The Moby Dick returned to the ruins of Roran, but to their surprise, the ruins were different from their memory, even more dilapidated.
Originally, some natives still lived among the ruins, but this time, they found it completely deserted.
"How long have we been at sea?" Kakashi mused, turning to ask Kisame.
Kisame thought for a moment and replied, "Half a month?!"
Kakashi's expression turned grave as he said, "But the passage of time here doesn't seem like just half a month..."
His brief statement cast a solemn mood over many on the ship.
Konan looked at Kakashi, "You mean... the flow of time in the two worlds is completely different? Wait, that's right..."
Konan seemed to recall something, continuing, "When we first arrived at sea, the pirates said the Summit War had ended just over ten days ago."
"Keep in mind, Whitebeard has been making waves in the ninja world for two years now."
For her, a young girl, Izumi didn't think it was a big deal.
Whitebeard glanced at Naruto unexpectedly, that brat was always thinking about him!
Whitebeard ruffled Naruto's hair, laughing as he agreed, "Gurara, let's do it together then!"
The quick-witted Shikamaru immediately thought of something, urgently saying, "Hold on! If it's been one or two years in the ninja world, wouldn't our parents think we've been missing in this world for that long?"
In such a case, could Nagato alone carry the Akatsuki organization?
There shouldn't be any accidents, right?
Whitebeard had given his foolish sons and daughters the "permission" to travel far from home.
Shisui frowned, "In that case, hasn't a lot happened in the ninja world that we're unaware of?"
Marco suddenly had a brilliant idea, "What if we leave some of the weaker members of the pirate crew here to train... After a month or two, when we bring them back to the sea, wouldn't it be as if they've trained for several years?"
Shikamaru felt things were getting bad, "They won't think I'm dead, will they... They haven't started planning for another child, have they? I'm not ready to have a brother or sister yet!"
Konan exhaled, her mood slightly heavy, "It's highly likely..."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, giving a thumbs up in agreement with Uchiha Izumi's words.
Neji, expressionless, said, "Maybe he'll be too happy to care, after all, two rebellious clan members have 'disappeared forever.'"
Sasuke, arms crossed and tone cold, said, "If the flow of time really is different between the two worlds, then that's indeed the situation."
After all, for Whitebeard... as long as his family is safe, even if the sky falls, it's not a big deal.
Hinata voiced her concerns timidly, "It's been a year or two since we've been back to Konohagakure Village. Father must be worried about us, right?"
Under such circumstances, Whitebeard naturally allowed his children to move freely.
Konan began to analyze, "This means that what has been two years in the ninja world might have only been a few weeks at sea. We've been at sea for about half a month, and in the ninja world, it might have already..."
She was referring not to Whitebeard as 'Father', but to Hyuga Hiashi, the current head of the Hyuga clan.
Orochimaru, watching Ace and Nohara Rin, muttered to himself, "It seems that not only can the Edo Tensei bodies from the ninja world come to the sea, but those from the sea can also go to the ninja world. Is there some special connection between the two?"
"Ahhh! No way—" Naruto was on the verge of tears, "If I see all those familiar guys taller and older than me, that would be too much to bear!"
This way, they could support each other.
"Different rates of time flow, huh..." Marco scratched his head, "Does that mean we could stay here for a long time, and only a few days or weeks might pass at sea?"
"Gurarara, foolish sons!" Whitebeard laughed heartily, shouting with a robust Haki, "Since everyone is concerned about this, let's go see what changes have occurred in the ninja world!"
After all, the Moby Dick was to stay in the ruins of Roran for a while, waiting for Orochimaru to move the entire Dragon Vein into the Moby Dick.
Naruto, Shikamaru, Neji, and the other youngsters were all dumbstruck.
Naruto's focus was entirely different, he exclaimed in astonishment, "Does that mean our classmates from the ninja academy... are now one or two years older than us?!"
Whitebeard, the backbone of everyone on the ship, didn't care about the different rates of time flow.
Konan was well aware that the Akatsuki organization was at a critical juncture.
But to the people of the ninja world, a year or two might have already passed.
Hearing this, Whitebeard laughed "Gurarara" and added, "I won't restrict you little brats either, after all, you'll have to spread your wings and fly someday! Just don't go out alone!"
They could also protect each other.
Konan nodded. This was also the reason for her slightly sour mood.
"Yay!" Naruto's face lit up with a brilliant smile, "I want to go back to Konohagakure to take a look! Pops, let's go together!"
During this time, the group from the Whitebeard Pirates couldn't just sit idly in the desert, could they?
Whitebeard's intention was clear, to have the weaker crew members stay with the stronger ones.
Uchiha Izumi murmured, "That's not bad at all, at least we stay younger for longer..."
"Eh? Really, Pops?" Naruto's gloominess vanished, and he asked excitedly, "Can we really wander around the ninja world as we please?"
Moreover, many among them had the ability to stand on their own.
In their eyes, only half a month had passed.
Afterward, he became somewhat reflective: "Time is truly merciless... It flies by in the blink of an eye. Perhaps it's because humans are bound by their lifespan that they care so much about the passage of time?"
Some core members of the organization had either been poached by Whitebeard, were already dead, or only wanted to use the Akatsuki for their own ends.
Kisame interjected with uncertainty, "Has it really been a year or two?"
Then, Whitebeard's gaze shifted to a spot on the ship.
He said bluntly, "Kid, your escape skills are lacking. This is the tenth time I've caught you."
Bonney: "..."
It took less than two days for the Moby Dick to return to the ruins of Roran.
During that short time, Bonney attempted to escape as soon as she woke up.
But for some reason, each of her attempts was discovered by Whitebeard, and she was caught red-handed.
This puzzled her.
Marco looked amusedly at Bonney, who was sulking and emerging from a corner with a puffed-up face.
Marco shook his head helplessly, "How did this one escape from under Akainu's watch?"
Izo added, "I've heard that among the eleven Supernovas of the Worst Generation, some have very mysterious backgrounds, and Jewelry Bonney is one of them."
"Maybe she has some special status, could she be related to the Marines?"
Izo half-jokingly speculated, "Perhaps she's the illegitimate daughter of that magma bastard, or a rebellious Celestial Dragon out for some fun at sea."
Hearing Izo's speculation, Bonney was grinding her teeth in anger.
She wants to giving this half man a good beating.
But she held back.
Vista teased with a laugh, "Kid, why don't you just accept our captain as your Pops? That way, you won't be watched anymore."
Bonney clenched her teeth so hard, the words squeezed through her gritted teeth, "Wishful thinking!"
"Gurara! What a spirited little brat!" Whitebeard didn't mind Bonney's foul attitude at all.
Many of his foolish sons had worse attitudes and personalities than Bonney before they acknowledged him as Pops.
...
Meanwhile.
In the Ninja World.
Kirigakure Village.
"Terumi Mei! Why won't you let us take down the Whitebeard Pirates' flag? After being a loyal lapdog to the Whitebeard Pirates for two years, have you become addicted to it?"
"That's right, the Whitebeard Pirates have been missing for a year and a half now, who knows where they've gone, they might all be dead by now."
"We're not denying the help that the Whitebeard Pirates have given our Kirigakure Village, but they've been missing for so long, can't we find another way? Do we have to rigidly wait here for them to return?"
"Terumi Mei, don't stop us anymore, Kirigakure is no longer ruled by pirates!"
"We don't need the protection of pirates in Kirigakure Village!"
"..."
Terumi Mei was faced with a group of enraged young ninjas from Kirigakure Village, causing her a great headache.
These ninjas were all young, mostly in their teens or early twenties.
It was unclear which power had incited these people, leading to such a crisis within Kirigakure Village.
The young ninjas of the village actually wanted to remove the flag of the Whitebeard Pirates that was planted in Kirigakure Village.
How could this be allowed!
These young ninjas had not personally participated in the battle between Kirigakure Village and the Whitebeard Pirates over a year ago. They did not know the terror of the Whitebeard Pirates, but didn't Terumi Mei know?
If one day the long-missing Whitebeard Pirates reappeared and found that Kirigakure Village had betrayed them...
Terumi Mei could hardly imagine the terrible wrath that Whitebeard would unleash.
After all, Whitebeard was a pirate.
Terumi Mei even worried whether anyone in Kirigakure Village would survive when that time came.
That's why she stood in front of this group of young ninjas.
To prevent these fools from pushing Kirigakure Village into the abyss.
The problem was...
Even Terumi Mei didn't know why the Whitebeard Pirates had disappeared overnight. If it had been just a few days or even a month or two, people might have accepted it.
But the Whitebeard Pirates had been missing for a year, six months, and twenty-nine days, without a trace in the entire ninja world.
Terumi Mei had sent people to search,
But nothing was found.
...
In Kumogakure Village.
"Raikage-sama, we still haven't found any clues about the disappearance of the Whitebeard Pirates. We only know that their last appearance was in the Land of Wind. But Sunagakure Village in the Land of Wind also doesn't know why the Whitebeard Pirates disappeared."
A Kumogakure Village Anbu ninja knelt on one knee before the Fourth Raikage, A, reporting the news he had gathered.
Upon hearing this, A furrowed his brows, "Still no leads..."
The disappearance of the Whitebeard Pirates was indeed a great relief for him as the Fourth Raikage.
It meant that the dark cloud hanging over Kumogakure Village had finally lifted!
They no longer had to worry about Whitebeard's mood or pay any protection fees to the Whitebeard Pirates.
The reason for A's furrowed brows was... they still didn't know the true reason behind the disappearance of the Whitebeard Pirates.
They didn't know if Whitebeard would reappear.
This uncertainty plunged Kumogakure Village into a difficult dilemma.
If Kumogakure Village were to undertake a thorough "de-Whitebeardization," it would indeed boost the morale of the entire village. After all, some of the younger ninjas in the village are clamoring to remove all of Whitebeard's pirate flags.
As the Fourth Raikage, he could win a wave of support from the ninjas and villagers by going along with public sentiment.
But... what if Whitebeard returns?
The clouds that loomed over Kumogakure Village had indeed dispersed for the time being, but the Sword of Damocles hidden within the clouds revealed itself at such a time.
"Damn it!!!"
A slammed his hand down, shattering his desk.
Before, when had he ever been so indecisive?
But after being beaten by Whitebeard.
A found that he had become someone he barely recognized.
...
In Konohagakure Village.
"Danzo, the 'de-Whitebeardization' movements that have erupted or are brewing in Kirigakure Village, Kumogakure Village, Sunagakure Village, Iwagakure Village... are they your doing?"
In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen, holding a smoking pipe, stared at Shimura Danzo, who now had both legs transplanted.
Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped his desk with the pipe and continued, "Don't think I'm unaware of the recent strange movements of the Root. There's nothing in this village that can hide from me!"
Danzo squinted at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Finally, Danzo responded without a change in expression or heartbeat, "Sarutobi, don't throw dirt on me indiscriminately. Not everything is related to me."
"Besides..."
Danzo continued, "The Whitebeard Pirates have been missing for over a year. It's only natural for other ninja villages to experience such a state of affairs, isn't it?"
The two old men, whose ages combined would break a century, looked at each other.
"Hmph, don't cause trouble for Konohagakure."
After a few seconds of silence, Sarutobi Hiruzen said just that.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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