The Guy with Zero Motivation!!

Shikamaru tucks himself away among a cluster of trees, keeping clear of Temari. From the stands Ino shouts at him to wrap things up in a hurry, though Chōji is sure his friend will dig up an excuse to bow out instead. Temari grows steadily more irritated that her rival keeps to cover rather than engaging her head-on.

When Shikamaru reaches out with his shadow to snare her, she slips clear and works out that its reach only stretches so far. She also puts together that his position among the trees lets him borrow their shade to lengthen that reach. Realising his shadows will only multiply as daylight shifts, Temari resolves to finish quickly. Shikamaru, after turning the match's variables over in his head, settles on a plan, evades her assaults, and makes another grab for her, but once again she keeps herself just beyond his range.

Shikamaru fights defensively from the trees, using their shadows to extend his shadow technique. Temari deduces the limited range of his jutsu and the reason for his hiding spot. Understanding time favors Shikamaru's growing shadows, she pushes to end the bout swiftly.

Shikamaru devises a strategy and attempts to capture Temari again, but she once more stays outside his reach.

This chapter is part of the Chūnin Exams arc and was collected in volume 12. Viz Media titled it The Boy with No Fighting Spirit!! The results of the second Naruto Character Popularity Poll accompanied its release, and it ran in the combined issue 6-7 of 2002.