Aokiji: If I Were the One Carrying Out the Buster Call
Paradise, somewhere in the sea.
Aokiji Kuzan, who was "riding" a small bicycle on the sea, instinctively squeezed the handbrake after hearing Kizaru's words.
There was a crisp "crunch".
Aokiji and his little bicycle came to a stop on the sea.
"What did you say?"
Aokiji frowned slightly as he looked at Den Den Mushi with Kizaru's face on the handlebars of the bicycle.
"My 'deputy'? Who?"
High-ranking naval officers are usually accompanied by adjutants.
Like a certain "Hero of the Marines" who doesn't want to reveal his identity, he has a seemingly high-class but actually meaningless adjutant named Bogard by his side.
However, Aokiji always kept to himself and had no adjutants with him.
Instead of having a naval adjutant by your side, you might as well raise a penguin!
Therefore, Aokiji was completely baffled by Kizaru's words.
"... Vongola Storm."
Kizaru slowly uttered the name.
"The second-in-command of your 'Sword Unit,' former Vice Admiral White Dragon of the Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral..."
Has Storm left the Navy?
Aokiji stared at the Den Den Mushi, looking astonished.
Speaking of which...
The formation of the Sword Unit is very complicated, and the requirements for its members are very high in all aspects.
Since Aokiji recruited Storm and Peacock, the Sword Unit has been slow to recruit new members.
However, even relying solely on "Vongola Storm" is not enough.
The name of the Sword Unit has now been thoroughly established!
Leaving aside Storm's "Thorough Justice," which is comparable to Akainu's.
Aokiji is quite satisfied with Storm's past performance.
With this "second-in-command" in the Sword Unit, Aokiji can comfortably be a hands-off manager.
But now...
Has Storm left the Navy?
Aokiji snapped out of his daze and quickly pressed for an answer.
"What is going on?"
Kizaru recounted the secret mission given to him by the Gorosei, as well as the general course of the "Buster Call Incident on Ruschired Island," including Sakazuki's defeat, without embellishing anything.
But at the end, Kizaru added one more sentence.
"... All of this was ordered by the Gorosei."
Aokiji listened in silence.
A while ago, the Gorosei secretly summoned the Headquarters Admiral to Mary Geoise.
Aokiji was very clear about this.
To be precise...
The mission issued by the Gorosei, "To defeat the Shichibukai, White Dragon," was first contacted with Aokiji. (Chapter 230)
However, Aokiji did not know beforehand that the Gorosei wanted him to go and fight Storm.
All he knew was that the Gorosei had given him a mission.
However, the so-called "mission of the Gorosei".
Sakazuki resolutely carried it out.
Borsalino worked diligently.
Kuzan... had absolutely no intention of paying any attention to him.
This is what is meant by "Lazy Justice."
Aokiji first studied under Zephyr, and then under Garp. Coupled with the "Ohara Buster Call" incident back then, his belief in the so-called "Naval justice" had long been shaken.
"Burning Justice" has transformed into "Lazy Justice".
This is the change of will that Aokiji made after years of wavering.
The Navy's sense of justice is questionable.
But is this a problem with the Navy?
Of course it's not just because of the navy!
The most crucial element is the World Government!
These years have passed since the end of the "Buster Call" of Ohara.
Aokiji has refused countless orders and missions from the World Government and the Fleet Admiral, citing his "Lazy Justice" as the reason.
Even the Gorosei and Sengoku couldn't do anything about Aokiji...
Who can blame them when this guy's strength is so monstrous?
No matter how "Lazy Justice.
Aokiji has always been a Marine Headquarters Admiral and the World Government's top combat force.
The Gorosei and Sengoku could only grit their teeth and endure this guy's laziness and unreliability.
At least Akainu and Kizaru are working pretty hard...
This time is no different.
In order to subdue White Dragon, the Gorosei secretly summoned two Marine Headquarters Admiral.
The first Gorosei summoned were Kizaru and Aokiji!
In the eyes of the Gorosei.
Kizaru possesses the [Glint-Glint Fruit], which grants him absolute air superiority.
Aokiji possesses the Ice-Ice Fruit, making him virtually unmatched in naval combat.
With these two on the field, one sealing off the sky and the other freezing the sea, they could definitely take down the White Dragon!
However, Aokiji completely ignored the Gorosei's orders. He didn't even pay attention to this matter and directly cut off his communication with the Gorosei.
The Gorosei's mission is open to anyone who wants to do it!
"Lazy Justice" has absolutely no incentive to work for the Gorosei.
If the Gorosei want to use this incident as a reason to punish him.
Aokiji was also pleased with the outcome.
Anyway, he didn't really want to become Admiral.
Just like Vice Admiral Garp, repeatedly refusing orders to be promoted to Admiral... isn't that cool too?
What Aokiji never expected was...
When the Gorosei failed to issue him orders, they immediately issued orders to their predecessors Borsalino and Sakazuki.
Moreover, it was an order to "Shichibukai, White Dragon"...
If Aokiji knew that the Gorosei ' "secret mission" was to defeat Storm, he certainly wouldn't have missed this opportunity.
At the very least, they'll secretly let Storm go...
Just like when he let Robin go on Ohara back then...
Unfortunately, it's too late to say anything now.
Aokiji fell into a long silence, his heart filled with surprise, anger, regret... a whole host of emotions.
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Kizaru could only hear Aokiji's faint breathing.
The usually slick Kizaru pursed his lips and said softly.
"I'm sorry... Kuzan..."
Kizaru's apology carried a degree of sincerity.
He himself was not willing to attack Storm.
But he had no choice but to obey the Gorosei's orders.
Just now.
The order was executed, the mission failed, and Storm left the Navy... Kizaru felt like he was a complete traitor.
Being in the navy is tough.
Becoming Admiral is even more difficult.
'If only I could be as dashing as Vice Admiral Garp...'
A thought inexplicably flashed through Kizaru's mind.
"No need to apologize... or rather, the person you should apologize to isn't me, Borsalino."
Aokiji pulled himself out of his complicated emotions, looked at the Den Den Mushi, and said softly.
"As for Storm... I'll contact him now."
"Um..."
Kizaru nodded slightly.
"I still need to contact Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the Gorosei... Let's talk another time."
After saying that, Kizaru hung up the Den Den Mushi.
He looked down at Akainu, who was still unconscious, but instead of contacting the Fleet Admiral and the Gorosei as he had just told Aokiji, he sat down cross-legged and quietly waited for Akainu to wake up.
Leaving aside the fact that he voluntarily admitted defeat.
The most important and fundamental reason for the failure of this Buster Call mission was that Sakazuki was forcibly eliminated by Storm, wasn't it?
Kizaru felt that the Buster Call mission had failed, and he only needed to take responsibility for a small part of the failure.
Sakazuki's problem is even more serious!
So.
As for reporting to Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the Gorosei, let's wait until Sakazuki regains his senses...
Kizaru looked at the heavily injured and unconscious Akainu, a sigh escaping his lips.
"Sakazuki... it's all because you're too weak~"
On the other side, the Paradise.
After hesitating for a long time, Aokiji finally dialed Storm's Den Den Mushi.
After a long ringing, the Den Den Mushi was finally answered.
"... This is Aokiji."
"Tsk! So it's a 'Aokiji'!"
Storm's blunt words came through the Den Den Mushi's receiver.
Why didn't you come to the New World with 'Yellow Monkey' and 'Red Dog' before?
"If all three Admiral went together and completely sealed off the sea, land, and air, they might actually be able to successfully carry out the Buster Call?"
Aokiji?
Yellow monkey?
Red Dog?
Upon hearing Storm's words, Aokiji's eyelids twitched violently, and several veins bulged on his forehead.
"Storm! This time, the Navy has truly wronged you..."
"Oh!"
Storm gave a cold laugh.
"I don't need this kind of fake apology."
"Aokiji, you're contacting me now, it seems Kizaru has already reached out to you."
"Then he should have conveyed what I said earlier to you, right?"
"From this day forward, I am no longer a member of the Navy."
Storm's attitude was very firm.
Aokiji could sense this resolute attitude even through the Den Den Mushi (a type of Den Den Mushi).
"Well..."
Aokiji let out a long sigh.
"If I had known the Gorosei's mission was to subdue you, I should have gone myself..."
The Gorosei's orders were rescinded immediately...
Aokiji isn't that arrogant.
He also knew that his will could not sway the World Government's orders and decisions.
However, under the guise of carrying out a mission, they might actually do things that sabotage the mission...
Aokiji can still do it.
Upon hearing Aokiji's words, Storm's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You mean you didn't know the Gorosei's orders?"
"No, I know the Gorosei are mobilizing their Admiral, but I just didn't know they were targeting you..."
Aokiji scratched his head, looking both conflicted and regretful.
"If I were to carry out this Buster Call, at least I could have told you in advance..."
"Although you may not need my reminders or help..."
Based on Borsalino's previous statements, Storm almost single-handedly withstood the attacks of the two Admiral, and even directly suppressed and overwhelmed Sakazuki.
Aokiji was a little suspicious.
If Sakazuki hadn't participated in this Buster Call, and instead he had, or even fought with the same intensity as Sakazuki... they might not have been able to defeat Storm.
When did this guy become this strong?
"Hmph! Easier said than done."
Storm snorted again.
Even through the Den Den Mushi, he had no way of verifying the truthfulness of Aokiji's words.
However, judging from Aokiji's past performance...
The other party's words are most likely true...
Thinking about this, Storm's resentment dissipated considerably.
The two Admiral jointly carried out the Buster Call against him.
But Storm received no prior warning whatsoever.
Without a doubt.
This is a "righteous backstab" from the Navy!
That's the real reason Storm is unhappy.
If Aokiji had known the details of the Buster Call beforehand, and like Kizaru, Akainu, and Sengoku, hadn't revealed a single word...
Storm will truly be heartbroken.
Hearing Aokiji's words, his negative attitude towards the Navy softened somewhat.
"Well..."
Aokiji sighed again, saying helplessly.
"This was a secret mission personally ordered by the Gorosei. Sakazuki and Borsalino are both Navy personnel who lean towards the government... there's not much they can do about it."
And what about you?
Storm, unwilling to discuss the Buster Call any further, changed the subject.
"You don't side with the World Government?"
"If that's really the case, why don't you come and become a pirate with me!"
An unprecedented night...
This is the first update...
There's more to come.