Chapter 16: The Genius's Game
[Adam Yukimura POV]
Shikamaru Nara. The genius. The strategist. He'd already given me a unique death, but his mind, his shadow techniques, his overall laziness – there was more to "acquire." With my two deaths per person, and his previous death being from a minor shadow possession, I was ready to challenge the smartest man in Konoha. And perhaps, finally, get some decent strategic skills.
"Shikamaru! My favorite intellectual!" I called out, finding him playing shogi with Asuma-sensei, a cloud of smoke hanging over them. "Just the man I wanted to see! Your mind! It's truly a marvel! The way you strategize! It's like a supercomputer, but with more naps! Do you ever accidentally strategize yourself into a nap?"
Shikamaru sighed, not even bothering to open his eyes fully. "Troublesome. What do you want, Adam-san?"
"Oh, nothing much!" I chirped. "Just a friendly game of… strategy! You know, for training purposes! I'm a Special Jonin now, and I need to hone my strategic mind! And what better way to do that than by getting utterly outsmarted by a true master of tactics?"
Asuma chuckled, taking a drag from his cigarette. "He's got a point, Shikamaru. A little mental exercise never hurt anyone."
"It's a pain," Shikamaru mumbled, but he slowly opened his eyes. "Fine. What's your game?"
"Oh, I'm counting on it, Shikamaru-san!" I beamed. "Hit me with your best strategy! Literally! I'm hoping to learn a thing or two about… well, about getting outmaneuvered by a true genius!"
We set up a mock battle scenario in a training field. Shikamaru, despite his usual laziness, was a formidable opponent. He used his Shadow Possession Jutsu with incredible precision, anticipating my every move. I, of course, was strategically positioning myself for maximum impact, trying to force him to use his more advanced techniques.
My first target: his Shadow Strangle Jutsu. I saw him extend his shadow, felt it wrap around my neck. The sensation was suffocating, constricting, slowly cutting off my air supply. Darkness.
[ YOU HAVE BEEN KILLED BY: SHIKAMARU NARA (UNIQUE DEATH!) ][ SKILL ACQUIRED: BASIC SHADOW CLONE JUTSU (Active) - The ability to create a single, non-combat capable shadow clone for minor distractions or diversions. ][ DEATHS REMAINING (SHIKAMARU NARA): 0 ]
I gasped, sitting up, rubbing my neck. My body felt… duplicated. And surprisingly good at minor distractions. "Basic Shadow Clone Jutsu! Excellent! Now I can probably, maybe, perhaps, create a clone to do my chores! Or, you know, just subtly annoy Tsunade from two different directions! The possibilities are endless!"
Shikamaru stared at me, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You… you just… came back. From a Shadow Strangle."
"It's a gift, Shikamaru-san!" I chirped. "Now, about your genius mind! I've always wondered, what does it feel like to always be ten steps ahead? Is it like a constant headache from overthinking? Or more like a profound sense of boredom because everything is too easy?"
Shikamaru, clearly bewildered, just sighed. "Troublesome." He then tried to trap me with a more complex shadow formation, combining his Shadow Possession with his Shadow Sewing. I, with practiced ease, "failed" to dodge, allowing myself to be impaled and constricted by multiple shadow tendrils. The sensation was sharp, piercing, and utterly immobilizing.
[ YOU HAVE BEEN KILLED BY: SHIKAMARU NARA (UNIQUE DEATH!) ][ SKILL ACQUIRED: BASIC STRATEGIC THINKING (Passive) - A minor improvement in your ability to analyze situations and formulate basic plans. ][ DEATHS REMAINING (SHIKAMARU NARA): 0 ]
I sat up, pulling the shadow tendrils out of my body (which, of course, instantly healed). My mind felt… clearer. More organized. "Basic Strategic Thinking! Oh, this is fantastic! Now I can probably, maybe, perhaps, plan my pranks with even more precision! Or, you know, just subtly outsmart people in board games! The possibilities are endless!"
Shikamaru, utterly exhausted and bewildered, just slumped onto the ground. "I… I don't understand you, Adam-san. You're… you're just a walking contradiction. A strategic nightmare."
"It's a gift, Shikamaru-san!" I beamed. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some new skills to merge!"
I returned to my apartment, eager to experiment with my new acquisitions. "Basic Shadow Clone Jutsu" and "Basic Strategic Thinking." This was going to be an interesting combination.
"System, merge 'Basic Shadow Clone Jutsu' and 'Basic Strategic Thinking'!"
[ MERGE SUCCESSFUL! ][ NEW SKILL ACQUIRED: TACTICAL DUPLICATION (Active) - The ability to create a single, short-lived shadow clone that can perform simple, pre-programmed actions or serve as a decoy, enhancing strategic options. ]
"Tactical Duplication! Oh, this is fantastic! Now I can probably, maybe, perhaps, send a clone to annoy Tsunade while I annoy her from another direction! Or, you know, just subtly confuse my enemies with multiple me's! The possibilities are endless!"
My unique death count was steadily climbing.
[ CURRENT UNIQUE DEATHS: 48 ]
Life as a Special Jonin was a constant stream of opportunities for self-improvement through self-destruction. And with "Tactical Duplication," I was practically a walking, talking, strategic, duplicating prankster. Unless, of course, I wanted to be. Which, let's be honest, I always did.
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