Sacred Gear Shadow Light

Omake: "Kurama Unleashed: The Shinobi Solution"

Shikamaru, ever the strategist, rubbed the back of his neck with exaggerated nonchalance. His sharp eyes glinted mischievously as he began to pace slowly in front of Aethra, gesturing toward Kurama like a salesman pitching the latest revolutionary gadget.

"So, here's the deal," he said, his tone taking on an overly dramatic air of enthusiasm. "What you're looking at is not just your average interdimensional problem solver. No, no, no—this is Shinju Kurama, the ultimate one-stop solution for all your chaos-stabilizing needs."

Kurama tilted his massive head, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly as his tails flicked behind him. "I'm not sure I like where this is going…"

Shikamaru ignored the comment, his voice picking up momentum. "Imagine this: your world's falling apart, machines are invading, dimensional ripples everywhere—total mess. You could waste time with all kinds of inefficient cleanup crews, or…" He gestured dramatically to Kurama. "You could deploy this big guy right here. Press one metaphorical button, and bam! Problem solved."

Naruto arched a brow, the corners of his mouth twitching as he fought to maintain a straight face. Red, lounging in the background, was already grinning, his massive clawed hand covering his mouth in a poor attempt to hide his amusement.

"Let me break it down for you," Shikamaru continued, now in full pitchman mode. "He's got immeasurable chakra reserves, masterful destruction and regeneration capabilities, and enough presence to make even the most arrogant machines think twice. And best of all, he's incredibly user-friendly! Just point him at the problem, say something mildly motivating like 'Go fix it,' and sit back while he does all the hard work."

Kurama's tails lashed behind him, his expression a mix of exasperation and begrudging amusement. "You're really selling me like I'm some kind of glorified nuke for hire."

Shikamaru smirked, unfazed. "That's because you are, big guy. You're the ultimate weapon in this situation—overkill incarnate. Why handle a bird poop problem with a tissue when you can just vaporize the tree with a perfectly calibrated nuke?" He turned back to Aethra, folding his hands behind his head as he added with a mockingly casual tone, "Completely efficient and guaranteed to leave an impression."

Red's deep, rumbling laughter finally broke through his attempts at composure, shaking the space around them as he clapped his claws together. "I have to say, Shika, you're really selling it. 'Nuke for hire'—that's one for the ages."

Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose, his shoulders shaking slightly as he struggled to suppress his own laughter. "Shikamaru… you're impossible," he said, his voice muffled.

Aethra, however, was caught between disbelief and a reluctant smile. Her silver eyes darted between Kurama and Shikamaru, a mixture of incredulity and newfound appreciation flickering in her expression. Even Astrid, typically focused and composed, was silent for a moment as if recalculating whether Shikamaru's pitch was serious or just an elaborate jest.

Finally, Kurama sighed dramatically, his crimson eyes rolling. "Fine. Let's get this over with before he decides to start putting me on billboards."

Shikamaru grinned triumphantly. "See? Even the product agrees it's the best solution."

Naruto and Red burst into open laughter, their voices filling the space as the tension broke. Aethra couldn't help but smile, despite herself, shaking her head slightly at the absurdity of the moment.

"Fine," Aethra said, her voice carrying a faint note of amusement beneath the seriousness. "If this… solution… is what you're proposing, I'll accept it. But I'll hold you to that guarantee of effectiveness."

Shikamaru gave her a mock salute. "Don't worry. Satisfaction's guaranteed—or Kurama eats the problem. Literally."

Kurama growled low, though there was no heat in it. "Keep talking, genius, and I might decide to start with you."

Shikamaru just smirked, his confidence unshaken. "All part of the package."

The End