Chapitre 118: Not Chaotic Enough
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"The walls on both sides have been breached, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
"I know!"
Sengoku took out his Den Den Mushi and said, "Tsuru, it's time to implement the plan."
From the beginning, Sengoku had never fully trusted Uchiha Kitaro. Allowing him to join this battle was partly a ploy—to let Uchiha Kitaro and the Whitebeard Pirates clash like a snipe and clam, leaving the Marines to reap the benefits and take down both threats.
However, Uchiha Kitaro's overwhelming strength had once again exceeded Sengoku's expectations.
He had nearly killed Whitebeard—no, not "nearly." The truth was, the young man had been on the verge of dealing a fatal blow, only to abruptly stop.
Was it because he sensed danger? Or was it as he claimed, that the Marines simply hadn't paid him enough?
It didn't matter now. The priority was to eliminate Whitebeard before dealing with that young man.
"All battleships and soldiers, listen up! Shift formations and execute Battle Plan #3 immediately. No mistakes are allowed! Once preparations are complete, we will move up Ace's execution!"
Whitebeard laughed, his booming voice echoing across the battlefield. "Gurararara! What are you scheming now, Sengoku?"
The Navy's sudden shift in strategy hadn't escaped Whitebeard's notice. As Sengoku's longtime rival, he understood the Fleet Admiral's mindset better than most.
Even though Uchiha Kitaro had shown tremendous power, Whitebeard knew Sengoku wouldn't place his trust in someone hostile to the World Government—even if that person wasn't a pirate.
He had been wary from the start.
---
Meanwhile, Garp sat down beside Ace on the execution platform.
"Grandpa..."
Sengoku frowned. "What are you doing here, Garp? Do you have objections to the plan?"
"No. The opponent is a pirate—there's nothing to pity about that..."
"Then why—"
"Shut up! What does it matter if I sit here? Even if I don't pity criminals, family is a different matter. What am I supposed to do now?"
"Ace, you little fool... Why didn't you live the way I told you to?"
Garp's body trembled as he spoke, his voice breaking. For the first time, he couldn't hold back his tears. He had once tried to guide Ace toward becoming a Marine, hoping to prevent a day like this, where a grandfather would be forced to witness his grandson's execution.
"Grandpa..."
Sengoku warned, "Garp, if you cause any trouble at this point, even I won't show mercy."
"Hmph! If you really felt that way, you'd have dealt with me long ago!"
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over the battlefield, followed by the sound of countless screams. A Marine warship plummeted from the sky like an anchor, crashing into the sea near the execution platform—the only area not frozen over.
Boom!
As the water erupted, a loud voice echoed from the fallen ship:
"Ace! I'm here to save you!"
"Luffy!!!"
Ace stared in disbelief. His younger brother had somehow made it to Marineford to rescue him.
Soon, many people emerged from the wreckage of the warship, most of them pirates. Among them were two familiar figures: former Warlord Crocodile and Fishman Jinbe, as well as Revolutionary Army officer Emporio Ivankov.
These names carried weight. All of them were infamous criminals who had been imprisoned in Impel Down.
"Garp! It's your family again!!!" Sengoku roared at Garp, who could only sit in stunned silence. If Uchiha Kitaro had been related to Garp, Sengoku might have already punched the Vice Admiral himself.
"Luffy!!!" Garp's frustration reached its peak. His head felt like it was about to explode. How could that foolish boy show up here of all places?
"Straw... Hat... Boy!!!"
Moria seethed with rage upon seeing the one responsible for his downfall. He was nearly foaming at the mouth.
Kizaru commented with a smirk, "Ah, looks like an annoying one joined in."
Aokiji frowned. "Things are getting messier by the minute."
Sengoku turned his attention to Jinbe. "So this is your answer, Jinbe?!"
Jinbe replied firmly, "Yes! I quit being a Warlord!"
He had only accepted the title to protect Fishman Island. But over the years, it became clear that it was Whitebeard—not the World Government—who had truly kept the island safe.
Now, with his dear brother Ace facing execution, Jinbe had no choice but to fight alongside Whitebeard and his crew, even if it meant betraying the government.
Suddenly, a figure loomed behind Whitebeard. It was Crocodile, his massive hook poised to strike.
"Crocodile is attacking Whitebeard!!"
The unexpected turn of events shocked both the Navy and the pirates.
"Old man!!!"
Whitebeard's crew erupted with worry.
"Long time no see, Whitebeard," Crocodile snarled as he launched his attack.
But before he could land the blow, Luffy appeared out of nowhere, kicking Crocodile's hook off course.
"What are you doing, Straw Hat?!" Crocodile yelled. "Our deal is done! Why protect Whitebeard?!"
"Is this guy really Whitebeard?" Luffy asked, pointing at the old man. "Then don't attack him! Ace really likes him!"
Whitebeard glanced at Crocodile. "Crocodile, huh? It's been a while. But you're too late. The title of 'World's Strongest Man' is no longer mine. Even if you kill me, you won't get the honor you're seeking."
Crocodile narrowed his eyes. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Whitebeard didn't answer. Instead, he looked up at the sky.
Everyone followed his gaze and noticed two figures hovering above the battlefield, observing the chaos.
"It's you!" Luffy recognized one of them instantly. His face lit up as he waved excitedly.
"Uchiha Kitaro! Thanks for sending me to Impel Down! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have gotten in there at all!"
---
The entire battlefield froze in shock after Luffy's shout.
What did he mean? Was Uchiha Kitaro involved in the Impel Down jailbreak?
Was it Uchiha Kitaro who sent Luffy into Impel Down?
If so, did that make Uchiha Kitaro the real mastermind behind the prison breakout?
Why would he do that? Wasn't he hired by the Navy?
Could it be that Uchiha Kitaro was playing an incredibly complex game?
Was this entire war part of his grand plan?
Speculation spread through the battlefield like wildfire.
Kitaro sighed, rubbing his forehead in exasperation. He already had a clear idea of what had happened at Impel Down.
"Report! Fleet Admiral Sengoku, we've re-established communication with Impel Down! The prison has been devastated—almost all the levels are in ruins, and a large number of prisoners have escaped! They've sent over an image of the culprit. Here it is."
A Navy communications officer handed Sengoku a photo.
Sengoku's face contorted with rage the moment he saw it. His blood pressure shot through the roof.
"Uchiha KITARO!!!"
For what felt like the hundredth time, Sengoku roared Kitaro's name, his voice hoarse and cracking from anger.
"Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first time. Do you have to shout so loud?" Kitaro complained, covering his ears as though the noise was the real problem.
"You need to explain yourself! You accepted the World Government's commission, yet you destroyed Impel Down! What's your endgame?!"
Kitaro raised his hands in mock surrender. "If I said I wasn't the one who destroyed Impel Down, would you believe me?"
"…"
The collective expression of disbelief on the battlefield made it clear: No one believed him.
"I'm serious! Why won't anyone trust me?"
To prove his innocence, Kitaro performed a single-handed seal, creating a Shadow Clone.
Poof!
An identical copy of Kitaro appeared beside him.
"What?!"
"There are two Uchiha Kitaros?!"
"Could he have a twin brother?!"
Kitaro gestured toward his clone. "This is a Shadow Clone. When you called my branch office, I had sent this clone to assist the Straw Hat kid. What it did afterward? I have no idea. My clones have minds of their own, after all…"
"I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!!!" the clone suddenly shouted.
'Damn!'
Kitaro punched his clone, sending it hurtling toward the ground. It dissipated into a puff of smoke mid-air.
Kitaro was fuming. That idiot! Did it think the battlefield wasn't chaotic enough already?
"What did that clone just say?!"
"It said it was going to be King of the Pirates!"
"Does that mean Uchiha Kitaro wants to be Pirate King? Is that why he destroyed Impel Down and freed those criminals?"
Kitaro waved his hands frantically. "No, no, no! That's not what I meant! My clone doesn't reflect my true thoughts at all!"
Shisui, watching from nearby, spoke up. "But Kitaro, don't Shadow Clones share your memories? Could this mean you do want to be the Pirate King, deep down?"
Kitaro shot him a death glare. "Not helping, my foolish little brother!"
He quickly regained his composure. "Absolutely not! I'm a legitimate businessman! I'd never dream of becoming a pirate. Never in this lifetime!"
Whitebeard, chuckling at the chaos, added fuel to the fire. "Gurararara! Who knows what the future holds, kid? If you ever turn pirate, I bet you'd make a fine Pirate King!"
"What?!"
"Whitebeard endorses Uchiha Kitaro as the next Pirate King?!"
"This is monumental news! The strongest man in the world just acknowledged him!"
Journalists across the battlefield furiously scribbled notes, preparing to break the story.
Kitaro threw up his hands in resignation. Forget it. Any attempt to clarify would only dig him deeper. Besides, they'd believe what they wanted anyway.
Shisui wasn't entirely wrong. Shadow Clones did reflect some of his desires.
And as Whitebeard had said, who could predict the future? Maybe one day, if he was in the right mood, he would consider piracy.
Luffy's voice interrupted his musings. "I'M the one who's going to be Pirate King!"
Whitebeard turned his attention to the boy. "Kid, that straw hat of yours… it looks just like the one Shanks used to wear."
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Uncle Shanks? He gave me this hat to take care of it for him!"
"You're here to save your brother?" Whitebeard asked, remembering Ace bragging about his younger brother.
"Of course!" Luffy declared with fiery determination.
Whitebeard smirked. "Then don't drag us down, kid. If you mess up, I won't let you off easy!"
"I'll do it my way! I'm going to save Ace myself!"
From a distance, Kizaru spoke to Sengoku. "Fleet Admiral, should we just sentence all of them to death?"
"Without a doubt!" Sengoku replied firmly.
With that, the brief interlude ended, and the battle erupted once more.
Pirates stormed the bay, determined to rescue Ace. Marines counterattacked, doing everything to prevent them from advancing. Lives were lost in the chaos of swords, bullets, and cannon fire.
Kitaro observed the scene, unaffected. He had seen this too many times before. In the past, the loss of life might have affected him.
But after living through the Third Shinobi World War, his heart had hardened. Now, only the lives of those he cared for truly mattered.
Suddenly, Kitaro felt a gaze locked onto him. His eyes shifted downward, meeting the burning stare of Crocodile.
"Courage is admirable, but don't let ignorance blind you," Kitaro warned coldly. "I'm not as forgiving as Whitebeard, Crocodile."
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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone