A warm sea breeze passed over the deck of the Moby Dick as Yuta finally walked toward the front of the ship, where Whitebeard sat in his usual spot. He was so big that they not only had to get this monster of a ship for him, but also create a large circular space with a seat worthy of giants so he could relax.
Yuta, for once, really wished to see how big his bed was. The giant of a man looked relaxed, resting with his arms crossed and a massive grin hidden behind his white moustache. Even now, Yuta found it amusing that someone called Whitebeard was pretty much clean-shaven.
Yuta was still amazed by how good Whitebeard looked. In fact, he looked worse before the war. His Reverse Cursed Energy definitely had worked here. The last time he saw him, the man almost looked like he was on the verge of death, kept alive by tubes and machines. But now, after Yuta had healed him before the war, Whitebeard looked slightly younger, definitely stronger—even more alive than before. No tubes, no machines. Just pure strength.
Whitebeard noticed Yuta approaching and gave a low grunt. "Took you long enough, brat."
Yuta smirked. "Huh... What does it matter whether I'm late or not? It's not like you have anything better to do besides drinking and watching the clouds drift by."
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes, his deep voice shaking the ship slightly. "Still got that sharp tongue, I see."
"Still got that moustache with no beard, I see," Yuta shot back.
The crew nearby winced, half-expecting Whitebeard to get mad. But the old pirate just laughed louder. "Gura ra ra ra ra ra... I see clearly, you're still the same stinky brat as you were a year ago." Whitebeard gave his trademark disdainful look.
"Planning to remain the same until you kick the bucket, old man..." Yuta grumbled. He and Whitebeard hadn't met on good terms last time, let alone parted on good terms.
Yuta pretty much yelled and called him a geezer in front of the entire Marineford. There's no doubt there was still lingering irritation on both sides.
It's just that the gratitude of the other part was big enough that this little name-calling didn't matter much.
"So… what happened after Marineford? After you escaped?" Yuta asked. He was lacking much information after that; Marco's quick summary of their situation wasn't enough for Yuta to understand what exactly was going on at sea.
He had the One Piece manga with him currently. However, he wasn't sure how much of it would still be applicable after he changed the story like he did.
Not to mention he never bothered remembering it by heart. He had the manga for that. He only knew the general progression of the plot, and that only up to the start of the Wano Arc.
Since this manga came from the JJK world, which was stuck in 2018—exactly when Oda started his Wano Arc—Yuta had no idea what actually happened in Wano.
So yes, he had no idea what and how the story would change. He had so many questions right now.
What happened to Blackbeard if the Whitebeard Pirates still existed? Who's the next Fleet Admiral, if there is one? Did Sengoku continue? Yuta doubted it.
How would this affect the upcoming plot of One Piece? Did Luffy get as strong as he did in the canon after Ace died, here?
This was one problem with him interfering: the future knowledge he held would get more irrelevant as he changed the plot.
Whitebeard's smile faded slightly. "We lost a few ships in the retreat, but thanks to you, most of my sons made it out alive. Those Marine bastards were persistent. That bastard Garp's last attack sank their whole headquarters. They've now shifted to another island in the New World."
Yuta nodded. "I figured they'd be mad. Who's the Fleet Admiral now? Seeing the performance, I doubt Sengoku would have kept his position for long."
"That brat Akainu..." Whitebeard said with complete and utter disdain in his voice. Unlike in the canon, he didn't kill anyone this time. However, Akainu was still responsible for Squard's betrayal back in the Summit War. And while Whitebeard easily forgave Squard, he didn't forgive Akainu, who was responsible for one of his sons turning against him.
"And what about Blackbeard? Did you get him?" Yuta asked, and perhaps he shouldn't have, seeing the utter rage on Whitebeard's face after hearing that man's name.
That was answer enough for Yuta. The big villain—and arguably the only real pirate-like pirate in One Piece—still lived. The real question was, though, what he was up to. His plan must have failed, and that meant he shouldn't have that strong a team this time around. Even if he did, then the Whitebeard Pirates would have chased him down all over the Grand Line and the Four Seas combined.
However, it was possible that he was still a Shichibukai. If he didn't break into Impel Down, then it was completely possible for the Marines to let him continue as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
After Blackbeard's topic came up, Whitebeard immediately changed the conversation. He didn't wish to talk about that traitor. It was his pirate group's and family's matter—not something for others to worry about. He glanced past Yuta and finally noticed Maki standing nearby. "And who's the girl?"
Yuta turned. "She's Maki. A friend from work. She came with me by accident." Yuta, too, didn't mind changing the conversation. Alas, he didn't wish to face the rumbling this soon.
Whitebeard looked her up and down, then gave a nod. "She's got the eyes of a warrior."
Maki gave a small nod in return, still trying to take everything in. There he was—a man bigger than most of the Cursed Spirits she had seen—alive and real.
"She your woman?" Whitebeard gave a grin.
"What... Where did that come from?"
Whitebeard shrugged. "It just looked like it."
"If only. The guy's too obsessed with a girl's legs to think about the entire girl," Maki said with a condescending tone.
Whitebeard, at this, had his big mouth raised even higher like he heard something interesting. He wasn't the only one. Yuta could see Marco was the same.
How did that bird hear her from that far away? Yuta had no idea.
"Hey, don't say that. You're making me look like a pervert here."
"Are you not?"
"Of course not."
"Then who was the one staring at my butt back in—"
"Okay, alright… This is not the time to talk about this. And old man, I know what you're doing. Don't cause trouble for me." Yuta glared at Whitebeard, and as he thought, the grin on Whitebeard's face said everything.
"Gura ra ra ra ra ra... Didn't know the man who faced all three Admirals together and came out on top was a pervert..."
'Mother…' Yuta blamed no one but himself. He indeed acted much like a pervert, no matter how close he drew the line there.
"Oi, I wasn't staring, I was admiring. There's a difference. She's got a godly ass and legs to boot, and my assessment still stands," Yuta said with irritation.
"Idiot," Maki said on the side and turned her face away.
"Gura ra ra ra ra…" Seeing this, Whitebeard laughed even more, like he found something funny. Yuta didn't get what the old goat found so amusing.
"Did you hear what he said?"
"Never knew he was a pervert."
"Hentai..."
The other members of the Whitebeard Pirates, who were still keeping their distance, spoke up, making a vein pop up on his head.
DUM DUM...
A powerful rhythmic sound suddenly resounded, making the sea itself vibrate and bringing a sharp pressure in the air. The pressure was powerful enough to stop everyone's muttering.
Yuta's excitement unknowingly triggered the King's Engine. But he quickly stopped it. However, only two beats from his heart were enough to completely silence the area. The power was strong enough to rival the likes of Conqueror's Haki.
Thankfully, it was short and by no means at its full power.
Then Whitebeard looked back at Yuta. "That's not Conqueror's Haki but something similar. You used it in Marineford... It makes you strong." Whitebeard wasn't asking but stating this.
Upon no response from Yuta, he let the matter go and asked, "So, what now? You gonna disappear again?"
"I don't know. Last time I didn't have a choice. Marines were behind my ass. But for the time being, I intend to stay and cash in the favor. Now teach me Haki and the Tremor Fruit ability."
Whitebeard, at this, just huffed. He knew it would come to that. "Then you got no plan?"
"Not really," Yuta said.
Whitebeard grunted. "Oh?"
Whitebeard stood up slowly, towering over Yuta. "Alright then. I'll teach you both, but there's a condition."
"Condition? What condition?"
"Brat... be my son."
"What?" Maki turned to Yuta and he just sighed. He knew this might happen sooner or later.
xxx
Please Consider Donating Power Stones if you like the Chapter.
"Thank you Very Much for All Your Support"
If you want to read up to 20+ Chapters in advance, check my Patre on
Patreon.com/Kamidemond