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Chapter 58 — Renovation and Re-outfitting Plan
A faint fragrance lingered inside the pavilion.
The table was piled with tantalizing seafood: salmon, tuna, deep-sea shrimp and crab, sea urchin — all carefully caught from the ocean and meticulously prepared by Kameda.
He stood in a clever spot, hidden at the side so Konan wouldn't be disturbed while eating, yet close enough to appear at once if she needed anything.
Kameda indeed had a knack for serving. Alex glanced at him, then turned back to the colorful spread on the table, mouth watering inside.
Too bad he couldn't taste any of it — not even a nibble. Especially the huge abalone placed dead center: golden all over, what Kameda claimed was an extremely rare and delicious deep-sea giant abalone — normally only feudal lords and nobles could afford such a thing.
Alex had only seen abalone in pictures before; now seeing one in the flesh, he could admit it did look a certain way... and he felt shame for his dirty thoughts.
Konan's expression remained cool and unreadable. Honoka sat opposite, all girlish excitement, eyes fixed on the giant golden abalone and swallowing repeatedly. Growing up on Summoning Island had taught her to recognize quality seafood; she knew a deep-sea golden abalone when she saw one.
Kameda, meanwhile, hid behind a pillar, head slightly raised, watching the pavilion's scene with a vigilant gleam. His ears perked — at a command from Konan he could appear instantly.
None of them reacted to the abalone's shape; compared to their purity, Alex felt his mind was truly corrupt.
Konan picked up her chopsticks. "Let's eat."
She said it to Honoka and to Alex, who hovered nearby. She gently pressed Alex and brought him to her chest.
Alex thought mischievously, Big world, big things — eating's the greatest; if you can't eat the seafood, absorbing something else will do... He didn't resist, happily letting Konan cover him and begin to absorb.
Within his paper form, chakra reserves slowly replenished.
After the meal, Kameda swiftly cleared the table and courteously brought out cooling tea to cleanse the palate. He bowed and asked, "Lady Konan, the Sky Ninja Fortress still hovers above Kirigakure. Where should we head next?"
Konan sipped the tea and considered. "Which mainland is closest to Kirigakure?"
Kameda thought for a moment. "The Land of Grass."
"Then set course for the Land of Grass' capital," Konan decided.
"Also," she added, "draw up a renovation plan for the Sky Ninja Fortress. Make it an aerial garden style."
She recalled Alex's complaints about the fortress' raw, unfinished look and wanted it turned into a sky garden. Konan remembered whatever Alex said and quietly strove to fulfill it; now that they had time, she planned to remodel the fortress into the version he wanted.
"What is an aerial garden?" she admitted, but she trusted Kameda to come up with something satisfying.
"Understood!" Kameda straightened, solemn in his acceptance. He had no clear idea what a sky garden entailed, but once Konan issued the order, he must comply. How to achieve it would be his job — he wouldn't trouble his lord with details. That was workplace philosophy: never trouble the leader; solve problems yourself.
Konan set down her cup. "When we reach the Land of Grass' capital, go ashore and procure renovation materials. Use the fortress' funds in your custody — do not scrimp. Only top-tier materials; everything must be the best."
For Konan, money was trivial; if spending everything made Alex satisfied, it was worth it. Besides, as the shinobi world's resident wealthy woman, she could not run out of funds even if she attempted to buy out the capital.
She glanced at Kameda's clothes and shook her head slightly. The gray headwrap, black face covering, and purple vest looked unremarkable and lacked any aesthetic sense. No wonder Alex said Sky Ninja attire was old-fashioned and odd. They needed new outfits.
Kameda felt the pressure like a mountain on his shoulders but dared not speak. Konan rose and said, "Change all your clothes."
She looked at her own red-clouded black Akatsuki cloak. "Make your standard Sky Ninja uniform follow my cloak's style — a black robe. As for Honoka, make hers red-clouded, like mine."
She hesitated only a moment, then added, "Make your robe red-clouded as well."
Core members would wear the Akatsuki robe; regular peripheral members would be solid black. Kameda's heart leapt. "Yes! I will complete every order and make you proud, Lady Konan."
To him, a robe signified recognition — to wear the same clothing as Konan meant he had become a core member. All his effort had not been in vain. If Konan stayed, Kameda would have cause to weep for joy.
Konan left the deck; only then did Kameda look up. Honoka noticed tears at the corner of his eye and asked in surprise, "Uncle Kameda, why are you crying?"
He wiped his eyes, voice thick with feeling: "Now I can wear the same clothes as Lady Konan and you..."
"Is it just a robe? Why so emotional?" Honoka teased. Kameda sighed at her innocence; he had worked hard for this recognition while the foolish youngster got it so easily.
"Never mind. I was overwhelmed. I'm fine now." He recomposed himself and cleared the tea set. "I won't slack off. I must work harder to earn more of Lady Konan's approval!"
In the fortress' lower level, Konan opened a storage scroll. Inside, a blue and a white vial lay on the table.
"Akatsuki — which kekkei do we fuse first?" she asked.
Alex answered without hesitation: [Shikotsumyaku!]
As an Ōtsutsuki-affiliated bloodline, it was best to integrate the Kaguya's Shikotsumyaku first.
Konan nodded, held the pale vial, and triggered Paper Transformation.
Her pale orange eyes met Alex's. Softly she said, [Akatsuki, climb onto me...]