D-rank [Secret Ninja Scroll]? Tch. Bare minimum payout. Still feels like a loss...
Nara Shikadan sighed as he closed his panel and released the [Shadow Binding Technique] from Uchiha Inahiro.
The Uchiha boy scrambled to his feet, clearly itching to argue.
But the brown-haired Uchiha who had arrived late stepped in with a cold bark:
"Shut up, Uchiha Inahiro!"
"Yes, Vice Captain Yashiro!"
Inahiro had been puffing his chest one second—and practically stuffed his head between his legs the next.
Shikadan couldn't help but smirk.
The Uchiha clan really is 'strong in foreign wars, weak in domestic scoldings.'
"I deeply apologize," said Uchiha Yashiro, bowing his head with visible sincerity. "My clansman was reckless. We disrupted your mission."
He handed the B-rank scroll back to Shikadan.
"If there's any way the police force can compensate you, name it."
As vice-captain, Yashiro knew how to manage damage control.
Their clan had interfered in a sensitive mission—one involving the capture of enemy spies. And all of it had played out in front of half the village.
Just disciplining Inahiro wouldn't cut it.
The Uchiha had to publicly demonstrate their accountability.
Shikadan, a little surprised by the Uchiha's humility, accepted the scroll and blinked.
I thought all red-eyed Uchiha were mentally unstable.
Just like Tobirama-sensei said—'Uchiha are born evil.'
But apparently, some of them were... reasonable?
At least this one was.
"No need for compensation," Shikadan said with a small shake of his head. "I don't want to make trouble for the police force."
He pointed to the unconscious spy nearby.
"But one thing—could you transfer that guy to Konoha Prison?"
"Of course!" Yashiro exhaled with relief.
He'd braced for demands, threats, maybe even an official complaint.
But the kid's request was shockingly simple.
"The police force will fully support your mission, Your Excellency."
Shikadan blinked again.
'Your Excellency'...? That's new.
"Well... actually, one more thing."
Yashiro's smile tightened.
Inahiro flinched.
Shikadan pointed toward him.
"I understand that the Uchiha shoulder the village's law enforcement duties and protect Konoha's people—"
Yashiro's tense shoulders relaxed, and his respect for Shikadan rose several notches.
Even Inahiro thought Shikadan didn't seem so bad anymore.
But then Shikadan continued:
"—but even after I clearly identified myself and explained my mission, this guy still attacked me."
He smiled politely.
"So I think he might need a deeper understanding of the Will of Fire."
Yashiro's face froze.
"I'd suggest he spend some time studying the First Hokage's writings."
"Your Excellency is far too reasonable!" Yashiro said, suddenly filled with admiration.
This kid had just saved the Uchiha a world of political backlash.
He downplayed the grudge, highlighted the clan's duty, and used the First Hokage's ideals to frame it as a teachable moment.
That one sentence had cooled the village's irritation—and salvaged the Uchiha's image.
"Inahiro! Aren't you going to thank this gentleman?!"
Inahiro ground his teeth.
"…Thank you… sir…"
With the police force's full cooperation, Nara Shikadan quickly subdued the remaining spy targets.
By the time he was approaching the Hokage Building, the captured Iwagakure agents had already been escorted to prison.
This B-rank mission that fell from the sky is finally complete!
Shikadan looked up at the building ahead.
Hope I get something good from that B-rank [Secret Ninja Scroll]…
From this mission and the C-rank combat task, he had confirmed two important things:
[Shadow Secret Technique] was terrifyingly effective in ambush scenarios.
As long as the opponent was caught in his shadow—even a Chūnin, even an Uchiha—couldn't break free.
If I can just raise my [Strength] and [Speed] stats, and fix the chakra issue... my overall rank might increase!
Before entering the Hokage Building, Shikadan took a breath, opened the panel, and tapped on the D-rank scroll he'd just received.
[Opening…]
[D-rank Secret Ninja Scroll: Technique Type]
[Learned Technique: Body Flicker Technique]
[Description: A high-speed movement technique, swift as the wind.]
[Effect: Releases chakra through leg meridians to achieve rapid movement. Range and altitude vary with chakra output.]
[Evaluation: The road to ruin is shorter than you think.]
Shikadan stared.
D-rank… is there even such a thing as a powerful D-rank ninjutsu?
He sighed.
Well, I don't know this one yet. At least I won't have to learn it from Hirako…
A soft tap on his shoulder pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Nara! What're you daydreaming about? The Hokage Building isn't that interesting."
Shikadan turned to see a familiar blonde.
"Eh? Tsunade-sama? What a coincidence."
"Don't be like that!" she grinned. "Come on, let's go submit our mission!"
[You have submitted the B-rank mission scroll.]
[[B-rank Task: Capture the Spy] has been completed.]
[You have obtained a B-rank [Secret Ninja Scroll]!]
The system prompts flickered in sequence.
Too bad the mission targets didn't trigger bonus battle tasks.
Still, Shikadan didn't open the scroll right away.
Instead, he looked around the Hokage's office with interest.
Despite being the nerve center of Konoha, the interior wasn't as lavish as one might expect—just four enormous windows offering a view of the whole village, and a circular room with a plain desk buried in scrolls.
Behind the desk sat the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He stamped the submitted task scrolls with swift efficiency.
Shikadan observed him quietly.
They used to call him the "God of Shinobi"; he mastered all of Konoha's jutsu; they say he can use any jutsu ; and he was once known as "the strongest Hokage of all generations"...Well who knows the truth.
But each era has its own legend. What's left of the Third Hokage now… is just age and the title.
"Tsunade, it's been a long time since you turned in a B-rank mission," Hiruzen said mildly, pulling out two mission files and writing "B-rank" next to both Tsunade's and Shikadan's names.
"Don't tell me… you finally lost all your savings?"
Tsunade had already explained that it was Shikadan who handled the fight due to her lingering hemophobia.
Hiruzen's remark was just an old man teasing his student.
"Nagging old man," Tsunade shot back.
Then she looked at Shikadan.
"You didn't hear anything just now, right?"
"Did you say something?" Shikadan nodded like a chicken pecking rice.
But deep down, he thought: There's no way the legendary fat sheep only lost her savings.
Sarutobi Hiruzen turned his gaze to Shikadan.
In his mind, the old Hokage reviewed the boy's record from the Academy:
"Nara Shikadan—excellent intelligence, extremely lazy, claims to conserve energy."
"Physical stats are bottom-tier. Chakra reserves: dangerously low. Basic taijutsu and the Three Basic Techniques: subpar."
"Doubtful whether he has the resolve or stamina to be a ninja."
"Not recommended for graduation."
"Not recommended to become a ninja."
"Recommended to drop out."
"Recommended to retire."
Hiruzen tapped the file thoughtfully.
A student practically forced to drop out… just completed an A-rank mission and a B-rank mission in rapid succession?
He's clearly mastered the Nara clan's shadow jutsu to a high level.
Yet…
Shikadan's chakra capacity was still pathetically low.
Talent alone won't carry him far unless...
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced again at Tsunade.
If she's willing to help… maybe…