"Mai, is this the legendary New World?" Kakashi asked listlessly, scratching his bird's-nest hair.
"Kakashi, youth never ends! Let's set this world ablaze together!" Might Guy was as fired up as ever, his gleaming white teeth almost blinding.
Shizune covered her mouth and giggled.
Kisame Hoshigaki, who followed behind Uchiha Mai, looked up at the sky.
Was this the other world Mr. Wu had spoken of?
Which was real—the world of shinobi, or this world?
Kisame Hoshigaki already had something of Aristotle about him. He was the most philosophical man in all of Naruto.
Uchiha Mai had brought him along because he was the best shinobi.
Kisame might not have been the strongest, but he was the most dependable.
He embodied everything the word "shinobi" meant.
As for Shizune, she was there entirely at Tsunade and Mei Terumi's insistence. They had clearly sent her to take care of his daily needs and, along the way, record his activities so she could report back to them.
While eating roasted sea king meat, Uchiha Mai took out 100 Beli and tossed it into the air. A News Coo dropped a newspaper.
<Alabasta's hero Crocodile drives off another invading pirate crew>
He leafed through it several times, but it was all inconsequential news.
After wandering around the East Blue for a few days, everyone had become reasonably familiar with this world.
Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, Uchiha Mai called Kisame aside and explained his plans. "Next, go to Cocoyasi Village and join the Arlong Pirates. After that, do this..."
Kisame Hoshigaki Yongren raised no objections and did not ask why. That was precisely why he was here.
A month later.
Uchiha Mai arrived in Loguetown and walked into the Marine Base with a smile. Behind him were Might Guy in