Chapter 84: Accepting Samui as a Retainer (BONUS)

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After a few days of slacking off, Yami was finally pulled out by Hiruzen to lead his team and carry out missions.

Recently, Konoha had been overwhelmed with tasks. The shinobi who had just returned from the battlefield did not even get a break. The very next day, they were back to their usual routine, working like cattle and horses.

It was good enough that Yami got to rest for a few days.

To improve efficiency, Yami only accepted assassination and cleanup-type missions this time. He left the village with five A-rank missions at once.

Samui had been released by him, but the chakra in her body was sealed with the Four Symbols Seal and the Five Elements Seal. Most of her physical strength was also sealed by other means.

With most of her power suppressed, even if she retained her swordsmanship experience, she could not display much of her strength.

However, Samui showed no intention of resisting. Perhaps because Yami had told her that Kumo's shinobi would be coming soon to retrieve her, she still held onto hope.

Half a month later, Yami returned to Konoha.

Right after his return, the Kumo delegation arrived.

This time, the Kumo delegation was led by Dodai, with Mabui as his deputy. Compared to their previous so-called negotiation team, the level of this delegation was much higher.

The last delegation had been nothing more than cannon fodder, sent to create an excuse for Kumo to stir up conflict and extort compensation.

Who would have thought they would end up hurting themselves instead of getting any advantage?

Wanting to maintain pressure and deterrence during the negotiations, Hiruzen specifically invited Yami to attend.

When Dodai and the others saw the "Konoha Shinigami" appear, their eyes were filled with hatred.

But they suppressed it.

They had plenty of reasons to hate him, but no means to retaliate.

"Since everyone is here, let's begin."

Hiruzen smiled, his pipe held in his mouth, clearly very satisfied with the current situation.

"Konoha's demands are not excessive. We only require Kumo to pay three billion ryō as compensation for Konoha's losses during the war. Beyond that, we will not pursue other responsibilities."

"Impossible." Mabui, the dark-skinned girl, immediately protested. "Hokage-sama, we came here with sincerity. Why are your demands so high?"

The finances of the major shinobi villages generally came from several sources.

First was the mission commissions. In Konoha's case, the annual income from missions was about one billion ryō, thanks to the Land of Fire's highly developed trade and large number of employed shinobi.

Other countries made significantly less from missions.

Second was the allocation from the daimyo. In name, the shinobi village was part of the country's military force, and the Kage acted as the Minister of Arms. Naturally, the daimyo provided funding each year, roughly equivalent to the mission income.

Lastly, there were taxes and rent. Konoha had full control over the taxes from local businesses, which made up a large portion of its revenue.

Even so, three billion ryō was nearly equivalent to Kumo's entire annual budget.

"Hokage-sama."

Dodai forced himself to remain calm as he spoke. "Konoha lost fewer than a hundred shinobi in this war, while Kumo lost nearly a thousand. Konoha Shinigami even destroyed our village…"

"Hold on."

Yami interrupted coldly. "That destruction was caused by your own Eight Tails Jinchūriki. I only redirected his attack. Don't put the blame on me."

Dodai's clenched fists trembled under the table, his nails digging into his palms.

"But even so, with Kumo needing to rebuild the village, do you really think we have enough funds to pay this compensation?"

"You can pay in installments. Konoha isn't unreasonable. We're not trying to force you to your grave."

Mitokado Homura, who had remained calm throughout, finally spoke, and Dodai could only grit his teeth in frustration.

He deeply regretted not opposing the hardliners in Kumo who pushed for this war months ago.

Losing on the battlefield meant being completely suppressed during negotiations.

As expected… the weak have no voice in diplomacy.

Yami had no interest in the rest of the negotiations. His presence was simply there for intimidation.

After taking several naps and waking up repeatedly, the sun had already set outside by the time both sides reached a preliminary agreement of 1.5 billion ryō.

"I won't be coming tomorrow. This is way too boring."

Yami yawned and was just about to leave when Mabui blocked his path at the door.

"Please wait!"

"What is it?" The boy raised an eyebrow. Although Mabui looked decent, dark skin wasn't his preference.

Mabui took a deep breath. "Yami-san, the war is over, and the peace talks are progressing well. Shouldn't you release Samui?"

"No." Yami refused without hesitation.

"Your Kumo envoy dared to invade my home. You should have been prepared for retaliation. Samui is my prize."

"I almost forgot about it until you reminded me."

The boy suddenly smiled. "No matter what method you use, make Samui my retainer."

"Otherwise… I'll visit Kumo every year to collect some 'local specialties.' If you think your space barrier can always stay active, go ahead and try."

Ignoring the dark expressions of Mabui and Dodai, Yami used Flying Thunder God to instantly teleport back home.

"Hokage-sama, the shinobi of your village are too arrogant!" Dodai tried to complain, but Hiruzen only smiled calmly.

"Geniuses are allowed certain privileges."

"Yami comes from a good family, has outstanding talent, and has never experienced real setbacks. Naturally, he is a bit proud and willful."

"Don't expect me to interfere. I, this old man, still value my life too much."

With that, Hiruzen walked out of the Hokage building with the gentle smile of a kindly old man.

Several days passed. Samui remained hopeful that the Kumo delegation would take her home. Yami was also curious to see if Kumo would truly risk their pride for her.

In the end, Yami won the bet.

"Mabui! Are you here to take me home?"

When Samui saw her best friend arrive at Yami's house, her face lit up with hope.

"Samui…"

Mabui forced a smile. "I'm glad to see you're alright. Don't worry, your parents and brother are safe. They were already discharged from the hospital before we left."

Hearing that her family was unharmed, Samui visibly relaxed, her expression softening.

"Let's go."

She glared at Yami, ready to leave.

But at that moment, Pakura appeared silently behind them, releasing an intense killing intent that made both women instinctively step back.

What terrifying pressure. What strength.

Mabui's hands trembled slightly as she reluctantly took out a scroll, committing Pakura's appearance and strength to memory. She would be sure to report this to the Fourth Raikage.

"Samui, this is a letter from Raikage-sama. Please read it first."

Samui accepted the letter with a smile, but as she read, her expression quickly changed to shock, then to despair.

"Mabui… is this true?"

"I'm sorry, Samui." Mabui could not meet Samui's eyes.

"For the sake of Kumo, Raikage-sama had to make this decision. But don't worry, we will find a way to bring you back someday."

"Raikage-sama has decided to take your brother as his disciple. Your family will not be mistreated…"

"So there's still a chance…"

Samui let out a bitter laugh. "I understand."

"For the sake of Kumo, I agree."

She knelt down before Yami, drew her Short Sword, and sliced a thin cut across her arm.

As blood dripped down, Samui spoke in a calm, emotionless voice.

"Samui willingly pledges herself as a retainer of the Shimura clan. Please accept my loyalty, Master Yami."

"Samui!" Mabui's face turned pale.

Retainers were traditionally servants of the noble class, originally derived from the samurai system. Although shinobi evolved separately, many nobles still viewed having shinobi retainers as a status symbol.

The Guardian Twelve Shinobi, for example, were retainers of the daimyo of the Land of Fire.

This was why so many people had resented Asuma after he left the Guardian Twelve. Abandoning one's retainer position was considered extreme disloyalty.

Mabui did not know what price the Third Hokage had paid to bring his son back to Konoha.

Now, Samui had sworn a blood oath, similar to a death contract with Yami. Even if Kumo tried to trade for her release in the future, she would never leave.

"I accept your loyalty."

Yami took her Short Sword, pricked his fingertip, and touched Samui's forehead with the blood.

As the ceremony concluded, Uzumaki Misa immediately stepped forward. First, she stopped Yami's bleeding, then tended to Samui's wound.

Misa had been learning medical ninjutsu recently, and her healing skills were already quite proficient.

"Take care of yourself."

Seeing that Kumo had abandoned Samui, Mabui could say no more. She turned and left quickly.

Yami made no move to see her off but called after her.

"If you want to give me a gift next time, send an assassin after me."

"Otherwise, I really have no reason to visit your village again."

Mabui nearly tripped as she stumbled away, her back looking more and more pathetic.

Two days later, Kumo and Konoha reached a final agreement.

Kumo would pay one billion ryō in war reparations over five years and provide 500 kilograms of chakra-conductive "thunder meteorite" metal each year.

Additionally, Samui officially became a retainer of the Shimura clan. One of the conditions was that Yami was not allowed to approach within 100 kilometers of Kumo unless Kumo provoked Konoha first.

Yami scoffed at this condition.

He would not go back to that barren place, even if invited.

Samui seemed to have fully accepted her fate. Though still quiet, she carried out Yami's orders without fail.

She even helped Misa with housework, giving her more time to focus on medical ninjutsu and childcare.

A month later, Yami was officially appointed as Anbu captain.

Orders were also issued for Yugao and Kurenai to join Anbu.

That morning, after the three of them finished breakfast, they arrived early at the training grounds for the Third Anbu Battalion.

The Anbu members had already been informed that they would be welcoming a new captain today.

Inside the wide training hall, when Yami walked in with the two women, all four Anbu squads stood neatly in formation, masked and silent.

Yami recalled how Uchiha Itachi's entry into Anbu at age eleven had stirred discontent. Many had doubted his strength and even tried to scare him off.

So why was everyone so quiet now?

If these Anbu members knew what he was thinking, they would only cry out in frustration.

Itachi had entered with the label of "genius." But everyone in Anbu was a genius. Naturally, they refused to submit.

But Yami was known as the God of Killing.

Refuse to obey?

The hundreds of Kumo corpses were reason enough to submit.

"Remove your masks. Let me see your faces."

Following Yami's command, the sixteen Anbu members, including Kakashi, all removed their masks.

Kakashi's feelings were complicated.

This kid had truly become his superior.

Yami merely glanced at him and did not dwell on it. His gaze swept over the others: members of the Aburame clan, Yamanaka clan, and others.

Finally, his eyes stopped on one square-faced shinobi, and he slowly approached.

"Are you Yamato?"

Yamato was startled but nodded. "Reporting to the captain. My code name is Yamato."

"But I think… the name 'A' suits you better."

Yamato's expression changed slightly.

Yami smiled. "I've heard quite a bit about you from the old man."

Yamato—original code name: A.

The only successful product of the cooperation between Root and Orochimaru, inheritor of the Wood Release bloodline limit.

During a mission to assassinate the Hokage, he was persuaded by Kakashi and forcibly taken in by the Third Hokage, becoming his subordinate.

Yami never cared about right or wrong—only about which side people stood on.

From Kakashi and Hiruzen's point of view, they had saved Yamato from a life of suffering.

But from Yami and Danzō's perspective, it was nothing more than theft of a precious experimental subject.

Feeling the murderous aura directed at him, Yamato's back was drenched in cold sweat.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes, sensing Yami's hostility. He spoke up.

"Captain Yami…"

"Did you just speak?"

The boy's voice was still youthful, but his cold glance made Kakashi's words stick in his throat.

Strength. Presence. Courage.

So what if he was young?

Yami already had the bearing of a true powerhouse.

Kakashi, who had once been paralyzed by Orochimaru's killing intent, now found himself similarly suppressed by Yami.

"Relax."

Yami reached up to pat Yamato's shoulder. Due to the height difference, he had to stretch a bit, making the scene look slightly comical.

But no one dared laugh.

"I won't kill you now," Yami said softly. "Just make sure you never give me a reason to."

"Because if you do…"

"It will be hard to survive once you fall into my hands."

Seeing Yamato's body trembling slightly, Yami smiled faintly and walked toward the captain's office at the end of the training ground.

"The rest of you, dismissed. Kakashi, stay."

(To be continued.)

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