Chapter 26: A Ninja's Greeting, Only One Strike!
"Lying? What do you mean?"
Facing Nami's inquiry, Piiman pushed up his glasses and glanced toward the villa.
He then immediately began explaining the situation regarding Usopp being a "big liar" who, to comfort the sick Miss Kaya...
...would come every day to tell adventure stories, briefly recounting the whole matter.
"I see."
Nami stroked her chin, a look of realization dawning on her face.
"Is it to make that sick young lady happy... No wonder he was so nervous earlier; he was afraid we'd expose him."
"Hee hee hee, what an interesting fellow."
Luffy pressed down on his straw hat and looked toward the high wall with a grin. "Hey, let's go inside and take a look."
"But this wall is so high, and there's an iron fence. We can't climb over it," Piiman said in a low, somewhat discouraged voice, looking up.
"Hmph, leave this to us."
Nami suddenly flashed a sly smile.
In the next second, she unceremoniously leaped onto the back of Tatsuya, who was standing nearby with his hands in his pockets.
"Vice Captain, jump over!"
"Are you an idiot?"
Tatsuya staggered a bit from being grabbed, a dark line appearing on his forehead. "You only remember I'm the Vice Captain at times like this?"
Despite his complaining, he sighed helplessly.
Then, he reached out and picked up Carrot and Onion from the ground, one in each hand, like lifting little chicks.
"Wow! Such strength!"
"Thanks, big brother!" the two kids shouted excitedly.
"Hey, Zoro." Tatsuya turned to the swordsman nearby and gestured with his chin toward the remaining Piiman.
"This kid named Piiman is a good match for you. Hurry up and help!"
"Huh?!"
Veins popped on Zoro's forehead as he looked at the expectant Piiman with a dark expression.
"Who's a good match for him?! You bastard, Tatsuya!"
Though he grumbled, Zoro still silently stepped forward and scooped up Piiman.
"Our hair is both green!" Piiman said in surprise from Zoro's arms.
"Shut up, you brat! If you keep talking, I'll throw you down!"
"Alright! Here we go!"
Ignoring the others' dawdling, Luffy gave a hearty laugh. His arms suddenly stretched out, firmly grabbing the iron fence high above.
"Gum-Gum Rocket!!"
"Whoosh!"
Luffy launched himself inside like a slingshot.
"Whoa!"
Seeing this, Tatsuya bent his knees slightly, and the Chakra in the soles of his feet instantly began to circulate.
"Hold on tight."
"Bang!"
The ground cracked slightly as Tatsuya, carrying Nami on his back and holding the two children, leaped lightly into the air, easily clearing the high wall.
Zoro also sighed and, relying on his amazing jumping power and arm strength, carefully flipped inside with Piiman.
"Thud."
With a soft sound, Tatsuya landed steadily on the neatly manicured lawn.
Carrot and Onion jumped excitedly from Tatsuya's arms, their eyes sparkling.
"Wow! So cool!"
"Such a high wall, and you cleared it in one jump! Big... brother..."
Their voices suddenly faltered, and they stared blankly upward.
Tatsuya was there with his mouth open, his face turning blue, struggling to pat the arms around his neck.
"Ugh... let go... I can't breathe..."
On his back, Nami had her eyes tightly shut because of the sensation of being airborne just now.
Her hands were locked tightly around Tatsuya's neck, with no intention of letting go.
"She really is a Female Yaksha," Onion whispered.
"So scary..." Carrot agreed deeply.
"Thud!"
Just then, a loud noise came from ahead—it was the sound of Luffy landing face-first.
The massive commotion immediately drew attention.
On a branch of a large tree ahead, Usopp, who was telling stories to Kaya, was so startled he nearly fell off again.
He stared wide-eyed at the uninvited guests and whispered in terror:
"Y-you guys, why are you all here?!"
"Usopp, who are they? Are they also members of the Usopp Pirates?"
At the second-floor window, a pale but gentle young lady—Kaya—poked her head out curiously and asked.
Usopp's whole body stiffened. He immediately turned around, forced a proud posture, and thumped his chest, saying:
"Ah! Y-yes, that's right!"
"They are all new crew members I just recruited! They came to admire this Captain's heroic bearing!"
*Pui, pui.*
Luffy pulled his head out of the dirt, spat out some mud, and retorted mercilessly:
"No, we're not your crew members. We have something we need your help with."
Kaya leaned out a bit in surprise, looking at the boy in the straw hat below.
"Help? With me?"
"Yeah, that's right!" Luffy said with a smile. "We want a big ship!"
Zoro also walked over and added, "Don't worry, we're not bandits. We can pay for it."
Kaya blinked, looking at this group of strange people. After a moment's thought, she said gently:
"A ship... I recall we do happen to have an idle one at home..."
"Ah! Really!" Luffy shouted in surprise, his eyes instantly lighting up.
Tatsuya had finally managed to pry Nami off his back.
He straightened his collar, stepped forward, and gave the Kaya at the window a smiling, gentlemanly grin.
"Beautiful lady, we are indeed in urgent need of a large ship to set out to sea.
"How much would it cost? Or is there anything we can do to help?"
Tatsuya's voice was warm and resonant. The moment his pitch-black eyes looked at Kaya, a faint red light flashed almost imperceptibly.
"Um... I'll need to ask my butler about that..."
Kaya was about to offer some polite refusal, but as she looked into Tatsuya's eyes...
Her voice grew softer and softer, and her gaze gradually became dazed.
In her field of vision, the surrounding scenery suddenly changed.
It was as if she were no longer trapped in this cage-like mansion, but instead standing upon a beautiful sea.
A sea breeze brushed past, the blue sky and white clouds were within reach, and the scent of freedom rushed toward her.
That was the world she dreamed of.
A second later, the Genjutsu was released.
Kaya suddenly snapped back to her senses, her eyes wide with surprise and joy as she looked at Tatsuya.
"So... so amazing! Was that... the sea just now? Is this magic?!"
"W-what's wrong, Kaya?" Usopp asked worriedly from the tree; he hadn't seen anything.
"Usopp, I just..."
"Hey! Who are you people?!"
A cold and angry voice suddenly interrupted their conversation.
"This is quite troublesome. How dare you trespass on private property!"
Wearing a black suit and slicked-back hair, the butler Klahadore (Kuro) walked over.
He used his palm to push up his round-framed glasses, his cold gaze sweeping over Tatsuya and the others.
"Th-that... Klahadore, they are..."
"Please do not defend them, Miss Kaya!"
Kuro unceremoniously interrupted his young mistress's words, his tone stern.
"You are too kind and easily deceived by the scum of the lower classes.
"Now, please leave this place immediately! Otherwise, I will have to have the guards 'escort' you out!"
"Hey, you're the butler she mentioned, right? We want a ship!" Luffy said happily, completely unbothered by the other's attitude.
"Absolutely not!"
Kuro refused flatly. Then, his cold, dark gaze turned toward the trembling figure behind the tree.
"Usopp!"
Hiding behind the tree, Usopp awkwardly revealed himself and gave a forced laugh:
"Oh... oh! Hello, Klahadore."
"You, the son of a filthy pirate!"
Kuro's tone instantly became incredibly malicious. "How many times do I have to say it? Do not come near this mansion!
"Trash like you who only knows how to lie has the same filthy blood flowing through you as your pirate father!"
The smile on Usopp's face froze instantly, and his fists clenched tight.
"Klahadore, don't be like that..." Kaya cried out anxiously.
Hearing this, Luffy suddenly looked up, his gaze becoming sharp.
"No matter what you..."
"Hey, Mr. Butler, can we have a chat?"
Tatsuya suddenly spoke up, interrupting Kuro just as he was about to launch into a long-winded humiliation of Usopp.
He stepped out from behind Luffy, that unchanging smile on his face.
"Who are you?" Kuro frowned, looking at the red-eyed boy. An inexplicable feeling of discomfort welled up in his heart.
Tatsuya ignored him and instead looked up at the window.
"Miss Kaya, could you allow me to have a private word with your butler?
"Regarding the ship, I believe I have a way to persuade him."
Kaya, having just experienced Tatsuya's "magic," felt a natural sense of gratitude toward him. Hearing this, she looked at Kuro and requested:
"Klahadore... please hear what they have to say."
Kuro's eyes flickered, and his eyes narrowed behind his lenses.
He sighed, seemingly compromising out of helplessness, but a flash of killing intent crossed his eyes.
"Since it is Miss's request... very well."
He coldly scanned the group and held up one finger.
"One minute. I will give you only one minute."
Tatsuya nodded with a smile and gestured for the butler to follow him to a quiet spot.
"What is that guy doing?" Zoro frowned as he watched their backs.
"Don't know," Luffy said, picking his nose.
At a secluded corner of the villa.
Kuro stopped, turned around, and a look of impatience and ruthlessness appeared on his face.
"Speak, low-class pirate. If you cannot satisfy me, I will..."
Before he could finish his sentence, his pupils dilated suddenly.
Without any warning.
Without any redundant words.
The moment he turned around, Tatsuya moved.
Body Flicker Technique activated.
Kuro only felt a blur before his eyes, followed by a cold, piercing pain in his chest.
He looked down, staring at his chest in disbelief.
There, a pitch-black Kunai had sunk deep inside, with only the handle remaining outside.
Blood instantly stained his suit red.
"You..."
Kuro looked up trembling, instinctively wanting to push up his glasses, only to find he had lost his strength.
Tatsuya stood before him, those crimson Sharingan gazing at him coldly, as if looking at a dead man.
Then, Tatsuya leaned close to Kuro's ear and whispered softly with a smile:
"Go to hell, hundred plans — Kuro."