"Hahahaha, so you're Luffy's older brother! Is that kid doing well now?"
On the deserted island, Shanks, the captain of the Red-haired Pirates, laughed heartily, revealing his back molars as he shared drinks with Ace.
Any frustration over finding a pile of worthless treasure had long vanished, swept away by Shanks' boundless optimism.
"Eh, I'm used to it by now. What matters is having a banquet!" he thought, letting go of the mishap.
Shanks didn't know Ace was the son of his former captain, Roger, but simply being Luffy's brother was enough for Shanks to welcome him warmly.
After a grand banquet, Ace revealed his desire to challenge Whitebeard, but Shanks refrained from any judgment.
As a pirate, Shanks respected others' dreams. While he recognized Ace's strength wasn't near Whitebeard's, he would never dismiss someone's aspirations.
Ace ultimately didn't ask Shanks for advice on using haki, and Shin chose not to press the matter.
"Even if Shanks doesn't teach him, once Ace joins the Whitebeard Pirates, he'll have the chance to learn," Shin thought. "With Ace and Yamato's talent, they'll figure it out sooner or later. All they really need is the concept."
Amidst the lively festivities, Shin stood apart, avoiding alcohol.
"The mindset here is so different," he mused. "People here are carefree, unlike the cautious, guarded ways of the ninja world."
"Both worlds are brutal, though. Here, chaos rules; in the ninja world, cruelty is masked by order. In both, the weak suffer, and the strong rarely find peace."
After a lively night, the Spade Pirates parted ways with the Red-haired Pirates.
As the Spade Pirates' ship vanished over the horizon, Shanks' cheerful expression gradually faded, replaced by a hint of nostalgia.
"Ace, Garp's grandson, I never thought Roger's bloodline would still be alive."
Ace's name—echoing Roger's cherished weapon—along with his relationship with Luffy and Garp, made it easy for Shanks to piece together Ace's heritage.
"Beckman, could you send a message to Whitebeard?" Shanks said thoughtfully. "An old friend's son is coming to visit."
If Shin had been present, he might have understood why Whitebeard treated Ace kindly, even allowing him to sail with his crew and "challenge" him at will.
Ace's talent and character clearly appealed to Whitebeard, but Shanks' letter likely also contributed to Whitebeard's leniency.
In those days, the top pirates shared bonds that ran deep. Roger and Whitebeard had once been allies, even exchanging crewmates like Kozuki Oden. Seeing Roger's son likely stirred an old loyalty in Whitebeard, a gesture of respect.
"Up ahead is Whitebeard's territory. Are you ready for this, Ace?" Shin asked, looking out over the vast sea.
"Of course! I can't wait," Ace replied, eager.
Shin held back a smirk. 'So eager to become Whitebeard's "son," huh? Even if he's stronger than in the original timeline, he's still far from Whitebeard's level.'
"Ace!" Deuce approached with a serious look. "We've got a fish-man tracking us. I think we have been recognized."
On the deck, Yamato perked up, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Enemies? Finally! Someone to spar with!"
"Calm down," Shin said, recalling how things went in the original story. "Let's catch him once we're near an island. It won't end well if that fish-man punctures our ship here."
"Fine, let's find the closest island, then!" Yamato responded, brandishing her mace, eager for action.
A couple of hours later, the Spade Pirates reached a deserted island. Unable to contain herself, Yamato leaped off the ship, half-transformed, freezing the seawater beneath her feet as she landed.
A cry echoed beneath the ice as a figure emerged: a plump, blue-skinned fish-man.
"Why have you been tailing the Spade Pirates?" Yamato demanded, twirling her mace as she eyed the fish-man.
"I'm here to stop you from challenging Whitebeard!" The fish-man shivered from the cold, rubbing his arms for warmth.
Deuce took a closer look and recognized him. "You're Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea from the Seven Warlords! So, you're with Whitebeard's crew?"
Shin nodded. "It's no secret. Fish-man Island flies Whitebeard's flag. Of course, Jinbe would be loyal to him."
"Exactly," Jinbe replied, his expression resolute. "Whitebeard has been a great protector of Fish-man Island. Fire Fist Ace, if you want to face him, you'll have to get through me first."
With those words, Jinbe assumed a Fish-man Karate stance.
"Oh? So, if I want to see Whitebeard, I must defeat you first." Ace's grin widened, and he jumped from the ship to face Jinbe. "Let's settle this on the island!"
"Wait, didn't we agree I'd fight him first?" Yamato interrupted, tilting her head in confusion.
Ace shrugged. "But he challenged me directly."
"You know, both of you can come at me together," Jinbe replied confidently. He had little respect for these newcomers to the New World, dismissing most as brash upstarts with more ambition than strength.
Jinbe felt confident he could handle any supernova crew on his own. He wouldn't have bothered if Ace hadn't burned the Whitebeard flag on Fish-man Island—a flag respected by all who understood Whitebeard's might. Every year, countless supernovas attempted to prove themselves by challenging Whitebeard, only to be swiftly humbled.
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Chapter 90: Hyuga Clan's Sacrifice is now available.