It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

Yakushi Nono was stunned. The blood drained from her beautiful oval face in an instant.

She instinctively tried to step back, distancing herself from Nara Shikadan—

But a pair of firm, steady arms wrapped tightly around her slender waist, not letting her retreat even half an inch.

"Sister Nono, what are you trying to do?"

Nara Shikadan looked at her with surprise and a touch of innocent confusion, arms still encircling her.

"Shikadan, I didn't mean to hide my identity from you."

Nono struggled lightly, but she couldn't break free. Helplessly, she answered while stuck in this compromising posture.

"The leaves basking in sunlight... and the roots buried deep in darkness... are two entirely different things."

"Sister Nono, what on earth are you thinking?"

Shikadan's arms tightened slightly, pulling her into his embrace.

"I don't care if you're a Root ninja, or what you've done in that dark organization. To me, Yakushi Nono is my friend... like a sister."

"...Shikadan..."

Nono looked at him, her eyes filled with conflicting emotions.

For her, being exposed as a former Root ninja wasn't the real issue.

What truly weighed on her heart was the fact that she had hidden it from Shikadan all these years.

Even if she'd meant well, it was still a form of deception.

Yet the warmth and unwavering trust in his expression…

"What nonsense," she muttered, turning her face away and biting her lip to hide the growing flush.

"I'm your elder sister..."

Nara Shikadan gazed at her profile—smooth, fair skin, a delicately upturned nose, and soft, pink lips lightly pressed between her teeth.

He leaned in—

And kissed the golden sunlight resting on her cheek.

Startled by the sudden, soft touch, Nono turned back quickly. Her brown-green almond eyes widened, filled with surprise and something else—something hard to name.

"Shikadan, you—"

"Does it really have to be just a sister?" Shikadan whispered.

Their foreheads pressed together, their noses brushing, warm breath mingling in the narrowing space between them.

Some things can only be spoken mouth to mouth... and understood heart to heart.

"Ah..."

Nono's face flushed a brilliant red as she raised her graceful neck.

Those usually calm and clear eyes shimmered with a hazy light, and her lips bloomed like a peach blossom in early spring.

Nara Shikadan licked his lips slightly.

"Sister Nono... please leave Root. Okay?"

Nono, her thoughts scattered like feathers in the wind, couldn't even process what Shikadan had said.

But in that moment, regardless of what he might've asked—

There was only one answer in her heart.

"Okay."

A secluded building near Kikyo Orphanage.

"These are the two Root ninjas who just attacked us."

Shikadan gestured toward the man and the corpse sprawled in the room. He turned to continue explaining his plan to Yakushi Nono—

Only to notice her huddled in a corner, peeking at him with a mix of wariness and shyness.

Like a helpless, pitiful golden rabbit.

Shikadan let out a helpless sigh.

"Sister Nono, I'm not some devil... why are you looking at me like that?"

"Some boys look handsome, well-behaved, and thoughtful…"

Nono pouted and muttered softly.

"But they also force kisses on people. That's scary."

Shikadan's expression twitched.

"Sister Nono—"

"Then afterward, they won't let go when hugging—"

"Shut up!"

Nono stomped her foot and changed the subject, flustered.

"What plan were you talking about just now?"

Shikadan was just about to respond when a memory flashed through his mind.

"The clan leader and the others should be arriving soon."

"Clan leader?"

Nono blinked in confusion.

"You mean... the head of the Nara clan?"

Shikadan shook his head lightly.

"Not just him."

They waited quietly for a few minutes.

Two shadows flickered outside the window.

Nara Shikaku and Nara Shikano entered the room together.

"Shikadan, are you alright?"

The old clan leader, Nara Shikano, looked directly at him, ignoring the blonde nun at his side. His son, the new clan leader, Nara Shikaku, wore a similarly worried expression.

Shikadan was the most promising genius of their generation.

He was crucial to the clan's future—and irreplaceable.

On this, both father and son were in full agreement.

"I already explained the situation using a [Shadow Clone] when I notified you."

Shikadan stepped to Nono's side and pointed at the Root ninja and corpse nearby.

"I'm fine. They're not."

The two clan heads turned their attention to the fallen enemies.

"Heart Turning Technique... and that Puppet Curse Seal."

Shikano examined the unconscious kunoichi and the male corpse beside her.

"No doubt about it. That one's from the Yamanaka clan."

He then turned his eyes toward the corpse.

"Wind-type chakra is rare in Konoha. Aside from a few exceptions, wind-style ninjas are mostly from two families…"

"The Shimura clan, and... the Sarutobi clan."

Yakushi Nono's brows furrowed. She stepped forward to reveal the true identity of these enemies—

But before she could speak, Shikadan reached out and gently took her hand.

She looked at him.

He tapped lightly on her palm, then made a quieting gesture with his free hand.

'Does Shikadan... have a specific plan for these two?'

Nono caught on quickly and said nothing more.

She tried tugging her hand free, but the effort only made Shikadan hold it more firmly.

From the side, Nara Shikano and Nara Shikaku shared a knowing glance.

"Ahem, yes," Shikaku cleared his throat. "And that uniform... it's standard Anbu gear in Konoha."

"Anbu?"

Nono's expression twitched.

It's not just Anbu. It's Root!

Shikadan seized the moment.

"Chief, have you informed the Yamanaka and Akimichi clans?"

"Of course."

Shikaku nodded.

"The Ino-Shika-Cho are bound by blood and alliance."

"Now that a Yamanaka ninja has attacked a young Nara clan heir inside Kikyo Castle... this kind of situation absolutely must be dealt with collectively."

As they spoke—

Two more figures flashed over from afar.

The current Yamanaka clan leader: Yamanaka Inoto.

And a senior elder of the Akimichi clan: Akimichi Torifu.

Though not clan head, Torifu had once served in the Second Hokage's personal guard. He had followed Tobirama through many campaigns.

In terms of seniority and influence, he was the strongest "symbol" of the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance.

Yamanaka Inoto, a spirited old man with close-cropped blond hair, stepped forward first.

He flipped over the mask of the unconscious kunoichi.

"Indeed... this is Yamanaka Hayashi."

His voice was low and filled with shame.

"She joined Anbu years ago. I never expected something like this to happen."

The alliance of Ino-Shika-Cho had been formed as early as the Warring States era.

Their cooperation was deep and consistent. Conflicts were rare.

Let alone something like this—an adult ninja from one clan trying to assassinate a child of another...

"Inoto, there's no need to blame yourself right now."

Nara Shikano spoke firmly.

"First, use your secret technique to examine their memories. We must lock in their mission orders as solid evidence."

Inoto nodded gravely.

As an elite Jonin who had mastered the Yamanaka clan's mind techniques, reading memories—even from a corpse—was simple.

Torifu stood by silently, acting like a dignified mascot.

The Akimichi clan hadn't been involved in today's events—

But their alliance with the Nara and Yamanaka clans was no joke.

Not long after—

Inoto finished his mind probe of both ninjas.

"The dead one is named Shimura Arata—of the Shimura clan."

"Both of them received direct orders from the highest authority in the village before taking action..."

"Then that settles it."

Nara Shikano's eyes turned cold.

"Let's return to the village and demand the truth from the Hokage!"

"To have Anbu—supposedly loyal to the Hokage—launch an attack on the village's youth... I want to hear what explanation they offer!"

Akimichi Torifu easily hoisted the wind-style ninja's body.

Yamanaka Inoto carried the unconscious Hayashi on his back.

Shikadan and Nono followed behind the seniors, leaving Kikyo Castle as they rushed back to Konoha.

Shimura Danzo, still hiding in the depths of Root's shadows, had no idea—

That a coming storm, born of the ancient Ino-Shika-Cho alliance, was already thundering toward him.

-End Chapter-

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