Chapter 82: Is This a Banquet?
The dark mass of people standing on the shore was met with Ryosuke's undisguised contempt.
These so-called "wandering" and "rebel" ninjas gathered at the border of the Land of Waves were nothing more than bottom-feeders. Gato himself wasn't even among them.
Though labeled as wandering or rogue ninjas, that didn't necessarily make them strong. In fact, the reality was far more underwhelming.
Wandering ninjas were mostly just regular people who had stumbled upon some chakra control and managed to learn a bit of basic ninjutsu. But that hardly made them true ninjas. Rogue ninjas, on the other hand, had formal training and once operated within the shinobi hierarchy—ranks like Genin, Chunin, or Jonin.
Still, not all rogue ninjas were created equal. High-profile defectors like the Akatsuki or the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Hidden Mist had been top-tier shinobi before going rogue. Those were classified as S-rank threats—monsters who drew the attention of the entire ninja world.
But this bunch?
They didn't even qualify for a rank. Most of them looked like washed-up deserters—shinobi who ran from the battlefield and were too afraid to return home.
To Ryosuke's trained eyes, they were utterly exposed. Their chakra levels were pitiful—some even weaker than kids still attending the Konoha Ninja Academy.
Granted, chakra alone didn't define a ninja's strength. But if you couldn't even perform a C-rank jutsu, what kind of ninja were you really?
This was the real shinobi world. Ryosuke didn't care about character scripts from some manga. He assessed everyone, even side characters, based on what was in front of him.
If he could see this group's weakness, then someone like Gato—a wealthy businessman who'd made a name for himself in a dangerous world—would definitely know the limits of the people under his payroll. No way he'd rely on these chumps to stage an ambush.
Otherwise, a fool like him wouldn't have survived long enough to get rich in a cutthroat world like this.
As the cargo ship gradually neared the Land of Waves, Ryosuke stayed calm.
Despite his warning, Hyuga Hizashi and the others remained on alert, weapons ready and eyes sharp.
Ryosuke didn't interfere. It was instinctive for shinobi to be cautious, after all.
But as the boat got closer to shore, the situation became clearer.
Hizashi and the others began to relax.
The crowd onshore made no effort to hide themselves. They stood there, exposed and idle, showing no signs of an ambush. It was more like they were waiting for someone.
"Gato's goons, no doubt. His intentions are obvious," Ryosuke muttered, steering the ship with one hand. Turning to Hyuga Hizashi beside him, he said, "Uncle Hizashi, I'll leave the rest to you. Our top priority is figuring out what Gato's planning."
"From what we're seeing now, he doesn't seem eager to make enemies. I'm guessing he wants to win us over—or at least negotiate."
"We'll probably be invited to meet him right after landing. He'll want to talk terms. Your job is to get us the best possible deal… and make him wait."
His tone was flat—firm, even commanding. There was no deference in it, despite calling the man "uncle."
Hizashi was nothing like his brother, Hiashi. Though Ryosuke addressed him with proper seniority, there was no emotional connection. This was the same man who once plotted against Hinata. To Ryosuke, he wasn't family—just another Hyuga clansman.
"You're trying to stay behind the curtain. I get it," Hizashi responded calmly, nodding in understanding.
Ryosuke had clearly seen through the situation before the rest of them, and Hizashi's opinion of him had risen significantly because of it. As for the boy's tone? He didn't mind. It felt natural, almost expected.
Hizashi didn't ask any more questions. The intent behind Gato's move was now crystal clear. As the head of a branch family, Hizashi often handled tasks involving diplomacy and conflicting interests. After Ryosuke pointed it out, the entire setup made sense to him.
The ship docked at the shoreline.
A wooden ladder was lowered from the side and rested on the land.
Hyuga Hizashi, now officially taking charge, was the first to disembark. Behind him followed Jonin Iroha and a few Hyuga Chunin, including Ryosuke and Hoshicai.
"Welcome, gentlemen from Konoha!"
A small group of nervous-looking men approached, clearly uneasy. Their leader took a few hesitant steps forward, bowing as he spoke in a servile tone.
"Lord Gato sent us to invite you to tonight's banquet."
He kept his head bowed, eyes locked on Hizashi—who, judging by his position in the front, seemed to be the one in charge.
"The Land of Waves is a vassal state of the Fire Country," Hizashi said coldly, his white eyes narrowing. "All diplomatic matters here are now under Hyuga control. Your boss knows that, doesn't he?"
He stared the man down. "So why are you still loitering here? Does your boss really think he can go toe-to-toe with the Hyuga clan?"
"N-no! Please, it's a misunderstanding!"
The group's leader flinched and shook his head frantically. "Lord Gato sincerely wishes to cooperate with you. He's prepared a banquet to discuss terms. There will be wine… delicacies… anything you desire."
"Sincerity, huh?"
Hizashi's tone turned even colder. "No one from his side has shown their face, and yet you want us to go alone? Is that what passes for sincerity?"
The man's face turned pale, drenched in sweat. Being stared down by multiple Hyuga with Byakugan active was no joke.
Behind him, the rest of his crew had quietly backed away—keeping a safe distance, clearly ready to bolt if things turned ugly.
"I… I understand… but Lord Gato said…"
The poor man trembled as he spoke. "He said he's… too timid to face you all directly. But he sincerely hopes you'll attend the banquet. Whether the deal succeeds or not, he's prepared generous gifts for each of you as a sign of goodwill."
The tension was thick, and for a long moment, no one said a word.
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