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

Chapter 135 Counterattack and Trap! (3rd update, 10,000 words, please vote!)

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Nara Rinka was forced to abandon his research project and return to the Konoha camp.

Orochimaru's research scroll on the bloodline limit of the Ibri clan contained a wide variety of information.

Although Nara Rankei really wanted to figure out how the Ibri clan's "Smoke Release" incorporated Yin Release properties.

Unfortunately, Orochimaru did not mention the detailed chakra ratio for "Smoke Release" in his scroll.

Perhaps Orochimaru deliberately didn't record it, or perhaps he hadn't fully understood the nature of the Ibri clan's "Smoke Release".

In conclusion, Nara Rinka successfully developed the "Explosion Release," but his understanding of "Smoke Release" remained at a beginner level.

Even so, Nara Rinka still made one point clear.

"The Ibri clan's 'Smoke Release' can ultimately be categorized as a 'physical bloodline limit'."

"Considering the fact that 'Smoke Release' can contain a large amount of chakra..."

"Perhaps the development of physical bloodline limits requires the participation of Yin Release—and Yang Release, or even a higher level... Yin-Yang Release."

Nara Rinka currently has a decent grasp of Yin Escape, but lacks sufficient knowledge of Yang Escape.

As for "Yin-Yang Escape," that's even more of a vague and ethereal concept.

Research on smoke escape techniques can only be temporarily suspended.

Back at the camp.

As expected, Nara Rangsei received a "warm welcome" from the team members.

"Captain, you haven't returned for two whole days!"

"I suspect you've deserted the battlefield and gone back to the village on vacation!"

"That's going too far!"

"But there hasn't been anything particularly noteworthy lately, has there?"

Nara Rinkei released the Shadow Clone he had left behind at the camp, and the memories of the past two days immediately flooded into his mind.

"Otherwise, you would have already used the Shadow Clone to notify me..."

"Hmm? Hinata, you still haven't beaten Shisui even once?"

"So verbose!"

Hinata Rei glared at Nara Langui.

As they spent more and more time together, the three team members came to understand their captain's true nature—a super lazybones, a rarity even among the Nara clan.

The other person is lazier than you, but they are also more capable than you!

Faced with such a lazy yet powerful captain, what could Hinata Rei and the other team members say?

You can only get a verbal advantage in everyday situations, and even then you have to be constantly on guard against the captain's petty tricks...

However, having such a strong captain as the leader is quite reassuring.

"Still water".

Nara Rinka shrugged, ignoring Hinata Rei's eye roll, and looked at the team's best utility player.

"Did Orochimaru assign you any tasks?"

If not, I'll go rest first.

"I'll go accept the mission right away!"

Uchiha Shisui vanished from his spot in an instant, leaving only a single sentence in the air.

"Captain, please wait a moment!"

"Sigh, Shisui, he's just too diligent."

A shadow creature emerged from the shadows of Nara Rinka, carrying him half-floating into the sky.

"If only he could learn more from me..."

If it were Captain Uchiha Shisui, he'd probably be completely ruined...

The two female team members exchanged a glance and silently jumped onto the back of the [Shadow Creature].

About three minutes later.

Uchiha Shisui, fully prepared, reappeared here.

He looked at his three teammates, who were already riding on the back of the Shadow Creature, and scratched his head in frustration.

"Um, everyone, please come down first."

Uchiha Shisui waved to the [shadow creature].

"The plan has changed."

"Mission canceled?"

Nara Rinka immediately landed on the back of the [Shadow Creature].

Hinata Rei and Shizune also looked at Uchiha Shisui with curiosity.

"It's not that the mission has been canceled."

Uchiha Shisui took out two mission scrolls from his ninja tool bag.

"Instead, Lord Orochimaru assigned us two missions this time."

"At the same time, Lord Orochimaru specifically pointed out that these two tasks need to be carried out separately."

"What is Orochimaru up to?"

Nara Rinka raised his hand and took the two scrolls handed to him by Uchiha Shisui.

Strangely enough, no task prompts popped up on the panel this time.

While Nara Rinka was flipping through the scrolls, Uchiha Shisui explained to his two teammates.

"The first task Lord Orochimaru gave us was to search the entire Land of Grass for the gathering point of Iwagakure and to regularly transmit the collected information back to headquarters."

"This is a long-term mission, with a difficulty level of only C."

Uchiha Shisui pointed to the two scrolls.

"The other mission requires us to go to support the front lines and treat the wounded ninjas who have retreated from the front lines. This mission is rated A in difficulty."

Shizune said, somewhat confused, "But these two tasks conflict with each other..."

"It's obvious."

Nara Rinkazu closed the two scrolls in his hands and sneered.

"Orochimaru wants us to split up!"

If I absolutely have to say something...

Nara Rinkei believes that the latter A-level mission is the normal mission that their team should be taking on at the moment.

But for some unknown reason, Orochimaru inexplicably added a first C-rank mission, as if he was deliberately trying to keep someone away from the headquarters for an extended period of time...

"Hmm... Orochimaru, could he be targeting me?"

A thought flashed through Nara Rinka's mind.

"I only got some trivial information from him before, is it really necessary to be so petty?"

"Yes, I also think that Lord Orochimaru's idea is for us to split up."

Uchiha Shisui frowned slightly as he looked at Nara Rinka.

"Captain, how should we handle these two tasks? Should we split up?"

"If we're going to split up, I suggest the captain take Hinata to carry out the C-rank mission, while Shizune and I will carry out the other A-rank mission."

"Captain, your abilities combined with Hyuga's Byakugan make you very suitable for carrying out that C-rank mission."

"That sounds like a very good suggestion."

Nara Rinka nodded slightly, then his expression suddenly changed.

But I refused.

Why?

Uchiha Shisui was momentarily bewildered, then his expression turned anxious.

"Captain, are you going to refuse Lord Orochimaru's mission request?"

"No, what I'm rejecting is your personnel allocation."

Nara Rinka tossed the A-rank mission scroll to Uchiha Shisui, while keeping the C-rank scroll for himself.

"I only briefly mentioned it to Hyuga before. Shisui and Shizune should be able to tell that I do have a minor conflict with Orochimaru."

"I feel like this C-level mission was prepared specifically for me."

Uchiha Shisui took the scroll, looking puzzled.

"Captain, what do you mean by 'prepared especially for you'?"

"The gist of it is that I think Orochimaru doesn't want to see me for the time being, so he's trying to get me out of his sight, at least."

Nara Rinka raised the C-rank mission scroll in his hand.

"This long-term mission is very difficult for you, but it is very simple for me."

"So that fits the theory that they 'sent me away,' doesn't it?"

Shizune frowned. "But Captain, isn't what Lord Orochimaru is doing against the rules?"

"There's no such thing as rules or regulations."

Nara Ranka shook his head.

"He is the highest-ranking commander of the Iwagakure front; that's the rule."

"team leader!"

Uchiha Shisui spoke resolutely.

"I'll go and refuse Lord Orochimaru's mission request!"

"We're a team; we should be working together on missions!"

"There's no need to make such a fuss."

Nara waved his hand and climbed back onto the back of the Shadow Creature.

"Shisui, I know your strength level. I'll leave Hyuga and Shizune to you."

"You're now the squad's temporary, um, vice-captain!"

The words fell.

Nara Rinka piloted the [Shadow Creature] and soared into the sky, instantly transforming into a small black dot on the horizon.

The three remaining, including Uchiha Shisui, looked at each other in bewilderment.

After hesitating for a while, the three of them took the A-level mission scroll they had just received and immediately set to work.

above the sky.

Nara Lan Gui held a C-grade scroll, and its mission trigger information had just popped up on the panel.

[A C-rank ninja quest has been detected!]

[Rank C Mission: Reconnaissance]

[Mission Objective: Conduct a long-term search for gatherings of people from Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village) located within the Land of Grass, and regularly relay intelligence information back to Konoha Headquarters.]

[Mission Reward: One C-Rank Ninja Scroll]

"The C-level difficulty indicates that this is a mission without combat. Only for someone like me who has the ability to fly will this intelligence gathering mission basically not involve combat."

Nara Rinkashi withdrew her gaze from the panel.

"But is this Orochimaru's counterattack?"

"It's not as simple as I imagined; it doesn't quite match his personality and intelligence level."

"Or perhaps that A-rank mission, which seemed to be prepared for Uchiha Shisui and the others, was actually prepared for me?"

Nara Rinka looked down and saw Uchiha Shisui and his two companions moving at high speed across the ground.

"Let's scout ahead for those three guys down there first..."

Nara Ranke piloted the [Shadow Creature], accelerating forward.

While the perception of the "lacquer eye" is not as sharp as that of the "white eye," its perception effect and range are still powerful.

Along the way, Nara Rinka found no traps.

But it wasn't until they flew to the front lines of the battle between Konoha and Iwagakure that they finally arrived.

They watched from afar as the Four-Tails Jinchuriki spewed magma indiscriminately on the front lines of the battlefield, easily causing terrifying, cataclysmic destruction.

Nara Rin finally understood Orochimaru's intentions.

"This is not a trap set for me, but for my subordinates, or more precisely, for Uchiha Shisui."

Nara Rinka rode on the back of the [Shadow Creature], his mind racing with thoughts.

"Hyuga Rei is from the main family and has a special Byakugan ability, so he won't go to the battlefield in person; Shizune is a medic, so there's no need to mention her."

"The only one who needs to go to the battlefield is Uchiha Shisui."

Nara Rinka considered Uchiha Shisui's situation from his perspective.

"Either accept a C-rank mission, risk your life, and go to the rear of the Iwagakure war zone to gather intelligence;

"Either accept an A-rank mission and come to the front lines to encounter and fight the Four-Tails Jinchuriki."

"It seems that no matter what choice you make, this is an extremely dangerous mission for Shisui."

Nara Rinka chuckled lightly, maneuvering the [Shadow Creature] to fly away, completely ignoring the battle below.

"But Orochimaru, you still underestimated the Uchiha's magnanimity..."

Third update.

There should be a fourth update.

Around... two o'clock?

(End of this chapter)