It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

What!

Nara Shikadan stared at the item description on his panel, feeling only one thing: complete numbness.

It wasn't that he hadn't expected the wood used for chakra test paper to be special—after all, it was a "mutated tree." Even toads, slugs, and snakes could mutate, so why not trees?

At most, Shikadan had thought this special wood was a rare product born from the power of Wood Release when the First Hokage united the world.

But to his surprise...

This wood wasn't just a mutated tree—it was related to Wood Release itself.

More precisely, it was the ancestor of Wood Release: the Sacred Tree.

His mind instantly flooded with information about the Sacred Tree, "The sacred object of the Ōtsutsuki clan, which produces chakra fruit by absorbing planetary energy... the original source of chakra... the true body of the Ten-Tails..."

Shikadan looked down at the SSS-class item in his hand, the [Sacred Tree Branch], then abruptly pulled back as if shocked by an electric jolt.

"How can something like this be casually bought from a store?"

"This isn't just some Six Paths Ninja Tool!"

He felt the urge to press down a heavy book with a paperweight, but instead casually pulled out an Infinity Stone.

Even knowing the huge gulf between this [Divine Tree Branch] and the actual Divine Tree... even knowing the SSS rating was likely exaggerated...

His priority now was to discover the source of this branch as quickly as possible.

"Two possibilities!"

Shikadan hefted the branch, then dispatched two shadow clones to tidy up and train themselves, before dashing out the door without a backward glance.

"First possibility: this branch really is a product of the Wood Release from the Great Pillar era, and Wood Release's true nature is not a bloodline limit or clan secret, but the legendary bloodline network."

"Second possibility: this [Divine Tree Branch] actually originates from the Outer Path Demon Statue!"

An uneasy feeling gnawed at Shikadan as he hurried toward Konoha Weapons Shop.

It was late at night. Only the owner remained inside.

"Well, a customer at this hour?" the owner eyed the Aburame ninja warily.

"Excuse me, can I help you?" she asked.

"This piece of wood," Shikadan said, placing the branch on the counter.

"Where did you get it?" he pressed.

"What do you mean, customer?" she replied, her guard rising.

"The source of our goods is a crucial secret for our shop's survival. You don't think I'd just give it away, do you?"

Shikadan smiled.

"I'll pay more."

Her eyes brightened at the tip.

"This special wood used for chakra test paper was only discovered in recent decades. At first, we thought it only grew in the Land of Fire, but later found similar trees in the Land of Iron."

Shikadan asked, "So, where exactly does this branch come from?"

"Sir, you're putting too much pressure on me," she said with a half-smile. "I'm just an ordinary ninja tool shop owner. I might know which countries carry special items, but how could I tell whether one piece of wood grew in the Land of Fire or the Land of Iron?"

Shikadan flipped the [Divine Tree Branch] over and over in his hands.

The owner watched his odd behavior but, considering the generous tip, chose not to discourage him.

"Are the Aburame clan really this rich?" she wondered, recalling the tip.

Just then, a customer called out from outside.

"Boss, one bottle of ration pills, please. Checking out."

"Fifty taels," the owner called.

Shikadan paid, pocketed the branch and the drink, then left.

"I learned nothing concrete... but at least now I know about the Land of Iron."

"The special trees in the Land of Fire probably relate to Hashirama Senju's Wood Release."

"But the Land of Iron? Could the Outer Path Demon Statue be connected to that region?"

"Or maybe Uchiha Madara hid there for decades after his fake death?"

Back at home, Shikadan placed the ration pills near the entrance and returned to the training room with the branch.

Though its exact origin remained unknown, he decided to proceed with making the [Nature Mask] as planned.

"Am I wasting precious SSS-level materials?"

For the first mask, Shikadan didn't demand much precision.

He cut a roughly five-centimeter-thick slab from the branch—since the mask needed decent protection—and began channeling chakra into the wood.

But the chakra slipped in like a tiny stream flowing into the sea, producing no visible effect.

"The [Divine Tree Branch] doesn't react to chakra like chakra test paper does... which makes sense."

"Still, the [Nature Mask] made from this should have excellent defense against pure chakra attacks."

He tapped the board with a kunai; the dull "dong dong" sounds confirmed the wood's sturdy physical defense.

Satisfied, Shikadan devoted himself to crafting the mask.

A rough, simple wooden mask gradually took shape in his hands.

"Given my skills, I'll set the first mask's attribute as Earth."

He stroked the wooden mask while syncing with the [Chakra Crystal] on his right index finger, using it to infuse earth-nature chakra.

After charging it for a while, the mask was complete.

Almost immediately, his panel displayed:

[B-level Ninja Tool detected: Nature Mask!]

[Ninja Tool Description: A wooden mask made from sacred tree branches infused with nature chakra.]

[Ninja Tool Effect: 1. Contains B-level earth nature chakra, usable with the body; 2. Earth nature chakra can convert into B-level technique [Earth Style·Earth Spear] for defense.]

[Ninja Tool Evaluation: Everyone wears a mask... I just made mine.]

"The item level is surprisingly high for the first [Nature Mask] I made!"

Shikadan examined the mask. The natural wood surface bore no extra markings—only two eye holes carved out.

"I wonder if the [Shadow Clone] can use it."

A figure emerged from Shikadan's shadow.

He casually tossed the mask to the clone.

But before Shikadan could speak, the clone quickly put on the mask.

"I'm not human anymore! My Lord!"

"I knew it..." Shikadan sighed.

"Try it out."

[Lacquer Eye] appeared as two shadow blades shot from beneath Shikadan's feet, slashing the clone's body.

[Shadow Seam Technique]!

Da! Da!

The blades struck the clone, but didn't kill it outright—they cut crisp marks instead.

Looking closely, the clone's body showed a dark, deep hue characteristic of [Earth Release·Earth Spear] in use.

"The [Shadow Clone] can use the [Nature Mask]!"

Shikadan's eyes brightened.

"And the defense is excellent!"

He wasn't using [Shadow Seam Technique] himself—his real body remained in shadow.

The clone, with near-elite Jonin level skills, wielded the B-level Shadow Seam Technique but failed to break the Nature Mask's defense. That was impressive.

"Give me the mask—I want to check its chakra reserves after that hit."

Shikadan retrieved the mask and quietly assessed its chakra.

"Chakra consumption is acceptable. One mask can probably endure five slashes like that."

He knew clones could materialize into real bodies, so physical damage wasn't a big concern.

But his original body still needed solid physical defense.

Now, with the Nature Mask, his defense had risen dramatically.

Unless targeted by Lightning Release attacks, Shikadan could rest easy even while lying hidden in shadows.

"Of course, the [Nature Mask] is also crucial for the [Shadow Clone]."

"The clone's body is made of Yin-Tun chakra and can only use the original's Yin-Tun ninjutsu. But with the [Nature Mask], clones can now use corresponding nature chakra techniques!"

Shikadan wanted to forge two more masks—Wind and Fire attributes—while the idea was fresh.

But as midnight neared, he chose to sleep according to his routine.

Yet in his dreams, he missed a new panel notification:

[Within a natural day, no strength-consuming exercise other than physiological needs detected.]

[Your [Strength] attribute has increased!]

[Strength +24]

[Strength: E- → D-]

-End Chapter-

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