Night fell.
The atmosphere at the banquet on the Moby Dick now looked nothing like it had just gone through a great battle. Almost everyone had a look of excitement on their faces.
Especially the surviving members of the Uchiha clan, who always wanted to see "Uchiha Itachi," the murderer who nearly wiped out their clan, fall into hell.
Now, they watched as Uchiha Itachi was killed by Uchiha Shisui. How could they not be happy and excited?
Sasuke held a cup of juice in his hand. At his age, he couldn't drink alcohol. He sipped his juice while looking at the devastated scene ahead.
If it weren't for the shattered, apocalyptic scene in front of him, no one would know that several battles, capable of destroying a small country, had taken place here.
Given the vast size of the Land of Fire, these battles were just a drop in the ocean in terms of damage.
They didn't even affect any inhabited towns.
"Sasuke-kun! Want some grilled meat?" Seven-Tails Jinchuriki Fu descended from the sky, flapping her wings, and landed beside Sasuke.
She held a freshly roasted piece of meat in her hand.
As for where the meat came from, it was naturally from the Summoned Beast that had been killed.
After all, the edible Summoned Beasts summoned by the Animal Path couldn't be wasted once Whitebeard had killed them!
"I'm not hungry," Sasuke shook his head.
At that moment, Naruto's voice came from behind Sasuke, "Idiot Sasuke, come and see the chameleon leg I roasted for you! It's a huge piece of meat! I feel like I won't need to eat anything else tonight!"
Sasuke reluctantly turned his head and glanced at the enormous piece of roasted meat in Naruto's hand.
The fragrant roasted meat was almost as big as Naruto's entire body.
One had to admit, Naruto seemed to have a talent for cooking, making Sasuke a bit envious.
Thinking about how he had just refused Fu to avoid trouble, he could only keep a stern face and coldly said, "Idiot Naruto, who asked you to help roast it? You eat it yourself! I'm not hungry."
Receiving Sasuke's refusal, Naruto didn't mind and happily took a bite of the roasted meat himself.
Sasuke's face showed disdain, "Hmph, your eating manners are so crude. Can't you be a bit more calm?"
"Haha, that doesn't help me fill the stomach!" Naruto laughed heartily and took another big bite.
At this moment, Sasuke noticed that Fu was looking at him with a strange expression.
He saw the dark-skinned girl glancing between him and Naruto, her eyes filled with a peculiar look that made him uneasy.
"What kind of look is that?!" Sasuke felt uncomfortable all over.
"Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun's relationship is so good, it's a bit enviable..." Fu said with a meaningful smile.
"Tch, who has a good relationship with him?" Sasuke immediately retorted, lightly snorting, "Whether we're family or not, we're always in competition!"
"My current goal is to surpass him! To make the Uchiha name overshadow the Uzumaki name in the ninja world!"
Naruto heard this and made a funny face, "Bleh, idiot Sasuke, if you want to surpass me, you'll need to secretly train for a few more years!"
"No need, one month is enough!" Sasuke said confidently.
On the other side of the ship.
"Gurarara! You skinny brat, you dare drink with me?!" Whitebeard laughed heartily, looking down at Nagato, who was sitting in a wheelchair and constantly bending over to vomit. It was clear he had accidentally drunk too much tonight.
Even though they had a fierce battle during the day, the two were now drinking and chatting happily in the evening.
Even Nagato had to admit that this pirate-style socializing was quite refreshing.
If they were ninjas, they would probably still be plotting how to kill each other at this moment!
"Ugh—"
Nagato almost vomited everything he had eaten that morning. His brain felt fuzzy, and the alcohol-induced headache made him feel a bit dazed.
But fortunately, his rationality prevailed, and the chakra in his body surged slightly, forcing his rationality to take over.
"Whitebeard... after today, the Whitebeard Pirates and the Akatsuki... should be considered allies, right?"
Nagato's tongue felt a bit heavy as he spoke.
Speaking in a halting manner.
"Gurarararararara, you brat! This isn't an alliance; it's a superior-subordinate relationship!" Whitebeard, slightly tipsy, grinned and said, "Your Akatsuki organization is like Kirigakure Village within the Whitebeard Pirates' grand fleet!"
"Huff..." Nagato tried to clear his head. "Superior-subordinate... well, I did lose today."
"Whitebeard..."
He looked up seriously and met Whitebeard's eyes. "Akatsuki's goal is peace in the ninja world. Our union, whether as allies or as you say, superior-subordinate, will be a force that can shake the entire ninja world."
"You..."
Nagato paused and then said solemnly, "Do you support this ideal?"
Whitebeard also seriously examined this kid.
Peace.
This is a goal more difficult than conquering the entire world, probably several times harder than overthrowing the world government.
This kid and his Akatsuki organization, with such a goal, are indeed remarkable.
Even if they were used by others along the way, leading them down the wrong path, they eventually corrected themselves.
"Gurararararara!" Whitebeard laughed, poured himself a bowl of sake, and drank it in one gulp.
"Kid, as long as you're my son, no matter how grand or difficult your ideal is, I'll help you achieve it!"
"So..."
Under Nagato's astonished gaze, Whitebeard, still smiling, extended a hand to him.
"If you want the support of everyone in the Whitebeard Pirates to achieve peace in the ninja world..."
"Then become my son!"
"Uzumaki Nagato!"
Whitebeard's booming voice struck Nagato's mind like a thunderbolt, instantly sobering him up.
Seeing the sincere emotion in Whitebeard's eyes.
Nagato was stunned.
He knew Whitebeard loved to take in sons and daughters, but he never thought... that one day he would be the one Whitebeard set his sights on. And Whitebeard, in front of so many people, wanted to take him as a son, even using the one condition he couldn't refuse to tempt him.
He is really...
Cunning!
...
As time passed, one explosive piece of news after another spread, shaking the entire ninja world.
—One of the culprits behind the "Uchiha Massacre" incident, "Uchiha Itachi," was killed by "Uchiha Shisui" of the Whitebeard Pirates.
—The Akatsuki organization underwent a major purge, reportedly losing half its members.
—The Whitebeard Pirates took the Akatsuki organization as a subordinate group.
—The new Whitebeard Pirates, Akatsuki, Kirigakure Village, Kusagakure Village, and other major forces united to invite all the "Kage" of the ninja villages and the "Daimyo" of all countries to a grand ninja world conference in Kirigakure Village, Land of Water.
...
Land of Fire.
Konohagakure Village.
"Sarutobi, what do you think?" Mitokado Homura couldn't help but look at Sarutobi Hiruzen, his old face showing several traces of worry. "Could it be that the Whitebeard Pirates are deliberately gathering all the Kage and Daimyo together to wipe us out in one fell swoop?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned and puffed on his pipe. After thinking seriously for a moment, he shook his head. "It's unlikely. Although the Whitebeard Pirates... do often do some excessive things, they've never committed such extreme acts of mass slaughter."
Utatane Koharu pondered, "Sarutobi... according to what I've heard, our Land of Fire's Daimyo intends to attend this meeting."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled bitterly and shook his head. "It's normal. The Daimyo is afraid of dying. He's afraid to attend, but even more afraid that if he doesn't attend, Whitebeard will come knocking."
What happens when Whitebeard comes knocking?
The Daimyo of the Land of Grass had already become a tragic example several years ago, losing his life in a gruesome manner.
"Sigh..."
After exhaling a heavy smoke ring, Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "Since the Daimyo has decided to go, I can't stay alone in the Land of Fire, can I?"
His reputation was already not very good.
If he chickened out now, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt his reputation would plummet to the point where he might have to resign.
"I'll go to Kirigakure Village and see what the Whitebeard Pirates are up to."
Sarutobi Hiruzen had made his decision.
...
Land of Thunder.
Kumogakure Village.
"Big brother A, if you're going, take me with you!"
Killer Bee was still wrapped in many bandages.
After all, the battle with the dual-sword-wielding officer of the Whitebeard Pirates had happened not long ago.
His injuries hadn't fully healed yet.
The Fourth Raikage "A" was in the same situation, and his injuries were even more severe than Killer Bee's. He was still using a cane.
Casually placing the cane aside, A sat in his office chair, frowning at a piece of intelligence on his desk.
"I didn't expect that the mercenary organization Akatsuki would also be subdued by him? I've heard that they're a bunch of unruly guys! That man Whitebeard, he actually managed to subdue them?"
After thinking for a moment, A coldly snorted. "Hmph, what's there to be afraid of? Since the Whitebeard Pirates dared to invite me, I'll go and see! Bee, bring a few Anbu guards and come with me."
Killer Bee immediately nodded. "Got it, big brother!"
...
Land of Earth.
Iwagakure Village.
"Kitsuchi, while I'm away, the village is in your hands. Remember, if any lawbreakers try to invade our Iwagakure Village, use the toughest attitude to drive them back!"
The Third Tsuchikage Oonoki instructed his son.
The short-statured Oonoki was about to turn around but suddenly stopped.
Taking a deep breath, he said, "If I don't come back... you will become the Fourth Tsuchikage of Iwagakure Village."
"Remember... don't think about avenging me. If the Whitebeard Pirates want to kill me, seeking revenge will only drag Iwagakure Village into an abyss from which it cannot recover."
His heavy tone sounded like he was giving his last instructions.
Clearly, Oonoki believed that this trip to Kirigakure Village had a high chance of being a one-way journey.
Stubborn as he was, he didn't think the Whitebeard Pirates were reasonable people. They must have a purpose for doing this.
And the purpose of the Whitebeard Pirates was certainly not simple.
"Father, how about..."
Kitsuchi hurriedly said, "How about you make me the Fourth Tsuchikage, and I'll go to Kirigakure Village for you! After all, you are the experienced and qualified Tsuchikage. If I don't come back, you can continue to manage the village's affairs like the Third Hokage of Konohagakure."
Mainly, Kitsuchi felt he couldn't handle the position of Hokage.
After several battles with the Whitebeard Pirates...
His confidence was shattered.
"Fool!" Oonoki glared at his son, "I'm already so old, how many years do I have left? Don't persuade me anymore. I'm leaving for Kirigakure Village today!"
...
Land of Wind.
Sunagakure Village.
"...Phew!" Chiyo glanced at the few higher-ups in the village and sighed, "We still haven't chosen a Kazekage for Sunagakure Village... How about we pick someone to be the temporary Kazekage to attend the meeting?"
The reason they hadn't chosen one was mainly because the previous Kazekage was killed by the Whitebeard Pirates.
They were worried that choosing a Kazekage without permission would displease the Whitebeard Pirates.
As it turned out...
Their decision not to choose a new Kazekage was correct.
After all, when they previously removed the Seven Warlords of the Sea from the Whitebeard Pirates, the Whitebeard Pirates almost flattened Sunagakure Village.
It's hard to imagine what earth-shattering event would happen if they offended the Whitebeard Pirates again.
"...Why are you all looking at me?!"
Suddenly, Chiyo noticed the strange atmosphere.
Everyone's eyes were focused on her.
"Chiyo, how about you come out of retirement?" one of the higher-ups in Sunagakure Village said to Chiyo, "I heard your grandson 'Sasori' joined the Akatsuki. And now the Akatsuki has merged with the Whitebeard Pirates..."
"Yes! Chiyo, you have some connection with the Whitebeard Pirates. We have no connection at all. There's no one more suitable than you."
"Chiyo, those who are capable should do more! I can send my most trusted people to be your guards."
Chiyo: "..."
She could swear on her swimsuit that these guys were afraid of the Whitebeard Pirates, so they didn't dare to go.
They even wanted to push her out.
The problem is...
They were right. If she didn't step up, no one else could.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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