It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

Getting up in the morning and embracing the sun, Nara Shikadan felt an inexplicable comfort wash over him. It was like sinking into a soft sofa in the afternoon, perfectly molded to his body, every muscle completely relaxed and satisfied.

"Strength +24? When did this message pop up?"

Only now did Shikadan notice the panel notification.

"And my [Strength] attribute jumped by a huge amount!"

Recalling recent events, he connected the dots.

Since discovering the perfect combination of [Shadow Clone Technique], [Flat Shadow Technique], and [Immortal Clan Guidance Technique], his daily life had become almost fully automated. Except for eating, drinking, defecating, urinating, and sleeping, he basically relied spiritually on his shadow clones while lying flat and practicing passively.

"So this is the result of an accident?"

After learning that "eating can improve stamina" and "studying can improve wisdom," Shikadan had been searching for ways to boost other attributes. No luck—until this morning, when the system gave him this unexpected gift.

"Finally, a way to increase [Strength]!"

Yet the panel's condition gave him pause:

"In a natural day, except for satisfying your own physiological needs, do not perform any other strength-consuming exercise."

Shikadan looked at the message, feeling simultaneously amused and annoyed.

"You really are something, [Lazy Ghost System]!"

Dry food, guaranteed baseline, energy-saving...

Now he understood why it was called the "Lazy Ghost System."

"But then, how do I increase my [Speed] attribute?"

"Nara Lazy Ghost, don't move?"

"Just lie flat?"

Familiar with his skyrocketing [Strength], Shikadan summoned a few shadow clones.

"Go buy some breakfast."

"Go chop some wood."

"You go practice Rasengan."

Considering his stamina, he only created three clones, while his main body went to wash up and clean.

When the breakfast-buying clone returned, Shikadan sent him off to practice Rasengan.

After breakfast, the panel popped up daily reminders:

[Eating… Your [Stamina] attribute has increased.]

[Stamina: C-]

"Keep up normal eating habits, increase ration pills intake... I should reach B-level Stamina within a month," Shikadan mused.

Glancing at the panel, he closed it and dove back into crafting the [Nature Mask].

Half the morning passed.

Shikadan successfully produced two new masks, consuming the SSS-level [Divine Tree Branch] he bought last night.

"Earth, Wind, and Fire... now I have three B-level [Attribute Masks], corresponding to the ninjutsu [Earth Style·Earth Spear], [Wind Style·Suppression], and [Fire Style·Hard Work]," he thought.

"I'll carry the Earth mask with me and keep the Wind and Fire masks for emergencies."

He reflected, "I haven't mastered Water Style ninjutsu or condensed water-nature chakra yet, so no Water mask for now."

"I could make a Yin-type mask, but since [Shadow Clones] are already Yin chakra-based, that wouldn't be meaningful."

Shikadan created a new shadow clone, assigned it to tidy the training room, and moved to the living room.

He picked up the bottle of catnip a shadow clone brought him, then pulled out the burning incense Nekobaa had gifted him, from his ninja tool bag.

Walking to the window, he pushed it open and lit the incense.

The curling smoke drifted out, its odor molecules invisible yet gently filling Konoha's air.

After about five minutes, just as the incense was nearly burnt out, a cat's meow sounded outside.

"A strange visitor, meow~"

A light-yellow kitten with pointed ears jumped onto the windowsill and stared at Shikadan.

Its upper body was dressed in ninja-like clothes, and a small "忍" character was engraved on its forehead.

"Little brother, you lit the cat incense—anything I can help with, meow?"

The ninja cat spoke with curious habits.

Shikadan, curious himself, pushed the catnip drink toward the feline.

"Katanagi drink—cats like this stuff. I think you'll like it too, Ninja Cat."

"Meow! You're so polite, meow!"

The ninja cat jumped lightly down, rolling the drink on the table with joy.

"Little brother, you're so generous, meow! Truly worthy of being a Nara clan ninja, meow!"

Shikadan wondered how the cat knew his identity, but then recalled his first meeting with Nekobaa—Inuzuka Claw. Probably the cat's keen sense of smell.

Ninja Cat deftly opened the bottle, holding it with two paws, and sipped eagerly. The satisfied look on its face was almost human.

Shikadan didn't interrupt, quietly enjoying the scene.

"I haven't drunk so happily in a long time, meow!"

Soon the ninja cat finished the bottle.

"Little brother, not many ninjas are as polite as you, meow. For this bottle of catnip…summoning technique!"

The cat raised its right paw, pressing lightly on Shikadan's table.

With a puff of smoke, a scroll appeared beneath the paw.

"This is our product catalog, please take a look, meow."

Ninja Cat pushed the scroll toward Shikadan.

"Sorry, this cat doesn't have a name yet."

"Just call me Denka, meow!"

"Okay, Denka."

Shikadan took the scroll but didn't open it immediately. Instead, he introduced himself briefly and asked:

"Can Nekobaa customize ninja tools?"

"Of course, meow!" Denka nodded.

"Little brother Shikadan wants to customize ninja tools, meow? You'd better meet Boss Cat in person, meow."

"Then please take me to see Boss Cat, Denka."

With the chakra metal scroll and coin scroll given by his clan leader, Shikadan followed Denka, passing through Konoha to a ruin southeast of the village.

'In the opposite direction of Kikyo Castle... the river we crossed—is that the Nanga River?'

Walking through the ruins, they soon arrived at a dilapidated building.

An empty area.

"That's it, meow!" Denka warned him to be careful.

"The terrain is complicated—don't get lost, meow."

Shikadan nodded.

The pair quickly navigated the labyrinthine corridors, which all looked nearly identical, making it easy to get lost.

Under Denka's guidance, Shikadan safely reached a spacious room.

Walls were lined with scrolls and ninja tools. In the center stood a large, out-of-place tent.

They entered the tent.

Inside, a large soft white bed took up most of the space, in front of it lay a plush round carpet. Cats and piles of books filled every corner.

Most eye-catching was Nekobaa herself, surrounded by many cats, holding a narrow wooden pipe and puffing out smoke.

Her scarlet lips brushed the golden filter, releasing curling white smoke. Her purple cat ears, hidden in wavy blonde hair, twitched softly.

"Isn't this the little brother from the Nara family I met at the Claw that day?"

Nekobaa set down her pipe and fixed her crystal-like purple eyes on Shikadan.

"So, are you finally here to do business with me?"

Shikadan was about to explain when a voice of shock and anger interrupted.

"Why is it you?!"

Shikadan turned toward the voice and suddenly noticed someone else in the tent.

"You are…"

He frowned at the bloodshot red eyes.

"Uchiha Inahiro?"

"It's me!"

Inahiro's eyes burned fiercely as he instinctively gripped the hilt of a small sword at his waist.

"How did you find this place? This is the weapon shop of my Uchiha clan!"

Before Shikadan could respond, Nekobaa cut in coldly:

"Little Inahiro!"

Her expression grew stern, eyes narrowing to a deadly glare.

"Although I have close ties with your Uchiha clan, this is the territory of me and Ninja Cat!"

"I'm very sorry, Nekobaa!"

Inahiro flushed, lowering his hand and bowing to apologize.

"Get out!"

Nekobaa's voice brooked no argument.

Though furious, Inahiro dared not disobey and stormed out, casting a fierce glare at Shikadan as he left.

"Okay, the annoying boy is gone."

Nekobaa took a long puff from her pipe, exhaling white smoke.

"Little brother of the Nara family, now we can talk business."

-End Chapter-

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