Naruto Shinden Volume 3 Chapter 3 Part1

In italiano più sotto.

As I already said, my books finally arrived, so here’s the last part of chapter 1.3, which ends chapter 1. I’ll keep posting my translation, but to avoid infringing copyrights I’ll follow a policy similar to Mangastream’s: that is, once a section is up, the previous one is down. Please respect , and don’t repost this translation anywhere else. If you do and I notice, I’ll begin sharing my translations in private only. When a section is done, I’ll reblog this post and add the new section below. Next update estimate at the end.

Summary of the previous section: While reporting to Kakas.h.i.+, Naruto, Sai and Sakura are interrupted by the sound of an explosion. The Konoha Barrier Unit tells Kakas.h.i.+ that intruders trespa.s.sed Konoha’s barrier, and team Kakas.h.i.+ promptly leaves to investigate. On their way to the Aun gates, they meet Team 10, who went to the site of the explosion while they were investigating on the disappearance of one of Ino’s customers. When they arrive on the spot, they meet the Barrier Unit involved in a defensive fight with what appear to be Konoha s.h.i.+n.o.bi, Ino’s customer (Tadaichi) included. When wounded, Tadaichi begins swelling up and explodes, prompting the explosion of the other s.h.i.+n.o.bi. s.h.i.+kamaru and Chouji manage to avoid any damage in the village, but then they witness the mobilization of dozens of manipulated Kirigakure and k.u.mogakure s.h.i.+n.o.bi approaching Konoha.

Chapter 2, section 1

Summary of the previous section: Called in by s.h.i.+kamaru, Hinata joins the fray. She checks the situation with her Byakugan, and while she can’t find the mastermind who’s manipulating the explosive s.h.i.+n.o.bi, she notices that their chakra is strange. Realising they’ll need to eliminate this chakra in order to break the genjutsu the controlled s.h.i.+n.o.bi are probably under, Naruto devises a plan to separate the s.h.i.+n.o.bi and stop their chakra flow: Naruto, with his kage buns.h.i.+n, lures the enemy in position, s.h.i.+kamaru blocks him with the kagemane, and Hinata presses his pressure point of sudden stop. However, even after Sakura tried to break the genjutsu, the controlled s.h.i.+n.o.bi show no sign of regaining consciousness. Aoba decides to try to read one of the opponent’s mind, but he gets stuck in a genjutsu trap inside his mind. Ino rescues him, but they both ends up with their chakra drained. Sakura tries to cure them while Sai brings everyone to the hospital, and Naruto becomes aware of the hatred that’s taking root inside them.

Chapter 2, section 2-3

Summary of the previous section: Sasuke, Chino and Nowaki go to Iou’s daughter’s village in search for hints, but when they arrive Chino notices a perturbation on the underground water, probably caused by the Dark Thunder Group heading towards the Bamboo Village. They rush back, and they arrive in time for saving the villagers and rescue Iou from the leader, Karyuu. Upon seeing Sasuke, Karyuu engages a fight with him trying to kill him. Karyuu’s kekkei genkai, a lava release that produces gum, is the perfect counter for Sasuke’s lightning techniques, but Sasuke defeats Karyuu after he uses some bamboo skewers infused with lightning chakra to break Karyuu’s defences. After dealing with the rest of the Dark Thunder Group, Sasuke wants to hear Karyuu’s story, because during the battle Karyuu blamed Iou for ‘casting him away’. Karyuu then tells his story: his clan was often used by k.u.mogakure because of their kekkei genkai, and he deserted the village. He was found by the leader of the then called Lightning Group, and joined him. At first, the Lightning Group robbed evil people and gave the money to the weak, but after Kirigakure double-crossed them the villages they used to help turned their back on them. Thee Lightning Group dissolved, and Karyuu found himself alone until he came to know about Sasuke’s attack to the Five Kage. Inspired by him, he decided to form a new group, the Dark Thunder Group, to take revenge on the villages that betrayed him. After hearing his story, Sasuke decides to ask Kakas.h.i.+ for his decision on how to deal with Karyuu and his men.

Chapter 3, section 1

Summary of the previous sections: s.h.i.+kamaru and Chouji go to visit Ino at the hospital, and they meet Sai in her room. Meanwhile, Sasuke’s hawk arrives and Naruto reads the letter to Kakas.h.i.+: Sasuke asks for his decision on the group of thieves he arrested. Kakas.h.i.+ decides to write to Yugakure, and Naruto, not wanting to lose to Sasuke, flips though the doc.u.ments with the photos of the captured s.h.i.+n.o.bi in search of some clues. Noticing that one of the s.h.i.+n.o.bi who attacked Konoha is not among those who went missing, he decides to go to the facility in which the explosive s.h.i.+n.o.bi are held to crosscheck. There he meets Sakura and Hinata, who tell him that the man he’s looking for is indeed strange because his level of different chakra is low. They manage to eliminate the strange chakra completely, and Aoba, now healed, enters into the man’s mind: he discovers that the man’s name is Amuda, he’s acquainted with the head of the Lightning Group and wants to get revenge against the s.h.i.+n.o.bi. When he says this to the others, Naruto remembers that Sasuke captured the leader of the new Dark Thunder Group, so they send him a letter telling him to interrogate Karyuu with his Sharingan. However, when Sasuke receives the letter Iou, disappointed by the fact that probably Karyuu wouldn’t be killed, sets the place in which Karyuu and his men are held captive on fire, dying in the fire as well.

To celebrate the fact that Orochimaru finally appears in a Light Novel, this section will stay up indefinitely. Also, the photo, guys! The infamous photo of team Taka makes an appearance, and I . Also EDIT: I completely misunderstood Oyas.h.i.+ro’s name, sorry. It’s Oyas.h.i.+ro En (Oyas.h.i.+ro being the surname, En the given name).

EDIT: now with corrections.

Chapter 3: Cheerful shouts of affection, thunderous roars of grief

I

Karyuu had belonged to the Lightning Group. He said that they accepted commissions also from the s.h.i.+n.o.bi villages.

In the villages’ case, probably they were illegal connections. If they were dirty matters, there was well-informed man.

Sasuke went alone towards a hideout that had been set up in a cave to ward off the public gaze.

The Bamboo Village had made it through that fire, and seemed somehow relieved. The whole Dark Thunder Group that tormented them had died. And the village headman was the one who achieved it. Maybe everyone was somehow glad that Iou’s revenge had been successful.

In the same way he had sent the letter to Sasuke, Kakas.h.i.+ sent a letter also to Yugakure. Probably he wrote that he wanted them to a.s.sist the Bamboo Village, and thanks to this Yugakure s.h.i.+n.o.bi appeared to help with the reconstruction.

Chino and Nowaki said that finally they had been let go and went back to travelling, and Sasuke came here.

“…this is going to give me quite some troubles.”

When he got closer to the hideout, a man suddenly blocked Sasuke’s way. It was a known face.

“Sasuke… it’s you. Let me introduce myself, I’m ‘Yamato’.”

He was the man who had entered Orochimaru’s hideout with Naruto and the others in the past. He had been appointed as their captain. That man was here now. So that meant that he was.

“Looks like Orochimaru is here.”

Orochimaru had bigger hideouts, but he had no doubt he was here. Yamato inhaled with a fuu.

“I give up. Will you tell me your business?”

“I have some business with Orochimaru.”

“Well, I worked that much out for myself.”

“…”

“…”

Sasuke was silent. Also Yamato crossed his arms and sank into silence. Probably he intended to wait thoroughly. In that case, the conversation was going to make no progress.

“…It’s possible that Orochimaru has some information related to the ringleader of the attack that occurred in Konoha.”

He briefly explained him the situation, and Yamato seemed disappointed. He unfolded his crossed arms, and scratched his head.

“Did you get in contact with the Sixth for this matter?”

“If this gives results, I intend to report to him.”

“Well, it’d be better if you send your progresses en route in detail, it’s easy to take connection even if we’re here but…”

Yamato looked at Sasuke steadily.

“But, you’re doing it for Konoha’s sake, right?”

At Yamato’s question, he had trouble breathing for a moment.

He was doing it for Konoha’s sake, that’s right. He was doing it so naturally that it seemed strange even to himself.

Even if he didn’t stay in the village, he was concerned with Konoha. He had such feeling.

“…yeah.”

At Sasuke’s reply, Yamato let him through saying “It can’t be helped.”

“…is it ok?”

“I’ll report to the Sixth. Because you’re my ‘comrade’. Trust and importance of teamwork, did Kakas.h.i.+-san taught them to you, too?”

Kakas.h.i.+, Team 7. The memory of those times was brought back to Sasuke’s mind.

Again he felt like he was gathering from the start important things that he had thrown away.

“…thank you.”

Saying this, Sasuke walked into Orochimaru’s hideout.

In the walls that vividly reminded him of a snake’s skin, artworks of snakes were used to decorate the place he arrived to. Probably those also served as a surveillance camera. Orochimaru must have seen him, too.

“It’s been a while, Sasuke-kun.”

He proceeded silently, and before he reached the depths of the hideout Orochimaru showed up with a smile floating on his mouth.

Orochimaru was the man who was called, along with Jiraiya and Tsunade, the legendary three, and the depth of his knowledge on ninjutsu and his spirit of persistent quest exceeded every other s.h.i.+n.o.bi’s.

His tenacity was snake-like, he had experienced the abyss of darkness, and there was a part of him that transcended humanity.

“Do you know the ‘Lightning Group’?” he asked without beating about the bush, and Orochimaru muttered “Ah.”

“You know them?”

“Oh, I’ve heard of them. Though I heard that in the end they’ve been ‘suppressed’ by Kirigakure.”

Orochimaru laughed snickering. Apparently he had come to know that Kirigakure framed the Lightning Group to create a connection with the high executive.

“There’s the possibility that the head of this Lightning Group is attacking the s.h.i.+n.o.bi villages.”

“Really, the head of the Lightning Group…”

Sasuke’s expression became stern for the tone of voice ha was using.

“If there’s something you know about it, spit it out.”

“Fufu… You’re the same as ever… Is that the att.i.tude you use when you ask something to a person?”

Sasuke urged Orochimaru, who had bent his head in question: “Do it quickly”. Orochimaru made an even wider smile and answered “Okay”.

“This situation became somehow amusing… If I remember correctly the head of the Lightning Group was the owner of a kekkei genkai, and at the beginning he was supposed to be in the group of Oyas.h.i.+ro En’s* guards.”

“Oyas.h.i.+ro En…?”

He had never heard of that name.

“He’s a man who belongs to nowhere. While he’s a s.h.i.+n.o.bi, that man is also an arms dealer. Since he would sell weapons on large scale to anyone as long as he can pile up money, he’s called merchant of death**. He was very skilled in ama.s.sing enormous fortunes in his lifetime.”

“And that guy was his guard?”

“He was also a guard, but he provided arms in the battlefields together with Oyas.h.i.+ro. The elites, too, come out in the foremost lines of the battle. He was also close to the Anbu.”

In that case, if he went asking Oyas.h.i.+ro the story he would probably get closer to the head of the Lightning Group.

“Where’s Oyas.h.i.+ro?”

“Come on now. Apparently he has more hideouts than I do. So it may be difficult to go in search for him.”

Sasuke scowled at Orochimaru, glaring.

“It’s impossible that you told me such unsubstantiated talk so expressly.”

At Sasuke’s words, Orochimaru purred with a kuku.

“You trusted me? Oh well. I don’t know where he is, but I can lure him out. But moreover… will it be difficult?”

‘Will you do it despite this?’ Orochimaru was asking him.

“What do you think I came here for.”

At Sasuke’s answer, Orochimaru muttered “I feel the wind.” and smiled again.

The preparations would take little time.

Orochimaru had said so, and Sasuke waited in the hideout for a short while.

“Sasuke!”

“What, what kind of evildoings are you planning by coming here?”

“…Long time no see.”

Thereupon, the members of Taka that once fought with him rushed over to him.

“Looks like Karin has sensed you early on, she was all having ants in her pants.”

“No! It’s only because I was worried that some problem had happened! Don’t say things at your convenience!”

Just like in the old times Karin began arguing with Suigetsu. While looking at those two arguing back and forth, Jūgo asked him about his present condition “Are you still on your journey?”

“…yeah.”

Hearing Sasuke’s words, Karin, who was making a fuss, instinctively shut her mouth.

“Didn’t you go back to Konoha?”

She asked him as if she was worried about something, but Suigetsu b.u.t.ted in “You can’t help but caring about Sasuke’s things, don’t you?”

“Seriously, shut up, b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”

They nearly started arguing again, when Orochimaru appeared.

“You two, shut up. Sasuke-kun, the arrangements are set. Let’s go.”

“Orochimaru-sama, are you going out anywhere?”

Orochimaru smiled broadly at Karin’s question.

“I’m going with Sasuke-kun to the sea for a little while.”

At Orochimaru’s words, Karin and the others sank into silence for a second.

“Eh-eeh? To the sea with Sasuke…?”

“You look after the place.”

Being told to hold back, Karin dropped her shoulders. “I can’t imagine something like the sea with Orochimaru-sama.” Suigetsu stiffened.

“Wait, this is new to me, too.”

Sasuke scowled as he followed Orochimaru, who had volunteered.

“To be accurate, a solitary island that floats on the sea. Over there, there’s the amus.e.m.e.nt place of rich people.”

“…is Oyas.h.i.+ro there?”

“If he took the bait.”

Orochimaru gave him a suggestive smile.

After Sasuke left, Suigetsu said “Sasuke working for other people’s sake…”, looking somehow moved.

“Originally he was a Konoha s.h.i.+n.o.bi. Probably they’re not just strangers.”

“Even so” Suigetsu exclaimed at Jūgo’s words.

“He didn’t go back to Konoha. Doesn’t he feel like staying yet?”

At Suigetsu’s doubt, Karin said “You don’t understand.” and scowled at Suigetsu.

“They say that the huge wars disappeared, but there are probably many dangerous rascals. Since Sasuke has those eyes, there are also guys who target him.”

He had the Sharingan in his right eye, as a survivor of the Uchiha clan, and even the Rinnegan in his left eye. Sasuke’s eyes were the most desirable feature for men who wanted power. That’s why Orochimaru wanted Sasuke’s body, once.

“If Sasuke stayed in the village, probably some s.h.i.+n.o.bi who would attack the village aiming at him would appear. So by spreading around the voice that ‘Uchiha Sasuke isn’t in Konoha, he’s constantly wandering around the world’, they decrease the possibilities of harm occurring to the village.”

“If he were very close to the village, maybe some guys would appear, trying to draw out information from people connected with Sasuke.”

At Jūgo’s adjunct, Suigetsu said “All of them, I mean the guys connected with Sasuke, must be all strong like a fool, right? They won’t let information be extracted from them easily.” and tilted his head in contemplation.

“It’s not only this. If he were in the village, he would also come face to face with very young children. Probably there would be guys who would try to extract information even from these children.”

As Jūgo said, in this world there were also s.h.i.+n.o.bi who could go as far as becoming inhumane to achieve their goals. They didn’t know what they would use.

“There are also guys who adored Uchiha Itachi, Orochimaru-sama’s object of research, and bear a grudge towards Sasuke because he killed Itachi. He’s probably trying his best not to leave behind information in the village.”

“I wonder if Sasuke thinks of so many various things to this extent.”

At Karin’s words, Suigetsu was somehow half in doubt.

“I’m not sure, but if it’s so, is Sasuke going to travel all the time?”

At Suigetsu’s words, Jūgo answered “It may be so.”

Hearing this, Karin lowered her eyes.

The image of that girl, shedding tears while she witnessed Sasuke deserting the village and approaching to darkness and yet she couldn’t help but think about him, crossed Karin’s mind.

“…”

Karin entered in her room and fetched a photo from inside her desk. Once, when they moved as Taka, Karin took it by force, extorting it. She had wanted to take the photo with just the two of them, but Suigetsu and Jūgo were there, too.

Karin was staring at this photo motionlessly.

“…What are you looking at?”

Thereupon, Suigetsu peeped at it indelicately from behind Karin’s back.

“…f.u.c.k you, idiot! You have no tact!”

“Gah!”

Karin gave a backfist blow to Suigetsu’s face. Suigetsu’s face liquefied and water splashed around. Karin yelled fl.u.s.tered while adjusting her gla.s.ses.

“Nothing, I was just thinking that maybe they don’t even have one photo!”

“They? They who? Sasuke?”

“Sasuke? Ah, no… Shut up!!”

She kicked him flying again with all her strength.

“Get out, moron!”

Karin threw Suigetsu out of the room hitting him with a kick, and sending him flying. When Suigetsu’s presence was far away, she looked at the photo again.

“…If we meet again, I could ask her… I can easily make at least a photocopy.”

But she didn’t know how she would meet with that cherry blossom haired girl again. Karin closed the photo in the desk.

Note: I include here the part in the next section in which Orochimaru talks about Kabuto. NOTE: to be fixed soon

II

They boarded a boat from the nearest harbour, and they moved into an even smaller boat from the island they finally arrived at.

As they advanced, all around them was enveloped by mist, and their field of vision decreased. The boatman was rowing the boat without speaking, as if he was accustomed to it.

“…however, it’s strange that you can move in this way as you please.” Sasuke said while staring at the prow of the boat that advanced inside the mist. He had tried to destroy Konoha and a.s.sa.s.sinated the Fourth Kazekage. And besides these things, Orochimaru had committed various serious crimes.

“Oh, Sasuke-kun, you’re one to talk?” Orochimaru replied while gazing at the waves stirred by the wind. As Orochimaru said, legally speaking also Sasuke should have been imprisoned for life.

“Besides, even Kabuto, who is one of the war criminals of the Fourth s.h.i.+n.o.bi World War, is living in the outside world now, right?”

Yakus.h.i.+ Kabuto was Orochimaru’s right-hand man, and in order to know what kind of person he was he had kept storing one thing after another inside his body.

By means of the Edo Tensei, a Kinjutsu he performed, the ninja world was about to follow the way of destruction. Not to mention his actions, the lives he stole, all the crimes that were allowed.

Probably there were people who hated Kabuto’s past actions, so there must have been people anxious about Kabuto’s future. If he had been left alive, he could have made the same mistakes again.

“Though, if compared with me, the probability that Kabuto runs into evil is lower.”

“Why are you stating this?”

“Fufu… You don’t trust Uchiha Itachi’s power?”

Sasuke kept silent.

Itachi, who had been resurrected by Kabuto’s Edo Tensei no Jutsu, had fought against Kabuto to dispel this jutsu. That time, he had used Izanami on Kabuto. This jutsu made him look at himself over and over again, so that it wouldn’t dispel until he accepted his own self.

However, for Sasuke, who had seen how strong he was, it was hard to imagine how Kabuto had broken out of that Izanami.

“Despite appearances, there was a person who formed bonds even with Kabuto. That probably became the guide that dispelled the jutsu.”

“A person who formed bonds?”

“Right. She’s the woman who rescued Kabuto when he was a war orphan.”

Sasuke, who didn’t know about Kabuto’s past, was surprised by this.

“At the beginning she was a Konoha s.h.i.+n.o.bi, and then she was enrolled by the ‘Root’, and she became one of the elite of the Intelligence Division. For someone from the ‘Root’, she possessed an unusual integrity… But she left the ‘Root’, and went working in an orphanage. Kabuto was there.”

“…”

“Kabuto wanted so much to be helpful for her and this orphanage, and he had been dragged into the war. But his fate was sealed when he caught my eyes.”

Orochimaru said this without flinching.

“As a result, Kabuto was burdened with Konoha’s darkness, and it was arranged that he would kill her, whom he loved dearly and looked up to, with his own hands. From there on, he became my faithful subordinate. He managed to do any filthy thing with composure. However, when later on he gathered up and used all those well-known s.h.i.+n.o.bi for the Edo Tensei no Jutsu, apparently he didn’t try to get in contact only with her. He could have used her power as a s.h.i.+n.o.bi as much as he liked. Maybe Kabuto’s feelings as a human were all condensed there.”

—He looks like my past self.

His older brother’s voice was brought back to Sasuke’s memory. Itachi had said this after he put Kabuto under Izanami. Itachi said that both he and Kabuto had been toyed with by the world of s.h.i.+n.o.bi.

—I want Kabuto to realise this before he dies, unlike me.

Sasuke hadn’t thought that Kabuto and Itachi were similar. Even now, he couldn’t think that they were similar.

However, he could imagine that it was for Kabuto a pain that only Kabuto himself understood.

“It hadn’t been transmitted to Kabuto, but she always thought about Kabuto, too. Maybe inside Izanami he became aware of this love of her.”

He wondered what kind of path in the world Kabuto would walk on from now on. Probably this woman, who was so important for him, illuminated the way he would go ahead of.

(…)

TRANSLATION NOTES:

*御屋城エン, reading ‘Oyas.h.i.+ro-en’, with 御 o being a suffix meaning ‘honourable’, 屋 ya meaning ‘house/shop/roof’, and 城 s.h.i.+ro meaning ‘castle’. En is a suffix for places. Apparently Oyas.h.i.+ro is the owner. c.r.a.p, I totally misunderstood. En is the given name. d.a.m.n people who have names who sounds like places.

**死の商人, s.h.i.+ no shounin, another way to say ‘arms dealer’ (‘merchant of death’ is a literal translation).

On a side note, Karin uses uchi for the first singular person (kansai dialect) and tends to slur ai sounds in e like s.h.i.+kamaru.

I think I’ll write a separate post with my notes on the contents because I’d need too much s.p.a.ce otherwise.

Anyway. Next section is more or less eighteen pages long, so I’m taking ten days just like the other time, so it should be ready for March 1st. However, I apologise in advance in case I delay the chapter: saying that I felt like c.r.a.p in these days would be a euphemism, and more than once I considered dropping the translation for good… So bear with me, please.

x.x.xx.x.xx.x.xx.x.xx

Nb: per celebrare il fatto che Orochimaru fa finalmente la sua comparsa in un Light Novel, questa sezione rimarrà nel mio blog indefinitamente.

Capitolo 3: Felici grida d’affetto, fragorosi ruggiti di dolore

I

Karyuu aveva fatto parte del Gruppo del Fulmine. Aveva detto che accettavano incarichi anche dai villaggi ninja.

Nel caso dei villaggi, probabilmente erano rapporti illegali. Se erano faccende sporche, c’era un uomo ben informato.

Sasuke si recò da solo ad un nascondiglio che era stato ricavato da una caverna per ripararsi dagli occhi del pubblico.

Il Villaggio del Bambù aveva superato quell’incendio, e sembrava in un certo senso sollevato. L’intero Gruppo del Tuono Nero che lo tormentava era morto. Ed era stato il capovillaggio a riuscirci. Forse tutte erano ad un certo modo contenti che la vendetta di Iou fosse riuscita.

Nello stesso modo in cui aveva spedito la lettera a Sasuke, Kakas.h.i.+ aveva mandato una lettera anche a Yukagure. Probabilmente aveva scritto che voleva che aiuta.s.sero il Villaggio del Bambù, e grazie a questo dei ninja di Yugakure erano apparsi per aiutare con la ricostruzione.

Chino e Nowaki gli dissero che finalmente erano stati lasciati andare e tornarono a viaggiare, e Sasuke era venuto qui.

“…questo mi darà dei problemi.”

Quando Sasuke si era avvicinato al nascondiglio, un uomo gli si era parato davanti. Era una faccia conosciuta.

“Sasuke… sei tu. Lascia che mi presenti, sono ‘Yamato’.”

Era l’uomo che era penetrato nel nascondiglio di Orochimaru con Naruto e gli altri in pa.s.sato. Era stato nominato come loro capitano. Quell’uomo era qui ora. E quasto voleva dire che c’era lui.

“A quanto pare Orochimaru è qui.”

Orochimaru aveva dei nascondigli più grandi, ma non aveva dubbio che fosse qui. Yamato prese il fiato con un fuu.

“Mi arrendo. Mi dici cosa saresti venuto a fare qui?”

“Ho una questione da sistemare con Orochimaru.”

“Be’, fin là c’ero anch’io.”

“…”

“…”

Sasuke stette in silenzio. Anche Yamato incrociò le braccia e sprofondò nel silenzio. Probabilmente aveva intenzione di aspettare fino in fondo. In quel caso, la conversazione non avrebbe fatto progressi.

“…È possibile che Orochimaru abbia delle informazioni collegate al capobanda dell’attacco che ha avuto luogo a Konoha.”

Gli spiegò in breve la situazione, e Yamato sembrò deluso. Sciolse le braccia che aveva incrociato, e si grattò la testa.

“Ti sei messo in contatto con il Sesto per questa faccenda?”

“Se porterà a qualcosa, gli farò rapporto.”

“Be’, sarebbe meglio che tu gli manda.s.si i tuoi progressi in dettaglio strada facendo, è facile mettersi in contatto anche se siamo qui, ma…”

Yamato fissò Sasuke.

“Ma, tu lo stai facendo per Konoha, vero?”

Alla domanda di Yamato, rimase un istante senza fiato.

Lo stava facendo per Konoha, probabilmente. Anche lui si stava comportando in modo strano.

Anche se non stava al villaggio, era legato a Konoha. Provava questo sentimento.

“…già.”

Alla risposta di Sasuke, Yamato lo lasciò pa.s.sare dicendo “È inevitabile”.

“…ti va bene?”

“Farò rapporto io al Sesto. Perché sei un ‘compagno di squadra’. La fiducia e l’importanza del gioco di squadra, Kakas.h.i.+-san l’ha insegnato anche a te?”

Kakas.h.i.+, il Team 7. I ricordi di quel tempo riaffiorarono nella mente di Sasuke.

Di nuovo si sentì come se stesse radunando dal principio cose importanti che aveva gettato via.

“…grazie.”

Dicendo questo, Sasuke entrò nel nascondiglio di Orochimaru.

Alle pareti che gli ricordavano da vicino la pelle di un serpente, delle decorazioni a forma di serpente erano state usate per decorare il posto in cui era entrato. Probabilmente quelle cose servivano anche da videocamere di sorveglianza. Anche Orochimaru doveva averlo visto.

“È un po’ che non ci si vede, Sasuke-kun.”

Procedette in silenzio, e prima che raggiungesse le profondità del nascondiglio Orochimaru si presentò con un sorriso che gli affiorava sulle labbra.

Orochimaru era l’uomo che era stato chiamato, insieme a Jiraiya e Tsunade, i tre ninja leggendari, e la profondità della sua conoscenza delle arti magiche e il suo spirito di ricerca insistente andava oltre a quello di qualunque altro ninja.

La sua tenacia era simile a quella di un serpente, aveva conosciuto gli abissi dell’oscurità, e c’era una parte di lui che trascendeva l’essere umano.

“Conosci il ‘Gruppo del Fulmine’?” chiese senza preamboli, e Orochimaru mormorò “Ah.”

“Li conosci?”

“Oh, ne ho sent.i.to parlare. Anche se ho sent.i.to che alla fine sono stati ‘soppressi’ da Kirigakure.”

Orochimaru rise con un ghigno. Evidentemente aveva saputo che Kirigakure aveva incastrato il Gruppo del Fulmine per creare un legame con l’altro ufficiale.

“È possibile che il capo di questo Gruppo del Fulmine stia attaccando i villaggi ninja.”

“Davvero, il capo del Gruppo del Fulmine…”

L’espressione di Sasuke si irrigidì per il tono di voce che stava usando.

“Se lo conosci, sputa il rospo.”

“Fufu… Sei sempre lo stesso… È questo il tuo atteggiamento quando chiedi qualcosa ad una persona?”

Sasuke incalzò Orochimaru, che aveva inclinato la testa dubbioso: “Svelto.”

Orochimaru fece un sorriso ancora più largo e rispose “D’accordo”.

“Questa situazione è diventata piuttosto divertente… Se ricordo bene il capo del Gruppo del Fulmine aveva un’abilità innata, e all’inizio doveva essere parte del gruppo di guardie di Oyas.h.i.+ro En.”

“Oyas.h.i.+ro En…?”

Non ne aveva mai sent.i.to parlare.

“È un uomo che non appartiene a nessun luogo. Anche se è un ninja, quell’uomo è anche un trafficante di armi. Dato che venderebbe armi a chiunque purché ci possa guadagnare sopra, è chiamato il mercante della morte**. Era davvero esperto nell’amma.s.sare ricchezze a suo tempo.”

“E quell’uomo era la sua guardia?”

“Era anche una guardia, ma forniva armi nei campi di battaglia insieme ad Oyas.h.i.+ro. Anche le élite sono in primissima linea in battaglia. Era anche vicino agli Anbu.”

In quel caso, Oyas.h.i.+ro era probabilmente un socio del capo del Gruppo del fulmine, se andava a chiedere la storia a lui.

“Dov’è Oyas.h.i.+ro?”

“Oh, andiamo. A quanto sembra ha più nascondigli di me. Per cui potrebbe essere difficile scovarlo.”

Sasuke guardò Orochimaru minaccioso.

“È impossibile che tu mi abbia detto una storia infondata così espressamente.”

Alle parole di Sasuke, Orochimaru fece una risata roca soddisfatto.

“Ti fidi di me? Oh, bene. Non so dove sia, ma posso attirarlo allo scoperto. Ma peraltro… sarà difficile?”

‘Lo farai lo stesso?’ gli stava chiedendo Orochimaru.

“Per cosa credi che io sia venuto qui.”

Alla risposta di Sasuke, Orochimaru mormorò “Sento il vento.” e sorrise di nuovo.

I preparativi avrebbero richiesto un po’ di tempo.

Orochimaru aveva detto così, e Sasuke aspettò nel nascondiglio per un po’.

“Sasuke!”

“Che, quali misfatti stai organizzando venendo qui?”

“…È un po’ che non ci vediamo.”

A quel punto, i membri del Falco che in pa.s.sato avevano combattuto insieme a lui gli corsero incontro.

“Pare che Karin abbia percepito la tua presenza dall’inizio, era tutta agitata.”

“No! È solo che ero preoccupata che fosse successo qualcosa! Non inventare balle!”

Proprio come ai vecchi tempi Karin iniziò a litigare con Suigetsu. Guardando quei due che litigavano animatamente, Jūgo gli chiese del suo stato attuale: “Stai ancora viaggiando?”

“…già.”

Udendo le parole di Sasuke, Karin, che stava sollevando un trambusto, chiuse la bocca d’istinto.

“Non sei tornato a Konoha?”

Stava per chiedergli se fosse preoccupato per qualcosa, ma Suigetsu si mise in mezzo “Non puoi fare a meno di farti i fatti di Sasuke, non è vero?”.

“Sul serio, sta’ zitto, imbecille!”

Avevano quasi ricominciato a litigare, quando apparve Orochimaru.

“Voi due, state zitti. Sasuke-kun, i preparativi sono p.r.o.nti. Andiamo.”

“Orochimaru-sama, vai fuori da qualche parte?”

Orochimaru fece un largo sorriso alla domanda di Karin.

“Vado al mare con Sasuke-kun per un po’.”

Alle parole di Orochimaru, Karin e gli altri sprofondarono nel silenzio per un attimo.

“E-eeh? Al mare con Sasuke?”

“Voi restate qui a badare al nascondiglio.”

Essendole stato ordinato di restare indietro, Karin lasciò andare le spalle. Suigetsu si irrigidì “Non riesco ad immaginare di andare al mare con Orochimaru-sama.”

“Aspetta un attimo, questa mi giunge nuova.”

Sasuke guardò storto Orochimaru, che si era offerto volontario, seguendolo.

“Per essere precisi, un’isola solitaria che galleggia sul mare. Lì è il luogo di divertimento della gente ricca.”

“…C’è anche Oyas.h.i.+ro?”

“Se ha abboccato.”

Orochimaru gli lanciò un sorriso carico di sottintesi.

Dopo che Sasuke uscì, Suigetsu disse “Sasuke che lavora per il bene altrui…”, mostrandosi in un certo senso commosso.

“Inizialmente era un ninja di Konoha. Probabilmente non sono solo estranei.”

“Comunque” esclamò Suigetsu alle parole di Jūgo.

“Non è tornato a Konoha. Non se la sente ancora di restare?”

Al dubbio di Suigetsu, Karin disse “Tu non capisci.” e lanciò un’occhiataccia a Suigetsu.

“Dicono che le grandi guerre sono scompa.r.s.e, ma probabilmente ci sono ancora molti farab.u.t.ti pericolosi. Dato che Sasuke possiede quegli occhi, ci sono anche persone che lo prendono di mira.”

Aveva lo Sharingan nell’occhio destro, essendo un sopravvissuto del clan Uchiha, e aveva anche il Rinnegan nell’occhio sinistro. Gli occhi di Sasuke erano la caratteristica più ambita per gli uomini che volevano il potere. Per questo Orochimaru aveva desiderato il corpo di Sasuke, in pa.s.sato.

“Se Sasuke stesse al villaggio, probabilmente apparirebbero dei ninja che attaccherebbero il villaggio mirando a lui. Per cui spargendo la voce che ‘Uchiha Sasuke non è a Konoha, è costantemente in viaggio per il mondo’, diminuiscono le possibilità che accada del male al villaggio.”

“Se stesse molto vicino al villaggio, forse apparirebbero alcuni cercando di estrarre informazioni dalle persone legate a Sasuke.”

All’aggiunta di Jūgo, Suigetsu disse “Tutti loro, intendo le persone legate a Sasuke, devono essere tutti forti da pazzi, giusto? Non possono lasciare che vengano loro sottratte informazioni facilmente.” e inclinò la testa in contemplazione.

“Non è solo questo. Se stesse al villaggio, verrebbe a contatto anche con bambini molto piccoli. Probabilmente ci sarebbero anche delle persone che proverebbero ad estorcere informazioni anche da questi bambini.”

Come diceva Jūgo, in questo mondo c’erano anche ninja che avrebbero perfino compiuto azioni inumane pur di raggiungere i loro scopi. Non sapevano quali mezzi avrebbero usato.

“Ci sono anche persone che adorano follemente Uchiha Itachi, il soggetto di ricerca di Orochimaru-sama, e portano rancore verso Sasuke perché ha ucciso Itachi. Probabilmente sta facendo del suo meglio per non lasciare informazioni al villaggio.”

“Mi chiedo se Sasuke pensi a queste varie cose fino a questo punto.”

Alle parole di Karin, Suigetsu rimase mezzo in dubbio.

“Non sono sicuro, ma se è così, Sasuke ha intenzione di viaggiare per sempre?”

Alle parole di Suigetsu, Jūgo rispose “Può darsi.”

Udendo ciò, Karin abba.s.sò lo sguardo.

L’immagine di se stessa, che versava lacrime mentre a.s.sisteva a come Sasuke stesse abbandonando il villaggio e si avvicina.s.se all’oscurità e nonostante questo non poteva fare a meno di pensare a lui, attraversò la mente di Karin.

“…”

Karin entrò nella sua stanza e prese una foto dalla scrivania. Una volta, quando si muovevano come Falco, Karin l’aveva scattata estorcendola con la forza. Avrebbe voluto scattare la foto con loro due solo, ma c’erano anche Suigetsu e Jūgo.

Karin stava fissando questa foto, immobile.

“…Cosa stai guardando?”

In quel momento, Suigetsu sbirciò in modo indelicato da dietro la schiena di Karin.

“…va’ a farti fottere, idiota! Non hai tatto!”

“Gah!”

Karin tirò un manrovescio in faccia a Suigetsu. Il viso di Suigetsu si liquefece e l’acqua spruzzò ovunque. Karin urlò nervosa mentre si aggiustava gli occhiali.

“Niente, stavo solo pensando che forse non ha neanche una foto!”

“Non ha? Chi non ne ha? Sasuke?”

“Sasuke? Ah, no… Sta’ zitto!!”

Lo fece volare in aria con un calcio usando tutta la sua forza.

“Fuori, idiota!”

Karin scaraventò Suigetsu fuori dalla sua stanza colpendolo con un calcio che lo fece volare via. Quando la presenza di Suigetsu fu lontana, Karin guardò di nuovo la foto.

“…Dovrei chiederle se ci possiamo incontrare di nuovo… Potrei facilmente farle almeno una fotocopia.”

Ma non sapeva come fare ad incontrare di nuovo quella ragazza dai capelli color fiore di ciliegio. Karin chiuse la foto nella scrivania.

Nota: includo qui di seguito l'inizio della prossima sezione in cui Orochimaru parla di Kabuto.

II

Salirono a bordo di una barca al porto più vicino, e si trasferirono in una barca ancora più piccola dall’isola in cui alla fine erano giunti.

Mentre avanzavano, tutto attorno a loro era circondato dalla nebbia, e la loro visuale diminuì. Il barcaiolo remava senza parlare, come se ci fosse abituato.

“…comunque, è strano che tu ti possa muovere in questo modo come ti pare.” disse Sasuke mentre fissava la prua della barca che avanzava tra la nebbia. Aveva provato a distruggere Konoha e aveva a.s.sa.s.sinato il Quarto Kazekage. E oltre a ciò, Orochimaru aveva compiuto vari crimini gravi.

“Oh, Sasuke-kun, proprio tu parli?” replicò Orochimaru guardando le onde agitate dal vento. Come diceva Orochimaru, legalmente parlando anche Sasuke avrebbe dovuto essere imprigionato a vita.

“D’altra parte, anche Kabuto, che uno dei criminali di guerra della Quarta Guerra Mondiale Ninja, vive nel mondo esterno ora, giusto?”

Yakus.h.i.+ Kabuto era il braccio destro di Orochimaru, e per sapere chi fosse aveva continuato ad acc.u.mulare una cosa dopo l’altra dentro il suo corpo.

A causa della Resurrezione Impura, una tecnica di cui lui faceva uso, il mondo ninja stava per imboccare il sentiero della distruzione. Per non parlare delle sue azioni, delle vite che aveva rubato, di tutti i crimini che erano stati permessi.

Probabilmente c’erano delle persone che odiavano le azioni pa.s.sate di Kabuto, per cui dovevano esserci persone in ansia per il futuro di Kabuto. Se fosse stato lasciato vivo, avrebbe potuto commettere di nuovo gli stessi errori.

“Anche se, in confronto a me, la probabilità che Kabuto torni ad essere malvagio è minore.”

“Perché ne sei così sicuro?”

“Fufu… Non ti fidi del potere di Uchiha Itachi?”

Sasuke restò in silenzio.

Itachi, che era stato resuscitato dalla Tecnica della Resurrezione Impura di Kabuto, aveva combattuto contro Kabuto per rilasciare la tecnica. Quella volta, Itachi aveva usato l’Izanami su Kabuto. Questa tecnica lo aveva costretto a guardare se stesso più e più volte, cosicché non si sarebbe infranta finché non avesse accettato se stesso così com’era.

Tuttavia, per Sasuke, che aveva visto quanto era forte, era difficile immaginare come Kabuto si fosse liberato dall’Izanami.

“Nonostante le apparenze, c’è una persona che aveva formato dei legami perfino con Kabuto. Probabilmente è diventata la sua guida per dissolvere la tecnica.”

“Una persona che aveva formato dei legami?”

“Già. È la donna che aveva soccorso Kabuto quando era un orfano di guerra.”

Sasuke, che non conosceva il pa.s.sato di Kabuto, ne fu sorpreso.

“All’inizio lei era un ninja di Konoha, e poi venne arruolata dalla ‘Radice’, e divenne una delle migliori della Squadra di Intelligence. Nella ‘Radice’, possedeva un’integrità inusuale… Ma lasciò la ‘Radice’, e andò a lavorare in un orfanotrofio. Kabuto stava lì.”

“…”

“Kabuto voleva così tanto essere d’aiuto a lei e a questo orfanotrofio, e venne coinvolto nella guerra. Ma il suo fato fu segnato quando catturò il mio sguardo.”

Orochimaru lo disse senza batter ciglio.

“Di conseguenza, Kabuto subì il peso dell’oscurità di Konoha, e fu deciso che lui uccidesse lei, che amava teneramente e ammirava, con le sue stessa mani. Da lì in poi, divenne il mio fidato subordinato. Riusciva a compiere ogni sorta di cose ripugnanti senza scomporsi. Tuttavia, quando più tardi riunì ed utilizzò tutti quei ninja famosi per la Tecnica della Resurrezione Impura, a quanto pare non ha provato a mettersi in contatto soltanto con lei. Avrebbe potuto usare le sue abilità di ninja a suo piacimento. Forse i sentimenti di Kabuto come essere umano erano tutti condensati in lei.”

—Sembra il me stesso di una volta.

 La voce di suo fratello maggiore venne riportata alla memoria di Sasuke. Itachi aveva detto questo dopo aver messo Kabuto sotto l’influenza dell’Izanami. Itachi aveva detto che il mondo dei ninja si era preso gioco sia di lui che di Kabuto.

—Voglio che Kabuto, al contrario di me, se ne renda conto prima di morire.

Sasuke non aveva pensato che Kabuto e Itachi fossero simili. Anche ora, non riusciva a pensare che fossero simili.

Tuttavia, riusciva ad immaginare che quello fosse per Kabuto un dolore che solo Kabuto poteva capire.

“Non è stato trasmesso a Kabuto, ma anche lei pensava sempre a Kabuto. Forse dentro all’Izanami si è reso conto di questo suo amore.”

Si chiese su che razza di strada Kabuto avrebbe intrapreso da quel momento in poi. Probabilmente questa donna, che era così importante per lui, illuminava la strada che lui avrebbe preso.

(…)

NOTE sulla TRADUZIONE:

*御屋城エン, si legge ‘Oyas.h.i.+ro En’, scritto con 御 o, suffisso che significa ‘onorevole’, 屋 ya, che significa ‘casa/negozio/tetto’, e 城 s.h.i.+ro che significa ‘castello’.  A quanto pare Oyas.h.i.+ro è il proprietario. EDIT: ho completamente frainteso, En a quanto pare é il suo nome >.<>

**死の商人, s.h.i.+ no shounin è un altro modo per dire ‘trafficante di armi’ (‘mercante di morte’ è una traduzione letterale).

Per la cronaca, Karin usa il p.r.o.nome di prima persona singolare uchi (dialetto kansai) e tende a biascicare i suoni ai in e come s.h.i.+kamaru.