A black shadow instantly stretched out from beneath Nara Haruki's feet, slithering forward like a crouched black snake toward Aburame Aoi at incredible speed.
However, as if she had anticipated it, Aoi retreated the moment Haruki acted. She tapped the ground with her toes several times, flipped midair, and landed lightly, keeping her distance.
The black line extending from under Haruki's feet stopped about three meters in front of Aoi—like a rope pulled to its maximum limit.
"What is that?" Uchiha Obito widened his eyes in surprise, staring at the shadow-like line stretching from under Haruki's feet.
"That's the Nara clan's secret technique. They manipulate shadows," came a muffled voice behind Obito. Turning, he saw a chubby boy shoveling snacks into his mouth.
"Dongfeng, don't talk to the last-ranked kid!" scolded a girl with a ponytail as she pulled at the boy's collar.
"Okay, Xue," replied Akimichi Dongfeng as he pulled out another snack bag and expertly opened it.
"Who are you calling last?!" Obito fumed, wanting to lunge at her—only to be distracted by gasps from the crowd. His attention snapped back to the field.
"The Nara clan's Shadow Binding Technique. It lets them control a target's movements—but it's useless if you stay out of range," Yamanaka Yuki observed. Aoi had clearly studied Haruki's reach, staying just outside the effective distance.
As Aoi circled at a safe distance, she released her insects. Two black streams of bugs surged through the air like twin arrows, flanking Haruki.
The sight sent chills down many students' spines. Girls, including Yuki, stepped back instinctively. Even Haruki's classmates grimaced at the sight of the swarming insect fog.
"Haruki's been read like a book. That Aburame girl was prepared," Yuki frowned, watching Haruki dodge and maneuver, trying to close the gap.
"If he can't win, he should just give up. But Haruki's not the type to go down easily," Dongfeng said hesitantly, still chewing.
He was usually carefree, but having friends like Haruki and Yuki kept him grounded—and gave him confidence.
"Hmph! If it were me, I'd just use a Fireball Jutsu to roast those bugs!" Obito declared smugly, imagining himself defeating Aoi in a dramatic blaze and basking in Rin's admiration.
"He's a bit of an idiot," Yuki muttered to herself, stepping back again and pulling Dongfeng with her.
Suddenly, Haruki stumbled.
The insect swarm overtook him instantly, blanketing his body in a suffocating mass. His form was soon unrecognizable—entirely enveloped in writhing insects.
Girls screamed. Yuki and others shielded their eyes. Even the calmest students recoiled from the grotesque scene.
The proctors didn't move—yet. Everyone expected them to intervene, but none did. Not even their instructor Nokagi Shuto.
Aoi stood firm, confident and composed. She raised a hand. "Teacher, he's unable to continue."
Shuto approached his whistle.
Then—
"Shadow Imitation: Success."
Haruki's voice rang out from within the swarm.
Aoi's body froze.
The insects began falling from Haruki's body in clumps, some twitching midair before crashing to the ground, lifeless.
Everyone gasped as Haruki emerged from the swarm—his face and limbs reappearing beneath scattered insect carcasses. The shadow beneath him now extended under Aoi as well.
"How?!" Aoi could only move her eyes and mouth.
"You were thinking, 'I should be at a safe distance,' right?" Haruki said calmly, forming seals to release the mimicry.
"Did you… trick me?" Aoi asked.
"Yes. You clearly knew the Nara clan's shadow range and kept your distance. So I faked a stumble to lure your insects and let you close in."
"But… my parasites… How did you kill them?" Aoi asked, still stunned.
"A simple insecticide targeting their neural system and physiology. I coated myself in it before battle, then let myself be swarmed."
Haruki stepped closer. Aoi, controlled by the Shadow Imitation, mirrored him.
"Impossible," Aoi muttered. "Our clan's parasites are versatile, multifunctional. They can't be targeted so easily."
"That's true—if your enemy doesn't have samples," Haruki replied. "But if they do… it's not that hard to prepare."
A black shadow crept up Aoi's leg, transforming into a claw that gently gripped her throat.
"You should surrender. Or do you want the teacher to make that call?"
"I concede," Aoi replied without hesitation.
With her bugs neutralized and movement restricted, she had no path to victory.
"Winner of round one: Nara Haruki!" Nokagi Shuto declared.
Afterward, the two made their reconciliation gestures. Aoi, regaining movement, quietly walked to the insect remains and released more insects to devour the corpses.
"Well done, Haruki! Congratulations!" Yuki cheered as Haruki rejoined his friends. Dongfeng nodded and echoed her.
"I just made some preparations," Haruki replied modestly.
He had created a table cataloging everyone in class—traits, abilities, and counters. Aoi had been on that list.
"Can we talk, Nara-san?" A deep voice interrupted. It was Aoi.
"When did you get here?!" Yuki exclaimed. Her sensory abilities hadn't noticed him at all.
"Bugs. Insecticide," Aoi said quietly. "Where did you get specimens of my parasites?"
"Are you accusing me?" Haruki raised an eyebrow.
"No, just… investigating. I want to know where I slipped."
Aoi had realized it couldn't have been coincidence. He must have left a parasite behind at some point, which Haruki used.
He also assumed the Nara clan helped develop the insecticide. But it didn't matter. All he needed now was a single surviving parasite from the battlefield. With that, his colony could evolve an immunity.
The Aburame parasites could adapt rapidly—provided they had enough time, chakra, and food.