As Teuchi's twitching grew more intense, Chōza Akimichi finally set down his bowl and let out a loud, satisfied burp.
Everyone returned home for the night.
They agreed to begin their mission in three days.
At the intersection, Shikaku rested his hands behind his head, said goodbye to Inoichi Yamanaka and Chōza Akimichi, and made his way home.
By then, night had fully fallen, and warm lights glowed from every house.
He slipped off his shoes and stepped inside. His father was still out working, and his mother was busy cooking in the kitchen.
Muttering under his breath, Shikaku, uncharacteristically, stepped into the kitchen, grabbed a radish, and began peeling it.
A mother always knows her son best.
Seeing how downcast he looked, she set aside her kitchen knife and glanced at him with concern.
"Shikaku, what's wrong? Didn't you meet the teacher your father arranged?"
"I did," he mumbled, then looked up with a slight frown.
"Mom, something feels off.
The owner of Ichiraku Ramen, Teuchi, used to be Reiji-sensei's student. By now, he should've passed the Chūnin Exams and become a proper Chūnin in the village, right? So why is he still running a ramen shop?
And when he heard that Chōza, Inoichi, and I were heading out on a mission, he was straight-up gloating.
I don't know why, but I've got this bad feeling—like something I really don't want to happen is about to go down."
Looking at her son's furrowed brows, Shikaku's mother gave a stiff smile, gently ruffled his hair, and said softly,
"When your father gets back, I'll ask him about it. We'll find out what kind of teacher he actually picked for you."
Shikaku nodded uneasily.
...
About half an hour later, Shika Nara walked through the door, still wearing his Jōnin vest.
Dinner was already set.
The family sat together, kneeling at the low traditional table, and began eating.
Partway through the meal, Shikaku's mother spoke up.
"Dear, are you sure the teacher you found for Shikaku is reliable?"
Shika Nara didn't answer right away. He looked across the table at his son and asked casually,
"Did Reiji Sakuhō show up?"
"He did," Shikaku replied with a nod.
Hearing that, Shika Nara's face remained neutral, but inwardly, he let out a long sigh of relief.
So his reputation still held weight.
Just like any parent carrying the burden of their clan's future, Shika Nara understood the heavy responsibilities awaiting his son.
Shikaku wasn't dumb—in fact, he was very sharp.
But Shika hoped his son would grow even wiser than he had, enough to shoulder the full weight of the Nara Clan's future.
And Reiji Sakuhō... was someone who could read people even better than he could.
As a senior advisor to the Hokage, Reiji not only offered counsel but also had to navigate politics—making allies, avoiding enemies, and knowing exactly when to play which cards.
That took more than just strategy. It required deep social intelligence.
After a pause, Shika Nara looked at his concerned son and somewhat displeased wife, then slowly set down his chopsticks and said solemnly,
"Reiji Sakuhō. Jōnin.
Danger Rating: S.
Power Level: Slightly above Kage-level.
Strategic Ranking: SS.
Recommended Protocol: As long as he doesn't betray the village, let him do whatever he wants."
He turned to Shikaku, whose pupils had widened in disbelief, and added in a low voice,
"Shikaku, you should understand what it means when the village says, 'let him do whatever he wants, as long as he stays loyal.'
There's more. I want to share some classified profiles with you—but I need you to keep everything you hear tonight locked in your heart.
You're of the Nara Clan. You know how vital intel is."
Then, with an uncharacteristically stern glance at his wife, Shika continued,
"Teuchi. Chūnin. Specializes in Taijutsu and Eight Inner Gates. Suspected of mastering Kumogakure's secret technique: Heavenly Transfer Technique.
Combat Rank: Jōnin.
Loyalty: Extremely high.
Not advised for mandatory enlistment, but fully deployable during village crises.
Fugaku Uchiha. Jōnin. Skilled in Fire Release, Taijutsu, Genjutsu. Advanced Sharingan. Also suspected of mastering Heavenly Transfer Technique.
Combat Rank: High Jōnin.
Loyalty: Extremely high.
However, due to his difficult personality, not suited for Konoha Police—could worsen tensions within the Uchiha Clan.
Likewise, not suitable for ANBU assignments due to the same personality traits.
Recommended Handling: The farther you send him, the better."
Rie Sakuhō, younger sister of Reiji Sakuhō. Specializes in Taijutsu.
Strength Assessment: Jōnin+
Reliability: Average
Outwardly brash, but deeply calculating. Has an extreme aversion to anyone whose name includes the characters "small," "wild," or "pig."
Due to her connection to Reiji Sakuhō, it is recommended she be left to her own devices.
...
After reading off the report in one breath, Shika Nara picked up the cup beside him and took a sip of water.
The report might've sounded a bit ridiculous, but Shika couldn't laugh at all.
From the listed recommendations alone, it was obvious just how much the Konoha leadership indulged Reiji—that willful, unpredictable man.
It wasn't that they didn't want to control his power; they simply couldn't.
Of course, part of it was because Reiji chose to stay out of power struggles altogether.
Looking at his son's confused and slightly overwhelmed face, Shika gently set the teacup down and spoke with a rare softness in his voice.
"Just being Reiji Sakuhō's student— even if you don't learn a single technique—so long as you stay out of the political mess, his presence alone is enough to keep you safe.
That's why I swallowed my pride to get the three of you into his hands.
His standing among the village's upper echelon... you can't even begin to imagine it.
In fact, his combat power might be the least valuable thing about him, because the village doesn't expect him to ever need to fight.
The fact that they never recalled him to take on teaching duties at the Academy, despite graduating class after class, says it all."
As he spoke, Shika Nara sighed heavily.
To tell the truth, this whole speech was half a bluff to ease Shikaku's nerves.
What he really thought deep down was: as long as Reiji pushed these three kids to their limits—even if it took a year, even three—he could accept that.
If they could shoulder the legacy of the Ino–Shika–Chō, then a little suffering was worth it.
Still, as a seasoned schemer himself, and to maintain the fragile father-son bond, Shika chose to gloss things over with a bit of gentle deception.
...
Thanks to the Nara clan's naturally sharp memory, Shikaku remembered every word his father said.
And it left him utterly stunned.
He never imagined someone so obscure in the village could wield such overwhelming influence.
Not only did no one try to rein him in, he had total freedom to come and go—and even his students inherited a portion of that freedom.
Unthinkable.
Absolutely unthinkable.
What Shikaku didn't yet know was that Reiji's influence wasn't built overnight. It came from countless maneuvers—carefully calculated moves, and repeated success in balancing his relationship with the village.
He wasn't above Konohagakure.
But no one dared to cross him. And that, in itself, spoke volumes.