It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

Who are these people…?

Nara Shikadan narrowed his eyes.

The newcomers radiated arrogance. Though dressed like shinobi, not a single one wore a forehead protector. The only identifying mark was the triangular cloth around their waists—each bearing the character for "fire."

"You're the Daimyo's Twelve Guardian Ninja, aren't you?"

Akimichi Choza's voice was low and displeased as he eyed the cloth emblem.

His expression darkened.

No one liked being interrupted at a moment of triumph—especially not by strangers radiating hostility.

"Heh. So the hicks from Konoha aren't as clueless as I thought."

The young man leading the group sneered.

"I figured you backwoods beggars only knew how to beg the daimyo for handouts."

The jab stung.

Not Shikadan. Not Choza. Not even Inoichi.

But it struck a nerve with Sarutobi Asuma.

The son of the Hokage—arrogant, brash, and proud.

"What did you just say?"

Asuma stepped forward, eyes blazing. He drew a kunai from his pouch, holding it tightly.

"You looking for a beating?"

"Sarutobi Genin!" Nara Shikano's voice cracked through the tension.

"If a monkey bites you, do you bite back?"

Asuma blinked, completely thrown.

"Wha—what does that even mean?"

The young Guardian Nin bristled.

"What did you just call us?"

He took a step forward—only to freeze.

Literally.

The shadows around Nara Shikano spread outward, blossoming like black spider lilies. Thin shadow tendrils snaked out—fluid, swift, and unrelenting.

Shadow Binding Technique.

Before the Guardian Ninja could move, they were pinned in place, limbs paralyzed by the grasping shadows.

The gap in skill was stark.

To the grizzled Nara clan head, these pampered "Guardians" were nothing but hothouse flowers.

"There's no need to waste words on them." Nara Shikano walked forward with calm authority. The Konoha shinobi followed.

"We just walked away with a fortune in war supplies from the daimyo. A little grumbling from his guards is to be expected."

He never even looked at the Guardian Ninja.

The most scathing form of contempt was silence.

"You—ugh!"

The leader finally burst out—only for a shadowy palm to whip out and slap him across the face.

Shadow Strangulation Technique.

The palm lashed across his cheek with a loud smack, then clamped tightly over his mouth. The damage was minimal, but the insult?

Devastating.

His cheeks burned as he struggled, groaning helplessly.

The others looked on in horror, frozen stiff by the binding technique.

Without another word, the Konoha team strode out of the daimyo's mansion.

"This is where we part ways."

Nara Shikano stood with Nara Shikadan at the city edge, addressing the others.

"We have additional business to attend to. Inoichi, Choza—keep an eye on the kids. Don't let them cause trouble."

"We're not kids!" Asuma huffed.

"We're official Genin!"

"Then learn what to do… and what not to do."

'Especially you, little monkey…'

Shikano didn't voice it, but the worry was plain in his eyes.

If the Hokage's son caused a ruckus in Kyoto, the consequences would fall on all of them.

Yamanaka Inoichi gave a calm nod.

"Understood, Uncle Shikano."

Choza stretched, smiling warmly.

"Alright kids, let's go fill our bellies! This city's got food that makes you see heaven!"

Once separated from the main group, Nara Shikadan followed his clan leader deeper into the city.

"Chief, those guys just now... were they really the 'Guardian Ninja'?"

Shikadan had to admit—

His already vague impression of the Twelve Guardian Ninja had just plummeted.

"Yes," Shikano said. "That cloth with the character 'fire' is their identifying mark."

"The Twelve Guardian Ninja are a joint force organized by Konoha, the Land of Fire, and the Fire Temple.

But because their core mission is to 'protect the daimyo,' many of them now think more about the Daimyo than the Hokage."

He sighed.

"Still, not all of them are like that."

Shikadan scowled internally.

Twelve people. One job. Two factions. And endless drama.

He recalled the future—how the Guardian Ninja would later split between pro-Hokage and pro-Daimyo factions.

Infighting. Betrayal.

Eventually, some would go so far as to attack Konoha itself.

Shikadan shook his head.

'Where the hell do they get the confidence to think they can destroy Konoha?'

"Disappointed?" Shikano raised an eyebrow.

"You expected more from the Guardian Ninja?"

"I just think it's a waste."

Shikadan didn't hide his opinion.

"Too few people. Too much internal conflict. They're weak, disorganized, and full of pride. I don't want anything to do with them."

Shikano chuckled.

"Well, I had prepared a special reward if you joined them…"

Shikadan looked regretful—but firm.

"Guess I'll just have to miss out on that."

"Don't be so sure."

The old patriarch turned off the main path, taking Shikadan along a winding trail out of Kyoto and into a dense forest.

"I said there were two special rewards tied to this mission. One was joining the Guardian Ninja. The other… depends entirely on you."

Shikadan's ears perked up.

A new reward?

He grew curious.

'Could it really be something valuable?'

They soon arrived in a wooded clearing, tall trees towering around them.

"Before I reveal the second reward…" Shikano twirled his beard thoughtfully.

"Let me test your understanding of our clan's legacy."

"What's the greatest strength of the Nara Clan's shadow techniques?"

Shikadan thought for a moment.

"Their tactical value. Their control potential."

"Most people think our techniques are about stealth or versatility. But I believe the true power lies in absolute control."

"Elemental jutsu"—Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and Lightning were all fundamentally about attack.

Whether it was the thunderous Kirin or the cellular devastation of the Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, the core idea remained: damage.

But the Nara Clan's shadow arts?

They were control-type jutsu.

Techniques that restricted, bound, manipulated.

Shikadan's eyes lit up.

"In fact, you could say our Shadow Techniques… Are a kind of physical illusion."

Shikano raised an eyebrow.

Shikadan pressed on:

"Illusions use Yin Release to interfere with the five senses, disrupt chakra flow, and rob the target of control."

"And our Shadow Binding Technique? It immobilizes. Restricts. Controls the enemy directly."

"Both effects—control through perception, and control through force—lead to the same outcome:

The target can no longer act of their own will."

Shikadan paused.

"Even the Yamanaka Clan's mind techniques operate on a similar principle. But they require self-sacrifice, risking consciousness for control. Our methods are safer—and just as effective."

Shikano stared at him, blinking.

'…I just wanted to ask what 1 + 1 was.'

'Kid went and derived the theory of addition.'

He cleared his throat.

"So what you're saying is…"

Shikadan grinned.

"Our clan… is basically an illusion clan with muscles."

-End Chapter-

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