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

Chapter 23: The Belated but Arrived A-Rank Mission!

"We will first head to the Hokage's Office to post and accept an A-rank mission to Kyoto."

Nara Shikano kept his hands behind his back, running at high speed towards Konoha Village in the peculiar "ninja run" posture.

"War is coming. We need to inform the Daimyo's office of the situation and strive to obtain material support from them."

To keep up with the clan head's speed, Nara Keisuke had to use some chakra to augment his own physical functions.

"Post, and, accept?"

Because he was running quickly, Nara Keisuke's speech was intermittent; physical endurance was not his specialty.

"Keisuke, as a researcher, you mustn't neglect your physical training." Nara Shikano, a man in his fifties, turned his head, his tone very relaxed. "We are still ninja, after all. As for your question... special times call for special measures. You'll understand what's going on in a moment."

While they talked, the two swiftly left Kikyo Castle and arrived inside Konoha Village.

Just as Nara Keisuke and Nara Shikano reached the central area of the village, two figures, one fat and one thin, were already waiting at the base of the Hokage's Office.

"Inoichi, Chōza."

Nara Shikano nodded towards the two, and Nara Keisuke followed suit, greeting them as well.

Yamanaka Inoichi. Akimichi Chōza. The proper heirs to the leadership of the Yamanaka and Akimichi clans. These two, along with Nara Shikano's son, Nara Shikaku, were known as this generation's "Ino-Shika-Chō" of Konoha.

"Uncle Shikano, thank you for your hard work." Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza bowed to Nara Shikano. Their gazes simultaneously swept over Nara Keisuke, who was standing beside him, but neither of them rashly inquired about the situation.

"Seeing the two of you makes me realize that this mission should have been handled by Shikaku," Nara Shikano said, his attitude towards these two very casual and friendly. "After we finish this job, I think I'll just retire from being a ninja!"

Hearing this, Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza offered some polite pleasantries. Off to the side, however, Nara Keisuke's eyelid twitched slightly.

Those aren't good words to be saying, old Clan Head...

The group of four, led by Nara Shikano, entered the Hokage's Office and arrived at the top floor. This being his second time here, Nara Keisuke was no longer as curious as before. He kept his eyes lowered and acted as if he were invisible.

Nara Shikano stepped forward and handed a mission scroll to Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Lord Hokage, this is our Nara clan's commissioned mission for this occasion."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took the mission scroll as if it were nothing out of the ordinary, stamped it with the Hokage's seal, and then passed it back into Nara Shikano's hands. He had already discussed the mission's content with Shikano yesterday.

At the same time, a mission prompt popped up on Nara Keisuke's virtual panel.

[A-rank Ninja Commissioned Mission Detected!]

[A-rank Mission: "Tribute"]

[Mission Content: 1. Transport deer antlers and other precious medicinal herbs to the capital of the Land of Fire; 2. Obtain war support from the Land of Fire's Daimyo]

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

What a strange A-rank mission...

Nara Keisuke was very puzzled. The first half of the mission was "transporting medicinal herbs," and the second half was "obtaining support." If they were paying tribute to the Land of Fire's Daimyo, these two parts should be interconnected. But overall, they clearly seemed to be two separate tasks.

'An A-rank mission called "Tribute," and it's specifically in quotation marks...'

'I'm afraid this isn't about Konoha paying tribute to the Daimyo's office, but the other way around!'

Just as Nara Keisuke was pondering the profound question of who held the upper hand, the "Hokage" or the "Daimyo," the clan head's voice suddenly sounded in his ear. "Keisuke, go submit the mission request."

Having been prepared for a while, Nara Keisuke took a few steps forward and handed the mission scroll the clan head had given him earlier to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"What's this?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen unfolded the scroll in his hands with some confusion, just in time to see a ten-thousand-ryo banknote fall out from within.

"C-rank Mission 'Bodyguard'."

"Mission Content: 'Protect Nara Keisuke on his way to the Fire Temple'."

"Mission Fee: Ten thousand ryo."

After just a single glance at the mission scroll, Sarutobi Hiruzen understood what was going on. Simply put, Nara Shikano was once again bending the rules as much as possible.

The real mission for Nara Shikano, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Chōza—this "off-generation Ino-Shika-Chō"—was to go to Kyoto and secure war support from the Daimyo's office. But directly showing up to ask for money was bound to be inappropriate. Thus, they had the cover story of "escorting medicinal herbs."

The Nara clan sold medicinal herbs to the nobles of the Land of Fire almost every year, partly to earn money, and partly to build implicit political relationships. For an ordinary ninja, such matters were far too distant. But for a "medical ninja clan" like the Nara, it was perfectly normal.

Using the pretext of "requesting war support" to simultaneously sell medicinal herbs to Kyoto was the first line Nara Shikano was blurring. Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't feel displeased by this; on the contrary, he welcomed it. The Nara clan being on good terms with the officials of the Land of Fire was, by extension, Konoha Village being on good terms with the officials of the Land of Fire, wasn't it?

However... Why does Nara Shikano want to go to the Fire Temple? And he's taking this child, Nara Keisuke, with him?

These questions flashed through Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind without leaving much of a trace. He pulled out the ten-thousand-ryo bill, casually stamped the mission scroll with the Hokage's seal, and then handed it to Nara Shikano. The one accepting this C-rank mission was none other than the head of the Nara clan himself!

"Get moving, Shikano." Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand at the four of them. "There are people waiting for you!"

The Nara clan was cunning. But who said they were the only ones bending the rules on this mission? As the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen had also mixed two extra B-rank missions into this A-rank one. With the off-generation Ino-Shika-Chō trio right here, such a powerful ninja team shouldn't go to waste!

After bidding farewell to the Third, Nara Shikano's group of four swiftly left the Hokage's Office and headed for the Konoha gate.

In front of the Konoha gate, a crowd was bustling. Two or three small merchant caravans were gathered together, the neighing of horses filling the air. Standing amongst a group of ordinary people were six ninja wearing forehead protectors. Although their attire varied and they all looked to be only eleven or twelve years old, the green vests they wore indicated that all six were bona fide Chunin.

"This is the first B-rank mission I've gotten since being promoted to Chunin!" Sarutobi Asuma frowned, glancing towards the village from time to time. "Who has the gall to make us wait this long! If I find out, I'm definitely going to report them to the old man!"

"Asuma, don't be like that," Yūhi Kurenai said, her own brow furrowed slightly as she tried to placate him. "Didn't Lord Hokage just explain? With the strength of the three of us, it would still be very difficult to complete the B-rank mission of clearing out the bounty hunters along the main road. A Jonin will be assigned to help us complete it."

Nearby, Tobitake Tonbo looked at his two teammates and silently shook his head. His gaze shifted to the other side. 'Although Asuma and Kurenai always ignore me when they're together, compared to Might Guy, they are so much better!'

A deep-green kappa was currently charging headfirst through the crowd, shouting things that ordinary people couldn't comprehend.

"B-rank Mission [Caravan Guard]!"

"If I complete this mission, I'll run a thousand laps around the village when I get back!"

"If the mission fails, I'll run five thousand laps around the village!"

"If my legs can't run anymore, I'll walk on my hands! If my arms lose their strength, I'll use my fingers... This is YOUTH!!"

Might Guy. A man who would one day be stronger than anyone else. But that was only "one day."

In a corner of the crowd, far away from Might Guy, his teammates Shiranui Genma and Ebisu looked at each other and sighed in unison.

"I hope Guy doesn't make any mistakes on the mission this time."

"I hope Guy doesn't cause this B-rank mission to fail."

Though the words were different, the meaning behind them was more or less the same. If they had a chance to redo their lives, Shiranui Genma and Ebisu would definitely not form a three-man squad with Might Guy again! Even that "lazy dead-last" they heard about who hadn't even graduated from the Academy yet had to be better than this green kappa with seemingly infinite energy, right?

At this thought, Genma and Ebisu looked at each other again.

"Hopefully, the Jonin who arrives can keep Guy in check."

"Guy should obey the Jonin-sama's orders, right?"

The chemistry built up over many years as teammates was truly no joke.

Just as Genma and Ebisu were complaining about their other teammate, Nara Shikano's group of four finally arrived from the village.

Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza flickered into the sprawling merchant caravans to help manage order and get things moving. Meanwhile, Nara Keisuke was observing the other ninja traveling with them. With just a quick glance, he roughly recognized all six of them. They were all his former "classmates," and all were "minor celebrities."

The trio standing on the right: Sarutobi Asuma, Yūhi Kurenai, and Tobitake Tonbo.

The trio standing on the left: Shiranui Genma, Ebisu, and Might Guy.

Wheeet—

Nara Shikano produced a whistle from somewhere and blew it. Following the crisp sound, a large deer with dark eyes and a glossy coat emerged from the crowd, pulling a small wooden cart.

'The quality of this deer is in no way inferior to Ōkaku! So handsome!'

As Nara Keisuke was appraising the physique of the deer his clan head had summoned, he was startled to hear the man say, "Keisuke, get in the cart."

Nara Shikano had seated himself in the driver's position of the deer cart and was beckoning to him.

"We're leaving the village!"

(End of Chapter)