Konoha: Unable to learn ninjutsu, they had to develop their own.

"Kakashi-sensei is probably after the bells or something. Let's not get into those fancy stuff. I'm only a year older than you, so we're practically the same age, right?"

Chiba smiled and glanced at the three of them.

Shikamaru had clearly sensed something was wrong, but Choji and Ino were oblivious, with the latter appearing distracted.

He smiled and said, "Asuma-senpai entrusted me with the exam, so I'll be frank: your task is simple—defeat me."

"Senior, this isn't fair!"

Shikamaru's expression changed drastically.

Defeat you?

This is an impossible task!

"Fairness? Do you think the enemy will talk to you about fairness?"

Chapter 111 You're making arrangements, am I dead? [K]

Chapter 111 You're setting things up, am I dead? [4K]

Chapter 111 You're setting things up, am I dead? [4K]

"Wait? Senior Chiba, do you mean we have to defeat you today to be considered qualified?"

Seeing Shikamaru's agitated attitude, Ino gradually realized that something was wrong.

"Yes."

"What if it doesn't meet the standards?"

Ino cautiously peeked out and asked.

Chiba smiled brightly and said gently, "That depends on your teacher, Sarutobi Asuma. I'm just taking the exam for someone else, so generally I'll just go back to the Ninja Academy."

"Go back to Ninja School?"

Ino and Choji both widened their eyes.

"You might not meet me again next year. With the abilities of your family background, you can definitely become qualified ninjas."

This is so that he can die in peace.

Chiba's words were like knives stabbing into Ino's heart.

Then, he took out the hourglass.

Shikamaru already understood.

Chiba is helping him.

"Yes!"

If Chiba is very strong, then finding his weakness is their only chance.

He mustered his courage and asked, "Come on, what exactly do you want to test?"

Although I'm very annoyed, I have to admit that Shikamaru is better at using his brain.

Choji put away his snacks and looked at Shikamaru.

Chiba smiled as he held the hourglass.

"Ok?"

Obviously unlikely.

Shikamaru remained silent.

Shikamaru's mind raced, and he asked, "What kind of weakness is it?"

Shikamaru was the first to state the fatal truth—

Chiba looked at him like he was an idiot.

Shikamaru continued, "So the test this time is very simple: find the weakness, and then hit the weakness."

Shikamaru was confused, but he listened quietly nonetheless.

They could never be a match for Chiba.

The last sentence, the first half of which inspired Ino's fighting spirit, and the second half of which precisely inspired Choji's fighting spirit as well.

Chiba said with a smile.

"I have a fatal weakness. If you can find and hit that weakness in battle, you can defeat me directly."

The issue is.

"Intelligence is a crucial part of ninja operations. Do you think the enemy will obediently hand over intelligence to you?"

Will Chiba-senpai give me this opportunity directly?

"You have one minute to discuss."

"Actually, it's not a big deal. It's just that I'm a year younger than my peers, so I have to call them seniors when we meet. And then I'll be under their control for another year and won't be able to eat freely."

"Let's skip it this year."

It's a really simple question.

This is the fundamental premise.

Chiba placed his hand on his waist and took out an hourglass. "How about this, to make it more interesting, I'll set a condition."

"Nothing much, just a battle, nothing fancy."

Chiba stood by with a smile on his face, but did not interrupt Shikamaru.

"Let's not consider the possibility of defeating them directly. If we could win directly, Asuma-sensei wouldn't have entrusted Chiba-senpai with this task."

Find the weakness, then hit the weakness; as long as they fulfill this condition, they win.

Shikamaru sighed inwardly.

Ino hesitated for a moment, then looked at Shikamaru as well.

He realized...

"The hourglass is up. If you haven't found my weakness and hit it by now, you'd better go back to the Ninja Academy and train for another year."

Their mission is...

Even Ino could see through it at a glance, but the simpler it is, the fewer factors "wisdom" can influence.

Shikamaru was well aware of this fact.

He took a deep breath and said, "I have another question: are your weaknesses easy to find? If we can't find information from the battle, then we simply can't find them."

"I will give you plenty of hints, but whether you can figure it out is up to you."

Chiba said calmly, then reminded them at the opportune moment, "You have ten seconds left."

"Ino, Choji, do you remember the collaboration between our fathers?"

Shikamaru looked at the other two.

Choji and Ino nodded.

Regardless of any private opinions, the cooperation between the three races—Pig, Deer, and Butterfly—will not change; there is no need for rehearsals.

not to mention.

Chiba had stirred things up before, and now Ino and Choji are full of fighting spirit.

Shikamaru quietly changed his position.

Chiba casually flipped the hourglass over.

"Start now!"

As soon as the words fell——

A shadow streaked along the shadows of the bushes toward Chiba.

but.

The next moment, Chiba's figure had turned into countless floating shadows.

Doppelgänger?

"careful!"

Shikamaru's pupils contracted.

It wasn't a clone, but rather an afterimage created by its excessive speed.

He just finished speaking.

Chiba appeared beside Ino.

His original target was Ino, but Choji blocked it with his hands using the Multi-Size Technique.

Bang!

As their fists collided, Choji was thrown back and sent flying by an explosive burst of chakra.

Shikamaru's shadow followed closely behind.

but.

swoosh~

A steel wire "cut" through the bushes above, creating a gap.

As the sunlight streamed down, the shadows were instantly dispelled, making the dark shadows stand out prominently.

Ino tried to escape, but...

boom!

She was hit directly and kicked away.

"On the battlefield, any position is good as long as you can survive."