Naruto: Tales of Ashihara

Chapter 116 - Chimera's Goal

Naruto: Tales of Ashihara

Shinden Saga – Arc 1: Kimera

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Chapter 116 – Chimera's goal

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On the way back to Kiri, Takeshi's mind is busied by the thought that he took the same path but the other way around earlier with more pleasant company. He was genuinely interested in Sakitsuki, but doesn't really seek to learn about Naomi Yuki. The former mercenary, bothered by Takeshi's obvious distant behavior, engages in a useful conversation.

"Tell me, Minamoto, what do you know of the Chimera's intentions exactly?" she says.

"I know enough. And don't call him Chimera." he coldly answers.

"I doubt you know enough." she replies. "And I know him by this name, so this is how I'll call him."

In Takeshi's mind, his white tengu Tentoki tries to convince him that their new acolyte is worth their trust.

"She certainly knows more than us about Kotobuki's true self." he says to his yamabushi. "You should at least listen to what she has to say. And, by the way, getting along would be fine as well. You're supposed to help her get redemption."

"Hm..." Takeshi muffles before turning around to ask Makura's opinion. "What do you think about this?"

"... We need to kill Kotobuki." the wooden statue simply says, which is enough of an answer for Takeshi.

Naomi, ignoring the young man's cold answers and silence, goes on to say what has to be said.

"You know he's become the Daimyo of this land, and I guess you know why he needs that." she starts. "Sure, he believes that leading a feudal order can get him control over this continent, but there's more to it than just politics. What do you think he wants to take the power of that Otsutsuki kid for? You do understand that no one would crave such immeasurable power for fun?"

"... I'm not sure..." Takeshi decides to discuss it. "Karasu told me that any employer who could do a mercenary's job will seek to surpass his need for hires. I suppose that's what this is about for Kotobuki."

"Crow told you that?" Naomi remarks. "Were you two friends or something? Did he also have plans to turn against the Chimera? Seems like he lost at this game anyway."

"Or maybe he thinks it will get him to the Hokage's level." Takeshi adds about Hideo, ignoring Naomi's comments on Karasu.

"Hm... That's a valid reason, but not the one I know of. Let me tell you something." she explains. "To him, having control over the ninja world has no more value than ruling over what we call our underworld. The mercenary business. This network spreads through the whole world and all nations are connected through a single main investor. In this land, the investor is the Chimera. He's somehow the Mizukage of bounty hunters. Crow and I had roles similar to Suigetsu Hozuki or Sasuke Uchiha as his right-hand. But the thing is, the Chimera's control doesn't go past the frontiers of this land."

"So he's just another power hungry asshole?" Takeshi remarks. "You make it sound like it's actually just about politics and ego."

"That's not all. The underworld isn't exactly the same as the Shinobi Union." she goes on to reply. "The Kage rule over their armies and serve, or at least used to serve for most, the feudal families. The highest instance of power are the feudal lords and they still only control their lands. In our business, every nation's main investor is made to believe that he is in total control. And at his land's scale he is. But he has no power over other lands. The Chimera used to tell me about something he and other main investors ended up noticing. It felt to them like, despite all having equal exchanges and relations, they unknowingly depended on someone among them. The Chimera personally believed someone in this worldwide criminal order was actually sitting at the throne above everyone else."