Chapter 11: What it takes.
A random bar in nowhere.
"Nice to finally meet you."
A young man with a smiling face greeted a hooded man. The hooded man had a long tattoo on the left side of his face.
"You know, I have been working hard to get your attention. Destroying so many caravans of heavenly tribute was excessive I'll admit, but it was not wasted."
"What do you want? That is what I came here to know." The hooded man asked.
"I want to spread happiness." The young man replied with a chipper voice.
"And destroying Tequila wolf?"
"Oh, don't be like that, everyone was evacuated. I only killed the top officials."
"You have brought attention to us. We were planning for a quiet revolution. How did you do it?"
"I used poison. The easiest way to kill so many people. I had the antidote mixed with the slave food. Then I spread the poison everywhere the next day, I also burned the entire area for extra measure later. It was an easy task."
"What do you want by cooperating with us?"
"I want one thing from you."
The hooded man kept quiet for a few seconds.
"What is it that you're looking for?"
"I want the fruit or the fruit wielder of Mori Mori no mi. Or the Forest logia for short.
In compensation, I am willing to give you one trillion beli stolen in the Heavenly tribute heists and looted in the Tequila Wolf destruction.
There is a chance that the wielder of the devil fruit is named Aramaki and is located in South Blue's Taya Kingdom. If he has eaten the fruit then he will be strong. And I do not have the ability at the moment to capture such a person.
Do we have a deal?"
"Where do we exchange?"
"Heh, a no-nonsense man, aren't you? I will remain here until the package is received and you will get the money as soon as the package arrives."
The hooded man stood up and left hearing that.
"Oi boss, gimme some juice. Non-alcoholic."
The young man then chugged down an entire gallon of fruit juice. It was tangy and sweet.
"Ah, so nice. Well, time to go shopping. I wonder how much stuff I can get from this island."
The young man then left the bar and explored the island.
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It's been three years.
Somehow it feels like it was only yesterday that my life started anew.
"Hey, Leon, how has the progress been? Is everything clear on that side?"
A sound of calling someone.
'Oi Leon, the boss asked, are you done on your side?
Uh-huh, yeah. I got it; I'll pass it on. He says he's ready. It was a success.'
A 6-year-old child replied.
"OK, Mamit. Thanks. So we really are doing this." He spoke aloud, with a wistful voice.
'What? Wanna back out now?'
"No, no. I just...it feels weird how rapidly everything changed. Our plan fell apart so quickly."
'It didn't fall apart, we just got a better idea in the middle and changed the plan. That plan was haphazardly thought out anyway.'
"I didn't want to think like this. It's like, you know, trying to keep the fantasy real. The Naruto world is fantasy, yours is sci-fi and mine is mixed. That was how it should've been."
'Instead, here we are, changing fate entirely.' [Mamit]
'I think it was a good change of plan. One with no risks and no way to backfire.' [Namit]
"Well, we've run out of time. And if we want to have any semblance of surprise, we have to do it now. Otherwise, there will be trouble. We procrastinated enough."
'Well, the prep is done at least. Now we get that fruit and kinda disappear.' [Mamit]
"Well, I will disappear, not you guys."
'Meh, same thing.' [Namit]
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Three weeks later, in a random bar.
A young woman sat across from a man.
"Hello, madam..."
"Belo Betty. You can call me Betty"
"Ah certainly. I am surprised that it is you who was sent on this delivery mission."
"The money will be funding part of the army, so I came to get it early."
"I understand. So, where is the package."
"And where is the payment?"
The two stared at each other silently.
"Hmm, how do your many supplies get transferred? I assume it must be troublesome. Smuggling is hard and risky in the current climate of the world. I had hoped to meet him again."
"He is busy at the moment."
"Understandable. Half of the money is in the trash bin next to your men that are hiding in the next house. May I see the package please?"
She relayed the information to her men with a tiny den den mushi.
'Woah, she has the life-action version ear-snail.' [Namit]
'Quiet, idiot.' [Mamit]
She let nothing slip whether she was disturbed or not. After receiving the confirmation she brought out a box and opened it. Inside was a devil fruit.
"So, you found it. I am surprised you actually brought it here."
"You are dangerous enough for us not to mess with you."
"But hopefully not dangerous enough to co-operate with."
He took the box with the fruit in it and let it sink into his mudlike body. He watched as Belo Betty's eyes went wide. Before she got too anxious, he brought out the rest of the money in duffel boxes. There was also some gold inside.
He also brought out a unique-looking snail.
"Usually all snails have coils that rotate to the right. This one has a left-rotating one. Also, it's a hybrid. It can only contact one other Snail. Give this to him and tell him to get in contact with me. I can help him in ways no one else can.
I shall bid farewell now. Have a good day."
He left the young woman and let her contact her superior and do whatever. He had gotten what he wanted.
'We have our conditions met. Let's go. I'm sending the signal to Shisui now.' [Namit]
"Gimme a day at least. I need to get to the location."
'Ok, got it.'
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A small island.
"Found an island not in the maps. I think this place is perfect for our plans."
'Could've been a bit bigger.' [Namit]
"Be glad I found one in the calm belt and that's as well hidden as this one. My Shadow clones had to look over the entire sea."
A giant glider and wind release is usually enough for unlimited flight. Use shadow clones and you can have a giant number of autonomous magic drones that disappear and send their data telepathically. Very convenient.
"Alright, I'm ready. Send in the merchandise."