"Sir, here is your miso chashu ramen. The daifuku and tempura are complimentary! Please enjoy your meal!" The waiter respectfully held the tray with both hands as he carefully arranged the steaming dishes on the table.
"Mhm." Menma shifted his gaze from the window and glanced at the food, slightly surprised.
The waiter's warm smile was unexpectedly comforting.
He had even thrown in two extra side dishes as thanks for Menma's tip.
"Oh, and sir, if you're looking to board one of Gato Company's merchant ships to the Land of Lightning, you can head to the next street over. There's a ticket office for shipping vessels." The waiter added helpfully.
In addition to transporting cargo, these merchant ships also sold passenger tickets on the side to earn extra income.
"Thank you." Menma replied curtly before picking up his chopsticks to dig in.
Seeing that the customer was so cold, the waiter didn't find it strange and retreated consciously.
Since this wasn't a dedicated ramen shop, the noodles were mediocre at best. However, the complimentary tempura was crispy on the outside and tender inside, while the daifuku was delightfully sweet… both of which pleased him.
After finishing his meal and replenishing his energy, Menma left the small restaurant and headed toward the docks in search of his target.
In the distance, a merchant ship flying Gato Company's flag was preparing to depart. Crew members on deck were shouting through megaphones, and passengers crowded along the railings, scrambling to board.
With a light leap, Menma instantly appeared on the ship.
"Huh?" A Rogue Samurai patrolling the deck felt a tap on his shoulder and turned his head slightly.
The moment his eyes landed on the white three-eyed fox mask, the Samurai fell under a Genjutsu, his gaze turning vacant.
"Where is Gato?" Menma asked quietly.
"Gato-sama will board shortly." The Samurai answered mechanically, his voice dull.
"Take me to his room." Menma ordered.
At the same time, he formed hand seals and transformed into a Samurai wearing armor.
"Yes, sir." The Samurai replied before leading the way.
The two moved through the ship's corridors as naturally as if they were on a routine patrol, drawing no suspicion.
"This is Gato-sama's room." The Samurai said, stopping in front of an ornate wooden door.
"Stand guard here. When Gato arrives, let him in." Menma instructed as he pushed the door open.
"Yes." The Samurai responded, standing motionless like a statue.
After entering the room, Menma discovered that although there was no gold, silver, or jewelry inside, the room was decorated with genuine leather furnishings, expensive liquor, and various obscure collectibles.
After sitting down at the desk, Menma pulled open the drawers and began flipping through the account books.
On [date], the fleet transported [amount] of goods from the Land of Fire's port to the Land of Water.
On [date], the fleet transported [amount] of goods from the Land of Water back to the Land of Fire.
…
Most of the records were from recent months. Even during the Third Great Ninja War, Gato's fleet had traveled freely between nations' ports.
Though they occasionally encountered Ninjas or pirates, losing some cargo along the way, the overall profits were staggering.
During times of war, merchants like Gato thrived on massive profits.
Though Menma wasn't an accountant, he could tell from the ledgers that a significant portion of the fleet's earnings had mysteriously vanished… likely funneled as bribes to nobles or even Daimyo of the great nations.
This was how Gato ensured his ships moved unhindered across borders.
At this point, Gato's company was still modest in scale… nowhere near the level of wealth it would amass nine years later, when Gato would become one of the world's top-tier merchants.
'Seems like in those fanfics I read back in the day, robbing Gato was always a surefire way to secure funds.' Menma mused, leaning back in the genuine leather chair, propping his chin on one hand as he idly flipped through the ledgers.
Just then, the ship lurched slightly, signaling the start of the voyage.
Before long, commotion erupted outside.
Bang!
The door was kicked open violently.
A short, well-dressed man in a suit and round sunglasses barged in aggressively.
Behind him stood several menacing Rogue Samurai and Rogue Ninjas.
The Samurai previously under Menma's Genjutsu had already been subdued.
"Let's see who's got the guts to mess with me!" The short Gato walked into the room while baring his teeth.
When he saw that someone dared to sit on the leather chair he had bought at a high price from the Land of Bears, his face instantly darkened, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and he said, "Looks like this voyage just got a lot more... entertaining."
With a vicious grin, he barked at his men: "Teach this ignorant brat a lesson he won't forget! And don't damage my collectibles! After this, you can have your fun with him however you like."
As soon as Gato finished, the Rogue Samurai and Rogue Ninjas behind him stepped forward with cruel smirks, their eyes gleaming with malice.
To them, the brat in front of them was already nothing more than a plaything.
"Not even a single decent Ninja among them?" Menma sensed the Chakra levels of these people and found only two at Genin-level. He sighed in disappointment.
He didn't even have the interest to stand up. While sitting on the chair, he formed hand seals with one hand.
[Nine Masked Beast: Tennyo]
In an instant, the space around him distorted as a dark crimson magic circle inscribed with the character for [Jewel] materialized beside him.
The Nine Masked Beast, Tennyo, emerged from the summoning array, hovering midair.
"What is that…?" The Samurai barely had time to react before Tennyo's ribbons lashed out like blades.
Two ribbons pierced straight through the chests of the first few charging Samurai.
Blood splattered everywhere, and the pungent smell of blood sobered up these Rogue Samurai and Ninjas. They all stopped and froze in place in fear.
Tennyo continued her assault, her ribbons extending like whips, sweeping through the room and sending bodies flying.
Screams rose one after another, severed limbs and broken arms flew everywhere, and the interior of the cabin was thrown into complete chaos.
Upon seeing this, Gato was so terrified that he turned and fled without looking back, sprinting toward the corridor outside the cabin.
But as soon as he reached the hallway, the two ribbons chased after him, swiftly wrapping around his body.
"Ahhhhhh!" Gato shrieked as he was dragged back into the room.
This time, however, the room was filled with the corpses of Samurai and Ninjas lying haphazardly in pools of blood.
"P-p-p-please… M-m-m-master… I b-b-beg you… d-don't kill me…" The once-arrogant Gatō now trembled so violently that he could barely speak.
His small round-framed sunglasses hung crookedly on his face, revealing his terrified eyes as he stared up at the mysterious figure before him.
Menma rose from his chair, floating over to Gato and looking down at the wretched merchant from above.
He knew that mere slaughter wouldn't be enough to make Gato submit and serve him willingly.
So, Menma formed a hand seal with one hand and said coldly:
"Hell Viewing Technique!"