Shadow Assault Beneath the Night Lights! (Please Keep Reading, Please Vote Monthly)

"You mean that aside from us Konoha ninja, there are two other ninja within the merchant caravan?"

Nara Shikano woke from his brief nap, his brows drawing together slightly.

"One of them is even the leader of a small merchant caravan?"

"Yes, Clan Head."

Nara Kaikei reported seriously.

"According to my observations, the Mental Energy contained in that leader's brain is extremely powerful, no weaker than Brother Inoichi's."

As the next clan head of the Yamanaka Clan, Inoichi Yamanaka had spent years cultivating his clan's inherited secret mental techniques. His Mental Energy was immense, making him outstanding even among Elite Jonin.

If that merchant caravan leader had merely shown traces of Chakra flowing through his body—

Nara Kaikei would not have taken him so seriously.

After all, the world was chaotic these days. As the leader of a trading caravan, learning a trick or two of Ninjutsu for self-defense was still reasonable.

But an unknown merchant caravan leader whose Mental Energy rivaled that of the Yamanaka Pig among Konoha's current Pig Deer Butterfly?

There might be quite a few experts in the ninja world who remained outside the ninja village system, their reputations inferior to those of elite ninja from the villages.

But it was impossible for an Elite Jonin-level powerhouse to appear just anywhere!

That was why Nara Kaikei had stopped his training and returned to report the situation to the clan head the moment he discovered it.

As for charging straight over to question the man...

Nara Kaikei had not lost his mind to that extent.

"This is indeed highly suspicious."

Nara Shikano's brows furrowed even more deeply, several deep wrinkles appearing on his forehead.

What he was considering was much the same as Nara Kaikei.

If that merchant caravan leader had merely been an ordinary person who knew a little superficial Ninjutsu, Nara Shikano would have pretended not to notice.

Konoha's mission this time was only to escort several small merchant caravans to Kyoto. There was no need to create unnecessary trouble.

But the merchant caravan leader's strength was too high—abnormally high!

Mental Energy comparable to an Elite Jonin...

Combined with the intelligence on those Bounty Hunters who had attacked the merchant caravans when they left the village...

Without much effort, Nara Shikano could connect the merchant caravan leader named Homura Oyashiro with the identity of "the Chinoike Clan exterminator."

This deduction was not necessarily completely accurate, but its likelihood could not be denied!

If not for the "clan exterminator" label—

Considering that everyone had gotten along peacefully during the day—

Nara Shikano would still have chosen to pretend he had seen nothing, at most secretly instructing everyone to be more vigilant around Homura Oyashiro.

But the negative effect of the "clan exterminator" label was simply too strong.

No matter how much Nara Shikano disliked trouble, he could not turn a blind eye to it.

The matter was too important, and Nara Shikano did not wish to act rashly.

"Kaikei, how did you discover that he was a ninja?"

Nara Shikano stroked his beard as he carefully confirmed the details.

"Inoichi has checked the caravan personnel with his sensory Chakra more than once, yet he found nothing at all."

Nara Shikano's doubts were perfectly reasonable.

Although he thought highly of Nara Kaikei, this younger clansman was ultimately only a Genin leaving the village for the first time.

In contrast, Inoichi Yamanaka was one of the current Pig Deer Butterfly. He was highly skilled, experienced, and particularly adept at mental perception.

"Perhaps that merchant caravan leader used some method to interfere with Brother Inoichi's perception."

Nara Kaikei offered a possible explanation as he removed his Sunglasses and activated [Lacquer Eye].

"As for how I discovered him... [Lacquer Eye] can observe the presence and flow of Mental Energy."

The Jutsu Abilities mastered by ninja were originally top-secret intelligence.

But since Nara Kaikei had already planned to share the [Lacquer Eye] Jutsu Scroll with his clan, he naturally would not deliberately conceal that information now.

[Lacquer Eye] can even perceive Mental Energy?

Hearing this, Nara Shikano nearly twisted off his goatee.

These eyes are really going to become the Nara Clan's Sharingan!

"Kaikei, I suddenly regret not accepting the [Lacquer Eye] Jutsu Scroll from you earlier."

Nara Shikano lowered his hand, his expression complicated.

"These eyes are even more powerful than I imagined."

"My stance remains unchanged."

Nara Kaikei answered meticulously.

"As long as the Clan Head is willing, you may take that scroll from me at any time.

"And frankly speaking, with war drawing ever closer, if the clansmen can learn [Lacquer Eye], it will absolutely improve their ability to survive on the battlefield."

As an A-Rank Ninjutsu, [Lacquer Eye] was naturally extremely difficult to learn.

But Nara Kaikei believed that no "Nara slacker" could escape the allure of a hand-sign-free Ninjutsu.

Passion was the true source of motivation.

With tremendous enthusiasm for learning and the Nara Clan's clever minds, Nara Kaikei felt that it would not be difficult for his fellow clansmen to master [Lacquer Eye].

Besides, before Nara Kaikei had even handed over the [Lacquer Eye] Jutsu Scroll, he had already obtained an S-Rank Ninja Scroll, all of the Nara Clan's Ninjutsu and medical records, a monthly salary of one million ryo, Chakra Metal...

It was not that he refused benefits falling from the sky.

But the clan head had given him far too much...

So much that Nara Kaikei felt it was almost too hot to hold.

"Of course I understand that..."

Nara Shikano habitually stroked his beard again.

As the head of a clan, he had to consider matters from far more angles.

There was no question about [Lacquer Eye]'s power and utility.

But it would affect far more than just the Nara Clan. It would also affect their relationships with other clans.

Within Konoha, the Nara Clan could not be called especially prominent, but it was at least indispensable.

The core of the medical system, the Jonin Commander, the Hokage's advisors, connections with the Land of Fire's officials...

The Nara Clan's current strength and status in Konoha could be said to have reached a limit.

At this position, they would attract neither covetous eyes nor suppression.

For the Nara Clan, this was the most comfortable state of affairs.

If they rashly broke through that limit, it would inevitably trigger a vast chain reaction.

Their balanced relationship with the Yamanaka Clan and Akimichi Clan, their alliance with the Sarutobi Clan, pressure from the true super-clans—the Uchiha and Hyuga Clan—and perhaps even suppression from the Hokage...

To break through that limit while maintaining their comfortable position—

Nara Shikano could think of only one way.

They would have to follow the example of Kirigakure's Hozuki Clan.

The Nara Clan needed to produce a Kage-level powerhouse like the Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki!

War... clansmen... survival... time... other clans... the Hokage... Kaikei...

In only a few seconds, countless matters passed through Nara Shikano's mind.

In the end, he made his decision.

"After we return to the village once this mission is complete, hand the [Lacquer Eye] scroll over to me!

"I will first spread the [Lacquer Eye] technique on a small scale within the clan and require every clansman who learns it to keep it absolutely secret."

Nara Kaikei nodded. He strongly approved of the clan head's decision.

Yet inwardly, he could only sigh.

Clan Head, stop raising death flags...

"Also, Kaikei."

Nara Shikano stared sharply at Nara Kaikei.

After only a few seconds, his expectations for Nara Kaikei had risen significantly again.

Since he had decided to promote the [Lacquer Eye] Jutsu Scroll, the plan to cultivate Nara Kaikei also needed to accelerate!

"Do you have the confidence to face that merchant caravan leader who deliberately concealed his identity, Homura Oyashiro?"

Nara Kaikei froze.

"...Huh?"

Nara Kaikei stepped out of the temporary tent and slowly approached Homura Oyashiro's location.

He truly had not expected the clan head to send him to deal with that suspicious ninja who was potentially an Elite Jonin.

But did he have confidence?

Nara Kaikei took a step forward. The shadows beneath his feet rose and flowed like waves, and a solid clone identical to himself suddenly appeared before him.

[S-Rank Jutsu: Shadow Clone Technique]

The clone stood still. Nara Kaikei took another step forward, and his entire body, like a sheet of thin paper, merged into the clone's shadow.

[C-Rank Jutsu: Flat Shadow Technique]

So this is me in clone form?

Nara Kaikei's consciousness briefly possessed the [Shadow Clone]. He raised a hand and loosely clenched his fist.

This lightness, this feeling of being freed from the limits of flesh and blood—it feels unbelievably good!

If his Chakra amount could sustain [Flat Shadow Technique] around the clock, Nara Kaikei would have wanted to live permanently in the form of a [Shadow Clone].

He turned to look behind him. Seeing the shadows around the temporary camp, he nodded slightly before moving once more.

Within the shadows stood Nara Shikano, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Choza Akimichi in silence.

Nara Kaikei was going to probe Homura Oyashiro.

The previous-generation Pig Deer Butterfly team was his hidden bodyguard detail!

Nara Kaikei silently approached Homura Oyashiro.

As the leader of the merchant caravan, the latter was leaning beside a carriage, holding a sickle as he personally cut grass to feed the horses.

The night was dim. Nara Kaikei stopped before a lantern, and its warm yellow glow stretched his shadow long.

"Boss Oyashiro."

The sudden greeting seemed to startle Homura Oyashiro.

He cried out in pain as the sickle accidentally cut his palm, a line of blood immediately seeping from it.

"Ow..."

Wearing an enormous pair of flamboyant diamond-shaped Sunglasses, Homura Oyashiro turned around, his tone carrying a hint of complaint.

"Hey, kid, don't sneak up behind people and scare them at night... What do you need?"

Nara Kaikei narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Homura Oyashiro's injured left hand. His main consciousness returned to the shadows, while the clone's consciousness took over.

The shadows surged like an ink-black beast baring its fangs, tearing toward prey that remained completely unaware.

Seeing that their shadows had already overlapped, the [Shadow Clone] went straight to the point.

"Boss Oyashiro, have you ever heard of... the Shadow Binding Technique?"