V
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Arc V Chapter 3
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“...” Shikaku gazed at Asami from across his desk. Eventually, though, he relented, giving up his resistance. A heavy sigh escaped Konoha’s undisputed tactical and strategic adviser. “You know, Asami, I have rarely been bested like this before throughout all my career, but you did it. You win, Asami. You have got a point. We are going with your plan. Are you satisfied now?”
Asami grinned. Victory was hers. “I am, Shikaku-kun, I am. We will work out the details in the coming weeks. After all, this was just the rough draft.” When she said we, she meant him and Fumihiko. Her assistant lacked experience. Entrusting Fumihiko with all the administrative work would help him to polish his skills. He needed practice, and she wanted to reduce her workload.
Shikaku emrely waved off. “That's fine. I seriously need a drink after this meeting anyway, a strong one if possible. A seasoned bottle of Sake, probably.”
Asami sheathed her sword, ignoring his drinking habit. “Fumihiko, if you would be so kind, please unroll the next map.”
Her words freed Fumihiko from his stupor. “Which map?”
“The world map, please.” Asami smiled. It was time for the next stage of her little performance. The Hokage tasked her with defending Konoha, but she had a broad definition of the term ‘defence’. Where did duty start? Where did duty end? Questions over questions.
Fumihiko unrolled the map. The Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, the Land of Water, the Land of Lightning, the Land of Earth appeared on the ground. They surrounded by minor countries. Kusagakure, Takigakure, Yugakure, Yukigakure Amegakure, they were villages condemned to perpetual insignificance, forever marionettes of foreign influence. The stage was set, the curtain lifted.
Shikaku leaned forwards, confusion written all over his face. “A world map? Why do we need a world map, Asami? Isn't the meeting already over? Because I need to go somewhere ...”
Her glare stopped Shikaku dead in his tracks, cancelling his trip to the nearest bar. Her petrifying stare pinned him down. “You, my friend, you go nowhere unless I say so, understood?”
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“...” Shikaku gulped. Asami reminded him of his wife, Yoshino. Only shorter, and less fearsome, but similarly dominant. Hopefully, Shikamaru wouldn't find out how he got whipped by a little girl. “Well, I guess I can spare some time for you, Yoshi ... Asami. What do you want to show me?”
Asami beamed. “Nothing in particular. Let's just have a nice chat about Konoha's future, Shikaku.”
“A nice chat, what?” Shikaku raised a suspicious eyebrow.
Asami smiled. “Yes, just a nice little chat with you, Konoha’s strategic genius, Konoha's brilliant tactician, …”
“You know, flattery won't get you far.” Shikaku folded his hands. His time was limited, and so was his patience. “So what do you want, Asami?”
Asami flashed a predatory grin. “You, Shikaku, have what I lack, you possess direct access to the village council and your words carries weight. Thus, I ask you to inform the council about a variety of worrying circumstances, circumstances that cannot be ignored any longer.”
“And that would be? Tell me, what's so important that I should report it directly to council?” Shikaku lent her an ea, listening. She talked sense before, so why not again? It was worth a shot. The only thing that annoyed him that was he completely unable to read her. He couldn't read her at all. Certain people were hard nuts to crack, difficult to read, but Asami was in a completely different league. Normally, it was he who was holding the cards, but not this time. Asami eluded him. World map? Village council? Cicusmtance? What was she trying to get at?
Asami motioned at the map. “What do you see, Shikaku?”
“I see a map.” Shikaku yawned, not much interested in her little games.
Asami nodded. “Indeed, it is a map. In short, nothing special. But everything in life is a matter of perspective. The map might be the same, but we don't see things differently. So, I ask you again, what do you see, Shikaku? Because there is danger looming on the horizon.” The girl repeated her innocent question.
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Wow, guess he was right that money is a reliable advisor, it saved his life for now.
Like the one in no game no lofe coin flip? :V
Didn't watch that anime, but I suppose yes.
Very little happens in this chapter, but nice prose here and there.
She’d make a truly terrible Hokage. If only because she doesn’t really care about anyone but herself.
Noted.
"only shorter, and less fearsome"
O_O I now want to see Yoshino! I want to see the woman who is more fearsome than Asami and obviously also much more impressive by being tall ^^.
Asami's ominous prediction at the end is confusing or just... creepy. Is it related to the revolving door battle plan or is it something beyond it? How much crap can poor Konoha take???
Poor Fumihiko, though, waaah. A voluntary assistant. Are you sure, Asami?
You will get more information about it in the next chapter.
Asami is an evil scheming girl in many aspects. As said, I think her and Aomi would be good friends, tormenting Nekohiko together.
@Assurbanipal_II noooo. nooooo. Two evil girls can bond by tormenting Fumihiko instead, yes? *_* Or Shikaku -- even better!
He might get a kick out of imagining three Yoshinos in his life
/is protective of her cat prince +_+. Cat princes are an endangered species.
@Queenfisher Indeed, they are.
What could happen anyway? The end of the world? Surely not.
Unless...
Hard to read? Really?
Super Pragmatic, Ultra Prideful, Power hungry, Low patient and really Ruthless
All typical shits that limited her action greatly.
-She can only play stick but not carrot
-She can't lie or keep facade well
-She will runaway if she's going to lose(considered that she talk about it multiple times)
-Her social network is weak and small.
-She see people as numbers on paper. And will always choose optimal route.
But.... The most intelligent guy over there is just a drunkard who think that "putting troops at weak spots on infrastructure of capital" without any backup plan is most ingenious idea he can think of.
Yeah. Don't even want to thing about IQ of average person
Genius guy said "let them come knock at our door first and repel back somehow"
Genius girl said "let them come inside our capital then circle them or something"
*gives you a cookie*
somehow... i almost feel like it is Colonel Landa being reborn into Narutos world XD
XD
I take this very much as a compliment.
nice.
Nice chap