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

Chapter 24 The Twelve Guardian Ninjas! (Please read on, please vote!)

The deer-drawn carts traveled at the very front of the merchant caravan, followed by a long, narrow procession, gradually moving away from Konoha.

With his powerful senses, Yamanaka Inoichi led the trio of Sarutobi Asuma, Yuhi Kurenai, and Tobitake, rushing swiftly to the right front of the group.

Genma Shiranui, Ebisu, and Might Guy were positioned separately and intertwined on the right rear of the caravan, while Choza Akimichi, with stronger defensive capabilities, was stationed at the very back of the caravan.

Nine ninjas from Konoha formed a special formation, surrounding the caravan in the center.

Feeling the gentle breeze blowing in her face, Nara Rangsei couldn't help but squint her eyes in comfort.

He initially thought that when he was about to carry out the mission to leave the village, he would have to rely on his own two legs to run back and forth on the road.

For this reason, Nara Rinkazu even had designs on Ōkaku.

But now?

While the comfort of a deer-drawn cart cannot compare to that of a horse-drawn carriage, it is far superior to running on foot!

"The mission we're carrying out today, which we didn't expect yesterday, is to leave the village."

Nara Rinka leaned against the huge scroll next to him. The huge scroll, made of a special material, was even more flexible than the wooden frame of the deer cart.

"Otherwise, I would have prepared some ink materials for the [Super Beast Imitation Painting] last night; I would have at least made a flying ink beast."

Nara Rinka was somewhat unprepared for the A-level mission that was triggered this morning.

In addition to the usual kunai, shuriken, explosive tags, flashbangs, and smoke bombs, he always carried ninja tools with him.

All that's left are a tiny few ration pills.

Besides that, there were the two small rolls given to me by Kano in Nara.

However, with the "Mismatched Generations: Ino-Shika-Cho" team providing security and the hidden trump card of "Shadow Clone," Nara Ranke wasn't too nervous.

"Did you understand the mission assignment process in the Hokage's office just now, Lan Gui?"

The aged voice of Nara Kano was carried over by the cool mountain breeze.

Sitting in the back, Nara Rinkei knew that the clan chief was answering his previous question.

Nara Kano, who is clearly the one carrying out the mission, has also become the one who commissions the mission.

Nara Rinka wanted to do the same, but the Lazy System wouldn't allow him to "amuse himself" like that.

'Perhaps after I return from Kyoto, I can try to replicate the clan leader's actions...'

"Although I can't initiate the task myself, I can insert a middleman to guide that middleman to issue tasks to me..."

The thought flashed through Nara Rinka's mind, but he didn't forget to respond to the clan leader's question.

"Yes, our mission is to go to Kyoto, but the clan leader has added an extra mission to the Fire Temple, and also..."

Nara Rinka turned her head to look to her right, where Sarutobi Asuma, looking excited, was leaping and bounding among the tree trunks in the forest.

"The Hokage also added two extra Chunin squads to carry out other missions."

This tactic is not difficult to understand for Nara Rangsuke.

If your abilities allow, taking on all the tasks that come along the way is the best choice.

That's common sense.

"That's right, the ninja squad on the right, they've taken on a B-rank mission: the Bounty Hunter."

Nara Kano openly revealed the mission names of his fellow ninjas.

"The ninja squad on the left has taken on a B-rank mission: [Caravan Escort]."

"I, Haiyi, and Dingza will step in to assist them in completing their mission if the six of them are unable to do so."

So, yesterday's speedrun B-rank mission was taken over by Sarutobi Asuma's ninja team...

Nara Rinkaku understood instantly, but he still had some minor doubts.

"But if we do that, can't we accept both B-level missions at the same time?"

"Unless there are special circumstances, a ninja will not accept two missions at the same time, no matter how much money the client offers."

Nara Kano knew that there was a little money-grubber sitting behind him, so while explaining his doubts, he also gave a slightly teasing reminder.

"Besides, haven't we already accepted an A-level mission?"

"Also, if we really did interfere in those ninjas' missions, the village will add a B-rank mission record to each of our mission records when we return to the village."

Nara Ranka asked curiously, "Can I do it too?"

"you?"

Nara Kano turned around with amusement.

"Lan Gui, your current identity is that of a mission commissioner."

"Outside of the ninja village, the ninja's free movement is not included in their official mission records."

Nara Rinka nodded with some regret.

He had originally planned to get two B-rank missions for free, hoping to at least obtain two B-rank [Ninja Scrolls]!

"An A-level mission, isn't that good enough?"

Nara Langui consoled himself.

"Besides, this A-level mission was obtained for free."

Konoha has a clear division of mission assignment levels, and ninjas of different levels can accept missions of different levels.

For Nara Rinka, a "genin" (official rank), the highest-level mission he can receive is only rank C.

I was only able to get B-rank missions before because of Tsunade's perks.

No matter how hard I try, I can't get an A-level mission.

Nara Ranke speculated that the main reason he was able to get this A-rank mission, "Tribute," for free was due to his identity as a member of the Nara clan.

The Nara clan initiates a mission request, which Konoha accepts and then reassigns to the Nara clan.

He exploited this "identity loophole".

"But then again, piggybacking on quests seems like a worthwhile way to trigger quests."

Nara Langui's thoughts drifted somewhat.

"However, this 'piggybacking on tasks' model is actually much more difficult to implement than the guided model I just thought of..."

During a casual conversation with the clan chief in Nara.

The caravan slowly crossed the mountains surrounding Konoha and arrived at a vast plain with a wide view.

All around, the sky was blue with white clouds, and the fields were lush and green—a truly beautiful natural landscape.

The deer-drawn cart moved forward leisurely.

Nara Rinkazu looked around at the scenery with great curiosity.

After watching for a while, he looked away with some weariness and half-reclined on the huge scroll next to him.

The scientific level in the ninja world is very strange, even "abnormal".

Biotechnology is advancing at breakneck speed, almost leaving other types of scientific research far behind.

"Electric wires, pastoral scenery, thatched huts... what ninja punk!"

Just then, Nara Kano, who was driving the deer cart ahead, suddenly straightened his back.

He turned around, intending to say something to Nara Rinka, but saw that the latter had a bored expression on his face.

"You'll find out after you complete more missions outside the village."

Nara Kano changed the subject, smiling as he stroked his beard.

"The ninja world is so big, but Konoha is still the best."

Nara Rinka nodded subconsciously.

In his eyes, Konoha, as a semi-military ninja gathering place, was indeed not a good place.

But everything can't withstand comparison.

Konoha is indeed not very good.

But the rest of the ninja world is even worse!

Nara Rinka was about to say something when he suddenly noticed the clan chief's taut back and frowned.

"Chieftain, what has happened?"

"Yes, Haiyi just sent me a message using the Mind-Communicating Technique—a high-level family secret technique passed down in their mountain clan."

Nara Kano turned his head to look at the area to his side.

"He said he sensed several ninjas quietly approaching the caravan, who were probably bounty hunters."

"Inoichi is leading those ninjas to deal with... oh, it's over."

The tension that had just risen in Nara was completely wiped away by this short sentence.

"That's it? I didn't even feel anything..."

"Lan Gui, don't overestimate the strength of those bounty hunters."

Nara Kano reverted to his relaxed and leisurely old man demeanor.

"Konoha is the strongest ninja village in the ninja world in terms of overall strength! No one can deny that."

"Among the bounty hunters, there may be a few exceptionally strong rogue ninjas, but their average strength level is probably not even comparable to that of our Konoha Ninja Academy students."

Nara Rinka listened silently to the clan chief's earnest teachings.

As a highly experienced elite ninja.

Nara Kano's understanding of the "Great Secret of the Ninja World" may not be as thorough as Nara Ranke's.

However, when it comes to the overall understanding of the ninja world, ten Nara Rinkazus cannot compare to the clan leader!

"If all goes well, we should be able to arrive in Kyoto by tomorrow morning."

Nara Kano looked up at the sky, estimating the travel time in his mind.

"At that time, we will go to Daimyo Prefecture together to meet the Daimyo."

"Daimyo..."

Nara Rankei thought of the "who goes up and who goes down" question he had in the Hokage's office.

"Clan leader, will the Daimyo accept Konoha's demands?"

"Yes."

Nara Kano said with absolute certainty.

"Konoha and the Land of Fire are one entity. The Daimyo is the highest leader of the Land of Fire and will not hold Konoha back on such a crucial issue as war."

"I have another question."

Nara Lan Gui pressed for an answer.

"Between the Hokage and the Daimyo, whose status, or rather, whose voice carries more weight?"

"Discourse power? That's a very good term."

Nara Kano smiled and nodded.

Regarding this issue, all I can say is:

"When we agree, we will listen to the elder's name."

"When opinions differ, we listen to the Hokage."

Is this some kind of power struggle within the family?

Nara Rinka felt somewhat speechless.

But Nara Kano's answer was exactly what he expected.

No matter how much advantage the daimyo of the Land of Fire has in terms of identity, status, reputation, or funds.

The power of Konoha can always easily crush the Daimyo!

"Since we've brought up this topic, let's talk about the first special reward I mentioned earlier."

"Lan Gui, do you know about the 'Twelve Guardian Ninjas'?"

"The Twelve Guardian Ninjas" is the original ninja organization.

The manga doesn't delve into this much, but the anime did create a scene depicting the "internal conflict and division among the Twelve Guardian Ninjas."

(End of this chapter)