It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

'A-Rank Ninja Battle Mission triggered!'

'Enemy threat level: Kage-class! Equivalent to A-rank difficulty!'

Nara Shikadan's eyes darted to the task panel—but before he could process it further, a violent shockwave thundered from behind.

BOOM!!

Akimichi Choza's "Meat Bullet Needle Tank" crashed down like a meteor. The impact sent tremors rippling through the ground—dirt quaked, trees swayed, and it felt as if a localized earthquake had struck the battlefield.

"Don't stop! Retreat—get to safety, now!"

Yamanaka Inoichi's voice rang out urgently, growing fainter as the team retreated.

Sarutobi Asuma, Yuhi Kurenai, Tobatake Tobiko, and the other Chūnin were already sprinting ahead.

Shikadan, intentionally slower, trailed behind—just far enough to act unnoticed.

With a glance backward at Inoichi's retreating figure, Shikadan's eyes sharpened.

His consciousness shifted—reconnecting with a prepared [Shadow Clone].

He quickly slipped off the [Chakra Crystal] ring from his right hand and tossed it to the clone.

While his true body retreated with the others, the clone—now equipped with the chakra-amplifying ring—faded into the terrain and slipped back toward the battlefield like a ghost.

By the time Inoichi returned to the impact zone, the terrain had transformed completely.

The flat ground had been blasted into a ten-meter-wide crater, smoke and dust billowing upward. Cracks splintered the earth in every direction.

Shua—

Akimichi Choza leapt from the smoke, back in normal form. His face was serious.

"Uncle Shikano… something's wrong. That Meat Bullet Needle Tank didn't land like it should've."

"I saw."

Nara Shikano's expression was grim, eyes scanning the haze.

"The shadow binding didn't hold. The chakra metal in the kunai couldn't sustain enough Yin-release for complete restraint..."

As the smoke cleared—

Kakuzu stepped into view.

His skin was now jet-black, rough and hard like polished obsidian. His fingers were clasped in a gear-like interlocking formation.

"Earth Grudge Fear…"

Shikano immediately analyzed the change.

"He's altered his body with Earth Release… his skin's been hardened. That's an extremely advanced defensive technique."

"Correct." Kakuzu's voice was calm—cold. "No physical attack can break through this defense."

Shikano narrowed his eyes.

Bluffing. Earth Release is strong against Water, but weak against Lightning. There's always a counter.

But still...

Shikano bit the inside of his lip.

Advanced Lightning Release techniques… not exactly our specialty.

'We're not equipped for this… I underestimated him.'

Even among Iwagakure's elite, only a handful could've survived that impact.

Where did a rogue from Takigakure learn jutsu this refined?

"Not attacking?" Kakuzu smirked. "Then allow me."

He clapped his hands together.

"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"

BOOM—

A shockwave burst forward—a materialized wind current howling like a banshee.

It tore toward them like a hurricane, the air compressing into a violent, slicing vortex.

"Retreat!"

Shikano, Inoichi, and Choza all sprang backward in unison.

Debris, gravel, and broken branches rained down as the wind barrage ripped across the terrain.

Even retreating, the gale pushed them further back. Their feet dragged deep gouges in the earth as they resisted the onslaught.

"That pressure… that's no ordinary Wind Style!" Inoichi shouted.

But before they could regroup, a flash of silver-white erupted from Kakuzu's body.

CRACK—

The sound of lightning boomed across the clearing.

"Wait—that's…"

Kakuzu raised a hand. Arcs of electric chakra crackled around his skin.

"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"

A jagged thunder spear formed in front of him—lightning distorted into a lethal, unstable weapon.

"Die, Ino–Shika–Chō!"

"Choza, defend!"

Shikano reacted instantly.

Dark chakra shadows burst from his feet, congealing into a towering dome—a Shadow Shield, black as pitch.

Behind it, Choza's hair stiffened and elongated, forming a second, spiky barrier—a Hedgehog Shield.

CRACK!!!

The thunder spear struck.

It crashed into the Shadow Shield with an earth-shaking roar. The impact split the air and sent shockwaves ripping through the forest.

Lightning tore at the shadows, forcing Shikano to pour out all of his chakra reserves to maintain the technique.

His teeth clenched. Sweat poured down.

After several agonizing seconds, the Shadow Shield cracked.

The Thunder Spear, weakened, punched through—striking Choza's hair shield behind it.

The brown bristles sparked and hissed—but held.

Finally, the spear fizzled, reduced to smoke and crackling embers.

Choza let his barrier recede.

All three stood their ground—shaken, sweating, but still alive.

'He's too strong…'

Shikano's hands trembled slightly.

'Earth, Wind, Lightning… all advanced elemental techniques. And each one's overwhelmingly powerful.'

'He's beyond most of Konoha's jonin.'

'This rogue ninja… is a monster on par with the Three Legendary Sannin!'

Kakuzu gazed at them with mild amusement.

"Impressive teamwork."

"You're the first team to survive False Darkness."

He brought his hands together once again.

"But let's see if you can survive this—Fire Release: Hard Work!"

"What? Even Fire Style?!"

The Ino–Shika–Chō trio stared in disbelief.

A flame serpent exploded from Kakuzu's mouth, slamming into the ground—and instantly transformed into a sea of fire.

Flames surged like a tsunami, engulfing everything in its path.

The heat distorted the air. The earth sizzled.

Shikano was pale.

He was too drained to form another Shadow Shield.

Inoichi froze.

Only Choza moved.

"Partial Multi-Size Technique!"

His arms expanded to enormous size.

He stepped forward.

"Super Push Hands!"

WHUMP—

Choza's massive palms slammed into the approaching fire.

The blazing wall split down the center, momentarily forced apart.

But Kakuzu wasn't finished.

He began drawing on his wind chakra again, preparing to combine Wind Release with Fire Release.

"Now!"

From out of nowhere—

BANG!

A black bullet ripped through the air and pierced Kakuzu's chest cleanly.

His eyes widened.

The chakra molding in his hands dispersed.

The battlefield fell silent.

The dark projectile had hit dead center—through his heart.

A perfect assassination.

[You have successfully killed the target of the A-Rank Ninja Battle Mission.]

[Reward Acquired: A-Rank Secret Ninja Scroll.]

Kakuzu stumbled.

His hardened skin cracked.

He fell to one knee—then to the ground.

Behind a tree, Nara Shikadan's shadow clone dissolved—its mission complete.

The Ino–Shika–Chō trio stood stunned, winded, and smoldering.

But alive.

-End Chapter-

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