Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: A Visit to Orochimaru's Hideout
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Gato rummaged through the bookshelf piled high with scrolls for a moment, pulling out several yellowed maps and respectfully spreading them across the table in front of Uzumaki Menma.
"Sir, these are the national maps of several western countries. Please have a look."
Gato bowed slightly.
Uzumaki Menma picked up the maps from the table and unfolded them, his gaze sharp as a hawk as he examined them closely.
As a world-class corporation, Gato Company had operations spanning multiple countries. The simplest form of commerce was buying local specialties cheaply in one nation and selling them at premium prices in another.
For instance, shipping tea from the Land of Tea to the capitals of various countries could command sky-high prices.
This caravan-style trading naturally demanded a solid grasp of geography. Major merchant guilds, companies, and fleets all possessed their own hand-drawn or purchased maps and nautical charts—valuable resources in their own right.
However, highly precise maps were rare; most resembled ancient cartography, requiring expert guides or seasoned traders to navigate effectively.
"Prepare some supplies to send to the Land of Bears. Organize a team to establish a base here."
Uzumaki Menma's finger tapped on the map of the Land of Bears.
Kakuzu walked over as well, glancing at the maps on the table.
The Land of Bears lay between the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind, sharing borders with smaller nations like the Land of Demons, Land of Ghosts, Land of Birds, and others.
The nation stretched in a long, narrow shape. Its western regions, bordering the Land of Ghosts and Land of Demons, featured vast plains ideal for agriculture.
The central and eastern areas were dominated by expansive forests and towering mountains, with a poisonous gas-shrouded hell valley chasm in the far east.
"Understood, sir."
Gato bowed even lower.
"Shall I go clear out the Star Ninja Village?"
Kakuzu licked his lips.
"No need."
Uzumaki Menma shook his head.
"You'll move out with Gato and handle escorting the supplies. The cleanup in the Land of Bears will be managed by other teams."
Though he had recruited Kakuzu and Gato, Uzumaki Menma couldn't assign them every task—it might expose the organization's shortage of manpower.
Hearing that other teams would move ahead, Kakuzu's pale green pupils narrowed slightly with anticipation.
Since joining the organization, he'd only operated with Gato and hadn't met the others. This would be his chance to see them in action.
What powerful ninjas did such a mysterious group harbor?
After issuing new orders to Gato and Kakuzu, Uzumaki Menma departed from the Land of Fire's capital.
With the organization desperately short on hands, he planned to recruit some rogue ninjas.
But at this point in the timeline, Yecang is already dead. Zabuza and Hoshigaki Kisame haven't defected yet, Deidara's still in Iwagakure, and Scorpion's hiding somewhere...
Counting them off, Uzumaki Menma realized there weren't many capable rogue ninjas available to him.
He had no interest in maniacs like Hidan, after all.
Kurosuki Raiga and Ranmaru should be in the Land of Rivers right now. That's solid upper ninja combat power at minimum, and it seems Kurosuki Raiga defected from Kirigakure with his entire clan.
Though the Kurosuki clan lacked any kekkei genkai, it was still a ninja clan with some foundation.
Right, and there are Uzumaki clan survivors scattered abroad.
Uzumaki Menma recalled the mother-daughter pair, Uzumaki Karin, in Kusagakure, along with Uzumaki Hinoaka in the Land of the Sea.
"For now, though, I can head to the Land of Rice Fields first and look for Orochimaru."