Nara Shikaku was officially recognized as a genius with an IQ over 190.
Having grown up alongside Yamanaka Shinno, it only took him a moment to piece things together and grasp the full implications of what he had just heard.
But… Danzo?
That was a revelation so shocking it shook his entire worldview.
With an expression twisted in disbelief, Shikaku rubbed his arm as goosebumps prickled his skin. Then, he exchanged a glance with Yamanaka Inoichi.
After years of working together, they had long since developed a near-telepathic understanding of one another. Without hesitation, Inoichi activated the Mind Transmission Technique, linking their thoughts together.
Shikaku's voice echoed in their minds.
"Konoha's current ninja population has already exceeded what the village can reasonably sustain. The influence of the major clans within various departments has become deeply entrenched..."
Yamanaka Shinno frowned as he listened to Shikaku's analysis.
To summarize, Konoha's upper echelons were already overcrowded.
The Third Hokage, in an effort to mobilize as much of the village's power as possible to prepare for the imminent war, couldn't afford to disrupt the current balance.
This was precisely why he and Namikaze Minato were allowed to attend high-level meetings but had never been granted real authority.
Once Konoha entered the war, Shinno—like any other combat-ready shinobi—would inevitably be deployed to the frontlines as a vanguard unit.
With his strength, he could undoubtedly distinguish himself in battle, just as Minato did in the original timeline, swiftly rising through the ranks.
However, his status as a Yamanaka meant his ceiling was nowhere near as high as Minato's, a civilian prodigy unburdened by clan politics.
And strength was both a blessing and a curse.
Konoha's leadership was well aware that Shinno had already surpassed Jiraiya. Many of the village's ninja clans had caught wind of this as well.
During the war, they might suppress their unease, but afterward?
If he wanted to avoid the inevitable backlash, joining Root and securing a high-ranking position there was undoubtedly a solid choice.
Even if Danzo harbored ulterior motives in secret, Shinno's strength—combined with the backing of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio and Kushina's sheer combat power as a deterrent—meant that gaining real control over Root wouldn't be impossible with enough planning.
With power, influence, and the ruthless efficiency of Root, who would dare make a move against him?
"If Orochimaru successfully becomes the Fourth Hokage after the Third Shinobi War, you'll be his closest advisor," Shikaku concluded, painting a bright future for Shinno.
"'Closest advisor'? Please, I'd be running the whole damn village from the shadows," Shinno scoffed internally before finally speaking up.
"Nice analysis. Next time, just skip it. Let me tell you something—on the third day of my last mission, I killed a big name."
"Oh? Who? Which village?"
"Konoha."
"???"
"Uchiha Madara."
"!!!"
Shikaku's mouth opened and closed, unable to form words.
Just as he was about to ask more, Shinno projected the memory of his battle with Madara through the Mind Transmission Technique.
The towering Susanoo, blotting out the sky. The devastating Deep Forest Emergence, swallowing the land. The giant wooden golems and dragons rampaging through the battlefield. The sheer intensity of Fire Style and Water Style jutsu clashing in all-out destruction...
Even though Shikaku had read records of these abilities in the clan archives, seeing them unfold firsthand was another experience entirely. The sheer impact of it all left his mind reeling.
Nearby, Akimichi Choza and Yamanaka Inoichi were so stunned that they dropped their sake cups onto the table, mouths opening and closing soundlessly.
"You bastard! If you had this kind of strength, why the hell didn't you say anything sooner?!"
Shikaku grabbed Shinno by the collar, his eyes bloodshot with shock.
"Ahem... I only just had a bit of a breakthrough recently," Shinno coughed, prying the furious Shikaku off of him.
After all, before fighting Madara, he hadn't possessed this level of power. How was he supposed to explain that?
"Shinno~ do you want to be the Fourth Hokage? If you just say the word, we'll start pulling the strings right away!"
"Don't be ridiculous. What's the point of being Hokage?"
"You—you—you...!"
"Think about it. If I take that position, who's going to be the busiest person in the entire village?"
"....."
Shikaku's eye twitched as his expression shifted unpredictably.
Of course, he understood Shinno's personality all too well.
This guy only put in effort when training. At all other times, he was as lazy as humanly possible. If Shinno became Hokage, then Shikaku would undoubtedly be worked to the bone!
Not just him—the entire Nara Clan's brightest minds would probably be exploited to their absolute limits.
Hell, even the Akimichi and Yamanaka clans would be forced into non-stop labor.
But at the same time, this was a golden opportunity for the Ino-Shika-Cho trio to rise to power.
Just look at how the Sarutobi Clan flourished after Hiruzen became Hokage.
Could he really pass up this once-in-a-lifetime chance?
"Forget it," Shinno said, patting Shikaku's shoulder. "The Senju Clan is already gone, the Uchiha are being pushed into a corner and might be wiped out any day now... and the Sarutobi Clan? Heh~"
A single chuckle carried enough weight for Shikaku to understand the full implication.
In the ninja village system, any clan that grew too powerful would inevitably face a backlash.
Whether from the ruling faction, other ninja clans, or even civilian-born shinobi, nobody wanted to see a single bloodline dominating the village for generations.
"...Hah."
Shikaku remained silent for a long moment before finally exhaling a deep sigh.
Rising too high only guarantees a harder fall.
No matter how tempting the immediate benefits seemed, neither he nor Shinno could live forever.
Just as the Third Hokage would grow old and eventually step down, their own era would pass, and the next generation would take over.
If they burdened their clans with too much, decline would be inevitable.
"Alright, enough of that. Since we're done with the serious talk, let's move on to something more... entertaining."
Shinno's gaze swept over Shikaku, Choza, and Inoichi with unmistakable mischief.
These bastards had conspired to shove him into Root without even asking for his opinion.
Even if they meant well, they had already made all the decisions for him. He couldn't let this slide so easily.
The moment Choza saw Shinno's expression, his entire body shuddered, his fat trembling violently.
Growing up together, he knew all too well how sinister this guy could be.
"Shinno, you know me! I've never been the sharpest tool in the shed. This wasn't my idea!"
Shikaku stared in disbelief as Choza shamelessly threw him under the bus.
Before he could even begin to protest, Inoichi followed suit.
"Shinno, you know me! I'm like a sieve when it comes to keeping secrets. If Shikaku had told me earlier, you would've found out right away!"
"You two! You—!"
Shikaku was dumbfounded.
Where was the camaraderie? The lifelong brotherhood?
They were literally drinking together right now, and they had already abandoned him?!
"Mind-Body Disturbance Jutsu!"
Shinno formed a single-hand seal. The moment Shikaku sensed danger and tried to bolt, his body froze on the spot.
"Wait! Shinno! Let's talk this out! Yoshino is right outside—please, have mercy!"
Shikaku's expression was one of sheer horror.
He already knew exactly what kind of nightmare was about to unfold.
"Oh, don't worry~ I've been practicing my medical ninjutsu lately."
And with that... it began.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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