Capítulo 304: Chapter 304: Surrender
(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
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Since a certain incident long ago, Uchiha Madara had developed an unusual sensitivity. (Cough, black Zetsu, cough)
Anyone attempting to sneak up behind him triggered an almost allergic reaction from him.
It was now an instinctive reaction from him, a hardened reflex from countless battles.
When Doflamingo attempted to attack him from behind with his threads, it unearthed memories that were best left forgotten.
'Tsk, bastard!'
If it weren't for Colt's clear instructions, Madara might have already ended the man without hesitation.
Doflamingo now lay sprawled on the ground, staring up at the vast, cloudless sky above him.
His arrogance was shattered; the usual grin had long since faded from his face.
Even if he pushed his Devil Fruit powers to their fullest, it wouldn't have changed the outcome.
For years, he had taken pride in his Shichibukai status, and relished his alliance with Kaido.
It had been enough to make even the Four Emperors acknowledge him in their own ways.
Yet today, that confidence felt like an illusion, ruthlessly torn apart by Madara's overwhelming power.
'From the perspective of the strong, I'm indeed nothing but a clown'
'Perhaps even Kaido sees me as nothing more than that,' he thought, a bitter smile crossing his lips.
The realization stung, but it was undeniable.
A flicker of defiance remained in him, though, and he spoke up, voice low but clear.
"I have one request," Doflamingo began, his tone carrying a thread of resignation.
"Kill me if you must, but spare my family. They're no threat to you. Plus, they had nothing to do with what I had done"
Madara's eyes narrowed slightly, a glimmer of something indecipherable in his gaze.
"Interesting… a shred of responsibility." It was rare for Madara to offer even the faintest hint of praise, but his voice was as cold as ever.
"But unfortunately for you, as long as you are an enemy, you're in no position to negotiate." He took a step closer, his shadow looming over Doflamingo.
"Surrender, and I may grant you a chance—to serve us."
Doflamingo's face registered a flash of surprise, his heart pounding.
"You're… not going to kill me?" he asked, unable to keep the curiosity from his tone.
Madara's gaze didn't waver.
"No. Someone else has made that decision. And now you have a glimmer of a chance,"
For the first time since his defeat, Doflamingo felt a hint of hope reignite.
"Is it that person who was on the den-den mushi? I don't understand. Your strength rivals the Four Emperors. Why would you submit to anyone? I can feel your Haki…"
Haki was about willpower, and Madara clearly had that aura of conquest, how could he serve under anyone then?
"Silence!" Madara's voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.
"I, Uchiha Madara, have never had to explain myself to anyone. Why would I explain anything to you, now?" His stare hardened, brimming with power.
"You have only one option: fulfill the tasks I assign, or I'll send you to the Pure Land along with your family."
Doflamingo's expression grew grim.
His mind raced, absorbing the gravity of the situation.
Was this the price for daring to oppose Madara, even briefly?
His thoughts lingered on Kaido.
Had he not once been a pawn, a mere tool for Kaido's ambitions?
Becoming a puppet for Madara's interests didn't seem so different…
Reluctantly, he nodded, murmuring his agreement.
"I agree…"
With that simple word, the lives of the Donquixote Family were spared.
Though every member was badly injured, their survival was certain under Madara's command. Given enough time, they would recover.
"Good. You'll have tasks soon enough," Madara said, giving Doflamingo a final, pointed look before he turned to leave.
The apology banquet Doflamingo had prepared for Madara went unused and he only needed to agree it seemed.
Without sparing a glance, Madara departed, his next move already clear.
With the Donquixote Family's intelligence network at his disposal, he acquired the information he needed and left without hesitation.
The brief skirmish with Doflamingo had barely scratched the surface of his interest; only the Sasuke matter lingered in his mind.
Watching Madara's figure vanish in the distance, Doflamingo laughed bitterly to himself.
"Fufufu… I wonder who's really pulling the strings behind him," he muttered, eyeing the ruins of his palace.
His defeat was complete, yet he couldn't help feeling a strange thrill.
Power of that caliber… it was frightening but undeniably captivating.
A while later, his cadres woke up.
"Doffy, are we really going to do things for them?" Diamante asked cautiously.
He'd sensed the lethal danger surrounding Madara and his hidden boss; any misstep could spell doom for the entire Donquixote Family.
"Do we really have a choice?" Doflamingo replied with a strained smile.
"Besides, it's not every day that we get the chance to get acquainted with a power on this level. In the coming chaotic times, that's the only way to secure our place."
The faint sound of a den-den mushi echoed, breaking the moment's silence.
Doflamingo raised an eyebrow and answered with his usual confidence.
"Well, well… what an unexpected guest, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
****
At Marineford, Sengoku put down the receiver, his face grim.
The Marines had always kept close tabs on Doflamingo, knowing he was one of the most volatile Shichibukais.
When the reports of his clash with Madara came in, they couldn't ignore it.
Sengoku had hoped that Doflamingo would provide some information, though he wasn't expecting to hear much.
But Doflamingo's words confirmed Madara's overwhelming power, as it was enough to bring Doflamingo to his knees.
One thing stood out from their conversation—the name "Uchiha."
It struck a nerve, raising more questions about Madara's possible connection to Sasuke.
Seeking clarification, Sengoku placed a call to Naruto himself.
"Naruto, do you know Uchiha Madara?"
A crackle of static preceded Naruto's reply.
"Sorry, Grandpa Marshal, I was chasing a pirate. Uchiha Madara? He's… also from the Uchiha clan and can be considered Sasuke's elder and their relationship is complicated, to say the least."
Sengoku frowned, sensing that there was more to the story, but Naruto's tone suggested that he wouldn't give any further details.
"Is that so? I see," he murmured, though his thoughts were far from settled.
Uchiha… Uzumaki…
Just where did this Konoha Village emerge from?
The Marines' intelligence had attempted to locate this mysterious "Konoha Village," but no one had managed to find even a trace of it.
The village was as elusive as Laughtale itself, wrapped in layers of secrecy.
After some thought, Sengoku decided against placing a bounty on Madara; after all, he hadn't committed any acts of piracy.
However, Madara's name was quietly added to the Marine's watch list.
The potential threat that he posed was undeniable.
If he and Sasuke were to combine forces, their strength could potentially rival any of the Four Emperors.
"What's going on in these seas?" Sengoku muttered, a sense of foreboding creeping into his voice.
****
In the days that followed, rumors of Madara's encounter with Doflamingo spread like wildfire.
Despite the Marines' efforts to keep the information under wraps, the intelligence broker Morgans caught wind of the story and wasted no time publishing it.
Madara's name then resonated across the seas, carrying an aura of fear and mystery.
Capítulo 305: Chapter 305: Madara vs Red-Haired Shanks
(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
****************
On the ship of the Spades Pirates.
After entering the New World, the Spades Pirates were cruising smoothly.
They encountered only a few minor pirates and some routine sea storms, managing to reach the waters near the Whitebeard Pirates without major trouble.
Through a few notable battles led by Sasuke and Ace, the reputation of the Spades Pirates had spread far and wide.
People soon caught wind of Ace's goal to challenge Whitebeard, and many were eager to see the outcome.
Every so often, ambitious newcomers would try their luck in these territories.
Feeling the pressure of the upcoming battle, the crew trained rigorously.
Even their usual festive banquets became less frequent.
Under Sasuke's strict guidance, Ace's skills were far sharper than in the past; he could now wield Conqueror's Haki with greater control. Yet, Sasuke knew it wasn't enough.
After all, they were about to face Whitebeard—the so-called strongest man in the world.
But Sasuke's thoughts soon wandered elsewhere.
"Shocking news! Another Uchiha Appears and attacks Warlord Doflamingo!"
The headline and the accompanying image captured Sasuke's attention.
The figure in the red armor was unforgettable. It was the same man who once nearly killed him: his ancestor—Uchiha Madara.
"Is this Colt's idea of a punishment?" Sasuke muttered, his grip on the newspaper tightening.
For the first time in a long while, a sense of urgency stirred within him. He knew that the current Madara had lost the Six Paths' powers and was at the same level as those with the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
No—Madara even had the Rinnegan, a considerable edge over most.
But it was still Madara…
Despite that, Sasuke's pride refused to let him feel intimidated. His blood boiled at the thought of a showdown between the two of them.
"Then come. Let's see who the strongest Uchiha truly is!" His eyes blazed with fighting spirit as he gazed into the distance.
"Hey, Sasuke! I think my Mera-Mera no Mi powers have increased once again. Let's spar!" Ace's boisterous laughter from another part of the ship broke the intense mood.
"This idiot…" Sasuke muttered, though he couldn't help but crack a smile as he moved to meet him.
********
In a different part of the New World, Uchiha Madara stood atop the head of a colossal Sea King, speeding through the waters with ease.
'Did Doflamingo lie to me?'
Logically, he should have crossed paths with Sasuke by now.
But for reasons unknown, it seemed that he couldn't reach the place. He doubted if Doflamingo had lied to him.
But what he didn't know, was that he was just lost…
Years of experience in the shinobi world had given Madara sharp senses and excellent navigational instincts, yet the Grand Line was an entirely different beast without a permanent log pose to guide him. After some time, he finally spotted a small island and directed the Sea King toward it.
Meanwhile, on the island, a gathering of seasoned pirates noticed his approach.
"You feel that?" Beckman asked, taking a final puff of his cigar and setting down his food.
He clapped his hands clean and prepared to face the newcomer.
"Yeah, a powerful presence. Haki like that is hard to miss," Shanks replied with an intrigued smile.
"Alright, everyone! It looks like we have a visitor!"
"Or perhaps an enemy?" someone muttered, sparking laughter among the Red-Haired Pirates.
"Let's take a look. Who knows, we might make a new friend today!" Shanks said, brushing off the banter as he led the way.
Beckman cocked his gun, following close behind, with the rest of the crew eagerly tagging along.
When the two groups finally met, Madara's eyes narrowed as he took in Shanks' appearance.
"Red hair, huh? I hate red hair the most," he said with a scowl.
A flash of a woman's face crossed Madara's mind. His memories soured his mood further.
Shanks' welcoming smile faltered for a moment, unaccustomed to being disliked simply for his hair color.
"What's wrong with red hair? It's charismatic!" he replied, bemused.
Beckman chuckled under his breath, seeing his captain's unusual reaction.
Though Shanks often faced challenges, he rarely had someone take issue with something as trivial as his appearance.
Beckman spoke up, keeping a wary eye on Madara.
"You're Uchiha Madara, right? What brings you to our territory?"
He had researched Madara after the man's confrontation with Doflamingo and knew him to be an unpredictable force, powerful and undaunted.
Breaking into their domain so brazenly… was it an act of defiance?
Madara raised an eyebrow at Beckman, his voice dripping with disdain.
"And who are you to question me?"
Shanks' smile dropped, his gaze sharpening.
"Friend, it's one thing to insult me, but it's quite another to disrespect my crew, especially my right-hand man."
Shing! Shing! Shing!
In a flash, the Red-Haired Pirates drew their weapons, the weight of their presence pressing down on Madara.
The tension crackled in the air as each member fixed a steely gaze on the intruder.
Madara scoffed, arms crossed as he looked down upon them.
"Respect? And who are you supposed to be to deserve my respect?" He scanned them all with disdain, unimpressed by the display.
With basic knowledge of the world's hierarchy, Madara knew that the red-haired man before him was Shanks, one of the Four Emperors. But that meant little to him.
Despite his shorter stature compared to some of the Red-Haired Pirates, Madara's unyielding aura dominated the field.
"Fine, then if you don't show me respect, I'll see if you are deserving of that myself." Shanks' voice grew cold, his eyes flashing dangerously as the world's strongest Conqueror's Haki exploded from him. Red lightning streaked through the sky, locking onto Madara with an oppressive force.
But Madara's expression remained impassive. His eyes shifted to reveal a strange Mangekyō pattern as he unleashed his own Conqueror's Haki without restraint, enveloping everyone present within its crushing range.
Crack! Crack!
The fierce red lightning collided midair, darkening the skies as thunder rolled overhead. Even the powerful Red-Haired Pirates felt the weight, beads of sweat forming as they struggled against the immense pressure.
"Someone is actually holding his ground against the Captain's Haki... to this degree!"
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