It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

[A-level ninja battle mission detected!]

[Mission: Namikaze Minato]

[Objective: Defeat or kill Konoha's jonin Namikaze Minato]

[Reward: A-level ninja secret scroll]

The battle against Namikaze Minato allowed no distractions.

Nara Shikadan didn't have time to browse the mission details. Seizing the chance Minato offered, he decisively launched the [Shadow Head-Strangling Technique].

Minato was initially puzzled by Shikadan's sudden move.

But when he felt a tangible binding force crawling up his calf, he realized he had been lured into a trap.

According to my speed, Nara-kun shouldn't have had time for a hand seal… nor did I see any.

Minato's mind raced.

The Nara clan's shadow secret techniques belong to the Yin Dun category. They require seals—but could it be… Nara-kun has mastered performing these techniques without seals?

The materialized black hand of the [Shadow Strangling Technique] reached for Minato's neck.

With just a thought, Minato vanished from the spot, escaping the grasp. Flying Thunder God Technique!

Shikadan's technique had missed.

Suddenly, before Shikadan's eyes, a figure appeared beside the fallen kunai.

"That was the technique you prepared earlier?" Minato stood calmly, a trace of curiosity in his voice. "Very fast activation."

Shikadan's feet were surrounded by flowing shadows—his defense against Minato's close combat style.

"All Shurikens Fly Outwards Technique!"

He flung a barrage of shurikens from his ninja tool bag. The star-shaped blades scattered like a floral rain.

Hidden in the storm of shurikens was a special kunai with a sticky detonating talisman, pulled out using [Shadow Gathering Technique].

"Nara-kun, your technique's name needs work!"

Minato's eyes lit up, then narrowed in focus.

"It's also a bit inaccurate."

The shurikens blocked the path of the approaching kunai.

Minato's azure eyes caught the sticky talisman just in time. Though he could evade with Flying Thunder God or Instant Body, his chakra-saving instincts made him dodge sideways minimally.

The detonating talisman was a fake—designed to conceal a nearly invisible silk thread.

When Minato dodged, the shadow of the fake talisman briefly overlapped with his side reflection—connected by the thread to Shikadan's feet.

[Shadow Binding Technique] — success!

Shikadan immediately threw a smoke bomb.

Though weaker than [Shadow Strangling Technique], the binding effect slowed Minato enough to be detected instantly.

Bang!

The smoke bomb exploded, filling the battlefield with thick black smoke, obscuring vision.

Minato stayed calm.

"First, use thrown tools to create contact, then smoke to blind. So, Nara-kun, your next attack won't be a shadow technique, right?"

Suddenly, sharp wooden spears shot from nearby woods — one of Shikadan's pre-set traps.

Within the smoke, Minato vanished, dodging the attack using Flying Thunder God.

Thud-thud — the spears embedded in the earth.

Minato moved swiftly into the woods, covering his tracks.

His marks from Flying Thunder God Technique would remain—Minato always scouted ahead.

I underestimated this young Nara-kun.

The sun hung in the southeast as Minato crouched in the shade, analyzing.

To avoid direct contact with his shadow, the correct attack angle is... from Nara-kun's side.

Back on the field, Shikadan awaited Minato's next move.

Which plan will he choose? The first? The second? Or something unexpected?

Suddenly, Minato dashed out from the woods, approaching Shikadan's right side with incredible speed.

Shikadan's upgraded D-level reflexes barely caught his peripheral vision.

It's the first small move of his second plan!

A flash bomb hidden underground was pulled up by Shikadan's [Shadow Gathering Technique] and detonated.

Buzz!

The intense light briefly altered Minato's shadow.

Their shadows overlapped once more.

Shikadan seized the moment, activating [Shadow Binding Technique] again, restricting Minato's movement.

Boom!

Another detonating tag exploded underground.

Minato used Flying Thunder God a third time to escape, landing near his previous hiding spot, dust clinging to his clothes.

Every step I took has been in your trap?

Minato's expression turned serious; he now respected Shikadan as an equal opponent.

What next? The usual Nara clan tactics—or a surprise?

He gathered chakra on his feet, used Instant Body to approach from the side again, aiming for the same landing spot.

The flash bombs and detonating tags here have been used up—

Buzz!

Two flash bombs exploded simultaneously at Shikadan's sides.

Shikadan had symmetrically placed bombs around himself.

Faced with this, Minato used his fourth Flying Thunder God Technique to retreat to the tree shade.

But this time, Shikadan's [Shadow Clone] appeared from the shadows behind him.

[Flat Shadow Technique]!

"I caught you again, Namikaze Jonin."

-End Chapter-

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