It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

So strange!

What did he just say?

I didn't hear it clearly.

"Sorry."

Nara Shikadan pinched his earlobe, doubting his own memory for the first time in his life.

"What you just said was..."

"Shuriken Secret Technique Starry Sky Falling Dance Zero, and Nara Secret Secret Technique Ultra Ultimate Black Explosion Shadow Bullet!"

Namikaze Minato's face remained calm, without even a hint of redness or breathlessness, as he stuffed a handful of highly processed second-year ninja spirit snacks into his mouth.

"These are the names I gave to the two special ninjutsu you just used. Pretty cool, right?"

"Your names are a bit..."

Nara Shikadan smiled awkwardly. "Which Nara clan ninja would give their moves ridiculously long names?"

"Ah! Sorry, sorry!"

Minato scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. "I overlooked that. You Nara clan ninjas really are... well, particular."

"But Shikadan, your strength truly surprised me."

The initial rounds of their fight had been a game of tactical suppression. But once Shikadan unleashed those advanced shadow secrets, the match escalated into a battle of pure power.

Minato didn't truly see himself as outmatched yet, but he knew that to defeat Shikadan outright, he had to go all out — even using his trump card: the giant summoned beast from Myoboku Mountain, Gamabunta.

For most ninjas, especially Nara clan ones, facing a massive summoned beast controlling chakra and capable of ninjutsu is a nightmare.

Even sheer size alone intimidates.

Yet Minato wouldn't be cruel to Shikadan, Konoha's promising new sprout. So he decisively ended the competition.

Summoning Gamabunta signaled Shikadan to stop—it would be rude to continue.

"Rather, Namikaze Jonin's abilities also exceeded my expectations," Shikadan admitted, holding his newly acquired A-level ninja secret scroll with pride.

"You're the first ninja I've seen break free from the binding effect of shadow secret techniques so easily. Truly amazing!"

"No, no."

Minato smiled, waving it off. "That's not my skill. I just used a special ninjutsu developed by the Second Hokage."

Shikadan raised an eyebrow knowingly. "Does that technique have a long name too?"

"No... it's simply called the 'Flying Thunder God Technique.' Sounds pretty ordinary."

Minato hesitated, then brightened again.

"But I've developed several new ninjutsu with very powerful names based on it! Speaking of which, what are the real names of the two ninjutsu you used earlier?"

"The first isn't really a ninjutsu at all," Shikadan said with a smirk, "just a deliberately weird name to distract you."

As Minato revealed 'Flying Thunder God,' Shikadan didn't mind sharing his own secret technique's real name.

"The second one… you might expect something like 'Super Ultimate Death Missile' or 'Purgatory Musou Burst Wave Cannon.'"

"Okay! Okay!"

Minato clapped excitedly. "Those are great! Shikadan—do you mind if I borrow them for my new jutsu names?"

Lord Yondaime, don't be a chuunibyou at this time! Shikadan thought.

"It's up to you..." he finally said.

Shikadan then cut to the chase: "The jutsu I actually used was [Shadow Binding Bullet]."

"Ah—"

Minato's tone dropped with mock disappointment. "Not my style..."

Shikadan took a deep breath, looked up at the sky, and composed himself.

"It's getting late, Namikaze Jonin. Thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to accept my challenge."

Calm yet familiar, Shikadan asked, "If you're free at noon, how about grabbing a quick meal together?"

"Getting late?"

Minato blinked, his mind still tangled in naming those 'Super Ultimate Death Missile' and 'Purgatory Musou Explosion Wave Cannon' techniques.

"What time is it now—oh no! Kushina!"

Boom!

A terrifying wave of energy swept over the third training ground entrance like a storm.

Minato's expression instantly darkened.

Shikadan's eyes widened in surprise.

But what startled him more wasn't the 'blood-red pepper' seeming to crawl out of hell—not far away—but the task prompt flashing on his panel:

[S-rank mission detected!]

[S-rank mission: Blood-Red Pepper]

[Objective: Defeat/Kill Uzumaki Kushina]

[Reward: S-rank ninja secret scroll]

[Note: S-rank ninja battle mission for the same target can be completed once a year]

Sorry!

The curse words Shikadan hadn't shouted when challenging Minato came roaring to mind.

Blood-Red Pepper? Uzumaki Kushina, the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails?!

"Minato!"

Uzumaki Kushina appeared instantly beside them.

Her hands hung loosely, shoulders slumped, yet a terrifying scarlet chakra radiated from her entire body.

Her long blood-red hair danced eerily, as if alive, warning anyone nearby.

It looked like, in the next moment, she would rip Minato apart with her claws, screaming the classic line: "Cry, scream, and then, die!"

"Kushina!"

Minato shuddered and immediately stood straight, hands pressed firmly on his thighs, ready to face whatever came.

Kushina ignored Shikadan, her blazing eyes locked on Minato.

"What time is our appointment?"

"Ten, ten!"

"What time is it now?"

"Uh..."

A bead of cold sweat slowly trickled down Minato's fair face.

Shikadan quickly jumped in.

"Namikaze Jonin, who is this?"

"Uzumaki Kushina!"

At Shikadan's words, Minato's face brightened as if hearing nature itself, instantly speeding up his reaction.

"My lover!"

Upon hearing this, Kushina's anger melted, a blush blooming on her cheeks.

Snap!

She slapped Minato's arm hard enough to make his eyes twitch.

"What a shame, Minato! There are outsiders here."

Kushina sized up Shikadan. "Is this the one who made you miss our date? A... ninja from the Aburame clan?"

"No."

Shikadan returned her gaze steadily, recalling the triggered mission prompt.

He cautiously released [Shadow Binding Technique].

"I'm a ninja from the Nara clan."

"Oh."

Kushina looked down, and suddenly golden chains shot from her body, wrapping Shikadan tight.

As the diamond chains touched him, his chakra was violently disrupted—his regular chakra, Yin Dun secret chakra, and even the chakra granted by his [Chakra Crystal] were all affected.

Suspended in midair, Shikadan stared at the chains.

Information flashed through his mind: the Uzumaki clan's A-level sealing technique, [Vajra Seal].

A powerful seal even the Nine-Tails couldn't break, with incredible physical destructive force.

From its effects, [Vajra Seal] was basically the ultimate deluxe version of the Nara clan's [Shadow Secret Technique].

It was unbeatable.

Shikadan gave up resisting.

"Kushina, please put Shikadan down."

Minato patted Kushina's shoulder helplessly, shooting a glance at a dark corner of the third training ground with slight displeasure.

"He doesn't know the details at all..."

"Dare disturb my date with you? Even the old man from the third generation will get a taste of my wrath!"

Kushina raised her fist, but finally loosened the diamond chains.

"Nara boy, don't think I won't beat you just because you're handsome."

"Thanks for the compliment."

Shikadan calmly replied, then looked at Minato.

"Thank you for your hard work, Namikaze Jonin."

"?"

Kushina tilted her head.

This polite, handsome kid's words sounded a little... off.

"Shikadan!"

Minato appeared behind Shikadan, placing his hands on his shoulders and gently pushing him away from Kushina.

"I have another appointment today, so I'll say goodbye early.

"As for the meal... next time for sure."

Shikadan was almost pushed out of the training ground by Minato.

[You are detected far from combat target. S-rank mission—]

[Speed pass successful!]

[S-rank mission: Blood-Red Pepper completed!]

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

-End Chapter-

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