Schemes and Dark Clouds

"You'll need to prepare for the remaining handover ceremony."

Yahiko stood amid the ruins, looking at the Navy personnel before him.

"We also need to return and make preparations."

Sengoku nodded.

"We'll report in on time."

What he needed now was to persuade the entire Navy. This decision was still confined to their upper ranks.

"But are you prepared to deal with the Five Great Ninja Stars?" Dragon spoke up.

Akatsuki had remained safe only because their numbers had been too small.

Now that they had absorbed Navy members, both their lower-level and upper-level strength surpassed that of ordinary ninja stars.

"The central region now belongs only to our Akatsuki Star Domain. As long as the Land of Shadow continues to support us, nothing will be a problem."

Yahiko naturally had his own plans.

They had taken the initiative to negotiate with other factions and developed to their current scale.

Not every ninja star would give up so easily.

As long as no second faction could replace the Akatsuki Star Domain, they could maintain their position.

The most important thing was the Land of Shadow.

The hard currency circulating within the Akatsuki Star Domain all came from the Land of Shadow. Even many rare items could only be acquired through the Land of Shadow.

Under such circumstances, as long as they retained the Land of Shadow's support, they would not lose their original standing.

"Then, happy cooperation."

Yahiko extended his hand and shook Sengoku's.

Yahiko wore his signature hearty smile, making his thoughts impossible to read. Sengoku, meanwhile, remained stern-faced.

By merging with Akatsuki, they would gain room to develop.

But that was far from their only goal. What they truly wanted was to take Akatsuki's place.

To directly swallow Akatsuki whole.

Still, it was not as if they had