Chapter 62: Royal Approval for Cowardice

Chapter 62: Royal Approval for Cowardice

Carrying the mini Two-Tails, Tonari left Orochimaru's residence.

"Little Tsundere, tomorrow might not be simple. How about you head back for now? Big Beautiful hasn't experienced the outside world for a while; let it take a look," Tonari said seriously, his usual playful demeanor nowhere to be found.

Having already perfected the process of summoning and dispelling the mini Two-Tails, this wasn't the first time the smaller manifestation appeared or disappeared. After all, it was essentially a Shadow Clone of the Two-Tails, albeit with a lesser chakra reserve.

Hearing Tonari's words, the mini Two-Tails, which had been enjoying his gentle strokes, lifted its head to glance at him. Seeing his serious expression, it knew he wasn't joking.

It nodded before saying hesitantly, "I overheard what Orochimaru said earlier. If you really need help, don't hesitate to call on me."

With that, the mini Two-Tails leapt from Tonari's arms and disappeared into his abdomen.

Watching it vanish, Tonari couldn't help but feel a sense of loss. Over time, he had grown accustomed to carrying the mini Two-Tails everywhere. At first, the Two-Tails resisted fiercely, but Tonari's relentless determination to pet it eventually wore it down.

While the Two-Tails had once pummeled him in the sealed space for overstepping boundaries, Tonari remained undeterred. Each subsequent Shadow Clone was treated to the same level of affection. Over time, even the Two-Tails resigned itself to this reality.

Now, whenever it manifested, it let Tonari do as he pleased while it napped. Oddly enough, the Two-Tails had come to find his strokes oddly relaxing.

---

Tonari glanced at his empty arms and sighed. "If I find out tomorrow's events could've allowed me to bring you along, I'll definitely make someone pay for this."

Trusting Orochimaru's warnings, Tonari leaped onto a nearby rooftop.

Ever since the ANBU delivered a complete map of Konoha to him through special channels, Tonari no longer needed to pretend to be a clueless wanderer. Overusing such tricks could dull his natural sense of direction.

He quickly made his way to the Nara household.

---

Upon arriving at Nara Shikaku's home, Tonari called out, "Aunt Shikimi, Uncle Shikaku, I'm back! Oh, and Shikaku, you're here too."

Entering the living room, Tonari saw the three members of the household seemingly waiting for him. His tone carried a hint of surprise.

"Hmm? Tonari, where's Little Tsundere?" Shikimi stood and looked around Tonari, searching for the mini Two-Tails.

To be fair, the arrival of the mini Two-Tails had drastically shaken up the household's hierarchy. Currently, the order was:

1. Nara Shikimi

2. The mini Two-Tails

3. Tonari

4. Nara Shikaku

5. And, at the bottom of the food chain, Shikaku.

Yes, even Tonari's standing had dropped since the mini Two-Tails had charmed Shikimi.

"Ah," Tonari replied with a smile, "Aunt Shikimi, Little Tsundere is napping at my teacher's place. I decided to let it rest there tonight and will pick it up tomorrow."

Hearing this, Shikimi's expression dimmed, disappointment evident. Without her beloved cat to distract her, she seemed at a loss.

Then, her solution presented itself.

"Shikaku, go clean up!"

Her command rang out, instantly improving her mood.

Shikaku: "..."

Despite Shikaku's silent plea for help, Shikaku Sr. pretended not to notice. Speaking up would only mean sharing in his son's misery. After all, young children should do more chores—it was character-building.

Tonari, watching this dynamic unfold, suddenly understood why all the Nara men—Shikaku, Shikamaru, and even Shikaku Sr.—had such lazy demeanors. The root cause was right here.

As Shikimi and Shikaku Sr. left for the kitchen, Shikaku let out a sigh of relief before gesturing for Tonari to come closer.

"Tonari, tomorrow's your graduation exam. The Third Hokage himself will be present to observe. Be careful—it won't be as simple as it seems," Shikaku warned.

"Huh? Why does everyone—whether it's Orochimaru-sensei or you, Uncle Shikaku—keep saying this exam will be tricky? Even if it's challenging, it shouldn't be harder than an early graduation request. How bad could it be?"

Orochimaru's earlier warning had already left Tonari feeling apprehensive, and now Shikaku's additional caution made him realize this was serious.

After a brief pause, Shikaku explained, "As Konoha's ally, a delegation from the Hidden Cloud Village arrived today. Apparently, they're here specifically for your graduation class. Among them are some of their own young prodigies."

Tonari's expression darkened as the implications sank in.

"They're sending their kids to... what, test us?"

"Yes," Shikaku confirmed. "Your graduation is an opportunity for them to evaluate Konoha's next generation. But be cautious. The delegation will likely test your strength, and while they're allies on paper, this is about dominance. If they discover your connection to the Two-Tails, it could lead to complications."

Shikaku's tone was grave as he continued, "The Hidden Cloud Village may be Konoha's ally for now, but that relationship is tenuous at best. After the Second Shinobi World War, they came out relatively unscathed compared to Konoha, which had to fight on multiple fronts. For them, this is a chance to probe our strengths and weaknesses."

Understanding the stakes, Tonari knew standing out during the exam would make him a target. Worse, revealing the Two-Tails could spell disaster.

A mischievous grin spread across Tonari's face. "Uncle Shikaku, I appreciate the warning. Honestly, though, I think I'll leave the spotlight to Konoha's so-called geniuses. This humble Two-Tails Jinchuriki prefers to stay low-key."

Shikaku seemed relieved by Tonari's response. "Good. In fact, I'd recommend skipping the exam altogether. Wait until the Cloud delegation leaves and take it later. Those kids they brought along aren't to be underestimated."

Tonari nodded solemnly, realizing the wisdom in avoiding unnecessary risks.

Was this what it meant to "obey orders to be cautious"?

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