Probing × Transmitting the Dharma

"Bang!"

Nara Shikaku had barely finished speaking when he clutched his head and let out a pained cry, having been flicked squarely on the forehead by Nara Dan.

"What on earth are you thinking about all day, kid?"

"Hyuga Nana is only thirteen years old; do you really think I'd be looking to arrange a marriage with her?!"

Nara Dan felt like crying but had no tears.

It was true that girls in the ninja world matured early, but by the standards of his past life, Hyuga Nana was at most a middle schooler.

As a transmigrator, he hadn't reached such a perverted level.

Furthermore, there was some unknown, powerful force in the dark locking onto him, preventing him from doing anything out of line.

Besides, he preferred the mature type anyway.

The riper, the better—truly, the spirit of Cao Cao never dies.

Nara Shikaku hissed as he cradled his head, feeling both the sting of the pain and a secret sense of shock.

In the past, when Brother Dan attacked, I only felt it was fast as lightning, and I couldn't react at all.

But now, Brother Dan's movements have almost no warning, not even a trajectory.

It's not that I can't react; it's that there is no reaction to be had.

It's as if I just handed my head over to him to flick.

Just what level has Brother Dan's strength reached?

Nara Dan slowly explained the situation, finding the look on Nara Shikaku's face somewhat amusing.

"She wants to take me as her teacher, and that is the intention of the Hyuga as well."

"They want to establish a cooperative relationship with me."

At the same time, he worried inwardly; at this rate, wouldn't some truly bad rumors start spreading?

It wasn't that Nara Dan actually cared about his reputation, but he feared that if people really believed he had such tastes, they would endlessly send him "gifts" that would cause him to die of social embarrassment.

That would be far too awkward.

"So that's how it is."

"We misunderstood."

Nara Shikaku felt a bit awkward, but he quickly brushed it aside and began to discuss the political implications of the Hyuga family's actions with a serious expression.

"The Hyuga family is simply trying to break through their current predicament, either by overcoming the limitations of their Taijutsu or by infiltrating the core of Konoha."

"But after all, from beginning to end, the political stance they have claimed is neutrality."

"If this happens, the political power of the Nara House within the Ino-Shika-Cho will be completely skewed."

"I'm afraid..."

Nara Dan glanced indifferently at the contemplative Shikaku, a hint of appreciation in his expression.

As expected of the naturally brilliant Nara Clan, he could instantly grasp the numerous political ramifications of a single alliance.

Indeed, once such a political balance was broken, the political power of the Ino-Shika-Cho faction would shift significantly.

At that point, the Ino-Shika-Cho would no longer be able to maintain their current political stance of loyalty to the Third Hokage, and even the internal power balance of the Ino-Shika-Cho would be shattered.

Whether the Ino-Shika-Cho would crumble or the Nara Clan would rise to complete independence, no one could say.

This was exactly what Nara Shikaku and the Nara Clan were worried about.

Moreover, this was by no means alarmist, because in politics, there are no absolute friends, only absolute balance and interests.

When you become stronger than your allies, they will undoubtedly panic, because there is no trust in politics; so-called contracts are merely fig leaves.

When you possess absolute power, either you are dragged down by your allies to stand on the same starting line again, or you continue to grow stronger and lead them.

There is no third option.

But clearly, Nara Shikaku didn't have the final say on these matters, and not even the Nara Clan Head did; only the "King" within the clan had the final say.

Or rather, Nara Shikaku was using this opportunity to probe Nara Dan with questions.

This was the reason Nara Shikaku had come to visit so early in the morning.

Brother Dan, do you have the subjective desire to take the Nara Clan a step further?

If the Nara Clan reaches a political precipice, will you change the world?

After all, in this ninja world, individual strength still held the dominant position.

Whether the Hokage was the person most recognized by the people, Nara Dan didn't know, but he did know that every generation of Hokage was the strongest fighter in Konoha!

Hearing this, Nara Dan smiled lightly and didn't answer directly, instead bringing up another matter.

"The Taijutsu training within the clan is theoretically my responsibility, right?"

Nara Shikaku nodded. Although Nara Dan hadn't been to work in days, no one dared to rush him.

"By the way, Brother Dan, the clan elders discussed something earlier..."

"The share of the clan's business allocated to you is still a bit low."

"The clan has now decided to increase it to three million ryo per month."

Nara Dan glanced at Nara Shikaku with a pointed look, his expression meaningful.

It was clear that Nara Shikaku had been instructed beforehand that regardless of his response or the situation, he was to increase the share.

And a share of three million ryo per month, as far as Nara Dan knew, was already the amount allocated to the clan head.

The implication was self-evident.

Nara Dan, you are the one who truly calls the shots in the clan now; no matter what, you must remember the bonds of kinship and take responsibility for the family.

"Then please thank the clan elders and the clan head for me."

Nara Dan was noncommittal. He was certainly not the type to bite the hand that fed him; the Nara House had indeed treated him quite well all along.

While his growth to this point was largely the result of his own hard work, the family had also provided a significant amount of support.

Then, Nara Dan changed the subject.

"I'm afraid I won't have much time to teach Taijutsu to the clan members in the future."

"You are my deputy now."

"You will take my place and teach those little ones every so often."

"Huh?!"

"My Taijutsu is also quite worrying; how am I supposed to instruct the clan members?"

Nara Shikaku was a bit dumbfounded, and not because Nara Dan was skipping work.

Given Nara Dan's current prestige and status, it was a given that the higher-ups would frequently assign him important tasks.

It was the fact that Nara Dan had arranged for him to do the teaching—that was surely a joke.

His own Taijutsu could only be considered passable, and by Nara Dan's standards, it was downright amateur.

"That's right."

Nara Dan nodded, finding Nara Shikaku's bewildered expression somewhat amusing.

"But you don't need to worry."

"It just so happens that my Taijutsu has entered a brand new realm."

"It's time I taught you as well."

"Ah, this."

Upon hearing this, Nara Shikaku looked nervous and resistant, instinctively thinking of Nara Dan's terrifying training regimen. If an ordinary person were to go through that, they would likely lose a layer of skin even if they didn't die.

He absolutely couldn't handle it.

"Don't worry, what I'm going to teach you is Quiet Meditation."

Ignoring whatever Nara Shikaku was thinking, Nara Dan turned solemn, his expression becoming serious in a way he rarely showed in front of Shikaku.

Suddenly, an invisible aura expanded, enveloping the entire front courtyard. Whether it was birds, insects, or the fish at the bottom of the river, their Life Magnetic Field was instantly disrupted, and they all fell unconscious.

Even the servants in the house were not spared, collapsing to the ground and losing consciousness.

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