It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

B-rank mission?

Nara Shikadan tightened the kunai in his hand and glanced up at the clear sky.

Has Uchiha Shisui's strength really reached Jonin level?

The black feathers scattered across the air swirled together, gradually coalescing into a human figure.

Uchiha Shisui emerged from the crow feathers, his scarlet three-magatama Sharingan locking onto Nara below.

What ninjutsu was that just now? He seemed to merge with his own shadow…

Shisui rotated his wrist, summoning three shurikens that gleamed sharply in his palm, ready to strike.

Transformation technique? Earth style? Or the famed secret shadow jutsu of the Nara clan?

No time for distractions in battle.

Shisui flicked his wrist, launching the three shurikens simultaneously.

Whoo—

The sharp blades sliced through the air in a deadly triangular formation aimed at Nara.

"The Uchiha clan's signature ninja tool throwing technique?"

Shikadan raised an eyebrow and waved his kunai in a series of swift arcs to intercept.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Metal clashed crisply as kunai met shuriken, sparks flying orange-red.

Shikadan expertly deflected the lighter shurikens away from himself, sending them spinning harmlessly aside.

But Shisui was relentless.

Thanks to his keen Sharingan insight, he precisely anticipated Shikadan's counters and even predicted his next defensive stance.

Just as Shikadan intercepted the second shuriken—

A new threat appeared: a massive wind demon-shaped shuriken, larger and unlike the cross-shaped blades, spun fiercely toward him like a black bladed wheel.

Shikadan frowned and prepared to block with his kunai.

But the Fuma Shuriken suddenly veered midair, bypassing his swing.

A thin, almost invisible silk thread followed closely behind it, wrapping tightly around the kunai in Shikadan's hand.

"Thread?"

His pupils narrowed. Surprise gave way to satisfaction.

"So this is the Uchiha clan's... shuriken jutsu?"

"It's not just a shuriken jutsu."

Shisui landed gracefully, biting the thread's loose end with his teeth, then formed a tiger seal with his hands.

Fire chakra flared as he refined it swiftly.

"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"

Hiss—

Like a dragon breathing flame, a narrow column of fire surged along the silk thread's path, rushing straight for Shikadan's arm.

In the blink of an eye, the fiery dragon approached.

Shikadan's eyes darkened as his [Lacquer Eyes] quietly activated.

Without making a single hand seal, shadowy tentacles silently erupted beneath him.

The shadows overlapped and intertwined, forming a sturdy, reliable shield.

[Shadow Shield Technique].

Boom!

The Dragon Fire clashed fiercely against the shadow barrier, like a raging wave crashing on a cliff.

Not only did the shield hold firm, but the flames shattered into sparks and smoke, exploding harmlessly.

This shadow shield?

Shisui was impressed.

No hand seals, yet such a strong defense...

He was about to launch another attack.

But suddenly, he felt movement constricted—as if bound by invisible chains.

His eyes darted down.

A thin black line connected his shadow to Shikadan's.

Shadow attack? When?!

"Shadow Binding Technique, success!"

Shikadan flicked his kunai, shaking off the silk thread still clinging to it.

His shadows hardened into thorny spikes, ready to strike.

"I think I understand your plan—you didn't target my arm, but my weapon with the shuriken, trying to hold me back deliberately."

"Unfortunately, when you threw your shuriken, your shadow was already linked to the thread and Fuma Shuriken."

To activate the [Shadow Secret Technique], the combatants' shadows must overlap.

Shisui's shuriken tactic was a clever bait to draw Shikadan into his 'strike zone.'

Bound by the Nara clan's shadow technique, Shisui couldn't move freely or perform hand seals without struggle.

He recalled Inahiro's repeated warnings.

Being immobilized and unable to seal jutsu was a huge disadvantage.

But he knew every ninjutsu had a weakness.

Besides brute force escape, there were other ways to counter the shadow technique.

One was to interrupt the opponent's ninjutsu maintenance.

The three magatama in Shisui's eyes spun rapidly, sending invisible spiritual energy forth.

The crows summoned earlier by his Crow Clone Technique regrouped under his call.

But now, they were no longer clones, but "biological ninja tools" launched as direct attackers.

Cack—

Amid chaotic cries, black crows swooped at Shikadan with glinting beaks and claws.

Their shadows crisscrossed, disrupting the shadow binding effect.

More troublesome were the incessant wing flaps, claws scratching, and piercing caws—making it impossible for Shikadan to maintain the technique properly.

Even his planned [Shadow Seam Technique] had to be aborted, used only to drive the crows away.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Like a shooting gallery, each shadow seam pierced a crow, turning it instantly to smoke.

Summoned by Shisui's spiritual energy, the crows' lifespans were short.

Under Shikadan's relentless attack, their numbers quickly dwindled.

"Hah!"

Seizing the moment, Shisui broke free from the binding, flickered away with body-moving technique, and exhaled heavily.

Almost fell into Nara's trap… He really thought this through.

He watched Shikadan clearing crows, analyzing.

But even so, I've spotted your weakness—it's the same as before, Nara.

From their fight, Shisui sensed Shikadan's biases and frailties.

Like school days—sharp mind, excellent tactics, powerful secret jutsu, but weak physical reserves.

Shikadan rarely initiated mobile combat.

Chakra reserves must be low, limiting his own mobility.

Shisui's mind raced through strategies.

His expertise in instant body technique was ideal against this.

But close combat was risky; Shikadan's shadow binding could trap him, disabling his abilities.

If bound, he wouldn't have hands free to summon crows for rescue.

Just as Inahiro said—best to keep distance and wear him down.

Strategy decided, Shisui extended his right hand.

Four fine kunai infused with chakra metal appeared magically between his fingers.

He hurled them with force.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire!"

As the kunai flew, lingering flames wrapped around each weapon, attacking from all directions in a dazzling fiery assault.

"Burning kunai? A special attack?"

Shikadan reacted swiftly, summoning [Shadow Shield Technique] again.

Flame-covered kunai slammed against the shield.

Fire chakra erupted in explosive bursts on impact.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The deafening explosions rocked the shield, causing cracks to spiderweb its surface, threatening to shatter it.

Chasing victory, Shisui threw four more kunai, triggering massive detonations and dazzling visual interference.

Shikadan's mind raced.

He activated the [Chakra Crystal] on his finger, manifesting a physical [Shadow Clone].

Then he dove underground, using [Hiding Like a Mole Technique] to sneak closer unnoticed.

Unaware, Shisui readied one last fire kunai throw.

Suddenly—a sharp shadow thorn burst from behind, restraining his movement.

The masterful [Shadow Binding Technique] again.

Shikadan appeared from the shadows.

A kunai pressed lightly to Shisui's neck.

"It's over, Shisui. I won this duel."

-End Chapter-

Visit the Patreon!!

Read 30 chapters ahead, more on the way!

[email protected]/TrashProspector

150 Stone = 1 Bonus Chapter

15 Reviews = 1 Bonus Chapter