It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

"Hyaah!"

"Roar!"

Before Nara Shikadan even reached the Fire Temple's training ground, his ears were bombarded by a series of guttural, passionate howls and roars.

He instinctively stopped in his tracks and looked at the clan leader beside him.

"Huh?"

Nara Shikano, unbothered, spoke in a calm tone, pretending not to remember how he had flinched the first time he heard those same feral cries.

"The ninja monks of the Fire Temple hold extremely high standards for physical training."

"You can think of them as physical-type shinobi specializing in the Steel Fist style."

"They might go a day without food, but never a day without training."

Steel Fist style, huh?

Shikadan immediately conjured an image of a group of green-tights-wearing young kappas sprinting through forests in ridiculous poses.

...No, this was even worse.

But they were already here.

He stepped forward—and the closer he got, the clearer the sounds became.

Thud! Slam! Wham!

The rhythmic collisions of flesh and bone echoed like a war drum. Shikadan imagined the kappa brigade from earlier engaging in one dramatic muscle-clash after another.

Before he could ask again, Master Zhongjue appeared—just like before—silently, without warning, like a breeze passing through bamboo.

For some reason, Shikadan had the strong suspicion that the abbot didn't walk so much as float.

"Zhongjue," said Nara Shikano cheerfully. "I brought Shikadan to see your monks' training methods."

"The Fire Temple never refuses pilgrims," Master Zhongjue replied, smiling faintly.

Shikadan stepped forward.

"Master Zhongjue, I'd like to spar with one of your monks if that's possible."

The old man already knew Shikadan's intent. After all, Shikano had made it clear when he handed over the [Chakra Crystal] earlier—he wanted Shikadan to test its performance in real combat.

Even if he hadn't said a word, Shikadan wouldn't have let this chance go to waste.

Rumors of the Fire Temple possessing some variant of Sage Mode might have been mere speculation…

But for the slightest chance to interact with natural energy?

Shikadan was not going to miss out.

Master Zhongjue nodded serenely.

"You are too polite, little donor Nara. I will arrange it."

From beside them, Nara Shikano stroked his beard, satisfied.

Yes… in a clan as lazy as the Naras, this diligent boy is a true outlier! A gem! A gift from the heavens!

Nara Shikadan followed Master Zhongjue into the training ground.

It was a large open-air space, lined with all manner of strength-training equipment. Ropes, weighted logs, giant stones.

In the center, a dozen or so bald, bare-armed monks sparred shirtless, their sweat flying, muscles flexing, and limbs crashing against one another in thunderous collisions.

Most shinobi didn't obsess over physical training to this extreme.

But Shikadan had to admit—

The sheer impact and visual power of this meathead parade… it's overwhelming.

Moderate muscles attract the opposite sex.

Extreme muscles… attract the same sex.

Shikadan glanced at his own body.

If his talents weren't focused on chakra control, spiritual perception, and bookworm intellect…

Maybe in another life, I'd have walked the path of the muscle-bound melee brawler.

But alas—

Physical prowess requires talent, too. The gap between Might Guy and an average shinobi isn't effort. It's the chasm between Rock Lee and Might Dai.

Under Zhongjue's command, one particular young monk stepped forward.

He looked to be about twelve years old.

"Chiriku," Zhongjue introduced. "Apprentice ninja monk of the Fire Temple."

Shikadan's eyes sharpened.

Chiriku… the one who can summon that "Little Gundam" in the future...

Chiriku seemed equally curious. He stared at Shikadan with undisguised suspicion.

This "donor" looked thin. Frail. Not someone who trained physically.

His muscles probably aren't even as strong as mine!

The two stepped into the designated sparring area and simultaneously performed the Seal of Opposition, a basic courtesy all shinobi observe before battle.

Their hands formed mirrored signs—two fingers upright, forearms raised.

This seal, in fact, doubled as a subtle chakra refinement gesture.

[E-rank Ninjutsu: Substitution Technique]!

The fight began.

Chiriku sprang forward with a strong stomp and lunged into the air. He raised his leg high—axe kick descending like thunder toward Shikadan's head.

Bang!

The strike connected.

For a moment, Chiriku grinned in triumph—

Only to realize he had kicked a wooden stake.

Puff!

A cloud of smoke. Wood chips flying.

Shikadan had already disappeared.

"A textbook Substitution Technique," Master Zhongjue noted calmly from the sidelines.

"Executed in the brief instant Chiriku jumped into the air and lost vision beneath him."

"Shikadan's sense for combat timing is sharp."

Chiriku landed awkwardly on the wooden stake and whirled.

There—Shikadan, still standing in the same opposition pose, his expression calm.

[D-rank Mission Triggered!]

→ Mission: Defeat or eliminate Apprentice Monk Chiriku

→ Reward: D-rank Ninja Secret Scroll

→ Weekly repeatable: Once per opponent

Shikadan ignored the notification.

He remained focused, forming the next hand seal.

[E-rank Ninjutsu: Clone Technique]!

Two identical copies of Nara Shikadan appeared beside him.

The real one stepped forward. The clones charged diagonally, forming a V-formation.

From the sidelines, Nara Shikano squinted in approval.

"Substitution... Clone Technique... just low-level moves?"

He chuckled.

"I thought he'd show off with one of our clan's secret techniques."

Chiriku narrowed his eyes.

That's the standard Clone Technique!

He focused instantly.

Clones don't cast shadows. Observe the feet! That one has no shadow—

Too late.

All three Shikadans activated—

[Body Flicker Technique]!

They vanished.

Then reappeared directly in front of Chiriku.

Boom!

The two clones vanished in smoke.

The real Shikadan surged forward with a left straight punch.

Bang!

His fist slammed into Chiriku's chin with precision.

The boy staggered.

It felt like an entire Buddhist temple had erupted inside his head—gongs, bells, chanting, the whole works.

The jaw, after all, is a cluster of vagus nerves. A hit there sends shockwaves to the brain.

No one, not even a hardened monk, is immune to nerve concussion.

But Chiriku was tougher than expected.

He didn't fall.

So—

Bang!

Shikadan punched again.

This time, even Master Zhongjue flinched. Nara Shikano's eye twitched.

Chiriku crumpled to the ground.

[Mission Complete: You have defeated your D-rank target!]

[Reward: D-rank Ninja Secret Scroll acquired.]

Shikadan opened it casually.

Let me guess—another Body Flicker Technique?

[Opening...]

[D-rank Technique: Immortal Clan Guiding Technique]

→ Description: An ancient breathing method passed down within the Fire Temple. A technique for harmonizing body and spirit through spiritual energy.

→ Effect: By regulating breath and entering a meditative state, one increases sensitivity to surrounding energy.

→ Evaluation: "A mortal cultivating immortality."

Shikadan's gaze sharpened. A spiritual training technique? A method for entering a meditative state… to sense the world? He smiled.

This wasn't some flashy attack.

It was a key, a doorway. Natural energy… Sage Mode…

This might be the very first step.

-

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