The True Use of the [Lazy Ghost System]!

Morning rise, embrace the sun.

Nara Kaikei inexplicably felt refreshed all over.

It was like finding a depression in a soft sofa during a lazy afternoon that perfectly matched his body shape, allowing every muscle in his body to relax and feel deeply satisfied.

"Strength +24? When did that happen?"

Only then did Nara Kaikei belatedly notice the information on the panel.

"And the [Strength] attribute directly rose by an entire major rank!"

Looking at the panel's information, Nara Kaikei reviewed what had happened.

After discovering the remarkable combination of the [Shadow Clone Technique], [Flat Shadow Technique], and [Sage Clan Guiding Technique].

In his daily life, aside from eating, drinking, relieving himself, and sleeping, Nara Kaikei basically maintained a fully automated mode of "consciousness entrusted to Shadow Clones, while the main body lay flat and cultivated on autopilot."

"So this was the result of stumbling into it by accident?"

Ever since discovering the two panel functions that "eating could increase Precision" and "learning could increase Sage Wisdom."

Nara Kaikei had been searching for ways to increase his other attributes, but unfortunately, he had never found the right approach.

He had not expected to receive such a huge gift the moment he woke up today.

He had finally found a way to increase his [Strength] attribute!

However...

"Within a natural day, aside from meeting one's physiological needs, do not engage in any other activities that consume physical strength."

Looking at the panel information, Nara Kaikei felt utterly speechless.

"You really are something, [Lazy Ghost System]!"

Eat, slack off, conserve energy.

Nara Kaikei finally understood why this system was called the "Lazy Ghost System"!

"But if that's the case, how am I supposed to increase my [Speed] attribute?"

"Will Nara Lazybones just stay completely still?"

"Lie flat in place?"

Nara Kaikei briefly familiarized himself with his explosively increased [Strength] attribute, then created several [Shadow Clones].

"You, go buy breakfast."

"You, go carve wood."

"You, go practice the Rasengan."

Considering his own limits, Nara Kaikei only created three clones before his main body went to wash up.

After the [Shadow Clone] responsible for buying breakfast returned, Nara Kaikei sent him off to practice the [Rasengan] as well.

After breakfast, the panel displayed its daily notification.

[Eating... Your [Precision] attribute has increased to a certain extent...]

[Precision: C-]

"By maintaining normal eating habits and additionally taking Soldier Pills, my [Precision] attribute should reach B-rank in about a month."

Nara Kaikei glanced at the panel information, closed it directly, and threw himself wholeheartedly into making [Nature Masks].

Half the morning passed.

Nara Kaikei successfully made two new masks.

The SSS-rank miscellaneous item, the [Divine Tree Branch], which he had purchased last night, was also completely used up.

"Earth, wind, fire. I currently have three B-rank [Nature Masks], corresponding to the three B-rank ninjutsu: [Earth Style: Earth Spear], [Wind Style: Great Breakthrough], and [Fire Style: Headhunter]."

"The earth-nature [Nature Mask] will be carried on me, while the wind- and fire-nature [Nature Masks] will be kept for emergencies."

Nara Kaikei silently considered it.

"I currently haven't mastered any Water Release Ninjutsu, nor can I condense water-nature Chakra, so naturally I can't create a water-nature [Nature Mask]... I can deal with that later."

"Based on my own attribute classification, I could make a yin-nature mask too. But [Shadow Clones] are already made of Yin Release energy, so there's not much point in making a yin-nature mask."

Nara Kaikei created another [Shadow Clone] and instructed it to clean and organize the training room, while he headed into the living room.

He picked up the bottle of Catnip Drink he had bought last night from the entryway, then dug out the incense stick Lady Cat had given him some time ago from his ninja tool pouch.

Nara Kaikei walked over to the window, pushed it open, and lit the incense.

Wisps of smoke drifted out through the window, turning into invisible scent particles that floated through Konoha's air.

Nara Kaikei returned to the living room and waited for about five minutes. Only when the incense was nearly burned out did a cat's cry come from outside the window.

"A stranger's here, meow~"

A small cat with pale yellow fur and pointed ears leaped onto the windowsill from outside and examined Nara Kaikei.

Its upper body was dressed in a cloth garment resembling a ninja uniform, and a small character for "ninja" was marked on its forehead.

"Little brother, you lit cat incense. May I ask what service you require, meow?"

So Ninja Cats had peculiar verbal tics when they spoke too...

Nara Kaikei looked at the Ninja Cat curiously while pushing the drink in his hand toward it.

"Catnip Drink. Cats tend to like this kind of beverage. I thought Ninja Cats might like it too?"

"Meow! You're far too generous, meow!"

The Ninja Cat leaped from the windowsill and nimbly flashed into the living room. Hugging the bottle of Catnip Drink, it rolled around once on the tabletop, looking absolutely delighted.

"Little brother, you're really generous, meow!

"As expected of a ninja from the Nara Clan, meow!"

Nara Kaikei had initially wondered how this Ninja Cat had learned his identity.

But when he recalled the time he had met Lady Cat—met Inuzuka Tsume.

It was probably a cat's keen sense of smell...

The Ninja Cat skillfully opened the bottle cap, held the Catnip Drink bottle with its two little paws, and repeatedly slipped its pink tongue into the bottle opening to lap up the drink. A humanlike expression of contentment appeared on its feline face.

Nara Kaikei did not interrupt it, quietly enjoying the sight of the Ninja Cat drinking.

"It's been so long since I had a drink this satisfying, meow!"

Before long, the Ninja Cat finished the entire bottle of Catnip Drink.

"Little brother, polite ninjas like you are rare these days, meow.

"For the sake of that bottle of Catnip Drink... Summoning Technique!"

The Ninja Cat raised its right paw and lightly pressed it against the tabletop in Nara Kaikei's home. As a puff of smoke rose, a scroll appeared beneath its paw.

"This is our product catalog scroll. Please have a look, meow."

The Ninja Cat pushed the scroll in front of Nara Kaikei.

"Sorry, Mr. Cat—"

"Just call me Taka, meow!"

"Alright, Taka."

Nara Kaikei readily accepted the correction. Holding the product scroll, he did not open it immediately. Instead, he briefly introduced himself before asking,

"I'd like to ask in advance: can Lady Cat make custom ninja tools?"

"Of course, meow!"

Taka nodded.

"Does little brother Kaikei want to order some custom ninja tools, meow?

"If you want custom ninja tools, it would be best for you to meet Lady Cat in person, meow."

"Then I'll trouble you to take me to see Lady Cat, Taka."

Bringing along the Chakra Metal scroll and money scroll that the clan head had given him earlier, Nara Kaikei followed behind Taka. They crossed Konoha and arrived at a set of ruins southeast of the village.

The complete opposite direction from Kikyo Castle... That river we just passed, was that the Naka River?

Nara Kaikei and Taka weaved through the city ruins, soon arriving before a cluster of dilapidated buildings.

The Empty Zone.

"It's here, meow!"

Taka motioned for Nara Kaikei to stay alert.

"The terrain inside may be a bit complicated. Don't get lost, meow."

Nara Kaikei nodded to show that he understood.

One man and one cat swiftly traveled through the maze-like buildings.

Almost every corridor here looked identical, making it very easy to lose one's way.

But under Taka's guidance, Nara Kaikei successfully made it through the corridors and arrived in a spacious room.

All kinds of scrolls and ninja tools were placed around the room's walls, while an enormous tent that seemed somewhat out of place stood in the center.

Nara Kaikei followed Taka into the tent.

In the center of the dark curtains stood an enormous white bed. A soft round fur rug was spread before it, while cats and books alike were piled in every corner of the tent.

Yet the most eye-catching figure was still Lady Cat, surrounded by many cats, a long wooden pipe held between her fingers as she puffed out clouds of smoke.

Lady Cat's scarlet lips brushed over the pale golden mouthpiece, leaving behind a thin layer of damp mist. As wisps of white smoke spilled from between her lips and teeth, the pair of purple cat ears hidden amid her luxurious wavy golden hair quietly perked up.

"Isn't this the handsome young man from the Nara Clan I met at Tsume's place that day?"

Lady Cat lowered her pipe, her crystal-like purple eyes turning toward Nara Kaikei.

"What, have you finally decided to trade with me?"

Nara Kaikei had just been about to explain why he was here.

But an angry, startled voice interrupted him.

"Why are you here?!"

Nara Kaikei looked toward the voice and only then realized he had overlooked the other person standing in the tent.

"You are..."

Nara Kaikei frowned as he looked at the Red Eyes not far away.

"Uchiha Inaho?"

"That's right!"

Scarlet swirled in Uchiha Inaho's eyes as he instinctively raised a hand to grip the hilt of the Wakizashi at his waist.

"You bastard, how did you find this place?!

"This is the Uchiha Clan's weapon shop."

Before Nara Kaikei could respond, another voice rang out. It was Lady Cat.

"Inaho!"

Lady Cat's expression turned cold. Her catlike eyes narrowed slightly, and an icy intimidation flowed from the slits of her eyes.

"I may have close ties with your Uchiha Clan, but this is the territory of the Ninja Cats and me!"

"My deepest apologies, Lady Cat!"

Uchiha Inaho's face reddened. He lowered his right hand and was about to bow in apology.

"Get out!"

Lady Cat had no interest in hearing Uchiha Inaho's nonsense and directly ordered him to leave.

Uchiha Inaho's blood surged, but he ultimately did not dare disobey Lady Cat. In the end, he merely shot Nara Kaikei a vicious glare before striding out of the tent.

"Alright, that annoying boy has left."

Lady Cat took a light puff from her pipe and exhaled another cloud of white smoke.

"Handsome young man from the Nara Clan, now we can discuss business."