Chapter 50: Do You Want My Treasure?

To persuade a group of rotten scoundrels to become guardians of peace in the ninja world, even Shisui Uchiha would have to reconsider his abilities; let alone Yahiko's meager rhetoric. The more experienced an adult is, the less easily deceived they become. Without tangible benefits, who would risk their lives for the vague promise of peace? Not even a fool would be willing.

As Yahiko felt defeated, Bai Mu too experienced a sense of helplessness regarding this mission.

...

"Maybe... we should just let it go. Once we find Kakuzu, we can leave. The ninja world is vast; surely there are people who yearn for peace somewhere," Yahiko sighed.

"You can't give up now! This is just a minor setback; you can't surrender so easily. You need to stand tall—like your hair!" Bai Mu, however, couldn't bear to abandon a mission worth a hundred gold coins per person.

"...Do you have any good ideas, Bai Mu?" Yahiko still lacked motivation.

"If you want to blend in with a bunch of bastards, you need to become one yourself. That's how you gain their recognition, and only then can you discuss shared ideals." Bai Mu gave Yahiko a confident look.

"You know how to give speeches?" Yahiko questioned, doubtful.

"No one understands speeches better than I do," Bai Mu replied, full of self-assurance.

"...Why don't you demonstrate?" Yahiko eyed Bai Mu skeptically.

"Alright, I'll show you what it means to truly persuade people!" Bai Mu stood up.

Fat Dog Tavern was still the same Fat Dog Tavern; its atmosphere hadn't waned after the brawl. Here, fighting was as ordinary as eating. Beating and being beaten was routine; after refilling their drinks, another lively night began.

At this moment, a scrawny fellow was performing some jokes on stage, gesticulating wildly. Bai Mu, accustomed to grand occasions, found it hollow and dull.

He leaped onto the stage and shoved the performer aside, "Stop, stop! How many times have you told that joke? Can’t you come up with something new?"

"That's the kid who fought so fiercely."

"He hits hard."

"What’s he doing up there?"

The tavern quieted, whispers spreading among the crowd as they watched Bai Mu, wondering what he was up to.

"Tonight..."

"...all expenses are on me, Bai Mu!"

Roar!

The atmosphere erupted. Low growls and enthusiastic applause resounded; Bai Mu instantly became the center of attention.

Barrels of cheap liquor were hauled into the hall, and everyone raised their glasses in salute to Bai Mu.

These bastards were always the most pragmatic people; trying to recruit them with empty promises was useless. Only when the meat was truly on their plates would they listen to your ideals.

After three rounds of drinks—

"Quiet down!" Bai Mu struck the barrel beside him forcefully.

Everyone fell silent, watching Bai Mu.

"Is it starting? What method will he use to convince them?" Yahiko listened eagerly, hoping to learn.

"Bai Mu, are you going to tell dirty jokes?" someone jeered from below.

"Ahem... not tonight, no dirty jokes..." Bai Mu coughed twice. If he really told one, the tainted soul he carried from another world could produce stories that would put even Jiraiya, that half-baked novelist, to shame.

After all, Tsunade was always a hard worker in the fanfiction circles.

Nevertheless, Bai Mu was always a gentleman, and with ladies present tonight, it wasn’t appropriate.

"So, what do you want to tell us?" someone played along.

"Have you ever heard the tale of pirates and treasure?" Bai Mu smiled mysteriously. A legend, after all, is always more captivating than hollow declarations.

"Fifteen men on a dead man's chest, yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum, come and taste!
The rest fell prey to liquor and the devil, yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum, come and taste!
Fifteen men fought over a dead man's chest,
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum, come and taste!
The rest lost their lives to liquor and the devil,
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum, come and taste!
Seventy-five men set sail,
Only one returned alive.
Fifteen men climbed onto the dead man's chest—
Yo-ho-ho, another big bottle of rum!
Drunkenness and the devil claimed the others—
Yo-ho-ho, another big bottle of rum!"

Bai Mu’s story began with a pirate song, the lyrics filled with sin and blood, resonating with the crowd of rogues. The simple, catchy melody made it easy for everyone to hum along.

The atmosphere ignited once more.

Seven days...

For seven consecutive nights, Bai Mu hosted his storytelling sessions in Fat Dog Tavern.

Each evening, the pirate songs drifted through the godless town's night sky like a resounding bugle, drawing every scoundrel to the tavern. Never had it hosted so many guests—the worn floor was nearly trampled to collapse, and its cellar emptied long ago; now, liquor was bought from other establishments.

The stories of Pirate King, Caribbean Pirates, Plank the Scourge of the Seas, and Treasure Island were woven into tales of the ninja world, narrated by Bai Mu.

A Fei transformed endlessly, Bai Mu became the pirate, mother and son working together seamlessly to perform passionate live drama on stage.

Treasures as vast as nations, rebellion, individuality, freedom, and the unrestrained pirate spirit all ignited people’s primal violence and chaos.

Even the Akatsuki trio was thoroughly captivated by Bai Mu’s stories; Sanji was even shaken in his own dreams.

"Does such a treasure really exist in this world?" Sanji’s eyes burned as he looked at Bai Mu.

It was the question everyone wanted to ask. The tavern fell silent, broken only by rough breathing.

"Indeed, I just so happen to know of such a treasure. Uchiha Madara—have you heard the name?" Bai Mu planted a foot on a barrel, his tiger eyes sweeping across the motley crowd below.

"Oh! That terrifying man..."

"Damn, when he was alive, no one dared mention his name."

"My father said that before he died, none of the four great villages dared set foot in the Land of Fire."

"My grandfather told me: Hashirama’s fury is nothing to fear, but beware when Madara smiles..."

Everyone chimed in, weaving tales of Uchiha Madara’s power. Even though he was dead, his name still struck awe throughout the ninja world.

"That’s right, that dreadful man—who made the ninja world tremble—left behind his treasure before dying: countless gold coins and jewels, powerful jutsu, secrets of the ninja world..."

"Do you want it?"

"Wealth, power, authority—he left it all there..."

"If you desire it, then follow me!"

"Let’s seek that treasure together."

"Go, do what you wish, break free from all that binds you, stride boldly forward."

"If you’re a man, you should conquer the wild, unpredictable fate, explore all that is mysterious and unknown! Not rot away in this tavern!"

"Liquor and blood, treasure and freedom."

"This is the romance men should pursue!"

...

...

...

The whole place fell silent.

"Dogto... your turn," Bai Mu kicked Rainba.

"For the treasure!"

"For the liquor!"

"For the women!"

With a thunderous roar, the tavern exploded with energy. The long-dormant passion boiled in the veins of the men. Peace in the ninja world? Who cared! What they wanted was wealth!

"Your performance has caught the attention of Plank, the Scourge of the Seas. You’ve gained Plank’s recognition and acquired skill..."

"System error, power system mismatch."

"Acquired old version Scourge of the Seas skill."

"Rally Troops."

"Greatly boosts the morale of nearby allies and significantly increases all attributes."

Bai Mu secretly gave Yahiko a thumbs-up—this was the true method of recruiting manpower.

"The treasure you mentioned... I want fifty percent."

A tall figure in a black cloak appeared silently at the tavern door. Everyone’s attention was fixed on Bai Mu, so his arrival went unnoticed.

"Kakuzu...!!!!"

A shrill scream drowned out all the noise.

Boom!!!

The entire tavern was smashed with countless holes, and in the blink of an eye, all the rogues vanished without a trace, leaving Bai Mu alone amidst the chaos.