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

Chapter 437 The Journey to Loulan: Who Else But Me?!

Nara, having returned laden with spoils, bid farewell to the Living Slug Sage, ended the [Reverse Spirit Summoning Technique], and left Shikkotsu Forest.

With a flash, he appeared directly at the Senju clan's stronghold in Konoha.

Nara looked around at the osmanthus tree.

Tsunade, who returned early, isn't here. She's probably dealing with clan affairs, just as she said...

Nara Rinkashi withdrew her gaze.

Before the effects of [Sage Mode: Shikkotsu Forest] wore off, he extended his senses and, with the Senju outpost as his core, headed southeast towards Konoha Village.

The walls of Konoha, the plains of the Land of Fire, the winding coastline...

Nara Rinka's perception range was already extremely wide, and now, with the blessing of [Sage Mode: Shikkotsu Forest], his perception range has increased even more.

In a short moment, Nara Rinka's senses expanded to the vicinity of the Land of Whirlpools.

According to the Living Slug Sage, Shikkotsu Forest is located in the sea area near the Land of Whirlpools.

Previously, Nara Rinka left a mark called "Shadow Blade" in Shikkotsu Forest.

If there are no special barriers or enchantments set up in Shikotsu Forest.

Nara Rinka can use the [Shadow Blade] to pinpoint the exact location of Shikkotsu Forest.

But unfortunately...

Nara Rinka's senses searched the waters near the Land of Whirlpools, but he couldn't find his [Shadow Blade] mark.

"Out of range? Or is it protected by a barrier?"

Nara Rinka raised an eyebrow, his perception instantly contracting and then expanding in the opposite direction.

In no time, the [Shadow Blade] mark he had secretly left in the small countries such as the Land of Grass and the Land of Hot Springs during the previous war was reflected in his inner world of perception.

"It looks like a special barrier!"

"That makes sense, though. Shikkotsu Forest is located in the waters near the Land of Whirlpools; it's not on land, but in the ocean."

Without a special barrier, the seawater would directly submerge the Wet Bone Forest...

"But the Wet Bone Forest I just visited is located in a special space."

"Looks like we'll still have to rely on the Living Slug Sage to open a back door to get to Shikkotsu Forest..."

Nara Rinka let out a long sigh of relief, exiting the special state of [Sage Mode - Wet Bone Forest], and a feeling of emptiness immediately welled up in his heart.

Regardless of the type of Sage Mode, it requires the complete integration of one's own chakra with the natural energy of the outside world, without any omissions.

Otherwise, even the slightest loss of chakra would cause the sage chakra within a person to go out of control and run rampant, thereby threatening the life of the user.

In other words.

Any cultivator in "Immortal Mode".

Whether it's Nara Rinkazu, Jiraiya, or Minato Namikaze.

Once they have exhausted their Sage Chakra, they exit the Sage Mode state.

That means that for a short period of time afterward, they will not have any chakra to use!

A ninja without chakra, no matter how powerful, is still a fake.

Even for pure taijutsu-type ninjas, high-powered taijutsu still requires the enhancement of chakra.

Even Might Guy's Day Tiger, without the Seventh Gate of the Eight Gates to amplify his physical strength, he wouldn't be able to unleash a pure air technique like Day Tiger in his normal state.

This is also one of the reasons why Nara Rangsei pursues a normalized "Sage Mode".

If the "Sage" cannot finish off the opponent within the short five minutes of [Sage Mode]. (Actually, it's a maximum of five minutes.)

So at that time...

Even the invincible immortal will fall.

"After we go to Loulan, let's go to the Fire Temple!"

Nara Rinkachi thought to himself.

His sudden appearance drew the attention of the other ninjas in the Senju camp.

Nara Shikaku, who had been waiting at the Senju camp for a long time, rushed to the scene immediately.

"Yondaime-sama!"

"Yo, Brother Shikaku."

Nara Rinka raised her right hand and greeted him with a smile.

"I'll probably go to Loulan tomorrow."

"I will go to the Fire Temple again later."

Fire Temple?

When did another Fire Temple appear?

Nara Shikaku's eyes widened.

He had just been to the Senju outpost, but by then Nara Rinka and Tsunade had already gone to the legendary Shikkotsu Forest.

After finally getting everyone back, Nara Shikaku rushed over upon receiving the news, only to find that there was only Tsunade...

He waited a long time before his troublesome fourth lord finally returned from Shikkotsu Forest.

Nara Shikaku was originally thinking about how to persuade Nara Ranka to stay in Konoha and keep a low profile.

It turns out that the other party not only wants to go to Loulan, but also wants to go to the Temple of Fire?

"Yondaime-sama."

Nara Shikaku shook his head, clearing the doubts from his mind.

"The village doesn't really approve of the Hokage going out on a mission."

"what?"

Nara Rinka frowned.

"Can't I even leave a clone at the Hokage Building?"

"No, Fourth Hokage."

An aged voice came from the side, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in simple clothes, slowly walked out from behind Shikaku Nara.

"It's far too dangerous for the Hokage to go out on a mission alone."

"I am not doubting your strength, Fourth Hokage."

"However, the village cannot accept the Hokage going out alone, especially when there are so many capable people in the village."

"Sandaime-sama!"

When Nara Shikaku saw Hiruzen Sarutobi arrive, he immediately bowed in greeting.

He was unable to persuade his own clan leader.

Regardless of their family status or their status within the village, they were his top boss.

Even if Nara Shikaku tried to persuade him, he couldn't bring himself to speak.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi is different!

The "Executive Vice Hokage" couldn't control the Fourth Hokage.

The Third Hokage should be able to take charge!

Nara Rinka blinked as he looked at the suddenly appearing Hiruzen Sarutobi, and immediately understood what was going on.

He glared at Nara Shikaku with a look of exasperation.

Brother Lu Jiu, you really did a bad job!

"The Yondaime."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked his goatee and said in a deep voice.

"The threat of Madara Uchiha remains; he also harmed more than one Kage..."

"Although you once fought alongside Minato to defeat Madara Uchiha, the risk of going to Roran alone is far too high!"

"If the Fourth Hokage is worried about Sasori of the Red Sand... I can go to Loulan myself."

Hiruzen Sarutobi has been stationed in Konoha for many years.

He has now stepped down from the position of Hokage.

In terms of importance to the village, he, the retired third-generation leader, is still not as important as the newly appointed fourth-generation leader.

Konoha cannot afford to have a Hokage who dies shortly after taking office...

Should we send Hiruzen Sarutobi to destroy Loulan?

Did Tsunade already discuss this issue with the Third Hokage?

Two questions flashed through Nara Rinka's mind.

But he still shook his head.

"Lord Third Generation, I want to go to Loulan. The Red Sand Scorpion is secondary; the key is the country of Loulan."

"Loulan, isn't it just a small country?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked puzzled.

"Although I've also read their intelligence and know that this small country has recently mastered very powerful puppetry techniques—"

"Hmm? Puppet, Sasori of the Red Sand, Chiyo, Sunagakure..."

At this point, a hint of surprise and uncertainty flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes.

"Does the Fourth Hokage suspect something's amiss with this mission to request reinforcements from Sunagakure?"

Could it be that Sasori's betrayal of the village was a hoax?

The Sand Village wants to use Sasori of the Red Sand as a smokescreen to conspire with the Roran and then ambush and harm the Leaf Village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought about it carefully and realized that this possibility was not entirely out of the question.

But Nara Rinka only wanted to roll her eyes when she heard what the other person said.

What kind of ghost could there be?

What ghost could possibly compare to that damned Madara Uchiha?

Nara Rinka never expected that Hiruzen Sarutobi would have such a wild imagination.

"The Red Sand Scorpion isn't important; what's important is Loulan."

Nara Rinka repeated what he had just said, and also recounted the story that the Living Slug Immortal had just told.

"The descent of the Goddess of the Rabbit, the growth of the Divine Tree, the destruction of the world..."

"In short, the dragon vein beneath Loulan is very likely related to the legendary divine tree!"

"I absolutely have to go!"

(End of this chapter)