I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 105 [The Smoke Clone Technique]!

Wisps of smoke drifted through the gaps in the trees, reached the outside world, and landed, transforming into a child who was eight or nine years old.

Looking at the fantastical scene before him, Nara Rinkachi gained a deeper understanding of the Ibri clan's "Smoke Escape."

To be fair...

The Ibri clan's "Smoke Escape" is highly functional.

Transforming one's own body into elusive white smoke can be considered an extraordinary form of "morphological transformation".

Whether used for concealment or defense, this "smoke escape" can be very effective.

however.

Compared to its functionality, the drawbacks of "Smoke Escape" are far too severe.

The extreme instability meant that even a slight breeze could claim the life of an Ibri clan ninja.

Under these circumstances, it would be impossible for the Ibri clan ninjas to reliably use their bloodline limit abilities.

An ability that cannot be used is no different from "having no ability".

"If the Ibri clan's Smoke Release bloodline limit can be stabilized, could they grow into a powerful bloodline limit clan comparable to the Hozuki clan of Kirigakure?"

"The myriad forms of smoke and water can, to some extent, provide immunity to physical attacks..."

"Furthermore, smoke is lighter than water and can float in the air, which can be considered a special kind of flight ability..."

Just as a few scattered thoughts flashed through Nara Rinka's mind.

Ibrixuejian also noticed that her recklessness had caused her younger brother to leave her side, and a look of tension and anxiety immediately appeared on her slightly freckled face.

Hidden in the tree hole, she lunged forward, trying to squeeze through the gap in the tree.

However, Ibrixuejian is not yet very proficient in the "smoke transformation" skill passed down in her family.

Her lunge not only failed to get her out of the tree hole, but instead caused her to crash headfirst into the inner wall of the tree trunk, bouncing back to her original spot with a "thud".

Seeing this, Nara Rinka couldn't help but want to laugh.

He glanced at Uchiha Shisui's shadow clone beside him and nodded to the latter.

The latter exploded with a bang, turning into a cloud of smoke and dissipating on the spot, but it left with the intelligence that "the target has been found".

"elder sister!"

Ibritenzang exclaimed in surprise, instinctively using his "smoke transformation" ability in an attempt to return to the tree hollow.

"Tianzang, wait for me outside!"

Ibrixuejian's voice came from the gaps in the trees.

"I'll be right out!"

She had barely finished speaking.

Another wisp of smoke drifted out from the gap in the tree, landed outside, and transformed into a little girl who looked about eleven or twelve years old.

"elder sister!"

Ibritianzang ran over and hugged his sister tightly around the waist.

"Sister, I want to go home!"

"Good boy, Tianzang."

Ibrixuejian patted her younger brother's head reassuringly.

"Once we get to Konoha and meet Lord Orochimaru, everything will be alright."

This brother and sister—no, I should say the Ibri clan—have such a strong obsession with Orochimaru…

Nara Rinka raised an eyebrow and, in an attempt to dissuade the siblings from their desire to go to Konoha, offered a reminder.

"Even if you go to Konoha, you won't be able to see Orochimaru."

Why?

Ibri Yukimi looked up, nervously watching Nara Rinka.

"Lord Orochimaru is clearly a Konoha ninja!"

"Because of the outbreak of war, Orochimaru is not currently in Konoha, but is fighting the enemy on the front lines."

Nara Rinka replied.

"This is something that everyone in Konoha knows."

"Given the close relationship between your Ibri clan and Orochimaru, the adults in your clan should also be aware of this matter."

This unexpected news was like a bucket of cold water poured on Ibrixuejian's heart.

She suddenly became listless, shut her mouth, and remained silent.

Sensing her sister's disappointment, Ibritenzo opened her mouth but didn't know how to comfort her, so she could only silently hug her waist.

A few minutes later.

Uchiha Shisui and Shizune returned from another direction, and the four-person team reunited.

Nara Rinka gave the order, "Take these two children back to the Ibri clan."

Ibrixuejian looked up again, as if she wanted to say something.

But just then...

"Coo-coo-"

Suddenly, a very loud rumbling sound came from Ibrahim's stomach.

The freckled girl's face flushed bright red instantly, and she promptly shut her mouth.

The one closest to the sound, Ibritenzang, was the first to hear it. He gently tugged at his sister's hem and whispered.

"Sister, I'm so hungry too..."

"I have a rice ball here."

Kind-hearted Shizune stepped forward and took out a seaweed triangular rice ball from her ninja tool bag, handing it to the siblings.

"You guys should use this to fill your stomachs first."

Hinata Rei's brows furrowed slightly.

She wasn't offended by Shizune's kindness in sharing food with Ibri and her brother.

However, this is not actually part of the mission content.

The team's mission is simply to find the children and bring them back to the family.

But seeing that Uchiha Shisui and the captain did not say anything to stop him, Hyuga Rei kept his doubts to himself.

"Thanks."

With a flushed face, Ibrixuejian accepted the rice ball and thanked her softly.

She broke the rice ball into two pieces, one large and one small.

The larger one was given to the younger brother, and the smaller one was kept for himself.

The siblings started wolfing down their food almost simultaneously.

"Don't rush, eat slowly, there's still plenty of time..."

Nara Rinka handed over the Ramune soda that she hadn't had a chance to drink yet, then looked to the side.

"Shisui, you were just... no, you're alright now."

Halfway through his sentence, a memory flooded Nara Rinka's mind.

The shadow clone that had previously acted with Uchiha Shisui and Shizune had already sent news of finding the Ibri siblings, Yukimi and Ibri, back to the Ibri clan ahead of time.

"Sister, and brother, you are both good people."

After quickly finishing her rice ball, Ibri Yukimi, along with her younger brother, bowed to Shizune and Nara Rinka to express their gratitude.

"A good person just like Lord Orochimaru."

Little one, your way of praising people is quite unique...

Nara Rinka pursed her lips.

Shizune asked with some curiosity, "Why did you two leave your clan to go find Lord Orochimaru?"

Nara Rinka frowned, and the other two had similar expressions.

"Mute!"

"Um?"

Shizune looked at the squad leader, somewhat bewildered, not yet realizing that she had asked the wrong question.

Ibrixuejian's clear, childlike voice broke the atmosphere between the groups.

"Because Lord Orochimaru needs us!"

Ibrahim Yuki said this very frankly.

"The adults all say that Lord Orochimaru helped us solve a great problem. The family wants to repay Lord Orochimaru and plans to send the most talented child to follow him."

"This is also what Lord Orochimaru wanted to see."

After hearing what Ibrixuejian said, Shizune belatedly realized what was going on.

She really shouldn't have spoken just now...

"one way or another."

Nara Rinka looked at the two children and gave the order again.

"Let's send them back first."

……

In front of the cave.

"Thank you so much for your help, ninjas!"

Ibriwutai, holding the small hands of Xuejian and Tianzang, bowed repeatedly to Nara Ranka and the others to express his gratitude.

"It's my duty."

Nara Lan Gui nodded slightly in return.

"Mr. Ibri, we'll head back to the village to hand over our mission now."

Amidst the gratitude of the Ibrahim tribe.

Nara and the other three quickly left.

Shadow Hawk.

"Captain, I'm sorry."

The silent apology reached the ears of several companions.

"I shouldn't have asked that question."

"It's nothing serious."

Nara Rinka piloted the [Shadow Creature] and moved towards Konoha.

"It's just that when I return to the village to hand over the mission later, I need to report one more piece of information to the Third Hokage."

Although Nara Rinka made it sound easy.

But I still feel a little guilty about keeping quiet.

For ninjas, completing the mission is the primary objective.

Information outside of missions is generally not within the ninja's consideration.

Rushing to access or learn about information outside of the mission can easily cause unnecessary trouble for ninjas.

Shizune continued to apologize, "I'm so sorry, everyone."

"If you really feel bad, then you can treat us to dinner next time we get together."

Nara Rinkei didn't really take this matter too seriously, but he still offered a solution.

"As for the location of the gathering, let Hinata decide."

"good!"

Even more enthusiastic in replying than Silent was her friend Hinata Rei, who was sitting next to her.

Back in the village, we arrived at the Hokage Building and handed in the mission scroll.

Several messages popped up on Nara Rinka's panel.

[A D-rank ninja quest scroll has been detected!]

[Rank D Mission: Find the Child - Completed!]

You have obtained a D-rank [Ninja Scroll]!

Hiruzen Sarutobi put away the quest scroll and looked at the four boys and girls in front of him with a smile.

"How was your first mission?"

"Trivial and troublesome."

Nara embraces the cassia tree, expressing his heartfelt feelings.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile froze.

He really shouldn't have asked Nara Ranka about that.

Next time, I'll ask the water slicker next door...

"Lord Hokage, during this mission, we discovered some unexpected information."

Nara Rinka carefully organized his thoughts and relayed the information about Orochimaru and the Ibri clan to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Yes, I am aware of the news that Orochimaru invited the Ibri clan to settle near Konoha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's response was not beyond Nara Rangsuke's expectations.

"He also mentioned to me the idea of ​​helping the Ibri tribe improve their physical condition... You are very kind."

At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi skipped over the topic and instead took out a banknote from the drawer.

"This is the reward for this mission: one thousand taels."

Nara Rinka accepted the payment and led his team away from the Hokage's office.

I walked out of the Hokage Building.

Shizune looked relieved. "So the Hokage knew about the matter between Orochimaru and the Ibri clan..."

"Um?"

Nara Rinko glanced at Shizune, distributed the reward in his hand to the other three members of the team according to the rules, and casually opened the D-rank scroll he had just obtained.

"That would be for the best..."

[Opening...]

[This D-rank ninja scroll includes: Techniques]

[Rank D Bloodline Limit Technique: Smoke Clone Technique]

[Technique Description: A special material clone created through a bloodline limit]

[Technique Effect: Transforms the body's chakra into "smoke" nature through a nature change, creating physical clones using smoke as a medium, possessing effects similar to the ordinary Shadow Clone Technique.]

[Surgery Evaluation: Smoking is harmful to health, so I became smoke.]

Sorry for the late update...

My sleep schedule has been irregular lately, and I'm very sorry about that.

Today's update will remain at four chapters.

(End of this chapter)