Chapter 87: Izumi’s Eye-Opening Problem

That night.

The entire Uchiha clan gathered at the Naka Shrine, fiercely condemning Yami.

Uchiha Fugaku spent great effort calming everyone down, even using Sarutobi Hiruzen's words as a shield, the village will definitely punish him, so they shouldn't act too rashly.

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen also lectured for a long time.

Yami nearly fell asleep.

As for the punishment...

"Don't appear in front of the Uchiha for now. Keep a low profile. I'll publicly announce that your position as captain has been revoked, but everything within Anbu remains unchanged. Your position will be restored after a year."

Such a harsh punishment.

Yami pretended to be angry, took two cans of Hiruzen's treasured tea, and stormed off.

Hiruzen smiled helplessly and took two identical tea cans from a drawer, placing them back on the table.

In this incident, neither Danzō nor the two elders appeared, which was enough to show it wasn't considered a big deal.

On the contrary, Hiruzen was the biggest winner.

He found a way to suppress Yami's popularity, while also warning the Uchiha clan, firmly pushing the two sides into opposition.

Now he could just sit and watch from the sidelines.

Let hero fight hero, let the strong battle the strong.

But...

Hiruzen pondered Yami's words:

"Anbu represents the will of the Hokage. My words are the Hokage's words, and my rules are the Hokage's rules!"

At first glance, it wasn't wrong. Anbu indeed embodied the Hokage's will.

But when those words came from Yami's mouth, paired with his arrogant demeanor... why did Hiruzen feel so uneasy?

"Yami!"

After leaving the Hokage's office, Yami didn't return home. Instead, he stopped by next door to check on Izumi.

Seeing him return safely, little Izumi, who had been worried all night, burst into tears and hugged the boy tightly.

"It's all my fault. I dragged you into this…"

"What are you saying?"

Yami quickly comforted her, "It was that old mutt who caused trouble. It has nothing to do with you."

"No one from the Uchiha will bother you again. Don't cry, don't cry."

He regretted letting Uchiha Yomi die so easily. He should've humiliated him more, made him die of rage, to truly feel satisfied.

After a long session of gentle comfort, Izumi finally stopped crying, but she still clung to Yami and eventually fell asleep in his arms.

Seeing this, Kiyomi didn't insist on taking Izumi away.

Perhaps in her daughter's heart, only Yami could give her the greatest sense of security now.

Naka Shrine.

After the clan meeting, Shisui and Itachi stood on the cliff where Shisui often trained, looking out over the village.

"Itachi, what do you think about what happened today?"

Though still young, Itachi had awakened his two-tomoe Sharingan. Fugaku had brought him along to expand his horizons.

After a long pause, Itachi replied, "It felt... meaningless."

"The clan members are too narrow-minded. They always think only of Uchiha, without considering the villagers or the higher-ups' perspectives."

To be honest, Itachi thought Yami's actions today were a bit extreme, but he hadn't done anything wrong.

That Elder Yomi dared to say the clan came before Konoha, which showed how limited his thinking was.

What confused Itachi even more was that his father and many powerful clan members actually agreed with that statement.

Luckily, the one he trusted most, his brother Shisui, shared his views.

"Yeah, it's too narrow-minded."

Shisui smiled bitterly. "If things keep going like this, the conflict between the village and the clan will only grow worse, until it spirals out of control."

"I want to do something... but I don't know where to start."

"Brother Shisui, I'll help you."

Itachi said seriously.

"Then let's work hard together."

Shisui gently poked his forehead. "Come on, as long as we become as strong as Yami-kun, we can have a voice in the clan too."

"Yeah!"

Days passed. The conflict between Yami and the Uchiha was like a stone thrown into a still lake, it caused a few ripples, but quickly faded.

Fugaku could only accept Hiruzen's explanation.

An elder's life was exchanged for the "dismissal" of a captain. No matter how you looked at it, Uchiha had suffered a massive loss.

But Hiruzen used the excuse of carelessness and the Will of Fire to suppress it, and warned the Uchiha not to interfere in young shinobi's career choices.

In terms of scheming and manipulation, how could Fugaku match Hiruzen?

As a clan head with limited political talent, Fugaku couldn't even manage the clan's emotional volatility.

He could only swallow the loss.

Izumi's placement was also resolved.

Anbu trainee.

This was Yami's solution.

Anbu didn't require the same team formations as normal shinobi. However, Genin were technically unqualified for Anbu. So Yami used the same method as Danzō, using the Root division as an excuse to recruit promising youths, putting them through closed and intense training.

Her wish was fulfilled, and Izumi returned to her usual cheerfulness and gentleness.

Yami took her on simple D-rank missions around the village daily, catching cats and walking dogs, a leisurely routine.

But after a few days, he was summoned to the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen looked helpless, while Yami appeared confused.

"Old Man Third, what did I do now?"

Yami felt wronged. He had been behaving lately.

No killing, no fighting. Just strolling around the village with little Izumi. Why was the old man still after him?

Was he trying to provoke a rebellion?

"Yami..."

Hiruzen sighed. "Didn't I tell you to keep a low profile?"

"I've been plenty low-key." Yami slumped on the sofa.

"You parade in front of the Uchiha Police every day and call that low-key?" Hiruzen was exasperated. "You take Uchiha Izumi around the village daily. Are you just daring the Uchiha to make a move?"

"Who's making a move?" Yami asked hopefully.

Although he'd harvested some Hatred Bonds from several Uchiha that day, the Uchiha bloodline typically rewarded best in its third stage. He was worried no one would come looking for death.

Hiruzen was silent for a moment and handed over a mission scroll.

"Take this task. Think of it as a vacation. Shu, bring Mr. Asama in."

The last part was directed to the Anbu outside the room.

Hearing that familiar name, Yami opened the scroll and skimmed the contents. It immediately clicked.

So it was that country...

Soon, a middle-aged man with a beard and glasses entered.

"Hokage."

"Please have a seat, Mr. Asama."

Hiruzen greeted him kindly, then introduced Yami, "This is the shinobi for your mission, Shimura Yami. He is a jōnin of the village and will be your escort."

"The mission is to escort you and Princess Kazahana back to the Land of Snow for her birthday celebration, then return to continue your mainland journey."

The Land of Snow was a small northern island nation, covered in snow year-round. Because of its isolation, it had avoided many ninja wars.

This time, Asama Sandayū had brought Princess Kazahana on a tour of the mainland and hired local shinobi for each location.

But with her birthday approaching, they had to return temporarily before continuing their trip.

The mission itself wasn't difficult. Hiruzen simply wanted Yami to leave the village for a while, letting the Uchiha situation cool off.

"Sure, I'll take it. I can assemble my own team, right?"

Yami had been planning to explore outside anyway. Heading to the Land of Snow required going by sea, something he'd never experienced since arriving in this world.

Hiruzen nodded. "Do as you see fit."

"..."

The two quickly settled the matter, but Asama looked confused.

This boy... looked about the same age as the princess. Was he escorting them, or was he the one needing protection?

"Mr. Asama, you may not know."

Hiruzen smiled. "Though Yami looks young, he's a jōnin and has made great contributions to Konoha."

"I guarantee, in the name of the Hokage, your safety is assured as long as he's around."

Asama stared in surprise. He didn't understand shinobi politics, but he at least knew the ranks.

Being a Konoha jōnin was no joke.

"I'm sorry, Yami-san. I shouldn't have doubted you based on your age."

Yami waved it off. "It's fine, totally understandable."

At least this guy was polite and quick to apologize. If he'd been rude, Yami wouldn't have accepted the mission at all.

They agreed on a meeting time and location for the next day, and Yami returned home.

That evening, Kurenai and Yugao came for dinner. Yami informed them of the mission.

"I plan to take you two and Izumi. Think of it as a mini vacation."

"Yami-sama, I want to go too!" little Karin raised her hand eagerly while eating.

"Karin."

Uzumaki Misa gently pulled her hand down. "Don't trouble Yami-sama."

Karin pouted. Yami smiled and patted her head.

"You're still too young. When you're older, I'll take you on missions."

"Okay." Though disappointed, Karin didn't argue and quietly agreed.

"I'm not going."

After thinking for a moment, Kurenai sighed. "Who will manage Anbu's affairs if we all leave?"

"Just let Kakashi do it," Yami said nonchalantly.

"Kakashi's on leave. He's been practicing Summoning Technique every day lately. Not sure what's going on with him."

"..."

Yami genuinely didn't know. After all, he was a hands-off boss and left everything to Kurenai.

"Next time then. You two go this time. I don't like cold places anyway."

"Alright." Yami didn't insist.

In the end, the mission team for the Land of Snow consisted of Yami, Yugao, and Izumi.

He had originally planned to bring Pakura, but after thinking it over, Yami decided to leave one powerhouse in the village just in case.

He'd take Pakura next time.

The next day, outside the hotel, Yami and his team met Asama and Princess Kazahana.

The princess wore a purple kimono and had her hair in a simple bun. She looked around eight or nine years old, her face still round and babyish, like a perfectly crafted porcelain doll.

"Wow... the princess is so cute," Izumi softly exclaimed.

She had been too excited to sleep the night before, thrilled at the chance to protect a real princess.

She'd read countless fairy tales about princesses but never met one. Kazahana was exactly how she imagined.

"Thank you. You're very cute too." Kazahana smiled shyly and gave a proper aristocratic bow.

"Please take care of me on the journey."

"Alright, let's go." Yami nodded and looked at Asama.

"Understood. Let's depart." Asama helped Kazahana and a maid into the carriage, then drove it himself as they slowly left Konoha.

To reach the Land of Snow from Konoha, they first had to travel east to the port.

If they moved at ninja speed, they'd arrive in two days, but this was an escort mission. For comfort, Asama drove the carriage at a slow pace.

So the journey took half a month, stopping frequently.

Due to their age and the slow pace, Izumi and Kazahana quickly became good friends.

The princess revealed her lively side and became more cheerful around Izumi.

"Izumi, is Yami really as amazing as you say?"

"Of course." In the carriage, Izumi patted her chest. "Yami is Konoha's most outstanding genius. He helped win the war. The Land of Lightning even calls him the 'Konoha Shinigami'."

"Konoha Shinigami..."

Kazahana peeked at Yami, who was walking beside the carriage, growing more curious.

How did someone that good-looking earn the name "Shinigami"?

"Yami, what are you thinking about?"

Yugao's gentle voice reached his ears, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Nothing. I'm just wondering how to help Izumi awaken her eyes…"

Yami had been thinking about this a lot lately.

It felt like Izumi was... being protected too well. There was still no sign of awakening her Sharingan.

Even after the emotional shock from Uchiha Yomi, there had been no change.

While he'd always protect her, accidents happen. Strength was the best defense.

His goal for Izumi was to reach Three Tomoe. No need for Mangekyō. As long as she could reach Elite Jōnin level, that would be enough.

(To be continued.)

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