The Meaning Behind Murakumogiri

"Stay back, Luffy!"

Ace's furious shout rang across the battlefield, moving countless people.

"You should understand. We're both pirates. We've both sailed the seas however we pleased. I have my own adventures and my own crew. You have no reason to interfere in my business. You're a coward, and you still came to save me? Do you think I'd allow that? Nothing could be more humiliating. Go back... Luffy! Why did you come? Why are you doing this? Why... why..."

Ace spoke stubbornly, his words hard as iron, though his heart was already drowning in tears.

"I'm... your little brother!"

Luffy shouted up at Ace on the Execution Platform as he ran. His words made Ace, who had only just lowered his head, stare wide-eyed and look up again.

"Hey, Ace! Don't worry. I'll look after him. Nothing will happen to him. So... would you be interested in becoming my crewmate?"

A pure blue phoenix flashed across the sky. As its flames died away, Jiang Lin appeared beside Luffy, wrapping one arm around his shoulders while pointing the other toward Ace on the Execution Platform.

"D!"

"D!"

"D!"

The moment Jiang Lin appeared, Sengoku, Garp, and Whitebeard all turned to look his way.

At this stage of the battle, any unusual move by either side would draw everyone's attention. Jiang Lin's arrival could change its course. How he chose to join the fight, and which side he stood with, would shape what came next.

"I... I..."

Ace's gaze shifted between Jiang Lin and Whitebeard. Temptation and hesitation mingled in his eyes, leaving him unable to decide.

Clang!

Just then, a loud metallic ring came from the Moby Dick. Whitebeard raised Murakumogiri and hurled it straight toward Jiang Lin.

"What?!"

"My god!"

"Write that down! Quick!"

Whitebeard's unexpected move left the Whitebeard Pirates, the Marine soldiers, and the reporters watching from afar gaping in shock.

To a warrior, a weapon was a companion, a comrade-in-arms, even a part of his life.

Now Whitebeard had handed his weapon to Jiang Lin. The implications were enough to set everyone's imagination racing.

Clang!

With a sharp whistle through the air, Murakumogiri reached Jiang Lin, and he caught it.

Boom!

After the force of the catch shook the ground, Jiang Lin stood at the center of the battlefield with Murakumogiri in hand, like a second Whitebeard. Overwhelming pressure radiated from him in every direction.

"My god, that's Murakumogiri! Whitebeard actually gave D his own weapon. Does that mean he's chosen Jiang Lin as his successor? Was Whitebeard secretly training him all along? Is that why D is so strong?"

"He must have been. Murakumogiri is more than a weapon. It's a symbol of Whitebeard's status and authority. He handed it to D right here on the battlefield. His meaning couldn't be clearer: D will lead the Whitebeard Pirates someday."

The Marines stared at Murakumogiri in Jiang Lin's hands, eagerly trading theories.

Murakumogiri meant too much to Whitebeard. The moment he handed it to Jiang Lin, speculation from every side was inevitable.

"Is D really Whitebeard's successor? No wonder he caused such a stir so soon after appearing. Whitebeard must be backing him!"

"I've figured it out. D has to be Whitebeard's secret son. How else could he copy Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit? Besides, Whitebeard wouldn't hand over his position and crew to some pirate he's only met a few times!"

On the Sabaody Archipelago, the reporters watched the live broadcast, their pens never stopping. Almost no one spoke; the rustle of frantic note-taking filled the scene instead.

"D! What exactly is your connection to Whitebeard?"

Sengoku looked down with a grave expression. He had already considered D a serious concern, but Whitebeard's move raised D's importance in his eyes to a level second only to the Four Emperors.

"Murakumogiri?"

While every faction speculated about Whitebeard's intentions, Jiang Lin stood holding the weapon Whitebeard had thrown him, lost in thought.

Whitebeard had clearly given Jiang Lin his weapon to win him over and put Ace's doubts to rest. He had freely handed Jiang Lin both a weapon and a Devil Fruit. Whatever the outcome of this battle, Jiang Lin now owed him a tremendous favor.

If they won outright, Whitebeard still stood to gain. Two gestures of goodwill had earned him Jiang Lin's favor and put Jiang Lin in his debt. It was a bargain.

And if they lost completely, Whitebeard's actions would matter even more. Total defeat would bring countless sacrifices. With Jiang Lin looking after the Whitebeard Pirates, their losses and their future would be far better than they would be without him.

Either way, this simple move would bring Whitebeard and his crew enormous benefits.

"Whitebeard, you've really put me in a tough spot."

Jiang Lin looked toward Whitebeard. On the Moby Dick, Whitebeard's figure stood as tall and unconquerable as ever, even without Murakumogiri in his hands.

"Pops!"

As Jiang Lin looked toward Whitebeard, Ace turned his gaze toward him from the Execution Platform.

"Ace!"

Whitebeard was looking at Ace too. His lips moved slightly, as though he were sending Ace a silent message.

Ace watched Whitebeard's lips, and tears streamed down his face.

"Pops! You're the only father I'll ever have. Please, don't... don't..."

Ace shouted until his voice was raw. Even Sengoku, standing nearby, was moved by his words.

"Could Whitebeard be..."

Sengoku lowered his gaze toward Whitebeard in the distance.

"Ace, Luffy!"

Garp's gaze moved back and forth between Ace and Luffy, his face already wet with tears. Even a man hailed as a Marine Hero faced an agonizing choice when family was involved.

"Ace!" Jiang Lin called toward the Execution Platform. Then he tossed Murakumogiri high into the air, sending it back to Whitebeard aboard the Moby Dick.

"Become my crewmate!"

As Murakumogiri soared overhead, Jiang Lin invited Ace again. His meaning was clear: he would not use Whitebeard's authority to pressure Ace into choosing. The decision was Ace's alone.