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Chapter 42 — Kameda and Honoka
Inside the Sky Fortress, a black-clad Sky Ninja led Honoka through the corridors to help her get familiar with the place.
He pointed toward a hall filled with screens and busy operators. "This is the first underground floor—the operations hall. It's the control hub of the entire fortress. Unless absolutely necessary, don't disturb these people. They must stay focused at all times to prevent any malfunction."
Honoka's eyes sparkled with amazement as she took in the bustling scene. The air was filled with the hum of machinery and chakra engines.
"So this is the command center that controls this entire flying fortress? Incredible!"
At only eighteen, she'd spent her entire life in isolation, shut away on an island. Everything she saw now filled her with curiosity—especially this giant structure that somehow floated in the sky.
Kameda couldn't help a proud grin. "Of course! This Sky Fortress took us Sky Ninja thirty years to complete. It combines every piece of advanced technology we ever developed. Naturally, it's amazing!"
"Thirty years? That's unbelievable!" Honoka gasped again, her admiration genuine.
Kameda secretly relished her shock. Praise like this was satisfying—it meant someone finally understood the value of their work.
But her next question stopped him cold.
"Sky Ninja? I've never heard of that village. Is it one of the smaller ones?"
She knew of the Five Great Shinobi Villages and a few smaller, famous ones. But "Sky Ninja"? She'd never heard of such a thing.
Kameda's enthusiasm wilted. "The Sky Ninja Village did exist… but it was destroyed over thirty years ago."
Perhaps it was time to finally let go of that name. Thirty years—a whole generation.
Now, fewer than one-tenth of the fortress's crew were survivors from those days. Most were under thirty, born long after the village's fall. For them, "Sky Ninja" was just a story told by old men—a symbol, not a home.
Rebuilding the village had always been a hollow command, not a dream. Few had the drive, and even fewer the power, to make it real.
Kameda sighed quietly. Maybe this was better. Instead of chasing ghosts, it was enough to serve their new leader faithfully. Those who joined early would have the best future—and maybe, at last, a life without hiding like rats in the gutters.
"Uncle Kameda, are you all right? You spaced out."
Uncle? I'm barely past thirty! he grumbled inwardly. But looking at the bright-eyed girl full of youth and energy, he decided to let it go. Fine, uncle it is.
"I'm fine," Kameda said, shaking his head clear. "We've seen most of the first floor. Let's head to the second."
Their footsteps echoed down the stone passageway.
Honoka glanced around and frowned slightly. "The Sky Fortress is huge and magnificent, but the inside… it's a bit rough."
"Rough" was generous—it was unfinished. The walls and floors were all bare stone, uneven and coarse. There wasn't a single ornament or proper piece of furniture in sight.
Alex had complained about that before too, deciding that one day, he'd have it remodeled into something worthy of the name "fortress."
Kameda shot her a weary look. "No money."
He wanted to fix it too. But renovating something this size would cost billions of ryō. The fortress's current reserves were only a few hundred thousand—barely enough to cover maintenance and food.
He'd been thinking for days about how to ask Konan for funding. Salaries for their hundred personnel, the daily energy costs, supplies, repairs—it all added up fast. By next month, the current budget wouldn't hold.
Honoka gave an awkward laugh. "Ah… right. I guess that makes sense."
She wasn't one to judge—she'd never even handled money before. Growing up on the island, her needs were provided for; she'd never been paid a single coin.
Kameda stopped before a small stone chamber and gestured toward it. "This is the energy core of the Sky Fortress."
"This powers the whole fortress?" Honoka's curiosity flared. She leaned forward, peering into a small pool where a dark shadow moved beneath the surface.
"There's no mechanical engine? It runs off that shadow?"
Despite her youth, she'd assisted with scientific work before, enough to recognize how strange this setup was.
"This core was designed by Lady Konan herself," Kameda said proudly. "It absorbs emotional energy and converts it into chakra to power the fortress."
As for Shinnō—he acted as though that name meant nothing to him. Of course something this miraculous must have come from their new leader.
"Incredible! She can even turn emotion into chakra—Lady Konan is a genius!" Honoka's eyes glowed with admiration.
Kameda nodded approvingly. "Just don't touch it. Curiosity can get people killed."
"Don't worry, Uncle Kameda. I know better than that."
He chuckled and waved her onward. After several more minutes, they reached another corridor. Kameda pointed to a door on the left. "That's Lady Konan's room."
He motioned toward a nearby door. "And this will be yours. You'll be staying close to her quarters."
He and the other men didn't have the right to stay on this level—they lived below.
"Can I look inside?" Honoka asked eagerly.
"Of course. It's yours now—decorate it however you like. If you need anything, tell me."
Kameda's tone was warm and polite. He knew his role—half steward, half logistic officer. His combat ability was unimpressive, so the least he could do was make sure Konan's new recruit settled comfortably.
He stood by the doorway, watching the girl explore her new quarters with excitement. "Take your time. I'll prepare dinner shortly. If you need anything, just say so."
"Thank you, Uncle Kameda."
He smiled and turned away, leaving her to explore.
Not long after, Konan appeared at the door. "Honoka."
"Lady Konan!" Honoka jumped up from the bed. "Please, come in!"
Konan stepped inside and glanced around. The room was plain but serviceable—Kameda had done well. "How is it? Are you satisfied?"
"I love it!" Honoka said brightly.
After a brief exchange, Konan got to the point. "Honoka, I need a small sample of your blood."
"No problem!" Honoka replied instantly. She'd been a test subject for years; needles didn't even faze her anymore.
She accepted the syringe from Konan and drew blood from her own arm with practiced ease, filling it neatly to the mark.
"Is this enough? I can give more if you need."
"This is fine." Konan took the vial carefully.
"From now on, live here in peace. If you need anything, speak to Kameda."
"I will," Honoka said with a smile. "I just hope I can be of use to you one day, Lady Konan."
Konan gave a faint nod of approval, exchanged a few encouraging words, then left the room.
Once she returned to her quarters, her voice echoed softly in the air.
[Alex, I've obtained Honoka's blood. Begin the Chimera Technique.]