It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

Chakra crystal?

Nara Shikadan blinked, another mental question mark appearing above his head.

Does that kind of ninja tool even exist in the world?

It sounded more like a recovery item from an RPG—a glowing stone that passively restores chakra.

But would the First Hokage, of all people, ever need something like that?

Shikadan's mind flashed through what he knew of Senju Hashirama:

The "(True) God of Shinobi" who ended the Warring States period. The most iconic representative of "chakra-ton" (talk no jutsu with fists).The legendary "Strongest Ninja Ever."Reincarnation of Ashura.

A walking, talking sapling version of the Divine Tree. "Hashi Hot Mom," who emotionally deceived Uchiha Madara (crossed out)...

In all these tales, one thing was clear:

Senju Hashirama was never low on chakra.

To describe his chakra reserves:

He was like 17-year-old Uzumaki Naruto (true body) plus half of Kurama (Yang Nine-Tails).

People talk about Jinchūriki—those who house tailed beasts in their bodies.

But really, the full term might as well be:

"People who possess chakra comparable to a fun-sized Hashirama."

Typical Ashura reincarnation? Needs Kurama and friends just to hold their own against Indra.

Hashirama? Soloed Indra's reincarnation and the Nine-Tails. With room to spare.

Shikadan once suspected that Hashirama wasn't just an outlier—he was a biological regression to the Sage of Six Paths.

While Shikadan spiraled into admiration for the "Big Pillar," Nara Shikano continued his explanation.

"The so-called chakra crystal," the clan leader began calmly, "is a materialized and solidified form of chakra itself."

"To ordinary ninja like us, it holds energy that seems virtually limitless. In fact, the chakra we consume in using it is often less than what the crystal itself replenishes."

Shikadan raised an eyebrow.

"If it's that powerful… how exactly did our clan get one of these from the First Hokage?"

"Huh? From the First Hokage?"

Shikano scratched his beard.

"Ah, you misunderstood. While the First Hokage did possess a chakra crystal, ours is different—and nowhere near his scale, of course. In fact, we couldn't even use his chakra crystal if we wanted to!"

He thought for a moment.

"If I recall correctly, the one Hashirama used eventually passed to Tsunade."

That made Shikadan pause.

"...Wait, are you talking about—that necklace?"

The famed necklace of the First Hokage. A supposedly priceless artifact left to Tsunade.

It had... a reputation.

First given to Nawaki. He died.

Then to Dan Kato. Also died. (In fairly gruesome kidney-exploding fashion.)

Then to Naruto. He survived… but the necklace did not.

A cursed item, if ever there was one.

'Surely the Nara clan's chakra crystal has nothing to do with that necklace… right?'

Shikadan felt a bead of cold sweat slide down his neck.

They soon arrived at the Fire Temple.

At this point, both Nara Shikano and Shikadan fell silent, avoiding further chatter about dangerous necklaces and god-tier ninja tools.

The old patriarch had clearly notified the temple in advance, as a bald monk in simple robes stepped out to greet them at the gate.

"Shikano," the monk said with a kind smile, hands pressed together. "And this young donor."

"Shikadan, this is the abbot of the Fire Temple," Shikano introduced, bowing respectfully.

"Master Zhongjue."

Shikadan mirrored the gesture.

"Master Zhongjue."

Shikano then unstrapped the large scroll he'd carried all this way.

"These are this year's medicinal herbs."

He handed the scroll over.

"With war looming, the supply's more limited than usual. But the quality has not been compromised."

It was well-known that the Nara clan produced high-grade medicinal materials annually.

But as a ninja clan based in Konoha—and being notoriously lazy—they didn't handle the business themselves.

Instead, they entrusted sales to the Fire Temple, which acted as a reliable go-between with Fire Country nobles.

"I've always trusted the quality of your clan's materials," Zhongjue replied warmly. "But I can't say the same for the nobles in Kyoto—they may complain about the limited supply this year."

Shikadan knew the deeper implication.

Nara medicinal texts claimed deer antlers could "nourish kidneys, generate essence, enrich blood, and strengthen bone marrow."

Useless for kids like him. Crucial for... men of a certain age.

"They'll understand," Shikano said smoothly, brushing the matter aside.

"But my main reason for visiting isn't business. I've come to retrieve something our clan left here—the chakra crystal."

Zhongjue nodded without hesitation.

"Please follow me."

The monk led them deep into the temple, into a quiet wooden building that resembled a sutra archive.

Inside, he pulled a small wooden box from a shelf and placed it reverently before them. Then, he withdrew silently.

The atmosphere was solemn.

"This is the chakra crystal," Shikano said, nudging the box toward Shikadan. "Go ahead. Open it."

Shikadan lifted the lid.

Inside, nestled on a bed of green velvet, lay a six-sided indigo gemstone—clear, cool, and quietly gleaming.

He glanced at the clan leader.

"What do I do now?"

His mind flashed back to Shikano's earlier metaphor:

Jinchūriki...

Was he supposed to seal this thing inside his body?

Because that… honestly felt a lot more acceptable than sealing a living tailed beast.

"Do you remember what I told you about chakra resonance?" Shikano asked calmly.

Shikadan nodded.

"You also understand how the Shadow Clone and Shadow Personification techniques work," Shikano continued.

"Chakra with the same origin can resonate—allowing for energy transfer and reinforcement. But what you may not know is that chakra with similar properties can also resonate. This is why a Jinchūriki can gradually synchronize with the tailed beast sealed inside them and use its chakra."

Shikadan's eyes widened slightly.

That... was new information.

"Of course, our clan has little experience with tailed beasts—certainly not the legendary Five-Tails."

Shikano's voice wavered slightly with regret before returning to the topic.

"If a ninja's chakra is compatible, it can resonate with the energy in a chakra crystal.

That means using the crystal's chakra as if it were your own."

His tone grew serious.

"For you, Shikadan, this is a breakthrough. Your Yin Release is exceptional, but your physical body is weak, your chakra capacity is severely limited. This chakra crystal is the only viable method we currently have to fix that."

Shikano slid the box closer.

"But the last step depends on you. If your chakra nature is close enough to the crystal's… You'll resonate with it."

He nodded once.

"Go on. Extract your chakra—and inject it into the gem."

Shikadan reached into the box and picked up the cool, sharp-edged gem.

He poured his chakra into it—

And in the next instant, the [Lazy Ghost System] interface popped up.

[A-rank Ninja Tool [Chakra Crystal] Detected!]

[Name: Chakra Crystal]

[Description: Solidified natural energy gem]

[Effects:]

Contains A-rank chakra energy that can be shared with the body.

Passively replenishes chakra via natural energy, or can be manually recharged.

Can be altered through ritual modification to suit specific needs.

[System Evaluation:]

"This energy is under my control."

Then—

A radiant, indigo light bloomed across the gemstone's surface, like sunlight through deep ocean water.

Mystical. Mysterious. Beautiful.

"That glow—!"

Nara Shikano's voice trembled with excitement.

"Shikadan! That's the resonance! You did it!"

His face lit up.

"Your chakra problem is solved!"