Chapter 91: If You Don’t Do It, Someone Else Will

Nara Shikaku stood in place, drenched in sweat, feeling the dangerous gazes aimed at him. However, he dared not make any rash moves, fearing suspicion from the other side.

Inwardly, Shikaku was bitter. He decided that in the future, tasks like these should be handed over to Shikamaru. After all, he was only here to earn a Devil Fruit for Shikamaru, who would succeed him in this position while he stayed in Dressrosa to handle administrative work.

And Shikaku didn't think it was cruel. After all, he planned to have a second child. Uchiha Reijin was promoting larger families, and Shikaku had to keep up with Reijin's pace and be the first to respond. Before coming here, he had already arranged for his wife to visit Shizune for some health preparations, hoping they could start trying as soon as he returned and even get a head start.

"Damn it, what do you think Amazon Lily is? Even the Celestial Dragons wouldn't go this far!" 

The angry voice interrupted Shikaku's thoughts. Rindo, fuming, couldn't believe the audacity of this group to make such outrageous demands, treating Amazon Lily not as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea but as a mere slave state. If they agreed to this, their country would be reduced to a vassal of Dressrosa.

"This is Lord Reijin's request. If you refuse…" Shikaku said calmly, "...then prepare to face Lord Reijin's wrath."

The Nine Snakes Pirates erupted in disbelief. They had never encountered someone so arrogant, daring to threaten a new Warlord of the Sea. "Tap, tap." Rindo wanted to say more but was interrupted by a slow, deliberate footstep from inside the cabin. The sound of high heels echoed, and the ship fell silent as all eyes turned toward the cabin.

"She's here," Shikaku thought, hearing the crisp footsteps. Although the person hadn't appeared yet, beads of sweat trickled down his face. The pressure from the Nine Snakes Pirates felt greater than that from Doflamingo, despite not having faced them yet. Unlike Doflamingo, who had his psychological defenses shattered by Reijin, these pirates exuded an overwhelming aura.

"Click!" The cabin door opened, and out stepped a slender figure in a cheongsam-style outfit, revealing a figure slightly less voluptuous than Tsunade's but still captivating. Her cold eyes and delicate face were mesmerizing, her long hair neatly tied back, and her long, white legs were on display. At that moment, even Shikaku couldn't help but swallow.

It was like being caught in a genjutsu, but this world had no genjutsu to break free from. Even if there was, Shikaku doubted it would help. "So beautiful… Truly stunning," some of the ninjas muttered, captivated by her beauty.

"Hmph, such a look barely matches Lord Reijin," someone remarked, trying to maintain composure but blushing deeply. Shikaku was exasperated by his team's behavior. Despite his warnings, they were all mesmerized by her beauty. Even the usually stoic Uchiha among them was blushing and talking nonsense.

Hancock leaped onto the snake's head, which turned and placed her before Shikaku's ship. "You want to form an alliance with us, Nine Snakes?" Hancock asked, looking down at Shikaku. She frowned slightly, feeling that this group of ninjas was unfamiliar, though she recalled recent news of mysterious ninjas in the sea. But having special abilities didn't give them the right to act recklessly.

"That's right! If you're willing, you can come with us to Dressrosa to discuss the terms. If you have any other conditions, I'll relay them to Lord Reijin," Shikaku replied, steadying his emotions. Facing Hancock directly was a challenge, and he was afraid that if he wasn't careful, he might fall under her spell. This woman's beauty could sway anyone's heart, and even a steadfast person like him was finding it hard to resist. Truly, she was a woman full of temptation.

"Hahaha, what a rude fellow, daring to say such things in front of me."

"And if the Nine Snakes Pirates refuse, do you plan to start attacking us?"

Hancock's laughter was as sweet as a silver bell, but it was a cold laugh. The arrogant words from the group in front of her had already made her extremely displeased.

"Of course not. We'll report today's events to Lord Reijin first. Our duty is to notify Lady Hancock," Nara Shikaku said solemnly.

"Just now, I think I heard you say something about facing your wrath?" Hancock suddenly looked slightly aggrieved, with an expression so pitiful it tugged at the heartstrings. 

At that moment, the Nine Snakes Pirates' ship erupted with cheers. Even the women on board couldn't help but feel sympathy when they saw Hancock's expression. The sailors and ninjas around Shikaku also went wild.

"It's okay! Even if you don't forgive us, that's fine!"

"Lady Snake Princess, please accept our goods!"

"Lady Hancock looks even more beautiful when she's so pitiful!"

"Can I be your devoted follower?"

The scene around Nara Shikaku descended into chaos as the sailors frantically began moving supplies onto the deck. Shikaku's face was full of disbelief.

"Are you all really under some kind of spell? Or have you fallen victim to some extraordinary genjutsu? How could you do such a thing?"

"Perfume Femur!"

Suddenly, Hancock let out a light cry, and a pink light shot out from her hands, spreading instantly across the ship.

"Whoosh!" The sailors on the ship were turned into stone statues, frozen in the very poses they had when they were bewitched. Hancock glanced at the few remaining unaffected people and lost interest.

"Did you suppress your desire the moment my ability activated? What a bold move!"

Hancock looked at the few people still standing before her, each with a kunai embedded in their thighs. The intense pain had allowed them to escape the Sweet Sweet Fruit's effects, but Hancock was surprised by their decisiveness, especially the leader. As soon as she made her move, he had already attacked his companions without hesitation, showing no mercy.

"What a ruthless man," she thought.

"It seems the Nine Snakes Pirates have rejected Lord Reijin's alliance proposal. I will report today's events truthfully when I return," Shikaku said, enduring the pain.

He hadn't expected the woman to attack so suddenly. They were almost wiped out, but fortunately, all the ninjas he brought with him had survived. As for the sailors, they were ordinary people. Shikaku had learned enough navigation skills during their time at sea to sail the ship back on his own.

"Leave your goods, and you may return. But even if you intend to go to war with Nine Snakes Island, do you really have the strength to do so? You'd better prepare a proper apology if you want to avoid a conflict. If it's war you want, the Nine Snakes Pirates will gladly oblige."

Hancock, finding the situation dull, dropped her pitiful act and coldly glanced at Shikaku and his companions. She let them leave as messengers. The Nine Snakes Pirates quickly boarded the ship and took everything, even the rations, leaving Shikaku and his crew with nothing but their weapons.

After the pirates disappeared, Shikaku breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't realized just how dangerous this group was. If he hadn't acted quickly when Hancock moved, they might all have been trapped there, unable even to return to report.

"Lord Shikaku, we..." The ninjas hesitated, looking at Shikaku with guilt. He had warned them repeatedly before coming, but they still fell into the trap, disgracing themselves.

"I will report this to Lord Reijin," Shikaku said sternly. "Hinata Natsu, please start mapping this area and Nine Snakes Island."

Hinata Natsu hesitated, then spoke, "We're still far from Nine Snakes Island. I can't observe that far."

He had seen enough to realize how terrifying the Nine Snakes Pirates and the sea kings beneath the waves were. Right now, all he wanted was to return to Dressrosa.

"This small boat is for you. Your mission is to infiltrate Nine Snakes Island," Shikaku said, his voice growing colder as he saw Natsu's reluctance. "This isn't the ninja world, but we are still ninjas, and our lives are dedicated to our missions. Where is your Will of Fire? This mission concerns the survival of Dressrosa. You don't want your children to be trapped like birds in a cage, do you? Who do you think created a world where your children aren't bound by that curse?"

"If you want to prevent that fate, then achieve something great. Even if Hyuga Hiashi wants to place that curse on your children, Lord Reijin will not allow it. You're not just fighting for yourself; you're fighting for your children's future! And if you won't do it, I believe there are others in the Hyuga clan who will."

"Next time, when Lord Reijin returns, if he brings more Hyuga clan members, your importance might diminish. Consider that carefully," Shikaku said, his tone full of disappointment. In Konoha, they were fearless, but now that they were in this world, all they thought about was comfort. How could they expect such a life? Didn't they see that Ino–Shika–Cho was also working hard?

The accomplishments they made in their original world meant nothing here. The Hyuga clan, once a great family, was now just a small group in this world. If they didn't seize this chance to earn merit, they might never get another opportunity.

"What a fool," Shikaku thought. "I didn't bring them all this way just to be useless."

"Understood!" Natsu responded, his blood boiling after hearing Shikaku's impassioned words. He couldn't bear the thought of his child being trapped like he was. His future child should be free to roam the seas without worry.

"Then go. Contact us when you're done. We'll be here to pick you up. Don't worry, as fellow Konoha comrades, we won't abandon anyone."

Shikaku patted Natsu's shoulder. Natsu nodded, got into the small boat, and started rowing toward Amazon Lily, driven by his desire to break free from the curse and dream of a better future.

Shikaku stood on the ship, shaking his head, saying nothing more. The others remained calm, feeling no fear. They had long accepted the idea of sacrificing for Konoha, even on the high seas. Death was not something they feared.

(End of Chapter)