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Inside the office, the words spoken left both Sengoku and Garp wide-eyed with shock. The sudden news struck them so hard that neither could react immediately.
"That guy Sakazuki..."
"He actually lost to Blackbeard?!"
Garp's voice trembled with disbelief. Despite their disagreements, he knew very well that among the younger generation, Sakazuki's strength was undoubtedly top-tier.
Back when Arashi was still in Impel Down, Sakazuki had been the strongest of the three Admirals.
For someone of that level to defect from the Marines was shocking enough—but to lose in the race for captaincy? That was even more staggering.
"It all happened the day Sakazuki hijacked the Returner, rescued Marshall D. Teach and his crew," Arashi said calmly. "They found an uninhabited island to use as the battleground."
He had just gone through the report, so the memory was still vivid. Yet deep down, he wasn't surprised.
"We don't know the exact details of the battle. But from what pirates in the New World have said after encountering that group—"
"Sakazuki was defeated."
"Some even claimed they saw the former Marine Admiral wrapped in bandages, heavily injured, silently following behind Marshall D. Teach."
Arashi's voice dropped to a grave tone.
Sengoku was reading the same report, and the more he read, the heavier his expression became.
"To be able to defeat Sakazuki... Marshall D. Teach's strength is not to be underestimated," Garp muttered.
It was something few people could have predicted. During the Summit War, Blackbeard's crew hadn't performed particularly well.
The most significant moment was when he infiltrated Impel Down and released a number of world-class criminals.
After that came his brief clash with Arashi and Whitebeard. But even then, Blackbeard had clearly been on the defensive.
He barely fought back before being forced to retreat. No one had expected him to rise to such prominence later.
"And it's more than just defeating Sakazuki," Sengoku added gravely. "Marshall D. Teach has done a lot since escaping from Marineford and entering the New World."
"He's already brought three pirate fleets of a thousand men under his command—and now he's declared war on the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates."
"His power is expanding rapidly." Sengoku gently set the file down, his expression stern. Arashi remained calm and spoke slowly.
"I've never underestimated that man. He possesses one of the most terrifying abilities in the world—practically a natural enemy to all Devil Fruit users."
"Even someone like former Admiral Sakazuki is no exception. More importantly, his ambition, and the way he hides it behind a cautious nature, is far more dangerous."
After a pause, he sighed. "Perhaps he'll become the Marines' greatest enemy in the future."
This wasn't said lightly. As the central antagonist of the original story—one of the ultimate villains—Marshall D. Teach deserved serious consideration.
"Looks like you'll have quite a lot to deal with after taking over," Sengoku said, shaking his head.
It was easy to imagine the chaos already boiling in the New World. War and upheaval were inevitable.
"Well, those are things for later. One problem at a time," Arashi replied with a smile.
At his words, Sengoku and Garp exchanged a look—then both laughed heartily.
"Hahahahaha! No matter what happens, we believe in your ability to handle it!" Sengoku said warmly. "If even you can't deal with it, then no one else can."
Arashi simply gave a small smile and didn't reply. He returned to the files on his desk and casually jotted down his decisions.
Sengoku stood nearby and clearly saw what he wrote in the section for former Admiral Sakazuki: "Classified as defector. Issue bounty. Amount to be discussed."
Just one sentence, but it sealed the fate of a former Admiral. The moment this order was issued, it would set off ripples across the world.
This was the power of authority. Without lifting a finger, a few words—just a pen stroke—could decide matters of global consequence.
Power was, in its own way, a strength. And sometimes, it could be even more overwhelming than physical might.
As evening approached, Arashi's workday came to an end.
Just then, a young Marine burst through the door, clearly in a rush. When he saw the three men in the office, he froze nervously.
"Vice Admiral Garp! Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Admiral Arashi!"
He greeted each respectfully. Then, after a moment's hesitation, he turned to Arashi and bowed.
"Whitebeard has regained consciousness after treatment. He's currently being held in the headquarters prison!"
At those words, Arashi's eyes flickered. Sengoku and Garp exchanged glances, their faces showing surprise.
"He survived? That's hard to believe. With injuries that severe, he still managed to pull through?"
"That little girl's rejuvenation ability helped him a lot," they both sighed.
During the Summit War, everyone had witnessed Jewelry Bonney's mysterious ability. In later historical records, she was noted for that powerful contribution.
Without Whitebeard's brief return to his youth, the war would likely have ended much sooner.
"Shall we go see him?"
"He is an old friend, after all," Sengoku said.
Garp was momentarily stunned, then nodded silently. Arashi also stood and stretched lazily.
"Sure, let's go see him," he said with a smile. "I imagine his emotions must be complicated right now."
Drip.
A water droplet fell through a crack in the ceiling, making a soft noise.
The rain from earlier in the day, combined with post-war repairs not yet reaching this area, had left the prison in a dilapidated state.
Walls were cracked, some cells had collapsed during the war, and a few captured pirates had managed to escape.
Now, very few new prisoners were held here. The members of the Whitebeard Pirates had all been transferred to Impel Down after the battle.
"That guy's huge! Is he even human? He's got flames burning behind his head!"
"Too bad he's wearing a mask—we can't see his face clearly. I heard he's Admiral Arashi's subordinate."
"If he's the one guarding Whitebeard, then he must be really strong."
The Marines whispered as a tall figure passed. He wore a colonel's insignia, a long sword at his waist, and a fox mask covering his face.
Clack.
His wooden clogs stepped into a puddle, making a clear sound.
The masked man soon arrived at the cell holding Whitebeard. His eyes—cold and sharp—locked onto the figure inside.
There sat a massive man, covered in bandages. His face was bruised and swollen. Fresh scabs lined his forehead and temples.
Sensing someone's presence, Whitebeard slowly raised his head and looked at the tall figure before him.
At first glance, a look of admiration appeared on his face.
"The Marines have guys like you?"
Six meters tall, flames flickering behind him, and eyes as cold and sharp as a sword master—he was clearly a top-tier swordsman.
"You're not someone to underestimate. Just how many more monsters are you guys hiding?" Whitebeard asked with a smile.
But the man remained silent. He simply stared, his gaze slowly scanning Whitebeard, as if studying him closely.
"What are you looking at? I'm clearly in no shape for a prison break!" Whitebeard laughed heartily.
He gave a small shake, causing the seastone shackles on his wrists and ankles to rattle loudly.
"But I must say—your eyes look familiar, Marine. You remind me of someone I once knew."
"Have we met before?" Whitebeard asked, curiosity in his tone. Those eyes did seem strangely familiar. He felt like he had seen them many times before.
Suddenly, the man's right hand moved, tossing over a jug of sake. Whitebeard looked surprised, but caught it quickly.
"What's this about?" he asked with amusement. In a prison like this, he never expected to get a drink.
At that moment, the tall man finally spoke his first words since arriving.
"Nice to see you, Newgate."
Whitebeard's pupils contracted sharply. He stared intently at the man before him.
"You are—?!"
The man raised his hand and slowly removed his mask. Beneath it was a face both familiar and unfamiliar, bearing a faint smile.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it? You've probably forgotten about me by now."
A storm of emotions flooded Whitebeard's heart—shock, disbelief, astonishment. He trembled.
"No... No way!! You're still alive?!" Whitebeard shouted.
His eyes locked onto the man whose appearance had changed drastically, refusing to believe it was real. But despite the differences, that face—he recognized it.
"Alive? Well, I suppose you could say that. But it's not quite the same as living," the man said with a mysterious smile.
Strictly speaking, he was no longer fully human—more of an artificial being. Yet unlike the others from the facility, he still retained his own will.
"I appeared on the battlefield," the man continued softly. "From a distance... I watched your battle with Arashi. You had a worthy exit, Newgate."
Whitebeard's pupils shook. He clenched his fists, the chains on his body rattling with tension. After a long silence, he finally whispered a name.
"Kozuki Oden!!!"
The figure standing before him—who else could it be but Kozuki Oden, the man he once knew so well? For a moment, even Whitebeard was lost in a daze.
Though the man's build, face, and even race had changed, there was still something unmistakably familiar in that face.
It was that lingering trace of the past that allowed him to recognize Oden at a glance.
In an instant, a stream of memories flooded his mind—the time they passed through Wano, Oden joining the crew, marrying aboard the ship, and even having children.
"Gurararara! To think I'd get to see you again in this life, Oden! Everyone thought you were dead!"
Whitebeard laughed, his voice tinged with emotion.
"I thought I was a goner back then too," Oden replied with a faint smile.
Their gazes met, and in the next second, they both broke into bright, hearty laughter.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Gurararara!"
Their laughter echoed through the empty prison, shaking the ceiling above and sending dust tumbling down.
"Seeing you again really takes me back to the joys of my youth," Whitebeard said, filled with nostalgia.
He yanked off the lid of his sake jug and took several large gulps. Oden said nothing, simply lifting his own jug and drinking deeply.
"You've changed a lot," Whitebeard said in a low voice.
He studied the man in front of him. If they hadn't been so familiar with each other, he might never have believed this was the same Kozuki Oden.
It wasn't just his appearance—his personality had changed too.
"People have to grow," Oden replied calmly.
Whitebeard fell silent. He'd heard of what had happened in Wano. Clearly, after that cataclysmic event, Oden had survived through some twist of fate.
He hadn't died but had instead vanished into obscurity, hiding in a corner of the world.
"Was it the Marines who saved you?" Whitebeard asked quietly, eyeing Oden's uniform.
"You could say that. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be standing before you now," Oden answered with a smile.
Strictly speaking, his years with the Marines had been peaceful.
Yet, from time to time, he would gaze in the direction of Wano with longing, wondering what was happening there. But his survival had come at a cost.
To walk this world once more, he had given up his freedom.
"That brat's really full of surprises," Whitebeard muttered.
He could sense something was different—Oden's power had grown, and he was now surrounded by formidable allies.
"Heh… but I didn't come here to talk about all that," Oden said with a gentle smile, raising his sake jug. "I'm just grateful I able to see you again."
Whitebeard smiled as well. The two men tilted their heads back and drank once more. Neither of them spoke of Wano again.
Instead, they began reminiscing about the joyful days they spent together on the ship. Time slipped by unnoticed. No one knew how long they sat there.
When their jugs were finally empty, silence fell between them.
Drip.
The sound of rainwater echoed through the prison. After a while—
"Guess this is goodbye, Newgate," Oden said softly. "It was a joy to have known you in this life."
"You're alive… and that's all that matters," Whitebeard said with a smile.
At last, Oden turned and left. Whitebeard sat alone in the cell, his smile fading. Silence returned.
The two had shared a truly joyous chapter of life—brothers in all but blood. Oden had even been his most trusted Second Division Commander.
But in that fateful clash with Roger, Oden had been "borrowed" and never returned.
After that, their paths never crossed again—until the news came: Kaido had conquered Wano.
Yet by then, Whitebeard had no reason to intervene. Time moved on, and now, after all these years, they met once more.
"Do I regret not avenging him back then?" Whitebeard murmured. "Maybe… or maybe not."
To see someone you thought long dead appear again—that kind of shock couldn't be put into words. Old memories surged forth in an endless tide.
Whitebeard sat there, stunned and silent. After some time, footsteps echoed outside the cell. Urgent, numerous.
Three figures came into view. Whitebeard looked up. The three stood there quietly, gazing at him.
"It's been decades since we had a proper chat, Whitebeard," Sengoku said at last.
"Gurararara! There's nothing for us to talk about, Sengoku!" Whitebeard laughed.
"Watching old enemies fade away… it stirs a strange sadness," Sengoku sighed.
"Every man has his curtain call," Whitebeard said with a smile, turning his gaze to Garp. "Even heroes turn into gray-haired old geezers!"
He laughed again. "We were glorious once—that's all that matters."
At that, Sengoku and Garp both smiled.
"You're right! Whether it's you, or us two old fossils, we once shined—that's enough!"
Then Garp called out loudly, "Arashi! Bring the sake!"
Arashi stepped forward with a grin and placed a jug on the ground.
"Looks like we've got quite a bit of booze today!" Whitebeard laughed.
Sengoku and Garp sat down opposite him. The three old warriors raised their cups, and Arashi quietly poured the sake, never interrupting their talk.
He knew very well—this was a day when old enemies let go of hatred and embraced the mutual respect that had once bound them.
Sitting cross-legged, they became friends once more.
There's a saying: An enemy knows you better than your friend ever could.
"Gurararara!"
"The future Fleet Admiral himself, the strongest man in the world—pouring my drinks today? What an experience!" Whitebeard laughed, glancing at Arashi.
"Today is a gathering for you retired legends," Arashi replied with a small smile.
"Retired, huh?" Whitebeard paused, then burst into laughter again.
The three ignored Arashi from then on, diving into memories of their past battles, trading stories and old glory.
A Fleet Admiral. A Hero of the Marines. The World's Strongest Man. Now, they were just three old men, bragging about their youth.
"That time, which one of you did I punch in the eye? Swelled up for days, didn't it? Gurararara!"
Whitebeard roared with laughter. Garp and Sengoku exchanged a glance, each pointing at the other.
"Him!"
Neither would admit it was them. Arashi stood to the side, laughing along quietly.
The party was in full swing when suddenly, Whitebeard turned his head sharply and called out: "Arashi! What do you plan to do with Ace?"
Arashi's eyes narrowed slightly. "To me… that's a tough question to answer."
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