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

Chapter 26: The Shadow Assault Under the Night's Lanterns!

"You're saying that within the caravan, besides us Konoha ninja, there are two other ninja?" Nara Shikano awoke from his light nap, his brow furrowed slightly. "And one of them is the leader of one of the small caravans?"

"Yes, Clan Head," Nara Keisuke reported seriously. "Based on my observation, the spiritual energy contained within that leader's brain is extremely powerful, no less than that of Brother Inoichi."

As the next head of the Yamanaka clan, Yamanaka Inoichi had cultivated his family's inherited spiritual secret techniques for many years. His spiritual energy was immense, making him a standout even among elite Jonin.

If that caravan leader had merely shown some faint traces of chakra flowing through his body, Nara Keisuke wouldn't have paid it so much mind. After all, the world was in chaos; it was reasonable for a caravan leader to learn a trick or two for self-defense.

But for an obscure caravan leader to have spiritual energy comparable to the "Yamanaka Boar" of Konoha's current Ino-Shika-Chō trio?

In the ninja world, there might be many masters who existed outside the ninja village system, their fame not comparable to the elite ninja within the villages. But it was absolutely not to the point where an elite-jonin-level powerhouse could just appear anywhere!

Therefore, the moment he discovered the situation, Nara Keisuke interrupted his training and returned to report to the clan head. As for directly rushing over and interrogating the other party... Nara Keisuke wasn't that foolish or reckless.

"This is indeed very suspicious." Nara Shikano's brow furrowed even deeper, several distinct wrinkles appearing on his forehead. The thoughts running through his head now were similar to Keisuke's.

If that caravan leader were just an ordinary person who had learned a few superficial ninjutsu, Nara Shikano would have pretended not to see him. In any case, the mission Konoha had accepted this time was only to escort a few small caravans to Kyoto; there was no need to create extra trouble.

But the problem was that the caravan leader's skill level was too high, abnormally so! Spiritual energy comparable to an elite Jonin... coupled with the intelligence from the bounty hunters who had attacked the caravan when they left the village...

Without much effort, Nara Shikano was able to connect the caravan leader named "Oyakata En" with the identity of the "Chinoike Clan-Slayer." This deduction wasn't necessarily absolutely correct, but its possibility could not be denied!

If it weren't for the "clan-slayer" halo, considering they had gotten along peacefully during the day, Nara Shikano would still have chosen to see nothing. At most, he would have secretly instructed everyone to increase their vigilance towards Oyakata En.

But the negative halo of a "clan-slayer" was too strong. No matter how much Nara Shikano hated trouble, he would not turn a blind eye to this. The matter was of great importance, and Nara Shikano didn't want to act rashly.

"Keisuke, how did you discover his ninja identity?" Nara Shikano stroked his beard, confirming carefully. "Inoichi's sensory chakra has also checked the personnel within the caravan more than once, but he found nothing."

Nara Shikano's suspicion was reasonable. Although he highly valued this junior of his clan, in the end, the boy was just a Genin on his first mission out of the village. In contrast, Yamanaka Inoichi, as one of the current "Ino-Shika-Chō," was highly skilled and experienced, especially in spiritual sensory abilities.

"Perhaps that caravan leader used some means to interfere with Brother Inoichi's senses," Nara Keisuke offered as a possible explanation, while taking off his sunglasses and activating his [Lacquer Eye]. "As for how I discovered it... the [Lacquer Eye] has the function of observing the presence and flow of spiritual energy."

A ninja's techniques were top-secret information. But since he had already planned to share the [Lacquer Eye] scroll with the family, Nara Keisuke naturally wouldn't deliberately conceal information at this time.

'[Lacquer Eye] can also perceive spiritual energy?' Hearing this, Nara Shikano nearly twisted off his goatee. 'These eyes are truly becoming the Nara clan's "Sharingan"!'

"Keisuke, I suddenly regret not taking the [Lacquer Eye] scroll from you earlier," Nara Shikano said, lowering his hand with a complex expression. "These eyes are even more powerful than I imagined."

"My stance remains the same," Nara Keisuke replied meticulously. "As long as the Clan Head is willing, you can take that scroll from me at any time. And to be honest, with the war constantly approaching, if our clansmen can learn the [Lacquer Eye], it will definitely enhance their survivability on the battlefield."

As an A-rank ninjutsu, the [Lacquer Eye] was naturally very difficult to learn. But Keisuke believed that no "Nara slacker" could escape the allure of "no-hand-sign ninjutsu." Passion was the true source of motivation. With great enthusiasm for learning, paired with the sharp minds of the Nara clan, Keisuke felt it really wouldn't be difficult for his fellow clansmen to learn the [Lacquer Eye].

Besides, Keisuke hadn't even handed over the scroll yet, and he had already gotten an S-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll], access to all of the Nara clan's ninjutsu and medical archives, a monthly salary of one million ryo, and chakra metal from the clan head... He wasn't one to refuse a windfall, but the clan head was giving him far too much... so much that Keisuke felt it was almost too hot to handle.

"Of course I understand this point..." Nara Shikano habitually began to stroke his beard again. As the head of a clan, he needed to consider matters from many more angles.

There was no need to elaborate on the power and functionality of the [Lacquer Eye]. But it would affect not only the Nara clan, but also their relationships with other clans. Within Konoha, the Nara clan wasn't in the most revered position, but they were at least indispensable. The core of the medical system, the leader of the Jonin squad, an advisor to the Hokage, connections with the Land of Fire's government...

The current strength and status of the Nara clan in Konoha could be said to have reached a state of equilibrium. In this position, they attracted neither covetousness nor suppression. For the Nara clan, this was the most comfortable state. If they were to rashly break this equilibrium, it would inevitably cause a massive chain reaction. The balanced relationship with the Yamanaka and Akimichi clans, the alliance with the Sarutobi clan, pressure from the true super-clans like the Uchiha and Hyuga, and they might even face suppression from the Hokage...

And to break this limit while still maintaining a comfortable state, Nara Shikano could only think of one way. It was to follow the example of the Hozuki clan from the neighboring Kirigakure. The Nara clan, like the Hozuki clan, had to produce a Kage-level powerhouse like the Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu!

'War... clansmen... survival... time... other clans... Hokage... Keisuke...'

In just a few seconds, Nara Shikano's mind connected a vast number of issues. Finally, he made a decision.

"After we complete this mission and return to the village, you will hand the [Lacquer Eye] scroll to me! I will first disseminate the [Lacquer Eye] technique on a small scale within the clan and require every clansman who learns it to maintain absolute secrecy."

Nara Keisuke nodded. He fully approved of the decision the clan head had made. It was just that internally, he still sighed. 'Clan Head, please stop raising flags...'

"Additionally, Keisuke." Nara Shikano's gaze fixed sharply on him. In the past few seconds, his expectations for Keisuke had risen even more. Since he had made the decision to promote the [Lacquer Eye] scroll, then the plan to cultivate Keisuke also needed to be accelerated! "Do you have the confidence to face that caravan leader who is deliberately hiding his identity, Oyakata En?"

Nara Keisuke froze for a moment. "...Huh?"

Nara Keisuke walked out of the temporary tent, slowly approaching Oyakata En's position. He truly hadn't expected the clan head to proactively send him to deal with that suspicious ninja who was likely an elite Jonin.

But did he have confidence?

Nara Keisuke took a step, and the shadow beneath his feet rippled like a wave. A solid doppelganger, completely identical to himself, suddenly appeared before him.

[S-rank Technique: Shadow Doppelganger Technique]

The doppelganger stood still. Nara Keisuke stepped forward again, his entire body seeming to become as thin as a sheet of paper as he merged into the doppelganger's shadow.

[C-rank Technique: Flat Shadow Technique]

'So this is me in a doppelganger state?' Nara Keisuke's consciousness temporarily possessed the [Shadow Doppelganger]. He raised his hand and made a fist. 'This feeling of transcending the mortal eye, this sense of relieved ease, it's an incredible high!'

If it weren't for the fact that his chakra reserves couldn't support the continuous use of the [Flat Shadow Technique], Keisuke would have wanted to live in the state of a [Shadow Doppelganger] forever.

He turned around and looked towards the shadows of the temporary camp. After a slight nod, he began to move again. In the shadows, Nara Shikano, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Chōza stood silently. As Nara Keisuke went to probe Oyakata En, the off-generation Ino-Shika-Chō team was his secret bodyguard!

Nara Keisuke silently approached Oyakata En's position. The latter, as the caravan leader, was currently leaning against a carriage, personally cutting grass with a sickle to feed the horses.

The night was dim. Nara Keisuke stopped before a lantern, and the warm yellow light stretched his shadow long.

"Boss Oyakata."

The sudden greeting seemed to startle Oyakata En. He cried out in pain as the sickle accidentally cut his palm, and a line of blood instantly seeped out. "Ouch..."

Oyakata En, wearing a pair of very flashy, large, diamond-shaped sunglasses, turned around, his tone tinged with complaint. "Hey kid, don't go scaring people from behind at night... Is there something you need?"

Nara Keisuke looked at Oyakata En's injured left hand, his eyes narrowing slightly. His main consciousness returned to the shadow as the doppelganger's consciousness came online.

The shadow surged, like an ink-black beast baring its fangs, ready to bite down on its oblivious prey.

Seeing that their shadows had already overlapped, the [Shadow Doppelganger] got straight to the point. "Boss Oyakata, have you ever heard of... the Shadow Paralysis Jutsu?"

(End of Chapter)