"So, did you and Yamato finally decide to become Whitebeard's son?" Shin asked, taking a sip of juice on the Moby Dick.
'Garp sure had it figured out,' Shin thought to himself. 'Whether you're the pirate king or the strongest man in the world, you'll still end up a generation younger than him.'
"Yeah. I think I can find more meaning in life with Whitebeard as my father." Ace's face turned slightly red. It was likely a mix of facing the reality that his dreams had taken a new path and the excitement of accepting something that truly resonated with his heart.
Of course, Shin suspected it was also due to Ace's embarrassment. After all, he had been so confident when he first boarded the ship, declaring that he'd defeat the sea emperors and become the strongest on the seas. Now, he had become another pirate's son.
For the other members of the Spade Pirates, this didn't seem like a big deal. Ace was their foundation and strength; without him, they would have struggled even to reach the New World. Becoming part of Whitebeard's crew was a huge opportunity for them.
Yamato, on the other hand, practically glowed with joy. Given her admiration for Kozuki Oden and her desire to follow in his footsteps, becoming Whitebeard's daughter must have felt like destiny fulfilled. Her idol had sailed with Whitebeard, so now she saw herself on an equal path.
'If Whitebeard and Oden were sworn brothers, that kind of makes me Oden's "son" too, by extension,' Shin mused with a slight grin.
Ace, though, seemed more hesitant around Shin. While Ace's leadership benefited his original crew members, Shin had options and potential beyond what the Spade Pirates alone could provide. Ace seemed to harbor a silent worry that he might be holding Shin back—a concern Shin could sense plainly.
Shin took another sip of juice, deciding to address the unspoken tension. "Alright, let's set aside life's meaning for a second. Is there something else you've been wanting to tell me? After all, we're heading into a battle with the Beast Pirates soon, and we were the ones who kicked things off in the first place."
Ace gave a reluctant smile. "You're right. I guess I can't hide anything from you."
'These pirates are practically open books,' Shin thought, amused. Here in the pirate world, people wore their emotions so openly that even someone with average EQ, like himself, could read them easily.
"I'm guessing it's about Whitebeard's health," Shin continued. "Did Marco or someone else ask you to come to me?"
Ace looked surprised. "How did you know?"
Shin rolled his eyes. "It's not hard to figure out. I'm a pretty decent doctor myself, you know. Whitebeard may look powerful, but anyone paying attention can see he's burdened by years of old injuries. At this point, his health isn't just a personal matter—it affects everyone on the ship."
Shin paused, considering the hierarchy on Whitebeard's ship. "Captain Whitebeard is too proud to ask for help with his condition, but Marco, as the ship's doctor and practically the crew's caretaker, would be deeply concerned about him."
"And naturally, Marco would ask you to approach me for help. He wants me to treat Whitebeard but doesn't want Whitebeard's pride to take a hit."
Ace scratched his head, looking sheepish. "I didn't think it was that easy to understand."
'Pirate life must make people oblivious to these things,' Shin thought. Back in the Naruto World, his ninja training had included courses on understanding psychology as a survival skill. Here, however, everyone wore their hearts on their sleeves.
"Alright, leave it to me," Shin said, standing up. "Now's probably the best time to address it."
On the deck of the Moby Dick, most of the pirates were either asleep or sprawled out after the feast. Shin looked around, shaking his head. "Don't any of these guys worry about a sneak attack from the Beast Pirates? They are all completely passed out."
A blue-haired pirate known as the Ice Witch overheard him and chuckled. "There's always someone on watch. And these guys are such seasoned fighters that if anything did happen, their instincts would snap them awake instantly."
Shin gave her a nod, deciding not to argue. Pirates and ninjas might both be fighters, but their mindsets couldn't be more different. Ninjas were disciplined and methodical; pirates were chaotic and impulsive. Drinking before a potential battle was unheard of in his short ninja career.
Shin approached Whitebeard's quarters after a quick farewell to the Ice Witch. Just as he raised his hand to knock, he heard Whitebeard's deep voice from inside.
"Come in. The door's unlocked."
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[A/N: This will probably be my last mass release for now. I just can't sustain 5 chapters a day. Don't worry, I will still upload daily.]
Mass Release: [5/5]
For each power stones milestone—50, 100, 150, and beyond—I will release a bonus chapter.
I will also release a bonus chapter for every two reviews until it reaches ten reviews.
Review status: [9/10]
If you would like to gain early access, you can join me at www.patre on.com/bookbattalion
Latest release: Chapter 96: Clouds of War