Multiverse Mastermind: Starting in Naruto-Chapter 512 - 416: Speak, What Is Your Dream?

Uehara Naraku is indeed a good person.

At least in Makino’s eyes, Uehara Naraku is someone who has strayed from the right path and is still struggling to get out of the mire.

Even though he joined the evil Baroque Works, he’s still trying his best to minimize the harm caused by Baroque Works.

"Hey, don’t be so downcast!"

Monkey D. Luffy forced himself to sit beside Uehara, slammed his fist on the table, and said in a deep voice, "Don’t you have dreams of your own, you guy? If you really want to do something, then go do it now!"

"..."

Uehara Naraku fell silent.

Do all these protagonists have issues? Why does it feel like every protagonist wants to try and convince him?

After a long while.

Uehara Naraku raised his head calmly, looked at Luffy in front of him, and spoke softly, "After I joined Baroque Works, I already lost the right to have dreams..."

Uehara Naraku’s voice sounded somewhat sad, "All of us in the Baroque Works are now working for the boss’s dream, and no one dares to oppose his will... until our boss becomes the Pirate King!"

Uehara Naraku casually pinned the blame on Crocodile, at least for now, it couldn’t be lifted.

"The Pirate King is mine!"

Luffy slammed the table in anger, looking at Uehara Naraku with rage for his lack of resolve, "Don’t you have something you really want to do? Something you’re willing to risk your life for!"

Luffy placed his hand on his Straw Hat and continued in a deep voice, "Just like I want to become the Pirate King! I want to become the Pirate King, even if it means dying on the sea! Besides, you’re much stronger than I am!"

"..."

Uehara Naraku remained silent.

This guy’s persuasive ability isn’t bad either!

But how to explain it to Luffy? Actually, what he’s doing now, is what he wants to do! And that’s throwing mud on Crocodile!

After a long silence, Uehara Naraku finally spoke, "Sorry, the strength of Baroque Works is not something I can resist, even the Navy can’t do anything about them, I’m just a minor member, what can I do?"

Uehara Naraku took a sip of juice and continued heavily, "You can never imagine the strength of the Baroque Works’ boss, right now he might be the strongest person in this world, Baroque Works is also the strongest organization..."

When Uehara Naraku said this, his face turned extremely ugly, "Even a small fry like me can run rampant in the East Sea... the figures from the Baroque Works can cause storms in the Grand Line!"

Uehara Naraku turned in anger to look at Luffy, and said in a deep voice, "You, right now, can’t even ensure your own life! If it wasn’t for me bringing you over just now, you would have been dead!"

Uehara Naraku grabbed Luffy by the collar roughly, his face becoming gloomy, "Hey, you guys, before understanding others’ pain... don’t casually point fingers at other people’s lives!"

"..."

Luffy was silent, watching Uehara Naraku break down emotionally.

Makino also looked worried, glancing at both Luffy and Uehara, and gently offered, "Um... would the guest like another glass of juice?"

"Hm."

Uehara Naraku slowly nodded, speaking softly, "Boss, your juice is really good, but unfortunately I can’t pay you."

"..."

Makino was momentarily at a loss for words.

Clearly a good person, why doesn’t he speak kindly!

But after just a second, Makino’s smile returned to her face, appearing warm and healing, "That’s okay, as long as the guest is happy."

"Sorry."

Uehara Naraku looked at Makino’s face and earnestly explained, "Every employee of Baroque Works has to extort a million belly from each store, otherwise they will destroy the store and kill the owner."

Uehara Naraku spoke somewhat dejectedly, "Earlier, I came into a windfall from a pirate thief, but secretly helped some innocent shop owners who were robbed on other islands, now my private savings are down to just a few hundred thousand belly, I really can’t do anything..."

"I see..."

Makino understood at last.

At this moment, Makino finally realized why Uehara Naraku had to rob her money.

Makino’s eyes curved, smiling as she reassured Uehara Naraku, "It’s okay, I still have some savings from before, I’ll prepare one million belly, and I’ll make sure the guest isn’t troubled."

Uehara Naraku looked at Makino, feeling a bit guilty, and continued, "Actually, four hundred seventy thousand and fifty belly will do, I still have five hundred twenty-nine thousand nine hundred fifty belly with me, it should cover what I owe to the Works."

As soon as he said that...

Uehara felt much better inside.

This number sounds so specific, implying that he, a pirate, is living worse than Makino, a tavern owner. Surely once Makino hears this, she won’t blame him for robbing money, right?

Makino actually didn’t mind, her savings seemed very ample, and she quickly put together a million belly and handed it to Uehara Naraku, even giving him an extra five hundred thousand belly.

This woman’s kindness exceeded Uehara’s expectations.

Makino smiled as she looked at Uehara Naraku and explained with a smile, "This is to pass on the hope of life, and if the guest encounters another innocent victim in the future, I hope the guest will continue to help him."

"..."

Uehara Naraku fell silent.

This woman is too kind! 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

It’s really unexpected that there is such a kind woman in this world, aside from her gentleness, she has a heart willing to protect the weak.

After a long while.

Uehara Naraku touched his conscience, put away the money Makino gave him, and asked, "Boss, do you have a dream?"

That question came out somewhat sarcastic.

After all, someone who just said they’re not worthy of having dreams suddenly asking about someone else’s dreams seems a bit inappropriate.

But...

If someone familiar with Uehara Naraku was in this tavern and heard him asking, they’d definitely marvel at Makino’s good luck.

"..."

Makino lowered her head in thought for a while, then clasped her hands together and looked up at the ceiling: "My dream now... maybe it’s just hoping Ace can be safe and sound on the other side of the sea!"

Because Ace went out to sea this year.

Makino is most worried about that kid.

When Luffy heard Makino mention Ace, he couldn’t help scratching his head: "Huh? I remember seeing Ace’s bounty order last time! He’s got a bounty of nine hundred million now! Ace must have become really strong!"

"..."

Uehara Naraku fell into silence.

After a while, Uehara Naraku glanced at Makino, placing his hand on his forehead: "You are a truly kind person. I believe your dream will definitely come true."

"..."

Makino’s worry did not diminish in the slightest.

However, Makino’s thoughts quickly returned. She looked at Uehara Naraku and said seriously, "Actually, you’re also a kind person, guest..."

"Hey, you’re called Uehara Naraku, right!"

Luffy stood up, looking at Uehara Naraku with a serious face and extended his hand towards him, speaking in a deep voice: "Hey, Uehara Naraku, let’s make a promise!"

"What promise?"

Uehara Naraku looked at Luffy with hesitation.

The still young Luffy laughed heartily and said: "Three years from now, I’ll be able to go out to sea. You have to think about what you really want to do..."

After saying that, Luffy continued with a cheerful smile: "In three years, I’ll definitely defeat the boss of that Baroque Works, and at that time... you do what you want to do!"

"...A three-year promise?"

Uehara Naraku’s expression was a bit complex.

After a long time, Uehara Naraku extended his hand, grasping Luffy’s hand, and said in a low voice: "Actually, what I once most wanted to do... was to become a Navy, capture pirates at sea, and protect the weak..."

"..."

Luffy’s smile gradually disappeared.

After a moment, Luffy’s smile appeared again. He said playfully: "As long as you have a dream, you must pursue it no matter how late!"

"Forget it, it’s already too late."

Uehara Naraku shook his head, saying softly: "I promise you, I will think carefully over these three years about what I really want to do..."

"Then let’s work hard together!"

Standing beside them, Makino’s eyes curved into a gentle smile.

At the next moment, Makino suddenly remembered something else and quickly asked: "By the way, Mr. Uehara, those people plundering the village... are they really not going to harm the villagers?"

"No, they won’t."

Uehara Naraku shook his head confidently, but there was a hint of hesitation on his face: "I’m not so sure now, although Nico Robin, the Vice President of Baroque Works, looks cold but has a soft heart...

But her hometown was a city of innocent scholars, entirely sunk by the Navy’s warships, and she was the only survivor on the entire island. It’s hard to say whether she would resent Vice Admiral Garp’s hometown because of what the Navy did..."

After saying this, Uehara Naraku said seriously: "Forget it, I better go take a look! Luffy, Boss Makino, you stay here for now!"

Just at this moment.

A figure appeared at the tavern door.

Hoshigaki Kisame held a stout woman in his hand, loudly saying: "Uehara, we’re all done here, a super-big windfall, I didn’t expect the ones defending this village were a bunch of bandits!"

"Mr. Kisame, I’ve also received a million Belly over here!"

After loudly responding, Uehara Naraku turned to the worried Makino and Luffy, saying softly: "Boss Makino, I have to leave now... Luffy, next time we meet, I will definitely surprise you!"

"Wait..."

Luffy’s expression was vaguely strange. He pointed to the stout woman in Kisame’s hand at the door and said: "That’s Dadan! What are they going to do with her!"

"Does that Dadan have a bounty?"

After frowning, Uehara Naraku said softly: "If that Dadan has a bounty on her, Baroque Works might secretly exchange her for bounty with the Navy, not to waste it."

"I seem to remember there is..."

Makino said with some concern: "Dadan has a bounty of 7.8 million Belly on her, but Dadan is a good person, we all forgot she still had a bounty on her!"

"I have to save her!"

Luffy urgently charged forward!

For Luffy, Dadan was like a mother!

No, or rather, Dadan was like both father and mother, and compared to Vice Admiral Garp, Luffy and Dadan’s relationship was even closer, having spent more time together!

"Are you going to your death?"

Uehara Naraku sighed, holding Luffy back, and said in a low voice: "I will protect her life and also take on the work of exchanging her for bounty at the Navy Base, and find a way to hand that Dadan over to someone suitable."

"...Thank you."

Makino still looked worried but nodded towards Uehara Naraku, speaking softly: "Then... please, Mr. Uehara, take care of everything."