16-20

Chapter 16: The Medical Division, the Dog Veterinarian, and Mrs. Cat! 

"You've quickly completed [B-level Mission: Bounty Hunter]!"

 "You’ve received a C-level [Ninja Secret Scroll]!"

 Standing calmly outside the Hokage building, Nara Raku closed the panel with a composed expression.

 Turning around, he stood still and looked up.

 At age twelve, standing beneath the Hokage Tower, like a mere underling.

 'No need for wild joy, and likewise, no need for deep despair. That peaceful life was always my goal.'

 Nara Raku gazed at the red building symbolizing the highest authority in the Hidden Leaf Village. 

'But even so, I still know... the ones who create a new era won't be the elders!' 

"Your determination has grown, your mental energy has developed, and your [Wisdom] attribute has increased!"

 "[Wisdom: C+ → B-]"

 'Is personal growth about overcoming your immature past?'

 A hint of newfound resolve flickered in Nara Raku's eyes. He identified his direction and set off.

 'First, a small goal! I'll quickly raise my overall strength to the level of a B-rank Jonin!'

The virtual panel remained inactive.

'Alright, seems like a ninja can’t assign themselves missions.'

As he walked away from the Hokage building, Nara Raku took out the black scroll Tsunade had given him before their parting.

The scroll was pristine, jet black and long, with no visible markings. It gave off a faint scent of disinfectant.

 'Quite a generous gift from the big spender!'

 Nara Raku didn’t immediately check the scroll's contents but carefully placed it in the ninja tool pouch at his waist.

 'But just now... why did Danzo from the Root take a look at me?'

 'That old root mentioned receiving intelligence from Iwagakure. Could it be...'

 'Is that why Nonō-neesan returned to the village?'

 Nonō Yakushi had never disclosed her past as a Root ninja to Nara Raku.

 But not only did he know about it, he was also aware of the fate that awaited her.

 'Nonō Yakushi, Root, Danzo Shimura...'

 While pondering how he could possibly free Nonō Yakushi from Root, Nara Raku arrived at his destination.

 "Welcome! This is Mantendo!"

 The enthusiastic greeting came from a young black-haired shopkeeper.

 "We sell all kinds of ninja tools, everything you could imagine!" 

Nara Raku glanced at the beaming shopkeeper and tested him with a question.

 "Everything?"

 The shopkeeper promised confidently, "If you can imagine it, we sell it!"

 "Alright, I won’t make this difficult. Forget the high-end stuff for now, give me a Bashō Fan."

 The Bashō Fan, one of the Six Paths Sage's tools, could release powerful elemental ninjutsu combining water, fire, wind, earth, and lightning without considering chakra nature.

 "...Sorry, customer. We're just a small business, we don't sell legendary tools of the Six Paths." 

"Alright, I'll lower the bar a bit. How about the Uchiha Clan's Flame Fan?"

 The Flame Fan, a weapon passed down through the Uchiha Clan, made from part of the Divine Tree. It can control fire-style jutsu with wind-style and reflect attacks. 

"...Sorry, customer, we don’t have Uchiha family heirlooms for sale!" 

"Alright, lowering it again. One of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist, the Great Sword Samehada?"

 Samehada, a special sword with sentient life, can absorb chakra. 

"...Sorry, customer, we’re just a normal ninja tool shop in Konoha."

 "Grass Longsword—"

 "Customer! Mantendo is an affordable store that sells regular ninja tools and daily necessities."

 "Oh, you could’ve just said so earlier!" 

Nara Raku shrugged, finally venting the frustration he'd felt inside the Hokage building.

 "I need a pair of single-lens tactical sunglasses, a chakra test paper, and one soldier pill."

 Sunglasses?  
You must be from the Aburame Clan, huh? No wonder you’re so chatty!  
Starting today, I’m blacklisting all of you! Don’t even think about getting any more cheap bug food from me!  
The black-haired shopkeeper, who suddenly looked a few years older, quickly retrieved the three items and sold them at the lowest price, eager to get rid of the "Aburame plague."

 'Tactical sunglasses and chakra paper are fine, but a soldier pill for 1,000 ryō... Is there some secret to this I don't know about?'

 Nara Raku stored away the chakra paper, planning to test his chakra nature when he was alone.

 The 1,000 ryō soldier pill would also be tested later.

 Even though there were likely higher quality pills at home, Nara Raku didn’t want to face his overly affectionate parents just yet, so he bought one to try.

 With two items set aside, only one remained.

 A frameless pair of tactical sunglasses, sleek and black, with rectangular blue lenses embedded in slim metal arms. They looked expensive.

 'The shopkeeper has good taste and a decent attitude!' 

Nara Raku wiped the glasses clean with an alcohol cloth from his ninja pouch before putting them on.

 'A bit tight on the first wear...'

 After a quick tidy-up, he set off again.

 Although Tsunade had temporarily recruited him for a B-rank mission in her capacity as head of the Medical Department, she had other matters to attend to now.

 Nara Raku thought it best to report to the Medical Department first.

 Next stop: the Beast Care Unit.

 ...

 "Why are you touching him there?"

 "He's just lying here. What else am I supposed to do?"

 "You’re supposed to perform an autopsy! An autopsy!"

 "I don't need you telling me how to do my job!"

 "You're the worst vet I've ever seen!"

 Standing at the entrance of the Beast Care Unit, Nara Raku heard two sharp female voices arguing inside.

 For a moment, he wasn’t sure whether to step forward with his left or right foot, or perhaps come back another day.

 But then, a gruff voice filled with wild energy called out from inside.

 "Who’s out there? Come in!"

 Nara Raku braced himself and opened the door.

 Inside was a spacious room, similar to a hospital ward.

 Two women stood facing each other across a narrow bed. Lying on the bed was a creature covered in thick fur.

 Nara Raku quickly scanned the bed.

 'Oh, they’re talking about a cat... that's not too—wait, what?!'

 "Sunglasses?"

 The female ninja on the left had a spiky porcupine-like hairstyle that commanded distance. She was probably the “vet” here, and the one who had called Nara Raku inside.

 "Are you from the Aburame Clan? We can’t treat your bugs here at the Beast Care Unit!" 

Just as she finished speaking, the vet sniffed the air.

 "Wait! This heavy scent of deer and medicinal herbs... plus a Mantendo soldier pill? You’re not with the bug-users of the Aburame Clan. You're a Nara Clan kid, aren’t you?"

 What kind of sense of smell is that?

 Nara Raku’s eyes widened slightly. Then, as he noticed the clan symbol on her, he understood.

 Inuzuka Clan ninja!  
Though all ninja have heightened senses, the Inuzuka Clan’s unique secret techniques boost their sense of smell thousands of times beyond normal!

 'But even so, to sniff out not just a soldier pill, but that it came from Mantendo… that’s ridiculous.' 

Nara Raku nodded to the Inuzuka woman, then shifted his gaze to the other. 

A striking woman with luxurious golden waves of hair, and in the midst of them, a pair of lively purple triangular cat ears. Below her elegant eyebrows were eyes as clear and vivid as works of art, exuding a delicate and seductive beauty.

 She looked like a golden cat spirit in human form.

 "Nara Clan?" 

The woman’s eyes sparkled. Though she didn’t care for the vet's personality, she acknowledged her sense of smell.

 "One of the Nara Clan, known for their medical prowess and wealth?"

 "Yes."

 Nara Raku adjusted his glasses and introduced himself briefly. The two women did the same.

 Inuzuka Claw. 

Mrs. Cat. 

"Her real name is Nekomura Himari," said Inuzuka Claw, walking over to Nara Raku and slapping him on the shoulder. "She’s from the Nekomura Clan of black market merchants..."

 "But now she claims she’s left that life, dropped her old name, and calls herself 'Mrs. Cat'... though honestly, I think 'Miss Kitty' would suit her better."

 Black market merchants?  
Nara Raku’s eyes reflected some confusion.

 Inuzuka Claw added, "You probably haven’t heard of her family... They’re way out of the league of a fresh genin like you." 

"I may not have heard of them, but our Nekomura Clan—" Mrs. Cat paused, lightly tapping her rosy lips as if to punish herself for a slip of the tongue.

 "I'm not like the rest of my clan! I'm a legitimate merchant now!" 

Saying this, Mrs. Cat pulled a scented stick from her pocket and handed it to Nara Raku.

 "Young master of the Nara Clan, this is a token from my ninja cats. If you ever need to trade, just light this incense anywhere in the Leaf Village, and a ninja cat will answer your call."

 "But remember one thing, cats are extremely picky."

 Nara Raku took the incense without understanding what it was for.

 Mrs. Cat nodded gently to him, then disappeared mysteriously, leaving behind only a lingering fragrance.

 "Finally, that troublesome lady is gone!"

 Inuzuka Claw stretched lazily and walked toward the sickbed, pinching his nose.

 "Bringing a dead ninja cat in front of me, how rude!

 "So, little Nara, what brings you to the beast-taming healing class?"

 Mrs. Cat is a semi-original character.

 The character is inspired by "Granny Cat" from Chapter 354 of the manga. Her surname is original, and she appears before the battle between Sasuke and Itachi, which takes place 20 years after the current chapter's timeline, in Year 68 of Konoha.

 (For details on the timeline of the Naruto series, refer to previous related works.)

 According to The Book of People, Granny Cat is a righteous black market merchant who "separated from the Black Market Merchant Clan" and has a contract with the Ninja Cats.

 In Episode 409 of the anime, the good relationship between the Uchiha Clan and Granny Cat is also mentioned, leading to the creation of a storyline where Team 7 captures a big cat.

 In Episode 673, another scene shows Itachi's squad completing a mission at Granny Cat’s place in the past.

 Fans interested can check out these episodes to find characters like "Cat-eared Uchiha Itachi."

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 17: The Generous Gift from the Big Fat Sheep! (Please bookmark, please recommend!)

"Captain Inuzuka, you've heard of me?"

 Nara Raku felt a bit puzzled when he heard the unabashedly friendly tone in Inuzuka Claw's voice.

 He prided himself on having a decent memory. Today should be the first time he'd ever met Inuzuka Claw. The cat-like woman earlier could be excused, her friendliness falling into the category of "recruiting customers." But this Inuzuka woman—veterinarian, senior, and assistant captain...

 Inuzuka Claw gathered up the remaining white sheets from the bed, wrinkling her nose in discomfort before tossing them into a nearby trash can. Maybe the lingering "cat smell" had bothered her, a devout dog person...

 "Don't forget where you are, little Nara. This is the Beast Tamer Rehabilitation Squad."

 Inuzuka Claw clapped her hands and gave Raku a warm smile, showing off a pair of sharp canines.

 "Senior Peiko took good care of me before she retired. Honestly, if she hadn’t retired, I wouldn’t even be the assistant captain right now!"

 So, it was thanks to Peiko...

 Raku nodded in understanding.

 "Oh, by the way, Nara, make sure you keep that incense stick safe," Inuzuka Claw called out as she walked over to a desk in the corner of the room.

 "Even though the Cat Village merchants come from the black market, I have to admit the quality of their goods is guaranteed. Far better than Full Point Hall’s."

 "Especially their ninja tools. Even the Uchiha clan orders from them."

 Ninja tools?

 Raku looked down at the incense stick in his hand.

 Although the sharpness of the Shadow Sewing Technique wasn't inferior to an ordinary kunai, as a B-rank jutsu, it consumed a considerable amount of Yin chakra to use. That’s why Raku had already included mastering some weapon skills in his personal development plan.

 Besides, he'd recently developed the C-rank technique Wind King Barrier, based on his Camouflage Concealment technique. 

But could that cat-girl really provide ninja tools that met Raku’s standards?

 With the thought that "it might come in handy one day," Raku carefully put the incense stick away. Definitely not because he wanted to see that cat-girl again...

 "Thanks for the tip, Captain Inuzuka."

 "You’re way too polite!" Inuzuka Claw exclaimed with a bright smile that clearly showed she appreciated his manners.

 "Actually, our families could’ve been even closer. When Hana-chan was born last year, I wanted to arrange a marriage with Peiko, but she turned me down." (Hana-chan is Inuzuka Hana)

 Raku's mouth twitched slightly.

 Despite her wild, spiky hairstyle, Inuzuka Claw was still under 20 years old. Not even 20, and she was already a mom... Raku could only marvel at how quickly ninja matured.

 He also admired Inuzuka Claw’s straightforwardness. A childhood betrothal wasn’t out of the question. One of the goals of the First Hokage when founding the village was to break down the strict boundaries between ninja clans. Neither the Nara nor Inuzuka clans possessed bloodline limits, so they didn’t value their bloodlines as highly as clans like the Uchiha or Hyuga.

 But a marriage with a ten-year age gap? That was a bit much.

 Seated at her desk, Inuzuka Claw continued, recalling past events. "Peiko said you were too mature for your age, not into underdeveloped little girls, and more into older sisters, especially—"

 "Slander! That’s pure slander!" Raku’s face flushed red, veins popping on his forehead as he interrupted her.

 "I don’t like little girls... or older sisters! How could adults understand a child’s preferences?"

 "Meh, I don’t really get kids either. Even Hana-chan is mostly looked after by my ninja dog, Kuro."

 Inuzuka Claw shrugged, changing the subject. "Oh, we were talking about Full Point Hall earlier. Right, their military rations pills!"

 "Why would you go to Full Point Hall for rations pills, Nara? Doesn’t your family run a pharmacy?"

 Raku found it hard to follow her thought process, but before he could respond, she continued.

 "Their rations pills are filling, but the quality and effectiveness are far inferior to others. They also digest way too quickly."

 Raku had to admit he was a bit lacking in knowledge about rations pills, especially since he used to have very little chakra. 

After a moment of silence, he asked, "There are different kinds of rations pills?"

 "Of course!" Inuzuka Claw pulled a black pill from her ninja pouch. 

 "For example, our family's rations pills have some extra dog food mixed in—um, ignore that example!

 "Anyway, if you're looking for effectiveness, the pills made by the Akimichi clan are the best!"

 Akimichi clan’s rations pills?

 Raku thought for a moment. Could she mean the Three-Colored Pills? 

He knew the Akimichi clan had a special family medicine—the Three-Colored Pills: green spinach pill, yellow curry pill, and red pepper pill. Each was more effective than the last, but also more dangerous, with the red pill potentially being life-threatening.

 "If you think Full Point Hall's rations pills aren't doing the job, we can swap," Inuzuka Claw said, extending a hand warmly. "Mine have extra stimulants to squeeze more chakra out of your cells."

 "No thanks, I appreciate the offer." Raku shook his head.

 First, he wasn’t keen on eating dog food. Second, despite Inuzuka Claw’s complaints about Full Point Hall’s rations pills, their lack of stimulants, extreme hunger-satisfaction, and gentle effect on the body might actually be better for him.

 Inuzuka Claw reluctantly retracted her "special dog-food rations pills." "Sometimes it’s nice to try something new."

 After their lively conversation, Raku felt more at ease with Inuzuka Claw and decided to get down to business. "Captain Inuzuka, today is my first day reporting to the Beast Tamer Rehabilitation Squad..."

 "Yeah, about that—why are you even here?"

 Raku was confused by her interruption. "Huh?" 

Had he made some mistake when he first stepped in that was going to get him fired on his first day?

 "Well, Tsunade-sama stopped by earlier and transferred your ninja files with her departmental authority," Inuzuka Claw explained with a shrug. "So technically, you’re not part of the squad anymore." 

Raku adjusted his sunglasses, feeling a bit thrown off.

 He hadn’t even started working, and he was already fired.

 … 

Standing outside the Medical Department, Raku looked up at the sky, the warm sunlight making him feel a bit dazed.

Should he go find the Big Fat Sheep now?

 According to Inuzuka Claw, he was now one of Tsunade's direct subordinates. That meant he had the freedom to form his own teams, take on missions, and train as he wished. But Tsunade could also call on him at any time for tasks.

 In other words, his role as a "ninja" was now mostly tied to Tsunade. 

Raku was definitely feeling a bit confused by Tsunade’s sudden move, especially since she hadn’t mentioned any of this before. 

 But on the bright side, it did free him from a mundane life in the Rehabilitation Squad. Given the choice between that and working with Tsunade, he'd prefer the latter.

 'So, is this a surprise or a shock?' Raku wondered, glancing toward the Hokage's office in the distance.

 Tsunade was probably still in there discussing important matters with the village’s upper echelon. After thinking it over, Raku decided to head home instead.

 Back to the rooftop apartment near the Ninja Academy that still belonged to him.

 It only took about ten minutes to walk from the Medical Department to his place. As soon as he got home, Raku pulled out the black scroll Tsunade had given him.

 Settling in his quiet study, he spread the scroll open and began to read carefully. 

The neat handwriting filled the white paper, dense with the author’s efforts and energy.

 ‘This handwriting looks familiar somehow...’ Raku thought after finishing the last word.

 ‘And isn’t the Super Beast Imitating Drawing supposed to belong to the Root? How did Tsunade get this scroll?’

 His puzzlement lasted only a moment before the system's prompt interrupted his thoughts.

 [Detected B-rank secret jutsu: Super Beast Imitating Drawing. Would you like to learn it?]

 ‘So, even regular scrolls can be learned instantly through the Lazy System!’

 Without hesitation, Raku chose to learn it.

 [B-rank secret technique: Super Beast Imitating Drawing]

 [Jutsu description: Will accepts the injected intent. Even false life becomes a dancing beast.]

 [Jutsu effect: Using Yang-release chakra to infuse ink, the caster draws various animals on paper and gives them the “life” to move. The generated animals fully depend on the caster's intent.]

 [Jutsu evaluation: Try drawing something that doesn’t exist in reality!]

Let’s discuss *Super Beast Imitating Drawing* here.

 This jutsu is mastered by Sai from Team Kakashi (the Seventh Team) in the *Shippuden* arc, a special jutsu from the Root.

 According to *Book of Characters*, it’s classified as a B-rank jutsu

Chapter 18: Reading Opens New Horizons, A Promising Future! (Please Add to Favorites and Recommend)

"Awesome! It's the **Super Beast Imitating Drawing**!"

 Nara Raku was in an excellent mood after directly mastering a highly difficult ninjutsu.

 Though the Super Beast Imitating Drawing was classified as a B-rank technique, far from being A-rank or even S-rank.

 In terms of functionality and practicality, however, the Super Beast Imitating Drawing surpassed most ninjutsu in the ninja world!

 To give just one example:

 Mastering this technique is almost equivalent to gaining the ability to fly!

 Before the combat mode of the ninja world evolved from "intelligence warfare" into "giant mecha battles"...

 A ninja with the ability to fly could almost always have the upper hand unless facing an enemy with similar capabilities!

 However...

 Nara Raku gazed at the effects listed on his technique panel, feeling a bit disappointed.

 He had originally thought that the Super Beast Imitating Drawing was a Yin Release technique. 

After all, its ability to freely draw beasts seemed to perfectly align with the concept of Yin Release, where something is created from nothing. 

Moreover, if the Super Beast Imitating Drawing were a Yin Release technique...

 Nara Raku could have easily utilized his B-rank **Wisdom** attribute to skillfully execute this multifunctional secret technique.

 "Unfortunately, it’s a Yang Release technique!"

 Nara Raku closed his eyes slightly, reflecting on the information he had just read about the ninjutsu. 

"For the Super Beast Imitating Drawing, the actual drawing skills aren't the most important thing. What truly matters is the ink!"

 According to the description on the scroll given by Tsunade:

 For optimal results when using the Super Beast Imitating Drawing, the best "ink" is your own blood or hair. The next best would be chakra-infused materials, with ordinary liquids being the least effective. 

"Setting aside the last two options, using blood or hair as ink..."

 Nara Raku pondered the key points recorded on the ninjutsu scroll, frowning slightly.

 "Altering the cell structure of blood or hair with chakra... What level of medical ninjutsu is this!"

 Although Nara Raku had applied and joined the Medical Corps' beast care unit... 

That was mainly due to his extensive family knowledge and expertise in caring for animals.

 Nara Raku knew no medical ninjutsu at all.

 In fact, his chakra reserves were too limited for him to even consider learning medical ninjutsu, a high-level Yang Release technique.

 "Fortunately, the Super Beast Imitating Drawing is not purely medical ninjutsu; it merely requires precise chakra control."

"Even with my current chakra reserves, I can still use the Super Beast Imitating Drawing if I prepare in advance."

 Nara Raku’s frown softened.

 "Of course, the ideal choice for me would be to transform the Super Beast Imitating Drawing from a Yang Release technique into a Yin Release technique."

 "Using shadows to replace the ink in the Super Beast Imitating Drawing!"

 This presented a new challenge.

 But its potential was also highly appealing.

 Nara Raku silently adjusted his plans, prioritizing research on the Super Beast Imitating Drawing over his work on the **Camouflage Concealment** technique.

 "Invisible shadows are indeed hard to defend against."

 "But nothing draws attention like a swarm of shadow beasts!"

 And if he could one day perfectly transform the Super Beast Imitating Drawing into a Yin Release technique...

 Nara Raku might even dream of commanding his very own "Shadow Army!"

 "No one can escape their own shadow... Shadow Army, mobilize!"

 "Ahem."

 Nara Raku coughed lightly, pulling himself out of his daydream about the future.

 The gap between his current self and the idealized "Shadow Army" was far too large.

 Instead of fantasizing about an army of shadow soldiers...

 It was better to check what was still in the remaining **Ninja Secret Scrolls**.

 The B-rank missions **Spy Capture** and **Bounty Hunter**, as well as the C-rank mission **Police Force Member**.

 Nara Raku had already completed the C-rank ninja versus ninja mission and obtained a **Body Flicker Technique** scroll as a reward.

 As for the remaining two B-rank missions...

 The **Bounty Hunter** mission was cut short, so he only received a C-rank **Ninja Secret Scroll** upon completion.

 Right now, Nara Raku had one B-rank and one C-rank **Ninja Secret Scroll**. 

"Let’s start with this C-rank scroll!"

 Before opening it, Nara Raku optimistically washed his hands, hoping for good luck.

 "Reading is beneficial!"

 [Opening...]

 [The contents of this C-rank Ninja Secret Scroll: Technique]

 [C-rank Technique: Earth Release: Earth Dragon Concealment Technique] 

[Technique Description: Move freely underground]

 [Effect: Chakra transforms the earth into fine sand, allowing movement like an earth dragon]

 [Evaluation: It's not swimming, it’s burrowing!]

 "Earth Release Ninjutsu?" 

Nara Raku raised an eyebrow as he looked at the technique description.

 "This is the first time I've gotten an elemental ninjutsu from the **Ninja Secret Scroll**!"

 "I haven’t practiced Earth Release techniques before, so I wonder if I can even use it..."

 But regardless of whether he could use Earth Release,

 Nara Raku couldn’t help but feel a certain reluctance as he read the description of the Earth Dragon Concealment Technique.

 "It sounds fancy when you call it Earth Dragon Concealment Technique, but to put it bluntly… it's like dog-paddling through the ground."

 Slightly disappointed by the C-rank scroll’s contents...

 But not overly so.

 "Maybe... maybe this is just a warm-up?"

 Nara Raku washed his hands again and decisively opened the last B-rank **Ninja Secret Scroll**.

 [Opening...]

 [The contents of this B-rank Ninja Secret Scroll: Technique]

 [B-rank Technique: Shadow Clone Technique]

 [Technique Description: Split chakra evenly to create a physical clone]

 [Effect: Creates a solid clone using chakra, which can fight and act independently. The clone has its own consciousness and some resistance to damage. When the clone is dispersed, its experiences and memories return to the original body.]

 [Evaluation: Let’s do this, my other self!]

 "The **Shadow Clone Technique**!"

 A smile appeared on Nara Raku’s face as he read the prompt.

 Although he valued the **Super Beast Imitating Drawing** more than the Shadow Clone Technique, which was also a B-rank ninjutsu... 

He had to admit that the Shadow Clone Technique was still a very useful B-rank ninjutsu with great potential for development. 

For example, the famous main character’s cheat code—the A-rank **Multi-Shadow Clone Technique**!

 Additionally, when Nara Raku was imagining his "Shadow Army" earlier, he had already considered the existence of the Shadow Clone Technique.

 After all, a "Shadow Army" can’t have only one "Shadow Soldier," right?

 "The gap between the B-rank **Shadow Clone Technique** and the A-rank **Multi-Shadow Clone Technique** isn’t too large. It’s just a matter of how many clones the chakra is divided into."

 Nara Raku pondered.

 "The reason why the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique is classified as an A-rank forbidden jutsu is that, without a large enough chakra reserve, using it can harm the user, even to the point of endangering their life!"

 "With my current D- rank **Precision**, it’s better to hold off on the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique for now..."

 Nara Raku closed the **Ninja Secret Scroll** interface and checked his own **Technique Ability** panel.

 A-rank: **Pitch-Black Eye**, **Camouflage Concealment**

 B-rank: **Shadow Sewing**, **Super Beast Imitating Drawing**, **Shadow Clone Technique** 

C-rank: **Shadow Gathering**, **Wind King Barrier**, **Earth Dragon Concealment** 

D-rank: **Shadow Binding**, **Body Flicker**

 E-rank: **Clone Technique**, **Substitution Technique**, **Transformation Technique** 

"What a difference a few days can make! My **Technique Ability** panel is constantly evolving."

 Currently, Nara Raku’s core strength still came from his family’s inherited **Shadow Secret Techniques**.

 But once he fully mastered these newly acquired techniques, his power would definitely undergo a massive leap!

 "As they say—‘the future looks promising!’"

 Nara Raku exhaled softly and took out the chakra test paper and food pills he had purchased earlier. 

"The priority now is to increase my chakra reserves!"

 "Without sufficient chakra, any technique is just theory with no practical value."

 Nara Raku first picked up the chakra test paper.

 Mastering elemental ninjutsu is a key step for most Genin to advance to Chunin or even Jonin.

 In order to learn elemental ninjutsu, one must first understand chakra nature transformation.

 A ninja must convert their chakra into a specific nature before they can use the corresponding elemental jutsu.

 For example, if Nara Raku wanted to use the Earth Dragon Concealment Technique he had just obtained from the C-rank scroll...

 He would need to generate Earth Release chakra, inject it into the ground to turn the soil into sand, and then proceed with the technique.

 More advanced than "nature transformation" is the "nature interaction theory," where different elements counter each other.

 But that was not Nara Raku’s goal for today.

 He just wanted to test his chakra nature to avoid taking a wrong path when learning ninjutsu in the future. 

Generally, everyone is born with a chakra nature.

 Ninjas with a specific chakra nature find it easier to learn corresponding elemental ninjutsu compared to other types.

 Ninjas test their chakra nature using chakra paper.

 Nara Raku recalled the knowledge about chakra nature transformation and refined his chakra, injecting it into the paper in his hand. 

If the nature is lightning, the paper will wrinkle; if it's earth, the paper will crumble; water will make it damp; wind will tear it; and fire will cause it to burn. 

Nara Raku watched the chakra paper in his hand. 

The palm-sized paper seemed to be evenly divided into four equal parts. 

One part was crumbling. 

One part was soft and wet. 

One part was tearing. 

One part was burning. 

Nara Raku was astonished by the changes in the chakra paper.

 He had thought he might have only one chakra nature at most, and there was a high chance he didn’t have any innate nature.

 In Nara Raku’s impression, none of the members of the Nara Clan, who excelled in Yin Release, had ever used elemental ninjutsu.

 Yet he...

 “Earth, water, wind, fire… all four natures? Balanced?”

 (End of chapter)

**Chapter 19: The Dawn of the S-Rank Mission! (Please Continue Reading)**

 "Balance exists between all things."

 Nara Raku disposed of the chakra paper in his hand and fell into deep thought. 

"Does this mean that in the future, I will eventually leave the 'Shadow Stream Sect' and return to the 'Balance Sect'?"

 With a smirk that only he could understand, Nara Raku's mood gradually calmed down.

 The test result from the chakra paper was surprisingly good.

 A ninja's chakra nature is innate. Being born with four chakra attributes signified that Nara Raku's aptitude in this regard far surpassed most other ninjas in the world. 

Even though the Nara clan's **Shadow Secret Techniques** were renowned for their versatility, both offensive and defensive, no one could deny the unique advantages of the five elemental chakra natures: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and Lightning.

 However... 

Nara Raku summoned the **Lazy System** and pulled up the message that had been disturbing him.

 **[Detected: Six Paths Sage Technique - The Curse of Karma!]**

 "It’s likely this Six Paths-level technique was cast by the Sage of Six Paths himself."

 Nara Raku stared at the text on the virtual panel, his expression turning somber.

 "What does this technique even do?"

 Ever since discovering this message, Nara Raku initially thought he'd been "illegally smuggled into this world and blacklisted by the underworld."

 But subsequent events slowly made him reconsider that theory. 

Most importantly, aside from this message, there had been no trace of the **Six Paths Sage Technique - The Curse of Karma** in his life. 

"Is my unique chakra nature caused by this Six Paths technique? But it doesn’t quite feel like that..."

 With a thought, Nara Raku dismissed the virtual panel in front of him.

 "If this were really the Six Paths Technique, shouldn’t I have perfect balance among Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and Lightning attributes by now? Plus Yin and Yang, for seven attributes in total!"

 "So are these four attributes truly innate?"

 Nara Raku pondered for a while, but ultimately gave up overthinking.

 Even if his perfectly balanced four attributes were caused by the **Six Paths Sage Technique**, he had no means or ability to deal with it at the moment. 

Against a figure as powerful as the Sage of Six Paths, Nara Raku, who hadn't even left the "beginner village," could only lie down and accept his fate.

 Nothing to fight against.

 Damn it!

 "One day, I shall be invincible!"

 Nara Raku pulled out a soldier pill and popped it into his mouth.

 "Lazy System, increase stats!"

 **[Precision +10]**

 "Exceptional results!"

 With the pill swallowed, he felt his destiny was no longer in the hands of fate.

 ..

 In the afternoon, Nara Raku, satisfied with the newly organized  technique scroll, set out from Konoha towards Kikyo Castle.

 Thanks to the newly acquired D-Rank **Body Flicker Technique**, his return time was drastically shortened, and for the first time, he truly experienced a ninja's high mobility.

 Though most ninjas wouldn’t waste chakra using the **Body Flicker Technique** just for travel unless it was necessary, Nara Raku had already stockpiled plenty of chakra in advance.

 After discovering that a single soldier pill could provide 10 points of **Precision**, Nara Raku decisively resorted to using as many pills as his body could handle to enhance himself.

 He had to admit, though, that the soldier pills from Full-Point Hall were incredibly filling.

 After most of the day had passed, Nara Raku had only consumed three pills, which barely pushed his **Precision** from D- to a full D level.

 His chakra was nearly overflowing!

 'For reference, E-level attributes range from 1 to 10, and D-level ranges from 11 to 100.'

 'At this rate, by the day after tomorrow, I should be able to push my **Precision** to C-, reaching chunin level.'

Nara Raku considered the potential consequences of such a rapid increase in **Precision**, but the **Lazy System** described this attribute as "life constitution and cellular activity." 

Unlike the more visible **chakra amount** that most sensory ninjas could easily detect, the increase in **Precision** was subtle and internal. Only a medical ninja could possibly notice the leap in his life constitution and cell activity.

 'One soldier pill provides 10 points of **Precision**; a hundred pills would yield 1,000 points.'

 After arriving at Kikyo Castle, Nara Raku first headed toward home.

 'In about a month, I should be able to raise **Precision** to match my **Wisdom** and reach B level!'

 The threshold for B-level attributes was 1,000 points.

 Breaking through this wasn’t an issue for Nara Raku; the real challenge came later.

 If the threshold for A-level attributes really was 10,000 points, even consuming three soldier pills a day would take nearly a year to reach that level. 

'Once my medical knowledge improves, I can develop higher-quality soldier pills myself.'

 'Also, I’ll continue exploring other ways to enhance my **Precision**.'

 Upon returning home, only Nara Chieko was there; Nara Shusuke was still at the research lab.

 "Little Horn, why are you back again?"

 Hearing the familiar, somewhat exasperated tone, Nara Raku pursed his lips.

 "I came back to deliver technique scroll to Leader Kageno."

 Seeing Nara Chieko about to get up and head to the kitchen, Nara Raku interrupted her.

 "No need to prepare any food; I'm not hungry."

 "You're saving me some work."

 Nara Chieko leisurely sat back down on the couch.

 "By the way, didn’t you say you’d deliver the scroll in three days? Knowing you, I thought you’d delay it a few more days."

 The Nara clan, renowned for their collective laziness, was known far and wide (proudly).

 "Something unexpected came up."

 Nara Raku skipped over the details. 

The real reason he'd finished organizing  scroll so quickly was partly due to a battle with an Uchiha earlier that day, which had given him more experience using the technique. It was also because he'd discovered a clear path to power and no longer felt like idling around. 

One of the tenets of minimalist living: keep things simple when they must be done.

 Nara Raku was living by his ninja way!

 "I came back for two reasons," Nara Raku said, cutting straight to the point, which left Nara Chieko a bit surprised.

 "The first is about Shusuke’s research… but we can discuss that when he returns tonight."

 "The second is more important. I just got some intel from the Hokage's office this morning—" 

"If it's really important intel, you don’t need to tell me," Nara Chieko interrupted, looking at her son with some pride.

 "Ninjas must take responsibility for the information they hold.

 "Little Horn, you seem to have grown quite a bit… I’m more comfortable with the idea of you living on your own."

 Nara Raku nearly rolled his eyes but had to admit he was used to it by now. 

"It is critical information," Nara Raku said, taking a deep breath. "But the secrecy level doesn’t seem too high. It seems like the higher-ups want the information to spread… When I came back, a lot of people in the village were already talking about it." 

"The Third Kazekage of the Sand Village has disappeared."

 "Who’s the Third Kazekage again?"

 "The Third Kazekage, the leader of the Sand Village..."

 "Pfft!"

 Nara Chieko suddenly chuckled.

 "Sorry, I just remembered something funny.

 "Thanks for the laugh, Little Horn."

 Nara Raku was confused by her reaction.

 "What?"

 "The Third Kazekage... you mean the one with blue hair, wearing a white robe, who can make a storm of iron sand rain down at will?"

 Nara Chieko waved her hand, showing the typical reaction of a ninja from another country hearing such an absurd rumor.

 "A ninja that strong wouldn’t just disappear."

 As she said this, Nara Chieko pointed to her right leg.

 "If he were that weak, how would my leg have ended up like this?" 

Nara Raku wasn’t sure of the exact reason for Nara Chieko’s retirement, only that she had been severely injured during the Second Shinobi World War, which damaged the meridians in her right leg.

 But hearing this now...

 Nara Raku looked at Nara Chieko, dressed like an ordinary housewife, with newfound respect.

 "Chieko, did you actually fight the Third Kazekage?"

 Nara Chieko wanted to nod but, in her honesty—well, it was her modesty that prevented her from lying too grandly.

 "Not exactly."

 Nara Chieko looked away and mumbled.

 "I was just caught in the range of one of his jutsu… I couldn’t escape." 

"...Anyway, the Third Kazekage has been missing for quite some time. He might already be dead somewhere in the Land of Wind."

 Nara Raku exhaled and said seriously.

 "War is probably coming."

 ...

 After leaving Nara Chieko, Nara Raku headed to the clan leader’s house with the scroll. 

Nara Kageno, born at the end of the Warring States period, had practically grown up with Konoha. Besides being the head of the Nara clan, he also held the position of head of the Jonin squad in Konoha.

 Just as Nara Raku arrived at the clan leader's house, Nara Kageno appeared almost at same time.

 Only following right behind him.

 "Raku? What brings you here?"

 "Clan leader."

 Nara Raku looked at the clan leader, who resembled an "older version of Nara Shikaku," and took out a scroll from his ninja tool pouch.

 "The 'Lacquered Eyes' technique has been completed."

 "Really?"

 Nara Shikano was taken aback, his travel-worn face filled with surprise.

 "Don’t joke around… You should know how important these eyes are to our clan. For you, it's like an S-rank mission."

 Nara Raku thoughts stirred. 

S-rank… mission request?

 (End of chapter)

Chapter 20: Incredibly Rich Rewards! (Please Keep Reading)

"**[Black Eye]!**"

 The best way to silence doubts is to present concrete and powerful evidence.

 Gazing at Nara Raku's deep, dark eyes and the shadowy tendrils at his feet, the surprise on Nara Shikano's aged face quickly vanished, replaced by joy and seriousness.

 "Follow me to the quiet room!"

 In the quiet room, before the tea table.

 Nara Raku and Nara Shikano sat opposite each other.

 "Your eyes... never mind, talking like this is too inefficient!"

 The moment Nara Shikano sat down, he couldn't wait to speak. 

"Right here, use your jutsu and attack me! Real combat is the only true test of a ninjutsu’s effectiveness!"

 Could there be such a good opportunity? 

Nara Raku had been thinking about how to lead the clan leader to issue an S-rank mission, but unexpectedly, Shikano had already presented him with a small gift.

 Upon hearing this, he looked up at the man across from him, his pupils flickering with shadows as he silently activated his jutsu.

 **[Black Eye]!**
**[Shadow Sewing Technique]!**
*Swoosh—* 

Without making any hand seals, two razor-sharp shadow blades surged from behind Nara Raku, cutting through the air toward Nara Shikano.

 ‘What? This speed of casting?’

 Noticing the unusually fast shadow blades, Nara Shikano’s pupils contracted slightly.

 ‘Has Raku really mastered the family’s secret technique to this degree?’

 At that critical moment, Nara Shikano quickly made the "bird" hand seal, summoning an oval shadow shield from beneath his seat to block the incoming blades.

 Nara Clan's secret defense technique: **[Shadow Shield]!**

 *Thud!*

 The shadow blades collided with the shield mid-air, producing a dull sound as the air rippled slightly. 

 Instantly, a notification popped up on Nara Raku’s panel: a B-rank mission had been triggered!

 Task: Fight the Leader of the Nara Clan.
**[B-Rank Mission: Nara Clan Leader]**

**Mission Objective: …**

‘Speedrun! Speedrun!’ Nara Raku didn’t even wait for the full mission details before mentally commanding it to complete.

**[You have completed the B-Rank mission: Nara Clan Leader]!**
**[You’ve received a C-rank Ninja Scroll]!**

At the same time, Nara Shikano’s voice echoed.

"That’s enough, Raku. Stop."

 Nara Raku, who had quickly earned a C-rank reward, immediately withdrew the **[Shadow Sewing Technique]**, leaving only the effects of **[Black Eye]** active.

 "No hand seals, and you still cast a B-rank jutsu like **[Shadow Sewing Technique]**."

 Nara Shikano also dismissed his shadow shield and tugged at his graying goatee, which trembled slightly.

 "The power of these eyes is truly astonishing!"

 The Nara Clan’s **[Shadow Techniques]** generally didn’t require hand seals for basic techniques like **[Shadow Imitation]** and **[Shadow Gathering]**. But when it came to advanced techniques, such as the more powerful and destructive **[Shadow Sewing Technique]**, stabilizing the technique usually required a hand seal, typically just the "bird" seal.

 But if one could fully eliminate the need for hand seals and still maintain jutsu stability...

 No Nara clan member could resist that allure! Hand seals were so cumbersome!

 Shikano almost pulled out a few of his beard hairs in excitement as he solemnly looked at Nara Raku.

 "Raku, can these eyes really completely eliminate the need for hand seals in **[Shadow Techniques]**?"

 "At least in my testing, they eliminate the need for hand seals in **[Shadow Imitation]**, **[Shadow Gathering]**, and **[Shadow Sewing Technique],**" Nara Raku said as he handed the scroll containing the **[Black Eye]** technique to the clan leader. 

"Also, it prevents **[Shadow Techniques]** from consuming additional physical energy during use."

 This revelation was another major surprise!

 By reducing the physical energy consumption of **[Shadow Techniques],** the clan members would be able to maintain more energy in combat, allowing them to extract more chakra.

 This alone could significantly enhance the overall strength of the Nara Clan!

 However...

 Although Nara Shikano was clearly excited, he didn't open the scroll immediately. Instead, he gently stroked the surface of the **[Black Eye]** scroll.

 "Raku, as the clan leader, I should take this scroll without hesitation, as it would greatly benefit the Nara Clan and revive our glory."

 Nara Shikano pushed the scroll back toward Raku and said solemnly, "But as an elder of the Nara Clan in my fifties, this technique is too great for the clan to handle at the moment."

 The Nara Clan's limit? 

Raku frowned, glancing between the scroll and Shikano.

 "But you’ve given me so much help in developing the **[Black Eye]**, now it’s time for you and the clan to reap your reward."

 Without Shikano’s help, it would have taken Raku another three years to develop the **[Black Eye]** on his own.

 "I wasn’t expecting you to actually complete the jutsu..."

 Shikano interrupted, smiling warmly at Raku.

 "Don’t misunderstand, Raku. The clan isn’t rejecting the scroll. We’re just not ready to handle it yet."

 "Then should I hold onto it until the clan is ready?"

 "Yes, until the day you can push the limits of the Nara Clan."

 "Alright..."

 Raku reluctantly took back the **[Black Eye]** scroll, feeling a bit disappointed. He had hoped to exchange the scroll for an S-rank mission reward.

 "Raku, you seem unhappy." 

"A little," he admitted, steering the conversation toward missions.

 "About that S-rank mission you mentioned..."

 "Haha!"

 Shikano laughed heartily. 

"Developing such a powerful jutsu for the Nara Clan absolutely deserves an S-rank mission! Let’s name it **[Eye of Shadow]**!" 

Even if Raku hadn’t brought it up, Shikano had planned to reward him with an S-rank mission to encourage his growth.

 As Shikano mentioned the S-rank mission, a new notification popped up on Raku’s panel:

 **[S-Rank Mission: Eye of Shadow]**
**[Objective: Develop a unique Yin-Style eye for the Nara Clan.]**
**[Reward: An S-rank Ninja Scroll.]**

 Raku's heart surged with joy as the long-awaited S-rank mission was triggered.

 And then came even more delightful news.

 "Since you've already developed **[Black Eye],** this S-rank mission is considered complete."

 As Shikano’s words faded, the panel displayed three more lines: 

**[You have submitted the A-rank scroll **[Black Eye]**.]**
**[S-rank mission **[Eye of Shadow]** complete!]**
**[You’ve received an S-rank Ninja Scroll!]**

 Raku had finally earned the S-rank reward!

 But the surprises didn't stop there. 

"Completing an S-rank family mission also comes with family rewards," Shikano smiled warmly. "From now on, all Nara Clan secret techniques and medical records are fully open to you."

 Raku marveled at Shikano’s generosity.

 "Shouldn’t this be discussed with the clan elders?"

 "Don’t worry, Raku. The Nara Clan may have lazy members, but we have no fools."

(End of Chapter)