Chapitre 226: Chapter 226
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! For Only $5!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]
====
On the third day of the New Year's festival, Alliance City was open for its final day.
During such festivals, there was no way Naruto wouldn't bring his beloved Sakura to enjoy a day in Alliance City. However, since Sasuke wasn't coming, Sakura wouldn't come either.
With no other option, Naruto had to bring Sasuke along.
On the streets of Konoha, the blond boy walked side by side with the aloof, dark-haired boy, with a pink-haired girl beside them.
"You said there was something here that could make me stronger."
Sasuke cast a shadowy, intense gaze towards Naruto.
Having just experienced the tragedy of his clan's massacre a year ago, Sasuke's mind was filled with thoughts of how to kill Itachi, leaving no room for anything else.
If Naruto hadn't told him that coming here could quickly increase his strength, he wouldn't have come at all.
He wasn't interested in those so-called Pokémon; he was determined to settle this grudge personally. He never intended to rely on anyone or anything else to kill Itachi.
"Of course, there are many things—whether it's Haki or Devil Fruits, they can make you incredibly strong. And let's not forget about Pokémon. If you ask me, Sasuke, you might not even be as strong as a Pokémon that just left its child stage."
Naruto wasn't lying to Sasuke.
What he said was entirely true.
"Do you know how to get those things?"
In the past, Sasuke might have argued with Naruto over whether or not he was weaker than a Pokémon. But now, Sasuke had no interest in such petty disputes.
In his eyes, he was already an adult burdened with a heavy grudge, while Naruto was just a kid who didn't understand anything.
"Haki can only be learned from someone who knows it. As for Devil Fruits, you can buy them in the maritime world, but they're very expensive now. Everyone wants to use them to make their Pokémon stronger and become stronger trainers."
Naruto had always been interested in how to become stronger.
To become the Alliance Leader, it wasn't enough to have strong Pokémon. To be recognized by the First Leader, Dak, as the next leader, one had to have personal strength.
This was something all aspiring candidates for the position of the Second Leader and the upper echelons of the Alliance had come to accept.
The selection of the next leader would surely be decided by a vote among the Alliance's top officials.
Even though Dak hadn't explicitly stated that the leader must be powerful, the other top officials of the Alliance would never accept someone weaker than themselves as the leader.
Especially in the eyes of people like Sakazuki.
'If you can't fight, step down and let me take over.'
This was also Zephyr's view, so he often taught Naruto how to become stronger.
Naruto explained the effects of Haki and Devil Fruits to Sasuke in detail.
Sasuke was clearly more interested in Devil Fruits, which could rapidly increase one's power, and wasn't as keen on the slow, gradual training required for Haki.
"How do I get to that world?"
Sasuke was tempted.
He had already started thinking about how to obtain a Logia-type Devil Fruit. At the very least, it had to be a Paramecia-type; he wouldn't even consider a Zoan-type.
"Generally speaking, non-Alliance staff from Pokémon Island aren't allowed to enter the maritime world unless they have a friend there willing to invite them."
Naruto had been to the maritime world before, so he was familiar with the rules.
"Do you know anyone like that?"
"I do. You want to go to the maritime world? I can't take you there. It's dangerous, and if you die there, what then?"
Naruto didn't have a deep bond with Sasuke yet.
In the original story, their relationship deepened only after they were assigned to Team 7 and went through life-and-death battles together.
At this point, Naruto and Sasuke hadn't even acknowledged each other as friends. Only after the battle with Zabuza and Haku would they truly begin to see each other as comrades.
But Naruto was a good kid; even though his relationship with Sasuke wasn't that strong, he didn't want him to get hurt or lose his life.
"Naruto, listen to me. I have a reason I must become stronger. I'm prepared to die on this path. Even if I do die there, it wouldn't be your fault. I'd still be grateful for your help."
Sasuke grabbed Naruto by the collar and seriously told him this.
As for Sakura beside them, Sasuke hadn't spared her a glance. To him, she was a useless girl with no value.
"Then I'll go with you."
"I'll go alone."
"No, if you go alone, I won't take you."
Naruto's attitude was firm.
Under Zephyr's guidance, he had become a responsible young man. If he was going to take Sasuke there, he would do his best to protect him.
The maritime world was still relatively safe at this point, but the sea beasts and wild creatures there could be dangerous for two kids who weren't trainers.
"I want to go too!"
At this point, Sakura couldn't hold back any longer.
She had been quietly enduring, not interrupting their conversation, but now, hearing that the two boys were going to another world, she couldn't stay silent.
"No way." x2
For different reasons, both Naruto and Sasuke rejected Sakura's request.
"Why not?!"
"It's too dangerous for you, Sakura."
"What use would you be? You'd just be a burden."
There's no need to specify who said which line.
Sasuke was fed up with this useless, clingy girl. He was busy training all day, and she kept interrupting him.
She would just stand there, looking down, not saying a word, twisting her body around. Sasuke couldn't figure out what was wrong with her.
"But..."
"Shut up. Why are you even here?"
Sasuke was truly annoyed.
Why was this girl always haunting him?
"I..."
Sakura, scolded by Sasuke, felt extremely upset and lowered her head, looking pitiful.
"Don't be like that, Sasuke. We're all classmates, friends. Come on, let's go. I'll take you to the maritime world."
Seeing Sakura like this, Naruto couldn't help but intervene.
His grandfather was Zephyr, so Naruto was technically half a maritime world person. Going there himself was no problem; he didn't need to go through Luffy and the others.
Only kids like Shikamaru and Kiba needed to go through the process Naruto mentioned earlier to enter the maritime world.
"Alright."
Sasuke nodded, his attention shifted, and he ignored Sakura.
The thought of becoming stronger even made him a little excited.
This was the happiest he'd felt in over a year.
"Sakura, wait at my house, or go explore Alliance City. Sasuke and I will be back soon."
After saying that, Naruto took Sasuke and left.
Half an hour later.
Naruto and Sasuke stood on a strange island full of soap bubbles.
The Sabaody Archipelago.
It wasn't Naruto's first time here.
But it was Sasuke's.
Even though Sasuke's mind was preoccupied with thoughts of his brother Itachi, he couldn't help but be awestruck by this fantastical island.
He opened his mouth slightly, looking up at the sky filled with rainbow-reflecting bubbles and the oddly-shaped trees around them.
Looking down, the streets were full of people laughing and chatting—people of all kinds, even other races.
Fishmen, Mink Tribe, Longleg Tribe...
Races that were once only accepted in the New World were now found throughout the seas.
The whole world was like a united nation, and all of it was shared property.
"Amazing, isn't it?"
Naruto, seeing Sasuke's expression, smugly rubbed his nose.
When he first came here, he had shouted and been unbelievably excited. Compared to that, Sasuke was quite calm.
"Hmm."
Sasuke took a deep breath, forcing himself to refocus on his original purpose. "Where can I find Devil Fruits?"
"The auction on Sabaody usually has them at every event. Did you bring any money?"
"..."
Sasuke fell silent for a while, his once-excited heart suddenly turning cold.
That's right. He hadn't brought any money.
After hearing Naruto talk about Devil Fruits, he'd rushed over in excitement, completely forgetting that Naruto had mentioned needing a lot of money to buy one.
"No worries, there might not be an auction today anyway. They're held irregularly. We can check the bulletin board on Island 14 first."
"Alright."
Sasuke nodded. He knew nothing about this place, so he decided to trust Naruto for now.
Even though Sasuke was full of hatred, he was still just a naive kid who didn't know how dangerous the world could be. Thankfully, Naruto was also a naive, kind-hearted kid. Otherwise, someone like Orochimaru could easily manipulate Sasuke with a simple promise of power and revenge.
The distance to Sabaody Archipelago was a bit far, even with a Pokémon ride, it took half an hour.
But fortunately, Naruto wasn't short on money. Zephyr never skimmed on giving him pocket money, so paying for the ride was no problem.
"How much do Devil Fruits cost, at least?"
"Well, even a basic Zoan-type fruit costs around thirty million Berries."
Naruto considered it for a moment.
He had heard that a basic Zoan-type Devil Fruit used to cost around ten million Berries.
But ever since Pokémon became mainstream, the price of Devil Fruits had skyrocketed. Even a basic Zoan-type fruit could greatly benefit a Pokémon.
This benefit even exceeded the growth a human could achieve by eating a Devil Fruit.
(End of Chapter)
Chapitre 227: Chapter 227
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! For Only $5!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]
====
When Sasuke heard this amount, his expression immediately changed.
Even in the past, when his father, Fugaku, was still the clan leader, he might not have been able to gather enough funds to buy an ordinary Devil Fruit for him.
And that's saying nothing of the present.
Most of the wealth the Uchiha clan had left behind had been 'reclaimed for public use' by Hiruzen, and a small portion was forcibly taken by Danzo's Root under the guise of punishing the Uchiha for Itachi's crimes.
Although Sasuke still had a considerable amount of money, it wasn't nearly enough to buy a Devil Fruit.
He was already starting to think about how to make money quickly.
About half an hour later.
They arrived at Island 14.
Nowadays, Island 14 of the Sabaody Archipelago had become recognized as the main island due to the presence of a branch of the Magical Breeding House.
Many major companies and merchants set up their headquarters on Island 14.
This former lawless area had, in their eyes, become the safest and most stable island in the archipelago.
As for the auctions held these days, they were mainly organized by large maritime companies and shipping fleets, under the supervision and regulation of the Pokémon Alliance.
No one dared to play tricks, nor did they dare to auction forbidden items.
[The next auction will be held this Sunday]
"Hmm, it looks like there's no rush. Sasuke, you—"
Naruto noticed the auction notice was still five days away and turned to look at Sasuke, only to find he was gone. "Sasuke?"
Instead of Sasuke, there was a dazed, runny-nosed kid sitting behind Naruto, staring blankly at him.
Naruto panicked.
Instead of wandering around aimlessly, he immediately grabbed the runny-nosed kid and reported the situation to the nearby Alliance Security Team.
The Security Team immediately notified all members across the island to "search for a black-haired eight-year-old boy, known for always having a scowl on his face."
They also promptly arranged to send the runny-nosed kid back to his original place.
. . .
Rewind to fifteen minutes earlier.
On Island 19, which was a must-pass route to Island 14.
Former human trafficker, now poacher, Yuri had received a rare job targeting a human today.
Ever since entering the Pokémon era, those old bosses had lost interest in non-human races, mainly because the Celestial Dragons, their biggest clients, had been wiped out. The other nobles, under the pressure of the Pokémon Alliance, also refrained from such activities, fearing exposure and annihilation.
Yuri had thought he was going to be out of work.
Who would have thought that the underworld would see a surge in requests for capturing Pokémon?
Initially, these requests mainly came from those big pirates in the New World. The major players were Big Mom and Kaido, who wanted to use the power of Pokémon to strengthen their organizations and dominion.
But soon, the Pokémon Alliance caught on and shifted their strategy from a gradual approach to a swift strike, deploying large forces to annihilate both pirate crews.
Now, they were in the process of wiping out the remnants of these pirate groups.
But that didn't mean people like Yuri were out of jobs. After the example set by these big pirates, such tasks started popping up like mushrooms after the rain.
Requests for capturing Pokémon were frequent.
The type of Pokémon sought had also changed.
Initially, it was about capturing strong and potentially powerful Pokémon. Now, the focus was on capturing cute, fluffy, gentle, timid, and soft Pokémon.
Yuri now seriously suspected these orders came from some wealthy women or noble ladies.
Not that it mattered to him; as long as he got paid, he didn't care. The more orders from these women, the better. Capturing such Pokémon was far easier than the likes of Tauros, Heracross, Aggron, or even Onix. Those jobs had made him sick.
Those jobs had a high failure rate and were extremely troublesome to transport.
"Such perverts."
Yuri muttered to himself and double-checked the mission details in his hand.
It was an urgent task to kidnap a cute little boy.
Originally, Yuri had sworn never to take on kidnapping-related jobs again, but he had no choice; the pay was just too good.
He swore this would be his last job.
Once done, he would retire for good.
According to the information provided by the client, the target was on that Didi Pokémon ahead.
Yuri's gaze fell on a Stantler running along a dedicated road.
"Fortunately, it's just one."
Yuri relaxed as he observed the Stantler.
Stantler weren't particularly strong in battle, but they naturally possessed a strange characteristic.
The orb in the center of their antlers could easily induce dizziness in people.
Moreover, Stantler was a Pokémon that could easily learn Hypnosis.
One Stantler was manageable, but if there were two or more, there would be little chance of escaping hypnosis.
"Good, there's a little kid. Now, I can use the bait and switch."
Yuri grinned and sprang into action.
He was a Switch-Switch Fruit user.
These days, if you weren't a Devil Fruit user, you couldn't make it in this line of work.
The Switch-Switch Fruit had a similar effect to the Operation Fruit's Room ability.
However, while the Operation Fruit could only switch things within the Room, the Switch-Switch Fruit could switch items globally.
But the Switch-Switch Fruit had a major drawback—it was limited in its function, unlike the versatile Operation Fruit.
The Switch-Switch Fruit could only switch the object touched by the left hand with the object touched by the right hand. The exchange could occur within a 12-hour window, after which the record would refresh, making the switch impossible.
Yuri had already used his right hand to tag an eight-year-old boy in a roadside shop a few minutes ago. The boy wouldn't run off anytime soon.
Now Yuri just needed to find an opportunity to touch the target with his left hand, then return to the shop to switch with the boy and successfully kidnap the target.
Stantler was fast, but anyone daring to attempt such a job in the pirate world couldn't be weak.
Although Yuri wasn't great in head-on combat, he still had a bounty of sixty to seventy million Berries on his head. A Didi Pokémon was only at the level of about ten to twenty, no match for him.
On the other side.
Thud.
Sasuke, sitting on the Stantler behind Naruto, was enjoying the ride when he suddenly felt a gust of wind, and someone brushed against his shoulder.
He didn't pay much attention, just instinctively glanced to the side.
A figure quickly ran off.
Sasuke merely marveled at the person's speed in his mind, not realizing anything was amiss.
Five minutes later.
Sasuke suddenly felt his surroundings change, the rushing wind disappearing.
It seemed like he was in a café with hardly anyone around.
As soon as Sasuke became alert and started to look around, he felt a sharp pain at the back of his neck, and he blacked out.
"Got him."
Yuri grabbed a large sack and sprinted out of the shop, racing towards the shore.
The client had already arranged for another group of bounty hunters to meet Yuri in the southeastern waters of the Sabaody Archipelago.
All he had to do now was hand over the sack and collect his bounty. Then he could retire and live out his days in peace.
He had already planned to buy six Pokémon and become a trainer to chase his dreams.
The first Pokémon Battle Tournament would take place next month, which he couldn't make, but his goal was to win the second tournament.
Half an hour later.
Yuri finally reached the sea.
There had been too many search parties, especially those annoying canine Pokémon.
Yuri had to use his Switch-Switch Fruit ability multiple times to escape.
"Damn, I lost a lot of time. Better hurry up."
Yuri boarded a small fishing boat he'd prepared earlier, pretending to be a fisherman out for a catch.
As he reached the designated spot, Yuri saw another fishing boat.
On the boat, he spotted a figure in a black cloak.
Yuri shook his head.
"Must be a newbie."
Yuri thought the guy's disguise was so obvious it was practically inviting suspicion.
A real pro would be like him, seamlessly blending in. Anyone would think he'd been a fisherman for ten years.
"You here?"
"Yeah, took a while."
"Got the goods?"
"Here."
Yuri handed over the large sack.
The man peeked inside the bag, then casually tossed it aside, lifting his head to reveal his face beneath the mask.
"I knew anyone wearing a black cloak wouldn't be a good guy. Who'd have thought I'd catch a big fish?"
"You're... Thatch, Fourth Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates?!"
Yuri was so terrified his soul almost left his body, his face turning pale.
His guess was correct; the man here to receive the handoff was indeed a newbie, struggling with poverty. And on his first day, he ran into Thatch, who was coincidentally on his way to visit Alliance City.
"What do you mean Whitebeard Pirates? Watch your language. We're the Whitebeard Adventure Group. You're under arrest."
As a student of the Pokémon Academy, Thatch had to uphold the honor of both his crew and the academy.
Catching a criminal like this would surely earn him praise at school.
Thatch quickly reached out, grabbing Yuri's arms and pinning him to the deck.
Even though he hadn't fought or trained much lately, the Fourth Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates was still no pushover.
"Snorlax, hold him and dunk him in the sea. He might be a Devil Fruit user."
Thatch summoned Snorlax, and the fishing boat nearly sank under its weight.
Luckily, it held.
"Snor~"
Snorlax grabbed Yuri, submerging him in the water from the neck down.
It's over.
Yuri was utterly despairing now.
(End of Chapter)
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
200+ Classement
Power Stone 
54 Power
stone Vous aimerez peut-être aussi
Commentaire de paragraphe