Chapter 774: Shikamaru's Transformation
Chapter 774: Shikamaru's Transformation
"Alright, your surgery is done. Although you're free to move, I suggest you disguise yourself for now."
"It's easier to command the clan from the shadows, isn't it?"
...
Tang Ping observed Inuzuka Hana as she moved her body and offered his advice.
As for Hana, who had just undergone surgery and was already moving freely, Tang Ping wondered if this would affect her recovery.
Don't be ridiculous; he was the pinnacle of medical expertise.
He had already exercised great restraint in this situation.
If he had prioritized speed without caution, the surgery could have been completed in just a few minutes, and he could have even enhanced her body in the process.
But he didn't, and that was for the sake of others.
If it were him, any recovery time beyond a few seconds for such an injury would be considered a failure.
The top-tier strong might not excel in offense, but they were undoubtedly formidable in self-preservation.
"You're absolutely right, sir!"
Hana nodded in agreement, accepting Tang Ping's advice. She would command the clan from the shadows as they prepared for the relocation.
Note the change in her address; she now called him 'sir' instead of 'your excellency,' indicating a shift in her attitude.
With this newfound connection, they were no longer strangers. When they relocated to the Skyguard Tower, they would have each other to rely on.
Tang Ping nodded and left the makeshift operating room, leaving the space for the mother and daughter.
Upon exiting, he realized the time had reached dusk, and Hyuga Tsukimi had left a signal. Following the signal, he departed from the Inuzuka Clan.
There was no need to report his whereabouts to them; all they needed to do was be ready to retreat at a moment's notice.
He had no concerns about being discovered.
Even Daxiaozi, a mere 'two-bit' ninja, had infiltrated Konoha. How could he not succeed?
Konoha was vast to the average person.
But to a ninja, it was relatively small.
Typically, even ninjas would move slowly along the streets, rarely jumping from rooftop to rooftop.
Tang Ping walked leisurely along the streets, following the provided directions.
He was curious about Daxiaozi's purpose in Konoha.
Whether it was to betray secrets or cause trouble, it promised to be entertaining.
Especially the Grass Country mission!
It had been a direct and effective way to disgust the enemy.
Tsuchikage and Biruhu were now official members of Akatsuki.
In other words, Tsuchikage, the primary culprit behind the Uchiha massacre, had become Daxiaozi's 'teammate,' a truly hellish joke.
Passing by a shop, Tang Ping's mouth twitched, unsure of the appropriate expression to convey his thoughts.
It was the Nara Clan's apothecary shop, still adorned with white cloth and chrysanthemums, symbolizing the recent loss of a loved one.
Ordinary Nara clan members didn't qualify for such treatment.
But Nara Shikaku, the clan leader and Konoha's strategist, certainly did.
It had been almost half a year since his passing, so the display was more subdued than it would have been immediately after his death.
"Shikamaru, that barbecue place is really good. Let's go!"
A hearty voice echoed from inside the shop.
"Yeah, you're always training your ninjutsu. It's been ages since Team 10 got together!"
A girlish voice with a hint of coquetry followed.
"Alright!"
A slightly exasperated male voice concluded.
The owners of these voices soon emerged from the apothecary.
One was an impossibly plump young man, another a golden-haired girl with a single ponytail and a purple sleeveless crop top, and the last a boy with spiky hair and deadpan eyes.
Indeed, they were Team 10's Chouji Akimichi, Ino Yamanaka, and Shikamaru Nara.
Over a year had passed since their graduation, and they looked significantly more mature.
Especially Shikamaru!
If not for a few symbolic markers, one might not recognize him.
His aura had transformed dramatically!
Before, he had been the epitome of laziness, a true slacker.
But now, he exuded a hint of coldness, making it clear that he was no pushover.
The reason for this change?
Of course, it was the devastating impact of his father's death right before his eyes.
It taught him a crucial lesson:
Strength was the ultimate truth!
No matter how brilliant your mind, without strength, you'd be fragile against enemies.
At the same time, Shikaku also deeply hated himself.
If he had been stronger, could he have saved his father?
Yes, the once laid-back and carefree Shikaku had transformed into a ninja driven by the pursuit of strength.
This was the true nature of a ninja! The previous him was more like a young master who was oblivious to the hardships of the world.
No, that's not right!
To be precise, the younger generation of Konoha, raised under the false Will of Fire by the Third Hokage, were all like young masters—naive and weak.
But the cruel Fourth Great Ninja World War showed them what the true Ninja World was like.
In Konoha, one could slack off and relax in various ways.
But on the battlefield, all those debts would have to be repaid.
It could be said that Tang Ping was undoubtedly Konoha's greatest benefactor.
It was his existence that allowed the younger generation of Konoha to undergo a complete transformation, focusing on improving their strength instead of being preoccupied with romance and bonds.
After about ten minutes, Tang Ping followed the three to a place.
Akizusyo BBQ Restaurant!
A new store that had only been open for a few years.
However, even though it hadn't been open for a particularly long time, its short duration didn't mean poor business.
The brightly lit BBQ restaurant was bustling with voices and the aroma of grilled meat, allowing one to sense the booming business even before entering.
Gurgle!
Tang Ping clearly heard Chouji Akimichi's stomach growl.
However, as he looked at the BBQ restaurant before him, his gaze was somewhat peculiar.
It wasn't that there was a problem with the restaurant, but rather with its owner.
Yaoye Nonyu!
Yes, it was the intelligence department big shot from the Radiant Sun Country.
So this BBQ restaurant chain spread across the Ninja World was also her tool for gathering intelligence.
When customers were eating BBQ, they would easily leak some information.
And the staff she trained would collect this daily intelligence and bring it back when purchasing ingredients.
Since they didn't engage in any espionage activities, they naturally wouldn't be noticed.
Although daily intelligence wasn't classified, it could still provide a wealth of useful information through analysis.
For example, if customers complained about soaring prices, it could be inferred that there was a shortage of supplies in that area, and so on.
This method was something Tang Ping had casually mentioned to her during a previous conversation.
He hadn't expected it to have grown to such a large scale.
A little embarrassing!
He almost didn't recognize his own store.
With this feeling, Tang Ping entered the BBQ restaurant, which was simply decorated yet stylish.
Of course, the reason Akizusyo could sweep through the Ninja World wasn't because of its appearance or decor.
It was also about the ingredients and service! The excellent service, combined with the abundant and delicious ingredients, was the main reason for its rapid popularity in the Ninja World.
It was like the Wagyu beef and sake from the Lightning Country, the sandworms and venomous insect meat from the Wind Country, the seafood from the Water Country, and so on.
In the past, it was impossible for specialties from various countries to gather in one place.
It wasn't feasible to have ninjas handle transportation, even if they were willing.
And even if they did, how much could they transport?
But with the advent of airships as a special means of transportation, the gathering of ingredients from various countries became a possibility.
Of course, Akizusyo also had its drawbacks.
The prices weren't cheap!
But this wasn't the restaurant's fault; it was his own problem.
Tang Ping arrived at a small private room enclosed by thick wooden boards on three sides, with the only open side covered by a bamboo curtain.
Sizzle!
Tsukimi Hyuga was grilling meat and made a gesture inviting them to taste it.
Obviously, she had noticed their arrival the moment they entered.
The Tenshin Eye was the ultimate in surveillance.
From here, the entire Konoha was under her watch.
And unlike the Byakugan, which could only see chakra, the Tenshin Eye had abilities like X-ray vision and microscopic vision.
As soon as they sat down and took a few bites of the Wagyu beef, Tsukimi Hyuga whispered the surveillance information she had gathered.
After hearing this, Tang Ping was a bit stunned.
"What? You said Daxiaozi is heading to the Hokage's office, and other members of Akatsuki have also come to Konoha?"
But it didn't matter if he couldn't figure it out; someone would tell them.
(End of Chapter)
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