Yami always had a way of hitting Hiruzen's weak spots.
The Third Anbu was responsible for village security and counter-intelligence, and had a specially assigned barrier team. To practice his sealing techniques, Yami had been helping with the barrier system lately. He also updated and improved Konoha's barrier defenses, which had greatly enhanced its effectiveness.
While it still couldn't stop soone like Obito who had space-ti abilities, it was extrely sensitive to ordinary ninja chakra signatures. Over the years, Yami had helped the village catch many spies.
If he were to withdraw from this position now, the original sealing team would never produce the sa results.
"I've already arranged a mission for Kakashi. It can't be changed," Hiruzen said after a mont of thought, offering an excuse. "Yami, don't be petty. Everything is for Konoha. No matter where Kakashi goes, he will contribute to the village."
"But now my subordinates are suffering," Yami replied bluntly. "You suddenly removed Kakashi, forcing us to rearrange multiple assignnts and completely ssing up our operations."
"I didn't think that through," Hiruzen admitted with a sigh. "How about I transfer soone from another team to fill Kakashi's role?"
"No," Yami shook his head like a rattle. "That would just make look like a petty villain. The other captains would be cursing in secret."
Hiruzen was full of black lines. What nonsense is this kid spouting?
"Then what do you want? Kakashi won't stay."
"I'll select soone myself and fill the gap with my own n. But you're not to interfere with who I choose, nor will you control the Third Team moving forward."
Now Hiruzen understood Yami's true motive.
"That's… difficult. Yami, the Anbu is under the direct authority of the Hokage. How can you assign your own confidants at will?"
After a long round of bargaining, Hiruzen conceded Yamato, Hayate Gekko, and a ninja from the Inuzuka clan.
In exchange, Yami was granted two full teams—eight mbers total—without interference in their managent. It was effectively a future power bloc under Yami's control.
Hiruzen didn't care much for most Anbu, but Yamato and his Wood Release were an exception. As for the Inuzuka, Hiruzen had hoped to win their support, while Hayate had been forced in by Yami.
In the end, both sides got what they wanted, and they smiled and shook hands.
The next day, Hiruzen could no longer smile.
Yami led the sealing team and installed chakra-resistant barriers around all the won's bathhouses in Konoha. The won of the village praised him and expressed their deep support.
Hiruzen was so angry he almost coughed up blood.
Damn it, Yami!
I lost my wife in middle age and my son in old age. Now all I have left is this hobby. Can't you leave sothing?!
What's the point of this crystal ball anymore?!
For a mont, Hiruzen even considered smashing the crystal ball he once cherished.
Damn Danzō. Only he and Jiraiya knew about my hobby. Jiraiya's been away for so long—it must have been Danzō who told Yami to ss with for revenge!
Infuriated, Hiruzen began researching improvents to his Technique. It had to penetrate those barriers.
Saturday.
Yami brought Karin to the Hyūga residence and chatted privately with Hiashi for a while.
Then Hiashi called Hinata in.
When they finally erged, Hinata fainted from embarrassnt.
Little Hanabi was stunned to see that it was Yami who had co out with her sister. After a mont, she toddled over on her short legs and asked anxiously:
"Yami-sama, why did my sister suddenly faint?"
"It's nothing. You know how shy Hinata is," Yami replied gently.
"Oh." Hanabi nodded seriously, though her little mind clearly couldn't grasp it. They were just talking, weren't they? How could she faint from that?
Thankfully, Hinata woke up soon after and joined them for lunch.
However, she couldn't stop stealing glances at Yami, her face flushed red every ti she looked at him.
Even her way of addressing him had changed—now calling him "Yami-kun."
...
After picking up Hinata, Yami headed to the Yamanaka flower shop to fetch Ino.
Ino loved flowers and often helped out when she was free.
She was surprised to see Yami there, and when he complinted her care of the cosmos blossoms, she was even more delighted.
"These cosmos are so beautiful."
Of all flowers, Ino's favorite was the cosmos, and the ones Yami praised were ones she had nurtured herself.
Ino's affection for Yami, originally based mostly on his looks, increased greatly in that mont.
He and I have the sa taste!
Yami didn't push things further. He simply laid the groundwork.
He took all three girls to Yakiniku Q for a delicious al and dropped each one ho afterward.
Hinata, having gone inside, turned to look back. Though she was timid, she still managed a graceful bow.
"Please take care of in the future, Yami-kun."
"Huh?" Karin blinked. "What does that an?"
Only Yami understood her aning, and he smiled gently. "It's too early for that. Let's talk about it when you grow up."
"Okay." Hinata gave a soft smile.
Five days later, every notable jōnin in Konoha received a formal invitation:
The Hyūga clan and the Shimura family are getting engaged.
The bride: Hinata, eldest daughter of Hyūga Hiashi.
The groom: Shimura Yami, grandson of Shimura Danzō and one of Konoha's most powerful shinobi, the 'Konoha Shinigami.'
This shook the village to its core.
Anyone not on a mission that day or otherwise occupied arrived at Konoha's largest restaurant for the banquet.
Sarutobi Hiruzen attended, as did the other two elders.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were in good spirits. They believed this signaled the Hyūga clan's submission to the higher-ups.
But Hiruzen didn't feel the sa.
Is this… the beginning of the power struggle?
The Hyūga might not possess the high-end combat power of the Uchiha, but they had mbers stationed in reconnaissance, perception, and intelligence divisions.
Now, with the Uchiha gone, they could be considered the largest clan in Konoha.
And they were openly aligning with Shimura.
Hiruzen's influence was slipping.
On stage, Yami, Hinata, and Uchiha Izumi stood like golden children.
…Wait.
Hiruzen blinked. "Why is Uchiha Izumi here too? Weren't they already engaged years ago?"
"Didn't you hear earlier?" Koharu gave him a weird look. "Yami said the last engagent party was too small. This ti more people ca, so he held it again."
"And the Hyūga agreed to this?"
Hiruzen couldn't believe it. Two fiancées at one engagent ceremony? That should've been an insult to the Hyūga.
He looked toward Hiashi's table, but saw no trace of anger. On the contrary, Hiashi was smiling like a blooming flower—totally unlike his usual stern deanor.
…Don't tell he's been hit by Kotoamatsukami.
Hiruzen's doubts grew.
Hiashi, of course, had no idea the Third thought he'd been put under a genjutsu.
He was just overjoyed.
At first, convincing the clan elders had been hard. The mont they heard the heiress was marrying out, they objected furiously.
But the next morning, every elder woke to find a specially crafted Flying Thunder God kunai at their bedside.
So were scared half to death.
If Yami could quietly place a kunai there… he could easily take their lives.
They quickly chose to compromise.
Hiashi no longer needed to brand his daughters with Caged Bird Seals. Of course he was happy.
And who said this was an insult to the Hyūga?
It just showed Yami truly cared for his fiancée.
That reassured him more than anything.
The simple ceremony ended, followed by food and drink. Clan leaders used the opportunity to network.
Many sensed that the wind was shifting in Konoha.
Danzō and Yami's presence had grown stronger than ever. Danzō had even softened his approach to politics, earning back so goodwill.
In contrast, the Third's influence was waning. He was over 60 and hadn't even trained a successor yet. So followers were beginning to worry.
Nara Shikaku watched as Yami served Hinata food. He then glanced at Kakashi, who was off to the side reading.
He sighed.
"Hai, do Shikamaru and Yami get along?"
"It's fine. Mostly because the kids do," Yamanaka Inoichi replied.
"Have you thought about—"
"Get lost. I only have one daughter. You're thinking way too early."
"He already has two fiancées. One more won't matter."
"Ugh. Let's just see what happens. Why wasn't Shikamaru born a girl?"
The two adults laughed quietly, unaware that Ino had perked up her ears and overheard everything.
The banquet ended around 4 p.m. Guests left one after another. Yami brought Hinata ho to et a few others.
After that, Hinata beca more outgoing and often visited Yami's house. But nothing beyond that changed.
Yami, anwhile, kept working every night to find information on Uchiha Hikari.
He had finished reading the Senju clan's history in the Scroll of Seals section but found nothing on her.
However, anti-Uchiha curses filled about 30% of the records.
That Hashirama could beco friends with the Uchiha despite this kind of propaganda… no wonder Tobirama was the way he was.
With no other choice, Yami turned his attention to the Sarutobi clan's archives.
Compared to the village's secure Scroll of Seals vault, the Sarutobi compound was easier to sneak into. Every ti he passed Hiruzen's house, he was tempted to sneak in and scare the old man.
That night.
Yami yawned and flipped open a clan history book titled Sengoku Sealing Chronicles, written over 300 years ago.
Suddenly, his eyes locked on a line. He sat up straight, his gaze sharpening.
Finally found it…
The record stated that the Uchiha had once faced a mysterious enemy who could manipulate minds and chakra through a unique eye technique.
The Sarutobi and Senju worked together to trap and seal this enemy.
The details were vague, just a few words but that special eye technique had to be Eight Thousand Spears. Only Hikari had ever possessed it.
With renewed excitent, Yami morized the location, returned to his ho, cross-referenced records, and confird it.
The place was in the northwest of Konoha, near the border of the Land of Iron.
The next day, Yami left the village under an official excuse.
At this point, he had full freedom. Neither Danzō nor Hiruzen would stop him.
Hiruzen might even be happier if Yami disappeared for a few years like Jiraiya.
There was no war now. Things were peaceful. The village didn't need top-level combat power.
After leaving Konoha, Yami headed north, then veered west when he neared the border.
The Sarutobi family's record only offered a general area. He would have to locate it himself.
He activated the Mind's Eye of the Kagura and the Byakugan simultaneously.
With dual perception, even the faintest chakra signatures couldn't escape him.
Three days later, in a crumbling shrine, Yami finally sensed a faint, unusual chakra.
Under the Byakugan, a chakra formation resembling a spider's web was visible, centered on a divine stone.
He studied it carefully. The trap seed long gone, either destroyed by ti or faded.
So he chose brute force.
He launched a punch laced with strange power. The barrier shattered instantly, and cracks spread across the ground.
After a few more strikes, a dark tunnel opened up below.
Yami jumped in without hesitation.
At the bottom, a black-haired girl about his age was sealed inside an amber crystal.
As the seal weakened, the amber began to dissolve.
Ten minutes later, the girl stepped out, dazed, and opened her eyes.
"I'm still alive…?"
A ball of fla lit up the chamber, startling her. She looked up—and saw him.
Yami was already staring at her.
Long hair like Uchiha Madara's. The typical Uchiha beauty. Her face still boyish, her blank expression incredibly cute.
Yami liked her more and more.
He stepped forward under her wide-eyed stare.
Then—
Mua—!
(To be continued.)
***
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