RADG: Chapter 167: No One Understands Bonds Better Than Me

Inside the Hokage's office, facing Yami's questioning, Jiraiya fell silent for a while.

He had thought this would go as smoothly as when he went to find Tsunade, but he didn’t expect Yami’s attitude to be completely different this time.

If Yami knew what he was thinking, he would have snapped:

"I only agreed to let Naruto go with you to convince Tsunade to return to the village. What does that have to do with you?"

“Yami.”
“Call me Hokage.”

Yami didn’t even spare him a glance. “It’s working hours. Don’t get personal.”

“…Alright, Hokage-sama.”

Jiraiya sighed. “Did you tell Naruto about Minato?”

“So what if I did?”

Yami leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. “As the one involved, Naruto naturally has the right to know the truth. What does that have to do with you trying to steal my student?”

“...Naruto hates his father. He even resents the villagers.”

Jiraiya revealed the most shocking discovery he had made in the past few days.

He had found something off when Tsunade referred to Hokage as a fool. After returning to the village, he had dinner with Naruto twice. It didn’t take much for him to coax Naruto into revealing what was really on his mind.

Naruto’s dream of becoming Hokage wasn’t about gaining everyone’s recognition, but about proving himself to those who had always discriminated against him as the jinchūriki.

Though not as extreme as Yami, there were definitely traces of resentment.

“And that’s a problem?”

Yami didn’t even flinch. “So now you want to control even my student’s emotions? That’s your idea of a Hokage’s duty?”

Jiraiya frowned. “Yami, you’re the Hokage now. Shouldn’t you help correct Naruto’s mindset? If you won’t do it, then let me—”

Yami opened his eyes slowly, his tone playful and full of mockery.
“Jiraiya, do you really think the Hokage's job is to fix these petty emotional issues?

Where were you when the villagers shunned him?
And now you want to play the good guy?”

“You want to take him? Fine. I’ll give you the chance. If Naruto agrees, I won’t stop you.”

“Yuji.”

Swish!

An Anbu appeared instantly in the office and knelt on one knee. “Yami-sama.”

“You should know where Uzumaki Naruto is, right?”

Yuji responded firmly. “Most likely with Uchiha Sasuke, training with Shun.”

“Then bring both of them here.”
“Yes.”

Yuji moved quickly and returned just as fast. In less than fifteen minutes, he brought Naruto and Sasuke to the office.

Naruto thought Yami was going to give them a new mission and smiled brightly.
“Yami-nii! What do you need us to do? I’m ready!”

“It’s not me who’s looking for you. It’s Jiraiya.”

Yami pointed toward Jiraiya. “He wants to take you away from Konoha. You decide for yourself.”

Sasuke instantly looked at Jiraiya with hostility.

Naruto turned his head in confusion.

“It’s like this, Naruto…”

Jiraiya gave a long-winded explanation, stating that he wanted to help Naruto train and travel the ninja world.

After listening, Naruto glanced at Sasuke, then looked at Yami, who remained calm and composed.

“Sorry, Pervy Sage, I don’t want to leave Konoha.”

Jiraiya’s hopeful expression immediately collapsed into disappointment.

“Ah… I understand.”

Sasuke added coldly, “Yami already arranged our training. You don’t need to worry about Naruto.
No matter how hard he trains, he still can’t beat me.”

“What?! Arrogant Sasuke! You want another beating?”

“Bring it on, I’m not afraid of you!”

The two started bickering right in the Hokage's office. Yami didn’t scold them but watched with a smile.

Are you kidding? He had the [Strongest Shinobi Bond System]. Who in the ninja world could understand bonds better than him?

Jiraiya didn’t run off with Orochimaru because he looked down on Orochimaru.
As long as Yami was in Konoha, even if Namikaze Minato came back and tried to convince Naruto to leave, it wouldn’t work, let alone Jiraiya.

If Naruto could really be swayed by a few words, then Yami had nothing more to say. That would only prove his reform had failed.

If that happened, Naruto could go down his “talk-no-jutsu” path, and Yami would treat him as an enemy.

But clearly, Ashura’s chakra wasn’t as invincible as legend claimed.

“Well then, take care.”

Jiraiya patted Naruto’s shoulder with a heavy expression. “I hope you grow up healthy, happy, and normal. Everything you've suffered until now is just a test. Don’t let it weigh on your heart.”

Without waiting for Naruto’s reply, he walked out of the office step by step. His figure looked especially lonely.

Jiraiya’s mood was heavy—not only because Naruto rejected him, but also because of the words from the Great Toad Sage.

He had once believed Naruto was the Child of Prophecy.

But now, it seemed like he wasn’t.

Where was the real Child of Prophecy?
Would he ever find them in his lifetime?

Yami watched Jiraiya’s back as he left, stroking his chin and seriously considering whether to label him a missing-nin.

He had been away from the village for years, wandering around aimlessly, not even following orders.

Could he really still be considered a Konoha shinobi?

But after thinking it over, Yami gave up on the idea.

Let the “heroes” watch over each other. Let “good men” deal with their own kind.

The more one knows, the closer they are to death. There was no need to add unnecessary complications.

With that resolved, Yami pushed Jiraiya’s matter aside, walked up to Sasuke and Naruto, and ruffled their hair.

Sasuke’s expression turned sour, and just before he exploded, Yami said:

“You two did well today.

To think someone had the nerve to try to poach my students… Typical of Orochimaru’s circle. No wonder they’re all Sannin.”

Sasuke broke free from his hand, then glanced at Naruto, who was still laughing like a fool.

“I already said you had our training planned. If Jiraiya had…”

Yami glanced at him and smiled. “You were waiting for me to say that, huh? Alright. Once I’m done with this batch of work, I’ll give you special training specifically against Uchiha Itachi.”

“Everything has been arranged. Just focus on your training with Shun for now.”

“Yes!”

---

Jiraiya’s departure didn’t affect the village at all—except that the local foot bath shop lost a frequent customer.

Konoha was recovering quickly. The damaged terrain had been restored, and the daily life of the village was returning to normal.

However, the number of active shinobi within the village had noticeably decreased. Most were out handling missions.

On the fourth day after Jiraiya’s departure, Kitsuchi returned to report Ōnoki’s message to Yami.

“This time, Iwagakure admits defeat.

You may deal with the captives as you wish.

Since Kurotsuchi is already in your hands, she belongs to you now.

Treat my granddaughter well.

When she comes of age, I’d like to hold a great-grandson as soon as possible.”

“If you want to start a shinobi world war, be prepared to be attacked by the other four great villages.”

After hearing this, Yami smiled.

So ruthless. So decisive.

As expected of the last remaining sly old fox—he stayed calm and made the most rational decision even after his granddaughter was captured.

Among the captives, the most valuable wasn’t Kurotsuchi, but the Five Tails’ jinchūriki, Han.

Han was a Kage-level shinobi, and the Five Tails was still sealed inside him. Losing him would be the real blow to Iwagakure.

There was no way Ōnoki would accept any outrageous demands. As long as Kurotsuchi was alive, she was still his granddaughter. With her under Yami’s care, at least her life was guaranteed.

In the end, Ōnoki even left a threat: If war begins, Konoha will once again be surrounded by the five great villages.

Go ahead, try it if you dare.

This kind of rogue attitude would give any Hokage a headache. If negotiations continued, Iwagakure would definitely push to lower the price.

But too bad for him—he was facing Yami.

“Got it. You can return and report to the village now.”

Yami didn’t even look at Kitsuchi again.

Kitsuchi wanted to see Kurotsuchi before leaving, but with the tone Ōnoki used, Yami likely wouldn’t agree even if he asked.

He could only leave Konoha with a heavy heart and begin the journey back to Iwagakure.

Still, he admired Ōnoki’s cunning. But could Yami really do nothing about it?

A few days later—

Judging from the time, Kitsuchi’s group should have returned to Iwagakure. Yami began to move.

“Old man, I’m taking a few days off. Today’s official duties are yours.”

Yami pushed Danzō into the Hokage’s seat, then casually left.

“Wait, where are you going?”

“You’ll know when I get back.”

After returning home, Yami brought Kurotsuchi and Hikari along and left Konoha.

“Where are we going?”

Kurotsuchi wore a new cheongsam that accentuated her figure and asked casually.

She had already learned about Ōnoki’s decision. Though it saddened her, she understood why he made it.

Compared to the interests of the entire village, she, as the granddaughter of the Third Tsuchikage, was just a pawn.

She would have to marry eventually. Even though Yami was annoying, he was powerful, good-looking, held a high position, and treated women well.

Objectively speaking, he checked every box on her list of ideal partners.

If anything, she might even be the one getting the better deal.

Once their relationship improved, the tensions between Konoha and Iwagakure might ease. She might even get to visit her father and grandfather again.

“To Iwagakure.”

Yami’s answer was concise.

Kurotsuchi’s expression tensed. “What are you going to do?”

Yami smiled. “Your grandfather owes me money. I’ve kept his Iwa-nin captives for so long, and he hasn’t even paid for their food. That’s not okay.”

Kurotsuchi tried to say something, but Yami had already activated the Flying Thunder God Technique.

He had marked numerous locations in the Land of Fire. He quickly led them to the border, then passed through the Land of Bears into the Land of Earth.

Yami began forming hand seals and pressed his palm to the ground.

“Summoning Technique!”

The enormous Five Tails, Kokuō, was summoned and turned its head toward Yami in confusion.

“You know the way to Iwagakure. Hurry, try to arrive by noon.”

Kokuō neighed and began moving.

These days, it had eaten well and slept peacefully. The nightmare tapirs didn’t dare to bother it.

Compared to being sealed, life was much better now. So it didn’t resist Yami’s order at all and even asked warmly, “Want me to bring more people? That old man in the village is strong.”

“No need.”

Yami lay back comfortably on Kokuō’s broad back.

Though the beast ran fast, Yami didn’t feel any bumps at all. “I’m just going to collect a debt, not start a war. Why would I bring extra people?”

Kokuō stayed silent after that.

Meanwhile, in Iwagakure—

Kitsuchi didn’t rest after returning. He went straight to the Tsuchikage’s office to report to Ōnoki.

(To be continued.)