Chapter 179
'Watching the unfolding scene, Carnes found himself instinctively massaging the space between his brows, his furrowed forehead revealing his growing disbelief.
As he exchanged glances with Demiurge, it was clear that the latter was oblivious to Carnes' concerns.
Recruiting powerful members? Carnes mused incredulously, baffled by the audacity of the idea.
'What sort of fancy idea is this?' he pondered, echoing his disbelief in his mind.
He couldn't help but wonder what kind of whimsical notion had taken root in Demiurge's head.
This is the Naruto world.
The special crew members we recruited from this world are already Obito and Nagato, the individuals having immense power and influence.
What more people do you want to join our crew?
The idea of further crew members seemed preposterous to Carnes.
'Who and what in the world are you trying to recruit here?'
Carnes couldn't help but voice his exasperation, a perplexed tone lacing his words.
'Uzumaki Naruto, the Child of Destiny, had already proven his worth many times over.
Do you also want to make him join our crew?
The mere idea of enlisting him into their crew felt like an excess of fortune. It would be more like having a cheat.'
"Hey there, blond boy"
Demiurge greeted Naruto with a welcoming smile, his tone oozing confidence, and his gaze unwavering as he evaluated the young boy.
"I must say, your potential is nothing short of exceptional," he continued, his words laced with genuine interest.
Demiurge leaned in, his expression becoming even more appreciative.
"What do you think, young man? Would you consider joining our crew?"
"You're still in the early stages of your journey, but your innate strength is undeniable," he added.
"I believe that with our guidance and training, you could undoubtedly grow into a formidable force in the future."
Demiurge's approving expression as he assessed Naruto left Carnes in utter shock.
He was utterly dumbfounded. He couldn't believe what he was witnessing.
He had merely been venting his frustration within his own thoughts, never imagining that Demiurge would take such an audacious step.
'Had Demiurge genuinely resolved to such techniques?' he thought internally
'Did he really want to trick Naruto to join them?
The audacity of attempting to coax Naruto into their ranks was beyond belief!
It was almost outrageous.'
With a mixture of astonishment and concern, Carnes contemplated the unexpected turn of events.
The path they were embarking upon had just taken a sharp and unforeseen detour.
Demiurge's unexpected move served its purpose – it drew the attention of everyone on the scene, Naruto in particular.
It prevented Naruto's curiosity from relentlessly pestering Carnes about the relationship between him and Nagato and put Carnes more at ease.
Carnes was, after all, the imposing captain of the Gale Emperor Pirate, and he couldn't let his crew get wind of this information.
That would certainly be a huge blow to his majesty.
But thankfully, Demiurge stepped in, disrupting the tense atmosphere.
Naruto turned his head immediately to see Demiurge, his eyes scanning him from top to bottom, not holding back on the questions.
"Eh? Hey, why are your ears pointed? Also, why do you have such a strange tail? Are you a monkey?" Naruto asked candidly, his curiosity unabated..
Demiurge, ever the composed one, didn't mind, he was unfazed by Naruto's directness.
In most situations, he could maintain an elegant and gentlemanly demeanor, and his thoughts remained collected.
Adjusting his glasses, he smiled and replied, "Blonde boy, your focus seems to be a bit off."
Naruto persisted with his inquiry.
"I'm asking you; do you want to be a crew member on board?
I can tell you very clearly, this is a ticket to strength and the pinnacle of the world!
With your talent, it is entirely possible for you to surpass me in the future."
Demiurge possessed respectable combat abilities, especially after utilizing his demonic command mantra.
But he didn't consider himself a pure combatant.
To him, his individual fighting abilities were less important compared to his ability to formulate intricate and strategic plans.
And to understand and fulfill the ambitions of the captain he was fiercely loyal to.
He found happiness in the prospect of having stronger individuals on their ship.
It meant that his captain had more resources to achieve his goals, and this never stirred up any jealousy within Demiurge; instead, he was genuinely thrilled by the prospect.
Naruto looked at Demiurge and examined him closely, his expression becoming more serious.
"Joining forces with you and becoming Carnes' san subordinate? Huh..." Naruto mused.
"That doesn't sound too bad, right! Moreover, with so many powerful people on our ship, since you're still young, you would have a lot of opportunities to learn a lot!"
Demiurge continued to be persuasive.
"Blonde boy, this is a rare opportunity!" Demiurge emphasized.
He could sense that he was on the verge of success.
This marked a significant turning point; this would be his first successful recruitment of a crew member and an important stride toward fulfilling the captain's grand ambition.
It was, without a doubt, the most vital step and represented the most pivotal moment in his journey.
Naruto, now back to his usual self, remained steadfastly serious as he gazed upwards towards Demiurge with unwavering determination.
"Hey, my name's not 'Blonde boy', I'm Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto!"
The response he gave was as earnest as his own words.
"I know, both you and Carnes-san are incredibly strong. If I could train alongside you guys, I'd surely improve rapidly..."
"But you asked me to join your crew and set sail with you..."
"As far as I can recall our Land of Fire doesn't exactly border the sea."
A voice of reason interjected.
"Are we going far from the village?"
"Yes"
Demiurge didn't sugarcoat the truth and replied bluntly, he didn't deceive Naruto, so he put everything straightforwardly.
"The place we're heading to is indeed far from here, and it might be a long while before you can return or there may be no chance for you to return."
Naruto contemplated, casting his gaze over the gathered ninjas.
"In that case... forget it...."
With pride, he looked over the entirety of Konoha Village.
"This is my village; my home and the people here are my comrades! I won't abandon Konoha and leave them behind!"
"After all, one day—I'm going to be Hokage!"
"Believe it"
Upon hearing this familiar declaration, Carnes adjusted his posture slightly.
It evoked memories of words that he had heard throughout the Naruto series.
"Hokage? What's that?" Demiurge inquired, perplexed.
Naruto explained with fervor.
"Hokage is the leader of Konoha, the one who guides the village forward and a towering tree that protects the village."
""Exactly, that's right!"
"Well said, young Naruto!"
The ninjas in the vicinity couldn't help but burst into applause, creating an atmosphere that brimmed with enthusiasm.
However, Demiurge was utterly baffled by the situation at hand.
"To be perfectly blunt, isn't this akin to being a village leader?" he questioned, his tone tinged with skepticism.
"What kind of dream is this?" he mused, unable to fathom the scenario he found himself in.
"In the grand scheme, a man's true aspiration should be to conquer the worlds, the pursuit of becoming the ultimate ruler of the entire cosmos!"
"We should aim to govern all worlds and bring them under our dominion!" he declared with fervor.
Demiurge extended an invitation, urging him to join their cause.
"Come with us," he urged.
Naruto, however, remained bewildered, prompting Demiurge to speak.
"You'll understand when the time comes, that the decision to join us was the best decision that you took in your life."
"Becoming a mere village head is nothing, it is utterly inconsequential."
"And for you to dream to be in that role is shameful" he added dismissively, showing his disdain for the prospect.
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