Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for only $7 to get early access to upcoming chapters!
> > Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations <<
----------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 57 — Kara
The next moment, Konan's face remained expressionless.
She turned her head away and no longer watched the eye-wrenching scene inside.
Outside the window, an odd silence settled for an instant — only intermittent, muffled noises drifted around their ears.
Konan looked at Alex; her eyes said everything.
What now? Rush in, or wait for the bald man to finish?
She didn't care — she waited to see what Alex would decide.
It was the first time Konan had seen such an awkward situation, yet it barely stirred her mood.
Alex, however, felt oddly contemplative.
If they barged in now, would they frighten Takeda so badly he'd be permanently shaken and never useful again?
He didn't much care about what would happen to that man — but he did need to think carefully about whether to seize him.
When they left Kirigakure, Alex had planned to finish all tasks first and then return to the Sky Ninja Fortress. Now the plan felt off.
Takeda was just a civilian; there was no urgent need to worry about him. But the Kara Organization behind him required careful weighing.
Isshiki Ōtsutsuki was no trivial matter.
Black Zetsu — who fancied himself the backstage master and saw Uchiha Madara and Obito as clowns — would be nothing but a clown in Isshiki's eyes.
If they interrogated Takeda and spooked Kara into exposing itself, even drawing Isshiki's attention, the consequences would be catastrophic.
In the current shinobi world, there was no one who could match Isshiki. If he weren't injured and had not stayed hidden, he could have openly dominated the shinobi world and hung everyone on the God Tree.
Isshiki even held a second Ten-Tails.
After weighing the pros and cons, Alex chose to leave for now.
There was no benefit in roughing up Takeda. At most, he was an outer member who provided funding and resources to Kara; his knowledge was limited. He almost certainly carried Kara's countermeasures. Provoking such a terrifying organization was unnecessary.
For now, they would pretend ignorance. When their power could topple everything, they would uproot that old coin-collecting gang.
Alex's white-paper form displayed black characters: [Leave for now].
Konan didn't ask why and nodded, following the instruction.
She rose and flew skyward; their arrival and departure went unnoticed.
The merchant ship continued on its calm course. Alex read the ship's flag: [Dawn-Dusk Publishing].
A place to track later, if needed.
High above, Konan sped toward the Sky Ninja Fortress while Alex rested against her right cheek.
"Akatsuki, why didn't we seize Takeda and interrogate him?" she asked.
[Our current priority is fusing kekkei genkai and completing the Ōtsutsuki lineage to gain power; we mustn't provoke another terrifying enemy yet. We'll deal with Kara later.] Alex replied.
He then briefly explained Kara to Konan. She listened solemnly, digesting the information in silence.
"Uchiha Obito, Uchiha Madara, Black Zetsu, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki... I didn't expect so many schemers and ambitions hidden beneath the shinobi world," she said, derisive.
"How laughable," she continued. "The Five Great Villages and Five Great Nations still proclaim themselves rulers of the shinobi world. But among these conspirators, those so-called rulers are mere stage clowns — ignorant and arrogant, powerful for a moment, always on the verge of being overturned."
Alex chuckled softly. [But now we are the ones who truly know everything. These schemers will ultimately fail.]
Konan felt confident too. Under Alex's plan, sooner or later they would clean this world and bring it under their own rule, achieving true peace and order.
...
On the Sky Ninja Fortress' deck, in a small pavilion, Kameda meticulously polished the tables and chairs with a towel.
He worked with solemn dedication — artisan-like focus.
Honoka watched for a moment and sighed. "Uncle Kameda, you've already wiped that five times... it's shining. Why keep polishing?"
"Iruka-kun, you're young and don't understand the survival of a subordinate," Kameda said, shaking his head as he dabbed sweat from his brow to prevent it from dripping on the wood.
"I don't have a rare Uzumaki lineage like you. I'm an ordinary shinobi with poor talent and low combat ability. I can't help Lord Konan in battle; my use must be in daily life."
He stood back, satisfied at the spotless table. "As Konan advances, I don't want to be left behind and become an invisible background. I must excel at small things — make her life comfortable, let her eat and live in peace."
"If I'm not capable, if I'm not attentive and diligent, why would Konan keep me?"
Honoka still didn't get it. "You've got nearly a hundred subordinates. Let them do the chores."
Kameda glanced at the naïve Honoka and said nothing.
Ridiculous — his way of showing value in front of Konan wasn't something he'd give to any underling. He would strictly forbid them from setting foot on the deck. That work was his alone.
"No way I'll let them steal these chances," he thought.
"Uncle Kameda..." Honoka hesitated, sensing a sudden weight in his aura. He seemed to be plotting something grand. If she knew about court eunuchs, she might have compared him to one — utterly courting favor. Not identical, but close.
"Honoka, is something wrong?" Kameda quickly returned to his usual mild manner, the heavy aura evaporating.
Honoka relaxed, wondering if she'd imagined it.
Kameda was always ingratiating when Konan returned. The moment Konan appeared, he straightened and saluted: "Lady Konan, you're back. You've been out all day. I'll bring you something to eat right away."
Pure bootlicking. Honoka was used to it.
Konan glanced at the gleaming table and said calmly, "Nicely cleaned."
She sat down.
"Go on," she waved.
"Right away, Lady Konan! Please wait a moment." Kameda beamed and dashed off with a tray.
Konan hadn't eaten or drunk all day and felt hungry. She planned to eat quickly and then return to her room to begin fusing the kekkei genkai.