Chapter 15

Chapter 15 — Gatō and His Little Lackeys

“Sir, your miso chashu ramen. The daifuku and tempura are complimentary. Please enjoy.”

The young waiter respectfully carried the tray with both hands, placing the steaming dishes neatly on the table.

“Mm.”

Menma withdrew his gaze from the window and looked at the food, slightly surprised.

The waiter’s sincere service left a faint warmth.

Two extra side dishes had clearly been added as thanks for the tip.

“Oh, right, sir. If you want to take one of Gatō Company’s merchant ships to the Land of Lightning, there’s a ticket office on the next street,” the waiter added.

Besides transporting cargo, these merchant ships also sold passenger tickets to increase profit.

“Thank you.”

Menma answered briefly and began eating.

Seeing the guest’s cold demeanor, the waiter showed no surprise and quietly withdrew.

The ramen tasted ordinary—this was not a specialized ramen shop—but the tempura was crisp outside and tender inside, and the daifuku sweet and satisfying. He was pleased.

After finishing his meal and restoring his energy, Menma left the small restaurant and headed toward the harbor to find his target.

From afar, he spotted a merchant ship bearing Gatō Company’s flag preparing to depart. Crew members shouted through horns while passengers crowded along the gangway, struggling to board.

Menma lightly leapt forward and appeared instantly on deck using Body Flicker.

“Hm?”

A patrolling rōnin samurai felt a tap on his shoulder and turned slightly.

The moment he saw the white three-eyed fox mask, the samurai fell under genjutsu, his eyes becoming unfocused.

“Where is Gatō?” Menma asked quietly.

“Lord Gatō will board later,” the rōnin replied blankly.

“Take me to his room.”

Menma formed hand seals and transformed into a sword-bearing samurai.

“Yes, sir.”

The controlled rōnin led the way.

They walked naturally through the ship’s corridors like routine patrol members. No one grew suspicious.

“This is Lord Gatō’s room.”

The rōnin stopped before an ornate wooden door.

“Stand guard. Let him enter when he arrives.”

Menma pushed the door open.

“Yes.”

The rōnin remained outside like a statue.

Inside, Menma found no piles of gold or jewels, but expensive leather decorations, rare liquor collections, and unfamiliar curios filled the room.

He sat behind the desk, opened a drawer, and began reading account ledgers.

In a certain month, the fleet transported goods from Fire Country ports to the Land of Water.

In another month, cargo returned from the Land of Water to the Land of Fire.

…

All were recent records. Even during the Third Shinobi World War, Gatō’s fleet continued traveling between nations. Occasionally they suffered losses from ninja attacks or pirates, but overall profits were enormous.

War created perfect conditions for merchants like Gatō to accumulate vast wealth.

Menma was no professional accountant, yet large expenditures were obvious in the ledgers. Much of the fleet’s earnings had vanished—clearly tribute paid to nobles and even daimyō of major countries.

Only through such payments could Gatō’s ships travel freely across national borders.

At present, Gatō Company remained merely respectable in scale, far from the immense fortune it would possess nine years later when Gatō became one of the richest men in the world.

“It seems robbing Gatō is practically a standard funding method in fanfiction…”

Menma leaned back in the leather chair, resting his chin on one hand while casually flipping through the accounts.

The ship suddenly shook—the voyage had begun.

Soon afterward, loud commotion sounded outside.

Bang!

The door was violently kicked open.

A short man in a suit and round sunglasses stormed inside aggressively.

Behind him followed several vicious-looking rōnin samurai and rogue ninja.

The rōnin previously controlled by Menma had already been subdued.

“I’d like to see who’s got the nerve!” the short man snarled as he entered.

When he noticed someone sitting in the expensive leather chair he had purchased at great cost from the Land of Bears, his face turned dark green with anger.

“It seems this trip will be entertaining.”

Grinning viciously, Gatō ordered his men:

“Teach this brat a lesson. Don’t damage my collection. After that, do whatever you want with him on the ship.”

The rōnin and rogue ninja advanced with cruel smiles, as if the boy were already their toy.

“Not even a decent ninja among you?”

Menma sensed their chakra. Only two possessed genin-level strength. He shook his head.

He had no interest in even standing up.

Still seated, he formed a one-handed seal.

“Nine-Faced Sudarshana — Tennyo!”

Space distorted.

A dark red formation bearing the character Tennyo appeared beside him.

From the summoning array emerged the Nine-Faced Beast — Tennyo Heavenly Maiden, floating in midair.

“What is that?!”

Before the warriors could react, the Heavenly Maiden’s ribbons lashed outward.

Two ribbons pierced the leading rōnin like blades.

Blood splattered everywhere. The sharp smell of iron snapped the remaining men into terrified clarity.

The Heavenly Maiden continued moving.

Her ribbons extended, striking down every rōnin and rogue ninja in their path.

Screams filled the cabin. Severed limbs scattered as the interior descended into chaos.

Seeing this, Gatō turned and fled without hesitation.

He had barely reached the corridor when two ribbons chased him down, binding his body tightly.

“Aaaah!”

Dragged back into the room, he found the floor now covered with corpses.

“M-M-My lord… please… don’t… don’t kill me…”

The once-arrogant Gatō trembled uncontrollably, his sunglasses hanging crookedly as terror filled his eyes.

Menma rose from the chair and floated toward him, looking down at the miserable merchant.

He understood that slaughter alone would not earn true loyalty.

Forming another hand seal, Menma spoke coldly:

“Demonic Illusion — Hell Viewing Technique.”