It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

The cold gleam of the pitch-black kunai's tip reflected sharply in the scarlet Sharingan.

Uchiha Shisui's body froze.

An attack from behind — the same tactical style as Inahiro's? But the one in front is...

Shisui's eyes darted forward, locking onto the figure who had just stopped performing the [Shadow Shield Technique].

A physical clone even the Sharingan can't see through — the Shadow Clone Technique?

Silently, Shisui gauged the remaining chakra in his body.

After the multiple fire ninjutsu he had just unleashed — especially the last two rounds of "Phoenix Sage Fire" — his reserves were dangerously low.

At most, he could still cast one more B-level fire ninjutsu.

His three-magatama Sharingan pupils were fully charged.

But that power was useless against the shadowy figure behind him.

Seeing Shisui remain silent, Nara Shikadan assumed the opponent had a special escape method.

Without hesitation, Shikadan abandoned the [Shadow Binding Technique] and switched to the more powerful [Shadow Strangling Technique].

The closer the shadow got to the target, the stronger the physical restraint it exerted.

Shisui soon felt an almost tangible pressure binding him, forcing a rare silence.

"I lost, Nara."

Several system messages flashed on Shikadan's panel.

[You have defeated the target of the B-level Ninja Battle Mission!]

[You have obtained a B-level [Ninja Secret Scroll]!]

Seems the opponent's confession also counts as defeat.

Shikadan's mind shifted. He sheathed the kunai, relieved.

I was still thinking how to end this match, but this saves a lot of trouble.

Shisui turned, his expression complex.

Centered on his round nose was a mix of bitterness, surprise, and curiosity — three parts bitterness, three parts surprise, four parts curiosity.

"That was the Shadow Clone Technique and Earth Style Technique, right?" he asked tentatively.

"Both consume a lot of chakra. Does that mean your physical issues are resolved?"

Shikadan didn't answer directly, instead replying with a question.

"That's personal privacy, isn't it?"

Shisui's face tightened. Hands pressed along his pants' seams, he bowed formally.

"My apologies for being presumptuous."

Shikadan smacked his lips, about to respond when—

"Shisui, you don't have to be so formal!"

Uchiha Inahiro approached with a frown and shoved a package heavily into Shikadan's arms.

"It's just a loss! We can fight again later! Why apologize?"

"If you want to challenge me again, you're welcome."

Shikadan checked the backpack—no sign it had been opened—and said casually,

"But I'm not always free."

"Also, confirm one last thing: after today, no other Uchiha will bother me, right?"

Inahiro's tone turned stern.

"If you break police laws, I'll send the strongest Jonin from the clan to put you in prison and bring you to justice!"

Though Shisui's attitude was milder than Inahiro's, he nodded in agreement.

"Why don't you arrest people yourself?" Shikadan teased, watching Inahiro's eyes flare red.

"Forget it, that Sharingan looks scary."

"See you next time, Shisui, and you too, officer."

Shikadan left the training ground leisurely, no trace of the fierce battle on his face.

To him, this fight gained not only a B-level [Ninja Secret Scroll] but also preserved his combat intelligence almost perfectly.

In Shikadan's mind, the family-inherited [Shadow Secret Technique] was open information.

It was the iconic secret of the Nara clan — any Nara ninja could access it, no exceptions.

But for all his other abilities, concealment was still essential.

In the sparring just now, Shikadan only used two non-[Shadow Secret Technique] abilities: Shadow Clone and Earth Style.

The former was common knowledge among skilled ninjas.

The latter had been shown often in public, so no harm if leaked.

Unless Shikadan's strength fully surpassed "intelligence warfare" level, he needed to keep his true powers hidden.

At the third training ground, the two Uchiha stood side by side.

"Shisui! Alas, how could you lose to him too!"

Inahiro sighed, the anger gone.

"Sorry, Inahiro."

Shisui scratched his head.

"I didn't expect Nara to be so strong."

If he weren't strong, would I have asked you, the strongest in the clan, to help?

Inahiro looked at Shisui regretfully.

I didn't expect you to lose too.

More importantly, if even Shisui was defeated, no one else among the Uchiha peers could handle him...

It can't be like he said — losing means going home and telling your parents.

Inahiro could not lose this rival.

He had to rely on his and Shisui's strength to beat Shikadan.

"Shisui, Nara said he'll accept our challenges."

Inahiro was silent, then spoke seriously:

"Do you have the confidence to beat him next time?"

"How can I be sure about something that hasn't happened?" Shisui said helplessly.

Though he'd spotted Shikadan's weakness — inability to fight mobile warfare — in the next battle, there was a good chance of victory.

But in ninja combat, who guarantees a win?

And how could he be sure Shikadan's apparent weakness wasn't a trap?

"So, we must carefully plan the next battle strategy!"

Inahiro nodded.

"Shisui, let's train together from now on!"

Shikadan had no idea two red-eyed men were plotting how to defeat him next.

Leaving the training ground, he quickened his pace toward Kikyo Castle.

Along the way, he opened the panel to examine the B-level [Ninja Secret Scroll] he just obtained.

I wonder what Shisui's scroll contains.

Shisui's current strength is Jonin level and he hasn't awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan yet.

If the scroll doesn't unlock a fire escape technique, it's still a success.

Since Shikadan already has [Fire Style: Hard Work], he wasn't interested in other B-level fire escapes.

"Open it!"

Shikadan clicked on the scroll.

[Opening...]

[Contents: Techniques]

[B-level Blood Limit Technique: Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change]

[Description: Reflects illusions using the principle of virtual images, fully rebounding effects onto the enemy.]

[Effect: By perceiving Yin Release Chakra traces of illusions cast on you, this technique instantly breaks the illusion and reflects it back.

Requires the insight and mental energy manipulation of the [Blood Limit Sharingan] to perform.]

[Evaluation: Since when did you think illusions like "mirror flower, water moon" could fool me?]

"Huh? Illusions?"

Shikadan was briefly stunned, his movements slowing.

I know Shisui will be the strongest illusionist of the Uchiha clan eventually, but he didn't use illusions in the fight... Oh, I wore sunglasses.

Shikadan wasn't sure if sunglasses alone could resist Uchiha pupil illusions.

But from the battle, even Shisui, with his Sharingan, hadn't used illusions.

The best way to counter Uchiha illusions is to close your eyes.

Of course, if you can read the opponent's movement by footwork and launch attacks from that, eye contact doesn't matter.

But this [Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change] is a blood limit technique.

Reading the technique's name gave Shikadan a headache.

He'd used ninjutsu similar to blood limit types before, like the prototype of Shadow Piercing Bullet, Blood Piercing Bullet — a high-level secret technique from the Chinoike Clan.

Still, secret techniques and bloodline limits were worlds apart.

Besides, bloodline techniques were nearly impossible to use without the bloodline limit.

Unless the bloodline limit was a "ninjutsu-type" one, formed by fusing two chakra types.

But...

Wait!

The scroll's usage requirement was Sharingan's ability to perceive and manipulate spiritual energy?

Shikadan connected the dots and looked at his own [Lacquer Eye].

He felt pleased.

Seems the Uchiha clan's Sharingan and my [Lacquer Eye] are the same type of eye!

-End Chapter-

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