[V3] - Chapter 59. Shimura Danzo, the Real Qualified Businessman!
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Shimura Danzo.
Founder of the Root Group, a legendary businessman renowned throughout the Ninja World. Once the Darkness of the Ninja, he'd experienced countless ups and downs, yet had never given up. Ultimately, he built two massive business empires in both Ninja Worlds.
Compared to someone like Yuto, who was laid-back and relied on a system, Danzo was far more like a truly qualified businessman!
He seized every opportunity with a death grip—even resorting to copying, imitating, plunging himself into massive debt, running black-hearted factories, and occasionally pulling off insane stunts, all for the single goal of expanding and strengthening the Root Group!
President Danzo!
A man with a grand vision!
About this—
Even Yuto couldn't help feeling a bit of awe in his heart!
When the alternate Ninja World was first revealed, while everyone else was preoccupied with how another ninja world might threaten or impact their own, Danzo was already calculating the colossal resources and markets it represented.
He'd even gone all-in funding Orochimaru's experiments, hoping one day to open new markets and expand the Root Group!
Though the ultimate outcome… no—in truth, from the moment he entered the alternate Ninja World, he was destined to fail. But there was no doubt that, compared to other businessmen, Danzo could see much further ahead!
And just like now…
Yuto was thinking about gradually conquering the market, step by step, then slowly upgrading. But Danzo was already scheming to unite the power of both Ninja Worlds and form a commercial organization to open up the market across the seas!
At this moment—
Yuto couldn't help but sigh inwardly again: [Although this guy is ruthless and shameless, there's no denying… he really does have a grand vision!]
With Danzo's efforts and the support of the Ten Great Ninja Villages from both worlds, the Root Group and Yuto Group jointly founded the Ninja World Trade Organization.
Officially, the organization was purely a commercial entity. Of course… that's what they said publicly. They were only in business, not involved in other affairs.
But with all Ten Great Ninja Villages united—and with ninja participating—it was obvious from the very start that this organization could never truly remain "just" a business organization.
If the seas really dared to block this bunch from doing business… there might just be another hundred-thousand-ninja march across the waters!
Within the first week of its founding, the organization sprang into action.
According to the first principle laid out in Danzo's grand commercial policy for the seas: "To get rich, first build the roads!"
After all, the unique nature of that world meant communication, transport, and exchange were all extremely difficult—unless one intended to stay confined to some tiny corner of the sea. Then it wouldn't be a big problem.
But if they wanted to do business across the entire sea, they had to get goods moving!
Thanks to Yuto's Mangekyo abilities, the Yuto Group didn't find it too troublesome to handle the transport side—though running deliveries across the sea was still fairly dangerous.
Because as everyone knew…
Being a delivery man on the sea was a high-risk job!
Nevertheless, trade routes connecting the East Blue and the Grand Line were being built.
And this time—
Danzo planned to use ninja forces to establish a secure shipping lane connecting all four seas!
As for the second plan…
That was all about communication. While the seas did have Den Den Mushi, they were inconvenient, offered limited functions, and were prohibitively expensive for ordinary people.
Once people experienced the Yuto Group's mobile phones… there was no way they could go back to using Den Den Mushi!
After all, Yuto Group's smartphones combined communication, internet browsing, ordering, payments, and countless other functions into one device!
Hence, this second requirement was to lay down a network communications infrastructure across the seas!
Of course—
Yuto knew perfectly well that Danzo was up to no good. The old fox had long been secretly researching Yuto Group's smartphone technology—and had even succeeded to some degree.
But if they wanted to connect to the network, they'd still have to go through Yuto Telecom.
In any case, the guy had officially entered the smartphone industry!
As for that—
Yuto didn't really mind.
"You're making money, sure—but I'm not losing money either!"
Once again, Danzo had expanded the market!
After these two preliminary plans were announced, both sides of the Ninja World sprang into action. Led by the Ten Great Ninja Villages, Root Group, and Yuto Group, tens of thousands of "Construction Ninjas" began pouring into the seas, spreading out across numerous locations in just a few short days.
Originally, following the fall of the Beasts Pirates and the Marines' suppression, the balance of the seas had been gradually stabilizing…
But now, the entire seascape was once again shifting dramatically…
At the same time.
This was Marine Headquarters!
A short time had passed since those mysterious individuals had appeared on the seas. And of course—for the Marines… no, for many powerful factions—it wasn't too hard to guess who these mysterious people were connected to.
Just like those who had previously wiped out the Beasts Pirates!
There was no doubt these newcomers were connected to the Yuto Group!
But—
They'd appeared suddenly and then vanished just as suddenly. Even now, the World Government had been unable to trace exactly where they'd come from. But considering how they'd popped up last time to wipe out the Beasts Pirates and had now reappeared again…
The seas were no longer quiet!
Right now—
Inside the Marines' conference room, every officer wore a grave expression as they stared down at the intelligence reports in their hands.
The news:
The Thriller Bark fleet under Warlord of the Sea—Gecko Moria—had been destroyed!
The World Government's affiliate nation, Germa 66, and the Vinsmoke family had been wiped out!
Countless pirate factions across various seas were also being annihilated…
This was a brutal slap in the face for the World Government!
The seas were about to descend into chaos again!
Fleet Admiral Sengoku lifted his head, his expression grave, and after pondering a moment, spoke solemnly: "Just what exactly… is Uchiha Yuto trying to do?"
"We've already tried communicating with the Yuto Group!" replied Kuzan with equal seriousness. "They said… they don't know anything. Their boss supposedly went traveling with his kids and hasn't returned yet." His eyelid twitched slightly. "They promised that once he's back, they'll pass on our message immediately!"
As his words fell—
Everyone else's eyelids twitched as well!
Gone traveling?
Out of contact?
They don't know anything?
Don't be ridiculous!
This was clearly the Yuto Group shirking responsibility!
"Yuto Group… hmph!" Sakazuki crossed his arms, a heavy seriousness in his expression, and let out a cold snort. "Those guys truly are the variables on the seas!"
"Hehehe~" Garp, munching on snacks while looking at his phone, chimed in, "Honestly, they haven't really done anything that bad~"
These days, he'd grown used to occasionally pulling out his phone for a look. However… lately, it seemed there were a whole lot more people online!
The top trending post was:
[Germa 66 accuses Root Group of invasion! These maniacs have seized their territory and plundered their people!]
That accusation!
It's truly enough to bring tears to anyone's eyes and break any listener's heart!
Of course, that was only for those who didn't know the truth. Anyone who did know understood perfectly well… Germa 66 had nothing except a bunch of snail ships and artificial soldiers. Where would they get "territory and people"?
Those guys who all came out looking exactly the same?
Come on, don't make Garp laugh!
Garp expertly posted a "Heh-heh" reply online, then drawled, "Though there is something that pisses me off a bit! About Ace…"
Before he could finish—
Sengoku and Kuzan broke into a cold sweat, because after all, Ace was still being held by the Yuto Group and made to work for them… which was at least partly their responsibility.
Sure enough—
Though that old geezer Garp might laugh and joke all day, he definitely wasn't happy about his grandson being forced to work there.
Not to mention… photos of Ace, bruised and battered, had now spread all across the seas!
This had gone too far!
Far too far!
As Garp's old friend, Sengoku thought of how he himself had resorted to such dirty tactics, forcing his friend's grandson into a factory job. For a moment, he felt rather ashamed. He cleared his throat and said, "Portgas D. Ace is a pirate, after all. I…"
But again—
Before he could finish—
"Seriously!" Garp went on, still complaining. "They actually used such an ugly photo! Don't they know to pick one of my grandson's most handsome shots? What if he can't find a wife in the future, huh?" He turned, confused, to Sengoku. "Right! What were you about to say just now?"
"…Nothing at all! You continue to eat!"
Sengoku's eyelid twitched. He said nothing further, exchanging a glance with Kuzan. Then he regained his solemn expression, ready to continue addressing everyone when—
"Brrrr, brrrr, brrrr~"
A Den Den Mushi suddenly rang. Sengoku froze for a second, then as if remembering something, he picked it up amid everyone's attention and said calmly, "This is Marine Headquarters. I am Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
As soon as he finished speaking—
A serious voice came from the other end: "Fleet Admiral Sengoku! This is Onigumo! I'm reporting on the matter of inviting the bounty hunter Kakuzu to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"
"How's it going?" Sengoku nodded, then continued, "Did that guy agree, or did he refuse?"
"That guy seems completely indifferent to the idea of becoming a Warlord! But…" There was a brief pause. "If we keep persuading him, I think he'll eventually agree!"
"I see…" Sengoku nodded again, frowning slightly. "And about intelligence on the Yuto Group…"
"Well…" Upon hearing Sengoku's question, Onigumo on the other end hesitated. "He said… they're hometown folks, from the same place. They've known each other for over a decade, practically sworn brothers, closest of friends and family!"
"I knew it…" Sengoku sighed in regret. "So the plan to extract information from that guy ultimately failed after all!"
"Eh~, not necessarily!"
"???"
"He said… it'll just cost extra!"
"…"