Chapter 107: Building the Foundations of Uruk – Talent Hunt Begins

The gentle breeze rustled the leaves as Yuta and Gilgamesh stood atop a hill overlooking the vast, open plains that Gilgamesh had declared as the new foundation for Uruk. The land was empty for now, but Yuta could already imagine what the King of Heroes had in mind. Magnificent palaces, towering structures, bustling marketplaces—all a vision of grandeur befitting Gilgamesh's ambitions.

Gilgamesh stood with his arms crossed, his eyes scanning the horizon with a regal air. "The land is perfect. All that's left is to gather the right talents to build Uruk into a kingdom that surpasses even the greatest empires of history."

Yuta, leaning against a tree, raised an eyebrow. "You say that like it's an easy task. Running a kingdom isn't just about being strong or having a big palace. You're going to need people who know how to handle everything—politics, economics, science, military, and let's not even get started on the paperwork."

Gilgamesh waved his hand dismissively. "Paperwork is a concern for lesser beings, Yuta. My task is to lead, and all shall fall into place under my reign. However, you are right about one thing: I need talented individuals to shape this land into the Uruk of my vision."

Yuta smirked, already seeing where this was going. "So, you're asking me to help you find people?"

"Indeed," Gilgamesh replied without a hint of hesitation. "You seem to have some understanding of this world. I need individuals who can fulfill key roles—scholars, strategists, warriors, and financiers. People who will serve under me to help shape this world into what it is destined to become."

Yuta scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Yeah, there are definitely people like that around. But..." He glanced at Gilgamesh, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "They're all problem children."

Gilgamesh laughed, his voice booming across the hilltop. "Hmph! You don't need to worry about such trivial matters. There's no one in this world who would not willingly submit to me. Their wills, their ambitions—everything bends to the will of the King of Heroes!"

"Well, if you're that confident," Yuta began, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small notebook, "then I have some names for you."

Gilgamesh's eyes gleamed with interest. "Names, you say? Let's hear them."

Yuta glanced down at his notebook and began listing the candidates he had in mind.

"First, there's Orochimaru. He's from the Hidden Leaf Village. A genius in the fields of jutsu research, biology, and pretty much anything related to science. He's also got a serious superiority complex, and to top it off, he's planning to betray his village soon. He'd be perfect for running a research institute, or even managing an entire country for you. But... he's, uh, a bit hard to control."

Gilgamesh smirked. "A snake that dreams of betraying its master? Interesting. I like him already. Continue."

"Next up are Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan. They're still young, but they've got potential. They're orphans from the Land of Rain, and they're being trained by one of the Leaf Village's Sannin—Jiraiya. Nagato, in particular, has some serious power, but they're all a little rough around the edges. You'd have to shape them into the leaders you want them to be."

Gilgamesh nodded slowly. "Youth is a moldable asset. I see no issue with them. I'll mold them into the leaders I need. What else?"

"Kakuzu. This one's tricky. He's a mercenary, obsessed with money, and he's got a knack for surviving. He's lived through multiple centuries by stitching other people's hearts into his body. He's not loyal to anyone or anything except his wallet, but... he could be your treasurer. No one understands the value of wealth better than Kakuzu."

Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow. "A man who worships gold? He sounds like a fitting servant for a king who owns all the treasures of the world. Continue."

"Hiruko. Another genius from the Hidden Leaf. He's talented, no doubt, but he's prone to jealousy. He's constantly striving to become stronger and often resorts to... less ethical means to achieve his goals. He could run a research facility as well, but you'd need to keep an eye on him."

Gilgamesh chuckled. "Ambition is a double-edged sword. I like it. As long as he serves me faithfully, his desires are of no concern."

"And lastly, there's Shinno. He's still young, and his hatred for those who destroyed his village runs deep. He's got a brilliant mind, especially when it comes to medical ninjutsu and chakra control, but his emotions could be a problem. He's not exactly stable right now."

Gilgamesh stood tall, his golden eyes glowing with confidence. "Hatred is just another tool to be harnessed. He will serve me well."

Yuta closed his notebook and glanced at the King of Heroes. "Well, that's your list. Like I said, they're talented, but they all come with baggage. Managing them won't be easy."

Gilgamesh smirked, crossing his arms. "You underestimate the power of kingship, Yuta. Once they stand in my presence, they will know their place."

Yuta chuckled. "Alright, big guy. If you say so. But don't come crying to me when Orochimaru starts conducting creepy experiments on your citizens."

The Talent Hunt Begins

With the names of his future advisors and key figures in hand, Gilgamesh wasted no time. The King of Heroes was not one to let opportunity slip by. Yuta and Gilgamesh made their way down from the hill and back toward the village where Haruto and Akira were still managing the affairs of the Abyss Company in Yuta's absence.

Before leaving, Yuta decided to brief his co-founders.

"I'll be leaving the HQ for a while," Yuta announced, his voice casual as he strolled into the meeting room where Haruto and Akira were seated. "Got some things to take care of with our golden friend here." He nodded toward Gilgamesh, who stood like a statue behind him, exuding a regal aura.

Haruto, leaning back in his chair, raised an eyebrow. "Leaving, huh? For how long?"

Yuta shrugged. "Not sure. Depends on how smoothly things go. But if nothing important crops up, don't bother contacting me."

Akira, who was meticulously scribbling notes on a stack of papers, glanced up with a smirk. "You're lucky, Yuta. You get to go on these grand adventures while we're stuck doing all the grunt work."

Yuta flashed a grin. "Hey, someone's got to keep this place running while I'm gone. You two are perfect for the job."

Haruto sighed dramatically. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't forget to bring back some souvenirs."

Akira chuckled. "Preferably ones that aren't cursed."

With the small talk out of the way, Yuta and Gilgamesh departed from the village, leaving Haruto and Akira to handle the company's affairs. As they traveled across the vast lands of the Ninja World, Yuta took the opportunity to introduce Gilgamesh to the different regions, explaining the political landscape and the people they would encounter.

Gilgamesh, though clearly unimpressed by much of what he saw, listened intently. His interest wasn't in the common rabble, but in the talents Yuta had mentioned—the individuals who could help him build Uruk.

Bandits on the Road

As they ventured through a remote forest, a group of ragtag bandits appeared, blocking their path with makeshift weapons and poorly maintained armor.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" the leader of the bandits sneered, his scarred face twisted into a grin. "Two well-dressed travelers, eh? Looks like we hit the jackpot, boys."

Yuta sighed, rubbing his temples. "Really? Bandits? Do these guys not know who they're dealing with?"

Gilgamesh, his expression unchanging, stepped forward. "You dare stand in the presence of a king and demand tribute? Fools. I will grant you one chance to kneel and beg for mercy before I erase you from existence."

The bandits looked confused, clearly not understanding the gravity of the situation. The leader laughed. "A king? Ha! The only tribute we'll be taking is everything you've got!"

Gilgamesh smirked, raising his hand. But as he attempted to summon his treasures, he felt a strange resistance. His famed Gate of Babylon—the source of his limitless arsenal—remained sealed.

Yuta, sensing the shift in Gilgamesh's demeanor, raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"

Gilgamesh frowned, his hand still raised but nothing happening. "It appears this world is restricting my power. My King's Treasure is sealed."

The bandits, oblivious to the tension, charged forward.

Gilgamesh scoffed. "Even with my treasures sealed, I am still far above these mongrels."

With a flick of his wrist, he sent a shockwave of energy through the air, knocking the bandits off their feet and sending them flying into the trees. The leader crashed into a nearby boulder, groaning in pain.

Yuta let out a low whistle. "Not bad. Even without your treasures, you're still pretty scary."

Gilgamesh dusted off his hands, his expression calm. "This world seeks to limit my power. No matter. I shall make it favor me soon enough."

Yuta crossed his arms, eyeing Gilgamesh. "So, what's the plan then?"

Gilgamesh's eyes gleamed with ambition. "Simple. If this world seeks to suppress my strength, I will bend it to my will. I shall establish Uruk here, and in time, the world itself will recognize my supremacy. Only then will my treasures be unsealed."

Yuta smirked. "So, you're going to build a kingdom that the world can't ignore, huh? That sounds... ridiculously ambitious. I like it."

Gilgamesh turned toward the horizon, his golden eyes shining with determination. "Yes. But first, we gather the talent. Then, we build the kingdom."

The First Steps Toward Uruk

As Yuta and Gilgamesh continued their journey, they made plans to locate the individuals Yuta had mentioned. Each one of them would play a crucial role in the formation of Uruk—whether it was managing research institutions, overseeing finances, or leading armies.

But for now, they had one clear goal in mind: assembling the perfect team.

However, as they made camp that night, a thought occurred to Yuta.

"You know," Yuta said, staring up at the night sky, "once we actually get all these people together, you're going to have to deal with their quirks. Orochimaru's obsession with immortality, Kakuzu's greed, Nagato's trauma..."

Gilgamesh chuckled, his voice filled with confidence. "Hmph. Let them have their quirks. In the end, they will all bow before me. For I am Gilgamesh, the one true king."

Yuta grinned. "Well, it's definitely going to be an interesting ride. I'll give you that."

And with that, the two continued their journey, unaware of the chaos, ambition, and drama that awaited them as they began the process of building Uruk.

Unrelated Chitchat

As they sat by the fire, Yuta suddenly remembered something odd from earlier.

"Hey, Gilgamesh," Yuta began, breaking the silence, "I've been meaning to ask. When we ran into those bandits, you called yourself a king. But I've been wondering—do you ever get tired of introducing yourself like that?"

Gilgamesh, reclining on a rock, raised an eyebrow. "Why would I tire of it? I am the King of Heroes. Such titles are my birthright."

Yuta smirked. "Yeah, but don't you ever think about mixing it up? You know, spice up your introductions a little? Maybe try something like, 'Hi, I'm Gilgamesh, professional treasure hoarder and part-time demigod.'"

Gilgamesh blinked, then let out a deep laugh. "Hmph! You amuse me, Yuta. But no. A king does not 'mix things up.' He declares his presence, and all shall know his name."

Yuta shrugged. "Fair enough. Just thought it'd be funny to see the look on someone's face when you casually drop that you're part-time royalty."

Gilgamesh smirked, his golden eyes gleaming in the firelight. "Perhaps, in time. But for now, I shall remain as I am—a king, and nothing less."

Yuta chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Long live the king and all that."

And with that, the night carried on, their banter fading into the calm crackle of the fire, as the two set their sights on the grand future ahead of them.