Chapter 31: Grandpa Hiruzen?
When you step outside, you must carry your identity with you, but sometimes, you have to remind others of it.
Yami had no intention of ending up like Asuma, the oldest second-generation heir in Konoha, who still lived like a failure.
In the corner of the Mission Hall, Yami unfolded a stack of mission request forms and spread them out on the ground.
Then, he called the others over and crouched down.
"Come help me pick. Let's see which mission is best."
Hizashi had a complicated expression.
This was the first time he had ever chosen a mission this way.
It was... a novel experience.
Even though he was a Hyūga, the younger brother of the clan head, a branch family member was still a branch family member. No one had ever tried to curry favor with him.
Besides, when a shinobi was still weak, they weren't exactly in a position to be picky.
Once they became strong enough to be Jōnin, they naturally gained status—by then, they wouldn't even care about these clerks.
But Shimura Yami?
This guy had no restraint whatsoever.
Even the Hokage's son wasn't this arrogant.
Then again…
He was the grandson of Danzō.
It made perfect sense.
Everything seemed natural.
Kurenai and Yugao were at a complete loss for words.
In their previous squads, Jōnin leaders simply assigned missions. They never had a say.
"This one looks interesting."
Yami's eyes lit up as he pointed to a mission.
Hizashi glanced at it and immediately rejected it.
"No. We're not in a situation where we need to send a child to the battlefield."
Konoha had signed a ceasefire with Sunagakure, but not with the other three nations.
The borders were still tense, low-intensity skirmishes and conflicts were common.
Ninjas from both sides would steal missions from each other or intercept supplies.
The mission Yami picked?
An ambush on an Iwa-nin team.
If Hizashi actually took Yami to the front lines, he'd probably be locked up in Root's underground prison before they even got there.
Oddly enough, Yugao's eyes flashed with a trace of hatred when she saw the mission.
"This one," Hizashi said decisively.
The three of them leaned in to check—a B-rank assassination mission.
Apparently, a merchant in the Land of Fire had been smuggling grain to Iwa-nin.
The smuggling itself wasn't the issue.
Dodging taxes?
That was a problem.
The Fire Daimyō himself had issued the request.
Among assassination missions, killing civilians, especially wealthy businessmen was one of the easiest tasks. And there was even extra money involved.
Hizashi wasn't asking for much, just a little extra income for his personal savings.
That way, he wouldn't actually starve Neji in the future.
"Alright, fine," Yami sighed in disappointment.
He had wanted to head to the battlefield, make life-or-death bonds with other shinobi…
But it seemed like that would have to wait.
Kurenai and Yugao had no objections.
Just as they were about to return the mission scroll, an Anbu shinobi suddenly appeared in front of them.
"Hyūga Hizashi, the Hokage requests your presence. Please bring your team to his office immediately."
Hizashi was momentarily stunned, but quickly composed himself.
"Understood. We'll go now."
Yami was curious.
What did Sarutobi Hiruzen want?
Handing the mission scroll to the Anbu, he led the way upstairs.
—
At the Hokage's office, Hizashi knocked lightly.
After receiving permission, he pushed open the door and led his team inside.
The room was filled with smoke.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind his desk, puffing on his pipe.
On either side of him sat Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, the village's elder advisors.
"Hokage-sama. Elders."
Hizashi greeted them respectfully.
Kurenai and Yugao also bowed their heads slightly.
After ruling Konoha for over thirty years, these old men and women still commanded significant authority.
Only Yami frowned.
Damn it.
The room is completely sealed, and they're smoking in here?
Aren't they afraid of dying from secondhand smoke?!
"Hizashi, you're here."
Hiruzen nodded with a smile.
Noticing Yami's frown and how he was fanning the air in front of his nose, he immediately understood the problem.
He stood up and pushed open the window behind him.
A cool breeze rushed in, clearing the smoke and improving visibility.
"We old folks are used to the smell of smoke. We forgot you were here."
[Ding!]
[Host has established a Bond with Utatane Koharu. Reward: 0.5 standard Jōnin chakra.]
[Host has established a Bond with Mitokado Homura. Reward: Fire Release - Proficiency.]
Yami wasn't surprised.
Danzō and the Elder Council were so close that they might as well share a single pair of pants.
Of course, they would have some level of goodwill toward him.
After greeting the two elders, Yami turned to Hiruzen.
"So, old man, what do you want?"
Technically, Hizashi was the team leader.
But this was the perfect moment for him to speak.
Hiruzen simply filtered out the way Yami addressed him.
He immediately blamed Danzō for it but kept the smile on his face.
"It took a while to successfully put your team together. Am I not allowed to check in on you?"
"Given my relationship with your grandfather, you could even call me Grandpa Hiruzen."
"What's wrong with me caring for the younger generation?"
Yami shook his head furiously.
"My old man said you're a cunning old fox."
"The more you want to screw someone over, the bigger your smile gets, just like right now."
"Who knows if you're just using me to go after my old man?"
Silence.
Hiruzen's smile froze.
Hizashi and the others were completely stunned.
In all their years, they had never seen anyone talk to the Hokage like this.
Konoha simply did not allow such people to exist.
"Pfft!"
Koharu burst out laughing.
She quickly covered her mouth when Hiruzen shot her a death glare.
"Danzō really taught you everything, huh?" Koharu smirked.
"Aren't you afraid of corrupting the kid?"
Damn you.
At this moment, Hiruzen really wanted to throw Koharu out the window.
What do you mean, 'corrupting the kid'?
My friendly smile is fine, damn it!
Taking a deep breath, Hiruzen decided not to engage with Yami's nonsense.
Instead, his expression turned serious.
"Hizashi, I called you here because I have a mission for you."
"This mission is very important. Most of the Jōnin are out of the village."
"Right now, you're the most suitable candidates."
(To be continued.)
Chapter 32: Kirigakure's Spy Arrives
Hiruzen began explaining the mission details.
This was classified as a tentative B-rank intelligence mission, but it had the potential to escalate to A-rank.
Konoha had received intelligence that Kirigakure had sent spies to a Town, located at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers.
Their objectives remained unknown.
The mission directive was to capture the target alive and return them to Konoha for interrogation by the village's intelligence unit.
The reason this mission was initially classified as B-rank was that intelligence operatives typically lacked combat prowess, some weren't even shinobi, just trained civilians.
With one Jōnin and three Chūnin, this team was deemed more than capable of handling the mission, even allowing room for unexpected complications.
After listening to the details, Hizashi agreed without hesitation.
A satisfied smile returned to Hiruzen's face.
The main reason he had specifically chosen Hizashi's team for this mission was because of Yami.
He wanted to observe Yami's capabilities and potential during an actual mission.
If Yami's performance met his expectations, Hiruzen might intensify his efforts to lure him away from Danzō.
While the Uchiha clan's geniuses were valuable assets to the village, their unique status required careful control.
Even though Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi had emerged as rising stars, no other clans in Konoha could currently match them.
The only hope for balance was Yami.
However, his background was complicated and Danzō was an even greater obstacle than the Uchiha clan.
—
"Old man."
Yami frowned.
"We already accepted another mission. Why didn't you tell us earlier?"
"That mission isn't important."
Hizashi quickly interjected on behalf of the Hokage.
"It's just assassinating a merchant. There are plenty of teams in Konoha who can handle it."
"Capturing Kirigakure's spy is the priority."
"Then what about my extra money?"
Yami sighed.
"Ever since I became a ninja, my old man doesn't even give me pocket money anymore."
"Meanwhile, I'm carrying thousands of explosive tags on me."
"I don't feel safe at all…"
"…"
Hiruzen lifted his pipe to his lips but paused.
For a long moment, his eyes were filled with confusion.
Thousands of explosive tags…?
What are you trying to do? Start a small war?
—
"Can we take two missions at the same time?"
Yami asked, "The mission we accepted is in Tanshō Street, which happens to be on the way."
"What mission did you take?"
Hiruzen asked.
Hizashi quickly explained the details.
The Hokage hesitated.
"There's no precedent for carrying out two missions at once…"
"It's just a matter of approval," Yami said dismissively.
"Sensei writes the mission report, you sign off on it, and that's it."
"Hiruzen," Utatane Koharu added, "It's a matter of convenience. It won't take much extra time, and it also saves manpower. I think it's a good idea."
"You should have more confidence in Hizashi.
"Even though he's from the branch family, his strength is undeniable."
"I agree."
Mitokado Homura nodded seriously.
"Their team composition is exceptionally strong. It would be wasteful to limit them, especially when the village is short on manpower."
"…Fine."
Under the persuasion of his advisors, Hiruzen had no choice but to approve it.
However, he still gave one warning:
"If you fail the mission…"
"I'll have Danzō spank you when you return."
Hizashi's mouth twitched.
If you fail a mission, all you get is a spanking…?
As expected, connections rule everything.
—
With two authorization letters in hand, Hizashi's team left the Hokage Building and headed straight for Konoha's gates.
Since they had already packed their gear, they wasted no time and prepared to leave the village.
At the gates, the two gatekeepers—Kamizuki Izumo and Hagane Kotetsu—stood guard.
Technically speaking, these two were Yami's classmates, having graduated just a few months ago.
Normally, Genin weren't qualified to be gate guards, but today, they were on duty as part of their assigned missions.
After completing the departure registration, Hizashi turned to the others.
"Fujimoto Keisuke, the smuggler, is currently residing in Tanshō Street.
"It's not far from Konoha. If we move at full speed, we should arrive by afternoon."
The group nodded without objection.
They disappeared into the forest, swiftly leaping through the treetops.
When Hizashi said "full speed," he didn't mean burning out their stamina.
Instead, he meant maintaining a balance between speed and endurance, ensuring their condition remained above 80% in case of emergencies.
Thus, their travel pace was dictated by the slowest team member.
That person was Kurenai.
She had the weakest endurance in the squad.
Realizing this, Kurenai remained silent throughout the journey, carefully managing her stamina.
She secretly resolved to train her taijutsu and endurance when she returned, at the very least, she needed to improve her travel speed.
Meanwhile, Yami and Yugao seemed completely unaffected.
In fact, Yugao even took the opportunity to ask Yami about kenjutsu techniques along the way.
By the time they arrived at Tanshō Street, Yugao still seemed unsatisfied.
Danzō had provided Yami with numerous swordsmanship instructors and swordsmanship scrolls, so his theoretical foundation far exceeded Yugao's.
Their conversation had been highly beneficial for her, helping her recognize many weaknesses in her technique.
If it were up to her, she would have found a secluded area to train with Yami immediately.
But this was a mission.
Now that they had arrived, their priority was the task at hand.
—
The team booked a hotel, checked in, and gathered in Hizashi's room for a final briefing.
"Fujimoto Keisuke lives in the luxury district of Tanshō Street," Hizashi explained.
"Many wealthy merchants and nobles reside there.
"Our mission must be conducted discreetly, causing a scene would damage Konoha's reputation."
Though Tanshō Street was called a 'street,' it was actually a bustling commercial town.
Casinos, pleasure houses, and taverns lined the streets.
At night, the town was alive with activity, making stealth operations more difficult.
"We'll rest for now," Hizashi concluded.
"We move after midnight."
—
After leaving Hizashi's room, Yami suddenly called out to Yugao.
"Yugao."
She turned to him, curious.
"What is it?"
"Do you know someone named Uzuki Shinji?"
Yugao's expression immediately darkened.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 33: Two Women? (BONUS)
"Where did you hear this name?" Yugao looked at him anxiously.
"Is he your relative?" Yami didn't answer directly but continued asking.
Seeing Kurenai watching her with a gossipy expression, Yugao immediately grabbed Yami and dragged him into his room.
Yami: "..."
"Yami, can you tell me where you heard about Uzuki Shinji? This is really important to me."
Inside the room, Yugao pleaded with him.
Yami nodded. "I can tell you, but you also have to tell me about your connection to him and what exactly happened."
He wanted to hear the whole story.
"Alright."
Yugao agreed and began explaining her relationship with Shinji. He was her uncle—her father's younger brother and the most talented genius of the Uzuki clan. At thirteen, he had already become a Tokubetsu Jōnin.
However, during the Third Shinobi World War, he was reported as "dead" in battle against Iwagakure. His body was never found, just his name listed in the casualty records.
For almost ten years, Yugao had believed her uncle was gone. No wonder she was so emotional upon hearing his name from Yami.
"I see..."
Yami thought for a moment before revealing a bit of information about Shinji.
"He's still alive and still in Root?" Yugao stood up abruptly, eyes wide with shock. "Then why hasn't he come home all these years? Not even a single letter?"
"Maybe he had some sort of agreement with my old man," Yami casually blamed Danzō.
"Let me make one thing clear—Anbu is Anbu, and Root is Root. The two are completely different."
Yugao frowned in confusion.
"Isn't Root just a division of Anbu?"
Yami sighed. At this point, Yugao was still a rookie and didn't understand Konoha's true power structure. He had no choice but to explain the difference between Anbu and Root to her.
Upon learning that even the Hokage couldn't interfere with Root's actions, Yugao's expression changed.
With such authority, Danzō was practically another Hokage in the village. In some ways, he had even more freedom than the actual Hokage.
After all, the Hokage led openly, with every action under scrutiny.
But in the shadows, there were no restrictions, Root could act as they pleased, unchecked.
"So once someone joins Root, they can't send any messages back?" Yugao still couldn't wrap her head around it.
"People in Root don't have names only code names."
Yami explained, "You said he was listed as dead, right? That means his survival is tied to my old man."
"If I hadn't forced him, he wouldn't have even told me his real name."
"Then... can I meet him?" Yugao asked nervously.
The war had left the Uzuki clan nearly extinct, and Shinji was her only remaining clan member.
"Not right now," Yami refused. "I need to go back and ask the old man first. I'll let you know after that."
"Alright."
Although disappointed, Yugao understood. She looked at Yami gratefully.
"Thank you, Yami. If you hadn't told me, I never would've known I still had family left in this world."
[Bond with Uzuki Yugao has reached the second stage. Reward received: 'Swordsmanship Talent (Good).']
That fast?
Yami was a bit surprised. Reaching the second stage of a bond usually wasn't so easy. With Izumi, he had to use some special methods.
But this reward... well, it's better to have it than not.
At least it proved that Yugao was truly grateful, not just saying empty words.
Nightfall
As the night deepened, Tanshō Street became alive with the chaos of nightlife. Even past midnight, while the number of pedestrians dwindled, the sounds of bars and entertainment houses remained lively.
Fortunately, the residential areas of the upper class were much quieter.
A signal flashed.
Hizashi had sent the signal, and soon, Yami and his two teammates jumped out of the window, following behind him.
Using the darkness and rooftops as cover, they stealthily approached the residence of their target—smuggler Fujimoto Keisuke.
In assassination missions, the challenge isn't the kill itself, it's making sure no one notices.
But for Yami's team, that wasn't an issue.
After all, their leader was Hyūga Hizashi.
"Byakugan—!"
Outside the walls of a lavish mansion, veins bulged around Hizashi's eyes as he activated his Byakugan.
The Sharingan was powerful, but for the village, the Byakugan was of far greater strategic value.
Unlike the scarce Sharingan, the Byakugan was readily available, and its intelligence-gathering capabilities were unmatched.
Ninjas with Byakugan made for the best reconnaissance operatives, capable of mapping out entire battlefields while barely expending chakra.
Of course, this excluded the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Not only was it rare, but no successful transplant cases existed. Other than old-timers like Ōnoki, most shinobi villages considered Mangekyō Sharingan nothing more than a legend.
Inside the Mansion
Hizashi quickly scanned the area, then took out a scroll and began sketching a rough map on the ground.
"There are three people in the master bedroom on the second floor—one man and two women. Two guards are posted at the door.
"Three more bedrooms on the first floor, each occupied by two people.
"And two more in the basement."
He paused, then heavily circled one of the bedrooms near the master bedroom.
"This room is the most important. There's a shinobi inside, judging by his chakra, he's a Chūnin. And he's still awake."
"Our target is most likely in the master bedroom, but there's always a chance he has multiple hideouts. So we need to secure everyone for identification."
Hizashi then looked up at Yami and his teammates to assign roles.
But after a quick glance, he froze.
"...What the hell?"
Staring at Yami's chakra, which was several times larger than his own, Hizashi almost thought his Byakugan was malfunctioning.
Meanwhile, Yami wasn't paying any attention.
His mind was fixated on one particular detail.
"One man and two women..."
He clenched his fists in frustration.
Damn it.
Even with all his advantages, he hadn't enjoyed such treatment.
And yet, this measly smuggler dared to.
Very good.
You've already found your way to the afterlife.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 34: Yami, You're Too Extreme
"What's there to discuss?"
Yami drew his Kusanagi sword, his voice cold and murderous.
"The best stealth is to leave no witnesses. Killing them all solves everything. Let me handle it."
"Yami, calm down! This method is too extreme!"
Hizashi had just recovered from the shock of Yami's overwhelming chakra when he heard this terrifying statement. He quickly grabbed him, his expression tense.
"We are shinobi, not butchers.
Aside from the target, there are ordinary people in this house.
They're innocent."
Yami sneered.
"Innocent? Anyone who aids criminals is no better than the criminals themselves.
In Root, there are no such rules.
Anyone who interferes with a mission is disposable."
"That's too extreme—even for Root!"
Cold sweat trickled down Hizashi's forehead.
"Yami, we're a standard shinobi team, not an underground assassination unit.
If you really do this, you might be fine, but Yugao, Kurenai, and I will all be punished.
You can't drag your teammates down with you."
At that moment, Hizashi finally saw Danzō's shadow within Yami.
Until now, Yami had always seemed like a playful, slightly arrogant but generally good-hearted child.
Sure enough—Byakugan could see through bodies, but not hearts.
A "kind" child who casually suggests slaughtering an entire household? Impossible.
Yugao and Kurenai were even more numb.
Why did it feel like they were the ones being punished when it was Yami doing the killing?
This darkness... was too deep.
Fortunately, Yami hesitated, his expression loosening slightly.
"Alright. Then what's Hizashi-sensei's plan?"
Seeing that he had convinced him, Hizashi let out a quiet sigh of relief and quickly explained.
"The civilians are easy to handle, Kurenai's Genjutsu will take care of them.
Yami, you will handle the Chunin.
Yugao will complete the assassination.
I'll stay outside in case anything unexpected happens."
It was a well-thought-out plan, making full use of the team's strengths.
Hizashi had chosen not to participate in the combat directly, allowing the younger shinobi to gain experience.
Neither Yami nor Yugao had any objections.
Only Kurenai looked troubled.
"Hizashi-Sensei, most of the Genjutsu I've mastered are single-target techniques.
I know the Narakumi no Jutsu, but I'm not proficient yet...
The people in the basement might not be affected."
"I see..."
Hizashi frowned, realizing he had overlooked this point.
"Then I'll—"
Before he could adjust the plan, Yami interrupted.
"I'll handle it."
"Yami, you can use large-scale Genjutsu?"
Kurenai was surprised.
Although her Genjutsu had been ineffective against him before, Yami had explained that it was due to the vast difference in their mental strength.
"I can't.
But my Summoning Beast can."
Yami pulled out a small vial of blood from his ninja pouch, smeared it onto his palm, and formed a series of seals before slamming his hand onto the ground.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
A puff of white smoke exploded.
A small, pink piglet appeared before them.
But unlike a regular piglet, this one had an elongated nose, resembling an elephant's trunk.
"Tapir! Tapir!"
The little piglet immediately leaped into Yami's arms, rubbing against him affectionately, as if complaining about not being summoned sooner.
"Alright, alright. I've been busy with missions lately.
I'll take you to eat your favorite octopus balls once I'm on break."
Yami lifted the piglet slightly.
"...You got even fatter."
"Tapir~!"
"So cute!"
Kurenai's eyes sparkled as she stepped closer, looking like she wanted to snatch the piglet away.
Yugao didn't move, but her gaze was locked onto the creature, unable to look away.
"Is this... the Dream-Eating Beast? Baku?"
The Hyūga Clan had a long history.
Alongside their powerful jutsu, they also maintained extensive records on Summoning Beasts.
Hizashi quickly recalled the information.
"That's right.
Baku, which he calls Tapir from the sound it makes, is a dream-eater.
Yami patted the little creature and noticed Hizashi's lingering confusion.
He continued explaining.
"Most dream-eaters specialize in Wind Release, but Tapir is different.
Its specialty is Genjutsu, specifically putting people into deep sleep instantly."
"Though it's still young, it's more than enough for regular people."
"Tapir~!"
The Dream Tapir lifted its head proudly, waving its small trunk.
Both Kurenai and Yugao smiled at its adorable display.
"Alright, let's give the Dream Tapir a try," Hizashi decided quickly.
"Kurenai, follow up and check for any stragglers to make sure everyone is unconscious."
"Yes!"
Although it was a bit embarrassing to be outperformed by a Summoning Beast, Kurenai was still eager to contribute.
Otherwise, she felt she would have zero presence in this team.
"Tapir, it's time to start."
Yami placed the little Tapir onto the ground before leaping over the mansion's high wall, alongside Kurenai and Yugao.
"Tapir~!"
A strange sound resonated from the Tapir's mouth, vibrating through the air.
The sound waves penetrated the mansion's walls, accurately targeting its inhabitants.
Through Byakugan, Hizashi could see the results clearly.
The two guards at the master bedroom's door collapsed instantly, slipping into a deep sleep.
Aside from the Chunin, everyone else had also succumbed to the Genjutsu.
However, the Dream Tapir was still too young.
While its sound waves worked on ordinary people, the Chunin quickly detected something was off.
He stood up, instantly alert.
But Hizashi wasn't worried.
Because Yami had already entered his room.
Silent Execution
BANG—!
The door burst open, sending dust into the air.
The Chunin immediately reacted, throwing several shuriken toward the entrance.
A series of metallic clangs echoed as the shuriken were deflected.
And then—Yami walked in, blade in hand.
"Hello.
My name is Shimura Yami.
What's yours?"
"My name is Nakamura—"
The Chunin responded instinctively, but his expression froze the next second.
Realizing his mistake, he rushed to form a hand seal.
"Nice to meet you, Nakamura.
But I'm afraid we won't be seeing each other again."
This is why reducing seal count and increasing speed is critical.
Just as Nakamura formed his fourth seal, a blade pierced through his back, straight into his heart.
His eyes widened.
"You..."
"It's just a simple combination of Shadow Clone and Body Flicker Technique."
Yami's voice was indifferent.
Nakamura's body collapsed to the floor, lifeless.
[Host has established a Life-and-Death Bond with Nakamura. Reward: Standard Chunin Chakra Unit 1]
(To be continued.)
Chapter 35: Yami's Goodwill
There was still a huge gap between rogue ninjas and those trained in a shinobi village.
Poor Nakamura probably never attended a ninja academy and didn't know the most basic rule, if there's smoke near the enemy, always be cautious.
Instead of securing a safe position to defend and counterattack, he recklessly rushed to attack first.
His battle instincts were seriously lacking.
Yami turned around, searched the room, and found over 400,000 Ryō.
After pocketing them, he walked out and headed straight for the master bedroom.
The two guards at the door were still sleeping soundly, undisturbed even when Yami kicked them aside.
Without hesitation, he pushed open the door.
Yugao had already completed her task.
She stood by the window, calmly wiping the blood from her sword.
Yami ignored her and turned his attention to the massive bed, nearly four or five meters wide.
Two beautiful women lay there peacefully, completely unaware of what had happened.
A faint smile lingered on their lips as if they were enjoying a wonderful dream.
Tch.
This bastard deserved to die.
Yugao followed Yami's gaze, then turned her eyes toward the bed.
The moment she saw the two half-naked women, her face flushed red.
With a quick movement, she used her sword to pull the blanket over them.
Then, she swiftly covered Yami's eyes.
"Yami, don't look at things you shouldn't.
Or else, you'll get a stye in the future!"
Yami smirked.
"I was looking at them with a critical eye. What do you know?"
Yugao let out an exasperated sigh.
Kids these days... how do they even come up with excuses like this?
Clearly, their guardians weren't educating them properly.
Suddenly, she recalled a certain old pervert lurking around the village recently.
Could he have been the one who corrupted Yami?
Far away in Konoha, Jiraiya staggered out of a Kabuki Hall, his steps unsteady.
Out of nowhere, he suddenly sneezed, nearly falling over.
After steadying himself, he rubbed his nose and chuckled.
"Hehe... must be those lovely ladies talking about me."
"Ahh... being too charming is such a burden."
Lost in his own narcissism, he hummed a tune and wobbled home.
His off-key singing filled the streets, earning him a barrage of curses from annoyed villagers.
Back in the mansion, Yugao warned Yami again.
"Stay away from that white-haired uncle who hangs around the women's bathhouse."
Yami, of course, knew exactly who she was talking about.
He nodded in agreement.
After confirming their mission's completion, Yugao opened the window and threw a kunai outside, a signal for Hizashi and Kurenai to come in.
Hizashi entered first, immediately taking out a camera to snap a photo of Fujimoto Keisuke's corpse as proof of the assassination.
Then, he began searching the room.
With Byakugan, all hidden compartments and secret stashes were fully exposed.
Even before entering, Hizashi had already memorized the best places to search.
In just over ten minutes, they gathered all valuables in the house.
"A total of 1.2 million Ryō in cash, along with several land deeds," Hizashi announced.
"We can't cash in the land deeds easily, so we'll hand them over to the village.
As for the cash, we'll give the village half—leaving us with 600,000 Ryō.
We'll split it evenly. 150,000 per person.
Is everyone okay with this?"
It was an unspoken rule among shinobi, missions often had extra profits, and the village usually turned a blind eye, as long as they paid their cut.
Hizashi followed the standard practice, offering half to keep the higher-ups happy.
But Kurenai frowned.
"I took too much," she said.
"I didn't contribute at all in this mission.
I won't take a share, you three can split it instead."
"You can't say that," Hizashi shook his head.
"We're a team—a unit.
There's no such thing as 'who contributed more' in any single mission."
"Exactly."
Yami casually grabbed the Ryō from Hizashi.
"If you don't take it, how can I take it?
If I don't take it, how can Hizashi-sensei take it?
What, are we supposed to just take the money and then report ourselves to the Third Hokage?"
"Yami!"
Kurenai glared at him, fuming.
Her beautiful eyes burned with frustration.
"If you don't know how to talk properly, then just shut up!
What kind of person do you take me for?!"
"Then just take the money already."
Without hesitation, Yami pulled out 250,000 Ryō and shoved it into her hands.
Hizashi's eyes widened.
"Yami, I said 150,000 per person. You calculated wrong."
"No, you calculated wrong."
Yami divided another 250,000 per person, keeping the land deeds for himself.
"We'll just give 200,000 to the Hokage as a gesture of goodwill.
Why give him more?"
"If he has a problem with it, he can talk to my old man."
"This..."
Hizashi hesitated, but ultimately didn't argue.
Shinobi work was expensive.
While he didn't necessarily need the extra 100,000, he couldn't decide for Kurenai or Yugao.
Besides... if trouble came, they had...
A little guy to take the fall.
After dividing the loot, the team swiftly left Fujimoto Keisuke's mansion and returned to their hotel for the night.
The next morning, everyone except Yami woke up early.
Yami slept in until 10 AM.
Hizashi didn't scold him.
Children in their growth phase needed plenty of rest, after all.
Since the Third Hokage hadn't given them a strict deadline, there was no rush.
Once they left Tanshō Street, their travel pace slowed.
They camped in the wilderness for two nights and arrived at Wildfire Town by midday on the third day.
Before entering, Hizashi gave instructions.
"Remove your forehead protectors.
I'll use Henge no Jutsu to disguise myself as a civilian.
We're investigating a spy, we need to keep a low profile."
Since the Byakugan and Konoha forehead protectors were dead giveaways, it was safer this way.
Even Yugao and Kurenai changed out of their ninja vests, opting for regular clothes.
Yami's eyes lit up at the sight.
Without warning, he ran toward Yugao, arms outstretched.
"Hug me! Onee-san!"
Before Yugao could react, Kurenai snatched him up first.
She pinched his soft little cheeks with a smirk.
"What, so Kurenai Onee-san can't hold you too?"
Yami suddenly didn't mind.
Looks like... he won this round.
(To be continued.)
...
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