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

Chapter 92 The Drunken Fat Sheep!

"Did the ninjas from Iwagakure also launch an attack on Konoha tonight?"

Upon receiving the memories of the [Shadow Clone], Nara Rankei was slightly taken aback, and the action plan he was constantly devising in his mind was instantly abandoned.

At the same time, a cold and resolute face flashed through his mind—it was the Iwagakure spy he had met long ago outside Kikyo Castle.

That is, the Iwagakure ninja who contributed an A-rank secret scroll, "Camouflage," to Nara's victory.

At that time, this was due to the activities of that Iwagakure spy.

Nara Rinka once believed that Iwagakure would launch a surprise attack on Kikyo Castle during the upcoming Third Shinobi World War.

Unexpectedly, it wasn't until Konoha 49 years ago that a ninja force attacked Kikyo Castle, but it was Sunagakure.

What was even more unexpected was that the ninja forces from Iwagakure also arrived that night.

However, their target was not Kikyo Castle, but somewhere else.

Along with the [Shadow Clone], an urgent message from the clan leader was also transmitted.

"Lan Gui! Stop getting entangled with the Sunagakure puppet army! The village can't spare any more reinforcements for now!"

Good guy.

Nara Rinka exclaimed, "Wow, that's amazing!"

If he had known beforehand that the follow-up troops wouldn't be able to catch up, why would he have bothered playing with the remnants of Sunagakure for so long...?

Nara Rinka immediately abandoned his plan to continue delaying the puppet army's actions.

He carried the still unconscious Ye Cang as he retreated from the deep darkness shrouded by the [Darkness Travel Technique].

And when bathed in the soft moonlight, the shadow of Nara Kansai was revealed once again.

Under his control, a shadow creature instantly emerged from the shadows, carrying him and Yecang into the sky.

Since the caster's chakra output and maintenance were lost, the [Darkness Travel Technique] covering the earth gradually lost its effect, and was about to release the group of Sand Village ninjas.

Standing atop the freely flying shadow creatures, Nara Rinka seizes this last chance.

He raised his palm, gathering the last of his Yin Release chakra, aimed at Chiyo below, and unleashed another attack—

[Spiral Shadow Kill Cannon]!

tom!

A familiar, strange, muffled sound erupted, instantly traversing most of the night sky, carrying an unstoppable, violent momentum as it ruthlessly bombarded Chiyo's location.

Although they have not yet escaped the absolute darkness created by the [Darkness Travel Technique].

However, Chiyo's keen ears picked up on the familiar, muffled sound.

Without hesitation, the experienced puppeteer raised her left hand, and the parts covering her left forearm once again radiated outwards, instantly forming an incredibly sturdy chakra shield.

Machine-optical shield seal!

Boom—!!

The high-pitched roar that pierced through the clouds and split rocks erupted once again.

The violent shockwave caused by the collision of the chakra bullet and the chakra shield directly dispersed the last trace of the [Dark Travel Technique].

The bewildered and helpless Sand Village ninjas were fully exposed under the moonlight.

But just like last time.

The Spiral Shadow Kill Cannon still failed to break through the mechanical shield's defense and completely defeat Chiyo.

"The old woman had such a hidden skill... she had modified both her hands into special puppet mechanisms."

The shadow creature was about to fly out of the combat range.

Nara Rinkachi seized the moment before the battle mission failure notification appeared and decisively completed the final battle mission.

You've speedrunned the [Rank A Mission: Chiyo]!

You have obtained a Grade B [Ninja Scroll]!

The Shadow Creature carries the spirit of Nara Rinka and Yotsuya as they journey away.

Chiyo, who remained where she was, watched the other person walk away and slowly lowered her trembling left hand.

If you look closely, you'll see that the old puppeteer from Sunagakure has an extremely pale face, like a dead man.

Chiyo's figure was also swaying precariously, like a candle flickering in the wind.

The protective effect of the machine-optical shield is indeed powerful.

However, correspondingly, the chakra consumption of this defensive technique is also astonishing.

If the chakra is sealed in the puppet beforehand, then Chiyo herself will not suffer any loss.

However, what just received the two [Spiral Shadow Kill Cannons] was the mechanical light shield released by Chiyo through her modified puppet arms.

This requires her to expend her own chakra!

For a ninja in her fifties, being hit by two consecutive light shield sealing techniques in a short period of time almost cost her her life!

But in the next moment.

After checking the situation, the Sand Village ninjas around spoke with some difficulty.

"Lady Chiyo, we haven't found Lady Pakura... It seems she was kidnapped by that Konoha ninja."

"puff!"

Chiyo suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed onto the ground, barely breathing, as if she would die at any moment.

……

Riding the [Shadow Creature], Nara Ranka quickly returned to Kikyo Castle and, using the information previously relayed by the [Shadow Clone], brought Yotsuya back to her family.

When Nara Rinka descended from the sky on the [Shadow Creature].

The old clan chief was forcibly administering drugs to the shouting Ebizo.

No one knows what kind of secret pill Nara Kano gave Ebizo to swallow.

The latter closed his eyes, kicked his legs, and fainted on the spot.

Seeing this, Nara Rinkei didn't know what to say; he could only manage a dry laugh.

"Um... Chieftain, you seem to be in good spirits."

"Lan Gui, you're back!"

Nara Kano looked at his junior with a mixture of surprise and delight, and quickly came to greet him.

"You don't know, but Ebizo and I were ninjas from the same era."

"I fought him several times during the two previous Shinobi World Wars, but I was never able to beat him."

"I can't believe you actually managed to capture this guy alive tonight..."

As they were talking, Nara Kano suddenly sensed something was wrong.

If Nara Rinka can easily capture Ebizo alive, does that mean he can deal with me just as easily?

The old patriarch comforted himself, thinking, "Well, there's no need to be so particular about family..."

"A ninja of the same period?"

Nara Rinka was somewhat surprised.

Their clan chief has already retired safely, but Ebizo is still fighting on the battlefield and has been captured...

Is this a moral decline or a distortion of human nature?

"Yes, as far as I know, Ebizo is a high-ranking official in Sunagakure's intelligence agency."

Nara Kano nodded, his excitement undiminished.

"If you capture him alive, we can take this opportunity to extract a lot of secret information about Sunagakure from Ebizo's mind, which will help us gain more advantages in the war."

"Winning the laurel wreath—this is absolutely a great achievement!"

Nara Rinkei had no interest in figuring out just how significant this so-called "great achievement" was; he only hoped to use this opportunity to get promoted...

Recalling the reason why the clan chief had summoned him, Nara Ranka hurriedly asked.

"Clan leader, where are those Iwagakure ninja?"

"The intelligence that just came back from the village indicates that the Iwagakure ninja launched an attack from the northeast of the village."

Nara Kano stroked his beard and answered methodically.

"The defensive strength of that city is not as good as Kikyo Castle, and its reaction speed is not as fast as ours. It was breached by the demolition team of Iwagakure Village almost instantly."

"The extent of casualties is currently unknown, but it is likely to be serious."

"However, the Third Generation Lord has already led the core members of the village to provide support."

"The village hasn't issued a summons to Kikyo Castle, perhaps out of consideration for the fact that we've also been attacked... It shouldn't be a big problem."

Nara Rinka nodded, putting aside her worries, and then asked.

"However, clan leader, the Sand Village's puppet troops and the Iwa Village's demolition squad launched attacks on small towns surrounding the village on the same night... Could there be something wrong with that?"

"Of course there will be problems."

"How could the ninjas of Sunagakure and Iwagakure possibly act with such perfect coordination if they weren't secretly colluding?"

Nara Kano sneered, then put on an indifferent and calm expression.

"But what does this have to do with me? I'm just a retired old man."

"Even if there is a problem, it should be Shikaku who has to worry about and solve it."

What a brilliant "Nara-style secret technique: the art of shifting blame"...

However, Nara Rinka also nodded.

The question he just asked is something that the highest levels of the village leadership should be struggling with and considering.

What does this strategy for dealing with major national events have to do with him, a mere low-ranking ninja?

The old man and the young man chatted for a long time.

Nara Rinka then remembered Yekura, whom he had brought back, and released a shadow tentacle to pull the latter to the side.

"A female ninja from Sunagakure?"

Nara Kano looked down at Yokura.

For some reason, his gaze first fell on the orange-yellow highlights at the ends of Yekura's bluish-green hair.

Information about the famous ninja of Sunagakure flashed through Nara Shikano's mind, and he quickly recognized the other party's identity.

"Lan Gui, you actually captured 'Yakura of the Scorching Release' as well?"

"Hmm, an unexpected bonus."

Nara Rinka nodded, his tone as casual as if he had just picked up a stray kitten by the roadside.

The old clan chief's lips twitched slightly a few times.

He had hoped that the younger generation of his family could grow up as soon as possible.

But Nara Rinka's growth rate is... it's practically abnormal!

Isn't that outrageous?

"A ninja with a kekkei genkai of the 'escape technique' type, this can be considered a very precious 'special resource'."

Nara Kano glanced at the unconscious Yekura.

"If we were to hand her over to the village, it would be a great achievement."

"Perhaps one day in the future, a few ninjas with the Scorching Release Kekkei Genkai will appear in Konoha."

"Well, Chieftain, it's like this."

Nara Rinka said somewhat hesitantly.

"Could I detain Yecang temporarily instead of handing her over to the village?"

"To be honest, I'm quite interested in her bloodline limit ability."

"Of course, no problem."

Nara Kano responded directly to this question.

"Yakura was originally a prisoner you brought back, and no one else in the village offered you any help in this matter. You rightfully have the right to dispose of her."

The old clan chief did not inquire what kind of research Nara Rinka planned to conduct by keeping Yokura behind.

He simply provided a private place to detain Yecang, which was perfectly reasonable.

After handing over the two most important "human resource gains" from this operation to the clan chief, Nara Rinkei voluntarily resigned.

He originally planned to go straight back to the Kikyo Orphanage.

But just before departure.

Nara Rinka quietly changed direction and headed to the drug research institute, which was closer to her family.

……

I arrived at the drug research institute with practiced ease, went upstairs, pushed open the door, and entered the office I had been to countless times before.

The first thing that entered Nara Rinkachi's nostrils was an extremely strong smell of alcohol.

His brow furrowed slightly as he looked towards the office window—Tsunade's favorite spot.

The pale moonlight filtered through the window screen into the room, draping the small house in a shimmering, silvery-white veil.

Next to the window.

Tsunade removed her usual dark green outer robe, and the silvery moonlight shone on her mostly exposed fair skin, making it difficult to tell whether the moonlight was too white or her skin was too white.

Nara Rinka silently admired the scene of the beautiful woman drinking alone under the moon, then raised her hand to turn on the lights in the room.

"Don't turn on the light."

Tsunade, with her blonde hair flowing down her back, suddenly spoke and extended an invitation to Nara Rinka, who was standing by the door.

"I knew it was you, Nara."

"Come here and have a few drinks with me."

Nara Rinka lowered his right hand, stepped forward, avoiding the scattered wine bottles on the ground, and declined Tsunade's invitation.

"The three prohibitions of ninjas include: no alcohol."

"laugh!"

Tsunade let out a disdainful snort, and carrying the huge wine bottle with an equally huge impact, she suddenly turned around to face Nara Rinka.

On her fair and delicate oval face, two rosy blushes were visible on either side.

The small, full, cherry-pink lips were stained with damp wine, reflecting an alluring sheen under the soft moonlight.

And if one's gaze follows the dripping, fragrant wine, past the perfectly sculpted chin, down the long, fair neck, pausing briefly at the delicate indentation formed by the refined collarbone, before continuing its downward flow...

Nara Rinka must be honest again.

He's especially into blondes and big breasts.

Tsunade suddenly chuckled.

"coward!"

After speaking...

Tsunade gave Nara no time to respond; she took a step forward and bumped into him.

"Nara, do you also think I'm a coward?"

The sorrow and frustration that had accumulated throughout the night seemed to find a way out at this moment.

Tsunade, seemingly overwhelmed by the smell of alcohol, turned to Nara Ranka into an all-encompassing confidante, revealing her innermost thoughts without reservation.

"I also want to contribute to the village that my grandfather built."

"I also want to go to the battlefield and defend the village with everyone."

"But because of that... because of that illness... I can only hide in the background, doing some insignificant little things!"

"What else could a ninja like that be but a coward?"

Nara Rinka felt the heavy smell of alcohol emanating from Tsunade's breath and subtly took a step back.

"You're drunk, Tsunade—"

"I'm not drunk!"

Tsunade interrupted Nara Ranka.

A drunkard could never possibly think that she is drunk.

Tsunade picked up the bottle and took a big gulp, swallowing the liquor in a rather disheveled manner.

"I can still drink!"

"Nara, come with me!"