he arrived, he found Naruto in his three-tailed form, battling Sasuke in his Level 2 Curse Mark state. To Shikamaru's surprise, another figure, Kin, was helping restrain Naruto.
Shikamaru observed Kin, noting her unique combat style. Each of her strikes sent ripples through the air, pushing Naruto back without a discernible form.
"That's... an air release kekkei genkai." Tayuya, standing nearby, explained. "She can manipulate air for offense and defense. It's how she came back stronger."
"Interesting. A powerful ability." Shikamaru mused, though he lamented its incompatibility with his shadow techniques.
As Naruto lunged again, Kin, her chakra nearly depleted, desperately formed an air barrier.
"Am I going to die again…?" Kin thought bitterly.
Both Sasuke and Shikamaru surged forward to save her, Sasuke out of gratitude for Kin saving him earlier, and Shikamaru with calculated intent.
A fierce collision ensued. When the dust settled, Shikamaru held Kin's unconscious body. He handed her to Tayuya. "Take care of her."
"Thank you, Shikamaru." Tayuya whispered, her voice filled with gratitude.
Sasuke, seeing Shikamaru, snarled, his hatred evident. Ever since losing his shadow to Shikamaru, Sasuke had endured a life of torment and diminished worth under Orochimaru.
"How's life without a shadow treating you, Sasuke?" Shikamaru taunted.
"Give it back!" Sasuke roared, charging forward, only to be halted by Orochimaru.
As the battle between Shikamaru and Orochimaru escalated, Sasuke escaped, pursued by a desperate Naruto. Despite their efforts, Sasuke managed to flee, his Sharingan now showing powers Shikamaru hadn't anticipated.
Amid the chaos, Orochimaru seized Sakura as a hostage to ensure his escape.
"Let her go." Shikamaru demanded coldly.
Mocking him, Orochimaru threw Sakura toward Shikamaru with enough force to necessitate his intervention. Holding her tightly, he could only watch as Orochimaru disappeared into the night.
With the Sound Village destroyed and Kin secured, Shikamaru sighed. "At least we brought back Kin."
⚔────────
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