Whitebeard's Fury

"My son has been arrested by the navy, and he's going to be beheaded in public—and you come here telling me to calm down? How dare you say that? I can't stand it!"

Shanks ' expression remained unchanged from beginning to end. He didn't back down even a step because of the roar, nor did he look away because of the unfriendly gazes of the surrounding Division Commander.

He simply stared at the Whitebeard, waiting for his roar to dissipate in the wind before speaking again, "So you're determined to fight this battle?"

Whitebeard looked down at him, the anger in his eyes gradually subsiding, replaced by a deeper, more resolute determination that only those who also stood at the summit of the sea could understand.

"Red-Hair, listen up. I don't want anything else in this life, I only want these sons. Anyone who dares to touch my sons, I'll tear their entire Marine Headquarters to pieces and bury them at the bottom of the sea." His tone wasn't a roar, nor was it maniacal laughter, yet it was more like a drawn sword than any of his previous words.

"Whether he's Roger's son or an ordinary man's son, his name is Portgas D. Ace, and he's my son. That's enough."

Shanks remained silent for a long time.

So long that the sea breeze billowed and deflated the sails, so long that the ship's nurse on the Moby Dick was secretly wiping away tears on the distant sea.

Then he slowly raised his head, a very faint, almost imperceptible smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

It wasn't mockery, nor helplessness, but a very complex laugh whose meaning only he himself knew.

"I understand," he said. "I was young once too."

Shanks turned and walked toward the ship's railing.

He stopped in front of the diving board without turning around. "That Blackbeard guy is far more dangerous than you and I can imagine."

He had contact with the Uchiha Clan in the West Blue and then became Shichibukai in Mary Geoise, stepping into everyone's blind spots with every move.

I kept staring at him, and the more I watched, the more uneasy I felt—that man was no ordinary person. This incident might just be the first step in his plan."

"So what?" The Whitebeard voice came from behind, as deep and unfathomable as an undercurrent at the bottom of the sea.

Shanks did not answer the question.

He has gotten the answer he wanted.

He stepped onto the gangplank, the sea breeze lifting his empty left sleeve, and Earth Flow his boat without looking back.

The Red-Haired Pirates ' ship slowly turned around and headed in the opposite direction from Marineford, gradually disappearing at the horizon.

On the Moby Dick, Whitebeard sat back down in his seat, picked up Ace's wanted poster, and without looking up, growled, "Let's go!"

Forty-three pirate ships simultaneously weighed anchor and sped off towards the Marine Headquarters.

When Natsu returned to Origin Island, it was already evening.

The setting sun painted the eaves of the Naka Shrine a dark gold, and the sea breeze blew across the Training Ground. The children of the clan were walking back in twos and threes after finishing their work. A few sharp-eyed people spotted him and called out "Lord Natsu Yin" from afar, their voices full of joy.

He nodded, and without stopping, walked straight toward the side hall of the shrine.

Fugaku was waiting for him in a side hall.

Several newly delivered intelligence scrolls were spread out on the table. The candlelight flickered faster than usual, casting alternating shadows on his face.

When Natsu pushed the door open, he was flipping one of the scrolls over and placing it face down on the table. His movements weren't fast, but they carried a hint of unnatural deliberateness.

"You're back." Fugaku's tone sounded no different from usual, but when he looked up at Natsu, there was a thin layer of hesitation in his eyes, as if there was something he didn't want anyone to see beneath the surface of the water.

Natsu didn't sit down, nor did he pour himself any tea. He glanced at Fugaku, then at the scroll that was being held face down on the table. "Uncle, what happened?"

It's not a question, it's a statement.

Fugaku remained silent for a moment, then turned the scroll face down on the table and pushed it in front of Natsu.

The information on the scroll was brief: Fire Fist Ace had been captured by the Navy, and his execution was scheduled for a few days later at Marineford.

The charge is that he is the son of Pirate King Roger, and the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.

Natsu's gaze lingered on those lines of text for a moment.

His expression didn't change noticeably, but Uchiha Kei, standing to the side, noticed that the fingertips gripping the edge of the scroll tightened slightly—just a little, and then quickly loosened.

Natsu put down the scroll without speaking immediately.

The side hall was quiet for a few seconds, with only the occasional soft popping of the candle flame.

"Uncle Qi." Natsu turned her head to look at Uchiha Kei, who was standing by the door.

Qi stood ramrod straight, and when he heard Natsu call him, he took half a step forward.

Before Natsu could ask, he spoke first, "Young Master Natsu, that kid Ace helped us on Origin Island. Although he only got involved to pursue Teach, it's a fact that he fought alongside us back then. The Uchiha always repay kindness."

Natsu looked at him for a while.

This old subordinate, who had followed the Uchiha since his father's generation, was usually a man of few words and as cold and hard as iron when carrying out missions, but he was unusually talkative at this moment.

He recalled how, outside Origin Island, Ace descended from the sky, engulfed in flames, to hold off Teach, Jesus Burgess, and Van Augur.

The Whitebeard Second Division Commander jumped onto the bow of the ship, turned back and grinned at him, revealing a set of white teeth.

Natsu withdrew her gaze, rolled up the scroll again, and placed it on the corner of the table.

"Uncle, have the Intelligence Division keep an eye on Marineford's movements and report to me immediately if there are any changes. Inform Yashiro and Tekka that the combat team's leave is canceled and everyone must return to their posts. Replenish the ninja tool depot to full strength with Shuriken, Kunai, and Soldier Pills."

He paused, then added, "Also, summon Setsuna Elder."

Everyone in the side hall left.

Natsu sat alone in the chair, the candlelight flickering and casting alternating shadows on his face.

Instead of getting up immediately to arrange the next steps, he closed his eyes and immersed his consciousness into the Flying Thunder God technique network.

Chakra spread out along the invisible spatial coordinates, passing through the coastline of Origin Island, through the surging waves of the West Blue, through the unpredictable magnetic field of the Grand Line, and extending towards a distant direction.

That mark was carved on Ace's shoulder by his own hand. At the time, he patted the kid on the shoulder and advised him not to chase Blackbeard. As his fingertips brushed against the fabric, he secretly left this mark.

Separated by half a world, his senses had become very faint, almost imperceptible, like looking at a lamp through frosted glass, but he could still confirm its existence. As long as he could perceive it, he could use it.

He opened his eyes, his fingertips tapping unconsciously on the table.

The first thought that popped into my head was simple—to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring Ace out.

Teleport to Marineford, and on the execution platform amidst a sea of people, in front of all the Navy personnel and the Den Den Mushi broadcasting live worldwide, take Ace away.

Even if Kizaru Vice Admiral, he couldn't stop the Flying Thunder God's spatial jump.

He was even confident that he could get rid of the person before the Golden Buddha Form appeared in the Sengoku.