RADG: Chapter 131/132

Chapter 131: Challenging the Weakness,

After realizing that when a Shadow Clone is released, the memories and experience return to the original body, Sasuke was completely tempted.

If he could master this ninjutsu, wouldn't that mean his improvement speed could skyrocket?

Rarely, Sasuke took the initiative to ask Yami.

After listening to his request, Yami first nodded, then shook his head.

"I can teach you the Multi Shadow Clone Technique, but this jutsu isn't suitable for you."

Sasuke's expression immediately changed.

"Why?"

"I know you're eager, but don't be in such a rush."

Yami raised his hand and buried Sasuke in the dirt to calm him down, then explained,

"Do you know why the Multi Shadow Clone Technique is a Forbidden Jutsu?"

"To use this technique, you need a large amount of Chakra. If someone with insufficient Chakra forcibly creates too many clones, a single mistake can kill them."

"Although your Chakra is decent, around half of Kakashi's level, it's still too risky for you to learn it."

"But you can use the basic Shadow Clone Technique, and splitting into two or three clones at a time should be fine."

Half-buried in the ground, Sasuke calmed down and nodded. "Yami-sensei, then I want to learn the Shadow Clone Technique."

"See? You're anxious again."

Yami looked helpless. "That's only the first condition. I haven't mentioned the second one. Shadow Clones don't just return memories and experiences, they also return fatigue and the Chakra they consumed."

"Can your body withstand the shock of suddenly being exhausted for several days and nights?"

"I can!" Sasuke gritted his teeth.

"Then let's give it a try."

Yami released Sasuke and taught him how to control his Chakra and form the seals.

The technique itself wasn't difficult, and Sasuke quickly learned how to form two clones, joining them in tree-climbing training.

As for Hinata, she had already completed tree climbing and water walking thanks to her noble upbringing.

Yami's task for Hinata was focused solely on refining Chakra.

The Hyūga clan naturally possessed more physical energy than others, so they should have more Chakra. But in Hinata's case, that wasn't true.

According to data recorded in the Scroll of the Ninja, even by the Fourth Shinobi World War, Hinata's Chakra level was only four, while Neji's had reached seven.

The root of the issue was mental. The temperament of Hinata was still too gentle, which weakened her will during Chakra refinement, resulting in poor efficiency and low Chakra quality.

Yami had intentionally allowed Hinata to enjoy a happy childhood without interference, but now that she was a shinobi, she had to work hard.

Thankfully, Hinata's greatest strength was her obedience. As long as Yami gave instructions, she carried them out diligently without slacking. That alone gave him peace of mind.

After checking on Hinata's progress and seeing no issues, Yami turned his attention to Naruto.

"Naruto, where's your real body? Come here."

Hearing the call, Naruto, who had just fallen from a tree, ran over excitedly.

"Yami-nii, what is it?"

"Can you make more Shadow Clones?"

"No problem! I'm Uzumaki Naruto!"

With a confident grin, Naruto formed the hand seal and summoned dozens of Shadow Clones. Sasuke, watching from the side, cursed under his breath at the monster.

How much Chakra does this guy even have?

Thinking Yami wanted him to use more Shadow Clones for tree climbing, Naruto had all the clones rush up the nearest trees.

"Wait, come back! I didn't call you here for tree climbing. I have something else to teach you."

Hearing Yami's shout, the group of Shadow Clones skidded to a halt and crashed into each other. Smoke burst out, and several were knocked out of existence.

Yami's forehead twitched.

As expected of the ninja ranked number one in accidental incidents. Even his clones were unreliable.

Naruto didn't care at all about the little accident. Instead, he asked with bright eyes, "Yami-nii, are you going to teach me a new ninjutsu? I'm not picky, as long as I can beat that arrogant Sasuke!"

He was so loud that Sasuke, who was training nearby, clearly heard him. Sasuke glared fiercely at Naruto but still quietly came over, curious to see what Yami was about to teach.

"If you master this jutsu, forget about being Hokage. Even the Sage of Six Paths won't be able to beat you."

Yami leaned in and whispered the name of the technique. Naruto was confused at first, then his eyes sparkled as he clapped his fists together.

"I got it! As expected of Yami-nii!"

Sasuke was even more curious now. He watched as Naruto's Shadow Clones began forming seals.

"Harem Technique!"

As the smoke cleared, dozens of Shadow Clones turned into Naruko, all with blond twin-tails, striking seductive poses and letting out flirty giggles.

Sasuke: "...Lame."

He wiped the blood from his nose and turned away expressionless, not wanting to waste time with the two clowns. He returned to training.

But Yami had already noticed.

He grabbed Sasuke and began his heartfelt lecture:

"Three forbidden shinobi vices—porn, gambling, and drugs. Do you think I indulge for fun?"

"Wrong! Completely wrong!"

"I do this to train you, dumb pillar. Look, you even got a nosebleed. That means you're weak against beauty. If these Narukos jumped on you, you'd be completely defenseless."

"My team captain, Hizashi, once lost to a beautiful woman and almost let a Kirigakure spy escape."

"Come on, look with me. A man must have the courage to face his weaknesses."

Saying that, Yami forcefully turned Sasuke's head back and started critiquing the clones.

"Naruto, why is one side of you bigger than the other? Fix it."

"And your butt's not round enough. Pay attention to details. How else will you seduce me?"

"Make your legs sleeker, more toned. Yes, right there…"

"That's it…."

Seeing how seriously Yami evaluated his technique, Naruto was filled with energy and eagerly adjusted each flaw.

You really couldn't underestimate this kid's talent in that department.

Soon, Naruko's beauty and charm reached a new level. Sasuke's face turned red again and his nose started bleeding. He quickly stuffed paper into his nostrils.

Still, he kept a calm face and even gave suggestions.

"Always using blonde twin-tails… Can't you get a little more creative?"

"Damn you Sasuke! Fine, I'll change them to black long-straight!"

"Tch, just barely acceptable. A few more, now."

By the time the sun began to set, Hinata had finished her training. When she opened her eyes, what she saw made her vision go black.

A large group of half-dressed, gorgeous women surrounded Yami, giggling and fawning over him.

"Y-Yami-kun…"

Yami casually waved his hand, releasing a gust of wind that blew away all of Naruto's Shadow Clones.

"Hinata, don't misunderstand. This was Sasuke's request to train his resistance to beauty. I couldn't do this, so I asked Naruto for help.."

Sasuke opened his mouth to protest, but Yami's death glare shut him up. He nodded stiffly.

"Y-Yeah. That's… what it was."

Hinata nodded blankly, not doubting it at all.

"Alright, that's it for today. Let's meet at this training ground again tomorrow."

Naruto and Sasuke released their Shadow Clones simultaneously. The difference was instantly clear.

As dozens of clones dissipated, Naruto was just a little winded and looked a bit tired. Meanwhile, Sasuke's vision went dark and he nearly collapsed.

Even Yami glanced at Naruto, who had recovered in just seconds, as if nothing had happened.

This couldn't be explained by the Uzumaki physique alone. Karin didn't have this level of recovery either.

It was the combined result of Nine Tails Chakra, Naruto's own body, and Ashura Chakra that created such a monster.

"Naruto, take care of Sasuke. We're leaving."

Yami said his goodbyes and took Hinata's hand, leaving the training field. Even from a distance, he could still hear their bickering.

The next day, Sasuke, who had learned his lesson, was much more disciplined. He only dared to create one Shadow Clone to assist in training.

He could barely endure this intensity, but his progress was clearly faster.

In half a month, he had completed Chakra control training for tree climbing and was now beginning water walking.

But Yami couldn't wait anymore.

For a simple reason—he was broke.

Yami was a big spender. His research cost a lot. Plus, he had demolished the buildings around his house and rebuilt them. Even after completing over fifty S-rank missions, his wallet was running dry.

Lately, all his spending money came from squeezing mission rewards from Team 7.

Anyway, Naruto and Sasuke didn't lack money and had no idea how much their missions were worth.

Even though the Uchiha estate was seized, the village didn't touch the clan's funds. All of it went to Sasuke, thanks to the deterrent left behind by Itachi.

As for Naruto... no one knew where his parents' mission rewards went, but Hiruzen hadn't been stingy with his living expenses. The reason he drank expired milk was because few shops were willing to sell to him.

Even with all that, the money from D-rank missions wasn't nearly enough to meet Yami's needs.

With no choice, Team 7's training was suspended temporarily, and Yami brought them to the Hokage building to apply for a higher-paying mission.

"You want to take a mission outside the village..."

Hiruzen, smoking his pipe, glanced at Naruto and Sasuke.

"Looks like they've met your expectations."

Naruto, who used to yell and run wild whenever he saw Hiruzen, was unusually quiet today.

Hiruzen assumed Naruto had matured after a few missions. He didn't question it and even felt a bit relieved.

"You didn't need to come to me over something so small, right?"

Hiruzen smiled at Yami. "Can't you just go to the mission center and pick one yourself?"

"That was the plan."

Yami didn't deny it. He glanced at the doorway. "But I want the mission from the old man who just left. So I had to come see you."

Yami had originally been browsing missions in the lobby, but when he saw a sloppy-looking old man walk out, he changed his mind and brought his team to the Hokage's office.

"You mean Tazuna from the Land of Waves?"

Hiruzen immediately understood and ordered Anbu to bring him back.

Tazuna, who had just issued the mission, trembled when he was called back, thinking his deception had been exposed.

Once he heard that someone had accepted his mission, he calmed down and looked suspiciously at Yami and Naruto.

A teenager barely in his teens and three newly graduated Genin. This didn't inspire confidence.

"Hokage-sama, are they really capable of escorting me back to the Land of Waves?" Tazuna asked bluntly.

"Old man! Are you looking down on us?" Naruto shouted angrily, pointing at Tazuna. "I'm gonna be Hokage! It's your honor to have me escort you!"

"Naruto, don't be rude to the client."

After scolding Naruto, Hiruzen smiled and reassured Tazuna, "Don't worry, Tazuna-san. Yami is one of our most exceptional Jōnin. If it weren't for the fact that he's leading new Genin, this kind of C-rank mission wouldn't even come to him."

"Is that so?" Tazuna's expression relaxed a bit. "Then I'll leave it to them. I'm ready to leave today."

"Hold on, old man."

Yami stopped him. "When you registered the mission, did you only listen to the client's version of events?"

"Yami, what do you mean?"

Hiruzen's expression immediately turned serious. Tazuna, whose back was to them, suddenly froze, his face turning pale.

"This old man is building a bridge in the Land of Waves."

"That area belongs to the tycoon Gato. He made a fortune in shipping."

"You think… Gato wouldn't hire ninja to stop him?"

"If ninja are involved, the mission rating should be B-rank at minimum."

Thud! Tazuna collapsed on the spot, and Hiruzen instantly realized Yami was right.

Naruto, Sasuke, and even Hinata understood how dangerous it was to lie about a mission's difficulty. They looked at Tazuna, who had tear-filled eyes.

Yami slowly drew the Kusanagi sword and pressed it to Tazuna's neck.

"Cry if you want. Once you're done, I'll send you on your way."

"And I'll destroy the entire Land of Waves to make up for your lie to Konoha."

Hearing such terrifying words, Tazuna's sobbing stopped instantly. He stared at Yami in fear, as if a devil stood before him.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 132: Heading to the Land of Waves

Even if a Hokage were in the wrong, allowing the client of a mission to be killed publicly in his office would be unacceptable. Hiruzen absolutely couldn't allow such a thing to happen.

As for Yami's proposal to destroy the Land of Waves? That was even more extreme, almost no different than a yakuza's thirst for revenge.

Under Hiruzen's persuasion, Yami finally moved his blade away from Tazuna's neck.

Tazuna burst into tears and tried to explain himself.

"I didn't mean to deceive Konoha. It's just that the Land of Waves is in a desperate situation!"

"Gato has monopolized every trade route between the Land of Waves and the main continent. All of us are forced to work under his thumb. Only by completing the bridge can we break free from his control."

"I beg you, Hokage-sama, this money is already the limit of what the Land of Waves can offer. Any more and we'd be digging our own graves. Please, show us mercy and save our home!"

Tazuna's acting was quite convincing. Even Hiruzen's expression softened. Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata all looked at him with pity.

Only Yami remained unmoved. He swung his blade, slicing open Tazuna's backpack.

Dozens of liquor bottles rolled out.

"Tsk. This is what you call 'no money'? Most of this alcohol was bought in Konoha, wasn't it?"

"Just looking at these, it's already enough to pay for at least ten B-rank mission commissions."

Tazuna's throat caught. He couldn't even cry anymore, his wrinkled face flushed with shame.

The three Genin looked at him in disbelief. They couldn't comprehend how the man who'd just been sobbing about the Land of Waves' survival had spent their last money on alcohol.

Hiruzen hung his head slightly in embarrassment.

I really am getting old…

Sympathizing with another country's affairs, and I almost got fooled by this guy…

This brief encounter unexpectedly made Hiruzen more aware of his age, and he began reconsidering his retirement. He made a decision...

Three more years. Three more years and I'll pass the title of Hokage to Jiraiya.

If Jiraiya refuses, then Kakashi.

It can't be Yami. That kid is too extreme. He can serve as a deputy, but if he leads Konoha, it'll draw the hostility of every other village.

Setting aside his internal debate, Hiruzen returned to the current issue. "Tazuna, given the situation in the Land of Waves, I won't pursue your deception. But we will not accept your mission."

"No!"

Tazuna immediately knelt and pleaded, "Hokage-sama, when we have the money, we'll definitely repay the remaining cost. Please, Konoha is the only one that can save us!"

Seeing the old man on his knees, Naruto finally spoke up.

"Hokage-jiji, please help him. No matter how dangerous the mission is, we'll definitely complete it!"

Hiruzen didn't answer. Instead, he looked at Yami.

"Yami, what's your take?"

"We can take the mission, but not at the standard rate."

Yami bared his fangs. "Once the bridge is completed, tolls will be collected. You keep 20 percent. The other 80 comes to me."

"W-We weren't planning to charge any tolls…"

Tazuna was stunned. The entire point of building the bridge was to restore the economy in the Land of Waves by exporting timber and seafood, and developing tourism.

If they charged a toll, it would scare people away. The loss would outweigh the gain.

"Then there's nothing to discuss." Yami shook his head. "You're asking me to go up against Gato for you. The man's a billionaire. It's entirely possible he's hired Jōnin-level protection. Can you afford to pay the price of an S-rank mission?"

In the end, Tazuna shamefully accepted Yami's terms.

Not only would he pay the full price based on mission difficulty, but he also agreed to hand over ten years' worth of toll revenue as compensation for lying.

That 10 percent discount? That was Hiruzen stepping in to show a bit of mercy and preserve some dignity for the Land of Waves.

By defining it as a fine, they could also avoid disrupting Konoha's mission payment system.

Two hours later, Konoha's main gate.

Tazuna waited listlessly for Team 7 to depart.

It was Naruto's first mission outside the village.

He was so excited he'd nearly brought his whole house with him.

Even though Yami's teachings had made him more clear-headed, he still packed far more than everyone else.

Once everyone was gathered, Team 7 and Tazuna departed from Konoha.

Three Anbu in black quietly followed from a distance behind them.

During the journey, Yami didn't forget his role as a teacher and used Tazuna's deception as a case study for Naruto and Sasuke.

Especially Naruto. He was determined to shake that saintly heart of his back to normal.

"Naruto, have you ever thought about what could happen when a client lies about a mission's difficulty?"

Naruto thought hard before answering, "Wouldn't that mean... stronger enemies?"

"Correct."

"Why do you think clients aim for C-rank missions? Because they're often assigned to teams with a Jōnin leader and Genin. That's a Jōnin's strength for cheap."

"But what if a Chūnin team took it instead? If they were ambushed, they'd likely die. Now tell me, who would be at fault?"

Not just Naruto. Sasuke and Hinata also fell into thought, then turned to look at the ashamed Tazuna.

"Now that you get it, don't let your sympathy run wild anymore."

Yami ruffled Naruto's hair. "It's fine to be kind, but save that kindness for your own people and for those who are honest with you. If Tazuna had confessed everything upfront and you were still able to help, I wouldn't have said a word."

"But with your current strength, you can't handle enemies of this level. Don't let others pay the price for your misplaced kindness. That's called moral blackmail."

"Don't let your kindness harm your own people."

Having said that, Yami let it go.

They hadn't encountered the enemy yet. Lessons taught through hypotheticals rarely left a lasting impression.

Only when a real threat appeared would the point hit home.

Three days later.

The sun blazed down without mercy. After their initial excitement wore off, the three first-time Genin began to quiet down.

The road was wide and exposed, with no shade. The heat made everyone alert.

"Hinata, give me your hand."

Hearing Yami's voice, Hinata obediently reached out. The moment their hands met, a cooling sensation spread, and she looked up at him in surprise.

Yami leaned in and whispered something to her. She nodded softly.

Soon, they encountered a small puddle on the road. Naruto and the others stepped over it without a second thought.

The moment Yami and Hinata passed, two figures shot out from the water, swinging chains at them.

Naruto and the others were caught completely off guard as the chains latched onto Yami's arms.

Clang!

Yami grabbed both chains and yanked hard, pulling the attackers toward him. With a sharp twist, he shattered their mechanisms.

"I'll let you two practice with these."

With the stunned attackers still recovering, Yami kicked them over to Naruto and Sasuke.

Sasuke reacted instantly, throwing shuriken as he charged.

"Naruto! What are you standing around for!"

Seeing Naruto frozen in place, Yami frowned and scolded him. "Is this how you protect your client and your teammate?"

Naruto snapped out of it and rushed in with Shadow Clone Technique.

But rather than helping, he made things worse.

His chaotic Shadow Clones nearly put Sasuke in danger multiple times, even forcing him to activate his Sharingan.

In the end, Yami couldn't take it anymore. He stepped in, pressed both hands to one enemy's head, and smashed it into the ground like a watermelon. Blood splattered everywhere.

The sight of blood stunned Naruto again.

"Hmph."

With the fight over, Sasuke put away his kunai and shot Naruto a glare. "Next time, just guard the client. Don't get in my way."

Truthfully, Naruto had been more dangerous than the enemies. Before Naruto charged in, Sasuke had full control of the fight. Afterward, it was chaos.

Glancing briefly at Naruto, Yami praised Sasuke.

"Nice work. Your technique is clean, but your movements are a bit too flashy. You're here to kill, not perform."

"Once we return, I'll find you a good taijutsu instructor. Train properly."

"I understand, Yami-sensei."

Sasuke's lips curled slightly. Yami's praise clearly pleased him.

"Ahhh!"

Naruto suddenly stabbed his own palm with a kunai, startling Hinata, Sasuke, and Tazuna.

"I won't lose to you next time, Sasuke!"

"Next time, I'll be the one standing in front!"

Sasuke looked at Naruto with a complicated expression. The contempt he felt earlier was replaced with something else. Even Tazuna's opinion of Naruto improved.

Yami waved his hand and resumed the journey with Hinata.

"Sasuke, bandage that idiot. If he bleeds out, he'll die."

Naruto looked down and paled at the blood pouring from his palm.

"Ahhh! So much blood!"

"Save me, Sasuke!"

"Idiot."

Turns out, even if Sasuke had delayed a bit, Naruto's wound would've healed on its own.

From then on, Naruto was much quieter. He occasionally sent out Shadow Clones to scout ahead, looking a bit like a tracking ninja.

But clearly, he hadn't paid attention in class. Didn't he realize that a Byakugan user was right beside him? His clones couldn't see half as far as Hinata.

Neither Yami nor Sasuke said anything. They just watched him act silly.

Two days later, they reached the coastal border of the Land of Fire.

Using the early morning mist for cover, they boarded a fishing boat, crossed the sea, and arrived in the Land of Waves.

Afraid of Gato, the fishermen quickly fled after dropping them off.

Tazuna's expression grew visibly tense.

In the mist, the silhouette of an enormous bridge came into view.

Naruto stared in awe. "Uncle Tazuna, is that the bridge you built? It's amazing!"

"That bridge represents the hopes of everyone in the Land of Waves. It's not my achievement alone."

Tazuna glanced at Yami, filled with complicated emotions.

He hoped their tragic situation would spark some compassion in the boy.

Maybe not enough to cancel the tolls, but at least to lower the rate.

But Yami didn't seem moved at all.

"Hm…"

Yami rubbed his chin. "I was just wondering if we should put a second toll booth in the middle of such a long bridge. Charging just once doesn't feel right."

Thud!

Naruto and Tazuna collapsed to the ground.

"Yami-nii! Aren't you going too far? Who charges a toll twice on a bridge?!"

"Sigh, what choice do I have? I have a family to support. If I don't make money, how will I feed them?"

"Naruto, Sasuke. You two better work hard. The more you earn, the better your Sensei's life will be."

Faced with Yami's heartfelt guidance, the two boys could only nod.

Good thing neither of them cared much about money.

Sasuke even began thinking… If Yami's so short on cash, maybe I should give him part of the Uchiha estate. Would that earn me more powerful jutsu?

While he was deep in thought, Hinata suddenly called out using her Byakugan.

"Yami-kun! One kilometer ahead, two massive chakra signatures and one smaller one!"

"Enemies?!"

After their encounter with the Demon Brothers, Naruto and Sasuke had clearly matured. They immediately pulled out weapons, surrounded Tazuna, and looked to Yami for orders.

"No need to detour. We'll face them head-on. This battle is inevitable."

With Yami's command, the team moved forward.

As they entered the ambush zone, Naruto and Sasuke grew tense. The enemy, aware they'd been spotted, jumped out.

"The former Anbu who defected after a failed assassination of the Mizukage… the Demon, Momochi Zabuza."

Yami stated his identity. Naruto and Sasuke instantly tensed up.

Someone who tried to assassinate a Kage? That kind of strength was terrifying.

Zabuza rested the Executioner's Blade on his shoulder and narrowed his eyes at Yami's young face.

"To think an old man building a bridge would be guarded by Konoha's Shinigami… what a surprise."

"Well then, looks like my blade will drink the blood of another powerful opponent."

To be honest, few in the shinobi world would dare step forward after learning Yami's name.

Zabuza was one of them.

After all, he had once dared to assassinate the Mizukage and escaped afterward.

Maybe that experience gave him a sense of invincibility.

Yami wasn't surprised by his appearance.

He turned toward another tree, where a ninja stood with twin swords in hand, watching from above.

"Oh, one of the lucky survivors, huh?

(To be continued.)