Sakazuki: Living on in Disgrace Would Truly Be an Insult to Me

Perhaps the curve of his lips wasn't natural enough, or perhaps the light in his eyes wasn't bright enough. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he just felt something was off.

"Senior Madara, you'd better work hard." Natsu suddenly spoke up, glancing at him with a slight smile. "I still have some time before I can awaken the Six-Tomoe Rinne Sharingan. Don't make me use that power again anytime soon."

That laugh, like before, carried a hint of teasing.

But when Ban looked at that smile, he felt the warmth of the moment fade.

It's like warmth seeping through a pane of glass; you can feel it, but it's not direct.

Ban snorted coldly and looked away from Natsu's face.

"Hmph, the fact that they're still joking around means the consequences haven't reached the worst point yet."

Even so, the worry in his eyes did not fade.

He withdrew his gaze and looked towards the Night Owl Guard formation ahead.

Fugaku walked at the front, his Mangekyō Sharingan glowing quietly in the Dusk.

Fugaku probably sensed something too, but he didn't ask.

Fugaku never asks inappropriate questions at inappropriate times.

Ban sighed inwardly.

We need to proceed slowly from here on out.

If each world has its own World Will, then without the Nine-Tomoe Rinne Sharingan, it is impossible to fight against them.

Natsu's current state is something she absolutely cannot use again until she awakens the Nine-Tomoe Rinne Sharingan Tomoe.

The side effects are too severe.

"Natsu," Ban said.

"Um?"

"Once we get back, don't rush to make the next move. Let the tribesmen rest for a while." Ban's tone was calm, but his words carried an unyielding tone. "You, too, need to recuperate."

Natsu glanced at him, as if she wanted to say something, but swallowed the words back. He nodded.

"OK."

The two Earth Flow at the back of the group without saying another word.

The Night Owl Guard formation ahead gradually receded into the distance, the Dusk on the sea grew thicker, and the sound of the waves beneath our feet became clearer in the stillness.

After walking for a while, Natsu suddenly spoke again.

"Mada-senpai."

"Um."

"Thanks."

Ban didn't look back.

"Stop talking nonsense and hurry up."

Natsu's lips curled slightly, and she quickened her pace to follow him.

On the ruins of the Sabaody Archipelago, the Night Owl Guard's formation closed in from both sides.

The greyish-white uniforms blended together in the Dusk, while the crimson Sharingan shone brightly.

Fugaku stood at the very front of the formation, his Mangekyō Sharingan spinning silently.

Killing Hall was on the left flank, Taki and En were on the right flank, and Kūga, Chinatsu, and Yelan each led a small team to block all possible escape routes.

Natsu landed at the front of the formation, her pale purple robe fluttering gently in the sea breeze, her Mangekyō Sharingan calmly sweeping over the remaining naval forces in front of her.

Sakazuki knelt in the rubble, his left arm hanging down, his uniform mostly torn, burns and knife wounds piled on top of each other, some still bleeding.

Borsalino stood beside him, the knife wound on his right shoulder so deep that bone was visible, the golden light particles so thin they were almost invisible.

Further behind were Sengoku, Tsuru, and Garp, all of whom were also seriously injured.

Further back were the last remaining naval soldiers, less than two thousand men, most of whom could barely stand.

"The war is over." Natsu's voice was soft and his tone was flat. "You have failed. But I can give you a chance. Submit, Uchiha Clan will allow you to join the Earthly Chief Guard and continue to uphold justice."

Sakazuki, panting heavily, looked up at Natsu.

His Observation Haki and Armament Haki were almost completely depleted when he resisted Imu's last counterattack, and now he's struggling to even maintain the most basic senses.

He stared at Natsu's face, a young, calm face, devoid of murderous intent or eagerness to recruit. He was simply presenting an option.

Sakazuki knew about the West Blue.

He had read the intelligence.

The West Blue was indeed more orderly after the Uchiha Clan took over than when the Navy ruled.

The nobility was abolished, the gangs were wiped out, and the common people were able to live peacefully.

Perhaps the new order that Natsu represents will truly be better than the current sea.

As Sakazuki looked at Natsu's face, he recalled the image of Kuzan's back as he fell.

I recall Aramaki's words, "Take care, Sakazuki -senpai."

I remember they were still fighting before they died.

"Perhaps the order you represent is truly more perfect than the current one," Sakazuki spoke, his voice hoarse, "But if I were to bow down to you now, the Absolute Justice I have upheld all my life, wouldn't Absolute Justice become a joke?"

He slowly stood up, supporting himself on his knees, his left arm hanging down, but his back was very straight.

His gaze shifted from Natsu's face, swept over the surrounding Night Owl Guard formation, and finally settled back on Natsu.

"Even that coward Kuzan was willing to die for justice." Sakazuki's voice calmed down.

The resentment and despair from before were gone, replaced by a quiet feeling, as if he had come to terms with everything. "To merely eke out a living, that would be a true disgrace to this old man."

Borsalino stood beside him, silent for a few moments, then looked up, his face bearing his usual lazy expression, with even the corners of his mouth turned up.

"Waaaah... Death is so scary." He drew out his words, but there wasn't much genuine fear in his tone.

"However, although I uphold Unclear Justice... if justice is surrendered out of fear of death, then it probably isn't justice at all, is it?"

He glanced at Sakazuki, then turned back, a hint of self-mockery flashing in his eyes.

"Besides, I am Kuzan and Aramaki's senior. If I were to survive with Kuzan dead, I would lose far too much face."

After saying this, he raised his right hand, palm facing up.

A few golden particles of light flickered on my fingertips, as faint as a candle flame that might go out at any moment.

But he didn't stop; those light particles kept shining there, flashing on and off.

Sakazuki remained silent.

He poured the last of his strength into his right fist; the magma seeping from between his knuckles was dark and thick, no longer hot, but it was still there.

Natsu looked at the two people, offering no advice, no mockery, and no order to attack.

He simply watched quietly for a few moments, then slightly tilted his head, as if giving some kind of silent signal to the Night Owl Guard behind him.

Fugaku withdrew his gaze, took a step back, and gave up his seat.

Sengoku looked at Sakazuki, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.