Hina did not know that Akainu valued Uchiha Hikaru far more than she imagined.
Akainu had conducted a detailed study of Uchiha Hikaru's strength. Someone capable of seriously injuring Vergo in a single blow—aside from special monsters like Garp, Tsuru, Momousagi, and Chaton, no vice admiral at Marine Headquarters would be able to withstand even one exchange with Uchiha Hikaru.
Vergo had activated his Armament Haki and unleashed his full strength, yet he had still ended up in such a miserable state. That alone showed how powerful Uchiha Hikaru was.
Garp must have noticed it at the time as well. He had likely considered that, should Uchiha Hikaru go astray, he would become a formidable enemy, which was why he had invited him to join the Marines.
But Akainu was thinking even further ahead. His goal was to completely end the Great Pirate Era and utterly eradicate pirates from these seas. At a time like this, when such a young and promising person with potential appeared, he had to spare no effort in recruiting him.
Yet in the blink of an eye, it seemed that he was about to miss his chance with Uchiha Hikaru. This left Akainu deeply displeased and made him despise Vergo and Doflamingo even more.
While Akainu was racking his brains at the new Marine Headquarters over how to pull Uchiha Hikaru back onto the "right path" and perhaps even recruit him into the Marines, the various forces of the New World had also been shaken by Uchiha Hikaru's tremendous strength.
Wano Country, a secret location.
"Wood Release? Is that ignorant little brat a ninja?" The burly man dressed in samurai attire, with a sword hanging at his waist, let out a sinister chuckle. "I never thought that, apart from Wano Country, there would be others