Capítulo 311: Chapter 311: Shocking news!
(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)
****************
Sasuke looked at Whitebeard with a touch of surprise, the sake cup in his hand stopping mid-air.
"Old man, are you serious?"
He hadn't anticipated the situation would take this turn.
He understood what the old man meant.
He was planning to make Ace join his crew.
However, Sasuke shook his head slightly.
"You should just give up. With Ace's character, he'll never see himself as your son."
"He's a man who wants to be the Pirate King. And his dream isn't something easily changed…"
Whitebeard merely smiled, saying nothing, but the confidence in his eyes was unwavering.
While Sasuke was formidable, his lack of experience left gaps in understanding the loneliness that drove Ace's heart.
"You don't need to worry about how I'll do it," Whitebeard said, "Let's make it a bet. You'll join if Ace does,"
"Alright, I'll play along," Sasuke replied, momentarily setting aside his thoughts of contacting Colt.
"But I will not become your son!"
"Gurararara! It doesn't matter. Once you join my ship, you're family!"
Sasuke nodded slightly, ending the discussion for the time being.
When Ace awoke, Whitebeard pulled him aside. The two exchanged some quiet words, and though no one knew the exact details, Ace didn't raise the idea of leaving anymore.
Over the following week, wherever one looked, Ace could be seen launching sneak attacks on Whitebeard, yet every attempt ended in failure.
Initially, Marco and the other commanders felt indignant, ready to teach Ace a lesson, but soon... both the Whitebeard Pirates and Ace's Spade Pirates grew numb to it.
Each day, Ace would try at least a dozen ambushes.
It was as if he was bewitched.
One night, after another failed sneak attack that saw Ace sprawled on the deck, Whitebeard stepped forward, extending his arms.
"Be my son," he said. "Carry my name with you and roam these seas freely!"
Ace felt moved yet troubled, struggling with his own worries.
"I'm Portgas D. Ace," he said quietly, "but I also bear the name Gol D. Ace."
"I am the son of Gol D. Roger, the former Pirate King." Ace's gaze dropped, weighed down by his lineage.
"You and he were rivals... Can you really accept me?"
Whitebeard looked stunned for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.
"Gurararara! Why does that matter? No matter who gave birth to us, we are all just children of the sea."
"Ace," he continued, "I don't care about your past. If you become my son, you'll have only one identity from then on."
"And that's as my son, the son of Edward Newgate!"
With that, the Spade Pirates, led by their captain Ace, joined the Whitebeard Pirates.
Ace was named captain of the Second Division.
News of this alliance rippled across the seas, sending shockwaves throughout the world.
People were left astounded, some even speechless.
The powerful, up-and-coming Spade Pirates joining the ranks of the most fearsome Emperor marked a new era.
Instantly, the Whitebeard Pirates' strength soared, surpassing the other three Emperors.
****
At Marineford Headquarters, Sengoku's response to the news was instant. His fist clenched, and he groaned.
"Garp... everything always comes back to him! Now, the Whitebeard Pirates' influence has only grown stronger!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru, sighed.
"Perhaps it was my miscalculation. I thought the Spade Pirates would weaken Whitebeard, not join him."
"No, this is on all of us," Sengoku admitted, his voice heavy.
The Marines had been aware of the Spade Pirates' approach, especially with Ace's intent to challenge Whitebeard.
They'd even held high-level discussions about it.
At that time, Vice Admiral Tsuru had suggested leaving the pirates to fight it out.
Sengoku agreed, believing Sasuke's presence with Ace would cause enough trouble that, if Whitebeard showed any weakness, other Emperors like Kaido or Big Mom would swiftly exploit it.
In theory, it was a no-risk, all-gain situation.
But things hadn't gone according to plan.
Instead of clashing, the two forces had united to form an even greater power.
Now, for the Marines, Whitebeard's crew had become much more troublesome than before.
"Alright," Sengoku said, steadying his tone.
"What's done is done. Now, we have to focus on our future steps." He glanced at Vice Admiral Tsuru.
Tsuru nodded thoughtfully.
"Provoking conflict among the Emperors is still our best chance. Using pirates to weaken other pirates will save our own forces."
"But this time, we'll need CP's influence," she added.
****
In the New World, aboard the Red Force, Benn Beckman, his arm wrapped in bandages, finished reading the newspaper.
He said nothing, his expression a mirror of the surprise on Shanks' own face.
"Could this be fake?" Shanks murmured, unable to reconcile the news with what he knew of Sasuke's intentions at Sabaody.
Emperors had their own sources, and Shanks had known Sasuke was headed to Sabaody for his own purposes.
Now, seeing the report of Sasuke joining Whitebeard, Shanks was left questioning the news.
"Have you ever seen Morgans publish fake news?" Beckman scoffed.
"Even Ace's position as Second Division Captain is confirmed; it's real."
Shanks looked thoughtful.
"But why isn't there any word about Uchiha Madara? After all this time, he should have found Sasuke by now."
"Who knows?" Beckman shrugged. "Maybe he got lost again."
Meanwhile, Uchiha Madara continued his journey, undeterred and focused on tracking down Sasuke.
Capítulo 312: Chapter 312: Colt’s Guest
(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)
****************
The Whitebeard Pirates' ship was filled with a rare, carefree energy, and a celebratory atmosphere.
Every corner of the ship buzzed with the laughter, noise, and jubilant voices of pirates immersed in a new family bond.
Though most were familiar with danger and strife, this was an exceptional time.
The pirates of Whitebeard's crew were a surprisingly loyal, if reckless, family.
Despite having clashed with Ace just days before, many now welcomed him—and his Spade Pirates—as kin.
For Sasuke, however, this shift was unsettling.
Though he had reluctantly joined Whitebeard's forces, he never acknowledged the old man as his "father" in the way Ace had.
His pride and independent spirit kept him distanced from the crew's familial atmosphere.
His role on the ship was unique: a valuable ally, yet somewhat aloof, as if watching it all from the outside.
He could rely on only a select few—the Spade Pirates, Ace, and a few others who respected his strength.
Beyond that, even in this warm company, he kept a cold distance.
"Don't worry, Sasuke," Ace said with a reassuring grin, patting him on the shoulder.
"I'll make sure to track down that Dark-Dark Fruit for you." Ace's determination shone brightly; his loyalty had grown only stronger since Whitebeard had accepted him as a son.
To him, the family was now even more precious than his dream of becoming the Pirate King.
And helping Sasuke was the least he could do for a brother-in-arms.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, knowing Ace's intentions were sincere but feeling oddly unsettled by the thought of a fruit he had no desire for.
The Dark-Dark Fruit had been mentioned casually by Colt as a mere placeholder—an "excuse" to keep Sasuke's motives concealed.
However, Ace was now obsessed with finding it, seeing it as essential to Sasuke's journey.
"Ace, you can slow down a bit," Sasuke replied, hoping to temper his friend's eagerness.
"There's no need to rush. The fruit is supposedly somewhere within the Whitebeard pirates' vicinity, but it's just a rumor. It could be anywhere."
But Ace simply shook his head, smiling even more broadly.
"That makes it all the more important! And besides, we have nothing else pressing right now."
Whitebeard's hearty laugh boomed from behind them, and he clapped a massive hand on Ace's back.
"Go on then, lad! Take your team and search for it. Marco, help him out." Though he never forced Sasuke to accept him as a father, Whitebeard had grown fond of the prideful young man. And any son of his, whether in name or not, would have his unwavering support.
Ace departed with his team the next morning, his heart full of purpose.
Several other crews under Whitebeard's command joined the search, giving the mission an almost legendary status within the pirate community. But even as the search began, Sasuke was dealing with unexpected matters of his own.
****
Sasuke's Den-Den Mushi buzzed in his pocket. He raised it, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the voice on the other end.
"Second Hokage, shouldn't you be engrossed in your spy duties? What are you calling me for?" he asked in a slightly annoyed tone.
The voice on the other end, steely and cold, belonged to none other than Senju Tobirama, one of Konoha's oldest minds and one of the original masterminds behind the rift between Uchiha and Konoha.
Tobirama's tone was as humorless as Sasuke's irritation was apparent.
"You think I want this contact any more than you do, Uchiha?" Tobirama snorted, his tone as curt as always.
"Enough pleasantries. The World Government's top agents, the CP0, have targeted the Whitebeard Pirates. They're headed to the New World right now."
Sasuke's brows knit slightly, and a smirk tugged at his lips.
"A few CP0 agents? You expect me to be worried about them? At any rate, my allegiance here is only part of Colt's orders."
But Tobirama wasn't deterred by Sasuke's response.
"This is also your mission now," Tobirama continued, voice as unyielding as steel.
"You are to eliminate these CP0 agents and secure key positions for our allies. The World Government is dangerous; it has a huge amount of power built up over 800 years. We need to get more leverage."
Sasuke, already tired of Tobirama's cold logic, was ready to end the call—until the former Hokage spoke again.
"Each CP0 member counts as an S-rank mission, and the rewards will be more than enough to support you," Tobirama added slyly.
"Remember, Uchiha… you wish to meet your parents someday, yes? This could bring you a step closer."
Sasuke paused.
The thought of his parents made his chest tighten.
Could Tobirama truly have that kind of influence?
Still skeptical, he replied.
"Do you even have the authority for that? If Colt refuses, this promise means nothing."
Tobirama scoffed.
"I am Colt's elder. I have certain privileges."
Reluctantly, Sasuke agreed.
Tobirama knew just which strings to pull, and it irked him.
But this mission had potential.
"Fine," Sasuke muttered, accepting the assignment and setting down the Den-Den Mushi.
Tobirama's voice came through one last time before the line disconnected.
"Oh, by the way, the Marine leading the operation is someone you know well. Uzumaki Naruto."
Sasuke's eyes widened, a smirk slowly spreading across his face.
"Naruto… it's been a long time."
He pictured Naruto's face—the bright, determined eyes that never gave up.
If they met now, the clash would be monumental. He could hardly contain his eagerness.
Without missing a beat, he dialed another line, this one connecting to Colt.
****
A long pause ensued as the Den-Den Mushi finally connected.
Colt's familiar voice echoed through.
"Sasuke? What is it?"
"I've joined the Whitebeard Pirates," Sasuke began, "and Tobirama just assigned me to—"
"Hold that thought," Colt interrupted.
"I've got a guest at the moment. I'll contact you when I'm free."
Sasuke frowned, mildly annoyed. "A guest?"
Colt's tone shifted slightly as if he were smiling.
"Yes. An old friend of yours as well."
The line disconnected, leaving Sasuke slightly curious.
On Colt's end, he turned to face his guest—a tall man in a Marine Admiral's coat who wore a perpetual frown on his face.
"Aokiji, my friend. Let's talk."
At the sight of Aokiji, Robin, who had been quietly standing behind Colt, froze, memories flooding back from the darkest days of her past.
She remembered Ohara's destruction and her lost friend, Saul.
Aokiji had been there, too, embodying her deepest fear.
Robin's legs trembled, her face paling as she tried to steel herself.
Colt noticed her discomfort but didn't react.
For now, his attention was solely on Aokiji.
The Admiral sat on an icicle he had conjured from the frozen sea around them, rising to eye level with Colt. His gaze was sharp but wary, noting the lack of panic in Colt's stance.
This wasn't a frightened guy, but someone who seemed prepared for his arrival.
The contrast between Colt's calm composure and Robin's silent terror was stark, especially with the looming presence of Aokiji's frozen sea trapping their ship in place.
Aokiji's eyes flickered to the Den-Den Mushi still lying on Colt's table.
"The person on the other end of that call… that was Uchiha Sasuke, wasn't it?"
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