I Just Wanted to Slack Off, But I Was Forced to Become Hokage

Chapter 18: Opening Scrolls is Always Beneficial, the Future is Full of Promise!

'Excellent! It's the [Super Beast Scroll]!'

Having directly learned a high-difficulty ninjutsu, Nara Keisuke was in a very cheerful mood.

Although the [Super Beast Scroll] was only a B-rank ninjutsu, not quite reaching A-rank or S-rank, in terms of functionality and practicality, it absolutely surpassed the vast majority of ninjutsu in the shinobi world!

Just to mention one point: learning the [Super Beast Scroll] was almost equivalent to gaining the "ability to fly"! Before the combat paradigm of the shinobi world degenerated from "intelligence warfare" to "Gundam warfare," a ninja with the ability to fly was basically in an invincible position, as long as they weren't facing an enemy of the same type!

However...

Nara Keisuke gazed at the jutsu effects column on the panel, a little disappointed. He had originally thought that the [Super Beast Scroll] was a Yin Release secret art. After all, its expressive form of drawing beasts at will was too consistent with the Yin Release characteristic of "creating form from nothingness." Moreover, if the [Super Beast Scroll] were a Yin Release secret art, Nara Keisuke could have freely used this multi-functional technique with his [Wisdom] attribute, which had already reached B-rank.

'What a pity! It's a Yang Release secret art!'

Nara Keisuke closed his eyes slightly, the ninjutsu information he had just read flowing through his mind.

'For the [Super Beast Scroll], drawing skill isn't the main point. What's truly important is its ink!'

According to the description on the ninjutsu scroll given by Tsunade, to achieve the best effect with the [Super Beast Scroll], the best "ink" was one's own blood or hair, followed by elemental substances containing chakra, and the worst was conventional liquid.

'Setting aside the latter two types of ink for now, ink made from blood or hair...'

Nara Keisuke pondered the key points recorded on the ninjutsu scroll, his brow furrowing slightly.

'Simply changing the cellular ratio of blood or hair through chakra... what level of medical ninjutsu is that!'

Although Nara Keisuke had applied for and joined the Medical Department's Beast Rearing and Therapy Class, it was because of his "profound family knowledge" and his skill in taking care of beasts. Nara Keisuke didn't know any medical ninjutsu at all. His previous chakra reserves didn't support him in learning such a high-precision Yang Release secret art like medical ninjutsu.

'Fortunately, the [Super Beast Scroll] isn't a pure medical ninjutsu. What it requires is just precision in chakra control.'

'Even with my current chakra reserves, as long as I prepare sufficiently in advance, I can still use the [Super Beast Scroll].'

Nara Keisuke's furrowed brow relaxed.

'Of course, the most suitable choice for me is still to transform the [Super Beast Scroll] from a Yang Release ninjutsu into a Yin Release ninjutsu.'

'Using shadows to replace the ink of the [Super Beast Scroll]!'

This was undoubtedly another major project. But its prospects were also very enticing. Nara Keisuke silently adjusted the plan in his mind, prioritizing the research of the [Super Beast Scroll] before [Camouflage Concealment]. An "invisible shadow" was indeed difficult to defend against. But how could it be more appealing than being "escorted by an army of shadow beasts"?

And if one day he really managed to perfectly transform the [Super Beast Scroll] into a Yin Release ninjutsu, Nara Keisuke could perhaps start dreaming of the "Shadowkhan" that he would command and dominate!

'No one can escape their shadow... Shadowkhan, attack!'

"Ahem!"

Nara Keisuke coughed lightly, breaking free from his reverie about the future. Right now, the distance between him and his ideal "Shadowkhan" was simply too great. Instead of fantasizing about the Shadowkhan, it was better to first check what was recorded in the remaining [Shinobi Secret Scrolls].

The B-rank missions [Apprehend the Spies] and [Bounty Hunters], and the C-rank mission [Military Police Force Member]. The speed-run reward for the C-rank shinobi combat mission, Nara Keisuke had already opened, obtaining a [Body Flicker Technique] scroll.

As for the remaining two B-rank missions, since the [Bounty Hunters] mission was aborted halfway, Nara Keisuke only received a C-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll] after speed-running it. Currently, the [Shinobi Secret Scrolls] he possessed were one B-rank and one C-rank.

"Let's open this C-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll] first!"

Before opening the scroll, Nara Keisuke, filled with the hope of having explosive luck, first went to wash his hands.

"Opening a scroll is always beneficial!"

[Opening...]

[The content recorded in this C-Rank Shinobi Secret Scroll is: Jutsu]

[C-Rank Jutsu: Earth Release: Earth Dragon Hiding Technique]

Jutsu Description: Move freely by lurking within the earth.

Jutsu Effect: Flowing chakra turns the soil into fine sand, allowing one to burrow forward underground like an earth dragon.

Jutsu Evaluation: Diving? No, it's burrowing!

"An Earth Release ninjutsu?"

Looking at the recorded information on the panel, Nara Keisuke's brows rose slightly.

"This is the first time I've gotten an elemental ninjutsu from a [Shinobi Secret Scroll]! I haven't come into contact with Earth Release ninjutsu before, I wonder if I can use it..."

But regardless of whether he could use Earth Release or not, looking at the panel's description of the [Earth Dragon Hiding Technique], Nara Keisuke felt an indescribable sense of resistance in his heart.

"To put it nicely, it can be called the Earth Dragon Hiding Technique. To put it bluntly... isn't this just doggy-paddling in the dirt?"

Nara Keisuke was a tiny bit disappointed with the contents of the C-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll] he opened first. But not by much.

"Maybe... maybe this is... just fodder for a better roll?"

Nara Keisuke went to wash his hands again and very decisively opened the final B-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll].

[Opening...]

[The content recorded in this B-Rank Shinobi Secret Scroll is: Jutsu]

[B-Rank Jutsu: Shadow Clone Technique]

Jutsu Description: Equally divides the original body's chakra. The shadow is another real body.

Jutsu Effect: Uses chakra to create physical clones. They can act and fight just like the user, possess consciousness independent of the original body, and have a certain degree of durability. After being dispelled, the clone's memories and experiences return to the original body.

Jutsu Evaluation: I'm counting on you, my other self!

"[Shadow Clone Technique]!"

A smile appeared on Nara Keisuke's face as he looked at the recorded information on the panel. Although in his opinion, the value of the [Shadow Clone Technique] was not as high as the [Super Beast Scroll], which was also B-rank, it had to be admitted that the [Shadow Clone Technique] was also a very good B-rank ninjutsu with great development potential. For example, the famous protagonist-exclusive cheat—the A-rank ninjutsu [Multiple Shadow Clone Technique]!

Furthermore, when Nara Keisuke was just dreaming of the "Shadowkhan," he had already considered the existence of the [Shadow Clone Technique]. Since it was called the "Shadowkhan," it couldn't just have one "shadow warrior," right?

"The distance between the B-rank [Shadow Clone Technique] and the A-rank [Multiple Shadow Clone Technique] is not far. It's just a matter of the number of ways the chakra is divided."

Nara Keisuke fell into thought.

"The reason the [Multiple Shadow Clone Technique] became an A-rank forbidden jutsu is because without a sufficiently massive amount of chakra, using this jutsu will harm the user and even endanger their life! With my current D-rank [Stamina], I'd better not consider the [Multiple Shadow Clone Technique]..."

Nara Keisuke closed the [Shinobi Secret Scroll] section and checked his own [Jutsu Abilities] panel.

A-Rank: [Lacquer Eye], [Camouflage Concealment]

B-Rank: [Shadow Sewing Technique], [Super Beast Scroll], [Shadow Clone Technique]

C-Rank: [Shadow Gathering Jutsu], [Invisible Air], [Earth Dragon Hiding Technique]

D-Rank: [Shadow Paralysis Jutsu], [Body Flicker Technique]

E-Rank: [Clone Technique], [Body Replacement Technique], [Transformation Technique]

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and not looking at this [Jutsu Abilities] panel for a day has also brought about a great change!"

Nara Keisuke's current power base was still his family's inherited [Shadow Secret Arts]. But once he had completely mastered these subsequently acquired jutsu, his strength would definitely take a huge leap forward!

"Still those four words—the future is full of promise!"

Nara Keisuke let out a light breath and took out the chakra paper and military ration pill he had bought earlier from his equipment pouch.

"The top priority now is still to increase my chakra reserves! Without the support of chakra, any jutsu ability is just empty talk with no practical value."

Nara Keisuke first picked up the chakra paper from the table. Elemental ninjutsu was the necessary path for most Genin to become Chūnin, and even Jōnin. And to learn and master elemental ninjutsu, one must learn the nature transformation of chakra. A ninja first transforms their refined chakra into the corresponding element through nature transformation before they can use the corresponding ninjutsu.

For example, the [Earth Dragon Hiding Technique] Nara Keisuke had just gotten from the C-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll]. If he wanted to cast it, he must first create earth-natured chakra, then inject it into the ground to turn the soil into sand, and then proceed with the subsequent steps.

More profound than "nature transformation" was the "principle of mutual cancellation of nature transformations," which is the mutual restraint between elements. But that was not Nara Keisuke's goal for today. He just wanted to clearly test his own chakra nature to avoid taking detours when learning ninjutsu in the future.

Generally, everyone is born with a chakra nature. A ninja with a specific chakra nature will find it easier to learn ninjutsu of the corresponding element than other ninjutsu. The way a ninja tests their own chakra nature is through chakra paper.

Nara Keisuke recalled the knowledge related to chakra nature transformation, refined his chakra, and injected it into the paper in his hand. If it was lightning nature, the paper would wrinkle; earth nature would crumble; water nature would become wet; wind nature would tear; fire nature would burn.

Nara Keisuke stared at the paper in his hand. The palm-sized paper in his hand seemed to have been evenly divided into four small pieces of equal area.

One part was crumbling.

One part was becoming wet and soft.

One part was tearing apart.

One part was burning.

Nara Keisuke looked at the changes in the chakra paper in his hand with astonishment. He had thought that he would have at most one chakra nature, and most likely didn't even have a natural affinity. Because in his impression, among the members of the Nara clan who specialized in Yin Release, it seemed that none of them had ever used elemental ninjutsu.

And yet he...

"Earth, water, wind, and fire... four natures... balanced?"

(End of Chapter)