A-Rank Ninja Scroll!

"What? Shadows!?"

Oishi was startled as he stared at the dense, writhing shadowy tentacles beneath Nara Kaikei.

"You brat, you're actually a member of the Nara Clan?"

As the one responsible for gathering intelligence on Kikyo Castle, Oishi had a rough understanding of the effects of the Shadow Secret Techniques wielded by the Nara Clan.

The Iwagakure Spy instinctively tried to raise his right hand and gather Chakra—whether to use Camouflage Concealment or the Body Flicker Technique, he just needed to avoid directly touching that brat's shadows first.

But at that moment, Oishi suddenly felt as though his arm bore an immense weight. Forget forming the hand signs needed to gather Chakra; even lifting his arm was extraordinarily difficult.

"It was that Explosive Tag earlier! And the Flashbang!"

Oishi was, after all, an elite jonin of Iwagakure. He immediately realized what had happened, but it was already too late.

In the [Lacquer Eye] state, Nara Kaikei's control over the Shadow Secret Technique had reached a masterful level. He had long since used their overlapping shadows to firmly restrain his opponent.

[D-Rank Secret Jutsu: Shadow Binding Technique]

[Jutsu Description: The fundamental technique of the Nara Clan's inherited Shadow Secret Technique]

[Jutsu Effect: Uses one's Mental Energy to create corresponding Yin Release Chakra, infuses it into shadows, creates form from nothingness, controls the shadows to undergo Shape Transformation and overlap with the target's shadow, thereby restricting the target's movements]

[Jutsu Evaluation: Stay right where you are. Don't move.]

For high-level ninja, the restraining effect of the [Shadow Binding Technique] was not absolute.

The simplest and most direct way to break free from the [Shadow Binding Technique] was to rely on brute force.

Had Oishi been at full strength, breaking free from Nara Kaikei's [Shadow Binding Technique] would not have been too difficult.

But his injuries were far too severe now. Trying to break free from the [Shadow Binding Technique] with brute force was nothing but wishful thinking!

What was more, Nara Kaikei had no intention of wasting too much time talking to this Iwagakure Spy who had infiltrated Kikyo Castle.

If he failed to end the battle before the Flashbang's illumination wore off, then he would be the one driven into a desperate corner!

Therefore, after using the [Shadow Binding Technique] to restrain his enemy, Nara Kaikei decisively condensed more Yin Release Chakra and infused it into the shadows. The shadowy tentacles beneath him also became heavier and more solid.

[B-Rank Secret Jutsu: Shadow Stitching Technique]

[Jutsu Description: At the caster's command, shadows transform into sharp blades]

[Jutsu Effect: Materializes one's shadow into hard, sharp shadow blades for both attack and capture, and can attack multiple targets at once]

[Jutsu Evaluation: The invisible blade is the deadliest!]

One shadowy tentacle after another followed Nara Kaikei's will, rushing toward the enemy's position.

A closer look revealed that the tips of those bundled shadows had already transformed into glimmering, icy shadow blades!

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Amid a series of chilling muffled impacts, Oishi's body was pierced through by dense shadow blades like a rag doll, riddled with wounds. The unwilling light in his eyes vanished into the deep night along with the Flashbang's final trace of radiance.

Several new messages quietly refreshed on the panel, indicating that the mission had been completed.

[You have killed the B-Rank Ninja Battle Mission Target!]

[[B-Rank Mission: Iwagakure Spy] completed!]

[First mission completion. Mission reward quality has increased by one tier!]

[You have obtained an A-Rank [Ninja Scroll]. Upon opening it, you may randomly obtain an A-Rank Jutsu, ninja tool, or other miscellaneous item.]

My mission... is complete!

Seeing the notifications pop up on the panel, the nerves Nara Kaikei had kept taut suddenly relaxed. The black shadows in his eyes silently faded away, and he directly exited the [Lacquer Eye] state. The condensed shadow blades also dispersed into the air.

Nara Kaikei's [Wisdom] attribute had only been C-Rank to begin with. To defeat his enemy, he had first forcibly used the self-developed A-Rank Jutsu [Lacquer Eye], then consecutively used the D-Rank [Shadow Binding Technique] and the B-Rank [Shadow Stitching Technique].

At this moment, Nara Kaikei felt his vision constantly darkening, while intense waves of drowsiness surged through his mind. His Mental Energy had been depleted far too severely in the battle just now.

Thankfully, the model of my own Chakra Pathway System provided by the [Lazy Ghost System] allowed the [Lacquer Eye] Jutsu, which had only been one final step away, to be fully completed... Otherwise, even if I had used the [Shadow Stitching Technique] just now, I would have completely lost my combat ability.

Nara Kaikei took a few shallow breaths and forced himself to stay alert, refusing to collapse limply against Tsunade's back.

The [Wisdom] attribute is secondary. The real issue is that my [Precision] attribute is far too low! A D-Rank evaluation corresponds to a genin, so an E-Rank [Precision] attribute is probably on the level of a Ninja Academy student who has just enrolled!

The "Shadow Chakra" used by the Nara Clan to perform the Shadow Secret Technique was essentially a type of "Yin Release Chakra" created solely from Mental Energy.

To stabilize the effects of the ninjutsu, this "Shadow Chakra" would almost instinctively seek to supplement itself with Physical Energy during use, regardless of whether it came from friend or foe—this was also the fundamental principle behind the [Shadow Binding Technique].

To use a sufficiently powerful and stable Shadow Secret Technique, the caster not only needed to invest enough Mental Energy, but also had to actively provide a certain amount of Physical Energy.

Even though the Shadow Secret Technique consumed very little of the caster's own Physical Energy during use.

Nara Kaikei's [Precision] attribute was simply too poor to endure it!

This was also the fundamental reason why he had previously believed that his ninja talent was not ideal.

A low [Precision] attribute meant lacking sufficiently strong physical constitution and cellular vitality, which meant he could not condense enough Physical Energy;

A lack of Physical Energy resulted in insufficient energy reserves for condensing and extracting ordinary Chakra, which further weakened the effects of conventional ninjutsu and taijutsu;

More seriously, insufficient basic Chakra for enhancing Physical Prowess would leave Nara Kaikei's motor functions and combat mobility in a disastrously deficient state!

Before today, aside from the Shadow Secret Technique passed down by his clan, the only Jutsu Abilities Nara Kaikei possessed were the basic Three Body Techniques taught at the Ninja Academy. He could not even use the Three Body Techniques freely and smoothly.

In that regard, even Might Guy, who had long since graduated from the Ninja Academy, could say, "My Three Body Techniques are better than yours"...

This was why Nara Kaikei, despite belonging to the same generation as Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy, had not graduated from the Ninja Academy until he was twelve years old. His imbalance in abilities was simply too severe!

In the ninja world, pure taijutsu ninja still had a path forward.

But a pure spellcasting ninja rooted in place could not even leave the beginner village!

Fortunately, now that I've finally completed the [Lacquer Eye] Jutsu, I can perfectly control the effects of my Yin Release Chakra. From now on, I won't need to expend additional Physical Energy when using the Shadow Secret Technique.

After this, I just need to focus on making up for and improving my Physical Energy... Not to mention I still have the [Lazy Ghost System] to help me!

Nara Kaikei suppressed the anticipation in his heart and silently reviewed the experience he had gained from this real ninja combat mission.

Aside from an A-Rank [Ninja Scroll], several other notifications had just appeared on the virtual panel.

[You have independently developed an A-Rank Jutsu, [Lacquer Eye]. Your [Ninjutsu] and [Wisdom] attributes have increased! Overall Evaluation increased!]

[Ninjutsu: C → B-]

[Wisdom: C- → C]

[Overall Evaluation: D-Rank (Genin) → C-Rank (Chunin)]

An increase in Overall Evaluation doesn't bring any tangible gains, so it doesn't mean much.

The key is that I've discovered a way to raise my attributes! Learning and developing ninjutsu, increasing my knowledge and experience, can improve Mental Energy—in other words, [Wisdom]!

After taking in the panel's information, Nara Kaikei's mood grew even more cheerful, and some of his mental exhaustion faded away.

Right, there's also that A-Rank [Ninja Scroll]!

Taking a deep breath, Nara Kaikei opened the A-Rank [Ninja Scroll] on the virtual panel with a thought.

[Opening...]

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

[A-Rank Secret Jutsu: Camouflage Concealment]

[Jutsu Description: An exceptionally advanced invisibility Jutsu of Iwagakure]

[Jutsu Effect: Uses Chakra to precisely control Water Molecules in the air, wrapping them around the body's surface to eliminate refracted light and one's presence, rendering the entire body transparent]

[Jutsu Evaluation: Invisible Person]

The exceptionally advanced invisibility Jutsu, [Camouflage Concealment]!

As Nara Kaikei was examining the Jutsu information, he suddenly heard a weak call from ahead.

"N-Nara..."

Tsunade's voice still trembled noticeably. Clearly, she had yet to break free from her hemophobia.

"Has the enemy been dealt with?"

After her Line of Sight had been blocked by Nara Kaikei, the only information Tsunade could receive from the outside world, aside from the pair of warm, steady little hands over her eyes, was the scattered sounds reaching her ears.

And while trapped in panic, Tsunade had heard no loud movements for quite some time aside from the obvious explosions of the Explosive Tag and Flashbang. She could not help but feel uneasy.

If those little hands had not remained warm, Tsunade might have suspected that Nara Kaikei had already...

"The battle is over. The scene is just a little ugly."

Nara Kaikei came back to his senses, closed the panel, and glanced at the spy's corpse ahead.

"Should I let go now?"

"Don't!"

Tsunade cried out and instinctively raised her hand to press it against the back of Nara Kaikei's hand.

But the instant their palms touched, she jerked her hand back as though shocked by electricity.

One of the mighty Sannin actually needed the comfort and support of a child...

Tsunade, Tsunade, how could you fall so low!

"...Was the way I looked just now especially ugly?"

After a moment of silence, Tsunade asked hoarsely.

"I'm clearly a medical ninja, yet the moment I see blood..."

"A ninja is originally someone with extraordinary endurance.

"Because you're a medical ninja, because you're Princess Tsunade of the Sannin—the person everyone relies on and believes in—even when facing emotional wounds, you cannot show even the slightest emotion. You can only face the pain alone."

Nara Kaikei raised his head to gaze at the bright moonlight in the night sky, carefully choosing his words.

"Fear, weakness, retreat... An Elite Ninja should never reveal these negative emotions.

"But being able to see the pain of Princess Tsunade, who should have been so powerful that she had no flaws, does not make me feel embarrassed. On the contrary, it makes me happy."

Tsunade quietly listened to Nara Kaikei's answer. Clearly moved, she lightly bit her lower lip, and much of the gloom in her heart inexplicably faded.

"Nara, you always say such strange things..."

Tsunade let out a long breath, and her tone became noticeably lighter and brighter.

"Help me up! That battle was so loud that someone must have heard it and be heading this way—no! Someone has already arrived!"

Nara Kaikei first helped Tsunade to her feet, then looked in the direction she was listening toward. His eyes immediately lit up.

"Sister Nonou!"

Many thanks to "Tianhuan Rumeng" for the reward!