Naruto:Suna Shinobi

patreon.com/NarutoDestroyer 83+Chapter.

"Which distinguished guest wants to discuss business with me tonight? To be honest, since I got out of there, no one has come to discuss business with me."

Hirito adjusted his collar and followed Penguin into the private suite of the Iceberg Lounge.

"Oh, Walter, my man, don't tell me you haven't made a deal with Harvey Dent yet. I refuse to believe he handed you all that territory for nothing," Penguin chuckled, adjusting his monocle.

Hirito smirked. "So, who is this person that wants to talk business? He needed you to arrange an introduction, so what exactly does he want?"

"His name is Maroni—and let's just say, he has quite a history with Two-Face."

"History?"

"You know how Harvey Dent ended up like that? It was Maroni who threw sulfuric acid at him in court. Thanks to him, Gotham lost its 'White Knight'—and gained another villain to haunt the Dark Knight."

Penguin shrugged nonchalantly, as if discussing the fall of Gotham's most promising district attorney was just another mundane event.

"I assume the Two-Face Gang has been a thorn in his side since then?"

"Of course. Harvey nearly threw Maroni into a vat of acid at the old Ace Chemicals plant. If it weren't for Falcone's men pulling him out, he'd be nothing but bones and screams right now."

Falcone, the Two-Face Gang, and Penguin's Iceberg Lounge were the three dominant factions controlling Gotham's underworld.

Falcone held the strongest connections, Penguin had the deepest pockets, and Two-Face had the numbers—his gang expanding faster than anyone could have predicted.

In the past, Maroni's crime family had rivaled Falcone's power, even attempting to overthrow him to claim the title of Gotham's top crime syndicate. But when Harvey Dent rose as Two-Face, he dismantled the Maroni family, crushing their influence and claiming their territory.

Now, Falcone kept Maroni around as a necessary ally—a knife aimed at the back of Two-Face.

By comparison, Hogg United, Hirito's gang, was still second-rate. They controlled multiple streets and communities, but lacked the manpower, weaponry, and financial resources of the bigger players.

Even so, Hogg United had expanded rapidly, surpassing the remnants of several smaller crime families in just a short time.

Despite its decline, Maroni's gang was still stronger than Hogg United, boasting better assets, weapons, and experienced enforcers. Compared to the elite killers and tacticians of the Falcone family, however, Maroni's men were mere thugs.

By the time Hirito stepped into the luxurious private suite of the Iceberg Lounge, he immediately noted the extravagance.

The chandeliers cast a soft golden glow over the room. Beneath them, an immaculate white carpet covered the floor, muffling all footsteps.

Framed paintings lined the walls—Leonardo da Vinci, Picasso—artwork worth a fortune.

But there were no hostesses. No usual distractions meant to put a man at ease during negotiations.

Hirito smirked. Maroni wanted him sharp, not comfortable.

A middle-aged man, half-bald but dressed in an expensive tailored suit, stood up as Hirito entered.

"Oh, finally, the legendary Boss Walter of Hogg United arrives!" Maroni stretched out his hand with a fake smile.

Out of politeness, Hirito shook his hand, though he was already unimpressed.

"I assume you're Mr. Maroni?"

Maroni laughed. "I see Penguin already filled you in, so I won't waste time with introductions."

At that moment, Penguin smirked, took a bow, and quietly exited, closing the door behind him.

"Would you like a taste?" Maroni gestured toward an open cigar box and a bottle of expensive wine.

"These are Opus X cigars—some of the most sought-after in the world. Limited edition, thirty grand a box. And this—" he tapped the bottle, "—is French Burgundy wine, ten thousand a bottle. Consider these gifts to celebrate our future partnership."

Hirito eyed the luxury items before casually grabbing the entire cigar box and wine bottle and shoving them into his coat.

Maroni raised an eyebrow. "...Aren't you going to try them?"

"Apologies," Hirito replied smoothly. "I've always believed alcohol and nicotine interfere with mental clarity—especially in business. So instead, I'll keep these as souvenirs."

Or sell them.

After all, one man's gift was another man's payday.

Maroni blinked in confusion. "Well... that's certainly a unique reaction."

Hirito smirked, leaning back in his chair.

"Now that I've accepted the gifts, let's talk business."

Maroni straightened, his expression turning serious.

"I know you recently struck a deal with Harvey Dent—gained prime real estate in Gotham. I assume you also know about my 'history' with Two-Face."

Hirito gestured for him to continue.

Maroni chuckled, sliding a newspaper across the table.

The headline immediately caught Hirito's attention.

Beneath the folded pages was another paper, one he knew all too well.

The front page displayed a stormy night at Arkham Asylum—a photo of Batman and the Joker locked in battle on the rooftop.

Hirito's fingers twitched slightly.

How did Maroni know?

"I take it Harvey Dent didn't tell you?" Maroni smiled knowingly.

Hirito's mind raced. The Titan Venom deal was supposed to be off the books. Only he, Harvey Dent, and Mr. Freeze were aware of the arrangement.

For Maroni to bring this up meant...

Harvey's secrets were leaking.

"That is one hell of a powerful formula, isn't it?" Maroni said, tapping the newspaper. "Powerful enough to burn Batman alive—or even snap his spine."

He leaned forward, lowering his voice.

"And as it turns out, the only person in Gotham with a sample left... is you."

(End of Chapter 52)

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