RADG: Chapter 110/111

Chapter 110: You Don’t Want Sasuke to Live in Such Pain, Right?

Yami caught Koyuki Kazahana as she flew into his arms and spun her around once, causing the girl to giggle.

Now thirteen, Koyuki was already older than Yami.

The former princess-like child had grown into a proper young woman.

The elegance cultivated in the palace since childhood had become even more prominent.

When she was calm and composed, she truly looked like a flawless noble princess.

"You're getting more and more beautiful."

"Yami-sama…"

Koyuki's face flushed red, but she still held tightly to Yami's hand.

Looking around and finding himself alone, he asked curiously, "Where are Izumi and Yugao?"

"They didn't come. I'm here on serious business this time. I'll bring them to vacation in a few months."

"Oh, I see. How long does Yami-sama plan to stay this time?"

"About ten days. There are a lot of things going on in the village."

"Only ten days…"

Koyuki lowered her head in disappointment.

Sōsetsu could only sigh.

Since his daughter entered the room, she hadn't even looked at him or greeted him once. Her eyes and heart were completely focused on this black-haired… brat.

Seeing the two talk nonstop, Sōsetsu intentionally coughed loudly and said sternly, "Koyuki, Lord Yami has important matters to attend to. Don't delay him."

"Okay."

Koyuki responded reluctantly but knew what was appropriate. She agreed with Yami to meet again in a few days, then cheerfully skipped away.

Soon after, Yami also left the palace, followed Asama to the warehouse to retrieve some supplies, and went to meet with Shisui and the others before heading to Snow Ninja Village.

After an afternoon of cleaning and clearing, the village was finally livable again.

"This will be your temporary home."

Yami addressed everyone. "I know you want to return to Konoha and take revenge, but you are too weak right now. Going back would just be suicide. I'm leaving Shisui here. You'll train with him over the next few years. Once you reach three tomoe, you can return to the main continent and join my forces."

Except for a few elderly individuals, the rest of the Uchiha—young teens, fathers, and daughters alike—had fighting spirit in their eyes.

"As for your names, I don't want to remember them. Forget them. Consider yourselves already dead the night of the massacre."

"From now on, you will be ranked by strength, from U-1 to U-20. Anyone below that doesn't even deserve a codename."

All the surviving Uchiha nodded in obedience.

Arrogance had long been the synonym of the Uchiha. Even civilians among them tended to be prideful and aggressive. But now, after the price paid in blood and lives, all that pride and resistance was redirected toward their hatred for Itachi and now they listened to Yami without question.

After arranging the accommodations, Yami stepped outside the village. Shisui looked in a certain direction and silently followed him.

The two arrived on a hill not far from the village, where a Root ninja wearing a mask was waiting.

"This is Owl, the Root team captain stationed in the Land of Snow. Shisui, you should know him. Oh, by the way… you saw each other last time during your 'chase,' didn't you?"

Faced with Yami's introduction, both Shisui and Owl remained silent.

Owl had indeed been one of those ordered to hunt down Shisui and had even been the one who released the poison mist that wounded him.

But today, he finally realized that Shisui had survived.

And it seemed it had been Yami's doing.

He wondered how furious their leader Danzō would be if he found out.

What shocked him even more…

Owl looked down at the Snow Ninja Village. The long-silent settlement was now lit up again with lamps and life.

"Lord Yami, what's going on with those Uchiha?"

Root had its own communication channels. Even this far out in the Land of Snow, Owl knew about what had happened in Konoha.

Wasn't Uchiha Sasuke supposed to be the only survivor?

Where did all these people suddenly come from?

"You came at the right time. Even if you didn't, I would've called for you."

Yami smiled kindly. But to Owl, that smile was a red flag. The more this young master smiled, the more dangerous it meant things were.

"I saved these Uchiha and Shisui. The old man had no idea."

"I trust you're not the type to snitch, right, Owl?"

"…"

Owl lowered his head awkwardly.

The number one iron rule of Root was absolute loyalty to its leader. Betrayal was punished by death. This priority even surpassed completing missions.

Yami's words had put him in an impossible situation.

"Don't worry." Yami patted his shoulder. "Once I return, I'll take over your team's command. It won't be considered a violation of the Tenth Rule."

"But before then, if you tell anyone..."

Yami's smile turned chilling. "Uncle Shinji, you wouldn't want Yugao to suffer because you crossed me, right?"

Owl, whose real name was Uzuki Shinji, was Yugao's uncle.

He had been rescued by Danzō during the Third Shinobi World War and became a Root operative with a hidden identity.

It was only with Yami's help that he had been allowed to reconnect with his family.

This threat held real weight for him. Shinji's elder brother had treated him well, teaching him all his ninjutsu and swordsmanship. Naturally, if he had the ability, Shinji wanted to care for Yugao.

"Lord Yami."

Shinji said awkwardly, "Even if I agree to keep quiet, the Root team here rotates out. I still have over half a year left before returning to Konoha. Sooner or later, this will be discovered."

"Doesn't matter. I planned for that."

Yami waved dismissively, looking completely confident. "From now on, your team is permanently stationed in the Land of Snow. Five years."

"I'll bring Yugao to visit you during vacation."

Shisui lowered his head, the corners of his mouth twitching.

As expected, this approach was very Yami-like.

Simple, direct, rough—but undeniably effective.

He just didn't care how others felt. It was pure dominance.

Shinji was numb.

He had only wanted an excuse to decline, yet somehow got dragged into a five-year exile in the snowy wilderness.

Yami had already made up his mind.

No matter how much Shinji argued, it was pointless.

All he could do was sigh at the sky and accept his fate.

Back in the City, Yami moved into the same mansion as during his last visit.

After a simple wash, he went to sleep.

The next morning, just after waking up, Koyuki arrived with breakfast alongside a palace attendant.

Since she had already come, Yami could only pause his current affairs and accompany her for a day around the city.

That night, he sent the tired but happy girl back to the palace.

Although Koyuki had begun to learn Chakra and could barely be called a ninja, she clearly lacked talent in the shinobi arts. Her Chakra was at the level of an ordinary person, and her physical endurance wasn't much better.

Yami began considering methods to help those around him improve their potential.

Takamagahara Divine Realm.

A sealed scroll slowly unfurled, and the unconscious Uchiha Mikoto was released.

The first time had been new. The second time, Yami was already familiar.

He had become quite adept at storing people in sealed scrolls.

As his most special "trophy" from the night of the massacre, Uchiha Mikoto naturally couldn't be placed with the rest. She required her own, careful "training."

A few minutes after being released, Mikoto awoke.

"Shimura?!"

Seeing Yami beside her, the elegant woman was startled and took a few steps back instinctively.

"Let's get the situation straight first, then we can talk."

Yami cast a Body Binding Technique, and Mikoto froze in place.

The memories from before she lost consciousness came rushing back.

Dust Release hadn't hit her directly. Instead, someone had passed by under the cover of the blast, knocked her out, and stuffed her into the shadows. Before blacking out, she had seen that person transform into her and kneel at the scene.

"You saved me… Yami?" Mikoto murmured.

Then her expression turned anxious again. "How's Itachi? And Sasuke? Is Sasuke still alive?"

"Uchiha Itachi has been declared an S-rank missing-nin by Konoha. As for Sasuke, he survived by trading the lives of your entire clan. Nothing will happen to him."

Yami didn't hide anything. Mikoto would learn it all eventually anyway.

"That's… that's good."

Hearing her youngest son was still alive, Mikoto nearly cried with relief.

Yami smiled faintly. "Mikoto-san, is that really 'good'?"

"You're alive, but Fugaku is dead. What do you think he'd look like now, facing all those slaughtered clan members in the Pure Land?"

Mikoto's face turned pale.

Yami continued calmly, "Also, Itachi never told Sasuke the truth. Right now, the one Sasuke hates the most is his brother. The two are destined to try and kill each other."

"To obtain power equal to the Mangekyō Sharingan, Sasuke will inevitably take an extreme path. There's a high chance he'll betray the village or even kill his comrades just to awaken it."

"When that time comes, I'll tell him the truth behind his survival. What do you think his mindset will be?"

As Yami spoke, Mikoto trembled. Her heart filled with panic.

She could fully imagine how devastated Sasuke would be—bearing the blood debt of hundreds of clan members, only to learn his brother did it all for him.

To gain strength, he would have distanced himself from everyone, walking a path of pain and loneliness.

By then, the whole world would be his enemy.

The mere thought of Sasuke's future pain and confusion made Mikoto feel suffocated.

Plop!

Mikoto dropped to her knees.

"Please… please don't let that happen. They're brothers."

"I'm willing to have Sasuke give up revenge. He doesn't need to be a ninja. I just want him to live a peaceful, happy life."

"Tch."

Yami smirked. "Another Uchiha trait—always deciding other people's fates under the guise of doing what's best for them."

"Itachi did that. And now, so are you."

"But have you ever thought about what Sasuke himself wants?"

Mikoto froze on the floor.

"He watched his brother murder his parents and massacre their clan. That's a blood feud. Do you think he can just let it go with a word?"

"Besides..."

Yami waved his hand, and the space around them shifted, revealing an outside scene.

"Take a look."

Mikoto raised her head at his signal.

Before her was a small village, barely a hundred houses, with only twenty or so lit up.

"Where is this?"

"Let's go in and find out."

Yami led her through Takamagahara.

The outside world couldn't detect their presence, but they could see everything clearly.

Their incorporeal forms passed through the wooden door, entering a courtyard.

Two children, a boy and a girl, were refining chakra in the snowy yard.

Despite the wind and snow, they remained unmoving, training their mental focus under harsh conditions.

Seeing their faces clearly, Mikoto covered her mouth in shock. "Asami, Fuuji?!"

Mikoto recognized nearly everyone—and instantly identified them.

What was going on? Didn't Itachi wipe out the clan? Why were these two still alive?

"Asami, Fuuji, take a break. Come in for dinner."

An elderly woman stepped out, and Mikoto recognized her as well.

"Sumi-san..."

"Forty-two survivors in total. Including Shisui, forty-three."

"I'm a good person. Sometimes, I'm just too soft-hearted. These are all orphans I rescued during the massacre."

Yami leaned close and whispered in her ear, "They want Itachi dead. And they want Sasuke dead too. Tell me... can Sasuke still live in peace?"

"I... I'll atone with my life."

It was the only way Mikoto could think of. She would sacrifice herself for her son.

"...You really overestimate your value."

Yami shook his head. "If someone killed your entire family and then sent someone else to die in their place to 'atone,' would you forgive them?"

"Sasuke's only hope to live a normal life… lies with me."

"On one side, he bears the sins of the entire world. On the other, he has the bonds to earn his clan's forgiveness."

Yami waved his hand, closing the outside view. His smile was gentle.

But his words chilled Mikoto to the bone.

"Mikoto-san, you don't want your son to suffer more, do you?"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 111: Yami’s Request

While Yami was planning things in the Land of Snow, Uchiha Itachi had recovered from his injuries and arrived in the Land of Rain as agreed with the masked man.

Although he had survived, Itachi was still weighed down by a heavy heart.

He realized that the toll Susanoo took on the Mangekyō was devastating.

Since awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan, he had rarely used its power. Yet just activating Susanoo once was equivalent to using Amaterasu dozens of times.

He was now seeing double when looking at the roadside trees.

Blindness was only one side effect. What was more serious was the damage Mangekyō was doing to his body.

His body couldn't sustain such overwhelming pupil power.

If this continued, he wasn't even sure he could survive until Sasuke grew up and awakened his own Mangekyō.

He felt a growing sense of urgency.

If he died before Sasuke matured, everything would be meaningless.

He decided he needed to rest for a few years and take care of his health.

Itachi arrived at one of Akatsuki's bases in the Land of Rain.

Pein, who possessed the Rinnegan, sensed Itachi's approach and waited with several Akatsuki members.

When Uchiha Itachi stepped into the light wearing his Anbu gear and slowly removed his mask, Orochimaru, who stood not far from Pein, was momentarily stunned. Then, a smile curled at his lips.

"Uchiha Itachi…"

It had been ten days since the night of the massacre—plenty of time for the news to spread.

The entire ninja world knew what Uchiha Itachi had done. He had destroyed the powerful Uchiha clan, which had rivaled even the Senju in its prime. Everyone was stunned.

People feared his ruthlessness and power alike.

Orochimaru had, of course, heard of it. He had once had a deep conversation with Itachi when the boy was just four or five years old. Even back then, the child had left an impression on him.

Now, staring into those scarlet eyes, Orochimaru licked his lips with excitement.

To kill so many of his own clan, those eyes must hold incredible power.

Itachi immediately sensed Orochimaru's hostility. He frowned, but didn't attack. Instead, he nodded at the Rinnegan-wielding leader.

"I am Uchiha Itachi, a missing-nin from Konoha. I heard this organization accepts S-rank missing-nin, so I've come."

Pain had already communicated with 'Madara' and nodded impassively.

"You seem late. It's been a while since the massacre. Can you tell me where you've been?"

Pain had always harbored suspicions about 'Madara's' identity and intentions. The two were in a mutual-use relationship.

And this Uchiha Itachi had been recommended by 'Madara', so he was naturally on guard and probing.

Itachi lowered his eyes. "After I escaped from the village, Shimura Yami caught up to me and we fought. I've been recovering from my injuries these past few days."

"Shimura Yami…"

Pain paused at the name. "The so-called 'Konoha Shinigami'? Did you win?"

"Yes, it was him. No, I didn't win," Itachi admitted calmly. "Shimura Yami has almost no weaknesses. He's a powerful opponent. I barely escaped."

This wasn't flattery, but an explanation of how he had managed to escape.

Itachi believed all ninjutsu had weaknesses, and the same applied to shinobi.

But the existence of Shimura Yami proved that while perfect jutsu may not exist, perfect shinobi could and such shinobi could use their strength to cover their jutsu's flaws.

Carrying his Executioner's Blade, Biwa Jūzō sighed, "Konoha really does produce an endless stream of geniuses."

He recalled the unknown genin who had once reduced the number of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

Orochimaru agreed with Jūzō's remark and even sneered, "Indeed… But he should be most grateful for the name 'Shimura'."

Though he had never met Yami, Orochimaru remembered him.

After all, Danzō had pressured him into handing over a Kusanagi sword, which he gifted to Yami as a birthday present.

He hadn't expected that kid to rise so high.

Pain silently took note of the name Shimura Yami. This one was a real threat.

Then he pulled out a ring and handed it to Uchiha Itachi.

"From now on, you're an official member of Akatsuki. In a few days, Konan will bring you your uniform."

"Everyone in Akatsuki works in pairs. Your partner will be Biwa Jūzō. Ask him if you have questions."

With that, Pain turned and disappeared into the shadows.

With the aid of his Sharingan, Itachi saw clearly that Pain didn't walk—he flew.

"Itachi-kun, please take care of me," Orochimaru licked his lips, then followed his partner, Sasori, out of the base.

In the now-empty room, only Biwa Jūzō and Uchiha Itachi remained.

"Hey, rookie."

Jūzō walked over, glanced at the exit, and whispered, "Orochimaru's dangerous. He seems interested in you. Be careful. I don't want to lose another partner so soon."

Itachi nodded silently. "I'll be cautious."

Jūzō's warning surprised him.

In an organization full of dangerous missing-nin, could there still be someone this sincere?

Donning Akatsuki's iconic red cloud cloak, Itachi walked slowly along the long corridor, thinking about what he'd learned.

Orochimaru, Biwa Jūzō, and Orochimaru's partner—likely the Red Sand Scorpion from Sunagakure.

The leader was Pain, and Konan acted as the messenger.

These were all powerful shinobi, many of them Kage-level.

What was their purpose? What missions would the leader assign them? These were things Itachi needed to find out.

As for whether he would report this to Konoha, that would depend on the situation.

He just wanted to stay low for a few years, until Sasuke grew up.

As Itachi was lost in thought, a massive snake as thick as an arm suddenly shot out from behind him and bound him tightly.

"I used to think the Sharingan was just common… After all, the Uchiha clan had at least eighty members who awakened it."

Orochimaru appeared behind Itachi, a sly grin on his face. "But you… you've given me a pleasant surprise. The Sharingan is now rare in the ninja world."

"You must've awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan after killing your entire clan?"

"Orochimaru, what are you trying to say?"

Though bound, Itachi remained calm and composed.

"I need your help," Orochimaru said with a chuckle. "Your perfect body and perfect eyes, what a waste to leave them with you. Give them to me. I'll make sure they're properly used… even improved."

Itachi's scarlet eyes glowed, pupil power surging.

Orochimaru suddenly felt a stabbing pain in his mind. Something was wrong.

The world around him shifted. He saw Itachi towering over him, several thick spikes pinning his body in place.

It had all been an illusion.

Orochimaru wasn't horrified—he was ecstatic.

"Amazing… to trap me in genjutsu so silently. Such powerful eyes…"

Just as Orochimaru tried to form a hand seal, Itachi slashed off one of his arms.

"So fast!"

Orochimaru clutched his bleeding stump, stunned. He hadn't expected genjutsu to affect him so severely.

"Orochimaru, all your jutsu are useless before my eyes."

Effortlessly subduing one of the Sannin, Itachi acted as though he had just taken a walk. His expression was unchanged.

"But… you've helped me in a way."

Itachi's lips curled faintly. "Losing to Yami made me question my strength. But now, I realize the problem isn't me—it's him. You are the norm in this world."

With no intent to kill, Itachi turned and walked back toward the base.

He wanted to report Orochimaru's actions to Pain.

It might seem childish, like tattling—but Itachi wanted to take the opportunity to gauge Pain's reaction. If he got lucky, he might even get to see him in action.

The illusion hadn't worn off yet. Orochimaru stared at Itachi's back, eyes filled with greed, fear, and killing intent.

This defeat revealed his weakness—genjutsu.

It wasn't that his resistance was poor, but that Itachi's illusion was simply overwhelming.

Was this the true power of the Sharingan?

At that moment, Orochimaru's desire for the Sharingan turned into obsession.

As soon as the paralysis ended, he fled the Akatsuki base with his severed arm.

Orochimaru knew Pain wouldn't tolerate an attack on his comrades. Escaping now was the smartest choice.

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. Yami left the Land of Snow, with Koyuki reluctant to see him go.

This time, he used the Light Weight Rock Technique to fly directly back to the mainland. It only took two days.

By now, the village had mostly settled down.

The world moved on as if nothing had happened. Other than Uchiha Sasuke being discharged from the hospital and returning to the academy, no one was talking about the Uchiha massacre anymore.

No other clan had produced a "genius" like Uchiha Itachi.

Back in Konoha, Yami first strolled through the Anbu offices, signed some urgent documents, and then headed to the Root base.

"Old man, did Hiruzen give you any trouble?"

Yami asked casually.

After their confrontation in the Hokage's office, he had become an uncontrollable factor, just like the Uchiha had been.

But Hiruzen hadn't acted since backing down, which was suspicious.

Danzō, however, didn't seem worried.

"You don't understand Hiruzen. He never does things impulsively."

He took a sip of tea, then slowly set the cup down, his one eye reflecting nostalgia.

"When the Second Hokage died, Hiruzen was selected to succeed him. But do you know when he actually became Hokage?"

"At the time, the village system was still immature. The major clans held more power than the village itself. Orders from elders were more effective than those from Hokage."

"We spent three years. He divided and promoted the younger generation in public, while I secretly assassinated, spied, and gathered evidence. Only then did he officially take the title."

Danzō snorted. "That's how he's always been—upright on the surface, leaving the dirty work to me. It's been decades, and he hasn't changed."

"You don't need to worry. With our current power, he won't dare try anything underhanded."

"Fine, you know him best. I'll take your word for it."

Yami nodded and pulled a large jar of Sharingan from his Scroll of Seals.

"I've been so busy I forgot to give you these."

Danzō's eyes gleamed. He carefully took the jar and did a quick count—more than thirty Sharingan.

"The rest were taken by 'Madara'?"

Danzō was furious at the thought of someone stealing his spoils.

"He took all the ones from the Police Force. Those were better quality."

Yami replied indifferently, "Anyway, you're just using them for emergencies. Don't be so picky."

Danzō didn't argue. He sent the jar to a secret chamber behind him.

Seeing that Yami wasn't leaving, Danzō raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Usually, Yami would never linger at Root. He always acted like the air here was toxic. Today, he was sitting around sipping tea—definitely suspicious.

"Nothing. I just wanted to ask where the records from the Warring States period are stored in the village."

Danzō narrowed his eye. "Why?"

Yami answered directly, "I found some leads about that era. I want to verify them. Preferably, I need the genealogies of the Sarutobi and Senju clans. The more detailed, the better."

He didn't say what secrets he was after, and Danzō didn't ask.

"Each clan keeps their own records. But the Senju clan's situation is unique. Their archives are stored in the village's restricted section. Do you want me to fetch them?"

"No. To avoid catching the attention of the old man, I'll get them myself."

Danzō nodded. "Just be careful not to leave any traces."

Yami vanished.

That midnight, he moved through the shadows and entered the restricted archives without alerting a single guard.

Many scrolls here were rigged with seals. Touching them without permission would trigger alarms.

Orochimaru had once been caught here.

But Yami had his own methods. Using Takamagahara, he absorbed the scrolls into his space the moment he touched them. The spatial buffer rendered the traps useless.

After storing all the Senju clan's ledgers, diaries, and biographies, Yami began to search.

He was reading Senju records…

But he was looking for someone tied to the Uchiha.

(To be continued.)