"The opportunity exists, but whether you seize it depends entirely on yourselves..."
The words had barely left his lips when his mind raced. With measured steps, Naruto, his arm around Hinata's shoulders, closed the short distance and came to a perfect stop before Chōji and Shikamaru. As he gathered already-filtered Chakra into the palm of his free hand, he leaned slightly forward, extending his hand slowly toward Chōji's shoulder, who was in a semi-conscious state.
"Chōji... is going to be eliminated?! No—!"
The sudden revelation dragged Shikamaru's consciousness back to the cold, harsh reality. As Naruto's fingers, radiating a familiar sense of comfort and reassurance, drew closer, Shikamaru jolted awake as if from a dream, letting out a startled cry. He shifted his body, maneuvering Chōji's limp form slightly to the side, causing Naruto's outstretched hand to miss its mark.
"No! This can't happen!"
"...Huh?"
Naruto's subconscious, driven by a sense of certainty, suddenly found his grasp empty. He stumbled, nearly falling to the ground. His lips twitched slightly as his instinctive displeasure shifted his gaze from Chōji to Shikamaru, the "culprit" who had nearly humiliated him.
"Shikamaru, what's the meaning of this? You can't possibly think that a single Soldier Pill you saved earlier will restore enough of Chōji's severely depleted stamina to finish this round of the exam, can you? Or do you believe my healing would harm him?"
Under Naruto's visibly displeased gaze, Shikamaru felt a prickling sensation on his back, as if thorns were pressing against his skin. Realizing how easily his actions could be misinterpreted, he immediately wanted to slap himself for yet another "death wish" moment.
"Uh, no, no, no, of course not! I... I mean..."
His heart felt like a mute swallowing bitter medicine, unable to voice his true intentions. Shikamaru frantically waved his hands, signaling Naruto to calm down, while desperately racking his brain for a plausible explanation. After a long, awkward silence, he gritted his teeth as if steeling himself, and finally spoke again without hesitation.
"You said it yourself earlier, Ino chased after me because I started the argument. She got so angry she wouldn't let up, and we both ended up exhausting ourselves and collapsing!"
Naruto listened patiently, processing Shikamaru's words and understanding his underlying meaning. He quickly realized Shikamaru was trying to take the blame, attempting to shoulder the elimination penalty for his two teammates. A hidden smile of approval deepened in Naruto's eyes as he looked at Shikamaru.
But this was a team-based exam. While Naruto already considered Shikamaru's performance qualified enough for admission, he couldn't overlook the fact that the others had merely stood by, hoping to reap the benefits of Shikamaru's efforts without contributing themselves. No matter what Shikamaru said, Naruto, as the proctor, would never let them off so easily.
"Oh? This is getting interesting... Are you trying to say that the previous mistake was entirely your fault, and Ino had nothing to do with it?"
Having made up his mind, Naruto suppressed the amusement in his eyes. He subtly adjusted his facial muscles to convey mild curiosity, maintaining a neutral tone as he continued casually, "But what does this have to do with Chōji?"
Seeing Naruto's expression soften, Shikamaru, unaware that he had already passed the exam, felt a mix of relief and anxiety. He was relieved that his plan to act as a scapegoat for Ino and Chōji, securing their continued participation in the exam, seemed plausible. Yet he was also anxious, knowing this would guarantee his own elimination. When he returned home, his poor backside would likely suffer a severe "bamboo shoot stir-fry" punishment from his mother.
"Well, if Ino and Chōji can just stick close to Naruto and keep moving forward, and if they try a little harder and avoid any more mistakes... they should be able to pass the exam, right? Considering the circumstances, trading one for two doesn't seem like such a bad deal after all."
But Shikamaru quickly shook his head, banishing the complex thoughts from his mind. He chuckled wryly to himself, finding dark humor in the situation, while carefully organizing his thoughts into coherent sentences. Then, with utmost caution, he began to explain and defend his actions.
"No, no, no! This definitely matters! Chōji ended up like this because I provoked Ino, causing her to chase after me. In her panic, she completely overlooked Chōji's physical limitations!"
"The reason he caught up so quickly must be because he fell so far behind. Worried about holding us back, he pushed himself beyond his limits, which led to his current state of exhaustion and immobility!"
"In other words, whether it's Ino or Chōji... the reason their stamina is draining far faster than planned is all my fault! If I hadn't blurted out that remark, none of these unexpected problems would have occurred! Huff... huff... huff..."
"...To think that Shikamaru could serve as Naruto's right-hand man, offering strategic advice and even guiding the Seventh Hokage... This kid's intelligence is truly remarkable."
As Naruto listened to Shikamaru's rapid-fire, meticulously organized defense, and watched him panting heavily after delivering his explanation, a faint smile gradually crept across his lips. Beneath his impassive facade, a hint of admiration flickered in his eyes, and he knew instantly... this entire theory had been hastily cobbled together during the brief, unintentional window of downtime Shikamaru had been afforded when Naruto had focused his reprimand solely on Ino.
Although his words still contained a semblance of sophistry, forcibly claiming responsibility for himself, considering the time he had and his young age, it was undeniably an impressive feat.
"...Are you finished? Is that all you wanted to say?"
Even after Shikamaru finished speaking, Naruto deliberately paused, pretending to digest the meaning. But the scene he had hoped for never materialized, leaving him slightly disappointed. His response to the question was noticeably listless.
"...Yeah, I'm done."
"Ah, what a shame. Maybe I was too hasty... Never mind. You're all still so young."
Whether he regretted Shikamaru's decision or felt dissatisfied with the outcome, Naruto shook his head slightly and sighed with genuine regret. He then consoled himself, reminding himself that the three were still young and could be gradually guided toward the right path through continued efforts at school. With an air of premature weariness, he waved his hand dismissively, paused briefly, and continued.
"Alright, it's my turn to speak now. I've decided that Deer..."
"Wait!"
Unfortunately, fate seemed determined to play a cruel joke on Naruto. Before he could reveal the true "punishment" he had already decided for the trio, a slightly nervous, trembling young girl's voice cut through the air from behind him, abruptly interrupting his words once again.
Yet Naruto showed no sign of annoyance or anger at this untimely interruption. Instead, as if realizing something, the regretful, frustrated look in his eyes vanished completely.
"Oh? It's you..."
As he slowly turned his head, Naruto's voice unconsciously softened. A hint of anticipation flickered in his eyes as his tone shifted almost imperceptibly when addressing the owner of the voice.
"What... do you want to say this time, Ino?"