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A few days passed in the blink of an eye, and a single piece of news had spread like wildfire across the seas:
[Shin was going to level the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.]
No one knew if the rumor was true or false. Most dismissed it as a ridiculous fabrication. Only those who truly understood Shin believed it was real.
——————
"Pops, what do you think? Is this news for real??"
Marco asked Whitebeard.
"GURARARARA! Knowing Shin Uzumaki, this is most likely the real deal. It looks like he's serious—he's really going to make a move on Mary Geoise," Whitebeard said, his voice filled with absolute conviction.
"But I don't see how it could be. Even if Shin Uzumaki is as strong as they say, can he really take on the Five Elders??"
Marco found it hard to believe. The news was probably fake, deliberately spread by someone trying to paint a target on Shin's back.
'Maybe someone's trying to set him up...' Marco thought. He simply couldn't accept it.
"That's because you don't know Shin Uzumaki. He's a man of supreme confidence. If he's going to challenge the Five Elders and the Celestial Dragons, you can bet he'd announce it to the world."
Though Whitebeard hadn't interacted with Shin much, he had sailed the seas for decades. His judgment of character was razor-sharp.
The only time he'd been blind was with Blackbeard, whose ambition had been hidden so well that even Whitebeard hadn't seen it. That betrayal was perhaps the greatest stain on his legacy.
"Marco, gather the fleet. The Whitebeard Pirates are going to make a move. I owe Shin Uzumaki a great debt, and I'm not a man who likes to leave his debts unpaid." Whitebeard grabbed his naginata from nearby, his presence radiating an aura of absolute command.
If it weren't for Shin Uzumaki, he might have died at the Summit War. Not to mention dealing with Blackbeard—if Shin hadn't taken down Kaido, how could they have dealt with him? In the end, it was Shin who had finished Blackbeard.
The debt was too great!!
Whitebeard felt uneasy letting it stand. He might be a pirate, but he was a man of honor who believed in repaying his debts.
"Alright, Pops." Marco didn't object. An order from his father was absolute. He'd charge into Marine Headquarters again if he had to.
Of course, this was far more dangerous than the war at Marineford, but Marco still didn't hesitate. Like his father, the pineapple-headed commander was a man who repaid his debts.
——————
At the same time, the Five Elders reacted swiftly. Whether the news was true or not, they had to prepare.
"Could Shin Uzumaki have found out we're planning to move against him?" Saint Shepherd Ju Peter asked with a frown.
"Secrets have a way of getting out. That's not important right now. The main issue is how to deal with Shin Uzumaki. Should we inform Imu-sama?"
Saint Marcus Mars shook his head.
"Why bother Imu-sama with this? Can't we handle a small matter like this ourselves?"
Saint Topman Warcury waved his hand dismissively. In his eyes, this wasn't something that required Imu's attention. It would only reflect poorly on their abilities.
"No, this matter must be reported to Imu-sama. Don't underestimate Shin Uzumaki. Besides, I have a feeling he won't be the only one making a move this time."
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn wore a grave expression. They weren't entirely confident even when facing Shin Uzumaki alone.
If others took this opportunity to cause chaos, the situation could spiral completely out of their control.
"I agree. I have a bad feeling about this—a sense of crisis. My gut has saved my life more than once in my youth. I believe this won't be as simple as it seems. We can be certain Shin Uzumaki is serious."
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro wiped his blade. The sword glinted with a cold, sinister light, its ominous aura palpable.
"You're all overthinking this. Have you forgotten our own strength?" Saint Topman Warcury said again.
He was supremely confident, looking down on Shin Uzumaki with a hint of disdain.
"In that case, since you're so confident, why don't you be the one to face him when he arrives?" Saint Marcus Mars shot back, glancing at the bearded one.
The Five Elders weren't always in perfect harmony. Though they maintained a united front, there were occasional disagreements.
Saint Topman Warcury's arrogance was rubbing him the wrong way. Did he really underestimate Shin Uzumaki so much? Had he forgotten his track record?
'Even Garp and Sengoku together were no match for Shin. Do you honestly think you're stronger than both of them? You probably couldn't even beat Garp alone...'
"This is not the time for internal conflict. Our focus should be on Shin Uzumaki," Saint Jaygarcia Saturn interjected.
"I will inform Imu-sama. The rest of you, make your arrangements." Saint Jaygarcia Saturn stood up and walked out.
The others ceased their bickering and went their separate ways to prepare. To face Shin Uzumaki, they would need to bring their full strength to bear.
And crucially, they might not be facing only him.
Their first move was to summon Akainu. As the Fleet Admiral they had put in power, he had no choice but to obey. Besides, the target was Shin—Akainu readily agreed.
Ryokugyu also headed straight for Mary Geoise. His eyes were bloodshot. He was going to get revenge for Fujitora. Fujitora had been completely crippled by Shin, unable to even stand.
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In the few days since the news broke, the entire world was in an uproar. Some believed it, others didn't.
But without a doubt, all eyes were on the Holy Land of Mary Geoise and Shin's Kuja Pirates, waiting to see what he would do next. They also watched the movements of the Five Elders and the Marines. Some even called Shin a hero for daring to openly challenge the Holy Land, for vowing to destroy it.
Of course, many were just eager for a good show.
Many pirates hoped Shin would be defeated. Otherwise, the pirates of the New World would never be able to breathe freely.
"The impact is significant enough. It's time to set off." Shin looked at the newspaper.
The ripples he had caused were already massive. He was quite satisfied. Now, it was time for him to make his move. If he didn't, he'd be seen as all talk and no action, a laughingstock for the ages.
"Don't you think we've stirred up too much trouble? It feels a little dangerous," Nami asked Shin.
Seeing the "I'm scared" expression on Nami's face, Shin knew she was getting cold feet. She really lacked courage.
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