The Mirror-Match Showdown

With the news of Ace's capture spreading, the powers across the seas began stirring beneath the surface.

Ace was the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division and a son Whitebeard had taken in. Everyone knew that Whitebeard valued his family above all else and fiercely protected them.

A few days later, the Navy announced Ace's execution date. The execution would be broadcast live to the world.

The whole sea was abuzz. Anyone who understood the situation knew this was the Navy taunting Whitebeard—or, more precisely, laying a trap for him.

Your beloved son had been captured and was about to be executed in public. As one of the Four Emperors and the strongest man on the sea, would you go save him?

If Whitebeard went, he would fall into the trap the Navy had prepared. How could a single Emperor's pirate crew stand against the entire Navy?

If he didn't, Whitebeard's reputation would inevitably take a hit. Those vicious, greedy pirates would start wondering whether he really had grown old. His position as one of the Four Emperors would surely be shaken.

This execution was a true, straightforward trap—simple, but highly effective.

Fortunately, unlike the Whitebeard in the anime, who had to bear everything alone, this world's Whitebeard had a powerful ally.

After Ace's execution date was announced, Whitebeard contacted Kizaru again. Through a Den Den Mushi, Kizaru renewed his promise to join forces with him.

After their conversation, Kizaru hurried to finalize his arrangements. He returned to the Naruto World and told Tobirama Senju to stand ready to send more Ninja Units into the Pirate World.

At the same time, Kizaru sought out Orochimaru and asked him to prepare a large number of Impure World Reincarnations.

After informing the two of them, Kizaru returned to the One Piece