I Just Wanted to Slack Off, But I Was Forced to Become Hokage

Chapter 19: The Dawn of an S-Rank Mission!

"Balance exists in all things."

Nara Keisuke disposed of the chakra paper in his hand and fell into deep thought.

"Does this mean that in the future, I am destined to leave the 'Order of Shadow' and return to the 'Kinkou Order'?"

After making a joke that only he could understand, Nara Keisuke's mood gradually calmed down.

The results of the chakra paper test were unexpectedly good. A ninja's chakra nature is innate. Being born with four affinities meant Nara Keisuke's aptitude in this area far surpassed the vast majority of ninja in the world.

Even though the Nara clan's inherited [Shadow Secret Techniques] were versatile and integrated both offense and control, no one could deny the respective advantages of the five great elemental releases: Water, Fire, Wind, Earth, and Lightning.

However...

Nara Keisuke called up the "Lazy System" and scrolled up to the line of information that gave him no peace.

[Detected to be afflicted with [Six Paths Sage Art: Jutsu of Karmic Self-Bondage]!]

"This is most likely a Six Paths-level Sage Art cast by the Sage of Six Paths himself."

Nara Keisuke stared fixedly at the text on the virtual panel, his expression silent and grave.

"What exactly is its meaning and function?"

Since discovering this message, Nara Keisuke had once believed he was an "illegal transmigrator whose account was banned by the underworld administrator." But his subsequent experiences had slowly caused him to negate this guess. The main point was that, aside from this message, the [Six Paths Sage Art: Jutsu of Karmic Self-Bondage] had shown no presence at all from beginning to end.

"My chakra affinities are so special. Could it be caused by this Six Paths Sage Art? That doesn't seem quite right either..."

With a thought, Nara Keisuke dismissed the virtual panel in front of him. "If it were a Six Paths Sage Art, I should be balanced in all five elements: Water, Fire, Wind, Earth, and Lightning! Plus Yin and Yang, seven affinities! So, are these four balanced affinities of Water, Fire, Wind, and Earth really just natural?"

Nara Keisuke hesitated for a while before finally giving up on his wild thoughts. Even if his four balanced affinities were indeed caused by the [Six Paths Sage Art: Jutsu of Karmic Self-Bondage], he currently had no way or ability to do anything about it.

When faced with a super-level, behind-the-scenes BOSS like the Sage of Six Paths, Nara Keisuke, who had not even left the "starter village," could only choose to lie flat and let it be.

The fighting is already over. Damn it!

"One day, there will be no enemies before us!"

Nara Keisuke took out a Military Ration Pill and tossed it into his mouth.

"Lazy System, add points!"

[Stamina +10]

"It's super effective!"

A single "golden elixir" swallowed, and I finally know my destiny is not decided by heaven.

In the afternoon.

Carrying the newly compiled [Lacquer Eye] technique scroll, a fully satisfied Nara Keisuke departed from Konoha Village, heading for Kikyo Castle.

With the aid of the newly acquired D-rank [Body Flicker Technique], his return journey was shortened by an unknown number of times. For the first time, he personally experienced the powerful mobility of a ninja. Although most ninja wouldn't use a method as luxurious as the [Body Flicker Technique] for travel unless it was a special situation, who could blame Nara Keisuke when he had already replenished his chakra reserves in advance?

After discovering that a single Military Ration Pill could provide 10 points of [Stamina], Nara Keisuke had decisively engaged in the "pill-popping enhancement method" to the maximum limit his body could withstand.

He had to admit, the Military Ration Pills produced by Manten-dō were indeed very filling. After most of the day had passed, Nara Keisuke had only consumed three pills, barely raising his [Precision] from D- to D rank. His chakra was so full it felt like it was about to overflow!

'E-rank stat values range from 1 to 10, and D-rank is from 11 to 100.'

'Based on this calculation, by the day after tomorrow at the latest, I can raise my [Stamina] stat to C-rank, which is Chunin level.'

Nara Keisuke had considered the consequences of doubling his [Stamina] stat in such a short period. But the "Lazy System"'s description for the [Stamina] stat was, more accurately, "life force and cellular activity." This was different from the "chakra amount" that most sensory ninja could see at a glance. The improvement in the [Stamina] stat was very hidden and subtle.

Unless a medical ninja conducted an in-depth examination, who could possibly observe the leap in Nara Keisuke's life force and cellular activity with the naked eye?

'One Military Ration Pill, 10 points of [Stamina]. One hundred pills would be 1000 points.'

After arriving in Kikyo Castle, Nara Keisuke first headed home.

'In about a month, I can get [Stamina] to catch up with [Wisdom] and reach B-rank!'

The numerical threshold for a B-rank stat was precisely 1000 points. Breaking through this number wasn't difficult for Nara Keisuke. The real difficulty lay beyond that. If the threshold for an A-rank stat was as high as ten thousand points, even if Nara Keisuke popped three pills a day, it would still take him nearly a year to raise [Stamina] to A-rank.

'Actually, once my own knowledge of medicine improves, I can also develop higher-quality Military Ration Pills myself.'

'Right, and I need to continue exploring other ways to increase the [Stamina] stat.'

Back at home, Nara Shūsuke was at his research lab, so only Nara Keiko was there.

"Keisuke, why are you back again?"

Hearing this familiar tone full of disdain, Nara Keisuke pressed his lips together.

"I came back to deliver the [Lacquer Eye] technique scroll to Clan Head Shikano—"

Seeing Nara Keiko get up on her own accord, intending to go to the kitchen to cook, Nara Keisuke spoke up to interrupt her. "You don't need to prepare food. I'm not hungry right now."

"Saves me the trouble." Nara Keiko leisurely sat back down on the sofa. "Oh right, didn't you say before that you were submitting the scroll in three days? Given your personality, I thought you'd push that back by another few days."

Everyone in the Nara clan is a lazy bum, who doesn't know that? (Proudly)

"Some unexpected changes occurred," Nara Keisuke said, glossing over the topic.

The reason he had compiled the [Lacquer Eye] scroll so quickly was twofold. First, he had experienced a real battle against an Uchiha that morning, which increased his experience using the [Lacquer Eye]. Second, he had discovered a clear path to improving his strength, so he was no longer as carefree and content to just get by as before.

One of the tenets of energy-conservationism: if you have to do something, get it over with quickly. Nara Keisuke was practicing his ninja way!

"I came back because there are two things I need to report."

Nara Keisuke cut straight to the point, his decisive and efficient manner leaving Nara Keiko momentarily stunned.

"The first matter is about Shūsuke's research... we can talk about that tonight after he gets back from the lab. The second matter is more important. It's intelligence I just heard this morning from the Hokage's office—"

"If it's truly important intelligence, you don't need to tell me." Nara Keiko interrupted him, looking at her boy with a sense of gratification. "A ninja must be responsible for the intelligence they possess. Keisuke, you seem to have grown up quite a bit... I feel more at ease letting you live alone."

Hearing Nara Keiko's words, which were in such stark contrast to her usual tone, Nara Keisuke nearly glared at her in exasperation. But after so many years, he had gotten used to it.

"It is indeed very serious intelligence," Nara Keisuke said, taking a deep breath. "But the secrecy level isn't high. It seems the higher-ups intentionally let the news out... anyway, when I was on my way back, many people in the village were already discussing it. The Third Kazekage of Sunagakure has disappeared."

"The 'Third Kazekage'? Who's that?"

"The Third Kazekage! The leader of Sunagakure..."

"Pfft!" Nara Keiko suddenly burst out laughing. "Sorry, I just thought of something happy... Anyway, thank you for cheering me up, Keisuke."

Nara Keisuke was very confused by her reaction. "What?"

"The Third Kazekage, you mean the one with the blue hair, wears a white robe, and with a wave of his hand, a whole bunch of iron sand falls like a torrential downpour?" Nara Keiko waved her hand, showing the normal reaction of most ninja from other countries upon hearing such an absurd piece of intelligence. "How could a ninja that powerful suddenly disappear?"

Speaking of which, Nara Keiko couldn't help but point to her right leg. "If he were really that weak, how could my leg have ended up like this?"

Nara Keisuke didn't know the specific reason for Nara Keiko's retirement, only that during the Second Great Ninja War, the meridian system in her right leg was severely injured, forcing her to retire. But hearing this now...

Nara Keisuke looked Nara Keiko up and down. Dressed in home clothes, she looked no different from an ordinary housewife. He was filled with awe. "Keiko-san, you once fought the Third Kazekage?"

Nara Keiko really wanted to nod and say yes, but her honesty... okay, it was actually her skill level that couldn't support such an exaggerated lie.

"Not exactly." Nara Keiko turned her face away and said in a small voice, "I was just caught in the blast of the Third Kazekage's ninjutsu back then. I couldn't escape his attack range..."

"...Anyway, the Third Kazekage has been missing for a long time. He might already be dead in some corner of the Land of Wind," Nara Keisuke said, letting out a breath, his face stern. "If nothing unexpected happens, war is really coming soon!"

After bidding farewell to Nara Keiko, Nara Keisuke took the scroll and hurried toward the clan head's house.

Nara Shikano was born at the end of the Warring States Period and could be said to have grown up alongside Konoha. In addition to being the head of the Nara clan, Nara Shikano also served as the squad leader of Konoha's Jonin.

Just as Nara Keisuke arrived at the clan head's house, Nara Shikano appeared at almost the same time, just behind him.

"Keisuke? What are you doing here?"

"Clan Head." Nara Keisuke looked at the man who seemed like an "elderly version of Nara Shikaku" and took the scroll out from his ninja tool pouch.

"The [Lacquer Eye] technique. It's finished."

"Really?" Nara Shikano was stunned, his travel-worn face full of surprise. "You can't be joking... You should know what these eyes mean to our clan. For you, this was like an S-rank mission."

A thought flickered in Nara Keisuke's mind.

S-rank... commissioned mission?

(End of Chapter)