RADG: Chapter 191: The Founder of the Artisan Ninja Village Who Knows the Times

Seeing the three’s reactions, Yami had no choice but to patiently explain.

“Seimei, the founder of the Artisan Ninja Village, was a shinobi from the same era as Senju Hashirama. His greatest talent lay in forging weapons and supplying them to the various villages.”

“He created four of the most powerful weapons in his lifetime: the Infinite Armour, the Fire Sword, the Weaknessless Soaring Shortswords, and the Garian Sword.”

“These four weapons hold the secret of ‘resurrection,’ though it doesn't resurrect Seimei fully. Instead, they absorb others’ chakra to awaken Seimei’s memories.”

“In essence, they’re man-made weapons that carry Seimei’s consciousness.”

After hearing this, Kakashi and the others suddenly understood.

In Yami’s eyes, Seimei’s methods weren’t all that impressive, but Kakashi and the rest found them extraordinary—second only to Impure World Reincarnation.

“The four leaders of the Artisan Village are called the Four Celestial Symbols Men. They’re the ones who control the four weapons that revived Seimei. Try not to kill them. Bring them back as laborers.”

After giving another reminder, Yami dismissed the three.

Once Kakashi and the others had left, Yami waited in his office for a few more people.

Might Guy, Hyūga Hiashi, Hizashi, Morino Ibiki, and Hayama Shirakumo.

Also—

“Brother-in-law!”

Hanabi ran in and leapt into Yami’s arms.

Yami chuckled and easily lifted her, holding her in his lap. “Brother-in-law, you and sis haven’t come back to see me in so long.”

Hanabi puffed up her cheeks.

The eleven-year-old’s face was full of baby fat. Yami couldn’t help but poke it twice—it was soft and elastic.

She got angrier and pushed away Yami’s hand. “Brother-in-law, you’re the worst!”

Yami tousled her silky long hair with a smile. “There’s so much going on in the village every day. I’ve been busy.”

Hanabi pouted, clearly not buying his excuse.

It’s always Izumi and Kurenai who are busy.

Her brother-in-law was best at being a hands-off Hokage. Not long ago, he even went to Yunokuni’s hot springs with her sister—and didn’t bring her along.

But in the end, he was still her brother-in-law, so she had to spoil him a little.

Hanabi didn’t call out Yami’s lies and instead made her own demand. “Then take me to this year’s Hanabi Festival!”

“No problem. There are still a few months left. That’s enough time for me to finish up my work.” Yami agreed instantly.

Satisfied, Hanabi jumped off Yami’s lap and obediently left the room, not wanting to disturb the adults’ conversation.

Hizashi and Hayama smiled at the interaction, but Hiashi frowned.

Heartache!

His eldest daughter had been taken, and now even his youngest was clinging to her brother-in-law. As their father, he was getting nothing!

Yami felt Hiashi’s resentful gaze, but with his thick skin, he pretended not to notice and got down to business.

“I plan to send a delegation to Kirigakure. For now, I’ve decided that you all will go. Hiashi, you’ll be in charge of the entire team.”

“Kirigakure?”

Ibiki furrowed his brow. As a member of the Interrogation Department, he was extremely sensitive to intelligence. “Hokage, we haven’t had any interaction with Kirigakure for years. They’ve been implementing the Blood Mist policy and haven’t dealt with any officials from the major nations.”

Yami calmly took a sip of tea. “The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, died about two or three years ago. Kirigakure is currently ruled by the elders.”

“Although they’re still somewhat isolated and recovering, most of the blood policies have already been lifted.”

Hearing information he wasn’t previously aware of, Ibiki nodded in acknowledgment.

Hiashi asked again, “Then what’s the goal of this mission? Are we forming an alliance with Kirigakure?”

“Of course not.”

Yami shook his head, interlacing his fingers over his lap. “We’re going to demand an explanation.”

Hizashi’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the group, then looked at his older brother, Hiashi. “Is this about that Byakugan?”

Hiashi froze.

“That’s right,” Yami said bluntly. “Back then, Kirigakure used underhanded means to steal a Byakugan from the Hyūga clan. Hiruzen was indecisive and didn’t dare to confront them over it.”

“But I’m not him.”

“Stealing a Hyūga’s Byakugan is a slap in Konoha’s face!”

Everyone except Guy lowered their heads.

That was straight-up slander...

The dead couldn’t even rest peacefully.

Right now, Hiruzen’s reputation in Konoha had plummeted. It wasn’t that Yami was too petty—people had tried to praise Hiruzen’s achievements, only to realize there was nothing worth bragging about.

The First Hokage pacified the era of chaos, the Second laid down the village’s internal systems, and the Fourth ended the Third Great Ninja War.

As for the Third...

The best anyone could say was that he was “close to the people and hardworking.”

At most, he was barely qualified as a local magistrate.

“Hiashi, don’t worry. Konoha has your back. Be tough with them. Demand compensation for all these years.”

Yami turned to Guy.

“The delegation’s safety is your responsibility. If Kirigakure pulls any tricks, don’t hold back. Kill them on the spot.”

“Yes!”

Men from the Might family had natural advantage over Kirigakure.

Whether it was Chōjūrō, who had recently risen to prominence, or Terumi Mei, who wielded two kekkei genkai, none of them could match Seventh Gate Guy.

“Go on then. Head back and start preparing. The earlier you depart, the earlier you’ll return.”

Everyone rose to leave, but Guy scratched his head. “Hokage, can I bring Tenten and Lee with me?”

Yami thought for a moment. “You can bring Lee. I have other plans for Tenten.”

After sending off the last person, Yami also left the Hokage building.

The groundwork had been laid. Now, all that was left was to wait for the storm to rise and sweep through the ninja world, reshuffling the board.

Strategies were fine, but in the end, everything relied on strength.

In a sealed chamber—

Yami sat cross-legged, suspended in the air.

His eyes opened, a strange purple glow flashing. Ripple patterns appeared in his pupils—mysterious and profound.

Gradually, the purple faded, replaced by the intricate, blood-red Eternal Mangekyō.

Behind his Sharingan, faint ripples continued to flicker.

Eventually, all the strange visions disappeared, and Yami slowly descended to the ground.

“Still not enough,” Yami muttered.

Half a year ago, the chakras of Indra and Ashura had fully merged, giving rise to a new pair of Rinnegan.

But to Yami’s disappointment, it was just a regular Rinnegan—no blood-red color, no tomoe.

Even when using Susanoo or dojutsu, it required switching forms.

Still, he didn’t give up.

He kept experimenting with merging the two dojutsu and had made some progress.

While in Mangekyō mode, he could now use basic gravity and repulsion, and even some Human and Deva Path abilities.

But the true power of the awakened Rinnegan and other advanced techniques remained out of reach.

“It’s still not a high enough level... I lack the Six Paths power.”

He pinpointed the issue.

The Six Paths power—it's a broad concept.

Typically, what the Sage of Six Paths possessed is referred to as Six Paths power.

Yami’s Rinnegan was also a part of that, but just a fraction.

Split up, the Six Paths powers include the Six Paths body, the Rinnegan, and Six Paths-level Sage Arts.

Except for Sage Arts, the rest are granted through the Ten Tails.

Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Obito only gained the Six Paths power after becoming Jinchūriki of the Ten Tails.

Yami, despite not having a Six Paths body, could forcefully merge two ocular powers thanks to his Ōtsutsuki physique, which gave him unparalleled chakra affinity and control.

---

Half a month later—

Kakashi’s team returned victorious.

They had captured Seimei and the Four Celestial Symbols Men alive.

Upon arriving in Konoha, Seimei still had a stunned expression.

Anyone who’d gone through what he did would look the same.

After decades of scheming, he finally returned to the world as an immortal, supposedly the peak moment of his life. But instead, he got beaten senseless by a group of ten-year-olds.

Only Sasuke managed to go toe-to-toe with him.

Even with the power of the four legendary weapons, Seimei was utterly defeated. The final blow wasn’t physical—it was psychological.

Sasuke’s parting words shattered his will.

“Against my eyes, no external tools matter. Blame your fate for not having the Sharingan.”

Yami fell silent for a long while, then looked at Sasuke with narrowed eyes.

“Well said. Don’t say that again next time, or I might not be able to stop myself from beating you.”

Sasuke immediately took a step back and hid behind Kakashi.

Unlike the original timeline, this Sasuke had a critical advantage—he knew when to act cocky and when to stay quiet.

As for Seimei and the Four Celestial Symbols Men, Yami didn’t bother talking much. He just beat Seimei down again from every direction.

The finishing blow came from his Wood Dragon, which pinned Seimei just like Senju Hashirama used to do on the battlefield.

“Convinced yet?”

Yami asked calmly.

Seimei nodded frantically. “Yes, totally convinced!”

“Then can you work as a blacksmith for Konoha from now on?”

Seimei nodded even harder. “No problem! I love blacksmithing! I’ll die if I don’t forge something every day!”

“What about your Artisan Village?”

“What Artisan Ninja Village? Isn’t that just Konoha’s Foundry Department?”

Yami smiled in satisfaction.

Not bad.

As expected from a founder—he really knew how to read the times.

The next day, Konoha’s multi-village plan added one more factory. A large number of workers were dispatched, and the project would be completed in less than ten months.

At the same time.

In the Land of Wind.

A gust swept through the desert, instantly filling the sky with yellow sand.

Two figures in bamboo hats and black cloaks patterned with red clouds walked slowly through the storm.

The taller figure lowered his hat, shielding his face from the sand, and cursed, “Damn weather. Sasori, did you used to live in a place like this? Do you eat sand every night?”

Sasori, hidden inside the puppet Hiruko, shot back without hesitation, “Iwagakure isn’t any better—just rocks everywhere.”

Deidara fell silent.

Outside of the Land of Fire, the environments of the other great nations were pretty terrible.

Even the Land of Water was just a resource-scarce island that depended on Fire Country exports to survive.

“Damn Land of Fire. Damn Konoha!”

Deidara suddenly cursed, “When I go with the leader to capture the Five and Nine Tails, I’ll use my art to blow their artistic Leaf Village into dust!”

As night fell, the duo finally reached their destination—Sunagakure.

They ran into some patrols along the way, but Sasori took care of them easily. One of them was even their inside agent.

Deidara got excited. The mouths on his palms began munching on clay, shaping all kinds of explosive birds and bugs.

“Sasori, let me handle this mission alone. You’re old anyway, and since Suna was your old home, you might feel too sentimental.”

“Of course not.”

Sasori remained unmoved. “But if you want to spare me the trouble, go ahead. Just don’t come crying for help later.”

As he spoke, Deidara tossed a clay bird that instantly transformed into a large flying beast.

“If Shimura Yami can destroy Iwagakure, then how is my art any worse? Today, I’ll prove I can do what he did!”

“Just wait for my good news!”

With that, he leapt onto the bird’s back and soared off.

“Don’t keep me waiting too long,” Sasori muttered, closing his eyes.

He’d noticed Deidara had a serious grudge against Konoha’s Fifth Hokage.

Was it because Yami had destroyed Iwagakure?

What Sasori didn’t know was that their rivalry had started long ago, ever since Ōnoki kept comparing Deidara to Yami.

This time, Deidara wasn’t just attacking—it was his way of competing with Yami.

If you can destroy Iwagakure, I’ll crush Sunagakure.

Even if it’s not quite the same, they’re both major hidden villages.

The alarm in Suna quickly sounded.

Sasori’s meditation was interrupted. He looked toward the village and muttered—

“Idiot.”

(To be continued.)