Chapter 199: A Nara is Only This Diligent in Front of the Great White Deer!
You Konoha—
No!
Are all you Nara clan ninja perverts?!
Gazing at the group of pineapple-headed men with their suspicious behavior and strange expressions, the Five-Tails, Kokuō, was once again thoroughly terrified. To protect itself, it lowered its front half, aiming its thick, sturdy horns at the elders, taking on a resolute posture that clearly said, "Say one more word and I'll gore you."
Unexpectedly, this aggressive stance, rather than bringing the elders to their senses, only pushed their emotions one step closer to the edge of madness.
"Wow! It lowered its head!"
"As expected of the Five-Tails!"
"I love it even more now..."
"Come on, quick, use your horns—"
Shadow Body Manipulation Technique!
Before the elders could voice any more inhuman, deer-aspiring thoughts, Keisuke decisively unleashed a web of shadow tentacles, instantly connecting to every one of them and freezing them in place. Under his mental control, the elders, like stringed puppets, formed a neat line, sat down, straightened their backs, and placed their hands on their thighs, their posture now impeccably serious and dignified.
"Honored elders," Keisuke said, forcibly dragging the conversation back on track. "I believe we should first discuss that other matter you just mentioned. What is this about a 'unanimous clan decision to make me the new clan head'? Why am I only hearing about this now?"
Months ago, when he had submitted the scrolls for the improved Shadow Imitation Technique, Keisuke had been made the "youngest elder in the clan's history." Although he had never attended a single clan meeting, he certainly shouldn't have been kept in the dark about something as major as a change in leadership.
"This is the result we just discussed and confirmed," Nara Shikano's aged voice drifted down from the sky. Having learned from the elders' mistake, he did not rashly descend, instead remaining on his shadow beast. "Keisuke, didn't you say before that you wanted to become the clan head?"
Before? Keisuke's eyebrow shot up as he recalled their previous conversation. "Clan Head, if I remember correctly, what I said was, 'I only want to enjoy the rights, not perform the duties'."
"Exactly! That's it!" Shikano clapped his hands in approval. "Keisuke, the full result of the clan's discussion is this: you will enjoy the rights of the clan head, and Shikaku will bear the duties of the clan head. It's a win-win!"
If Keisuke were merely strong, Shikano and the other elders would not have made such a seemingly rash decision. But the "Shadow of Darkness" was strong not just in combat, but also in his research talent. Lacquer Eye, Shadow Beast Scroll, Shadow Imitation, Flat Shadow Manipulation, Shadow Body Manipulation, the Shadow Bullets... Keisuke had single-handedly elevated the Nara clan's secret arts to a height they had never before reached. As a secret art clan, the Nara could now go toe-to-toe with the Hozuki of the Hidden Mist. To put it dramatically, with the Lacquer Eye alone, the Nara could almost be considered a half-Kekkei Genkai clan.
And that wasn't even counting all the "private techniques" Shikano knew Keisuke was holding back, like that visual genjutsu from the Hokage's office, or that heaven-and-earth-shaking "shadow giant." Considering his transcendent talent for ninjutsu research, unless the clan elders had all lost their minds, how could they possibly let trivial clan affairs bog him down? They didn't expect him to share all of his secrets; it was normal for a ninja to have a few exclusive trump cards. But even the few techniques he had already shared were enough to benefit the clan for generations.
When all was said and done... they would just have to make Shikaku suffer a little more.
"Clan Head, and honored elders," Keisuke said after a moment of silence. "Does Shikaku-san know about this?"
"I haven't had a chance to tell him yet," Shikano said, stroking his beard. "We can just inform him later. So, Keisuke, are you willing to become the new clan head?"
Keisuke mulled over his words. The clan didn't need his ideas. The clan didn't need his actions. The clan just needed him to sit in that seat.
To this, his choice was naturally... "Why not?"
As long as someone else was handling the tedious work, he certainly didn't mind enjoying a few extra benefits.
Kokuō watched him quietly, unsure how to feel. 'Oh no, Keisuke's the new clan head... is he going to become as weird as the rest of them?'
"Ahem. Esteemed former Clan Head, and honored elders," Keisuke began, clearing his throat. "My first order as the new clan head—let us escort the Five-Tails, Kokuō, to the Nara Forest!"
As the private land of the clan, the Nara Forest was the perfect place to house Kokuō, free from outside interference. The new clan head's will was instantly and thoroughly implemented by all present.
"Hooray!"
"Long live Keisuke!"
"Long live the new clan head!"
Watching the group of fawning, fist-pumping Nara ninja, Kokuō couldn't help but take a small step back. "I can walk myself! Stay away from me! Stay away!!"
Keisuke, along with the former clan head and the elders, escorted Kokuō all the way to the Nara Forest. The Nara ninja stationed there, including Suzaku, saw the great white deer—like a lover from a dream—"lost and now returned," and struggled to wipe the tears from the corners of their mouths.
Surrounded by the ninja, Kokuō's mood shifted from initial nervousness and resistance to a state of helpless acceptance. These Nara were all a bit strange, but at least they were better than the hostile ninja of Iwagakure... Faced with their smiling faces, Kokuō didn't know how to react and could only pretend to ignore them. 'Is this the price of freedom?' it wondered, lying down in the forest and watching the bustling, endlessly busy Nara ninja.
"Lord Deer King! Do you like baked cakes?"
"My name is Kokuō, not Lord Deer King! And besides, Tailed Beasts have no need for food."
"Of course, Lord Kokuō! Then how about some fruit?"
"Don't call me 'Lord'! I'm not a lord! Um, as for fruit, what kind do you have?"
"Lord Kokuō, whatever you want, we can get it!"
The Five-Tails looked at the ninja before it, and another thought crossed its mind. 'It seems the price of freedom... is not as heavy as I imagined.'
Keisuke watched Kokuō and his clansmen getting along harmoniously and couldn't help but nod. He had always believed that the Nara clan and the Five-Tails could coexist peacefully. Still, just to be safe, he decided not to let Kokuō out of his sight for the time being. 'Looks like I'll need to build a temporary residence in the forest...'
As he was considering a location, a new notification popped up on his panel.
[Absorbing external energy... your [Precision] stat has increased...]
[[Precision] +1]
"Huh?!" Keisuke blinked, his eyes fixed on the text, a feeling of surprise and joy welling up inside him. 'Absorbing external energy? Isn't that just natural energy? Did the Sage Clan Breathing Method already take effect?'
[Precision] symbolized physical energy. As long as he ate, he could increase it. But limited by his appetite, the growth of his [Precision] stat had always been unsatisfactory. Now, for the first time, he was able to use natural energy to directly enhance his physical energy.
'It's only been about an hour since I started practicing the Sage Clan Breathing Method. At a rate of 1 point per hour, that's 24 points per day. That's not a lot, but in terms of natural growth, it's already on par with my [Strength] and [Speed]! And that's not even counting my daily meals. My [Precision] growth rate is finally picking up! And if I can increase the efficiency of the breathing method...'*
Thinking of his meager A-rank [Precision], Keisuke's mood soared. He closed the panel and was about to join in on the "great white deer raising activities" when a message came from his research base.
Tsunade had arrived.
☆☆☆
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
☆☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you