"In that case, I'll be counting on you, Sakazuki."
Sengoku looked at the admiral standing before him, satisfaction flickering across his face.
Sakazuki had taken the initiative to step forward something that hadn't been common for him in the past.
To be honest, after the incident at Ohara, Sakazuki seemed… different. In some ways, the fiasco had tempered him.
The impatient, hot-headed man from before had grown calmer, more restrained.
He had even thrown himself into rigorous Haki training, sharpening his strength day after day.
Now, among the three admirals, Sakazuki was the only one who could truly rival Sengoku and Garp though, of course, he still hadn't reached their level.
"This is my duty," Sakazuki replied firmly.
With a short nod, he turned and left the Fleet Admiral's office. That very night, he boarded a warship and set sail for the G-1 base in the New World.
Meanwhile, Borsalino strolled off without a care, heading back to the dormitories once he saw there was nothing left to do. As for Kuzan—well, he was something else entirely.
After slipping on a blindfold, Kuzan fumbled his way across the room, collapsed onto the sofa, and immediately drifted into a nap.
"..."
Watching this play out, Sengoku couldn't help but let out a helpless chuckle.
"If the Navy's next Fleet Admiral ends up being Kuzan, given his personality… would that really be a good idea?"
The thought crossed Sengoku's mind before he could stop himself.
After steadying his thoughts, he began to seriously consider the matter. Who should succeed him as Fleet Admiral?
There was no doubt: the position could only come from the admirals. Which meant the candidates were limited to three—Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino.
Hmmm…
An admiral might be parachuted in when the Navy was short of combat strength, but the Fleet Admiral? Impossible. That position couldn't simply be handed down from above. To do so would be an insult to the very foundation of the Navy.
No… the next Fleet Admiral had to be someone who had risen from the Navy's own ranks.
"Kuzan," Sengoku said kindly, "if you keep on like this, the next Fleet Admiral will definitely be Sakazuki."
"I don't see the problem with that," Kuzan replied lazily.
Maybe it was because of Ohara… Sakazuki really had changed a lot since then.
"…Not bad, I suppose...if it's him" Kuzan muttered again in agreement, though a faint unease still lingered in his chest.
Sengoku was taken aback for a moment, then slowly nodded.
If it had been the old Sakazuki, the hot-headed, impulsive one...he would have hesitated and continued backing Kuzan without a second thought.
But now… Sakazuki was different. Stronger, calmer, and more composed than before.
As for his ability to see the bigger picture, that would take time. There was no need to rush—he could be trained.
Ten years from now, the results would be clear.
"Are you sure? You realize, once such a decision is made, it can't be undone," Sengoku said softly.
Choosing a successor wasn't something to toy with. To change one's decision halfway would only breed chaos, and that was the last thing he wanted to see.
"As long as he stays like this, I won't change my mind either," Kuzan answered firmly.
"…Good."
Sengoku gave a quiet nod, then dropped the subject, turning back to the piles of work on his desk.
New World — G-1 Base
The following morning, before the first rays of dawn, Sakazuki's warship drew near the G-1 base.
After a quick breakfast, the cannons roared to life.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Under the cover of darkness, countless shells thundered through the air, hammering into the G-1 fortress.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Enemy attack!!!"
As the naval walls shattered under the barrage, panicked cries filled the night. Sirens wailed across the base, and in an instant, the silence was gone—replaced by the furious rhythm of war.
Vice Admiral Tsuru, commander of G-1, rushed straight to the front lines.
"Beasts…?"
Her sharp eyes scanned the horizon. Dark silhouettes loomed in the distance, shifting against the night sky.
Tsuru needed no further confirmation. This was the Hundred Beasts Pirates—Kaido's crew.
"So… the Navy really is their target," she murmured.
She had suspected as much. Just last night, when word came that a Navy surveillance ship had been destroyed, Tsuru had already braced herself for the inevitable.
And now, they had arrived.
"…Sakazuki's support should be here within the hour."
She quickly ran the numbers in her head. Her expression hardened.
"All units, full-scale counterattack! Admiral Sakazuki's reinforcements will be here in one hour. Hold the line until then! Do not fear losses—prioritize artillery fire, and keep the enemy at bay!"
Her voice cut through the chaos like a ray of hope.
Orders were relayed instantly, and the soldiers of G-1 base moved with unwavering discipline, ready to face the storm.
"Yes!"
The vice admirals responded at once, rallying their troops and rushing to the front lines to reinforce the defense.
"Boro Breath!!!"
As the first traces of dawn touched the horizon, Kaido exhaled a torrent of blazing fire, his roar splitting the night and driving away the last remnants of darkness.
"Wash of Justice!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru's voice rang out as she stepped forward, countering Kaido's devastating breath with her own power, dispersing the flames before they could tear through the base.
"…Vice Admiral Tsuru?"
High in the clouds, Kaido blinked his massive eyes, surprised to see who had intercepted his attack.
Then, without warning, he stopped.
No second attack followed.
Kaido wasn't a fool. He knew very well which enemies could be challenged recklessly and which could not.
If it were anyone else standing before him, even a Celestial Dragon...he wouldn't hesitate to crush them underfoot.
But Tsuru… no. That was different.
It wasn't that he doubted his ability to fight her, but engaging her here and now would mean one thing: a direct invitation for Sengoku and Garp.
Tsuru was precious to both of them. If he harmed her—no, even if he merely injured her Kaido knew what would follow.
Garp would plant himself outside his stronghold day and night, lying in wait for him.
It wasn't fear holding him back—it was pragmatism.
There was no profit in such a fight. War wasn't about charging in blindly to prove strength. It was about gains, about advantage.
A pointless death match would bring him nothing.
No, Kaido did not fight mindless wars.
The only reason he had attacked G-1 this time was to sharpen his men, to train his troops under real fire. Were it not for that, he never would have bothered to lead his forces in such a reckless assault.
[Author Note]📢
Hey everyone!
Just a quick update — I've started a new Naruto novel:
Naruto: I'm Atomic
It's a fresh project with cleaner writing and a steadier release pace.
If you enjoyed my previous stories, feel free to check it out!
Thanks for the support 🗣️
— Arthorain