Trap-making was, of course, part of the curriculum at the Ninja Academy. Whether it was simple traps requiring minimal setup or complex ones needing extended preparation, the theory, implementation, and even the psychological mindset of an ambusher were all covered. With the ongoing war and the abundance of talented shinobi, the development of trap techniques had advanced rapidly. Even Shikamaru, who hailed from an age of information explosion, found little in this world's war knowledge that could be taken lightly.
Naturally, textbook knowledge was rigid. When crafting real traps, some improvisation was allowed, but the core principles still stemmed from the techniques learned at the Academy. As for so-called flashes of inspiration or clever gimmicks, unless one had never received formal training, overconfidence in one's "brilliant" ideas could create fatal flaws that were easily noticed by the enemy.
In every hidden village, trap knowledge was a foundational subject in the Academy. The only real difference was whether students had taken the subject seriously. For Chūnin-level shinobi or above—those qualified to lead teams—ordinary traps, unless reinforced with unique clan techniques or secret arts, were unlikely to go unnoticed. Thus, the true value of traps lay in their timing and quantity. After all, a ninja's energy was not infinite—they couldn't always be on high alert for traps, especially before or after intense combat.
Shikamaru chose his timing carefully—right after Asuma had just set off.
A Genin in name only, Shikamaru had separated from his team from the very beginning, planning to ambush a Jōnin on his own. It was a decision requiring not only courage but tactical insight. Asuma likely never expected Shikamaru to be so bold as to abandon his qualifications from the start and challenge a Jōnin head-on. A moment of carelessness could lead to Asuma suffering a few setbacks—but to actually defeat him? Even Shikamaru didn't believe that.
Trap-making was tedious. Fortunately, Shikamaru had always been attentive and diligent during his Academy years, so his technique was fairly proficient. Traps couldn't just be placed haphazardly or scattered randomly. After laying the first one, Shikamaru had to anticipate how the enemy might react upon discovering it, predicting potential escape or fallback points—each of which also needed to be trapped. Many of these might end up being useless, but they still had to be carefully prepared, requiring both patience and effort.
Some traps could only be triggered manually by the user. These were much harder to detect but required sharp battlefield awareness to activate at just the right moment. Shikamaru didn't rely much on these—he wasn't arrogant enough to think he could perfectly time such actions against a Jōnin.
With limited time, Shikamaru built the traps as quickly as possible. When he finally finished one full set, he was already panting, sweat on his brow. He retreated to a predetermined hiding spot—under a massive fallen tree with a deep pit below it. The space was hidden yet spacious enough for him to retreat at any moment.
Crouching in the shadows, Shikamaru steadied his breath and cleared his mind.
The Nara Clan's shadow techniques were a cornerstone of Konoha's strength—but also a deeply ingrained shackle. Nara Shikaku had earned distinguished achievements, yet his name was only truly recognized as part of the "Ino-Shika-Chō" trio. To become Hokage, one had to stand on their own. Beyond his clan's techniques, Shikamaru lacked the massive chakra reserves of someone like Naruto or the powerful kekkei genkai of the Uchiha. To become strong, he had to carve out a unique path.
Although chakra was formed from physical and mental energy, granting shinobi far more vitality than regular humans, they were still flesh and blood—made of cells and proteins. With the exception of Hidan, no shinobi in the original series was truly immortal. Kakuzu's five hearts simply gave him five lives. Sasori's core was no different from a regular person's heart or brain.
Thus, assassination techniques rooted in stealth and precision were best suited for Shikamaru. As for Hidan, Shikamaru only had some vague theories about his immortality; testing them would require capturing him and running experiments.
Hidan's trump cards were his immortality and the Jashin ritual—but once those cards were revealed, their value diminished. Shikamaru was always bothered by how many characters in the original series openly displayed their best techniques, giving their enemies information. Between evenly matched opponents, a surprise jutsu could tip the balance. Unless one had overwhelming strength or ensured that no witnesses survived, revealing trump cards was a foolish move.
A faint noise drifted from afar. Years of constant training had given Shikamaru extraordinary hearing—better than even most Jōnin, unless they had specialized in it or used chakra to enhance their senses. Even though Asuma had lightened his steps, it didn't escape Shikamaru's detection.
He calmed his nerves, listened intently to Asuma's footsteps, then silently pulled a kunai from his pouch and placed it on a taut steel wire. After a few seconds, he sliced the wire and bolted away without hesitation.
Asuma had just landed on a tree branch when a hailstorm of kunai and shuriken rained down from above.
Looking up in surprise at the sudden trap, Asuma gave a small chuckle. He swiftly formed hand signs, and with a puff of smoke, the target was revealed to be a wooden log riddled with weapons—a textbook Body Replacement Technique.
At the same moment, Shikamaru, sprinting toward a small dirt mound, threw a kunai embedded with an explosive tag toward the shadows where he'd previously hidden. He didn't need to look—he knew Asuma had already traced the trap's origin.
He rolled behind the dirt mound just as a thunderous explosion tore through his former hiding place. The blast sent a barrage of kunai and shuriken flying in all directions. Several embedded themselves into the dirt mound shielding Shikamaru. That short dash had drained him. He clutched his chest, trying to regulate his breathing.
Then came a muffled sound beneath his feet. Startled, Shikamaru quickly formed hand signs. Years of training paid off in that critical instant.
"Clone Jutsu!" he shouted.
With a puff of smoke, four clones, along with the real Shikamaru, scattered. These were basic clones, not Shadow Clones—they had no substance or shadows. Though the dense forest light made it hard to distinguish, any careful observer could tell the difference. Shikamaru guided the clones through shaded areas, hoping to buy time and confuse Asuma.
Just as they split, the ground beneath burst open—Asuma leaped out from the earth.
"Wind Style!" Asuma knelt and scanned the area, instantly locking onto the real Shikamaru. His hands moved swiftly, forming signs. He inhaled deeply and unleashed a high-pressure wind bullet. It struck Shikamaru mid-jump just as he was about to land on a tree branch.
The precision and timing stunned Shikamaru. But just as the wind bullet hit, Shikamaru smirked—and the hill Asuma stood on exploded into flames.
The howling wind deafened Shikamaru. Slammed by the force, he crashed into a large tree.
Boom!His frail body collided with the trunk. The boy's vision darkened as a tall figure loomed over him. Asuma's wind technique faded. Shikamaru managed to raise his arms just in time to block a punch, but the force still numbed his limbs. With no time to gather chakra, he was sent plummeting to the ground.
As he fell, Shikamaru twisted his body—head down, feet up—to make it harder for Asuma to stop him from weaving signs.
This was the perfect moment.
"Shadow Possession Jutsu!"
Utilizing the surrounding forest's shadows, Shikamaru's shadow stretched swiftly. The gap between them was small now. His shadow connected with the one beneath Asuma, and—Asuma didn't disperse into smoke.
It was the real body! Shikamaru was thrilled. He knew he couldn't hold Asuma for long—the chakra difference was immense—but it meant all his efforts hadn't been wasted.
Then he landed.
But the ground didn't feel solid.
———
It was unclear how long he'd been unconscious. When Shikamaru opened his eyes, he sat up quickly, surveying the scattered ninja tools and spotting his forehead protector hanging on a nearby branch.
"The gap is... really that wide, huh…" he muttered.
His Shadow Possession had succeeded, but at the moment of landing, the ground softened and began to spin. Shikamaru sank halfway into the earth, caught by Asuma's jutsu—just like how Sasuke had once been trapped in the original series.
Asuma had then used a genjutsu on him. Shikamaru didn't remember what happened after that. Judging by the scene, Asuma had thoroughly searched him—he even found the fake cigarette hidden in Shikamaru's forehead protector.
But this minor setback did nothing to dampen Shikamaru's resolve. He quickly stood, retrieved his scattered tools, reoriented himself, and with renewed determination, rushed back toward Konoha.
The test wasn't over yet—he hadn't lost!
———
Shikamaru's decision to stay behind and set an ambush had genuinely surprised Asuma. Unaware of Shikamaru's exceptional hearing, Asuma was mildly impressed by the boy's keen perception and quick thinking during battle. While it forced Asuma to use two more jutsu than expected, he still dispatched Shikamaru in minutes.
The Shadow Clone destroyed by the dirt mound explosion was a cautious test after Asuma had detected the ambush. Compared to Asuma's experience and reflexes, Shikamaru—despite having the soul of an adult—had yet to face a real life-or-death battle in either world.