RADG: Chapter 122: Birthday Party

Kakashi sighed helplessly.

He had already anticipated this outcome, which was why he had avoided mentioning Yuhi Kurenai ever since Asuma returned to the village.

But who would’ve thought they’d run into each other on the very first day?

Fate… or rather, a misfortune.

But now that they had met, Kakashi took out the gift he had prepared in advance from his ninja tool pouch and handed it over. He had originally planned to give it to him in the evening.

“Happy birthday, Yami. From today on, you’re officially an adult.”

The gift Kakashi prepared was an exquisite brooch. Yami accepted it, thanked him, then pretended to look disappointed.

“Times really have changed. You won’t even call me captain anymore.”

Kakashi was filled with black lines. But Asuma caught the key information and looked up in disbelief.

“Kakashi… what did you say?”

“He just became an adult?”

Asuma had always felt Yami looked young, but he hadn’t expected that today marked his coming of age.

“Kurenai, do you even understand what you’re doing?” Asuma looked at her with deep frustration.

“You two… are almost ten years apart!”

Kurenai frowned, but before she could speak, Yami cut in first.

“Sarutobi Asuma, do you think you can control everything just because you’re the son of the Hokage?”

“What goes on between Kurenai and me has nothing to do with an outsider like you.”

“Today, I’ll show Kakashi some respect. If you say another word, I’ll make the Third Hokage lose another son.”

Asuma’s face flushed red.

Who was he? The youngest son of Sarutobi Hiruzen. No one had ever dared speak to him like that since he was a child.

“Ughh—! Uhghh—!!”

Kakashi quickly covered Asuma’s mouth, ignoring his resistance, and hurriedly apologized to Yami and Kurenai. “Sorry, Kurenai, Asuma just returned and doesn’t know the situation yet. I’ll explain it to him.”

Kurenai gave her old classmate some face and didn’t pursue the matter further. But she still gave Asuma a cold warning. “Asuma, I’ve told you before—I don’t like you. Don’t bother me anymore.”

“As for the age gap between me and Yami, it’s none of your concern. As long as he doesn’t mind, I don’t care what anyone says.”

With that, she pulled Yami and walked past Kakashi and Asuma.

Kakashi didn’t let go of Asuma until they disappeared at the corner of the street.

“Kakashi, what’s your problem?”

Asuma shoved him angrily. “You think I’m scared of that kid? Who even is he? Why does he look more like the Hokage’s son than I do?”

Faced with Asuma’s hotheadedness, Kakashi felt helpless.

“What’s my problem? I was saving your life.”

Kakashi was irritated. He was certain that if he hadn’t stopped Yami, Asuma would already be hanging on a wall somewhere.

“Let me tell you…”

Kakashi recounted Yami’s legendary exploits, leaving Asuma with his jaw hanging.

“He’s really that strong?”

“That was Yami from a few years ago. No one has seen him fight in recent years. Everyone who has... is dead.” Kakashi’s expression dimmed, recalling the intel on Yami.

Whether it was targets or enemy protectors, none had survived.

The only proof came from the special kunai left at the scene, confirming the kill.

The title ‘Konoha Shinigami’ was well earned.

Asuma looked utterly dejected.

In terms of life experience, he wasn’t far behind.

In terms of looks… forget it, that hurt too much to compare.

In terms of strength, he couldn’t even compete.

No wonder Kurenai liked a guy nearly ten years younger than her. With their long-standing partnership and shared experiences, who wouldn’t fall for him?

“Give up already.” Kakashi patted Asuma’s shoulder. “Don’t cause yourself trouble. Even the Third Hokage can’t save you.”

He knew well that the tension between the Third Hokage and Yami had been building over the past two years. He, a minor figure, just wanted to stay out of trouble.

“I get it.”

Asuma brushed Kakashi’s hand off, then left alone in defeat.

Meanwhile, Yami was comforting Kurenai.

“Don’t listen to what that monkey said. What’s wrong with a ten-year gap? I like older women. Besides, we’ve got the Hundred Healings Mark now. Once you learn to suppress the seal, age won’t matter at all.”

Yami had gone through a lot to obtain the Hundred Healings Mark.

Tsunade and Shizune were basically wanderers. Wherever there was a casino, they might be found.

In order to avoid debt collectors, Tsunade had honed her ability to disappear. Even with the power of Root and Anbu, tracking her down was no easy task.

Yami eventually found her while escorting Uchiha Hikari to the Land of Wind and ran into her by chance at a casino.

As her proudest creation, Tsunade wouldn’t easily part with it.

But when Yami presented nearly 100 million ryō in IOUs, the seasoned gambler hesitated.

In the end… she sold him the Hundred Healings Mark technique and its companion jutsu, Mitotic Regeneration, for 100 million ryō.

After all, why pay back debts earned with your own skills? With those IOUs in Yami’s hands, it was as good as paying them off.

Of course, turning 100 million into cash and trying to win it back was Tsunade’s logic.

Yami was speechless at her way of thinking, but for the sake of the girls at home, he held his nose and paid the price.

Damn it.

He was usually the one exploiting others. This time, he’d been played.

Yami silently made a note to get it back with interest someday.

The girls were overjoyed to receive the Hundred Healings Mark. During that period, Yami was treated like royalty at home. It was quite enjoyable.

Unfortunately, the technique was truly difficult to master. It had been over a year since he obtained it, and none of the girls had succeeded.

Well, except for himself. But he didn’t need either jutsu. They were essentially passive skills for him. Activating the seal left black markings on his face, which he found unappealing.

Sure enough, when the seal was mentioned, Kurenai’s expression dimmed.

“Tsunade-sama’s technique is too hard. I estimate it’ll take another half year just to complete the seal structure.”

“After that, I still need to store chakra… but I don’t have enough chakra to begin with…”

Thinking about her average talent, Kurenai grew even more troubled.

The principle of the Hundred Healings Mark involved forming a special seal on the forehead. It would remain dormant while storing excess chakra over time, which could be called upon during battle.

By adjusting the seal’s structure, the stored chakra could slowly nourish the cells, maintaining vitality and slowing aging.

But the initial requirement to complete the seal took a massive amount of chakra. For Kurenai, it was nearly impossible.

“I’ll help figure something out.” Yami comforted her while thinking of Senju Tobirama’s research.

After consuming hundreds of test subjects, Tobirama had finally lived up to Yami’s expectations by making a breakthrough. He found a way to weaken Hashirama cells while greatly reducing their corrosive effects.

Yami used that data to develop his own Yami Cells and gained a lot.

Once his body fully matured, he could use them to strengthen Kurenai and Yugao.

But for now, he wouldn’t mention it, lest they keep thinking about it.

When they returned home with the cake, the house was nearly fully decorated. Everyone brought out the birthday gifts they had prepared.

Izumi had hand-stitched a divine robe, while Hikari gave a new ninja tool pouch.

Kurenai bought a set of aromatherapy supplies to improve sleep, and Yugao presented a flower arrangement she had designed herself.

Even Karin gave her completed test paper, which almost brought Yami to tears.

Finally passed.

That afternoon, more people arrived with gifts.

Though Yami wasn’t well-liked by the average villagers, their opinions hardly mattered. These people barely knew their own place, constantly criticizing others like they ruled the world.

But real shinobi who had endured the battlefield knew better. Strength was absolute. No one, except fools, dared criticize someone who could end them at any time.

So many people came to offer birthday gifts, major clan representatives, Anbu under his command, and even some elders.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sent a scroll containing the training method for Shuriken Shadow Clone.

As his grandfather, Danzō was even more generous. He bought every house in the area and gave them all to Yami.

Looking at the stack of property deeds, Yami was genuinely pleased.

“I’ll have someone build a training ground, a hot spring, and a game room in a few days.”

“And an izakaya.” Drunkard Kurenai raised her hand quickly. Anko, who had arrived at some point, also nodded. “Yeah, and a dango shop.”

“Go away. What do you even need that for?” Yami’s gaze lingered on Anko’s exaggerated figure for two seconds before he looked away.

“Then at least save me a room. My apartment’s too cramped.”

Anko put her arm around Yami’s neck and coaxed him, and he dazedly agreed.

In the evening, Ino and Hinata, who had just finished school, arrived.

“Happy birthday, Yami-nii!”

“Happy birthday, Yami.”

Ino brought a pot of cosmos she had prepared, and Hinata gave flower tea.

Yami accepted them with a smile and patted both of their heads. “Thank you, Hinata. Thank you, Ino. Take a rest, we’re almost ready.”

Seeing her friends arrive, Karin ran over from the kitchen.

Yami chatted with the three kids about school. They still had one year before graduating.

“It’d be so great if the three of us could be on the same team after graduation.” Ino’s face was full of hope.

“Um… Ino, Ino-Shika-Chō usually isn’t split up. You’ll most likely be with Shikamaru and Chōji.”

Hinata reminded her gently. Ino instantly deflated and slumped on the couch.

She knew it too. Her family’s ties with the others were too close, even their secret techniques were coordinated. Nara used shadow binding to immobilize, Yamanaka affected the mind, and Akimichi delivered the final blow.

That tradition had existed since the Warring States Era.

Little Ino’s eyes brightened as she thought of something. “Then what if Yami-nii becomes our squad leader?”

Karin and Hinata also looked at him hopefully.

Yami stroked his chin. “Becoming a squad leader? I haven’t really considered it, but now that you mention it…”

“Yami-sama, you can’t abandon me,” Karin immediately said with a pitiful expression.

“Yami…” Even Hinata whispered softly.

Sensing that a battlefield was forming, Yami quickly interrupted. “You still have a year before graduation. It’s too soon to say. Plus, I’m in charge of Anbu.”

“I’d have to speak to the Third Hokage first to even get permission to be a squad leader.”

“Stop fighting. We’ll talk about it later.”

Hearing this, Karin and the others exchanged glances and reluctantly let it go. But in their hearts, they were already planning how to get Yami to be their team leader.

After enjoying a rich dinner, Yami blew out the sixteen candles on his cake and closed his eyes to make a wish.

The birthday was officially over.

“Yami, what did you wish for?” Izumi asked curiously.

The boy smiled slyly. “Nothing much. Just that the Shimura family would have many children. Otherwise, my talent would go to waste.”

The girls around all blushed, even the young ones lowered their heads shyly.

People in the ninja world matured early. Otherwise, Naruto wouldn’t have created his Seduction Jutsu at this age. Karin and the others all understood what Yami meant.

After playing for a while, at nine o’clock, Kurenai and Yugao took Hinata and Ino home.

After bathing, Yami lay on his bed, waiting for the day’s biggest gift to arrive.

In the stillness of night, the door gently opened, and a soft body slipped under the covers.

Izumi’s voice trembled as she hugged him tightly, the two lying face to face.

Her birthday was earlier than Yami’s. She had reached adulthood two months ago.

After waiting so many years, it was easy to imagine how excited Izumi was.

After tonight, they would truly be a family.

Not only Izumi, but the others as well.

But everyone understood how much Izumi meant to Yami, so they quietly stepped aside.

Now, only the two of them remained in the villa. They could do as they pleased.

Yami naturally wouldn't turn away the little white mounds that came to him. No, by now they were mid-sized white mounds.

He had raised her himself. He knew best just how much she had grown.

At the height of their passion, Izumi’s eyes couldn’t help but transform into Sharingan. The three tomoe spun rapidly before merging into a strange new pattern.

Yami: "...."

You can awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan through this?

(To be continued.)