Walking into the Hokage's office, Yami greeted the people inside and casually sat down on the sofa.
"What did you call me here for?"
"Of course, it's good news."
After the victory in the war with minimal losses, Hiruzen's smile had not faded.
"You are the great hero of this war, so naturally, you should be rewarded according to your merits."
Yami looked at Hiruzen, curious about what kind of benefits he planned to offer.
"From today, you will be officially recognized as a Jōnin of the village. This battle will be logged as ten S-rank missions in your record. You can collect the corresponding bonus and merit points later."
Hiruzen did not keep him guessing and directly shared the final result of their discussions.
"I also heard from Shikaku that you are quite interested in Anbu work. I was initially against letting someone so young enter Anbu."
"However, Danzō believes you are suitable. So, I will make an exception this time."
Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe and announced solemnly, "Yami, in the name of the Hokage, I appoint you as the captain of the Third Brigade of Anbu. Your primary responsibilities will be Konoha's border defense, barrier security, and handling spies infiltrating from other villages."
"Hmm…" Yami rubbed his chin. "I want to ask, is Kakashi in the Third Brigade?"
"If not, can I switch brigades?"
Hiruzen's face twitched slightly. At this moment, Danzō spoke.
"Hatake Kakashi is currently the captain of the second squad of the Third Brigade. His prestige is not low, and many believed he would become the next captain."
"But now, this position belongs to you."
"If you feel the subordinates there are not loyal enough, you can bring a few people from Root. I believe… with the Hokage's broad-mindedness, he wouldn't object to something so trivial, right?"
Hiruzen frowned.
Now that the matter was already out in the open, how could he refuse?
Root and Anbu were not supposed to interfere with each other. Was Danzō planning to insert his people directly into the Hokage's Anbu?
However, Yami shook his head.
"I don't think anyone blind enough would dare resist me. Forget about bringing Root members."
"But, Third Hokage, I want Uzuki Yugao and Yuhi Kurenai to join Anbu. There shouldn't be a problem with that, right?"
"No problem."
Hiruzen nodded with a smile. "They will also be promoted to Special Jōnin after the war. They are more than qualified to join Anbu."
"Yami, is there anything else you would like? Just tell me, and I will agree to anything within my power."
"Uh… not really."
Yami shook his head calmly.
What Hiruzen could offer was not what Yami truly wanted. What Yami wanted, Hiruzen could not give.
"That's fine." Hiruzen nodded politely. "If you ever have difficulties in the future, you are always welcome to come to me."
"But…"
Hiruzen showed a slightly awkward expression. "Due to the war, there are still many pending tasks in the village. Before officially taking up your Anbu position, you'll need to continue completing missions as a regular shinobi."
"Huh?"
Yami's face fell. "I was hoping to take a vacation first."
Hiruzen quickly reassured him. "After this period of heavy work, I will grant you two months of vacation."
"Alright then."
Thinking about the upcoming busywork, Yami sighed. "I'll head back for now."
"Wait!" Hiruzen stopped him quickly before he could leave. "There's still one more matter."
"Could you hand over Samui to me as a bargaining chip?"
"Impossible."
Yami immediately looked at Hiruzen with suspicion, then turned to Danzō and complained.
"Old man, what did you tell me before? Didn't you say that shinobi have the right to handle their own spoils of war?"
"This old man is trying to take my things. Aren't you going to stop him?"
"Hiruzen, you've gone too far," Danzō coldly interjected. "What do you want Yami's captive for? That's his rightful trophy. Do you intend to hand her back to Kumo?"
"After all, she is the Fourth Raikage's personal subordinate."
Hiruzen gave his reason, looking awkward. "The Kumo envoy will be arriving soon, and they will surely want to ransom Samui."
"I am thinking of doing this for the sake of peace."
"Sarutobi!"
Even Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu couldn't stand this reasoning.
"What are you thinking? We are the victors in this war!"
"How could a victorious nation be so eager to appease the defeated?"
"Even if we negotiate peace, Kumo should be the one paying compensation. And yet you want to gift them something?"
Hiruzen was left speechless. His intention was simply to ease Kumo's hostility toward Konoha and prevent hatred from deepening between the two sides.
It was just a prisoner. Was it really that big of a deal?
"You can discuss this all you want, but Samui is my trophy. I won't hand her over. Feel free to send someone to take her by force. Try it, and see if I won't kill them."
Yami sneered, issuing a direct ultimatum, then turned and left the office.
"Damn…"
Hiruzen sighed heavily, realizing that he had once again offended this troublesome kid. He could only give up on the idea completely.
Noticing Danzō's cold expression, Hiruzen knew he needed to divert attention, so he immediately shifted the topic.
"Let's set the Kumo negotiations aside for now. There's another problem we need to address."
"Uchiha… they've crossed the line this time."
Upon hearing this, Danzō's interest returned, and the other two advisors also turned serious.
In this war, the Hyūga clan had deployed almost their full strength. Other major clans had also contributed personnel and resources.
Only the Uchiha sent two young minors, with no other members participating on the battlefield.
This attitude made it clear they did not see themselves as part of Konoha. It was a direct challenge to the authority of Konoha's leadership.
"Danzō, I will leave the task of handling Uchiha to you," Hiruzen said calmly.
Danzō did not argue this time. He simply nodded in agreement.
"Don't worry. I won't let them live comfortably…"
…
"Yami!"
Elsewhere, after leaving the Hokage building, Yami was planning to head home but was stopped by Hyūga Hizashi.
"Hizashi-sensei?"
"You're free right now, aren't you?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Come with me for a moment." Hizashi looked around, then led Yami toward the Hyūga compound.
The two entered an elegant tea room. Inside, someone was already waiting.
Hyūga Hiashi sat there with two children, Hyūga Neji and Hyūga Hinata.
Hizashi closed the door and knelt down beside Hiashi. Under Yami's surprised gaze, the two adults and two children sat formally in front of him.
Hiashi spoke sincerely. "Yami-kun, thank you for helping the Hyūga clan and for saving my brother."
"Without your intervention, Hizashi would have done something foolish, and this war might not have ended so smoothly. If things had dragged on and we lost, the Hyūga clan truly would have become Konoha's scapegoats."
"From now on, whatever Yami-kun asks of us, the Hyūga clan will not refuse."
Hizashi also bowed low.
"Neji, remember this well. You must listen to Yami-kun. He saved me, and he saved your future."
"I understand, Father," Neji responded, his young voice steady and sincere.
Hinata was about to bow like her father, but before she could, Yami appeared beside her, lifted her into his arms, and smiled.
"Alright, this has nothing to do with you. No need to thank me."
"Y-Yami-sama…"
The blushing Hinata was already steaming in his arms.
Thankfully, Yami quickly set the flustered girl back down before she fainted, then helped the others up.
"So that's why you dragged me here so mysteriously, Hizashi-sensei. You had this prepared."
"I'll accept your gratitude this time, but don't ever do something like this again."
Yami felt fully deserving of their thanks. After all, he had indeed saved the entire Hyūga clan.
If the war had dragged on any longer, the village would have started blaming the Hyūga. Sacrificing someone to calm public anger was inevitable.
At that time, both Hiashi and Hizashi might have been forced to commit seppuku to protect the clan's honor.
The villagers of Konoha could be that foolish. Hatake Sakumo's tragic example was proof enough.
"I'm not used to being so formal," Hizashi smiled. "Let's work well together in the future."
Hiashi nodded silently. The meaning was clear. The Hyūga clan had now shifted its support to Yami.
The Third Hokage's decisions this time had been far too disappointing. No matter how loyal the Hyūga were, they would always be treated as disposable pawns.
Hiashi sent the children away. What he wanted to say next was not something for them to hear.
"Yami-kun, I heard…"
"That the Hokage intends to make you an Anbu captain?"
Yami nodded. "Not 'intends.' I've already been appointed. Once I finish a few missions, I'll officially take the position."
Now that their positions were clear, Hiashi spoke more directly.
"That is not a good job."
"Anbu may have great authority and answer only to the Hokage, but the nature of their work limits your visibility. It is not a path that will increase your reputation within the village."
"It seems the Third Hokage does not fully support you, Yami-kun."
"That's normal."
Yami was not upset at all. He replied calmly.
"My grandfather is Danzō. Sarutobi Hiruzen never expected me to be Hokage. He probably only hoped I would become a gentle Root leader."
Hiashi narrowed his eyes. "So… what are your intentions?"
"Whether I become Hokage or not is not up to others. It depends on whether I want it."
Yami smiled faintly.
"It's just that Sarutobi Hiruzen hasn't realized the reality yet. He still believes he can control everything."
Both Hyūga brothers were stunned.
This sounded a bit too bold.
But… they had to admit, with Jiraiya uninterested in the Hokage seat, no one in Konoha was truly qualified to compete with Yami.
Of course, not right now—but in a few more years.
By then, Yami would be an adult, and Hiruzen would be even older.
As power shifted, they would be forced to accept reality.
Half an hour later, Yami left the Hyūga compound.
Konoha was built on the foundation of its many clans.
Namikaze Minato had defeated Orochimaru largely because Orochimaru's dangerous forbidden research had alienated many clans, causing them to unite behind Minato.
The Hyūga were simply the first to show their support for Yami. They would not be the last.
Yami was in no hurry to fight for power now. Konoha's internal problems were not yet resolved.
The Third Hokage could continue holding the position for a while longer.
But once Uchiha was dealt with, and when Hiruzen lost his most cherished eldest son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, and his daughter-in-law in a mission, the will of Konoha's loyalists would finally be broken.
Ino-Shika-Chō had long been allied with the Sarutobi, but with only the useless Sarutobi Asuma remaining, would they still cling to that alliance?
When the time came, the decision of who would become Hokage would no longer be in Hiruzen's hands.
As Yami walked down the street, he stopped by a fruit stand and bought some fresh produce to bring home.
He had missed eating his favorite oranges during his time on the front lines. He also picked up some ripe sakura peaches, knowing they were Izumi's favorite.
But when Yami arrived at his doorstep, he found a familiar white-haired man squatting there.
"Hey, kid. You sure are busy."
"I've been waiting for you forever."
Jiraiya, looking as scruffy as ever, was crouched at the door, picking his nose out of boredom.
When he saw Yami return, he stood up excitedly, but his legs gave out from squatting too long, and he fell to his knees.
"Old pervert, no need to be so polite," Yami deadpanned.
"You little brat!"
Jiraiya stood up awkwardly, stretching out his numb legs.
"So, what did you want from me?"
Yami showed no intention of inviting Jiraiya inside and simply asked at the door.
"Hey, kid, how about becoming my disciple?"
Jiraiya asked with a hopeful tone.
"No."
Yami rejected him immediately.
"...Alright."
Jiraiya looked a bit disappointed, though he had expected this outcome.
With Yami's current strength, there really wasn't much Jiraiya could teach him.
The real reason Jiraiya wanted to accept Yami as his disciple was because of the prophecy that had shaped his life.
But with this rejection, it meant that Yami was not the "Child of Prophecy."
"You waited all this time just to ask me that?"
"Pretty much. Oh, and to say goodbye."
Jiraiya grinned.
"The war is over. It's time for me to continue my journey and focus on my writing."
"Remember to support my next book when it comes out."
"Alright. I'll read it."
"Good. I'm off."
Jiraiya waved and walked away gracefully.
Yami watched him leave, his eyes narrowing slightly.
The Child of Prophecy?
Yami was extremely cautious of the Toad Sage and his so-called prophecy.
Jiraiya's life was completely manipulated by that snake of fate.
But… with Yami here, the future of the ninja world would be determined by his own will, not some so-called prophecy.
"Yami, why are you standing at the door?"
The door suddenly opened, and Kurenai peeked out in confusion.
"It's nothing… wait, why are you still at my house?"
"Oh, don't worry about the details. Come inside and play mahjong. We're short one person."
(To be continued.)