It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

'The mission target has been killed once... but the mission isn't complete?'

Nara Shikadan, currently transparent thanks to [Camouflage], stared at the panel message in confusion.

'But the point is… just like that, I got an A-rank [Ninja Secret Scroll]?!'

The battle was still unfolding at a rapid pace.

Shikadan had no time to ponder the implications of the system panel. His eyes remained locked on Kakuzu.

The enemy's chest had been pierced clean through by the [Spiral Shadow Piercing Bullet], a massive hole gaping where his heart had been. Shikadan could see the scenery on the other side of Kakuzu's torso.

Kakuzu's body trembled slightly, then collapsed to the ground like a toppled stone, silent and unmoving.

Watching Kakuzu's surprisingly committed performance at pretending to be dead, Nara Shikadan generously awarded him a 9 out of 10.

I only destroyed one of your hearts. You still have four left.

You should be bouncing around just fine. Quit the act already.

Shikadan flicked his fingers, debating whether to play along by shooting a few more [Spiral Shadow Piercing Bullets] into the "corpse."

No.

Shikadan reined in his impulse.

I can't confirm which heart I just destroyed.

If Kakuzu's Earth-attribute heart is still intact, and based on how he tanked Choza's Meat Bullet Chariot earlier, my jutsu might not be able to penetrate his full-body defense again.

Once he hardens his skin, taking out a heart won't be so easy!

For Shikadan, the optimal strategy was still to cooperate from the shadows—leave frontal combat to the Ino–Shika–Cho trio while he lurked in the rear, sniping with precision.

Shikadan didn't move.

Kakuzu didn't move.

The inferno caused by Fire Release: Hard Work gradually dissipated.

At last, the Ino–Shika–Cho trio noticed something was off.

"What's going on with that guy?"

Choza retracted his swollen arms. After his direct clash with the fire jutsu, his palms were charred black—dried, cracked, and streaked with blood. The damage looked horrifying.

"Don't tell me… I slapped him to death with my Super Push Hands?"

The Akimichi clan's Super Push Hands was a high-level physical secret technique, boosting striking power to terrifying levels.

"Choza, that's a bit too optimistic," Nara Shikano said, keeping his eyes on the prone Kakuzu. His tone was absent-minded, as though replying half out of habit.

"If this were a normal opponent, I might even laugh at that joke."

"But against a monster like this, I can't afford to laugh."

"Inoichi—check him."

"Yes, Uncle Shikano."

Yamanaka Inoichi, having barely recovered from the onslaught, immediately used the clan's chakra-sensing technique to evaluate Kakuzu's condition.

"Something's wrong—he's faking death!"

"His chakra is still stable—there's no sign of it dissipating!"

Even as he reported this, Inoichi picked up another anomaly.

Another ninja had appeared on the field.

He was about to call out—then stopped himself and switched to the Yamanaka clan's secret [Perception Transmission] technique.

'Another ninja is on the battlefield. Not visible to the naked eye!'

'Kakuzu's fake death might be linked to this unknown ninja!'

'If that's the case… could this hidden figure be Kakuzu's enemy?'

Shikano frowned. He couldn't draw a definitive conclusion—but after Inoichi's report, one thing was clear.

Kakuzu's long-standing act of playing dead was done.

Kakuzu slowly rose, brushing himself off as if nothing had happened.

"Didn't expect you guys to have such tricks…"

He cast aside his dusty coat, revealing his true form.

His corpse-like skin was pale, his body covered in dense black stitches. In his chest gaped a giant hole, the site of the heart Shikadan had destroyed. Thick black threads crawled across his body like worms, knitting and writhing around the wound.

He'd faked his death, hoping the enemy would lower their guard and approach—so he could launch a sneak attack.

But to his disbelief, neither side moved.

The Konoha team had held their position—hyper-cautious. The lurking sniper never emerged again.

His clever act of feigned death and surprise assault had turned into the tragicomic posturing of a clown.

Even with his old, thick skin, Kakuzu couldn't help feeling a bit embarrassed.

Especially after boasting about his "invincible defense" earlier…

'Kakuzu must've mistaken the hidden attacker for one of us.'

Shikano mulled over the situation while continuing to transmit thoughts.

'He had a heart pierced and still lived… this guy is an absolute monster!'

'With just the three of us, we can't go head-to-head for long… we need to create another opening—just like last time!'

Inoichi and Choza responded in unison.

But then, a strange sound echoed.

"Ahhhh—!"

A deep, hoarse groan emerged from Kakuzu's throat—like the cry of a dying man.

From his back, a massive shadow unfurled.

It was a writhing creature made entirely of black threads, with a damaged white mask embedded in its upper half. The thing looked half-living, half-dead.

'Wait! Don't engage! Observe first!' Shikano commanded.

"Oooohhh—oooorghh—"

The stitched monster let out an eerie noise.

It crawled forward briefly toward the Ino–Shika–Cho trio, black goo dripping from its form…

And then collapsed. Motionless.

"…"

It died just like that?!

The Ino–Shika–Cho trio felt like a stampede of alpacas had galloped through their minds.

But even as their attention was drawn to the bizarre puppet—

Kakuzu struck.

"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"

This time, the howling wind didn't surge forward, but erupted outward, centered around Kakuzu himself.

The target wasn't the trio—but the entire field.

Because for Kakuzu, the frontal team was no longer the threat.

It was the hidden sniper that truly unnerved him.

The whirlwind exploded.

The Ino–Shika–Cho trio followed the same retreat tactic, leaping back repeatedly to avoid the brunt of the windstorm.

As for Nara Shikadan's shadow clone still lurking on the field—

A thought was enough.

'Shadow Style!'

The clone instantly liquefied into a pure shadow form.

The storm passed right through it like wind over a puddle. No resistance. No damage.

Kakuzu, unaware of this, wasn't satisfied.

He raised his hands again—

"Fire Release: Hard Work!"

The wind bolstered the fire.

The fire magnified the wind.

The combined B-rank techniques created a hellish sea of flame that roared outward, consuming everything in its path.

The Ino–Shika–Cho trio had no choice but to retreat even farther.

But for Shikadan's clone, untouched by flames thanks to [Shadow Style], the chaos became the perfect cover.

'What's the situation, Inoichi?' Shikano asked mentally.

'The mixed chakra from wind and fire is too chaotic—I can't get a clear reading.'

'Then we'll use this opportunity to widen our distance.'

'Understood—wait! Someone's charging from the left!'

The warning came just in time.

Shikano and Choza tensed instantly.

"Shadow Binding: Slap Technique!"

Shikano formed seals. Thick shadows lashed out, tethering to Choza.

At the same time, Choza activated the Akimichi clan's signature technique.

'It's Kakuzu!' Inoichi transmitted.

The next moment, the three executed their ultimate combined technique.

"Meat Bomb Yo-Yo!!"

The massive, spinning Choza, powered by the Shadow Slap, flew toward Kakuzu like a living wrecking ball.

The sheer momentum tore up the earth behind it.

Kakuzu's eyes narrowed. He raised his hands, releasing another jutsu.

"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"

Lightning speared forward, colliding with the massive rolling human.

The air detonated with thunder.

But that wasn't all.

From the shadows—

Another [Spiral Shadow Piercing Bullet] screamed through the air, targeting the unguarded mask on Kakuzu's back.

Puff!

The bullet pierced clean through, shattering the mask—and another of Kakuzu's hearts.

[You obtained an A-rank Ninja Secret Scroll!]

Kakuzu's lightning spear shattered mid-cast.

"Nani—?!"

Too late.

The Meat Bomb Yo-Yo crashed into him with a ground-shaking BOOM.

When Shikano reeled Choza back, the only thing left was a massive crater.

Kakuzu had vanished.

[Target has left the battlefield. A-Rank Mission: Rebel Ninja Kakuzu — Failed.]

[Speed-clear acknowledged!]

[You obtained a B-rank Ninja Secret Scroll!]

-End Chapter-

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