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

Chapter 16: The Medical Department, the Dog Veterinarian, and Mrs. Cat! (Please add to your favorites and recommend!)

You speedrun the [Rank B Mission: Bounty Hunter]!

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

Nara Rinka stood downstairs at the Hokage Building, calmly closing the control panel.

Turn around, stop, look up, and gaze.

That year, at the age of twelve, he stood like a lackey beneath the Hokage's tower.

"There's no need for ecstasy, nor for excessive despair. That peaceful life was precisely my goal."

Nara Rinka gazed at the red building in front of him, a symbol of the highest power center in Konohagakure.

"But even so, I still know... that the new era will not be created by the elderly!"

[Your awareness has increased, your spiritual energy has grown, and your [Wisdom] attribute has been enhanced!]

[Wisdom: C+ → B-]

Is personal growth simply about overcoming one's immature past?

Nara Rinkazu's eyes held a newfound determination, one he had previously lacked. He discerned his direction and began to walk.

"Let's set a small goal first! Raise my overall strength to the level of a Jonin (B-rank) as quickly as possible!"

There was no movement on the virtual panel.

"Well, it seems ninjas can't post mission requests to themselves."

As they moved further away from the Hokage Building, Nara Rinkei took out the black scroll that Tsunade had given him as a parting gift.

The jet-black spool was exceptionally clean, its straight and slender surface free of any blemishes, and it emitted a faint smell of disinfectant.

"A gift from a fat sheep? How generous!"

Nara Rinka did not check the contents of the scroll immediately, but instead carefully placed it into the ninja tool pouch at his lower back.

"Just now, why did Danzo from the Root sect even glance at me?"

"This old man said he received intelligence from Iwagakure. Could it be...?"

"Was that the reason Nono-nee returned to the village?"

Yakushi Nonou never revealed her true identity as a Root ninja to Nara Rankei.

However, Nara Rinka not only knew this, but also knew the trajectory of her future life.

Yakushi Nonou, Root, Shimura Danzo...

Just as Nara Rinkei was pondering how to free Yakushi Nonou from her roots.

He finally arrived at his destination—

"Welcome! This is Mandiantang!"

A polite and warm greeting came from the young, dark-haired boss.

"We sell a wide variety of ninja tools here; we have everything!"

Nara Rinka glanced at the smiling boss and tentatively asked.

"Does it really have everything?"

The shop owner confidently declared, "There's nothing we won't sell, only things you haven't even thought of!"

"Well, I won't make things difficult for you. Let's leave aside the high-end stuff and start with a banana leaf fan."

The Banana Fan, one of the ninja tools wielded by the Sage of Six Paths, can ignore one's own chakra nature and unleash a complex ninjutsu that combines the five nature transformations of water, fire, wind, earth, and lightning in one go.

"...I'm sorry, sir, our shop is a small business and we don't sell the legendary ninja tools of the Sage of Six Paths."

"Then let me lower the bar once more. Do you have the Uchiha clan's Flame Fan?"

The Flame Fan, a weapon passed down through generations of the Uchiha clan, is made from a part of the Divine Tree and possesses the ability to control Fire Release ninjutsu using Wind Release and to deflect ninjutsu attacks.

"...I'm sorry, sir, but my shop doesn't have any Uchiha clan heirlooms for sale!"

"Then let's go down another level and get Samehada, one of the seven swords of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist from Kirigakure."

Samehada is a special ninja sword with a life force that can absorb chakra.

"...I'm sorry, sir, we are just an ordinary ninja tool shop in Konoha."

"Kusanagi Sword—"

"Guest! We, Mandiantang, are a popular department store with affordable prices, selling a wide variety of common ninja tools and daily necessities."

"Oh, you should have said so earlier!"

Nara Rankei shrugged, finally getting rid of the pent-up anger he had just suffered in the Hokage Building.

"I need a pair of one-sided tactical sunglasses, a chakra test strip, and a soldier's ration pill."

Wearing sunglasses?

You're a ninja from the Aburame clan, right? No wonder you're so talkative!

Starting today, I'm blacklisting you all! Don't even think about buying insect food from me at this low price again!

The black-haired shop owner, who looked several years older in an instant, quickly took out three items from the counter and sent away the "oil-loving plague woman" in his eyes at the lowest price and the fastest speed.

"Tactical sunglasses and chakra test strips are expensive, but a single soldier's ration pill costs a thousand taels... Could it be that it contains some secret technology I'm unaware of?"

Nara Rinka put away the chakra test paper, planning to wait until she was alone to conduct the chakra attribute test.

The same applies to the military ration pills that cost one thousand taels each.

Although there might be higher quality military rations at home, Nara Rinka doesn't really want to face her nauseating in-laws for the time being, so she can only buy one outside to try it out first.

Of the three items, only one remained.

These are frameless tactical sunglasses. The long, thin, dark metal temples are inlaid with two dark blue, rounded rectangular lenses, giving them a high-quality look.

"This boss has a pretty good temper and a good eye for business!"

Nara Rinka took out an alcohol wipe from her ninja tool bag, wiped and disinfected her glasses, and then put them on.

"It's a little tight since it's my first time wearing it..."

After a quick tidying up, Nara Rangsei set off again.

Although Tsunade, in her capacity as head of the medical department, temporarily recruited Nara Ranke, a junior intern, to carry out a B-rank mission.

However, the "Minister" currently has other matters to attend to.

Nara Rinka felt that she should first go to the medical department to report.

Next stop.

Animal training and rehabilitation program.

……

Why did you touch him there?

"He's just lying here, what can I do?"

"You should have an autopsy done now! An autopsy!!"

"I don't need you to teach me how to work!"

"You're the worst veterinarian I've ever seen!"

Nara Rinka stood at the entrance of the animal training and rehabilitation center, listening to the two extremely sharp and piercing female voices coming from inside.

For a moment, he didn't know whether he should step with his left leg, his right leg, or wait a few days before reporting back.

But just then, a greeting suddenly came from inside, a rough voice full of wildness.

"Who's out there? Come in!"

Nara Rinka reluctantly pushed open the door and went inside.

What comes into view is a spacious room that resembles a hospital ward.

The two women stood facing each other, separated only by a narrow hospital bed, on which lay a creature covered in thick fur.

Nara Rinka glanced at the hospital bed as quickly as possible.

"Oh, you were talking about cats, oh well—huh?!"

"Wearing sunglasses?"

The female ninja on the left has a spiky, afro-like hairstyle that makes people want to keep their distance. She must be the "veterinarian" here, and she was the one who just called Nara Rinka in.

"Ninjas of the Aburame clan? Your insects are beyond the capabilities of our animal taming and rehabilitation center!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the female veterinarian sniffed.

"Wait! This strong smell of deer and herbs... and a soldier's ration pill from Mandiantang? You're not one of those insect-playing tribes from the Aburame clan, are you a child of the Nara clan?"

Do you have a dog's nose?

Nara Rinka's eyes widened slightly, but he only realized what was going on when he saw the ninja insignia on the woman's body.

A ninja from the Inuzuka clan!

Even though a ninja's five senses are far superior to those of an ordinary person.

However, thanks to their special family secret techniques, the Inuzuka clan can enhance their sense of smell to tens of thousands of times that of ordinary people!

No wonder they could immediately recognize his identity.

"But no matter what, you smelled military rations, specifically those made by Mandiantang... That's just too outrageous!"

Nara Rinka first nodded to the female veterinarian from the Inuzuka clan, then shifted her gaze to another person.

Hidden among her gorgeous, eye-catching long, wavy golden hair are a pair of lifelike purple triangular cat ears. Beneath her two arched, willow-leaf eyebrows are a pair of clear, purple eyes that look like works of art. Her whole being exudes a bewitching and exquisite beauty.

It was practically a golden cat demon that had transformed into human form.

"Nara clan?"

The glamorous female ninja's eyes lit up immediately. She didn't approve of the female veterinarian's character and hobbies, but she did agree that the other woman had a dog's nose.

"That deer clan, with their extremely high level of medical expertise and immense wealth?"

"Yes."

Nara Rinka adjusted his glasses and gave a brief self-introduction to the two female ninjas, who in turn introduced themselves.

Inuzuka Claw.

Mrs. Cat.

"Actually, this guy's real name is Nekomura Himari, a member of the Nekomura clan, a black market merchant family..."

Inuzuka Tsuru walked up to Nara Renka and casually patted him on the shoulder.

"But she now claims to have broken away from the black market merchant family and abandoned her original surname, calling herself 'Mrs. Cat'... Actually, I think 'Little Cat Girl' would be more appropriate."

A family of black market merchants?

A hint of confusion flashed in Nara Rinka's eyes.

Inuzuka Tsurugi added, "I suppose you've never heard of this clan... After all, they're a far cry from what you genin who've just graduated from the ninja academy are used to."

"Never heard of it? Well, we cat villagers—pfft!"

Mrs. Cat lightly patted her pink lips, as if giving herself a slap on the lips.

"I'm not like those people! I'm an upright businessman!"

As they were talking, Mrs. Cat took out a stick of incense from her pocket and handed it to Nara Rangsuke.

"Young man from the Nara family, this is a keepsake from my ninja cat. If you have anything you want to trade, just light this incense stick within the Konoha area, and a ninja cat will respond to your call."

"But please remember one thing: cats are very picky."

Nara Rinka accepted the incense without understanding why.

Mrs. Cat nodded gently to him, and her figure vanished like a ghost, leaving only a fragrant breeze behind.

"That troublesome guy is finally gone!"

Inuzuka Tsuru stretched and pinched his nose as he walked toward the hospital bed.

"How incredibly rude of you to bring a dead ninja cat to me!"

"So, Nara, what are you doing at the animal training and rehabilitation center?"

Mrs. Cat is a semi-original character.

The character is based on "Grandma Cat" from Chapter 354 of the manga, but the surname is original. She appears before the battle between Sasuke and Itachi, that is, in Konoha 68, 20 years after the timeline of this chapter.

(For a detailed timeline of Naruto, please refer to the previous works.)

According to the Book of the Ninja, Granny Cat is a respectable black market merchant who "broke away from the black market merchant clan" and has a contractual relationship with the Ninja Cat clan.

In episode 409 of the anime, the good cooperative relationship between the Uchiha clan and Granny Cat was mentioned, and an animated scene was created where Team 7 captured a giant cat.

In episode 673 of the anime, a scene was created depicting Itachi's team on a mission at Granny Cat's place.

Interested readers can look for characters such as "Cat-eared Uchiha Itachi" in the above episodes.

(End of this chapter)