After having a couple more drinks, Naruto got up to leave.
Just before he pushed the door open, Shakky suddenly spoke.
"I thought you would ask about Ray-san's plans."
"Old folks should retire peacefully in the countryside. Leave the life-risking stuff to us young people."
Naruto didn't even turn his head, just waved his hand lightly.
"Haha, I'll pass that on to Ray-san."
Shakky was also amused by Naruto's words and laughed.
Both of them knew that Rayleigh couldn't appear on the upcoming battlefield.
Because of his identity as Roger's right-hand man, if he appeared, it would only further escalate the scale of the war and drag in more people who didn't need to get involved.
They would come to Marineford for Rayleigh alone.
And the Marines and the World Government naturally wouldn't just stand by and watch.
In the end, only more people would die, whether pirates or Marines.
Rayleigh's peaceful life in his later years would also be shattered.
And the chances of Luffy, Ace, and the others surviving in an even more intense battlefield would be even lower.
That was the real reason.
"Oh, and be careful."
As Naruto left the bar, Shakky's last words were these.
She didn't specify what to be careful of, and Naruto didn't ask.
What else could it be? Probably just the possible ambushes set up in Impel Down.
But Shakky knew she couldn't stop Naruto's actions.
Naruto knew it too.
Ace's capture likely wasn't just Blackbeard's doing, it might also be related to his own actions at Mary Geoise.
So, the World Government's real target might not be Ace, but him.
Ace was just being used as a pretext.
If he didn't show up to settle this, more people would be targeted, especially Hancock. Even the entire Amazon Lily could become a target to threaten Naruto.
And Stussy too.
Although her position in the World Government seemed secure, Naruto knew that because of Dr. Vegapunk, Stussy was actually under constant close watch.
If the World Government traced the connection between him and Dr. Vegapunk, Stussy might also be implicated.
In that case, he didn't mind directly confronting the World Government's ambush head-on.
Only by hurting them badly, making them realize the consequences of provoking him, would they show some restraint.
-As for completely overthrowing the World Government and destroying the eight-hundred-year-old rule...
Naruto had thought about it.
But if he destroyed the World Government now, the seas would still fall into massive turmoil.
Although reluctant to admit it, the existence of the World Government did make some chaotic forces restrain themselves.
Even if they were only trying to maintain their own rule.
Until the Revolutionary Army, or some other force, was capable of fully taking over the responsibility of managing the world's order, the World Government's existence was still necessary.
Once order is destroyed, rebuilding it is extremely difficult.
Just as Naruto was pondering such grand matters as the world's future development while walking towards the meeting point, a commotion suddenly came from afar.
Thud!
A large man was sent flying and landed right in front of Naruto.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Naruto poked the giant who had two small wings on his back. The other's dazed eyes quickly focused, and his consciousness cleared.
"So strong!"
The guy said this and immediately tried to get up and rush back, but found he couldn't move.
Looking back, a hand was pressed on his shoulder.
And he, Urouge, known as the [Mad Monk], was held in place, unable to move.
No matter how hard he tried, the hand pressing his shoulder didn't budge an inch.
"You... who are you...?"
The Mad Monk Urouge knew the person before him was no ordinary figure and turned around accordingly.
But when Naruto's features entered his view, the big man's speech suddenly became hesitant.
On Naruto's side, looking at the other party's slightly taller frame, he extended his Observation Haki towards the direction the guy came from.
Upon seeing the situation, he couldn't help but hold his forehead.
'Didn't I tell them to go shopping? How did they end up in a fight?'
"Could you tell me what's happening over there?"
Naruto asked Urouge in a very friendly tone.
…
On the other side.
With the pocket money from their 'parent', Konohamaru and Karin, each riding a bubble bicycle, started touring the island.
As for Sasuke, he hadn't forgotten Naruto's instructions and began purchasing various supplies.
Fresh water was plentiful here. He didn't even need to go far, as any restaurant could sell him some.
The three were thus wandering the streets quite far apart from each other.
This wasn't the lawless area, so public order was relatively good, and it was a favorite spot for merchants and tourists.
Konohamaru was one thing, but Karin, despite having the ability to fly, was still thoroughly enjoying riding the floating bicycles.
The two even started racing on the streets.
The area they chose wasn't very crowded, and the bubble bicycles could float at a certain height, so they weren't worried about hitting people.
-At least, that's what they thought before being attacked.
Boom!
A giant metal pillar was sent flying straight towards Konohamaru.
Seeing this, Konohamaru moved to dodge, but just as he swiftly evaded, several cannonballs also flew over.
'Cannonballs?'
Before he could wonder, Konohamaru prepared to use Ninjutsu to block the obvious cannonballs.
But before he could act, Karin had already used wind blades to slice the cannonballs in half, causing several bursts of sparks in the air.
Seeing his companion attacked, Sasuke forgot about shopping and rushed over with a few quick movements.
"What happened? Enemies?"
Hearing this, Karin just shook her head and pointed in another direction.
"The attack came from over there."
Before she finished speaking, a large hand composed of countless metal objects swung casually towards them.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Haki and flames covered his hand, and he threw a punch.
The metal arm was instantly shattered by the powerful impact. Then, the flames burned the lifeless metal objects. Before the hand's owner could use them again, they were completely reduced to a pile of debris.
"Bastard! Who's there?!"
Only then did the people fighting in the center realize outsiders had intervened.
Eustass Kid, user of the Jiki Jiki no Mi and the owner of the large hand, immediately flew into a rage upon seeing his created weapon instantly destroyed. (T/N: Magnet-Magnet Fruit)
He was that kind of hot-tempered guy.
Not only had he boasted about killing all who mocked his goals, but he often attacked others over minor issues... or even for no reason at all.
If not for his good brother, [Massacre Soldier] Killer, who often dissuaded him in time, he might have already been surrounded and killed for offending too many people.
But today was similar, as Killer couldn't restrain his captain, leading to a conflict with several other captains of the [Worst Generation].
Hence the current big fight.
Opposing Kid were Urouge, captain of the [Fallen Monk Pirates], and Capone Bege, captain of the [Fire Tank Pirates].
"How rude. It seems your attack dragged others into this, Kid. This is also a kind of cause and effect."
On the other side, Bege, who was pointing his hands at Kid and Urouge, snorted with displeased look.
"Who cares who it is! A few more don't matter! I have the numbers advantage here!"
On his eyes, abdomen, and other parts, openings and gunports had opened up like a castle.
Dozens of miniaturized but fully armed mafia members were aiming their weapons outside.
Those cannonballs returned to normal size immediately after leaving the area covered by Capone Bege's body.
This was his ability from the [Shiro Shiro no Mi], allowing him to turn his body into his family's castle, acting as a fortress to carry all his mafia family members into battle. (T/N: Castle-Castle Fruit.)