No one knew exactly what Kaido had experienced after being taken away by Naruto.
Anyway, when everyone saw the human-form Kaido again after about ten minutes, this explosive-tempered guy, covered in bumps and bruises, had finally calmed down.
Kaido, who had come alone, exchanged a glance with Big Mom, who was surrounded by her many children. They snorted at each other and turned their heads away.
—If this action weren't performed by two old pirates, both seven or eight meters tall with fierce faces, it might have even seemed like a 'bickering couple' moment.
"Naruto-sama, how exactly did you do it?"
Everyone was curious, but none more so than Kaido's own daughter, Yamato.
After all, among those present, she should be the one who knew Kaido best.
Even Big Mom couldn't compare in that regard… a daughter knows her father best, after all.
"Ahaha… It was actually pretty simple."
Naruto scratched his head, having nothing to hide.
"I told him I knew where to find [Joy Boy]."
Perhaps others didn't know, but Naruto had heard Kaido himself say, more than once during their interactions, that his dream was to completely destroy the old world order and then be killed by that so-called Joy Boy.
Therefore, using this as bait was incredibly effective on Kaido.
"Joy Boy? What's that?"
Due to someone's interference, Yamato had not inherited Kozuki Oden's will as in her original fate, nor had she obtained that diary, so naturally, she knew nothing of the prophecy about Joy Boy.
"Ah… I haven't told you about that?"
Hearing Naruto's rhetorical question, Yamato's eyes widened.
"Of course not! I've recorded every word you've said to me, Naruto-sama! I'm certain I've never heard you mention anything about this Joy Boy."
Yamato said indignantly, even pulling out a small notebook from her four-dimensional pocket and flipping through it rapidly.
Naruto glanced at it. It was indeed densely filled with many things he had said when he was younger.
But… how to put it… from Naruto's current perspective, those words were entirely embarrassing memories.
I'm sure many who went through their Chuunibyo phase can relate.
Naruto snatched the notebook from Yamato's hand, put it into his sealing space, and then, before she could protest, raised his hand and said.
"I'll explain it to you. As the price, I'm taking back this notebook… Don't ask why!"
"...Oh, okay."
Yamato nodded.
She had copied many more anyway. She had even given some to others to 'spread the gospel'.
But she didn't bother explaining. She was straightforward, not stupid.
"Captain Roger told me about this too. Joy Boy… he's the 'fated savior' of this world. The legendary Ancient Weapons were created by him…"
Naruto slowly began telling Yamato, along with Konohamaru, Sasuke, and a few other kids who had gathered around, the legend that sounded like a fairy tale, which he had also heard from Roger.
During this, Katakuri, that old-timer, had somehow sneaked over as well, standing with his arms crossed outside the group, listening intently.
Originally, Naruto hadn't been sure who this Joy Boy was… he wasn't even sure if Roger was messing with him again.
But ever since he had raided the Celestial Dragon's heartland and found Imu's lair last time, Naruto had roughly guessed who Joy Boy really was.
Being watched by someone like that, and having inherited his Captain's hat from Shanks… who else could it be but that kid?
While the uncle was telling stories to the kids, the older generation was also greeting each other.
"You're Gloriosa?"
Gloriosa, also known as Flame Lily, was Elder Nyon's nickname from her youth.
"Charlotte Linlin…"
Elder Nyon's expression towards Big Mom wasn't particularly friendly either.
Unlike Miss Bakkin, who had been able to become Big Mom's close friend through her social graces in youth, Gloriosa's relationship with Big Mom was far from amicable.
That was normal.
After all, Elder Nyon had been the 'second most beautiful woman in the world' back then, second only to Shakky in beauty. Facing others, especially other women, she had never hidden her pride.
"Mamama~ That's hilarious!"
After the initial surprise, Big Mom burst into mocking laughter.
"You used to love talking about looks, didn't you? Look at you now, turned into such an ugly hag! Mamama!"
Big Mom laughed heartily, slapping the table as she spoke. If the table hadn't been made from solid rock, she probably would have smashed it.
Hearing her 'junior' say this, Elder Nyon's old face darkened.
She had no comeback.
There was really nothing she could do about it.
Seeing Elder Nyon didn't respond, Big Mom pressed further, pulling out a pink 'little fan' over a meter long from somewhere and holding it in front of her like a lady.
"Hah! Got it now, you old hag? What's the use of being pretty when you're young?"
Big Mom was finally getting her moment of triumph. At last, there was a day when she could call someone else an old hag.
"Look at you now. Then look at me and Stussy. Are you jealous?"
"Give it up. When it comes to beauty, you can't compare to us."
Gloriosa's dark expression suddenly stiffened, then quickly turned complex.
She remembered.
Stussy hadn't told Big Mom her true identity, unlike how she had with her.
That meant in Big Mom's eyes, the current Stussy was the same as Miss Bakkin back then, her good friend.
'Only… even if you considered Stussy to be Miss Bakkin, praising her for 'maintaining her looks well', how could you include yourself?'
Elder Nyon raised an eyebrow, sizing up Big Mom, who was comparable in size to a castle, and then curled her lip disdainfully.
She said nothing, yet her expression said it all.
"You…"
Who was Big Mom? Having sat on the position of Emperor for so long, her temper had become even worse than her already lawless younger self.
If this were on Whole Cake Island, the moment Elder Nyon dared to make such an expression, the Soul Pocus would have begun.
Even if Elder Nyon wasn't afraid and couldn't have her lifespan taken, Big Mom would have 'manually' shortened it for her.
But… glancing at Naruto, who was still chatting happily not far away, Big Mom withdrew the thought of starting trouble here.
Her massive eyes rolled, and soon, the old woman came up with a retort.
"Come to think of it, you still remember Shakky, right?"
"Your former first mate, the woman whose charm outshone yours."
Big Mom didn't like Shakky either, but if it was to wound Gloriosa, she didn't mind praising her a bit.
"I hear that woman is now living happily with Rayleigh in Sabaody… let me think… Roger was desperately pursuing her back then, tsk tsk. Although they didn't end up together, she at least got married eventually."
"You wouldn't have stayed lonely all this time, never even having been in love, would you, old hag?"
Crack.
If heartbreak had a sound, it would be that.
They say you shouldn't hit someone in the face or expose their weaknesses in an argument, but Big Mom's verbal attack had precisely pierced Gloriosa's long-dead maiden heart.
"Charlotte, you bastard!"
The old woman was truly enraged. Forgetting the difference in strength, she raised her snake staff to strike Big Mom.
Big Mom, showing a level of acerbity that even her eldest son Perospero had never witnessed, covered her large mouth with her fan and scanned Elder Nyon mockingly.
The tables had turned!