Chapter 21: The First Lesson of Becoming a Ninja – Killing (BONUS)
Standing in front of the mirror, gazing at the single tomoe in his eyes, Yami couldn't help but curse inwardly.
He had just told Izumi that awakening the Sharingan too early was bad for the body, yet here he was, having awakened it overnight.
On the system panel, his Uchiha Bloodline had advanced from Rich to Ultimate.
Feeling the steady surge of pupil power within his eyes, Yami suspected that he could naturally develop up to three tomoe without any external stimulation.
As for the Mangekyō Sharingan, he couldn't be certain, but unlocking it would undoubtedly be far easier for him than for most.
"Mom... you really left me a wonderful gift..." Yami whispered to himself.
There were hardworking geniuses in the ninja world, but sheer effort alone would never be enough to reach the peak.
Take Might Guy, for example.
That final kick of his had been terrifying, but in the end, it merely forced Uchiha Madara to heal himself. He had to gamble with his life, and if Naruto hadn't received the Six Paths Yang Power, Guy would have died for nothing.
The ninja world was vast, yet also suffocatingly narrow.
To stand at the top, only Uchiha and Senju bloodlines served as the true entry ticket.
And now, Shimura Yami possessed both.
For the first time, he felt a deep sense of confidence in his future.
Closing his Sharingan, Yami returned to bed.
A single tomoe Sharingan provided little enhancement, but it would invite unnecessary trouble.
Until he had fully solidified his power and eliminated all potential threats in Konoha, it was best to keep his Sharingan hidden.
--
The Root
The Anbu—full name: Special Assassination and Tactical Squad, was founded by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
Or rather, most of Konoha's military and political structures had been established by Senju Tobirama.
The so-called First Hokage, Hashirama, had simply been his personal war machine.
One led, the other executed.
Beyond his talent in Forbidden Jutsu, Tobirama had been a political genius, and the creation of Anbu was one of his proudest achievements.
The primary function of the Anbu was to protect the Hokage and carry out special assassination missions.
Unlike regular shinobi who progressed through the Genin Chūnin Jōnin system, Anbu operated independently, with all members donning masks and concealing their identities.
However, despite the danger of their missions, the true role of Anbu was to centralize power.
This was an elite force that reported directly to the Hokage, ignoring the chain of command from Jōnin instructors or any other high-ranking shinobi.
Essentially, Anbu—agents who were authorized to kill first and report later, acting under absolute authority.
Unfortunately, a great system meant nothing if the person in charge was incompetent.
Under Sarutobi Hiruzen, everything had begun to rot.
Technically, Shimura Danzō's Root was just a subdivision of Anbu, a single unit within its structure.
But in reality?
Due to Hiruzen's blind trust in Danzō, and Danzō's unrestrained ambition, Root had evolved into an entirely separate entity, practically a second Anbu.
Officially, Anbu consisted of:
1 Captain
1 Vice-Captain
4 Battalions, each led by a Battalion Commander
16 Anbu per battalion, further divided into:
4 squads per battalion
Each squad consisting of 1 Captain 3 Members
Thus, the total official number of Anbu was around 100 members.
On paper, Root was just one brigade of Anbu, meaning it should have had only 20 members.
But in reality?
According to Yami's knowledge, Root had over 50 operatives—a force nearly equal to the entire Anbu division.
The extent of Danzō's unchecked power under Hiruzen's reign was terrifying.
And unlike the regular Anbu, Root was significantly harsher, both in its missions and recruitment process.
Its members were subjected to brutal conditioning, ensuring that their overall combat proficiency surpassed that of standard Anbu operatives.
--
Root Base
Wearing his forehead protector on his waist, Yami arrived at the entrance of the Root base, an underground cavern hidden deep beneath Konoha.
He sighed.
"This Root leader has a better setup than the Hokage himself. What's the old man even fighting for?"
Stepping forward, Yami's figure sank into the darkness.
Navigating the winding tunnels, he eventually emerged into a vast, silent hall.
It was eerily quiet, so quiet that the absence of sound felt oppressive.
A shinobi wearing a red mask stood at the center, three subordinates lined up behind him.
Seeing Yami enter, the red-masked ninja spoke coldly:
"Lord Yami, I am the Captain of Root's Second Squad. Codename: Owl."
"The Commander has ordered me to oversee your first lesson in Root."
"And the lesson is simple—killing."
For Root ninjas, killing was the most basic of all their training.
Yami wasn't bothered by their lack of emotion.
Root shinobi were practically walking corpses, so their coldness was expected.
He simply nodded.
"You arrange it. I'll do it."
Although Yami had his system, he had never killed before—not even a chicken, let alone a person.
No matter how strong he was, his mentality remained a weakness.
The battlefield wasn't a game where raw stats determined the winner.
Even a Genin could kill a Jōnin, or even a Kage—with a single well-placed kunai.
Yami understood that this was a hurdle he had to cross.
And truthfully, the old man's arrangement wasn't wrong.
Still, he set one condition.
"I'll say this in advance, I will only kill those who deserve to die."
"If I believe they don't deserve death, I won't kill them."
The red-masked Owl remained cold.
"For Root, ninjas are just tools, and all mission targets are valid kills."
"But you are different, Lord Yami."
"You have autonomy."
--
The squad left Konoha, heading northwest.
At their speed, they soon arrived at a small village, roughly 100 kilometers away.
The Land of Fire, as the world's strongest nation, rarely suffered external invasions, and was generally stable.
But beneath the surface, corruption ran rampant.
Bandits, crime lords, rogue ninjas—finding scum in any given village was easy.
On the way, Owl had already provided Yami with the mission briefing.
Their target was a wealthy landlord who had amassed his fortune through predatory lending, driving dozens of families into ruin and seizing their land.
He was protected by two rogue ninja, but they were nothing special, just ordinary Chūnin-level bodyguards.
This fat pig was essentially Root's personal ATM, a walking cash grab, now conveniently repurposed as Yami's first kill.
Based on Yami's performance against Uchiha Itachi, eliminating these nobodies would be trivial.
Perched atop a large tree, overlooking the mansion's courtyard, Owl's cold voice rang out:
"Lord Yami, you may begin."
(To be continued.)
Chapter 22: IOU OF The Legendary Sucker
Bang!
The wooden door exploded, sending debris flying in all directions.
Inside the room, a group of thugs who had been drinking and playing cards froze in shock, their eyes snapping toward the entrance.
As the dust settled, a small figure stepped inside, carrying a sword nearly as tall as himself.
"Hello," Yami greeted them with a childlike smile, his tone almost playful.
"I'm here to send you off."
"But before you die, can you at least tell me your name?"
"Consider it a free hospice service from me."
The room fell silent for a brief moment.
Then—
Laughter erupted.
A burly man stepped forward, slapping his knee as he laughed so hard he nearly fell over.
"Hah! Where did this ninja brat crawl out from?" he sneered. "He actually thinks he can kill someone? I'm standing right here, kid, go ahead, try stabbing me!"
Another thug chuckled, waving a hand dismissively.
"Little punk, have you even seen blood before? Go home!"
Had an adult ninja barged in, they wouldn't have dared to be so arrogant.
But a six or seven-year-old? Even if he was a ninja, what could he possibly do?
Yami simply repeated his question.
"What's your name?"
The burly man smirked, puffing out his chest.
"Hah! The name's Uesugi Taro, you little—"
Slice!
A single downward slash.
A thin red line appeared on the man's forehead, running down the bridge of his nose.
Then—
His entire body split cleanly in half.
He collapsed to the ground with a wet thud, his organs spilling out onto the floor.
"Tsk."
Yami instinctively frowned.
The mental impact of his first kill wasn't as bad as he had imagined.
But the physical reaction, the stench of blood and intestines, made his stomach churn.
For a while, he probably wouldn't be able to stomach eating meat.
At that moment, the system notification chimed.
[Host has established a "Life and Death Bond" with Uesugi Taro.]
[Stage 3 reward issued: 0.1 Standard Genin Chakra, minor physical enhancement.]
Perfect.
His guess had been correct.
The Bond System required intense emotional triggers to activate.
And what stronger emotion existed than the moment of death?
"Life and Death Bond"… fitting.
I live, he dies. It's a fair trade.
For a brief moment, the room was stunned into silence.
Then—
The remaining thugs finally snapped out of their shock, grabbing their weapons and charging at him with enraged shouts.
Though civilians were generally afraid of ninjas, these men were trained fighters.
They weren't as weak as ordinary villagers, and two of them were even Chūnin-level rogue ninja.
They assumed Uesugi Taro had died because of a sneak attack, not because this child was actually strong.
They had no idea what they were up against.
Yami didn't even bother dodging.
He met them head-on.
Clang!
A sword swung at him.
It shattered upon impact.
In the next instant, Yami's blade sliced through the attacker's legs, sending him collapsing to the floor, screaming.
Outside, perched on a rooftop, Owl silently listened to the dying screams coming from inside the house.
His expression remained unchanged.
The only thing that mildly intrigued him was Yami's peculiar habit.
It seemed that, before killing someone, Yami insisted on knowing their name.
And if they refused, he would torture them instead of granting a quick death.
A rather… unique quirk.
--
Three minutes later, Shimura Yami stepped out of the house.
The screams had completely stopped.
"Lord Yami, are you alright?" Owl asked.
"It wasn't as bad as I thought," Yami replied, shaking his head slightly.
"But I'll need more practice to fully adapt."
Owl gave a small nod.
"Understood. Danzō-sama has prepared ample resources for your training. If you don't need rest, we can proceed to the next target immediately."
"Let's go."
Yami exhaled deeply, sheathing his sword.
The sooner he finished this training, the sooner he could return home—and see his cute, soft loli again.
Although he wasn't sleeping outdoors, nothing compared to the comfort of his own bed.
"Please wait a moment," Owl said. "We still need to recover assets."
The Root subordinates sprang into action.
The Root wasn't just good at killing, they were experts at looting as well.
Within ten minutes, they had gathered every valuable item in the mansion—cash, gold, silver, jewelry, and property deeds.
Shimura Yami flipped through a pile of documents and banknotes, nodding in appreciation.
"Not bad… this guy was loaded."
The village crime lord had 20 million ryo in cash and that wasn't even counting his land holdings.
Then—
A particular note caught his attention.
Yami stopped flipping and picked it up.
[IOU: I, Princess Tsunade, borrowed 8 million ryo due to a shortage of gambling funds. I promise to repay it before January 1st, Year 54 of the Konoha Calendar. If repayment is overdue, monthly interest will increase by 1%.]
A strange smile crept across his face.
Tsunade's IOU…
Folding the IOU neatly, Yami tucked it away.
Then, sealing 3 million ryo into a storage scroll, he turned to Owl.
"The rest is yours. Do what you want with it."
Owl remained silent.
Although he was technically the team leader, Yami's authority in Root was second only to Danzō.
He had no right to oppose Yami's decisions, only to report them honestly.
--
One Month Later
For the next several weeks, Yami was either killing—or on his way to kill.
His targets ranged from:
Common thugs and ruffians
Large bandit gangs
Even corrupt noblemen in the Land of Fire
As his Kusanagi Blade was soaked in blood, his growth accelerated.
Not just in power but in mentality.
He no longer hesitated to kill.
Regardless of the enemy's age or status, he had learned to strike without mercy.
Finally.
After eliminating a corrupt real estate tycoon who had swindled Danzō's resources, Owl called off the mission.
"Lord Yami, your training is complete."
"From here, you will proceed to poison and trap training, under the Captain of the First Squad."
"Is it over?"
Yami's smile was bright and innocent, almost unbelievable, given how many lives he had taken in just one month.
"Speaking of which, Owl…"
Yami slowly wiped his palm with a handkerchief.
"We've known each other for a while now… but I still don't know your real name."
Owl's cold voice responded.
"Root operatives have no need for names, only codenames."
Yami smirked.
"I'm ordering you as your superior, tell me."
A long silence.
Then—
Reluctantly, Owl spoke.
"Uzuki Shinji."
(To be continued.)
Chapter 23: Orochimaru Defects, The Hero Returns (BONUS)
Konoha.
During the more than one month that Yami was away, a major event occurred.
Orochimaru, the disciple of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and the only remaining Sannin in Konoha, was confirmed to have conducted human experiments using villagers to test a Forbidden Technique.
When the Third Hokage personally led the Anbu to pursue him, Orochimaru escaped from the village, becoming the most high-profile missing-nin since Konoha's founding.
The news sent shockwaves through the village, and Sarutobi Hiruzen's reputation took a serious hit.
--
Hokage Building – Hokage's Office.
The atmosphere was tense as Hiruzen stared at a composed Danzō.
Although Danzō had not shown himself throughout the entire incident, as if it had nothing to do with him, Hiruzen could sense his involvement. That familiar stench of manipulation was unmistakable.
"Danzō, what are you trying to do? Are you trying to destroy Konoha by forcing Orochimaru out?"
Hiruzen adjusted his Hokage hat and questioned him in a sharp tone.
Konoha was at its weakest in history.
White Fang had committed suicide, the Fourth Hokage was dead, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was still just a baby, two of the Three Sannin had left, and only Orochimaru remained.
At such a vulnerable time, Danzō had forced Orochimaru away—an action that directly challenged Hiruzen's authority.
"Did I do something wrong?"
Danzō countered without hesitation, not even bothering to deny the accusation. "Should I have done nothing and simply let Orochimaru use the villagers as experimental subjects for his Forbidden Techniques?"
Hiruzen's face turned red, but he had no words to refute.
Did he not know what his apprentice had been doing?
Of course, he knew.
Ever since Orochimaru lost the Hokage succession to Namikaze Minato, he had withdrawn more and more from village affairs. Each time they met, Sarutobi Hiruzen could feel the changes in him.
He was no longer… human.
Yet Hiruzen had turned a blind eye, hoping that once Orochimaru completed his research, he would come to his senses and return.
But now, he could not openly admit this.
If he so much as hinted at agreeing with or condoning Orochimaru's actions, his position as Hokage would be in jeopardy.
"I don't need you making decisions for me, Danzō!" Hiruzen stated firmly. "I am the Hokage."
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen."
Bang!
Danzō left, but unlike before, he was in an exceptionally good mood.
Forcing Orochimaru out was a direct attack on the Hokage's authority. He had shaken Hiruzen's reputation, exposed his weakness, and set the stage for a decisive strike.
Yami was growing stronger, and as his grandfather, Danzō could not sit idly by.
If Yami reached his full potential before Danzō became Hokage, how could he ensure his own ascension?
Thus, without hesitation, he had sacrificed Orochimaru, his long-time ally.
Of course, Danzō was not without consideration for the future.
As compensation, he had promised Orochimaru something, one hundred ninja test subjects.
With this assurance, Orochimaru abandoned any thoughts of revenge, and their partnership remained intact.
However, acquiring one hundred test subjects was no simple task. Given Konoha's recent turmoil, they could not be taken from within the village.
"Yamanaka."
A kneeling ninja appeared behind him in an instant.
"Take the Third and Fourth Squadrons to the Land of Water. Capture as many as possible—alive."
"Understood."
With that, the Root ninja vanished.
--
When Yami returned to the village, the people were still abuzz about Orochimaru's defection and his inhumane experiments.
At the Root base, Danzō proudly revealed the details of his scheme.
"Old man, aren't you afraid that other nations will catch wind of this and start making moves?"
"Besides, weren't you on good terms with Orochimaru? He even gave me a sword. Betraying your own ally like this don't you think that's a bit much?"
Yami looked at his grandfather in exasperation.
Danzō truly lived up to his reputation. He was the type who could not sit still without stirring up trouble.
Wouldn't it be easier to just wait until Yami was strong enough to dominate the entire ninja world?
Danzō gave him a sidelong glance with his single eye and snorted.
"You think I didn't consider that?"
"The Five Great Nations are in no position to start another war. They need at least several years to recover. Orochimaru's defection won't change the balance of power."
"Hiruzen is simply deceiving himself. He never had the heart to deal with Orochimaru properly."
Then, Danzō's tone became more solemn.
"Yami, remember this, there are no friends in this world. Only eternal interests."
"As long as it benefits me and protects Konoha, I wouldn't hesitate to betray even Hiruzen himself."
"What about me?"
Yami met his gaze without flinching. "If the benefits were great enough, would you betray me too?"
Danzō was momentarily taken aback but quickly shook his head.
"No. You and the village are my greatest interests."
Yami chuckled.
"You old schemer."
"Let's drop the subject. I brought back a lot of supplies this time..."
--
Danzō's plan ultimately fell short.
Hiruzen's reputation had indeed taken a hit, but he had underestimated the power of bonds.
Not long after Orochimaru's defection, a hero returned to Konoha.
--
Konoha – A Certain Rooftop
On the roof of a women's bathhouse, Jiraiya frowned.
"Old man, what's this about Orochimaru?"
If not for the telescope in his hands and their current location, the scene might have felt more serious.
"He… lost his way," Hiruzen said wearily.
In just a few days, he looked much older.
"Do you still remember his dream?"
Jiraiya's expression softened as he recalled their younger days.
"Of course. That stubborn snake wanted to learn every jutsu in the world. As if that were possible."
"Yes. But he lost himself in the pursuit of jutsu." Hiruzen sighed.
"You're all grown now. I can't control you anymore."
"Jiraiya, help this old man. Konoha needs you."
Jiraiya was silent for a moment. Looking at Hiruzen's pleading eyes, he finally relented.
"One year. I'll stay in the village for one year."
"After that, I'll bring him back to you."
For the first time in days, Hiruzen smiled.
"Alright."
(To be continued.)
Chapter 24: If You Have the Ability, Give Birth to Another Grandson
Jiraiya made a high-profile return to Konoha and quickly helped Hiruzen stabilize the situation.
His status was too special, he wasn't just the Third Hokage's disciple but also the Fourth Hokage's teacher, a hero revered by many.
With the Anbu's guidance, the unrest in Konoha quickly settled, and the village resumed its recovery.
This, however, infuriated Danzō, who vented his anger by throwing everything he could get his hands on in his office.
But to Yami, none of this mattered.
After returning, the first thing he did was give himself a half-month vacation.
From Izumi, he learned that Itachi had joined a Genin team and was performing simple missions around the village like any other Genin.
For now, Yami lost interest in Uchiha Itachi. The third-stage rewards required intense emotions, and he couldn't kill Itachi just yet. It was better to let him develop for a while.
When the time came to use Sasuke against him, he'd be able to crush him effortlessly.
--
After his break, Yami resumed his studies.
This time, his instructor was Aburame Seiya, the captain of the First Root Battalion and the father of Aburame Seiji.
The Aburame clan wasn't just skilled in controlling insects; they were also experts in poisons. After all, many insects were inherently venomous, and cultivating them naturally involved research into toxins.
Yami didn't need to learn how to create poisons—just understanding the various types and methods of poisoning was enough.
As for detoxification… he had a different teacher for that.
--
"…Well, if it isn't Director Nonō. Long time no see."
Yami smiled as he looked at Yakushi Nonō standing before him.
In the beginning, he frequently visited the orphanage to "bring warmth" to the children. After a few visits, most people's bonds had advanced to the second stage, so he stopped going as often.
Still, he made sure to send food and daily necessities to the orphanage every week.
"Lord Yami, this is Root. You may call me by my codename, 'Miko.'"
Nonō's expression was bitter—nothing was worse than having her identity as a Root operative exposed in front of someone familiar.
"Oh… So you're the famous 'Wandering Miko?" Yami said, pretending to have just realized.
[Host and Yakushi Nonō have reached the second stage of the bond. Reward: Medical Ninjutsu Talent.]
Yami was momentarily stunned.
All he did was mention a name… and that was enough to trigger an emotional reaction strong enough to advance the bond?
"Lord Yami, that's just a rumor. Please don't bring up that title," Nonō forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. "Let's begin the lesson."
Yami nodded and quickly shifted into study mode.
--
In the ninja world, and particularly in Konoha, the greatest medical ninja was undoubtedly the renowned Princess Tsunade.
Thanks to her contributions, Konoha's overall medical proficiency ranked highest among the Five Great Nations.
Among Konoha's medical specialists, Nonō was one of the best—belonging to the first tier just below Tsunade.
Yami naturally wouldn't waste such a valuable teacher.
Beyond detoxification, he also learned medical ninjutsu from Nonō.
For most, mastering medical ninjutsu was difficult—first, because of poor chakra control, and second, because of the need for Yang-based chakra, which required specialized training to develop.
Neither of these were obstacles for Yami.
With his chakra control and even a thin trace of Senju blood, his vitality was abundant. His progress was so rapid that Nonō was left speechless.
In just half a month, he had absorbed all her medical knowledge and even mastered some of her unique medical techniques.
"Lord Yami, at this rate, the only person qualified to be your teacher is Tsunade-sama," Nonō sighed.
"Forget it." Yami set down the fish he had just revived and killed again, shaking his head. "Given my old man's relationship with Tsunade, there's no way she'd take me as a student."
Nonō fell silent.
Danzō's reputation… was truly terrible.
Ordinary ninjas respected and feared him, but when it came to Tsunade, the two were outright hostile. Back when she lived in the village, she frequently slammed tables during arguments with Danzō.
But Nonō wasn't in a position to comment on such matters.
"Lord Yami, I have nothing left to teach you." Nonō bowed slightly. "If you continue studying on your own, you'll undoubtedly become a medical ninja on par with Tsunade-sama, even without becoming her disciple."
"If there's nothing else, I will now carry out other assignments for Lord Danzō."
--
Yami moved through the Root base and arrived at the deepest part of the underground facility. He pushed open the door to Danzō's office and immediately asked,
"Old man, I've completed all the training you assigned. Have you figured out my teammates yet?"
It had been nearly three months since he became a Genin, and he still didn't have a team.
How was he supposed to rise through the ranks, get promoted, and become the youngest Jōnin and Hokage at this rate?
The door burst open, and Danzō initially frowned, but upon seeing Yami, his expression eased. Patiently, he explained,
"There are some leads. Your teammates and Jōnin leader will be confirmed within a week at most."
"A whole week?" Yami was speechless. "Can't you just pick a few people from Root?"
"Absolutely not." Danzō shook his head. "Root shinobi operate in the shadows. You, however, must stand in the light and follow the official promotion process. Only then will you build the reputation you need."
"Rest for now. You've worked hard lately," Danzō said with rare approval.
Yami's talent and determination far exceeded his expectations. Any man would be proud to have such a descendant.
"Fine. I'll go hang out with Izumi." Yami accepted his fate.
Danzō, who had just been feeling relieved, immediately scowled.
"Can't you stay away from that Uchiha girl?"
This was the only thing he disapproved of regarding Yami.
The accursed Uchiha!
As Yami walked away, he casually called back,
"I'll hang out with whoever I want. If you don't like it, just give birth to another grandson."
"YOU UNGRATEFUL BRAT!"
Danzō's furious roar echoed through the office, but there was nothing he could do about Yami.
What could he do? Have another grandson?
(To be continued.)
Chapter 25: The Miserable Teacher and Familiar Teammates
Danzō kept his word. A week passed in the blink of an eye, and at the last moment, he sent someone to inform Yami that his teammates and Jōnin leader had been assigned. They were to gather at Training Ground 47 at 8 AM the next morning.
Curious, Yami arrived at Training Ground 47 on time the next day.
He wasn't late, yet three people were already waiting—one man and two women.
The man had no visible pupils, his pure white eyes resembling those of a severe cataract patient.
The two girls stood in stark contrast, one had black hair, the other purple but they shared one similarity: both were strikingly beautiful.
Yami's expression became strange.
These three… were all acquaintances.
The moment the man saw Yami, he immediately understood that this was their final team member. He smiled, but on his serious and old-fashioned face, paired with those blank white eyes, the expression was more eerie than welcoming.
"You must be Shimura Yami, correct? I'm Hyūga Hizashi, your Jōnin leader. These two are your future teammates."
"Hello, Hizashi-sensei."
[Host has established a master-disciple bond with Hyūga Hizashi. Reward: Enhanced Physical Fitness.]
Yami ignored the system prompt and instead recalled what he knew about Hyūga Hizashi.
Hyūga Hizashi—brother of the Hyūga Clan Head, Hyūga Hiashi.
Because he was born fifteen minutes later, he was relegated to the branch family and branded with the Caged Bird Seal.
Given his close relationship with Hiashi, Hizashi had little resentment toward his status—until his son, Hyūga Neji, was born.
It was then that his mindset changed.
Because of him, his son was doomed to be controlled. His descendants would never escape their fate.
Konoha had many tragic figures—Hizashi and Neji were among them.
Especially Neji. The only one among the Twelve who died in the Fourth Great Ninja War, and arguably the strongest of them outside the main protagonists.
Tsk…
--
"Now that everyone's here, let's introduce ourselves. This is a tradition—getting to know each other helps us become better comrades and trust our teammates with our backs."
Hizashi had no idea that Yami was already sympathizing with his and Neji's fates. Instead, he followed standard protocol.
"I'll go first," Hizashi said casually, not putting on any airs despite being a Jōnin.
"My name is Hyūga Hizashi. I'm 34 years old, a Jōnin, and a member of the Hyūga branch family."
As he mentioned his branch status, his white eyes dimmed slightly before returning to normal.
"I specialize in reconnaissance using the Byakugan and close combat with Gentle Fist. I lack long-range techniques, so I prefer engaging enemies up close."
"My favorite food is sukiyaki, and I hate fried cutlassfish. As for my dream…"
Hizashi gave a self-deprecating chuckle. "I'm too old for dreams. I just want to live until I die."
"Alright, your turn," he said, looking at the black-haired girl. "You start, Kurenai."
The girl nodded slightly and introduced herself in a clear voice.
"My name is Yūhi Kurenai. I'm fifteen years old, a Chūnin of Konoha. I specialize in genjutsu. My taijutsu and ninjutsu are average, but I've reached the Chūnin level in both."
"My favorite food is shōchū and wasabi octopus. I dislike cake. My dream is to become Konoha's foremost genjutsu master."
"Very good." Hizashi nodded approvingly. "Your turn, Yugao."
The purple-haired girl spoke in a cold, detached tone.
"My name is Uzuki Yugao. I'm fourteen years old, a Chūnin of Konoha. I specialize in Konoha-style kenjutsu and taijutsu, favoring close-quarters combat."
"My favorite food is sakura mochi, and I don't have any particular dislikes—I can eat anything."
"As for my dream…"
For the first time, her usually expressionless face showed a glimmer of ambition.
"I want to become the strongest swordsman in Konoha."
"Then work hard," Hizashi said with a small smile. "I've heard of your father's prowess. His swordsmanship was truly remarkable. It's a pity…"
Hizashi shook his head regretfully.
Uzuki Yugao's father and a Jōnin from the Moonlight Clan had died on the battlefield near the Land of Earth. When their bodies were returned, only half remained.
The ambition on Yugao's face faded, and the atmosphere grew heavy.
"Alright, Yami, you're last," Hizashi said, quickly changing the subject.
Kurenai and Yugao also turned their attention to him.
They were no strangers to the name "Shimura Yami." As Danzō's grandson and a prodigy who graduated at seven, his reputation was well-known in Konoha.
Still, they had their doubts—perhaps even resentment.
Even if he was a genius, they were all Chūnin. Why was such a young child assigned to their team?
But seeing Yami in person did make a difference. Faced with such an adorable-looking boy, neither girl showed open hostility or dissatisfaction.
Still, they silently questioned the higher-ups' decision.
Under their expectant gazes, Yami began his introduction.
"My name is Shimura Yami, grandson of Hokage Advisor Shimura Danzō."
He deliberately emphasized Hokage Advisor.
All three of them scowled.
Are you afraid people won't know you're a second-generation elite?
Yami ignored them and continued.
"I'm seven years old and a Genin of Konoha. I excel in both close combat and long-range attacks. I specialize in ninjutsu and taijutsu.
Oh, and I'm also a medical ninja."
He then turned to Yugao.
"My strongest skill is swordsmanship, so there's no way you'll become the strongest swordsman in Konoha."
"You might want to reconsider your goal."
Yugao's expression twitched.
"I like a lot of foods. I dislike mustard, cabbage, bitter melon, sweet potatoes…"
Yami went on and on, listing foods he disliked. Hizashi and the others gradually became numb.
How long is this list?
Finally, Yami clenched his fist and declared,
"My goal is to establish deep bonds with everyone in the ninja world."
There was a half-minute silence.
It wasn't that they had nothing to say, it was that there were too many things to criticize, and they didn't know where to start.
Eventually, Yugao broke the silence.
"You claim to be the best at swordsmanship. You also say you excel in—wait, no, you're saying you're good at everything?"
"Even the Hokage wouldn't boast like that."
"That just means I'm better than the old man," Yami replied matter-of-factly. "I'm simply stating facts. If you can't accept them, that's your problem."
"You're slandering the Hokage?!"
Seeing the argument about to escalate, Hizashi quickly intervened, stepping between them.
"Alright, that's enough. Yami is a very talented shinobi, but what he just said was quite bold."
"How about this, we conduct an evaluation to properly gauge his abilities?"
(To be continued.)
...
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