It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

"Who am I?"

Yakushi Nono noticed Nara Shikadan's deliberate approach, and her eyes flicked toward the shadows beneath their feet as she subtly tried to step aside.

"Nara-kun, what are you talking about? I'm the director of Kikyo Orphanage."

But Nara Shikadan had already stopped listening.

He had spotted something wrong during their earlier conversation.

And this step—the evasion of their shadows touching—was the final proof.

If this person were really Yakushi Nono, she wouldn't care about shadow contact.

Nara Shikadan allowed her to sidestep.

Then, in the instant she paused—when her guard was down—he released the jutsu he had prepared all along—

[Spiral Shadow Binding Bullet]!

A pitch-black projectile cut through the air, instantly bridging the short distance and plunging into the false Nono's shadow.

"What is this…"

Yakushi Nono's pupils contracted.

She saw the unnaturally fast-moving shadow coming for her.

But at such close range, she had no time to evade.

Just as she tried to retreat, she suddenly realized—her body no longer obeyed her commands.

The Nara clan's Shadow Binding Technique…

The imposter was shaken.

This brat—Nara Shikadan—actually developed a long-range version of the Shadow Binding Technique?!

But Shikadan wasn't done.

While restraining her with the [Spiral Shadow Binding Bullet], he activated his [Lacquer Eye] and immediately cast another jutsu—

[Shadow Binding Technique]!

His elongated shadow surged forward and linked with hers, reinforcing the control and pinning her body completely.

"Nara-kun, what are you doing?"

Even now, "Yakushi Nono" continued her act, her face showing a mix of surprise and confusion.

"I can—"

"Enough with the act."

Shikadan maintained the hold of his Shadow Binding Technique, his expression now icy.

"The real Yakushi Nono doesn't talk like you.

"I don't like repeating myself."

He stepped forward.

"Who are you?"

"I… I am Yakushi Nono…" the fake said, still clinging to the lie with a forced smile.

[Shadow Strangling Technique]!

Shikadan wasn't in the mood to waste any more time.

He immediately replaced the [Shadow Binding Technique] with a more aggressive version.

Multiple solid shadow hands coiled upward through the hem of the nun's black-and-white robes, gripping her limbs with crushing force.

Still no puff of smoke.

Not a Shadow Clone. This is Nono's real body.

Shikadan narrowed his eyes, thoughts racing.

And that strange behavior…

Body control from a distance…

This must be a spirit-possession jutsu from the Yamanaka clan!

"This is indeed the body of Yakushi Nono.

"And that jutsu—some kind of mental transfer… So you're a Yamanaka clan ninja. Is this the Mind Body Switch Technique?"

"You really are a genius of the Nara clan."

The fake Nono stopped pretending.

She sneered, mocking him even as the dark shadow hands crept up her limbs.

"You analyzed my identity and ability so quickly…"

Shikadan's tone was colder than ever.

"It is the Yamanaka clan's mind-transfer technique."

"We're both part of the Ino–Shika–Cho alliance. You really think I wouldn't know how to counter it?"

Indeed.

The Mind Body Switch Technique was difficult to resist once the transfer succeeded.

But not impossible.

"What if you do know?" the imposter smiled darkly. "Are you really going to harm this body?"

"Since when…"

Shikadan's voice dropped.

"…did you get the idea that I'm a kind person?"

The [Shadow Strangling Technique] tightened.

Shikadan's shadow split into five dark hands—gripping Yakushi Nono's forearms, biceps, thighs, and calves.

"With just a little force… her limbs will shatter.

"And according to the rules of the Mind Transfer Technique, any damage inflicted on the host is reflected back on the caster.

"In other words—you'll be paralyzed too."

"Y-You dare—"

Crack!

Shikadan's gaze sharpened, and he tightened his grip on the shadow around her right arm.

One shadow hand pulled forward, another yanked back.

A sharp snap echoed in the room.

Yakushi Nono's right arm bent grotesquely, the elbow joint dislocated and twisted at an unnatural angle.

"Ah—!"

The pain tore through her body, and a shriek escaped her lips.

At the same moment, the invading spiritual force was forcibly expelled.

Elsewhere—in a hidden building near Kikyo Orphanage—a Root ninja groaned, collapsing as his right arm snapped violently.

Shikadan listened for signs of further intrusion, but the area remained silent.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"…Shikadan…"

The woman's voice trembled, her breath shallow.

"Can you… let go now?"

"I still can't confirm you're the real Yakushi Nono."

Shikadan kept his distance, expression cautious.

"What was the first thing you said to me when we met?"

Despite the pain, a faint blush crept across Yakushi Nono's pale cheeks.

She closed her eyes and whispered, barely audible—

"…Little brother… do you want to come home with your sister… to your sister's house…"

"Alright!"

Shikadan immediately released the [Shadow Strangling Technique], stepped forward, and caught her before she could fall.

"I'm sorry, Sister Nono!"

"It's alright… hiss—!"

Nono winced, clearly still in pain from her injured arm.

"Should I get a doctor?" Shikadan asked quickly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"I am a doctor… why go looking for someone else…"

Gritting her teeth, she gently used her good left hand to probe the dislocated elbow.

Then, with a gasp of effort—

Snap!

Another sharp pop.

Nono reset her arm with practiced precision.

"…Right! You're a doctor!"

Shikadan clapped his hands.

"You can just use medical ninjutsu to—"

"No."

Nono shook her head firmly, rotating her now-stabilized arm with difficulty.

"While I was possessed, they made me ingest a drug that blocks chakra circulation.

"I can't mold chakra right now, let alone use medical ninjutsu.

"Shikadan, we have to leave Kikyo Orphanage immediately. Those Root ninjas are here for you!"

"Let's go—"

Before she could finish—

Swish swish swish!

A volley of shuriken came flying through the window.

Their target wasn't Shikadan—

It was Yakushi Nono, now defenseless and chakra-deprived.

No time to think.

Shikadan instantly expanded the shadow beneath him into a barrier, shielding her completely.

[Shadow Shield Technique]!

Clang! Clang!

The shuriken struck the shield and ricocheted away, clattering to the floor.

Suddenly, a system notification appeared—

[B-Rank Ninja Battle Mission Triggered!]

[Mission: Pig in the Mountain]

[Objective: Defeat/kill the invading Yamanaka clan ninja]

[Reward: B-Rank Secret Scroll]

Shikadan didn't have time to feel relieved—

A large, oddly shaped sickle spun through the window next.

This time, the target was him.

Its speed was lower than the shuriken, but Shikadan didn't take chances.

He redirected part of the shadow shield and weaved it into a web—

[Shadow Gathering Technique]!

Clack.

The sickle hit the shadow net and scraped a few times before falling to the floor, harmless.

"…A feint?"

Shikadan frowned at the unremarkable weapon on the ground.

Too plain. Something's not right…

Then—

A tiny figure burst in through the doorway.

Faster than even the thrown shuriken!

Shikadan instantly struck back with sharpened, hardened shadow tendrils—

[Shadow Seam Technique]!

"No!"

Yakushi Nono cried out.

The shadow spike pierced the small intruder cleanly.

But—

"You've been tricked, kid…"

A cold, mechanical female voice echoed in Shikadan's mind.

"Body and Mind Transformation Puppet Curse Seal Technique."

-End Chapter-

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