Chapter 121: The God of Shinobi's Debut!
"Pfft..."
Suzaku pressed a hand against his mouth, his shoulders shaking violently as he tried—and failed—to suppress the laughter bubbling up from his chest. The sound escaped through his fingers, a strangled snort that echoed in the high-altitude silence of the crow's nest.
The source of his amusement was none other than the legendary Ghost of the Uchiha, Madara.
Moments ago, Hashirama Senju had asked a question so pure, so soul-searching, and yet so devastatingly simple that it had effectively short-circuited Madara's brain.
"You actually... truly don't consider me your friend? Even now?"
Madara's expression was a masterpiece of internal conflict. His face, usually a mask of arrogant indifference or battle-hungry ecstasy, was currently cycling through a spectrum of colors—from a pale, sickly green to a flushed, embarrassed red. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, but no sound came out.
The mighty Uchiha was paralyzed.
If he denied it and called Hashirama an enemy, he would be lying to himself. His heart had practically leaped out of his chest with excitement the moment he sensed Hashirama's chakra signature appear on the Vermillion Wing.
But if he admitted it... if he called him a friend... wouldn't that be a public admission that he, the terror of the Ninja World, was just a sentimental man who had spent decades pining for his childhood rival?
Where would that leave Uchiha Madara's dignity?!
"I... you..." Madara stammered, his eyes darting around to avoid the gaze of the man in front of him.
Under Suzaku's amused scrutiny and Hashirama's "puppy-dog" stare—which was terrifyingly effective coming from a man who could crush mountains—a thick vein began to pulse rhythmically on Madara's forehead.
Finally, the pressure became too much. All of his complex, tangled emotions coalesced into the only outlet he knew: rage.
"Hmph! Shut up!"
Madara roared, spinning on his heel with a dramatic flourish of his long, spiky hair.
"You noisy fellow! Just follow me and don't say another word!"
Before his voice had even faded into the wind, Madara was already stomping toward the hatch of the crow's nest. He moved with a rigid stiffness, his back as straight as an iron plate, radiating an aura of 'Don't talk to me, don't look at me.'
"Oh! Okay!"
The transformation was instantaneous.
Hashirama Senju, who had been huddled in a corner with a literal dark cloud of depression hanging over his head, sprang to his feet. The gloom vanished as if blown away by a hurricane. His expression shifted from suicidal despair to a bright, goofy grin that shone like the sun.
"Wait for me, Madara!"
He scurried after the Uchiha, his steps light and bouncy, as if the person who had been practically crying seconds ago was a completely different entity.
Suzaku stood alone at the top of the tower, leaning against the railing as he watched the two legends descend the spiral staircase one after the other. The amused curve of his lips refused to fade.
"History's strongest rivalry," Suzaku mused, shaking his head. "More like history's biggest headache."
Below, on the main deck of the Vermillion Wing.
The atmosphere was tense.
Nami, Carrot, and the thirty-odd members of the Mink Tribe warrior unit had frozen in place. They all looked toward the spiral staircase connecting to the crow's nest, their instincts screaming at them.
The Minks, in particular, were trembling. As a race of warriors born with heightened animal instincts, they were far more sensitive to "presence" than ordinary humans.
To them, the two figures descending the stairs didn't feel like humans. They felt like natural disasters squeezed into human skin.
Madara walked in front, his black armor clinking softly. He wasn't looking at anyone. He didn't need to. The sheer pressure of his existence—the cold, sharp killing intent of a man who had slaughtered armies—washed over the deck like a freezing wave. It made the fur on the Minks' necks stand straight up.
Behind him was the newcomer. A tall man with long, dark hair and red armor. Unlike Madara's sharp, cold aura, this man felt... heavy. Like a dense forest that had stood for a thousand years. Vast. Overwhelming.
"Ahem."
Madara stopped at the bottom of the stairs. He swept his gaze across the terrified crew members, his Rinnegan rippling with impatience.
"Listen up," Madara grunted, his tone clipped and concise. He thumbed toward the man standing beside him. "This is Hashirama Senju. The newcomer. He's a comrade from now on."
The crew blinked. That was it?
Madara paused, seemingly feeling that his introduction was too charitable. He shot a side-glance at Hashirama, who was currently looking around the ship with the wide-eyed curiosity of a country bumpkin in a big city.
Madara scoffed. "Also, he's a bit slow in the head. Ignore him. And more importantly, don't bother me with him."
Dropping this ruthlessly blunt assessment, which nearly caused Hashirama to petrify into a statue on the spot, Madara turned and marched toward the cabins without a backward glance.
The message was loud and clear: Go play by yourself. Out of sight, out of mind!
"Eh? Madara! Wait!"
Hashirama stood stunned for a moment, blinking as he processed the insult. Then, characteristic of his unpredictable nature, he burst into loud, hearty laughter.
"Hahahaha! He's just shy! Wait up!"
He chased after Madara, disappearing into the dark corridor of the ship's interior.
Only after the "perfect match" of eccentrics had vanished from sight did the crushing pressure on the deck finally lift. The Minks exhaled in unison, slumping against the railings as if they had just survived a storm.
Up in the crow's nest, Suzaku watched the comedy conclude and contentedly withdrew his gaze.
"Mission accomplished," he whispered.
With a cheerful thought, he mentally snapped his fingers. The air in front of his eyes shimmered, and the familiar blue interface of the System materialized.
"Let's see exactly what kind of monster we've picked up this time."
[Multiverse Summoning System]
[Subordinate Status Panel]
[Name:] Hashirama Senju
[Origin:] Naruto (World of Shinobi)
[Race:] Human (Sage Body)
[Physique: Legendary]
[Sage Body:] Possesses boundless vitality and terrifying recovery speeds. Wounds heal visibly within seconds without weaving signs. Stamina is effectively infinite for standard combat.
[Haki Mastery:]
[Armament Haki:] Peak Tier (Enhanced by Senjutsu Chakra).
[Observation Haki:] Peak Tier (Specialization: Natural Energy Sensing. Can detect emotions and malice across vast distances).
[Conqueror's Haki:] Peak Tier (The Dignity of the God of Shinobi. Innately possesses the aura to command nature and suppress beasts).
[Abilities & Skills:]
[Wood Release (Kekkei Genkai):] The ability to create life and manipulate vegetation.
[Deep Forest Emergence:] Instantly summons a massive forest to alter the terrain. The trees can bind targets and drain energy.
[Wood Dragon Technique:] Creates a colossal wooden dragon capable of absorbing Chakra (or Haki/Devil Fruit energy) upon contact.
[Wood Golem:] A massive wooden construct equal in combat power to a Tailed Beast.
[Sage Art: True Several Thousand Hands:] The ultimate technique. Summons a titanic statue with thousands of hands. Size dwarfs mountains. Destructive power is cataclysmic.
[Sage Art: Gate of the Great God:] Absolute sealing technique. Summons red torii gates from the sky to pin down targets physically and spiritually.
[Sage Mode:] By gathering Natural Energy, physical parameters, reaction speed, and sensory abilities are enhanced exponentially.
[Bond Level:] Friendly
[Legend Rating:] 0 (New Arrival)
"Hiss..."
Even though he was mentally prepared—he had read the manga, after all—Suzaku couldn't help but suck in a cold breath as he read the data.
"Tsk tsk. This data is a bit too extravagant, isn't it?"
Suzaku stroked his chin, his eyes flashing with excitement. In the world of One Piece, where battles were often decided by stamina and the ability to tank damage, Hashirama was essentially a cheat code. His Sage Body meant he could fight for days without tiring, and his Wood Release offered crowd control on a scale that made most Devil Fruits look like parlor tricks.
"As expected of the only man capable of repeatedly pinning Madara down and rubbing him into the ground," Suzaku muttered, closing the panel with a satisfied nod. "With him and Madara, the frontline is invincible."
Several Hours Later. The Grand Line Sea.
The sun hung high in the azure sky, casting sparkling diamonds across the gentle waves of the Grand Line. The Vermillion Wing cut through the water smoothly, the wind filling its sails.
It was a perfect afternoon. Peaceful. Quiet.
"Hahahaha! Madara! Look at this! It looks like you still won't be able to beat me and Ulquiorra today!"
A booming voice shattered the tranquility.
Hashirama Senju stood near the railing, his face split by a grin that threatened to swallow his ears. In his right hand, he effortlessly held up a thrashing, silver-scaled sea fish that was easily over ten meters long.
"A Sea King Class Tuna!" Hashirama announced triumphantly.
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the massive beast onto the deck. It landed with a wet, heavy SMACK, flopping violently and splashing seawater everywhere.
"Mr. Hashirama is truly amazing!"
Rem, looking immaculate in her maid uniform, materialized beside the fish. She moved with practiced grace, a large kitchen knife glinting in her hand.
"You and Lord Ulquiorra have already caught so many huge fish today! The pantry is going to be overflowing."
Rem smiled politely, and together with Akame—whose eyes were practically glowing at the sight of so much meat—she began to drag the massive tuna toward the galley area.
Over by the makeshift kitchen on the deck, Ram was already at work.
"Wind Magic: Wind Blade."
Ram flicked her finger. Invisible blades of wind sliced through the air with surgical precision. Schwing. Schwing. A pile of fish was instantly descaled, gutted, and filleted in mid-air before landing neatly onto awaiting platters.
"Inefficient," Ulquiorra stated calmly from his spot near the stern.
The pale-skinned Arrancar stood perfectly still, holding his fishing rod like a weapon. He didn't seem to be enjoying the activity, yet a pile of exotic sea creatures lay beside him. He wasn't using bait. He was simply projecting a microscopic thread of Reiatsu into the water, luring the fish which were attracted to spiritual pressure.
"It seems the aquatic lifeforms in this dimension are attracted to high-density energy signatures," Ulquiorra noted, reeling in another shark with zero effort.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the deck, a dark cloud of gloom was gathering.
Madara Uchiha sat on a folding chair, staring intently at the red float bobbing in the water. His Sharingan was active, spinning slowly. He was analyzing the water currents, the wind speed, the angle of the sun, and the muscle tension of the fish below.
And yet...
Nothing.
Not a single nibble.
Hashirama wiped his hands and looked over at his old friend. Seeing Madara sitting there like a stone statue, his bucket empty, Hashirama couldn't help but offer some "earnest guidance."
He turned to Suzaku, who was sitting next to Madara, looking equally empty-handed.
"Little Suzaku, you too! You need to try harder!" Hashirama laughed, slapping his thigh. "Look, only you and Madara haven't caught anything. What was that word you used the other day? Oh right, 'Skunked'! Don't get skunked again today! Hahahaha!"
Hashirama roared with laughter, his voice booming across the deck. He seemed oblivious to the murderous aura beginning to radiate from the two men he was mocking.
Suzaku and Madara sat in silence. They didn't turn their heads. They just stared at the ocean, their backs radiating a low-pressure system that warned everyone to stay at least fifty meters away.
Why? Suzaku screamed internally. I have the Vermillion Bird bloodline! I have luck! Why do fish hate me?!
Beside him, Madara's fishing rod creaked as his grip tightened, slowly crushing the handle into splinters.
Seeing the captain's distress, Albedo immediately stepped in.
She shot Hashirama a glare so venomous it could have killed a lesser man instantly. Her golden eyes narrowed into slits, promising unspeakable torture if he dared to mock her beloved again.
Then, she turned to Suzaku, her expression melting instantly into one of pure, syrupy adoration.
"Lord Suzaku~" she cooed, wrapping her arms around his neck from behind and pressing her cheek against his. Her large black wings fluttered, creating a private cocoon for the two of them.
"Pay no mind to this wretched, wooden-brained fellow," she whispered, her voice husky and sweet. "In my eyes, you are the best at everything! Who cares about stinky fish? If you want fish, I will dive into the ocean and slaughter the Sea Kings for you myself! I will empty the ocean for you!"
Suzaku felt the soft warmth of Albedo against his back and the genuine (if slightly psychotic) devotion in her voice. His mood improved instantly.
She's right, he thought. Why am I competing in this stupid game?
"Hmph."
Suzaku placed his rod down and stood up, brushing off his pants with an air of righteous indignation.
"I won't participate today," he declared loudly, saving face. "I'll be the referee! I need to oversee the competition to ensure fairness. Yes, that's it."
He muttered quietly under his breath, "I'd rather watch Madara suffer alone than suffer with him."
Suzaku glanced at Madara. The Uchiha was still staring at the water, his pride refusing to let him quit until he caught at least one sardine.
Good luck, old man, Suzaku thought with a smirk.
Just then, the rhythmic thumping of rapid footsteps broke the mood.
"Captain! Everyone! Look at this!"
Nami came sprinting from the navigation room, clutching a newspaper in her hands. Her orange hair whipped in the wind, and her face was flushed with excitement.
"Lady Nami?" Carrot, who had been chewing on a carrot near the mast, perked up. "What happened? Is it a storm?"
Nami skidded to a halt in the center of the deck, panting slightly. Her appearance instantly broke the tense fishing standoff.
Suzaku, Albedo, and even the stoic Ulquiorra looked over. The Minks stopped their deck-scrubbing duties to listen.
"Uh... actually, it's nothing dangerous," Nami caught her breath, glancing at the paper. She lowered her voice, a conspiratorial grin spreading across her face. "Captain, do you remember that guy we met back in Loguetown? The one who was eating at the bar? You know, the one you... uh... had a 'disagreement' with?"
Suzaku raised an eyebrow. He searched his memory. "Loguetown? Are you talking about Smoker? The Marine with the cigars?"
"No, no! The other one!" Nami waved her hand dismissively. "The one who uses fire! Just like you, Captain!"
"Hey, hey," Suzaku frowned, lightly chopping Nami on the top of her head. "What do you mean 'uses fire just like me'? I control the primordial flames of the Vermillion Bird. He just turns into fire. There's a difference, you idiot!"
Ignoring Nami, who was clutching her head and pouting, Suzaku snatched the newspaper from her hands.
He snapped the paper open. Front page.
A large photograph dominated the center. It showed a young man with freckles, wearing an orange cowboy hat, grinning confidently as flames danced around his shoulders.
"Oh... it's Ace."
When Suzaku saw the headline, a knowing, playful smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
[Fire Fist Ace Rejects the Warlord Invitation!]
[Super Rookie of the Spade Pirates!]
[New Bounty Issued!]
"He rejected the Shichibukai appointment," Suzaku read aloud. "And look at this bounty... 380 Million Berries."
"380 Million?!" Nami squeaked, looking at the number with symbols of money in her eyes. "That's huge! He's just a rookie!"
"That's pretty fast," Suzaku murmured, stroking his chin as his eyes flickered with recollection.
In the original timeline, Portgas D. Ace had risen like a comet. He had stormed through the Grand Line, rejected the Government's offer, and eventually challenged Whitebeard.
"I remember Ace's bounty eventually rose to 550 Million Berries," Suzaku thought to himself. "That must be around the time he joined the Whitebeard Pirates. We are currently in that sweet spot of history... right before the storm."
He looked up at the endless ocean, the paper crumpling slightly in his grip. The world was moving. The gears of fate were turning.
"Things are about to get interesting," Suzaku said, a grin matching Ace's spreading across his own face. "Let's see if we can't make the fire burn a little brighter."
[Akarin Note:
Your Support Keeps This Story Alive!
If you're enjoying this novel, your support means the world to me. Simple actions like leaving a review, power stone, comment, or sharing the story let me know you're out there. It's the greatest motivation for me to keep updating until the very end and ensures this project continues.
For those who wish to support me more directly, you can join my Patreon at [patreon.com/AkarinTL]. As a thank-you, you'll receive access to 50 advanced chapters.
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]