NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 7: landing
"I really screwed up," Hiroshi muttered, his eyes on the blood-soaked shore. The place was a mess bodies scattered everywhere, smoke still curling in the air. He hadn't planned for it to get this bad. Now it hit him like a ton of bricks the Land of Waves wasn't just some backwater. It was one of damn warzone, caught in the crossfire between Konohagakure and Kirigakure.
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Should've seen this coming," he mumbled, annoyed at himself.
Turning, Hiroshi glanced around. The passengers were quickly scattering, probably frightened by the sudden violence. Throughout the rest of the journey, not a single word was spoken. The uneasy silence hung thick in the air, each person lost in their thoughts, too shaken to even glance in his direction.
His gaze shifted to the trembling guy tied up nearby he ask,"Where's the rest of your crew?"
The man couldn't even look at him, his eyes darting everywhere like he was searching for an escape that didn't exist. "N-North... by the cliffs," he stuttered.
Hiroshi hummed, thinking it over. From what this guy had spilled earlier, this wasn't just a gang of wannabe thugs. Their leader was a shinobi, some rogue who'd shown up a couple of years ago and set up shop.
"They've been grabbing travelers," Hiroshi muttered, his eyes scanning the wreckage. "Robbing 'em, killing a few... selling the rest."
Not that he cared. What did it matter to him what these scum did? The world was full of atrocities, and Hiroshi wasn't about to play hero. He didn't have the interest or the ability to fix every broken piece of it.
What did interest him, though, was the shinobi leading this group. He needed him specifically, his body. The Echo Template Card wasn't something Hiroshi wanted to waste, and a shinobi would be the perfect foundation for what he had in mind.
Of course, there were plenty of shinobi in the region thanks to the ongoing war, but they were always in groups. Too risky. This rogue shinobi, however? Isolated. An opportunity.
He wasn't a Kage, obviously. If he had that kind of power, he wouldn't be wasting time with petty thugs. And he wasn't a genin either too weak and green for anyone to take orders from. That left only chunin or jonin, both strong and skilled enough to lead a gang like this.
"Let's wait for the next spin," Hiroshi decided, his fingers brushing against the edge of his katana. As much as he wanted to unlock chakra and start experimenting, diving headfirst into danger wasn't his style not unless it was absolutely necessary
Patience. That's what would keep him alive in a world like this. Charging in without a solid plan would just get him killed. The shinobi leader wasn't going anywhere, and neither was the chance to use the Echo Template Card.
"So, what should I do now?" he muttered, lost in thought as he considered his next move.
From what he had gathered, the ones who held the majority of influence were the trade and commerce companies. The daimyo had no real power.
And then there was Gatō Company, one of the top shipping companies, despite being less than a decade old.
"He's already started his plan to control the Land of Waves," Hiroshi thought, his mind focusing on Gatō.
If everything followed the original story, Gatō would eventually monopolize the shipping industry, controlling all imports and exports.
I should get in on this battle for control, Hiroshi mused. While the gacha may help me gain strength, it won't help me with politics.
I need power, not just physically but professionally, to survive in this world. An organization of my own no, several organizations will be necessary to get involved in the events that will unfold after the war.
I need people to work for me, and multiple hideouts, just like Orochimaru.
But better. More organized.
There are organizations like Kara controlling things from the shadows, and I can't afford to be behind them.
This island can be my first fortress against the world. A perfect base of operations to start building my empire, a place to lay low when needed, but also a stronghold to rise from when the time is right.