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

Chapter 20: An Incredibly Rich Reward!

"[Lacquer Eye]!"

The best way to shatter doubt is to place solid, powerful evidence on the table.

Gazing at Nara Keisuke's deep, lacquer-black eyes and the shadow tentacles writhing freely at his feet, the surprise on Nara Shikano's aged face was swept away, instantly replaced by immense joy and solemnity.

"Follow me to the quiet room!"

In the quiet room, before the tea table, Nara Keisuke and Nara Shikano sat opposite each other.

"Your eyes... forget it, conversing is too inefficient!" Nara Shikano had just sat down when he spoke with some impatience. "Right here, use your technique and attack me! Real combat is the only standard for testing a ninjutsu's effectiveness!"

Is there really such a good deal?

Nara Keisuke had been pondering how to guide the clan head into issuing an S-rank commissioned mission, but he hadn't expected the other party to offer a small gift first.

Hearing this, he looked up at the man opposite him. Shadows surged in the depths of his pupils as he activated his technique without any warning.

[Lacquer Eye]!

[Shadow Sewing Technique]!

Swish—

Despite there being no hand signs, two incomparably sharp shadow blades rose from behind Nara Keisuke, whistling as they tore through the air and slashed toward Nara Shikano.

'What? That level of casting speed?'

Noticing the shadow blades, which were moving with extraordinary speed, Nara Shikano's pupils contracted slightly. 'Has this boy Keisuke truly cultivated the family's secret techniques to such a degree?'

In that split second, Nara Shikano clasped his hands together, forming the "Bird" hand sign at top speed. An oval-shaped shadow shield erupted from beneath his seat, rising to block the shadow blades.

The Nara clan's secret technique, specializing in defense: [Shadow Shield Technique]!

Thump!

The shadow blades and the shadow shield collided in mid-air, letting out a short, dull sound as the air trembled slightly.

A prompt for a B-rank mission instantly popped up on Nara Keisuke's panel. A combat mission against the head of Konoha's Jonin squad!

[B-rank Ninja Combat Mission Detected!]

[B-rank Mission: Nara Clan Head]

[Mission Content: ...]

'Speed-run! Speed-run!'

Nara Keisuke didn't even wait for the panel to display all the mission information before issuing the command in his mind.

[You have speed-run [B-rank Mission: Nara Clan Head]!]

[You have obtained a C-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll]!]

At almost the exact same time, Nara Shikano's voice sounded out. "That's enough. Stop, Keisuke."

Having received his C-rank consolation prize at the speed of light, Nara Keisuke obligingly stopped casting the [Shadow Sewing Technique], keeping only the [Lacquer Eye] active.

"To be able to cast the B-rank difficulty [Shadow Sewing Technique] without any hand signs." Nara Shikano also dispelled his Shadow Shield Technique, pinching his small, graying goatee, the tips of his beard trembling slightly. "The charm of these eyes is truly breathtaking!"

For the Nara clan's [Shadow Secret Techniques], the lower-level ones like [Shadow Paralysis Jutsu] and [Shadow Gathering Jutsu] generally didn't require the aid of hand signs during casting. But when it came to advanced secret techniques, such as the more powerful and destructive [Shadow Sewing Technique], a certain hand sign was still needed to ensure the jutsu's stability. It wasn't much, just a single "Bird" sign.

But to be able to completely omit the "hand sign" step while simultaneously maintaining the stability of the technique's effect... No member of the Nara clan could refuse that!

Hand signs and the like were just too much trouble.

Having nearly twisted off several strands of his beard, Nara Shikano lowered his hand and looked at Nara Keisuke with a grave expression. "Keisuke, can these eyes truly and completely omit the hand sign step for the [Shadow Secret Techniques]?"

"In my tests, at the very least, it can omit the hand sign process for [Shadow Paralysis Jutsu], [Shadow Gathering Jutsu], and [Shadow Sewing Technique]." Nara Keisuke handed the [Lacquer Eye] technique scroll to the clan head. "At the same time, it can also prevent the extra drain on physical energy when casting the [Shadow Secret Techniques]."

This was definitely another huge surprise! Reducing the physical energy consumption of the [Shadow Secret Techniques] would allow Nara clan members to maintain more abundant physical energy during battle, which in turn would allow them to mold more conventional chakra. This point alone could enhance the overall comprehensive strength of the Nara clan by a significant margin!

However...

Nara Shikano gently stroked the surface of the [Lacquer Eye] scroll a few times. Despite being extremely excited, even euphoric, he did not open it right away.

"Keisuke, from the position of the Nara clan head, I should unhesitatingly take this technique scroll that would be of great benefit to the Nara clan, and use it to revitalize our glory."

Nara Shikano pushed the [Lacquer Eye] scroll back toward the younger man and said in a deep voice, "But from the perspective of an old man of the Nara clan in his fifties, this technique of yours is too good. So good that it has exceeded the limits of what the current Nara clan can accept."

The limits of the deer clan?

Nara Keisuke frowned. He looked at the [Lacquer Eye] scroll, then back at Nara Shikano. "But Clan Head, you gave me so much help during the development process of the [Lacquer Eye]. Now is the time to take back this 'reward' that belongs to you, and to the family."

If the [Lacquer Eye] technique had been developed entirely independently by Nara Keisuke, he would also be reluctant to share it with the family just like that. But without Nara Shikano's help, the time it would have taken him to develop the [Lacquer Eye] would have been delayed by at least another three years! Nara Keisuke was not some ungrateful person who didn't know how to repay kindness.

"That was just some insignificant stuff." Nara Shikano waved his hand. "Those research scrolls I gave you before were just some experimental knowledge derived from the observations and deductions of past clan elders studying the Sharingan."

As a clan that primarily inherited and researched Yin Release secret techniques, who could resist the temptation of the "Sharingan"? The Nara clan was indeed "coveting" the Uchiha clan's Sharingan. But this "coveting" wasn't about wanting to gouge out some Uchiha's eyeball and stick it in their own socket or arm. Rather, it was about wanting to use their own wisdom to replicate a "Yin Release Eye" similar to the Uchiha's Sharingan!

The Nara clan's heritage was long and storied. Countless people throughout history had conducted research in this area, but unfortunately, none had produced results. However, these predecessors had each left behind their own research records on the "Yin Release Eye." The "senior's experience" provided by Nara Shikano mentioned before referred to these records. (Chapter 11)

"Originally, I never thought you would actually complete this technique..." Nara Shikano looked at Nara Keisuke with immense gratification, while also cutting off what the latter was about to say.

"Alright, what I mean is that the family cannot bear the weight of this scroll right now, not that we don't want to accept it."

"Then I should take this scroll back?" Nara Keisuke fell silent for a moment and asked in a low voice. "And wait until the family can bear these [Lacquer Eye]?"

"Yes, we have to wait..." Nara Shikano gazed at Nara Keisuke, his eyes filled with profound expectation. Until the day you can break the limits of the Nara clan!

"Alright..." Nara Keisuke took back the [Lacquer Eye] scroll, feeling a bit sullen. He had originally wanted to use this scroll to get an S-rank commissioned mission from the clan head. To just offer up the A-rank technique [Lacquer Eye] to the family also felt a little unsatisfying to him. But if he could exchange it for an S-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll], he would be more than willing.

As for what Nara Shikano had just said about the "limits of the Nara clan"... Nara Keisuke wasn't interested.

"Keisuke, you don't look very happy?"

"A little." Nara Keisuke nodded, steering the topic toward the mission. "I heard you mention something about an S-rank mission earlier..."

"Haha!" Nara Shikano laughed heartily. "Developing such a powerful ninjutsu, especially one that is so specifically helpful to our Nara clan, is indeed worthy of an S-rank mission! Let me think, let's call this S-rank mission the [Eye of Shadow]!"

In reality, even if Nara Keisuke hadn't brought it up, Nara Shikano would have taken the initiative to talk about it. He was truly looking forward to Keisuke's growth with great anticipation, and thus, he was not the least bit stingy with investing resources in him! The title of an "S-rank mission" was the best excuse.

And just as the words "S-rank mission" left Nara Shikano's mouth, a new prompt popped up on Nara Keisuke's panel. An unprecedented S-rank mission prompt!

[S-rank Ninja Commissioned Mission Detected]

[S-rank Mission: Eye of Shadow]

[Mission Content: Develop an exclusive Yin Release Eye for the Nara clan.]

[Mission Reward: One S-rank Shinobi Secret Scroll]

The S-rank commissioned mission I was hoping for was triggered just like that?

Nara Keisuke's heart was instantly filled with immense surprise. And what made him even more surprised were Nara Shikano's next words.

"Since you have already researched the [Lacquer Eye], then we'll consider this S-rank mission, [Eye of Shadow], as completed by you."

The clan head's voice had just fallen when three new lines of text popped up on the virtual panel.

[You have submitted the A-rank technique scroll [Lacquer Eye] to the client!]

[S-rank Mission [Eye of Shadow] has been completed!]

[You have obtained one S-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll]!]

The S-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll] is really in my hands!

But the surprises were far from over.

"Since you've completed an S-rank family mission, how could the family not reward you?" Nara Shikano's smile was exceptionally magnanimous. "From this day forward, all of the Nara clan's secret techniques and medical archives are completely open to you."

Nara Keisuke was moved by Nara Shikano's generosity. "Clan Head, shouldn't this kind of thing be discussed with the clan elders?"

"Rest assured, Keisuke. There may be lazy people in the Nara clan, but there are absolutely no fools."

(End of Chapter)