Chapter 118: The Sovereign's Ledger and the Bounty of Fate
The medical bay hummed with a low, rhythmic vibration. It wasn't just the machinery; it was the Resonance Seals Rimon had installed in the walls, designed to mimic the soothing frequency of the ocean. It was a technique inspired by the "Healing Waves" the Straw Hats had described when resting on the Sunny—a way to ensure that the body recovered not just from physical wounds, but from the spiritual exhaustion of combat.
Rimon stood on the balcony of the Medical Tower, looking out over the expanded Uzushiogakure. In eight months, the island had transformed. The skyline was no longer just stone and wood; it was dotted with Hydroponic Towers that glowed with a soft emerald light and the Vortex-Cloaks of the Border Guard, who moved like shimmering ghosts along the shoreline.
His internal interface—the System that had been his silent partner since this journey began—flickered to life.
> [NOTIFICATION: MULTI-PART QUEST COMPLETE]
> Quest: The Gathering of Legends
> Objective 1: Relocate the "Ghost of the Uchiha" to Uzushio (STATUS: COMPLETE).
> Objective 2: Rescue the "Grandson of the God of Shinobi" and secure his loyalty (STATUS: COMPLETE).
> Evaluating Narrative Impact...
> * Konoha's Foundation: CRITICALLY WEAKENED.
> * Uzushio's Sovereignty: MASSIVELY INCREASED.
> * The "Script" of the World: IRREVERSIBLY BROKEN.
> Rewards Loading...
> * System Perk Upgrade: The Sovereign's Eye (Enhanced tactical oversight and DNA-lock verification).
> * Tech Blueprint: The Thousand Sunny's "Coup de Burst" Engine Core (Miniaturized for Uzushio Defense Ships).
> * Title Earned: The King of Thieves (God-Tier Stealth and Spatial Manipulation).
> * Bonus: 10,000 "Adventure Points" (Straw Hat Influence Currency). And 20,000 SP.
>
Rimon felt a surge of cold, refined energy wash through his chakra coils. The "King of Thieves" title didn't just feel like a name; it felt like the space around him had become more fluid, as if he could simply step through the air whenever he wished.
"Rimon?"
He turned. Nawaki was sitting up, his chest wrapped in bandages. His face was still pale, but the haunted look he had in Konoha was gone. Beside him, young Mito was holding a tray of food—not the bland rations of a shinobi camp, but a vibrant, colorful meal that looked like something Sanji would have whipped up.
"You're in Uzushio, Nawaki," Rimon said, walking over. "The Leaf thinks you're a martyr. Danzo is probably writing a speech about your 'sacrifice' right now."
Nawaki looked at his hands, then at the silver seal on his wrist that Rimon had placed there—his new identity marker. "It feels... light. I thought I'd feel like a traitor, but looking at this village... it doesn't feel like I'm leaving a home. It feels like I've finally found one."
"The Senju will be joining you soon," Rimon said, his voice dropping to a serious tone. "In the last eight months, we've captured over forty spies from the Cloud, Rock, and Mist. They came to kill us, but once they saw the hydroponics and the way we treat our people, half of them asked to defect. We don't just have Uzumaki anymore, Nawaki. We have a nation."
A shadow stirred in the corner. Black Zetsu rose from the floor, his presence muted by the Medical Tower's anti-infiltration seals. He looked visibly annoyed—a rare expression for a creature of his age.
"The Patriarch's 'errand' is complete," Zetsu hissed. "I found your scavenger. He was in the Land of Frost, currently 'negotiating' the price of a local lord's head."
"And?" Rimon asked.
"He is... interested," Zetsu replied. "He laughed when I told him a fifteen-year-old boy wanted to hire him. Then he stopped laughing when I showed him the refined Uzumaki Gold-Ingot you gave me. He's already crossed the border. He expects a meeting at the 'Tide-Gate' tonight."
Rimon nodded. "Kakuzu. The man who thinks hearts are currency. Let's see how he likes being the one in charge of the vault."
The Tide-Gate: Midnight
The "Tide-Gate" was a massive structure of reinforced steel and sealing arrays that controlled the water flow into the inner harbor. Standing on the walkway was a man who looked like he was made of stitches and malice. Kakuzu didn't wear a headband; he wore the look of a man who had seen everything and found it all overpriced.
Rimon materialized ten feet away. No hand seals. No sound.
Kakuzu's eyes—the green, predatory slits—narrowed. "Spatial ninjutsu. And you don't even have a signature. You're the 'Patriarch' Black Ink was bragging about?"
"I'm the man who's going to make you the richest person in history, Kakuzu," Rimon said, tossing a small, glowing jade scroll toward him.
Kakuzu caught it. His Sharingan-level reflexes were sharp, but he didn't need eyes to feel the value. The scroll contained a "Voucher" for the Uzushio National Bank—a system backed by the massive gold reserves Rimon had been hoarding and refining with his science-tech.
"I don't need a 'Finance Minister' to fight," Rimon continued. "I have enough warriors. I need someone who hates waste. Someone who knows the price of every kunai and every drop of ink. You manage my treasury, you keep the books, and you ensure that Uzushiogakure becomes the economic center of the world. In return? You get a percentage of every trade deal we sign. For life."
Kakuzu opened the scroll. His eyes widened. "This amount... this is more than the bounty for the Fire Daimyo."
"That's just the signing bonus," Rimon said, stepping closer. "In Uzushio, money isn't just something you hunt. It's something we create. Join us, and you'll never have to skin a mother for a bounty again. You'll be the one who decides what the world's currency is worth."
Kakuzu looked from the scroll to the vibrant, glowing city behind Rimon. He thought of the decades of mud, blood, and cheap contracts. For the first time in ninety years, the mercenary felt something other than greed. He felt ambition.
"I expect my own vault," Kakuzu rasped, tucking the scroll into his cloak. "And if a single ryo goes missing from your citizens... I take it out of their hide."
"Deal," Rimon said.
As they walked back toward the city, Ren Konan's Father who is the National Security Intelligence & Counter-Espionage came from shadow. And said "Rimon-San, news came from the Land of Fire. Uchiha and Hyuga spy met my soldiers. The Uchiha and Hyuga Elders have seen the 'death' of the Senju heir. Their Council is in chaos. They requested for meeting."
Rimon looked up at the moon, a sharp, dangerous smile on his face. "The heist is entering its final phase. Zetsu, keep an eye on our new Minister. We have some fathers to convince."