Boruto: Naruto next Generation Movie

chapter four

Chapter four: From within Darkness The third exam had all the fuss of a festival.
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Besides the obvious attendants of the genin-participants families, the spectator seats were crammed to the brim with influential people from the villages, the Daimyou, ninja guards, samurai, and the heads of large corporations. Stands popped up here and there, as well as pedlars selling beer, as well as various stands selling the speciality foods of each village.

It had already become a huge deal. Of course, it went without being said that within those spectators, Boruto's father, mother, and little sister were seated in a special seating as well. The third exam was a traditional tournament with one-on-one matches. There were 12 cadets left.

From Konohagakure village: Boruto, Sarada, Mitsuki, Shikadai, Inojin, and Chouchou.

From Sunagakure: Araya, Yodo, and Shinki.

From Kumogakure: Yurui, Toroi, and Tarui. Boruto's opponent in the first round was Kumogakure's Yurui.

He was a guy who was hard to read, but he had a terrible suppressive power within hisjutsu that turned his bubblegum into bombs. However, Boruto overcame him. His plan to mix the shuriken technique he'd learned from Sasuke along with the skill he'd learnt from Konohamaru bore fruit. But his opponent for the second round, Shikadai, was definitely a guy above that level. "Yo."

"Ou." Boruto's tone was light as they greeted each other, but Shikadai's ability was the real deal. Even Yodo, the kunoichi who'd been rumoured to be 'Sunagakure's Hope' had been easily defeated when faced with Shikadai's analytical skills.

I'm can't lose...

His father, and mother, and little sister were all watching. It didn't matter that victories didn't count, or that his judgement was being quizzed.

'Don't lose to Shikadai.' his dad had said. Men didn't break their promises. That was the difference between himself and his shitty dad. Both Shikadai and Boruto were fully aware of the scope of the others abilities. They moved carefully, keeping a distance between them. Running randomly from place to place wouldn't help your score. There was more to this than your fighting style being assessed. You couldn't make any unseemly movements.

Shikadai's shadow stretched out. Boruto knew what this was. The Nara Clan's hiden 'Kageshibari'. He'd seen it in action countless times, and even had a cartridge with the jutsu in it. Boruto avoided the shadow, and simultaneously made a hand seal to create Kagebunshin. He made four of them.

"I?"

Boruto saw that for just one instant, Shikadai's face stiffened. They were friends who always played games together. He could read his expressions at least that much. This was Boruto's maximum number of Kagebunshin which he'd used in the second round, but Shikadai hadn't watched that fight. On all the missions up until now, Shikadai had only seen Boruto use two Kage Bunshins.

I'm sure he can stretch out his shadow and catch two of me, but the remaining three will knock him out and it'll be my victory!

"Just as I'd expect from you, Boruto." Shikadai commented, and grinned widely His shadow expanded.

"This is....?!" Shikadai's 'shadow' expanded into a circular shape, dyeing the arena's field black. It caught every single one of the five Boruto's, and immobilised them.

"What do you think, Naruto?" Shikamaru was smiling proudly. "Us two generations, parent and child, devoted our efforts to studying this." He said, "Scattering a 'shadow' that's no more than an optical phenomenon - it took a lot of trouble to pull off. Well, it's something can only exist thanks to Temari working with us though."