It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

Namikaze Minato's original words had been, "I feel like that child has been secretly watching me. Maybe he wants to say something, but he's probably a little shy..."

When retelling it, Nara Shikano had drastically simplified the statement.

'Is the Fourth's perception really that sharp? I only looked at him a couple more times…'

Hearing the old patriarch's report, Nara Shikadan felt an odd sense of embarrassment.

'Then again, he is a sensor-type ninja...'

After running through a dozen excuses in his head, Shikadan finally decided to be honest.

"I don't have anything specific to discuss with Namikaze Jonin," he admitted. "I just want to challenge him."

"Challenge Minato?"

Nara Shikano raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Why?"

"To be honest, I think someone like Sarutobi Asuma would be a more appropriate opponent for you right now."

"Minato is very strong—especially with his Body Flicker Technique. There are few in Konoha who can confidently say they could beat him."

The old patriarch had been grooming Nara Shikadan deliberately. The rewards he'd provided earlier weren't just because of Shikadan's [Lacquer Eye]. They were also compensation for Shikadan's "natural deficiencies."

For a ninja, the most important weapon was always chakra.

Ordinary shinobi had to extract chakra even while fighting at high speeds—maintaining precision and control throughout. It was a delicate and difficult balance, even for Jonin.

But Nara Shikadan had a [Chakra Crystal] that perfectly resonated with him. Chakra capacity was no longer his limiting factor.

From Shikano's perspective, Shikadan's priorities were now clear. 

First, learn to make full use of the massive energy stored in the [Chakra Crystal].

Second, improve his physique and gain real combat experience—especially in close-quarters fights.

The body was the foundation of all battle.

But if Shikadan wanted combat experience... was challenging Minato Namikaze really the best option?

In his mind's eye, Shikano pictured the scene—Shikadan casting a Shadow Possession Technique that couldn't keep up with Minato's speed. Then Minato closing in, drawing a kunai, and slicing his neck cleanly—

What kind of experience was that supposed to be?

The experience of getting beheaded?!

Seeing the patriarch's skeptical expression, Nara Shikadan pressed his lips together.

This was why he'd hesitated to speak up all day.

He was indeed interested in the challenge mission that could be triggered by fighting Minato Namikaze…

But he really couldn't come up with a justifiable reason to fight him.

In the ninja world, even allies from the same village rarely fought each other—not unless they were teammates or close friends. Doing so risked revealing combat secrets and personal techniques.

But he and Namikaze Minato were practically strangers—this was their first meeting.

Challenging him out of nowhere was… tactless.

Crude, even.

But damn it—

"The reason I want to challenge Namikaze Minato," Shikadan finally said, letting out a slow breath,

"is because he is Namikaze Minato."

"That's a nice-sounding excuse."

The old clan leader chuckled, shaking his head.

"But since when did Minato become such a celebrity?"

Shikadan thought the old man was rejecting him.

But what he didn't expect was—

"Come with me."

Shikano turned and gestured.

"If I don't help you explain this, Minato might not be able to sleep tonight."

"Just don't get your hopes up too much."

"And even if Minato does agree to your challenge... Shikadan, I hope you're mentally prepared."

Shikadan was perfectly content.

No matter how pessimistic the old patriarch sounded, as long as there was any chance—that meant there was hope.

Besides, if he could trigger a guaranteed reward, then he'd already won!

Led by the old patriarch, Shikadan thought he would soon meet Namikaze Minato.

But when they arrived, the only one waiting was Akimichi Choza, who had mostly recovered.

"Minato sensed something nearby," Choza explained before Shikano could ask.

"He said another group of people is approaching. Most likely more bounty hunters."

"He took Haiichi with him to scout. They'll be back soon."

"These bounty hunters are really desperate for cash."

Shikano's voice was cold. Then he turned to Choza with a more serious tone.

"After we return to the village, make sure to go to Konoha Hospital for a full check-up."

"The scroll may have healed your injuries, but we're not medical-nin. We can't guarantee the treatment was thorough."

The scroll Minato had used earlier was imbued with Yang Release medical chakra, sealed in advance. When deployed, it released healing energy directly into the wound to speed up recovery.

But this kind of medical scroll was incredibly difficult to make. The raw materials were rare, the production cost high, and the effect wasn't as reliable as treatment from a professional medical-nin.

Its only real use was in emergencies—like Choza's.

Because of his family's work, Shikadan was very familiar with these medical scrolls. To him, they were basically expensive junk—buried deep in the Nara pharmacy's warehouse, collecting dust.

The rich didn't want them. The poor couldn't afford them.

That summed up the market for Medical Ninjutsu Scrolls.

In contrast, elemental scrolls—Fire, Water, Wind—might also be pricey, but they at least had regular demand.

Choza nodded and was about to reply—

When a flash of golden light appeared.

Minato Namikaze and Yamanaka Inoichi materialized in front of them.

"That's the Flying Thunder God Technique?"

Shikadan stared in amazement at the golden-haired jonin, completely ignoring the equally blond Yamanaka Inoichi beside him.

"And an improved version of it!"

Minato quickly reported his findings.

A scattered group of bounty hunters had been moving across the Land of Fire, likely searching for the descendants of the Chinoike Clan.

"Still no sign of Kakuzu?" Shikano asked.

"No." Inoichi shook his head. "None of them even knew Kakuzu existed. Nothing in the gold exchange records either."

"Looks like Kakuzu really gave up the chase."

Shikano nodded thoughtfully.

"Still, let's not get careless. Tonight, we'll rotate watch shifts."

"Minato and Inoichi will each cover one period."

Both Jonin nodded in agreement.

Then Minato turned his attention to Nara Shikadan.

His eyes moved between Shikadan and Shikano, a slight curiosity in his expression.

Shikano gave Shikadan a look, then led both of them away from Choza and Inoichi to a clearing not far from the camp.

Under the moonlight—

The old patriarch got straight to the point.

"Shikadan wants to challenge you."

"Huh?"

Minato's first instinct was that Shikano was joking.

But then he remembered—Shikano wasn't Jiraiya. He didn't joke.

"So that's why that kid kept glancing at me earlier…"

Minato felt a strange mix of amusement and mild disappointment.

But he didn't let it show.

"If you want to challenge me, that's fine."

He smiled gently.

"But it's night right now, and as I recall, the Nara clan's shadow techniques are slightly weaker at night."

"How about we wait until we return to the village?"

"We'll find a time and place to spar then."

What could Shikadan say?

"Okay."

He nodded quietly.

Challenging someone right after meeting them was already rude.

But Namikaze Minato was still so polite and understanding.

He really was…

The Little Sun.

"Thank you! And I'm sorry!" Shikadan bowed slightly. "I was being presumptuous with my request."

"No, not at all."

Minato smiled and waved it off.

"It's a senior's duty to guide the next generation."

"Where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire will continue to burn. The flame keeps the village warm and helps new leaves sprout. To me, Nara-kun, you are one of those new sprouts."

Shikadan still thought the "Will of Fire" sounded vague and impractical…

But this version, coming from Minato—

Was the most sincere and beautiful he had ever heard.

After agreeing on the approximate time and place for their duel, the three returned to the camp to rest.

The next day, the Konoha ninja carried out their B-rank mission [Bounty Hunter] in an orderly manner.

By the time they saw the gates of Konoha again, it was already evening.

The roads across the Land of Fire had been swept clean of rogue bounty hunters.

Upon returning, Namikaze Minato, Sarutobi Asuma, Nara Shikano, and others went straight to the Hokage Building to deliver the mission report.

Nara Shikadan tried to follow, but the old patriarch waved him off with a smile.

"You're just the mission client, remember?"

When he returned to his apartment near the Ninja Academy—

A panel notification popped up before his eyes.

[A-rank Ninja Commission Task Scroll has been submitted!]

[A-rank Mission: "Tribute" – Completed!]

[Reward: A-rank [Ninja Secret Scroll] obtained!]

-End Chapter-

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