S-Rank Jutsu: Shadow Clone Technique! (Happy May Day, Everyone)

Nara Kaikei had developed the [Lacquer Eye] jutsu.

It could almost be said to have completely freed the Nara Clan's "hands," while also lightening their burden in battle.

In Nara Shikano's view, no matter how many resources the clan invested in Nara Kaikei now, it would not be excessive.

"But speaking of the clan elders..."

Nara Shikano rose to his feet.

"Kaikei, would you like to come meet them with me later?"

Nara Shikano indeed planned to gather the clan elders and convene a clan meeting.

But that was only because he had just returned from Konoha and learned an important piece of intelligence from the Third Hokage.

The Third Kazekage of Sunagakure had disappeared. The Third Shinobi World War, already on the verge of erupting, had finally found its "fuse."

Now it depended on which great nation and which ninja village would strike first!

Faced with the imminent war, both Konoha and the Nara Clan had to make thorough preparations.

This clan meeting was being held for that reason as well.

As the core force maintaining Konoha's medical system, the Nara Clan would soon have countless matters to handle.

The [Lacquer Eye] Jutsu Scroll Nara Kaikei had provided could be considered a blessing amid misfortune...

"Meet the elders?"

Nara Kaikei shook his head.

"If possible, I'd like to visit Deer Cry Pavilion first."

Deer Cry Pavilion was the Nara Clan's archive.

All the medical and secret jutsu materials accumulated by the deer clan over countless generations were stored within that small pavilion.

"That works too."

Nara Shikano nodded approvingly.

As expected of Kaikei. How many years had it been since the Nara Clan had produced such a driven young genius ninja?

Genius was not terrifying.

What was terrifying was when a genius worked even harder than ordinary people!

As long as Kaikei doesn't die young, the Nara Clan need not hope to catch up to Kekkei Genkai clans like the Senju, Uchiha, or Hyuga Clan.

At the very least, we should be able to match the Hozuki Clan of Kirigakure, right?

Nara Shikano looked forward to Nara Kaikei's future even more.

"Besides the scrolls in Deer Cry Pavilion, the clan will also reward you with a piece of the highest-quality Chakra Metal, best suited for shadow Chakra, for forging ninja tools."

Nara Shikano quickly wrote out a borrowing permit, ensuring that Nara Kaikei's reading experience in Deer Cry Pavilion would not be affected.

"There are also two 'special rewards.' That will depend on your own opportunities and needs...

"I had originally planned to give you another one million ryo each month as research funding, but considering your family situation, Kaikei, perhaps you won't care for such a small sum."

What was an angel investor?

This was an angel investor!

Nara Kaikei was nearly dizzy from the Old Clan Head's successive lavish rewards.

But upon hearing that last sentence, he had no time to ponder the "special rewards" and blurted out instead.

"Clan Head, will you become stronger if you don't spend money?"

It made so much sense that Nara Shikano was left speechless.

Nara Shikano was almost thrown out of sorts by Nara Kaikei's remark.

For most people, being a "ninja" was not a particularly expensive profession.

Kunai snapped?

Soldier Pills all used up?

Every shuriken in hand thrown away?

No problem. Ninjas just had to endure it, and they would get through it.

As long as their Chakra reserves held out, nothing was a problem.

But for certain special ninja, when they started burning money, even printing it could not keep up with how fast they spent it!

Seeing Nara Shikano remain silent for a long while,

Nara Kaikei, who had come to his senses in time, tried to salvage what remained of his rapidly shattering integrity.

"Clan Head, money doesn't really matter. I mainly like the feeling of doing missions myself, earning money myself, and spending it myself."

"...Oh, is that so?"

Nara Shikano suspected that Nara Kaikei was simply a little money grubber, but he had no proof.

"Then I happen to have another mission here.

"And it is related to the two 'special rewards' I just mentioned."

After bidding farewell to the Clan Head, Nara Kaikei set off for Deer Cry Pavilion.

As for the "mission" mentioned at the end, Nara Shikano did not say much. He merely told Nara Kaikei to come find him tomorrow morning.

I wonder what kind of mission the Clan Head was talking about.

On the way to Deer Cry Pavilion, thoughts raced through Nara Kaikei's mind.

A new S-Rank Mission? Unlikely... For a newly graduated genin like me, being able to accept a B-Rank Mission is already the limit, and that is only because of Tsunade's influence.

Then there are also the two special rewards the Clan Head mentioned.

What can the Nara Clan offer? Money, secret jutsu, medical knowledge, Chakra Metal... This time, it could be said they have already given everything they can!

No matter how hard Nara Kaikei thought, he could not figure out what the Clan Head meant by "special rewards."

The key was that, as a secret jutsu clan, the Nara Clan seemingly had nothing truly valuable left to offer.

After agonizing over it for a short while, Nara Kaikei simply stopped thinking about it.

One million ryo per month in freely disposable funds, plus that piece of Chakra Metal.

Nara Kaikei recalled the specially made incense stick Lady Cat had given him.

Perhaps I can ask Lady Cat to help forge some ninja tools! I just don't know whether she takes that kind of work...

Of course, before forging ninja tools, it would be best to ask the Clan Head about this first.

If there is a better option, then I can only painfully give up on that cat spirit.

As for that money...

Just as Nara Kaikei was considering how to use the one million ryo that would soon be in his hands, he finally arrived at the area where Deer Cry Pavilion stood.

This was not Nara Kaikei's first visit to Deer Cry Pavilion.

He had come here before with the Clan Head to borrow those "materials left behind by predecessors."

After showing the Clan Head's handwritten authorization to the clan ninja responsible for guarding the place, Nara Kaikei successfully entered Deer Cry Pavilion.

Inside Deer Cry Pavilion, there was a vast collection of scrolls.

Medical classics, pharmaceutical records, secret jutsu scrolls, ninja insights... there were all kinds of materials.

For the current Nara Kaikei, increasing his strength was the most urgent matter.

With the [Lazy Ghost System], Nara Kaikei could learn any ninja jutsu scroll with a single click.

Thus, after entering Deer Cry Pavilion, Nara Kaikei identified the direction and headed straight for the core area—the secret jutsu scroll section.

As a secret jutsu ninja clan with a long history, the Nara Clan had poured immense effort into researching "Shadow Secret Techniques." Nearly every "Shadow Secret Technique" possessed its own specialized function and effect.

The secret jutsu scroll section contained not only complete Jutsu Scrolls, but also records of the Nara Clan predecessors' research insights into those jutsu.

Beyond that, there were also research materials on unsystematic shadow ninjutsu.

After entering the secret jutsu scroll section, Nara Kaikei did not waste a moment and began learning the mature secret jutsu at top speed.

I currently only know three clan secret jutsu. There are still many Shadow Secret Techniques in Deer Cry Pavilion that I can learn!

[Detected C-Rank Secret Jutsu [Shadow Strangulation Technique]. Learn?]

[Detected C-Rank Secret Jutsu [Flat Shadow Technique]. Learn?]

[...B-Rank Secret Jutsu [Shadow Shield Technique]...]

[...B-Rank Secret Jutsu [Shadow Humanization Technique]...]

[...A-Rank Secret Jutsu [Shadow Grip Technique]...]

Nara Kaikei did not miss a single one and chose to learn them all.

The virtual panel displayed another notification.

[You have learned two C-Rank Secret Jutsu, two B-Rank Secret Jutsu, and one A-Rank Secret Jutsu. Your [Ninjutsu] and [Wisdom] attributes have increased! Overall Evaluation increased!]

[Ninjutsu: B- → B+]

[Wisdom: B- → B]

[Overall Evaluation: C- → C+ (Chunin)]

This lazy ninja is really going to heaven!

Nara Kaikei put down the A-Rank secret jutsu scroll in his hand, his mood incomparably cheerful.

Right, there are also those two [Ninja Scrolls] from earlier!

He had swiftly cleared the battle mission against the Clan Head and received a C-Rank Ninja Scroll.

But the mere C-Rank [Ninja Scroll] no longer caught Nara Kaikei's attention.

What he truly cared about was the S-Rank [Ninja Scroll] he had received after completing the S-Rank commissioned mission [Eye of Shadow] issued by the Clan Head!

I'll use that C-Rank Ninja Scroll as a warm-up first!

Sitting upright in Deer Cry Pavilion, Nara Kaikei decisively began.

Ancestors of the Nara Clan, watch over me!

[Opening...]

[Contents recorded in this C-Rank Ninja Scroll: Jutsu]

[C-Rank Jutsu: Summoning Technique]

[Jutsu Description: Basic Space-Time Ninjutsu]

[Jutsu Effect: Chakra is the power that connects two worlds.

After forming a contract with summoned creatures, summoned ninja tools, summoned puppets, and so on, they can be summoned at any time and from any place.

The amount of Chakra invested determines how long the summoned target can be maintained.]

[Jutsu Evaluation: I choose you!]

Even so, I really wasn't planning to summon the Nara Clan's ancestors!

Looking at the [Summoning Technique] on the panel, Nara Kaikei did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Still, this is a rare Space-Time Ninjutsu! My luck is exploding!

Every scroll brings benefits. S-Rank Ninja Scroll!

[Opening...]

[Contents recorded in this S-Rank Ninja Scroll: Jutsu]

[S-Rank Jutsu: Shadow Clone Technique]

[Jutsu Description: An ultimate clone ninjutsu created based on [Shadow Secret Technique], [Clone Technique], and [Shadow Clone Technique]. No hand seals are required; it can be activated instantly with a thought.]

[Jutsu Effect: 1. Use your own Yin Release Chakra to create a [Shadow Clone] capable of switching between "shadow" and "physical form."

2. The [Shadow Clone] possesses a certain degree of durability and mobility. It can perform all Yin Release Secret Techniques mastered by the user. Once the clone is dismissed, its memories and experiences will automatically return to the original body.

3. The Yin Release Chakra of the [Shadow Clone] and the original body resonate with each other, allowing the clone to serve as a temporary vessel for the original body's spiritual consciousness.]

[Jutsu Evaluation: My shadow... is enough to defeat you.]

A new month had arrived.

Happy May Day holiday, everyone!

The novel was only launched at the end of last month, so I did not ask for monthly votes then.

Now that it is the beginning of the month, and there is a double monthly vote event, please give me your monthly votes!

In this new month, A Xin will continue working hard to update!