Anna Karenina

Partial Expansion Jutsu!

Damn!

Don't damage the power facility!

I know that!

You're not getting away!

Damn it!

Cho-Cho, I'm leaving these guys to you!

Okay!

Shikadai, I got this!

Damn it!

Take this!

Shadow Paralysis Jutsu, complete!

EXPLOSION

Damn it!

Thank you!

Shikadai! That was way too forceful!

Thankfully, I got there in time, but just barely!

Maybe you didn't have to stick to your Shadow Paralysis Jutsu, huh?

Yeah, sorry.

I'll go and make sure there was no damage.

Shikadai seems kinda impatient.

He's been a little off lately.

I have to get better in the way I use my Paralysis Jutsu.

ONE MONTH AGO

ONE MONTH AGO I'm home.

Huh? Are you going out now?

I was asked to attend the Feudal Lord's banquet.

VIPs from the Land of Wind are here, so…

What a drag!

It can't be helped.

I have to go and support Gaara.

Who's here?

Lord Enchu.

That old man?

Shikadai's Decision

Shikadai's Decision Damn it!

Shikadai's Decision Temari's been invited to the banquet.

Temari's been invited to the banquet.

Why aren't you going?

Tonight's guests of honor are

the Land of Wind's Feudal Lord and politicians.

It's only natural that Temari,

who's related to Lord Kazekage, attends.

You are the Hokage's chief aide.

In fact, you are essential to the village!

I'd be totally out of place at a banquet.

Oh, have you forgotten what happened

when you two were to be married?

There was gossip from the Hidden Sand

that you were an unworthy upstart who stole their princess!

They were just rumors!

Please don't get offended over such a thing.

The start of a rumor is insult enough!

It's proof that they're looking down on the Nara Clan.

If I knew things would be like this,

I would have made you a politician when I had the chance.

I have no interest in politics. It's too much of a drag.

It's because of that attitude that your son's been adversely affected!

How long does Shikadai intend to play it safe as a genin?

I have heard that he has a long way to go

in mastering the Shadow Jutsu.

I'll have you know that Shikadai's assessment

went up during the last Chunin Exams.

As for the Shadow Jutsu, he's been training very diligently.

So, in time…

Using the Shadow Jutsu is synonymous

with taking responsibility for the clan.

Don't you think it's an embarrassment

for him to remain so unskilled?!

After the last Great War, many of our clansmen retired from active service.

From now on,

you and your son must take the lead and energize our clan!

I understand that only too well.

But I will take on that burden.

There's no need to push it upon Shikadai.

Just remember, don't forget your mission in life.

Hmm? Shikadai, you're back?

Sir.

I have high hopes for you.

Don't become like your father.

Dad…

I didn't know you were home.

Why didn't you tell him off more?

That geezer thinks he can say whatever he wants

just because he's the clan elder!

We've been indebted to Lord Enchu since my dad's time.

Dad, I…

No need to be impatient!

Just do things at your own pace.

TODAY

What's wrong, Shikadai?

We messed up again because of his Shadow Paralysis Jutsu.

Again?

That's four mess-ups in a row.

Shut up.

It's unusual for you to mess up, Shikadai.

You've been oddly obsessed with that jutsu lately.

I have not.

You used to leave most of this stuff to me and Cho-Cho.

Speaking of which…

Is the Shadow Paralysis Jutsu the only jutsu that you can use, Shikadai?

That's not true.

You used to be good at the Wind Style back then, right?

Your mom's Lord Kazekage's older sister, right?

I can't use it anymore.

What's that mean?

It doesn't matter, does it?

Right now, I have the Shadow Paralysis Jutsu.

A clan's Secret Ninjutsu that's been passed down through the generations!

Man, I'm jealous

that you can use a technique that's rich in tradition and history.

My family doesn't have anything like that.

It's just a drag, is all.

There's just too much emphasis on obligation.

In fact, I'm jealous of your family, Denki.

My family's no fun either.

The company became successful under Dad,

so there's a lot of pressure on me.

Oh, I see.

In other words, we're in the same position.

We're both caught in the middle of family affairs, huh.

JONIN CHUNIN GENIN RECEPTION DESK

Observers from the Land of Wind will be here soon.

Why are they coming?

To examine the Hidden Leaf Village's electric power technology.

They're planning to build an electric power plant in the desert soon.

A power plant?

Isn't that like the facility that we guarded recently?

Yes. And that facility is also on the itinerary.

Things are going to be pretty hectic for a while.

So, what's our mission?

We'll be on standby.

Standby? You mean, like on break?

It's not a break, but…

If anything happens, we have to be ready to jump into action.

Since our team's been a little off lately…

I see.

You reap what you sow, huh?

How come you're all looking at me?

But it's a little strange.

Our team is the only one on standby.

How much of everyone's trust did we lose?!

Well, we just have to keep doing our best to win back their trust.

– Okay. – Right.

Damn it!

Shikadai…

Lord Enchu?

So, you've been ordered to be on standby.

Huh?

I put in a request in to the Feudal Lord

that you be pulled from the vanguard for now.

Why did you do that?

You're trying to take your father's place

and restore the prestige of the Nara Clan, aren't you?

It's not going well, is it?

You seem to be trying your best, but at this rate,

it will only have the opposite effect…

In fact, you'll make your father lose face.

And so…

Shikadai, go into politics.

Our Feudal Lord Ikkyu has been looking for candidates

that he can develop into skilled politicians.

I've arranged for you to study with him.

Study to become a politician?

Is that why we were pulled from active duty?

Currently, Shikamaru is carrying the weight of the entire Nara Clan alone…

I know that.

It seems you're making an effort,

but it takes a long time to master the Shadow Paralysis Jutsu.

It's just like shogi.

There are times when you cannot break through a predicament with a frontal attack.

Hence, you must use your pieces wisely to topple an opponent.

At times, a new strategy might be necessary.

I will make the arrangements.

But don't you think this is a good opportunity to be useful to your father?

It's all so sudden…

For me, being a ninja—

You can continue being one.

Huh?

Two years.

For now, go and study for two years.

Being mentored by the Feudal Lord is, in itself, prestigious.

What do you say?

If I agree to this,

will you stop meddling with my father from now on?

Fine…