Capítulo 322: Chapter 322: World Government Recruitment
(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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Faced with Whitebeard's threat, Garp hesitated for a long time before agreeing.
If Whitebeard truly unleashed his wrath, no one here could return alive except him.
Their mission was to stall Whitebeard, and that had almost been accomplished.
As agreed, Whitebeard retreated.
"Contact the folks at CP0 and tell them Whitebeard is back."
Garp's expression was still relatively relaxed.
He hadn't received any critical updates, meaning the mission hadn't completely failed, and Ace's safety was likely still secured.
However, Bogart, Garp's right-hand man, looked grave:
"We just tried, but we haven't been able to make contact."
Garp was taken aback, his heart sinking again.
After a long silence, he sighed:
"Forget it, Ace, you'll have to rely on your own luck."
****
Ten days later, Senju Tobirama returned to Marineford alone.
Waiting for him were the Five Elders, fuming with anger.
This time, the World Government had taken massive losses.
They had lost not only Marine personnel but also an elite team of Cipher Pol members, including a user of a rare Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit.
Only Senju Tobirama made it back; all other CP members were killed.
If the Five Elders hadn't learned the details through various channels, they might have suspected Tobirama of being a Revolutionary Army spy.
But this incident wasn't entirely his fault.
Tobirama's strategy had been sound, but they had overestimated the combat power of the CP organization.
They hadn't expected Uchiha Sasuke to possess the power to destroy an entire island instantly.
Ultimately, the World Government bore the responsibility for underestimating Sasuke.
When Aokiji had previously been defeated, they had simply assumed he was careless and that Sasuke's abilities countered him well.
They had rated Sasuke's strength at an Admiral candidate level which was short of an admiral.
Now, they realized they had grossly underestimated him; Sasuke was on par with the Four Emperors.
And what disturbed the Five Elders even more was the emergence of another threat: Uchiha Madara.
He had fought both Naruto and Sasuke single-handedly, engaging them in a grueling three-day battle.
Although he was slightly bested in the end, he hadn't been defeated outright.
And this, despite Naruto and Sasuke not being in peak condition.
According to reports, Uchiha Madara's Conqueror's Haki was nearly unmatched, even surpassing that of the renowned red-haired Shanks.
"Tobirama…"
"Is there any news about the Konoha Village that the Golden Fox Admiral mentioned? What exactly is there, and why are there so many formidable individuals coming from there all of a sudden?"
The blond Elder, barely containing his frustration, asked in a grave tone.
Tobirama thought for a moment before shaking his head:
"The Golden Fox Admiral has no navigational knowledge of Konoha's location. We have no leads."
"Should we capture the Golden Fox and use... more persuasive methods?" suggested the Elder wielding a sword, his voice cold.
"That's not appropriate," countered the Elder with the mustache.
"We've observed the Golden Fox. He's as steadfast in his beliefs as Garp. If he says he doesn't know, he truly doesn't."
"We can't afford to risk destabilizing our combat forces. Moving against the Golden Fox could unsettle the entire Marine force."
Naruto had recently demonstrated his strength, gaining widespread support and solidifying his connection to Garp, making any action against him a risky move for the government.
"I agree; we shouldn't make a move against him. In fact, we should reward him," added the Elder with the white curls.
"Approve Sengoku's request and make him the fourth Admiral."
"As for Konoha, let the CP organization continue their investigation," the blond Elder replied coldly.
"That's easier said than done," Another Elder said.
"The CP organization is already stretched thin and lacks the resources to expand their reach across the seas."
The Elders fell silent, each aware of the limitations they faced.
But Senju Tobirama's eyes brightened.
The opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived.
"Respected Five Elders, I have a suggestion."
The Elders turned to him.
"Why don't we initiate a worldwide recruitment?"
****
A few days later, a series of major events shook the entire world.
News of Sasuke's intense duel with Naruto and Uchiha Madara's feat of fighting two powerful opponents at once quickly spread.
Then, the Marines and the World Government made several announcements.
Uzumaki Naruto was officially appointed as the fourth Marine Admiral—Golden Fox Admiral!
Portgas D. Ace's bounty was updated to 840 million Berries!
Uchiha Sasuke's bounty was increased to 2.36 billion Berries!
Uchiha Madara's bounty was raised to 2.83 billion Berries!
But the most shocking development was the World Government's decision to open recruitment to powerful fighters worldwide, allowing them to become Marine officers directly.
Hearing the news, countless strong individuals across the world and the Grand Line flocked to Marineford.
Meanwhile, Senju Tobirama remained in the shadows, carefully selecting candidates for the CP organization.
The Five Elders were highly pleased.
The Marines' strength had increased substantially, and the CP organization had gained talented new members.
The only oddity was the names of some recruits—
Second Tsuchikage, Third Mizukage, and others with similar yet peculiar titles…
In the capital of the Seven Waters, Colt reviewed the latest news, feeling quite satisfied.
Senju Tobirama, ever the capable strategist, had executed a brilliant maneuver.
His scheming and command of power rivaled the highest levels.
With one strategic move against Whitebeard, everyone gained something.
Naruto and Sasuke enjoyed a fierce battle, showcasing their growth.
Kisame seized the opportunity to claim the title of Shichibukai, successfully taking control of Fish-Man Island.
Senju Tobirama further solidified his standing with the Five Elders and infiltrated the CP organization, gradually exerting his influence.
Even the Marines' strength had significantly increased, pleasing the World Government.
It was an operation with no losers.
Capítulo 323: Chapter 323: The world is only as vast as your ambition
(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)
****************
Grand Line, New World
Uchiha Sasuke sat lazily in his room, bandages wrapped around his body.
He held the latest newspaper in hand, the headlines detailing the Whitebeard Pirates' retaliation against the Marines.
His injuries were nearly healed, but Marco, the Whitebeard Pirates best doctor, insisted on a few more days of rest.
And he couldn't argue with that, so here he was.
The Whitebeard Pirates had suffered no losses during their revenge operation, and even Jinbei had been freed from the Marines custody.
But Sasuke knew that this was far from over.
Whitebeard wasn't someone to let things slide so easily. The Marines would feel his wrath soon enough.
They had come for the one thing he considered the most important after all.
Three days after the incident, Whitebeard had struck.
The Marine G-5 branch was swallowed by massive waves.
Even though Garp intervened, he couldn't completely counter the devastating power of the Gura-Gura no Mi.
Sengoku had anticipated the attack on that base, yet even so, they had lost it.
Though he didn't participate in the operation due to his injuries, Marco and the others had filled him in on every detail.
Yet, Sasuke's mind wasn't on that.
His thoughts, however, were preoccupied with one person: Uchiha Madara.
"Sigh"
"Why?" Sasuke muttered to himself, frustration evident in his voice.
"My power is even stronger than before, yet even when teaming up with Naruto, we couldn't defeat him."
His Sharingan glinted as his eyes filled with confusion.
The public narrative was that Madara had lost and that he and Naruto had triumphed with a slight edge.
But both he and Naruto knew the truth.
At the climax of their battle, Madara wasn't defeated—he was interrupted and called away by Colt.
He and Naruto had only been barely holding their ground against him.
Madara's Conqueror's Haki was terrifying, surpassing anything Sasuke had imagined.
His massive Susanoo, hundreds of meters tall, crackled with red lightning, each attack reverberating with catastrophic force.
Even Naruto's Kurama-enhanced power couldn't tip the scales to their side.
The gap between them felt insurmountable.
Unable to make sense of it, Sasuke reached for the transponder snail and called Colt.
In Water 7, Colt had been enjoying the sights with Nami and Robin when the call came in.
Listening to Sasuke's question, he responded after a brief pause.
"There's something I can't explain here. Wait for me a moment."
He turned to Nami and Robin. "You two go ahead and explore. I've got something to handle."
After they nodded, Colt vanished.
****
Back aboard the ship, Sasuke suddenly found himself pulled into Colt's space through the Rinnegan's power.
"It's been a while Sasuke." Colt greeted, but Sasuke just nodded absently.
"Feeling defeated?" Colt teased, noticing Sasuke's dejected demeanor.
For once, Sasuke didn't snap back.
Lowering his head, he muttered.
"I don't understand why the gap between us keeps growing."
Colt smirked but quickly turned serious.
"Do you know what sets you apart from Madara?"
Sasuke lifted his gaze, eager to hear the answer.
"You're too proud. Pride can be a strength, but it's also a weakness." Colt's voice was steady as he analyzed the situation.
"Madara came into this world later than you, yet he's adapted much faster. You're still clinging too tightly to your bloodline powers."
Colt continued, "It's important to develop your Sharingan and Rinnegan, but you underestimate the systems of this world. Compared to your bloodline, Haki offers infinite possibilities."
To demonstrate, Colt unleashed a burst of pure Conqueror's Haki in the space they were in.
Thunder crackled, and the overwhelming pressure made Sasuke's expression falter.
"Feel that?" Colt asked.
"I do," Sasuke replied, his face pale.
"Pure Conqueror's Haki… It can even disrupt my chakra flow."
Colt nodded.
"Madara has found the right path. He's not limiting himself to ocular techniques or chakra alone. For him, strength is strength—no matter where it comes from.
"But you and Naruto? You're still relying too much on chakra."
He paused before adding.
"Naruto can get away with it because of his physical prowess and Kurama. You, on the other hand, need to expand your horizons."
Sasuke was silent, reflecting on Colt's words.
After a moment, he voiced another concern.
"Even if I embrace this world's systems, my physical aptitude isn't on Naruto's level. And I can't match Madara in raw power. How can I close the gap?"
Colt considered this carefully before offering a solution.
"Focus on swordsmanship. Hone it, master it. It will give you a unique edge."
With that, Colt's eyes gleamed with red light, and he transferred his swordsmanship knowledge directly to Sasuke.
"This is a personal gift—no points required."
Sasuke skimmed through the knowledge, his eyes wide with astonishment.
"Is this really the pinnacle of swordsmanship?"
"It is," Colt replied confidently.
"The world is only as vast as your ambition."
Colt conveniently avoided mentioning that his mastery of swordsmanship had been accelerated by a system talent:
[Unity of Man and Sword: Unparalleled swordsmanship talent. The sword becomes an extension of oneself. Training efficiency increased fiftyfold.]
Without that, it might have taken him years to reach his current level.
But Sasuke had potential, and Colt genuinely believed in him.
"I understand now," Sasuke said, determination returning to his voice. "I'll train hard."
*Clap*
Colt clapped his hands together.
"Great! Now that I've helped you, how about returning the favor?"
Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
"What favor?"
Colt sighed dramatically.
"I'm a little short on funds. Building a ship isn't cheap, you know."
Relieved it was something minor, Sasuke asked, "How much?"
Colt grinned.
"Just 500 million berries."
Sasuke: "..."
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