Naruto's Trash Station

The once-quiet island was shattered by thunder overhead! Deafening peals rolled through dark clouds as raindrops as large as beans began to fall!

"Whoosh..."

Rain poured down, drenching the beach and the sea beyond it!

Ace raised his head, his gaze lifeless, and let the rain fall on him. It soaked his hair and washed over the turmoil in his heart.

At last, Ace lowered his head. He looked at the fallen Koukurou and the blood thinning in the rain, then said flatly, "He's dead."

He put away Kogarashi and Oto, pulled his hat down tight, and walked back toward Rouge's grave.

The ground had turned muddy. Ace gripped the headstone and murmured, "Mother... I'll take you somewhere good."

Crack... crack...

At his words, the ground split, and more than half the island rose into the sky!

Ace stood before Rouge's headstone and guided the island upward.

And just like that, Ace left. Rain washed over Kōgorō's body, his pale face drained of all color. From the Den Den Mushi left behind came Shakky's cries: "Kōgorō... you can't die! You can't!"

Her voice grew hoarse, but nothing could wake Kōgorō. Shakky's heart sank further. Ace really had killed him. Kōgorō was dead.

Shakky was in agony. She had indirectly caused Kōgorō's death. If not for her request, he would never have gone looking for Ace and met this end.

Even through her grief, she knew that Ryder had severed Rayleigh's left arm, while World had captured Carlos and Crocus alive. They had now been taken into Emperor Island, and no one knew whether they were still alive.

It made Shakky's grief all the heavier. The World Government was their enemy, yet before the war had even begun, they had already lost several key fighters!

"Ah..." Shakky let out a long