Starting as the mastermind behind Naruto

Chapter 390 I, Uehara Naraku, am looking for a part-time job!

1519 in the Haiyuan calendar.

The desert kingdom of Alabasta, the land of rain.

Alabasta is a country where most of the land is desert. Even in this city surrounded by rainforest, the air is still somewhat dry, and the scorching sun makes everyone feel listless.

In a coffee shop.

A mature woman with dark hair was wearing a tank top, which made her look somewhat alluring.

She was resting her chin on her hand, flipping through the book in her hands with great interest, her fingers tapping her cheeks little by little.

For others, it's a time to rush around for a living; for this woman, it's just a leisurely afternoon tea.

Just then, someone pushed open the door of the coffee shop and walked in. A series of somewhat chaotic footsteps made the woman frown slightly. A young man and a group of people dressed in black robes with auspicious cloud patterns walked in.

"Sorry, we're closed today..."

The black-haired woman continued reading her book, a slight smile playing on her lips, and refused the visitor without a trace of apology.

Unfortunately, the visitors were not friendly.

The young man at the head of the group took out a wanted poster and held it up in front of the black-haired woman, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Uehara Naraku. I'm currently the leader of a mercenary organization, and I've been looking for you ever since I arrived in this land."

After introducing himself, Uehara Naraku held up the wanted poster with a friendly smile and said, "Nicole Robin, the dangerous woman with a bounty of 79 million since she was eight years old, but you seem to have grown up quite a bit now, and have become a very charming woman..."

"What?"

A dangerous glint appeared on the black-haired woman's face. She slowly put down the book in her hand, looked up at the young man in front of her, and returned a sweet smile: "I'm so sorry, you've got the wrong person!"

"Oh?"

Uehara's brows furrowed immediately. He flipped through his wanted posters, then glanced at the black-haired woman in front of him, and said with some doubt, "This shouldn't be the case. Could I have really mistaken her for someone else?"

After saying that, Uehara Naraku sat down by himself and waved his hand casually, saying, "Everyone, please sit down first. If I really have mistaken you for someone else, then I'll treat you to afternoon tea... Anyone, please find me a glass of juice here."

"Yes, Lord Naraku."

A white-haired young man wearing glasses adjusted his glasses, nodded respectfully, and then began searching through the coffee shop on his own.

The other people dressed in black robes with auspicious cloud patterns quickly sat down, seemingly not taking the owner of the coffee shop seriously at all.

"That shouldn't be the case!"

Uehara Naraku stared somewhat rudely at the mature woman with black hair. He flipped through the wanted poster in his hand, shook his head, and sighed, "Tsk, I should try to get a wanted poster for Nico Olvia. That way, you probably wouldn't object..."

"..."

The next moment, the black-haired woman heard a familiar name and her face showed a look of surprise, because Nicole Olvia was her mother!

Yes.

She is indeed Nicole Robin.

Since childhood, he has been given an extremely high bounty of 79 million for being the last archaeologist in the world, which is no less than the bounty of some great pirates!

Unfortunately, she didn't have the power to afford the bounty!

These guys dressed in black robes with auspicious cloud patterns clearly had ill intentions. They even knew about her mother's affairs, which meant they had already identified her!

The black-haired woman looked at everyone present, her eyes gradually becoming somewhat dangerous. Suddenly, her fingers stirred, and a string of flower petals appeared out of thin air!

The next moment, two fair arms suddenly appeared out of thin air on Uehara's shoulders, their hands snapping as they tried to break the young man's neck!

That's Nico Robin's power!

The legendary treasure of the sea, the Devil Fruit, Paramecia type, Flower Flower Fruit, allows the user to create arms made of flower petals anywhere!

However, today she is destined to encounter an enemy she cannot resist!

"Nicole Robin, don't do anything too dangerous."

Uehara Naraku slowly raised his head, and a ball of lightning suddenly erupted from his body, shattering his two arms into flower petals that vanished!

A flicker of surprise crossed Nico Robin's eyes. She stared at the man before her, her heart sinking: "Is this... a Logia-type Devil Fruit, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit?"

In this world, Devil Fruits are divided into three types: Paramecia, Zoan, and Logia. Unsurprisingly, Logia-type powers are considered the top-tier fruits!

The fact that Logia-type Devil Fruits are immune to physical attacks alone is enough for those who possess them to defeat most enemies, especially since Nico Robin joined a company last year, and the company's boss, Crocodile, also possesses a Logia-type Devil Fruit!

Therefore, Nico Robin is very clear about the power of Logia-type Devil Fruits!

Especially the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, which is known as the strongest Logia-type Devil Fruit in legend, is even more powerful than that boss's Sand-Sand Fruit!

finished...

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Nico Robin's forehead.

Crocodile, who claimed to be able to temporarily protect her, is not in the Rainlands now, and there is no one in the entire Rainlands who is capable of resisting the young man in front of her.

"hehe…"

Uehara slowly extended his finger, chuckling as he said, "Nicole Robin, speaking of which, compared to the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, you should be more afraid of this fruit's power, right?"

After he finished speaking, a chill emanated from Uehara's fingers and landed on the coffee in front of Nico Robin, instantly turning the coffee into an ice ball!

Nico Robin stared in astonishment at the scene, a boundless fear spreading through her heart, instantly turning her face into one of terror!

Freezing ability!

If she remembered correctly, this Devil Fruit power should belong to the man who once plunged her into nightmares, Admiral Aokiji, the Navy's top combatant!

How did I end up here?

However, what terrified Nico Robin even more was not the Devil Fruit abilities, but the fact that the young man in front of her seemed to have everything in his grasp!

This young man, who calls himself Uehara Naraku, knows his past, and even everything about himself!

After a long while.

Nico Robin slowly clenched her fingers, regaining her composure. She looked up at Uehara Naraku and asked, "Who... are you..., sir?"

"How clever!"

The white-haired young man with glasses walked over, placed a glass of juice in front of Uehara Naraku, and then looked at Nico Robin and said, "The Uehara Naraku-sama sitting before you is a true god..."

The speaker was none other than Kabuto, Uehara Naraku's most trusted confidant.

"Kabuto, that's too much, that's too much."

Uehara Naraku waved his hand, signaling Yakushi Kabuto to leave, then looked at Nico Robin again: "I'm just a mortal with a little bit of power... Alright, let's not talk about anything else. You should know you can't escape."

Uehara Naraku opened his palm, playing with the lightning within, and continued softly, "I heard there's a company in Alabasta called Baroque Works that's doing quite well, and I've been thinking of finding a part-time job recently..."

"..."

Looking for a part-time job!

Nico Robin's forehead twitched involuntarily.

Someone with such great strength actually said he wanted to find a part-time job!

Not only Nico Robin, but everyone in the coffee shop couldn't help but feel a jolt of unease; they had a strange feeling that someone was about to suffer a terrible misfortune!

Ignoring the expressions of everyone present, Uehara Naraku continued, "I've heard that the mastermind behind Baroque Works is Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. I have great respect for him and want to contribute to his cause..."

"..."

Nico Robin's eyelids twitched involuntarily.

To be honest, just based on the two Devil Fruit powers that Uehara Naraku has shown, Nico Robin feels that Uehara Naraku could easily beat Crocodile!

If it were said that Uehara Naraku's joining Baroque Works wasn't a conspiracy, Nico Robin would feel that all those years of schooling had been a waste...

The expressions of the people in the coffee shop, dressed in black robes adorned with auspicious cloud patterns, were also somewhat subtle. Their gazes slowly moved and settled on a trembling, jet-black figure…

They all clearly knew that Uehara Naraku had previously helped someone in the group's cause, and they had all witnessed that person's fate.

Really...

The kind of scheme that kills people and makes them pay with their lives!

"Sir, isn't this unnecessary?"

Nico Robin maintained her composure and spoke softly, "With your strength, Crocodile doesn't seem to be your match... Isn't this unnecessary?"

Uehara Naraku also opened his palms and said quietly, "It's necessary... In case I get into any trouble in the future, I can blame it on him!"

Nico Robin: "..."

Is it really okay to make Crocodile take the blame so openly and honestly?

And can Crocodile's head really handle the trouble caused by someone like you?

"Alright, I didn't mean to discuss this with you."

Uehara Naraku's face gradually turned serious. He looked at Nico Robin and calmly said, "Now you have two choices. First, join our Akatsuki organization and become my subordinate. Then, let me join Crocodile's Baroque Works..."

After speaking, Uehara Naraku continued to stare at Nico Robin, his expression gradually turning cold, and a chill began to emanate from him: "As for the second option..."

"I choose one!"

Nico Robin gritted her teeth.

"But you're not being sincere."

Uehara Naraku shook his head, glanced at his system display panel, and shouted at the people in the coffee shop, "Hey, who's going to kill her?"

"Hmph, I'll do it! That's seventy-nine million!"

"etc!"

Nico Robin's expression turned grim. She looked at Uehara Naraku and said in a deep voice, "Didn't I already agree to that?"

"I told you, you weren't being sincere."

Uehara Naraku, expressionless, began to sip his juice through the straw. He continued softly, "Don't worry, after you die, we still have ways to use your body and soul... This world has no shortage of ways to exploit the dead, and we certainly don't!"

"..."

Nico Robin's expression grew increasingly grim. She looked at Uehara Naraku and continued, "What would it take for you to believe me! And using power to threaten people into joining—you can't expect them to be loyal to you!"

"yes…"

Uehara Naraku slowly nodded, glancing at Nico Robin with surprise: "Since you're not loyal enough, that's why I said I'd kill you, to directly utilize your body and soul. It's better for all of us that way!"

"..."

Are you speaking human language?

What kind of logic is this?!

Nico Robin felt like she was going crazy. She had been adrift at sea for so many years and had never seen a lunatic like Uehara Naraku!

She's truly fearless...

But she didn't want to die without seeing the truth of history.

Just as Nico Robin was starting to despair, a handsome young man suddenly spoke up: "Hey, Uehara, isn't it a bit unfair of us to force a woman like this? Let me just use my Sharingan to control her!"

"Incantations are fine too..."

Another young man with a full head of red hair chimed in, "It would be better if I could control her brain with mind manipulation sand..."

"No."

Another man, whose appearance was somewhat terrifying, shook his head and said in a deep voice, "I think we should kill her, use her head for the bounty, and then use her remaining corpse for Edo Tensei. That way, we won't waste any time..."

"I also agree with Kakuzu-senpai's opinion."

"Agreed."

In the blink of an eye, the entire coffee shop became lively.

Only Nico Robin was terrified. Although she didn't understand the moves these people were talking about, she did understand things like brains, corpses, and heads!

Nico Robin was filled with regret. Why had she chosen to read and have afternoon tea in this café today? What kind of people had she met today?!

"Okay, I'll ask her again..."

Uehara Naraku placed his hand on the table, looking down at the somewhat limp Nico Robin, watching the fear and unease on her face.

A chill gradually spread from Uehara Naraku's palm as he continued in a cold voice, "This is your last chance. Do you want to join Akatsuki now and never betray them? That way, you can live, and you'll always have someone protecting you."

"..."

Nico Robin nodded hesitantly.

"I agree."

"very good."

Uehara Naraku slowly clapped his hands, sat down again, and his expression returned to its lazy and casual state: "Then tell us about the sea first!"

"Also, please prepare a list of Baroque Works members for me. I'll see who to eliminate and then place our people inside..."

at the same time.

Uehara's system panel displayed two completed tasks.

Side Quest: Have a subordinate with Devil Fruit powers (1/1). Quest complete. Reward: 3000 Life Energy, 3000 Armament Haki, 3000 Observation Haki.

Side Quest: Protect the Devil's Child Nico Robin (1/1), Quest Completed, Reward: 7900 Life Energy, 7900 Armament Haki, 7900 Observation Haki.

There might only be three o'clock tonight...

I want to work on the first three chapters of One Piece properly...