Initaliano più sotto.
As I already said, my books finallyarrived, so here’s the last part of chapter 1.3, which ends chapter 1. I’llkeep posting my translation, but to avoid infringing copyrights I’ll follow apolicy similar to Mangastream’s: that is, once a section is up, the previous one isdown. Please respect , and don’trepost this translation anywhere else. If you do and I notice, I’ll beginsharing my translations in private only. When a section is done, I’ll reblogthis post and add the new section below. Next update estimate at the end.
Summaryof the previous section: While reporting to Kakas.h.i.+, Naruto, Sai and Sakura areinterrupted 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 toinvestigate. On their way to the Aun gates, they meet Team 10, who went to thesite of the explosion while they were investigating on the disappearance of oneof Ino’s customers. When they arrive on the spot, they meet the Barrier Unitinvolved in a defensive fight with what appear to be Konoha s.h.i.+n.o.bi, Ino’scustomer (Tadaichi) included. When wounded, Tadaichi begins swelling up andexplodes, prompting the explosion of the other s.h.i.+n.o.bi. s.h.i.+kamaru and Choujimanage to avoid any damage in the village, but then they witness themobilization of dozens of manipulated Kirigakure and k.u.mogakure s.h.i.+n.o.biapproaching Konoha.
Chapter 2, section 1
Summaryof the previous section: Called in by s.h.i.+kamaru, Hinata joins the fray. Shechecks the situation with her Byakugan, and while she can’t find the mastermindwho’s manipulating the explosive s.h.i.+n.o.bi, she notices that their chakra isstrange. Realising they’ll need to eliminate this chakra in order to break thegenjutsu the controlled s.h.i.+n.o.bi are probably under, Naruto devises a plan toseparate 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 Hinatapresses his pressure point of sudden stop. However, even after Sakura tried tobreak the genjutsu, the controlled s.h.i.+n.o.bi show no sign of regainingconsciousness. Aoba decides to try to read one of the opponent’s mind, but hegets stuck in a genjutsu trap inside his mind. Ino rescues him, but they bothends up with their chakra drained. Sakura tries to cure them while Sai bringseveryone to the hospital, and Naruto becomes aware of the hatred that’s takingroot inside them.
Chapter2, section 2-3
Summaryof the previous section: Sasuke, Chino and Nowaki go to Iou’s daughter’svillage in search for hints, but when they arrive Chino notices a perturbationon the underground water, probably caused by the Dark Thunder Group headingtowards the Bamboo Village. They rush back, and they arrive in time for savingthe 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, alava release that produces gum, is the perfect counter for Sasuke’s lightningtechniques, but Sasuke defeats Karyuu after he uses some bamboo skewers infusedwith lightning chakra to break Karyuu’s defences. After dealing with the restof the Dark Thunder Group, Sasuke wants to hear Karyuu’s story, because duringthe battle Karyuu blamed Iou for ‘casting him away’. Karyuu then tells hisstory: 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 calledLightning Group, and joined him. At first, the Lightning Group robbed evilpeople and gave the money to the weak, but after Kirigakure double-crossed themthe villages they used to help turned their back on them. Thee Lightning Groupdissolved, and Karyuu found himself alone until he came to know about Sasuke’sattack to the Five Kage. Inspired by him, he decided to form a new group, theDark Thunder Group, to take revenge on the villages that betrayed him. Afterhearing his story, Sasuke decides to ask Kakas.h.i.+ for his decision on how todeal with Karyuu and his men.
Chapter3, section 1
Summaryof 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 Narutoreads the letter to Kakas.h.i.+: Sasuke asks for his decision on the group of thieveshe arrested. Kakas.h.i.+ decides to write to Yugakure, and Naruto, not wanting tolose to Sasuke, flips though the doc.u.ments with the photos of the captureds.h.i.+n.o.bi in search of some clues. Noticing that one of the s.h.i.+n.o.bi who attackedKonoha is not among those who went missing, he decides to go to the facility inwhich the explosive s.h.i.+n.o.bi are held to crosscheck. There he meets Sakura andHinata, who tell him that the man he’s looking for is indeed strange becausehis level of different chakra is low. They manage to eliminate the strangechakra completely, and Aoba, now healed, enters into the man’s mind: hediscovers that the man’s name is Amuda, he’s acquainted with the head of theLightning Group and wants to get revenge against the s.h.i.+n.o.bi. When he says thisto the others, Naruto remembers that Sasuke captured the leader of the new DarkThunder Group, so they send him a letter telling him to interrogate Karyuu withhis Sharingan. However, when Sasuke receives the letter Iou, disappointed bythe fact that probably Karyuu wouldn’t be killed, sets the place in whichKaryuu and his men are held captive on fire, dying in the fire as well.
Tocelebrate the fact that Orochimaru finally appears in a Light Novel, thissection will stay up indefinitely. Also, the photo, guys! The infamous photo ofteam 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.
Chapter3: 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 wereillegal connections. If they were dirty matters, there was well-informed man.
Sasuke went alone towards a hideout thathad been set up in a cave to ward off the public gaze.
The Bamboo Village had made it through thatfire, and seemed somehow relieved. The whole Dark Thunder Group that tormentedthem had died. And the village headman was the one who achieved it. Maybeeveryone was somehow glad that Iou’s revenge had been successful.
In the same way he had sent the letter toSasuke, Kakas.h.i.+ sent a letter also to Yugakure. Probably he wrote that hewanted them to a.s.sist the Bamboo Village, and thanks to this Yugakure s.h.i.+n.o.biappeared to help with the reconstruction.
Chino and Nowaki said that finally they hadbeen let go and went back to travelling, and Sasuke came here.
“…this is going to give me quite sometroubles.”
When he got closer to the hideout, a mansuddenly 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’shideout with Naruto and the others in the past. He had been appointed as theircaptain. That man was here now. So that meant that he was.
“Looks like Orochimaru is here.”
Orochimaru had bigger hideouts, but he hadno doubt he was here. Yamato inhaled with a fuu.
“I give up. Will you tell me yourbusiness?”
“I have some business with Orochimaru.”
“Well, I worked that much out for myself.”
“…”
“…”
Sasuke was silent. Also Yamato crossed hisarms and sank into silence. Probably he intended to wait thoroughly. In thatcase, the conversation was going to make no progress.
“…It’s possible that Orochimaru has someinformation related to the ringleader of the attack that occurred in Konoha.”
He briefly explained him the situation, andYamato seemed disappointed. He unfolded his crossed arms, and scratched hishead.
“Did you get in contact with the Sixth forthis matter?”
“If this gives results, I intend to reportto him.”
“Well, it’d be better if you send yourprogresses en route in detail, it’s easy to take connection even if we’re herebut…”
Yamato looked at Sasuke steadily.
“But, you’re doing it for Konoha’s sake,right?”
At Yamato’s question, he had troublebreathing 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, hewas concerned with Konoha. He had such feeling.
“…yeah.”
At Sasuke’s reply, Yamato let him throughsaying “It can’t be helped.”
“…is it ok?”
“I’ll report to the Sixth. Because you’remy ‘comrade’. Trust and importance of teamwork, did Kakas.h.i.+-san taught them toyou, too?”
Kakas.h.i.+, Team 7. The memory of those timeswas brought back to Sasuke’s mind.
Again he felt like he was gathering fromthe start important things that he had thrown away.
“…thank you.”
Saying this, Sasuke walked intoOrochimaru’s hideout.
In the walls that vividly reminded him of asnake’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 seenhim, too.
“It’s been a while, Sasuke-kun.”
He proceeded silently, and before hereached the depths of the hideout Orochimaru showed up with a smile floating onhis mouth.
Orochimaru was the man who was called,along with Jiraiya and Tsunade, the legendary three, and the depth of hisknowledge on ninjutsu and his spirit of persistent quest exceeded every others.h.i.+n.o.bi’s.
His tenacity was snake-like, he hadexperienced the abyss of darkness, and there was a part of him that transcendedhumanity.
“Do you know the ‘Lightning Group’?” heasked without beating about the bush, and Orochimaru muttered “Ah.”
“You know them?”
“Oh, I’ve heard of them. Though I heardthat in the end they’ve been ‘suppressed’ by Kirigakure.”
Orochimaru laughed snickering. Apparentlyhe had come to know that Kirigakure framed the Lightning Group to create aconnection with the high executive.
“There’s the possibility that the head ofthis 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 thetone 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 theatt.i.tude you use when you ask something to a person?”
Sasuke urged Orochimaru, who had bent hishead in question: “Do it quickly”. Orochimaru made an even wider smile andanswered “Okay”.
“This situation became somehow amusing… IfI remember correctly the head of the Lightning Group was the owner of a kekkeigenkai, 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. Whilehe’s a s.h.i.+n.o.bi, that man is also an arms dealer. Since he would sell weapons onlarge scale to anyone as long as he can pile up money, he’s called merchant ofdeath**. 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 armsin the battlefields together with Oyas.h.i.+ro. The elites, too, come out in theforemost 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 morehideouts 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 suchunsubstantiated talk so expressly.”
At Sasuke’s words, Orochimaru purred with akuku.
“You trusted me? Oh well. I don’t knowwhere he is, but I can lure him out. But moreover… will it be difficult?”
‘Will you do it despite this?’ Orochimaruwas asking him.
“What do you think I came here for.”
At Sasuke’s answer, Orochimaru muttered “Ifeel the wind.” and smiled again.
The preparations would take little time.
Orochimaru had said so, and Sasuke waitedin the hideout for a short while.
“Sasuke!”
“What, what kind of evildoings are youplanning by coming here?”
“…Long time no see.”
Thereupon, the members of Taka that oncefought 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 thatsome problem had happened! Don’t say things at your convenience!”
Just like in the old times Karin beganarguing with Suigetsu. While looking at those two arguing back and forth, Jūgo asked him about hispresent condition “Are you still on your journey?”
“…yeah.”
Hearing Sasuke’s words, Karin, who wasmaking a fuss, instinctively shut her mouth.
“Didn’t you go back to Konoha?”
She asked him as if she was worriedabout something, but Suigetsu b.u.t.ted in “You can’t help but caring aboutSasuke’s things, don’t you?”
“Seriously, shut up, b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”
They nearly started arguing again, whenOrochimaru appeared.
“You two, shut up. Sasuke-kun, thearrangements are set. Let’s go.”
“Orochimaru-sama, are you going outanywhere?”
Orochimaru smiled broadly at Karin’squestion.
“I’m going with Sasuke-kun to the sea for alittle while.”
At Orochimaru’s words, Karin and the otherssank into silence for a second.
“Eh-eeh? To the sea with Sasuke…?”
“You look after the place.”
Being told to hold back, Karin dropped hershoulders. “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 thatfloats 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 “Sasukeworking 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 hefeel like staying yet?”
At Suigetsu’s doubt, Karin said “You don’tunderstand.” 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 asurvivor of the Uchiha clan, and even the Rinnegan in his left eye. Sasuke’seyes were the most desirable feature for men who wanted power. That’s why Orochimaruwanted Sasuke’s body, once.
“If Sasuke stayed in the village, probablysome s.h.i.+n.o.bi who would attack the village aiming at him would appear. So byspreading around the voice that ‘Uchiha Sasuke isn’t in Konoha, he’s constantlywandering around the world’, they decrease the possibilities of harm occurringto the village.”
“If he were very close to the village,maybe some guys would appear, trying to draw out information from peopleconnected with Sasuke.”
At Jūgo’s adjunct, Suigetsu said “All of them, I meanthe guys connected with Sasuke, must be all strong like a fool, right? Theywon’t let information be extracted from them easily.” and tilted his head incontemplation.
“It’s not only this. If he were in thevillage, he would also come face to face with very young children. Probablythere would be guys who would try to extract information even from thesechildren.”
As Jūgo said, in this world there were also s.h.i.+n.o.biwho could go as far as becoming inhumane to achieve their goals. They didn’tknow what they would use.
“There are also guys who adored UchihaItachi, Orochimaru-sama’s object of research, and bear a grudge towards Sasukebecause he killed Itachi. He’s probably trying his best not to leave behindinformation in the village.”
“I wonder if Sasuke thinks of so manyvarious things to this extent.”
At Karin’s words, Suigetsu was somehow halfin doubt.
“I’m not sure, but if it’s so, is Sasukegoing to travel all the time?”
At Suigetsu’s words, Jūgo answered “It may beso.”
Hearing this, Karin lowered her eyes.
The image of that girl, shedding tears whileshe witnessed Sasuke deserting the village and approaching to darkness and yetshe couldn’t help but think about him, crossed Karin’s mind.
“…”
Karin entered in her room and fetched aphoto from inside her desk. Once, when they moved as Taka, Karin took it byforce, extorting it. She had wanted to take the photo with just the two ofthem, but Suigetsu and Jūgo were there, too.
Karin was staring at this photomotionlessly.
“…What are you looking at?”
Thereupon, Suigetsu peeped at itindelicately from behind Karin’s back.
“…f.u.c.k you, idiot! You have no tact!”
“Gah!”
Karin gave a backfist blow to Suigetsu’sface. Suigetsu’s face liquefied and water splashed around. Karin yelledfl.u.s.tered while adjusting her gla.s.ses.
“Nothing, I was just thinking that maybe theydon’t even have one photo!”
“They? They who? Sasuke?”
“Sasuke? Ah, no… Shut up!!”
She kicked him flying again with all herstrength.
“Get out, moron!”
Karin threw Suigetsu out of the room hittinghim 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… Ican easily make at least a photocopy.”
But she didn’t know how she would meet with thatcherry 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 nearestharbour, and they moved into an even smaller boat from the island they finallyarrived at.
As they advanced, all around them wasenveloped by mist, and their field of vision decreased. The boatman was rowingthe boat without speaking, as if he was accustomed to it.
“…however, it’s strange that you can movein this way as you please.” Sasuke said while staring at the prow of the boatthat advanced inside the mist. He had tried to destroy Konoha and a.s.sa.s.sinatedthe Fourth Kazekage. And besides these things, Orochimaru had committed variousserious crimes.
“Oh, Sasuke-kun, you’re one to talk?”Orochimaru replied while gazing at the waves stirred by the wind. As Orochimarusaid, legally speaking also Sasuke should have been imprisoned for life.
“Besides, even Kabuto, who is one of thewar 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-handman, and in order to know what kind of person he was he had kept storing onething after another inside his body.
By means of the Edo Tensei, a Kinjutsu heperformed, the ninja world was about to follow the way of destruction. Not tomention his actions, the lives he stole, all the crimes that were allowed.
Probably there were people who hatedKabuto’s past actions, so there must have been people anxious about Kabuto’sfuture. If he had been left alive, he could have made the same mistakes again.
“Though, if compared with me, theprobability that Kabuto runs into evil is lower.”
“Why are you stating this?”
“Fufu… You don’t trust Uchiha Itachi’spower?”
Sasuke kept silent.
Itachi, who had been resurrected byKabuto’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 himselfover and over again, so that it wouldn’t dispel until he accepted his own self.
However, for Sasuke, who had seen howstrong he was, it was hard to imagine how Kabuto had broken out of thatIzanami.
“Despite appearances, there was a person whoformed bonds even with Kabuto. That probably became the guide that dispelledthe jutsu.”
“A person who formed bonds?”
“Right. She’s the woman who rescued Kabutowhen he was a war orphan.”
Sasuke, who didn’t know about Kabuto’spast, 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 theIntelligence Division. For someone from the ‘Root’, she possessed an unusual integrity… Butshe left the ‘Root’, and went working in an orphanage. Kabuto was there.”
“…”
“Kabuto wanted so much to be helpful forher and this orphanage, and he had been dragged into the war. But his fate wassealed when he caught my eyes.”
Orochimaru said this without flinching.
“As a result, Kabuto was burdened withKonoha’s darkness, and it was arranged that he would kill her, whom he loveddearly and looked up to, with his own hands. From there on, he became myfaithful 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 forthe Edo Tensei no Jutsu, apparently he didn’t try to get in contact only withher. He could have used her power as a s.h.i.+n.o.bi as much as he liked. MaybeKabuto’s feelings as a human were all condensed there.”
—He looks like my past self.
His older brother’s voice was brought backto 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 hedies, unlike me.
Sasuke hadn’t thought that Kabuto andItachi were similar. Even now, he couldn’t think that they were similar.
However, he could imagine that it was forKabuto a pain that only Kabuto himself understood.
“It hadn’t been transmitted to Kabuto, butshe always thought about Kabuto, too. Maybe inside Izanami he became aware ofthis love of her.”
He wondered what kind of path in the worldKabuto would walk on from now on. Probably this woman, who was so important forhim, 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 asuffix 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 ofdeath’ is a literal translation).
On a side note, Karin uses uchi for the first singular person(kansai dialect) and tends to slur aisounds in e like s.h.i.+kamaru.
I think I’ll write a separate post with mynotes on the contents because I’d need too much s.p.a.ce otherwise.
Anyway. Next section is more or lesseighteen pages long, so I’m taking ten days just like the other time, so itshould be ready for March 1st. However, I apologise in advance incase I delay the chapter: saying that I felt like c.r.a.p in these days would be aeuphemism, 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 ilfatto che Orochimaru fa finalmente la sua comparsa in un Light Novel, questasezione rimarrà nel mio blog indefinitamente.
Capitolo 3: Felici grida d’affetto, fragorosiruggiti di dolore
I
Karyuu aveva fatto partedel Gruppo del Fulmine. Aveva detto che accettavano incarichi anche daivillaggi ninja.
Nel caso dei villaggi,probabilmente erano rapporti illegali. Se erano faccende sporche, c’era un uomoben informato.
Sasuke si recò da solo adun nascondiglio che era stato ricavato da una caverna per ripararsi dagli occhidel pubblico.
Il Villaggio del Bambùaveva superato quell’incendio, e sembrava in un certo senso sollevato. L’interoGruppo del Tuono Nero che lo tormentava era morto. Ed era stato ilcapovillaggio a riuscirci. Forse tutte erano ad un certo modo contenti che lavendetta di Iou fosse riuscita.
Nello stesso modo in cuiaveva spedito la lettera a Sasuke, Kakas.h.i.+ aveva mandato una lettera anche aYukagure. Probabilmente aveva scritto che voleva che aiuta.s.sero il Villaggiodel Bambù, e grazie a questo dei ninja di Yugakure erano apparsi per aiutarecon la ricostruzione.
Chino e Nowaki glidissero che finalmente erano stati lasciati andare e tornarono a viaggiare, eSasuke era venuto qui.
“…questo mi darà deiproblemi.”
Quando Sasuke si eraavvicinato al nascondiglio, un uomo gli si era parato davanti. Era una facciaconosciuta.
“Sasuke… sei tu. Lasciache mi presenti, sono ‘Yamato’.”
Era l’uomo che erapenetrato nel nascondiglio di Orochimaru con Naruto e gli altri in pa.s.sato. Erastato nominato come loro capitano. Quell’uomo era qui ora. E quasto voleva direche c’era lui.
“A quanto pare Orochimaruè qui.”
Orochimaru aveva deinascondigli più grandi, ma non aveva dubbio che fosse qui. Yamato prese ilfiato con un fuu.
“Mi arrendo. Mi dici cosasaresti venuto a fare qui?”
“Ho una questione dasistemare con Orochimaru.”
“Be’, fin là c’eroanch’io.”
“…”
“…”
Sasuke stette insilenzio. Anche Yamato incrociò le braccia e sprofondò nel silenzio.Probabilmente aveva intenzione di aspettare fino in fondo. In quel caso, laconversazione non avrebbe fatto progressi.
“…È possibile cheOrochimaru abbia delle informazioni collegate al capobanda dell’attacco che haavuto luogo a Konoha.”
Gli spiegò in breve lasituazione, e Yamato sembrò deluso. Sciolse le braccia che aveva incrociato, esi grattò la testa.
“Ti sei messo in contattocon il Sesto per questa faccenda?”
“Se porterà a qualcosa,gli farò rapporto.”
“Be’, sarebbe meglio chetu gli manda.s.si i tuoi progressi in dettaglio strada facendo, è facile mettersiin contatto anche se siamo qui, ma…”
Yamato fissò Sasuke.
“Ma, tu lo stai facendoper 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 alvillaggio, 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. Iricordi di quel tempo riaffiorarono nella mente di Sasuke.
Di nuovo si sentì come sestesse radunando dal principio cose importanti che aveva gettato via.
“…grazie.”
Dicendo questo, Sasukeentrò nel nascondiglio di Orochimaru.
Alle pareti che gliricordavano da vicino la pelle di un serpente, delle decorazioni a forma diserpente erano state usate per decorare il posto in cui era entrato.Probabilmente quelle cose servivano anche da videocamere di sorveglianza. AncheOrochimaru doveva averlo visto.
“È un po’ che non ci sivede, Sasuke-kun.”
Procedette in silenzio, eprima che raggiungesse le profondità del nascondiglio Orochimaru si presentòcon un sorriso che gli affiorava sulle labbra.
Orochimaru era l’uomo cheera stato chiamato, insieme a Jiraiya e Tsunade, i tre ninja leggendari, e laprofondità della sua conoscenza delle arti magiche e il suo spirito di ricercainsistente andava oltre a quello di qualunque altro ninja.
La sua tenacia era similea quella di un serpente, aveva conosciuto gli abissi dell’oscurità, e c’era unaparte di lui che trascendeva l’essere umano.
“Conosci il ‘Gruppo delFulmine’?” chiese senza preamboli, e Orochimaru mormorò “Ah.”
“Li conosci?”
“Oh, ne ho sent.i.toparlare. Anche se ho sent.i.to che alla fine sono stati ‘soppressi’ daKirigakure.”
Orochimaru rise con unghigno. Evidentemente aveva saputo che Kirigakure aveva incastrato il Gruppodel Fulmine per creare un legame con l’altro ufficiale.
“È possibile che il capodi questo Gruppo del Fulmine stia attaccando i villaggi ninja.”
“Davvero, il capo delGruppo del Fulmine…”
L’espressione di Sasukesi irrigidì per il tono di voce che stava usando.
“Se lo conosci, sputa ilrospo.”
“Fufu… Sei sempre lostesso… È questo il tuo atteggiamento quando chiedi qualcosa ad una persona?”
Sasuke incalzòOrochimaru, che aveva inclinato la testa dubbioso: “Svelto.”
Orochimaru fece unsorriso ancora più largo e rispose “D’accordo”.
“Questa situazione èdiventata piuttosto divertente… Se ricordo bene il capo del Gruppo delFulmine aveva un’abilità innata, e all’inizio doveva essere parte del gruppo diguardie di Oyas.h.i.+ro En.”
“Oyas.h.i.+ro En…?”
Non ne aveva mai sent.i.toparlare.
“È un uomo che nonappartiene a nessun luogo. Anche se è un ninja, quell’uomo è anche untrafficante di armi. Dato che venderebbe armi a chiunque purché ci possaguadagnare sopra, è chiamato il mercante della morte**. Era davvero espertonell’amma.s.sare ricchezze a suo tempo.”
“E quell’uomo era la suaguardia?”
“Era anche una guardia,ma forniva armi nei campi di battaglia insieme ad Oyas.h.i.+ro. Anche le élite sonoin primissima linea in battaglia. Era anche vicino agli Anbu.”
In quel caso, Oyas.h.i.+roera probabilmente un socio del capo del Gruppo del fulmine, se andava achiedere la storia a lui.
“Dov’è Oyas.h.i.+ro?”
“Oh, andiamo. A quantosembra ha più nascondigli di me. Per cui potrebbe essere difficile scovarlo.”
Sasuke guardò Orochimaruminaccioso.
“È impossibile che tu miabbia 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… saràdifficile?”
‘Lo farai lo stesso?’ glistava chiedendo Orochimaru.
“Per cosa credi che iosia venuto qui.”
Alla risposta di Sasuke,Orochimaru mormorò “Sento il vento.” e sorrise di nuovo.
I preparativi avrebberorichiesto un po’ di tempo.
Orochimaru aveva dettocosì, e Sasuke aspettò nel nascondiglio per un po’.
“Sasuke!”
“Che, quali misfatti staiorganizzando venendo qui?”
“…È un po’ che non civediamo.”
A quel punto, i membridel Falco che in pa.s.sato avevano combattuto insieme a lui gli corsero incontro.
“Pare che Karin abbiapercepito la tua presenza dall’inizio, era tutta agitata.”
“No! È solo che eropreoccupata che fosse successo qualcosa! Non inventare balle!”
Proprio come ai vecchi tempiKarin iniziò a litigare con Suigetsu. Guardando quei due che litigavanoanimatamente, Jūgo gli chiese del suo stato attuale: “Stai ancora viaggiando?”
“…già.”
Udendo le parole diSasuke, Karin, che stava sollevando un trambusto, chiuse la bocca d’istinto.
“Non sei tornato aKonoha?”
Stava per chiedergli sefosse preoccupato per qualcosa, ma Suigetsu si mise in mezzo “Non puoi fare ameno di farti i fatti di Sasuke, non è vero?”.
“Sul serio, sta’ zitto,imbecille!”
Avevano quasiricominciato a litigare, quando apparve Orochimaru.
“Voi due, state zitti.Sasuke-kun, i preparativi sono p.r.o.nti. Andiamo.”
“Orochimaru-sama, vaifuori da qualche parte?”
Orochimaru fece un largosorriso alla domanda di Karin.
“Vado al mare conSasuke-kun per un po’.”
Alle parole diOrochimaru, Karin e gli altri sprofondarono nel silenzio per un attimo.
“E-eeh? Al mare conSasuke?”
“Voi restate qui a badareal nascondiglio.”
Essendole stato ordinatodi restare indietro, Karin lasciò andare le spalle. Suigetsu si irrigidì “Nonriesco ad immaginare di andare al mare con Orochimaru-sama.”
“Aspetta un attimo,questa mi giunge nuova.”
Sasuke guardò stortoOrochimaru, che si era offerto volontario, seguendolo.
“Per essere precisi,un’isola solitaria che galleggia sul mare. Lì è il luogo di divertimento dellagente ricca.”
“…C’è anche Oyas.h.i.+ro?”
“Se ha abboccato.”
Orochimaru gli lanciò unsorriso carico di sottintesi.
Dopo che Sasuke uscì,Suigetsu disse “Sasuke che lavora per il bene altrui…”, mostrandosi in uncerto senso commosso.
“Inizialmente era unninja di Konoha. Probabilmente non sono solo estranei.”
“Comunque” esclamòSuigetsu 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 grandiguerre 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 dimira.”
Aveva lo Sharingannell’occhio destro, essendo un sopravvissuto del clan Uchiha, e aveva anche ilRinnegan nell’occhio sinistro. Gli occhi di Sasuke erano la caratteristica piùambita per gli uomini che volevano il potere. Per questo Orochimaru avevadesiderato il corpo di Sasuke, in pa.s.sato.
“Se Sasuke stesse alvillaggio, probabilmente apparirebbero dei ninja che attaccherebbero ilvillaggio mirando a lui. Per cui spargendo la voce che ‘Uchiha Sasuke non è aKonoha, è costantemente in viaggio per il mondo’, diminuiscono le possibilitàche accada del male al villaggio.”
“Se stesse molto vicinoal villaggio, forse apparirebbero alcuni cercando di estrarre informazionidalle persone legate a Sasuke.”
All’aggiunta di Jūgo,Suigetsu disse “Tutti loro, intendo le persone legate a Sasuke, devono esseretutti forti da pazzi, giusto? Non possono lasciare che vengano loro sottratteinformazioni facilmente.” e inclinò la testa in contemplazione.
“Non è solo questo. Sestesse al villaggio, verrebbe a contatto anche con bambini molto piccoli.Probabilmente ci sarebbero anche delle persone che proverebbero ad estorcereinformazioni anche da questi bambini.”
Come diceva Jūgo, inquesto mondo c’erano anche ninja che avrebbero perfino compiuto azioni inumanepur di raggiungere i loro scopi. Non sapevano quali mezzi avrebbero usato.
“Ci sono anche personeche adorano follemente Uchiha Itachi, il soggetto di ricerca diOrochimaru-sama, e portano rancore verso Sasuke perché ha ucciso Itachi.Probabilmente sta facendo del suo meglio per non lasciare informazioni alvillaggio.”
“Mi chiedo se Sasukepensi a queste varie cose fino a questo punto.”
Alle parole di Karin,Suigetsu rimase mezzo in dubbio.
“Non sono sicuro, ma se ècosì, Sasuke ha intenzione di viaggiare per sempre?”
Alle parole di Suigetsu, Jūgorispose “Può darsi.”
Udendo ciò, Karin abba.s.sòlo sguardo.
L’immagine di se stessa,che versava lacrime mentre a.s.sisteva a come Sasuke stesse abbandonando ilvillaggio e si avvicina.s.se all’oscurità e nonostante questo non poteva fare ameno di pensare a lui, attraversò la mente di Karin.
“…”
Karin entrò nella suastanza e prese una foto dalla scrivania. Una volta, quando si muovevano comeFalco, Karin l’aveva scattata estorcendola con la forza. Avrebbe volutoscattare la foto con loro due solo, ma c’erano anche Suigetsu e Jūgo.
Karin stava fissandoquesta foto, immobile.
“…Cosa stai guardando?”
In quel momento, Suigetsusbirciò in modo indelicato da dietro la schiena di Karin.
“…va’ a farti fottere,idiota! Non hai tatto!”
“Gah!”
Karin tirò un manrovescioin faccia a Suigetsu. Il viso di Suigetsu si liquefece e l’acqua spruzzòovunque. Karin urlò nervosa mentre si aggiustava gli occhiali.
“Niente, stavo solopensando che forse non ha neanche una foto!”
“Non ha? Chi non ne ha?Sasuke?”
“Sasuke? Ah, no… Sta’zitto!!”
Lo fece volare in ariacon un calcio usando tutta la sua forza.
“Fuori, idiota!”
Karin scaraventò Suigetsufuori dalla sua stanza colpendolo con un calcio che lo fece volare via. Quandola presenza di Suigetsu fu lontana, Karin guardò di nuovo la foto.
“…Dovrei chiederle seci possiamo incontrare di nuovo… Potrei facilmente farle almeno unafotocopia.”
Ma non sapeva come faread 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 unabarca al porto più vicino, e si trasferirono in una barca ancora più piccoladall’isola in cui alla fine erano giunti.
Mentre avanzavano, tuttoattorno a loro era circondato dalla nebbia, e la loro visuale diminuì. Ilbarcaiolo remava senza parlare, come se ci fosse abituato.
“…comunque, è stranoche tu ti possa muovere in questo modo come ti pare.” disse Sasuke mentrefissava la prua della barca che avanzava tra la nebbia. Aveva provato adistruggere Konoha e aveva a.s.sa.s.sinato il Quarto Kazekage. E oltre a ciò,Orochimaru aveva compiuto vari crimini gravi.
“Oh, Sasuke-kun, propriotu parli?” replicò Orochimaru guardando le onde agitate dal vento. Come dicevaOrochimaru, legalmente parlando anche Sasuke avrebbe dovuto essere imprigionatoa vita.
“D’altra parte, ancheKabuto, che uno dei criminali di guerra della Quarta Guerra Mondiale Ninja,vive nel mondo esterno ora, giusto?”
Yakus.h.i.+ Kabuto era ilbraccio destro di Orochimaru, e per sapere chi fosse aveva continuato adacc.u.mulare una cosa dopo l’altra dentro il suo corpo.
A causa dellaResurrezione Impura, una tecnica di cui lui faceva uso, il mondo ninja stavaper 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’eranodelle persone che odiavano le azioni pa.s.sate di Kabuto, per cui dovevanoesserci 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 ame, la probabilità che Kabuto torni ad essere malvagio è minore.”
“Perché ne sei cosìsicuro?”
“Fufu… Non ti fidi delpotere di Uchiha Itachi?”
Sasuke restò in silenzio.
Itachi, che era statoresuscitato dalla Tecnica della Resurrezione Impura di Kabuto, aveva combattutocontro Kabuto per rilasciare la tecnica. Quella volta, Itachi aveva usatol’Izanami su Kabuto. Questa tecnica lo aveva costretto a guardare se stesso piùe più volte, cosicché non si sarebbe infranta finché non avesse accettato sestesso così com’era.
Tuttavia, per Sasuke, cheaveva visto quanto era forte, era difficile immaginare come Kabuto si fosseliberato dall’Izanami.
“Nonostante le apparenze,c’è una persona che aveva formato dei legami perfino con Kabuto. Probabilmenteè diventata la sua guida per dissolvere la tecnica.”
“Una persona che avevaformato dei legami?”
“Già. È la donna cheaveva soccorso Kabuto quando era un orfano di guerra.”
Sasuke, che non conoscevail pa.s.sato di Kabuto, ne fu sorpreso.
“All’inizio lei era unninja di Konoha, e poi venne arruolata dalla ‘Radice’, e divenne una dellemigliori della Squadra di Intelligence. Nella ‘Radice’, possedeva un’integritàinusuale… Ma lasciò la ‘Radice’, e andò a lavorare in un orfanotrofio. Kabutostava lì.”
“…”
“Kabuto voleva così tantoessere 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 senzabatter ciglio.
“Di conseguenza, Kabutosubì il peso dell’oscurità di Konoha, e fu deciso che lui uccidesse lei, cheamava teneramente e ammirava, con le sue stessa mani. Da lì in poi, divenne ilmio fidato subordinato. Riusciva a compiere ogni sorta di cose ripugnanti senzascomporsi. Tuttavia, quando più tardi riunì ed utilizzò tutti quei ninja famosiper la Tecnica della Resurrezione Impura, a quanto pare non ha provato amettersi in contatto soltanto con lei. Avrebbe potuto usare le sue abilità dininja a suo piacimento. Forse i sentimenti di Kabuto come essere umano eranotutti condensati in lei.”
—Sembra il me stesso diuna volta.
La voce di suo fratello maggiore venneriportata alla memoria di Sasuke. Itachi aveva detto questo dopo aver messoKabuto sotto l’influenza dell’Izanami. Itachi aveva detto che il mondo deininja si era preso gioco sia di lui che di Kabuto.
—Voglio che Kabuto, alcontrario di me, se ne renda conto prima di morire.
Sasuke non aveva pensatoche Kabuto e Itachi fossero simili. Anche ora, non riusciva a pensare chefossero simili.
Tuttavia, riusciva adimmaginare che quello fosse per Kabuto un dolore che solo Kabuto poteva capire.
“Non è stato trasmesso aKabuto, ma anche lei pensava sempre a Kabuto. Forse dentro all’Izanami si èreso conto di questo suo amore.”
Si chiese su che razza distrada Kabuto avrebbe intrapreso da quel momento in poi. Probabilmente questadonna, che era così importante per lui, illuminava la strada che lui avrebbepreso.
(…)
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 ilproprietario. 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 usail 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.