Chapter 418: Netero: Not a Bro?
"So you're saying Lord Hiruzen was killed long ago, and the one occupying his body now is Shimura Danzo?"
Gasps rippled among the heads of the minor clans.
Hiashi Hyuga nodded. "The Yamanaka clan head, who specializes in soul-sensing, has investigated many times in secret. It's confirmed—he is Shimura Danzo."
The very man who once leaked Konoha's defense plans to Orochimaru, leading to the village's destruction…
had now disguised himself as the Hokage.
Brazen beyond belief!
One clan head asked, "Should we inform the Mobile Corps?"
With the Shadow Organization loyal to Danzo and possessing strength that surpassed even the united clans, they'd need top-tier players from the Mobile Corps to stand a chance.
The eldest, Choza Akimichi, shook his head.
"If we do that, the clans will become collateral damage in a power struggle between the Shadow Organization and the Mobile Corps."
Danzo had suppressed the clans for too long.
This was their best chance—
not just to win over the disillusioned civilian ninjas, but to contend for the Hokage seat itself.
If the Mobile Corps got involved, the clans might be pushed aside again.
"But how can we stand against Danzo on our own?"
Once, the clans who monopolized high-level jutsu would never have voiced such doubt.
But the Reincarnation Game had raised countless civilian ninjas, and now the clans had become the weakest faction.
"It's simple. Lord Aizen has already made meticulous preparations."
Hiashi looked at Aizen with admiration.
Aizen nodded calmly.
"When the new season starts, I'll persuade Danzo to deploy the elite Shadow Organization members away from the village.
At that time, his protection will be thin, and you can act."
"But if that happens…"
Everyone knew Aizen had been cursed with Tongue Curse: Root Termination, placing his life and death under Danzo's control.
Surely Danzo would realize he'd been betrayed.
When that happened—
"It's fine."
Aizen offered a sincere smile.
"Like I said during the Hokage meeting: fallen leaves may wither, but they nourish the soil. Let me be the flame that lights the village's path."
Even Choza Akimichi and the others were moved.
They all looked at Aizen with respect.
Truly worthy of being called the Moonlight of Konoha.
The true inheritor of the Will of Fire.
…
Grand Line, Second Half – Adventurer HQ Island.
"So, you want to create an Adventurer HQ,
hold annual exams, and issue Adventurer Licenses to those who pass?"
"That's right."
"Adventurers with licenses will get perks—like free access to public facilities in countries across the Pirate World?"
"Exactly."
"And you'll create a Review Bureau to work with nations, accepting their requests,
assigning them to adventurers, and rewarding them handsomely upon completion?"
"Yep."
"And the license will determine each adventurer's role?
Like Bounty Adventurers who hunt criminals,
Gourmet Adventurers who seek rare ingredients,
and Treasure Hunters who go after artifacts?"
"Bingo."
As Aokiji continued to question him,
Shanks nodded repeatedly and laughed.
"Great idea, right?"
Aokiji fell silent in thought.
Watching through the world barrier, Fang Yi clapped and laughed.
"Poor Aokiji—never seen the Hunter x Hunter world, has he?"
Once Netero gets a game invite and sees how Shanks modeled the Adventurer HQ,
he'll demand royalties.
What could Fang Yi say?
Shanks truly was born to be an adventurer.
If he had been born in the Hunter World, he would've thrived.
The strict license system, followed by missions based on specialty—
it actually suited the Pirate World quite well.
The vast oceans couldn't be micromanaged.
Even the Revolutionary Army struggled; nations freed from tyranny would quickly fall into new cycles of exploitation.
The Navy Alliance, despite its manpower,
was plagued by corruption, with nobles and commanders in bed together.
The gods under Imu treated civilians like livestock.
Rather than that,
distributing Adventurer Licenses and severing political ties was smarter.
Adventurers could complete missions under the Review Bureau's oversight,
focused solely on task and reward—not messy politics.
Different license types also categorized personalities,
sending the right people to the right jobs.
This minimized mission abuse.
The key would be keeping the exam strict and fair.
Clearly, Shanks had thought it through.
He smiled and said, "Aokiji, I want you to be the chief examiner for the Adventurer Test."
Frost covered Aokiji's glasses.
After a long silence, he asked,
"Why me?"
That was his true question.
Shanks had plenty of candidates in the Red-Hair Pirates who could fill the role.
Why him?
Shanks answered bluntly.
"We're all pirates—even Mihawk is cold and aloof.
We might issue Treasure Hunter or Bounty Adventurer licenses just fine,
but we're unfit to issue Justice Adventurer licenses."
"I admire your sense of justice, Aokiji.
And I hope more like you will take up that mantle."
That last line—
like a searing blade,
pierced Aokiji's frozen armor and stabbed straight into his heart.
He hadn't felt such warmth in a long time.
"…I accept."
He let out a long breath.
Before he could react,
Shanks threw an arm around his shoulders and yelled,
"Boys! Welcome Examiner Aokiji to the Adventurer HQ!
Time to party!"
"PARTY!!"
The former Red-Hair Pirates shouted like drunks who'd smelled wine,
filling the entire island with their energy.
Soon, news of Aokiji joining the Adventurer HQ
spread across the Pirate World—courtesy of the news albatross.
Navy Alliance HQ Island.
BANG!
Fleet Admiral Sengoku slammed his fist into the table.
Two marines entered with practiced ease,
removed the shattered table, and brought in a replacement.
"That brat Aokiji went too far!
Does he have no regard for the mercy I've shown him?!"
The Navy hadn't issued a bounty,
hoping Aokiji would return.
Instead, he'd secretly joined forces with Shanks.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku,
since Aokiji has betrayed the Navy,
I recommend placing a bounty of 500,000 contribution points on him."
The speaker was a commander whose assets had been crushed by Aokiji.
Others quickly chimed in—many had long resented him.
"Agreed."
Sengoku sighed deeply.
But he didn't stop them. He nodded.
A traitor must be met with thunderous retribution.
They had to prevent this from happening again.
Next time they met,
they would be enemies.
You've chosen your path, Aokiji…
"Report! Fleet Admiral Sengoku,
the details of the new Reincarnation Game season are in. Will you review them?"
An intelligence officer handed over a file.
[New Season: Black Myth]
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