It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

Nara Shikadan stepped out of the attic alongside the clan leader and entered the courtyard of the Fire Temple.

Master Zhongjue appeared as if by premonition, his movements silent, his timing impeccable—almost as though he had tracked their path with foresight alone.

Nara Shikano was not surprised. He yawned lazily.

"I'll head to the guest hall for a bit of rest."

Master Zhongjue nodded in acknowledgment, then turned to Shikadan.

"Abbot Zhongjue."

Shikadan bowed slightly, voice polite.

"If it's convenient, could you arrange a quiet room for me?"

He had no intention of rushing into combat tests just yet. Though the Fire Temple was indeed an excellent "quest-triggering zone," Shikadan had more immediate priorities.

Now that he'd equipped the A-rank ninja tool [Chakra Crystal], he wanted to reassess his current techniques—to see how far they'd evolved.

Master Zhongjue's answer was as calm as ever.

"Follow me."

While Shikano found a place to doze, Shikadan was led to a modest quiet room nestled within the Fire Temple's compound.

Inside, he settled onto a futon, legs crossed and breath steady.

According to the clan leader's earlier schedule, Shikadan recalled,

we'll stay in Kyoto for one day, waiting for the daimyo to finish preparing the first batch of war supplies.

Tomorrow morning, after we receive the supplies, we'll set out for Konoha and clean up the remaining bounty hunters along the way.

That left him with the better part of a day to himself—precious, uninterrupted time.

Shikadan began plotting.

No time to upgrade [Super Beast Imitation Drawing].

No time to fuse [Camouflage Hidden] with the Shadow Secret Techniques…

Let's focus on something simple: the B-rank Yin Release technique—[Blood Piercing Bullet].

But first...

Let's test how the chakra capacity boost affects my existing techniques!

He began with [Camouflage Hidden].

The technique required substantial chakra to function properly—previously, Shikadan could barely sustain partial invisibility.

He activated [Lacquer Eye], scanning for lingering spiritual residues.

None.

Then, with a flicker of light from the [Chakra Crystal] embedded in his ring, Shikadan vanished from sight.

Success!

Now I can finally achieve full-body concealment with [Camouflage Hidden]!

Excited, he practiced the technique repeatedly, shifting in and out of visibility until he could do it effortlessly.

Only then did he turn to the more troublesome one.

[Blood Piercing Bullet] had always been problematic.

Originally a technique of the Chinoike Clan, it was designed to weaponize one's own blood—firing condensed blood bullets through accelerated internal flow and bloodline-enhanced control.

Their kekkei genkai, Blood Dragon Eye, allowed for perfect manipulation of blood flow, cell division, and regeneration.

Shikadan had none of that.

Whenever he used [Blood Piercing Bullet], he had to burn through his own blood supply—without a way to replenish it.

A "kill one thousand, bleed eight hundred" technique.

Not ideal.

But what if there was a better "ammunition"?

Shikadan looked down at his own shadow.

Shadows are also Yin-natured.

And I specialize in shadow techniques.

It made perfect sense.

Driven by intuition and chakra flow, he began merging principles of the [Shadow Secret Technique] with the mechanics of [Blood Piercing Bullet].

The result came faster than he expected.

Shikadan pointed his right index finger to the ground. The surrounding shadows pooled and condensed into a small, dense sphere at his fingertip—black as pitch, silent as death.

"Bang."

Shikadan mimicked the sound playfully as the bullet launched—soundless, smokeless—shooting like a needle of darkness into a human-shaped shadow cast on the floor.

The system responded immediately:

[B-Rank Technique: Shadow Piercing Bullet]

→ Self-developed technique: advanced Yin Release shadow art.

Effect: Infuse Yin-nature chakra into shadow material, solidifying and concentrating it into a projectile.

Fired like a bullet. Initial velocity: Mach 1.

Technique Evaluation: A pitch-black bullet!

[Shadow Piercing Bullet] created! Attributes [Ninjutsu] and [Wise Knowledge] slightly increased.

Yes!

Shikadan's grin widened.

A true long-range attack technique!

And compared to other B-rank ninjutsu, [Shadow Piercing Bullet] consumed little chakra and was highly covert—ideal for ambushes, support fire, or surgical strikes.

And this was just the beginning.

Shikadan had plans.

If I "develop" Rasengan in the future… and graft its ultimate shape transformation principles onto Shadow Piercing Bullet…

Could this technique evolve into something on par with A-rank ninjutsu—or even higher?

By noon, Shikadan was preparing to eat in solitude—just a Bingliang Pill, nothing fancy.

But then Nara Shikano dropped by uninvited.

"Come, Shikadan. You should try the Fire Temple's vegetarian cuisine."

Shikadan couldn't refuse.

As he sat across from the clan leader, chewing slowly, his thoughts spun faster than his chopsticks.

Compared to [Lacquer Eye], Shadow Piercing Bullet isn't quite as valuable…

*Shadow Clone Technique? Absolutely qualifies for S-rank—but it's also too high-difficulty to reinvent.

There's one more… [Super Beast Imitation Drawing].

Tsunade's gift.

In terms of versatility and battlefield presence, it could rival [Shadow Binding Technique] itself.

But if I want to submit it to the clan as a candidate for S-rank reward material… I should ask Tsunade first.

Better to hold off.

For now, I've got enough new toys to train with.

On the opposite side of the table, Nara Shikano's expression twisted ever so slightly.

For some reason, this lunch felt more nerve-racking than usual.

Why do I feel like I'm being schemed against?

He glanced at Shikadan, who was eating quietly, eyes half-lidded.

No… it's probably just my imagination.

It's not like this kid is cooking up another secret technique or anything…

After lunch, the two took a short nap.

When Shikano opened his eyes, he saw Shikadan sitting still, eyes closed in quiet rest.

"Shikadan," he said lightly, "interested in watching the Fire Temple's ninja monks train?"

Shikadan opened his eyes.

"Is that allowed?"

He had meant to ask Master Zhongjue later. After all, the Fire Temple was no ordinary dojo.

Its strength was real.

According to clan intelligence, the monks possessed a unique power—"Talent of the Sage Clan."

And in the world of shinobi, the term "sage" had a very specific connotation.

Sage Mode.

A state achieved by blending natural energy with one's own chakra, amplifying all forms of ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu.

Shikadan had already guessed that the Fire Temple's technique might be a diluted or early version of Sage Mode—perhaps not as potent as those from Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, or Shikkotsu Forest…

But it was still a path. A way to touch natural energy.

And that made it invaluable.

"No problem at all," Shikano assured him.

"You may not know this, but the Fire Temple's philosophy is a bit… different.

To them, chakra belongs not to individuals, but to all living things.

They don't mind spreading their teachings outward."

With the green light given, Shikadan didn't hesitate.

He followed the clan leader toward the Fire Temple's martial training grounds.

Meanwhile.

Somewhere in the Land of Fire—

A tall man with green eyes walked into a public restroom, dragging a corpse.

He moved silently through a secret door hidden in the wall, entering a hidden underground chamber.

The Gold Exchange.

A gathering place for bounty hunters. A place of business—and blood.

"Mr. Kakuzu, welcome again!"

A staffer greeted the newcomer warmly, instantly recognizing him.

Kakuzu didn't bother with pleasantries.

He threw the corpse down like a sack of potatoes.

"Bounty. Pay up."

"Of course! You're a legend among bounty hunters, Mr. Kakuzu!"

As the staffer tallied the reward, he handed over a scroll.

"Also—this is the latest intel from the Land of Fire.

A missing-nin fled the Land of Hot Water, carrying all his clan's wealth and assets."

Kakuzu's eyes flashed green.

A jackal had caught the scent of gold.

"Give me his file."