Marine Headquarters. Reading.
Sengoku handled official business as he waited for news from Hawkeye.
To be honest, he had not expected Hawkeye to agree so readily this time.
After all, the Shichibukai system created by the World Government had never enjoyed a particularly pleasant relationship with the Marine Government.
When he contacted Hawkeye, Sengoku had even prepared himself for a rejection.
Yet, unexpectedly, the other party had agreed without hesitation.
Though greatly surprised, Sengoku immediately felt relieved.
If Hawkeye made a move, there should be no room for failure.
Of course, Natsuya's Door-Door Fruit ability was so strange that he might still escape Hawkeye's grasp.
But Sengoku had already told Hawkeye all this intelligence, so he believed Hawkeye would be cautious.
Thus, in Sengoku's view, all he needed to do was wait for Hawkeye's good news.
However, what Sengoku never expected was that bad news still arrived.
"What? He failed!?"
Not long afterward, Sengoku received a report from his subordinate.
Hawkeye had contacted the Marine Government.
But he said that the operation to capture Natsuya had failed!
"What happened!? What else did he say!?"
Sengoku froze for a moment before urgently asking.
But his subordinate said they could no longer contact Hawkeye.
Hawkeye had only left behind the words, "Capture failed," before completely cutting off contact!
Faced with this situation, Sengoku could not help but stand there in a daze.
What was this supposed to mean!?
Hawkeye had failed to capture Natsuya—what exactly had happened!?
Had Natsuya escaped using the Door-Door Fruit!?
Or could it be that even Hawkeye was no match for Natsuya!?
How was that possible!?
At that moment, even Sengoku was startled by his own thoughts.
Hawkeye had probably only let Natsuya escape with the Door-Door Fruit ability. How could he have been defeated by him!?
But if that was the case, why had Hawkeye not said so directly? Why did he seem unwilling to say more!?
Thinking of this, Sengoku was completely stunned.
He suddenly felt that perhaps Garp's previous failure to capture Natsuya had not been because he went easy on him, but because Natsuya truly possessed the power to escape from his hands!?
If that was the case, then this would be troublesome.
Coming back to his senses, Sengoku's expression darkened.
News of Natsuya's situation soon reached the World Government as well.
As a former member of CP9 who had betrayed them after stealing something from a Celestial Dragon, Natsuya was clearly someone the World Government paid close attention to.
It was normal that Garp had failed to capture him. The World Government knew what Garp was like.
But now, even Hawkeye could do nothing to him. That was no small problem.
As a result, the matter soon reached the Five Elders.
After discussing it, the Five Elders actually made a decision that even surprised Sengoku.
"What!? Invite Natsuya to become a Shichibukai!?"
When Sengoku learned of the Five Elders' decision, he was immediately shocked.
Yes, the Five Elders had decided to invite Natsuya to become one of the Shichibukai!
It was worth mentioning that although the Shichibukai system had existed for some time, only five people had been invited so far.
The final two positions were still vacant.
Sengoku had not expected that the Five Elders now intended to let Natsuya take one of those positions!
But after giving it some thought, Sengoku gradually understood.
The Five Elders' decision was not actually strange.
After all, even Garp and Hawkeye could do nothing to Natsuya. He clearly possessed the strength to qualify as a Shichibukai.
As for the grudge between Natsuya and the World Government, it was only a minor one.
Although a Celestial Dragon had been offended, who would know if no one mentioned it?
Furthermore, Rob Lucci and the others had merely been injured. Naturally, that was also a minor matter that could be forgiven.
Of course, the key point was that even Garp and Hawkeye could not deal with Natsuya. On their side, it seemed they could not send anyone capable of handling him either.
Could a Marine Admiral do it?
Perhaps, but there was still a chance of failure.
Since that was the case, why not win Natsuya over!?
If they succeeded, they would effectively eliminate Natsuya as a major hidden danger. They might even be able to make him serve the government once again.
Therefore, upon careful consideration, the Five Elders' decision killed two birds with one stone!
Having understood this, Sengoku naturally had no objections.
However, he felt that Natsuya had only just escaped the World Government, and now that his wings had grown strong, whether he would accept the Shichibukai invitation was still hard to say.
Therefore, to be safe, they needed to prepare for both possibilities when choosing someone to invite Natsuya this time.
While Sengoku was troubled over Natsuya's matter,
after several days of consideration, Natsuya's pirate crew finally had a name!
"Decided! Our pirate crew will be called the Door Pirate Crew!"
Nami immediately froze. "Our pirate crew!?"
Natsuya smiled and corrected her at once. "The Door from the Door-Door Fruit—the Door Pirate Crew!"
Nami finally understood. "Oh, the Door Pirate Crew."
But that name did not seem very good either.
Nami thought it would sound better if they used Natsuya's name instead—the Natsuya Pirate Crew.
Gin, meanwhile, had not voiced an opinion from beginning to end.
In his view, the pirate crew's name was naturally something that did not matter.
However, Natsuya found it immensely meaningful.
The more he thought about the name Door Pirate Crew, the more he liked it.
After all, the reason he had become a wanted pirate was because of the Door-Door Fruit.
And the Door-Door Fruit had also played an indispensable role in bringing them together.
Since that was the case, naming the crew after the Door-Door Fruit could not have been more fitting.
Nami still did not think it was good, but it was the first time she had seen Natsuya so enthusiastic, so she chose to agree.
Thus, the Door Pirate Crew was officially established.
Without question, Natsuya became the captain.
Nami became the navigator.
Gin was the combatant.
As for Momoo, he was naturally still the ship puller.
Their duties were clearly assigned.
Then Nami, acting very much like a proper navigator, asked Natsuya, "Captain Natsuya, where are we going next!?"
Hearing that, Natsuya answered without even thinking, "Straight to the Sabaody Archipelago!"
Clearly, he had already decided on their destination.
But Nami and Gin could not help feeling puzzled upon hearing that.
That island seemed very far away. Why did Natsuya want to go there directly!?
Natsuya did not explain. He merely gazed into the distance with a smile.
Although he had formed a pirate crew, he had not yet decided whether he wanted to become the Pirate King.
What Natsuya wanted to do now was still to develop the Door-Door Fruit to its fullest potential.
However, before that, he felt it was necessary to learn Haki first.
Although he already possessed the strength and means to defeat Haki users, he still needed to learn Haki.
After all, if he mastered Two-Color Haki, it should help him develop even stronger Door-Door Fruit abilities.
Besides, everyone else knew Haki. Wouldn't he be at a huge disadvantage if he did not!?
And when it came to learning Haki, the first person Natsuya thought of was that person at the Sabaody Archipelago!
So, it was time to set off!
To the Sabaody Archipelago!!
Before you continue