The collective thought across the battlefield was the same.
Hello? That was her idea of hello?
Naru went on, her tone light and teasing. "Oh, and you don't need to worry about Mary Geoise. I made sure to aim for the least populated area. I'm not like you people, destroying islands and innocent towns whenever you feel like flexing your might."
Whether she was talking about her own experience, the accident at Enies Lobby that also involved Monkey D Luffy and his little crew, or the tragedy of Ohara which also related to a certain Straw Hat, it was obvious that she was mocking the marines.
"You realize," Sengoku growled, struggling to keep his composure, "that by doing this, you are openly declaring yourself an enemy of the World Government."
Naru did not blink. She smiled wider.
"I already am," she said.
Before Sengoku could reply, a frantic marine burst into the heavy silence, breathless and terrified.
"Sengoku san! We have a serious situation! The Red Hair Pirates are approaching at full speed!"
Sengoku barely suppressed the urge to slam his forehead into the nearest wall. Seriously? That redhead brat? Now? Of all times? The last he had heard, Shanks had supposedly gone off to clash with Kaido just yesterday. So what in the world was this infuriating brat doing appearing here of all places?
At this point, everyone on the battlefield had endured so many shocks in such rapid succession that the sudden appearance of another Yonko barely stirred a ripple of reaction. No one had the strength or the emotional capacity left to properly panic.
Naru gave the new arrivals a casual glance before deactivating her Kurama Mode, her golden glow fading as she returned to her normal, far less terrifying appearance.
The Red Hair Pirates recognized the sassy young lady, but under the circumstance, they acted like they did not know each other, maintaining a careful air of neutrality.
"What is your purpose here, Akagami?" Sengoku asked flatly. Any attempt to disguise his exhaustion had long since evaporated. His face sagged with fatigue, his shoulders slumped, and his tone carried the dry resignation of a man who had reached the absolute limits of what his sanity could endure.
Shanks almost felt sympathy for him.
Almost.
Privately, Sengoku wondered if it was finally time to write a resignation letter. Maybe he should have abandoned this nightmare of a career long ago. Why had he chosen the Marines in the first place? He could have been a simple farmer. A peaceful life, planting vegetables, enjoying sunshine, no insane pirates, no impossible threats, no celestial tyrants breathing down his neck. Even chasing chickens would be less stressful than this endless madness.
"Originally," Shanks said, flashing his signature carefree smile, "I came to stop the war. But..." He gestured broadly to the battlefield. "Looks like my services aren't needed after all."
He turned his gaze toward Naru, eyes gleaming with interest. "Still, I'll take it from here."
"Fine by me. We have already accomplished what we came here for. It's about time for us to head out," Naru replied. She lifted her hand and made a subtle gesture toward Yuzu and the rest of her group, who immediately turned toward Kurama.
"Get on already," the giant fox grumbled, rolling his eyes. "Quit wasting my precious time."
"Man, he's seriously the grumpiest fox I've ever met," Nikolas muttered under his breath, snickering.
Sengoku made a last-ditch effort, desperation clinging to him. "The Whitebeard Pirates..." he began.
"You've already won, Sengoku-san," Naru cut him off. "The objective of this battle was to take down one of the Yonko, and you have succeeded."
She turned her attention toward the distant horizon where the battered remains of Whitebeard's fleet were slowly fading from sight.
"They shall leave," she stated simply, her voice brooking no argument.
Sengoku stood silently for a long, tense moment. The reality of the situation weighed heavily on him. Akainu was still lying unconscious in a humiliating heap somewhere behind him. The Uzukage and her companions were still present, alongside the enormous nine tailed fox that radiated enough power to make even the bravest soldiers tremble. He had no way of knowing whether Mary Geoise had survived the Uzukage's devastating attack. The mere thought of the World Nobles storming toward him with outraged shrieks was enough to make his head throb.
Then there was the sudden appearance of the Red Hair Pirates. The Marines did not have the stamina or the morale for another fight. If another clash erupted, it would not be a battle. It would be a massacre.
The upper hand of the battle had no longer rested in their hands. From the moment Monkey D Naru had appeared, it was already destined that they would lose the battle.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Sengoku acknowledged with grim resignation what he needed to do to salvage even a shred of dignity for the World Government.
"Fine," he muttered through gritted teeth, forcing the words out with visible reluctance. "They can go."
Not like he truly had a choice in the matter anyway. They might have technically secured victory with Whitebeard's death, but in doing so, they had also lost the war in every other way that counted.
Whether or not the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates were allowed to leave was never something that hinged on Sengoku's authority to begin with. But Naru, standing quietly to the side, had no intention of calling him out on his desperate attempt to save face for the World Government. It was pointless, after all. No one was fooled by his hollow gesture.
As Sengoku's final decision echoed across the battlefield, the few conscious Marines and pirates remaining offered no protest. They were covered in blood, missing limbs, or barely clinging to consciousness. Anyone foolish enough to demand the battle continue would have been ignored, if not tackled outright by their own allies.
A tired, collective exhale swept across the battlefield as the survivors realized that the nightmare was, at last, over.
Once she confirmed that Whitebeard's remaining ships had created enough distance, Naru glanced toward Shanks and gave him a firm nod of acknowledgment.
"Let's go, Kurama."
With a smooth, effortless movement, the enormous fox leapt from the battlefield. His massive form arced gracefully through the air before landing on the ocean's surface. Gasps rose from every direction. Even the Red Hair Pirates recoiled in astonishment. The fact that a creature of the nine-tailed fox's size could stand on water without sinking proved he was no Devil Fruit user. He was something far more extraordinary than anything they had ever encountered.
Before departing, Naru couldn't resist turning to the place where her grandfather stood. Smiling brightly, she lifted both arms and waved enthusiastically. Garp, for his part, responded with the energy of a man half his age, waving back with a grin that stretched from ear to ear, much to Sengoku's mounting frustration.
"Bye, Grandpa! Don't come chasing after me!" she called out teasingly.
"Bwahahahaha! That's my granddaughter, alright!" Garp roared with laughter, clearly bursting with pride.
"Shut up, you old fool! This is entirely your fault for having such an unruly family, Garp, you idiot!" Sengoku snapped, practically frothing at the mouth.
"Bwahahahahahahaha!" Garp only laughed harder, seeming thoroughly entertained by Sengoku's meltdown.
With that lively farewell, Kurama turned and bounded away from the shattered remnants of Marine HQ, carrying Naru toward their next destination.
It took very little time for Kurama to catch up with the retreating Whitebeard Pirates. With a mighty leap that sent winds swirling around him, he hurled his enormous body skyward. In midair, his shape rippled and shrank, his form compressing gracefully into the sleek, compact appearance of his one tailed version.
A moment later, five figures and one gleaming fox descended onto the deck of the ship with perfectly controlled precision. The ship groaned softly under their combined weight, but held firm. Kurama, having completed his part, dissolved back into the seal upon Naru's body, fading from sight as if he had never been there.
Naru blinked in mild surprise when her eyes fell upon Boa Hancock, who was perched atop her massive snake companion, still aboard the ship. Naru had half expected the Whitebeard Pirates to toss her into the ocean, yet here she was, very much present and apparently tolerated. For now, at least, she was welcome among them.
Catching Hancock's elegant gaze, Naru gave a small, measured nod of acknowledgment. The Empress, proud as ever, returned the gesture with a cool tilt of her chin. Their exchange lasted only a heartbeat, subtle and unreadable, before Naru's attention shifted elsewhere.
"Naru!" a pair of familiar voices rang out almost in unison.
Ace and Sabo sprinted toward her, skidding to a halt with faces overflowing with relief, warmth, and just a touch of scolding frustration. They looked as if they wanted to hug her and lecture her at the exact same time. Only one presence was missing.
Luffy.
Though he was nowhere in sight, she could still sense his weak but steady presence somewhere on the ship.
"Luffy's in the infirmary," Sabo reported immediately, reading the question in her eyes before she could even voice it.
"Good. I will check on him shortly," Naru replied with firm clarity. Her gaze softened only briefly before she reached into her seal.
A hush fell upon the deck as she carefully withdrew the shrouded, massive form of Edward Newgate. Even lifeless, Whitebeard's presence carried an impossible weight. She lowered him with both hands, ensuring unparalleled gentleness. When his body touched the deck, it felt like the world held its breath.
"Oyaji!" came the anguished cries of the Whitebeard Pirates, voices thick with grief.
Naru said softly, her tone steady yet full of sincerity. Her words carried across the entire ship, quiet but heard by every single heart. She stepped back immediately afterward, creating space for the heartbroken crew to gather around the fallen strongest man in the world.
As she moved away, her gaze drifted toward Yue. Naru kept her voice low, quiet enough not to disturb the moment of mourning around Whitebeard yet firm enough to be heard clearly.
"Tend to their injuries when you finish here. I will see Luffy first."
"Understood, Naru-san," Yue replied with a solemn bow of her head.
Naru's eyes lingered on Ace for a long moment. He had dropped to his knees beside Whitebeard's enormous body, shoulders trembling as hot tears streamed down his face. His fingers curled tightly around the edge of the shroud, as though holding on could somehow keep the finality of death from settling in.
A deep ache tugged at Naru's chest, but she brushed off that feeling. This was a moment he had to face with his crew.
With that thought, Naru turned away and began making her way toward the infirmary where her youngest brother waited for her.
.
.
.
Healing Luffy, in the end, was not a particularly difficult problem for her.
Thanks to her power, she had managed to heal the majority of his injuries with relative ease. What he needed now was a long uninterrupted rest. Knowing Luffy, however, the moment he woke up, he would surely be hungry. Feeling a little more at ease with that thought, Naru skimmed through her storage seals and breathed out in relief. She still had more than enough supplies to feed her brothers, the entirety of the Whitebeard Pirates, and possibly even a handful of unexpected visitors. It was comforting to know that, at the very least, no one would die of hunger under her watch.
As she sat by the bedside, her gaze fell onto her sleeping brother. Even now, part of her still struggled to fully believe the fact that her youngest brother had been reckless enough to barge headfirst into one of the most dangerous places in the world. Worse still, he had relied on one of Ivankov's forbidden techniques, a desperate gamble that risked shortening his life drastically. The sheer recklessness of it made her want to grab him by the cheeks and yell for an entire hour.
Naru made a firm decision right then and there. Once her reckless, idiotic brother woke up, she was going to give him the scolding of his life. She would make sure that he would never hear the end of it.
But beneath the irritation and the worry, there was another emotion swelling within her. Pride. Endless, overflowing pride. Luffy was reckless to the point of madness, yet he was also brave in a way that very few could ever be. He faced overwhelming danger with a heart that never wavered. He protected those he loved without expecting anything in return. He was growing, and each step he took only made her more certain of how special he truly was.
Even though it had been ten long years since she first left the East Blue, Naru had never truly severed her ties with her family. Through the years, she sent letters as often as she could. When circumstances allowed, she even returned briefly, either as herself or under the guise of her persona as Master Jiraiya, either the world famous novelist or the mysterious acting boss of her rapidly expanding shadow organization. , an entity that remained invisible to most of the world.
Before she had departed for the Grand Line, she had made careful preparations. She left a number of clones hidden in strategic locations throughout Dawn Island, their single purpose being to watch over her brothers. She was painfully aware of how unforgiving the world could be, especially to children with dreams far too big. If a threat arose, if an enemy tried to kidnap or harm them, if something appeared that neither Ace nor Luffy could fight off, then one of her hidden shadows would intervene.
Yet as time passed, she watched from afar as her brothers grew stronger, braver, and more capable. They evolved beyond the need for her protection. By the time each of them reached the age of seventeen, she knew they were ready to begin their own journeys. The very same age at which hers had begun.
Ace left first in 1519. Luffy followed three years late, setting off to chase his dreams.
Even after they left the nest, Naru never stopped watching. Not closely, not in an intrusive way, but with the occasional glance from the shadows. Her intelligence network, spread far and wide through her organization, often brought updates to her whether she sought them or not. She simply chose not to intervene. She wanted them to live their own stories.
But all of that changed when the threat of Ace's execution appeared. There were boundaries she refused to cross unless lives were at stake. This was one of those rare moments.
Honestly, if she was being brutally honest with herself, it was almost absurd how the World Government had essentially sabotaged themselves. Rather than executing Ace immediately upon capture, they had gotten greedy. They wanted a spectacle. They wanted to lure in their enemies, break spirits, and reshape the world in their image. In doing so, they accidentally provided Naru, and everyone who cared for Ace, a window of opportunity.
A deep sadness washed over her. And with it came a flood of memories from six years earlier, when she had first met Whitebeard.
At that time, she was only sixteen.
Back then, she, along with Nikolas and Yuzu, had ventured into the infamous New World. They sailed in a simple caravel of her own design, a ship far too humble for the brutal waters of that region. The journey was harsh, storms relentless, and danger lurked behind every wave. On that voyage, she sensed something horrifying emanating from several World Government passenger ships. Misery. Grief. The unmistakable cries of people in chains.
Normally, she would not have involved herself. But slavery was something she could never turn her back on. With Nikolas, Yuzu, and several hidden clones assisting her, she launched a silent assault on the ships. They overthrew the officials, liberated everyone aboard, and redirected the vessels to the nearest mysterious island they could locate.
That island was a mysterious, stormy place, surrounded by deadly whirlpools. It stirred memories deep within Naru's heart of Uzushiogakure, the ruined homeland of the Uzumaki Clan, a place she had only heard about through Jiraiya's stories. The feeling of longing and nostalgia gripped her tightly.
Determined, she decided to claim the island as her own and named it "Uzu," a tribute to the lost land of her distant ancestors.
Over time, Uzu became a safe haven, a home for hundreds of rescued slaves seeking freedom and safety. Among them were fishmen and merfolk, people who had suffered atrocities beyond imagination. Though many of them chose to stay in Uzu, trusting Naru's protection, others wished to return to their true home beneath the sea.
At the time, Naru had no idea how to fulfill that request. The seas were treacherous, and the World Government was always watching. It was only later that she discovered Fishman Island was under the protection of Whitebeard.
Her initial opinion of the Yonko was sour, especially after her disturbing encounter with Big Mom. The only exception was Shanks, who had recently earned his title and someone Naru had met before she entered the Grand Line. Despite her doubts, she chose to approach Whitebeard under her persona as the Uzukage. She requested his help to return the fishmen and merfolk to their home.
It was not easy to negotiate with a Yonko, that much was obvious. But to her surprise, Whitebeard admired her resolve. He was so impressed that he even extended an invitation for her to join his crew. The offer had none of the coercive hostility Big Mom had displayed. Instead, it felt almost fatherly.
Thinking back on those memories, Naru could not help but smile wistfully. For Ace, Whitebeard was a father. For her, he had become something like a loud, affectionate, outrageous uncle she had never known she needed. Whether spoken aloud or not, she had been adopted into his vast, chaotic family.
Unspoken but undeniable, Naru had become part of Whitebeard's sprawling, chaotic, and fiercely loyal family.
A deep sigh escaped her lips as the weight of loss pressed against her chest once more. It truly was a pity...
The door creaked open at that moment. Ace stepped inside quietly, shutting the door with deliberate care once he saw his youngest brother sleeping peacefully. He pulled a chair next to Naru and sat down, exhaustion weighing on his shoulders.
"How is he?" Ace asked, his voice quiet, roughened by fatigue and lingering emotion.
"Aside from severe exhaustion, he will recover without issue. He simply needs time to sleep," Naru replied gently.
Ace released a lengthy breath, relief pouring out of him. His whole body seemed to unwind as tension slipped away.
"And Sabo?" she asked after a brief pause.
"I saw him chatting with that weird guy from the Revolutionary Army," Ace answered, a flicker of amusement crossing his face.
Naru nodded. Sabo and Ivankov held important roles within Dragon's forces. Considering how long Ivankov had been imprisoned within Impel Down, it was only natural that they had plenty to discuss.
Silence settled between them, but it was not uncomfortable. Naru watched Ace closely. His gaze was distant, troubled, filled with a shadow of something deeper than grief. At last, she spoke softly.
"Have you all decided what comes next?"
Ace hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Yes. We are depending on you to take us to Sphinx Island. Marco said they want to hold the funeral there. I think Oyaji would want that too. Do you agree?"
A warm, sorrowful smile formed on Naru's lips. "Without a doubt. Returning to his homeland... that is the farewell he deserves."
"Yeah..." Ace whispered. His voice wavered. A trembling smile tried to form. "He will be happy. I know he will."
That weak smile collapsed. Ace's expression contorted, and tears fell in unstoppable streams down his cheeks.
In the quiet infirmary, with only Luffy's gentle breathing as a steady backdrop, Ace's heartbreaking sobs filled the air, raw and unrestrained.
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The next morning, Luffy woke up bursting with vigor and overflowing energy. Unlike yesterday, when he looked like he was ready to keel over from sheer exhaustion, today he seemed to have been reborn anew, much to the immense relief of his siblings. Fully revitalized, as though he had not just almost died several times for the past several days, Luffy immediately set off in search of his siblings, loudly demanding food like a man possessed.
In the past ten years, Naru had visited her family only a handful of times. Once at fourteen, then again at fifteen, and after that, she had never truly returned to Dawn Island, even when she happened to drop by the East Blue for other reasons. She chose instead to send letters, gifts, and updates from afar. Her life was too expansive, too fast paced, and too filled with the unpredictable chaos of the wider world to simply return home on a whim.
Among the siblings, it was Sabo who had met her the most. After he joined the Revolutionary Army at the age of ten, their paths had intersected on and off as naturally as breathing. Sometimes it was on purpose and sometimes by coincidence. Later, when Ace officially stepped into the world as a pirate and eventually ended up drafted into the Whitebeard Pirates, mostly due to the tangle of fate and personal connection that involved Naru in some way or another, the trio managed to reunite on scattered occasions. In truth, it was usually Naru who appeared out of nowhere, dropping in across seas like she had teleported. Ace and Sabo might have been talented in their own rights, but they lacked her peculiar ability to traverse the world as if every ocean were just another neighborhood street.
Ace and Sabo, despite their considerable talents, did not exactly have the luxury to zip around the seas the way she did.
One day, she might be adventuring in the South Blue, and the next, she could casually show up in the West Blue as though she had simply walked down the street.
Her relationship with her father, however, was another matter entirely. Complicated felt like the only appropriate word.
Sabo often acted as the mediator between them, which naturally led to Naru crossing paths with Dragon every so often. Although Dragon had abandoned Luffy and Naru when they were young, and had failed to visit even once until the Grey Terminal catastrophe forced him to intervene, he was not a creature entirely devoid of warmth. His efforts to mend things were clumsy, subtle, and often riddled with awkward silences, but they were consistent. Slowly, painstakingly, and with more patience than she ever admitted out loud, Naru reached a point where she could treat him with something more genuine than forced civility. Something that resembled real familial sentiment.
Even though she could rationally understand his reasons for what he did, that did not magically erase the deep wrongness of his choices. But it allowed her to move forward without bittnerness.
Still, she wondered how Luffy would react when he eventually stood face to face with the enigmatic man who had fathered him yet remained a stranger for almost his entire life.
Speaking of Luffy, he was currently describing his recent adventures with his crew. He had just finished recounting the chaotic confrontation with Kizaru and the bizarre encounter with that Kuma fellow who had scattered the entire crew like leaves in a storm. He admitted he had no idea where any of them ended up, but he believed with absolute certainty that his nakama were strong, capable, and would survive anything thrown their way. He had no doubt that they would find their way back together eventually.
Once his story ended, Naru informed him that they would be traveling to the New World soon to attend old man Whitebeard's funeral.
Hearing this, Luffy immediately expressed his difficulty to tag along. He could not, in good conscience, enter the New World without his nakama or his ship. Who knew what condition the Sunny Go was in after being left behind? Franky would throw a fit if anything happened to their beloved ship, and honestly, Luffy didn't want to face that wrath unprepared.
More importantly, everything that happened at Sabaody, Impel Down, and Marineford had forced him to acknowledge a difficult truth. He was not ready. His crew was not ready. They had survived through the combination of their own strength and a frightening amount of good luck, not to mention the irreplaceable help from powerful allies such as Hancock. If not for them, Luffy doubted he would have even reached Impel Down, let alone escaped it.
He had made up his mind. He would stay behind to train until he became strong enough to enter the New World on equal footing with his brothers and his crew. He wanted to stand tall, not rely on his siblings like a frightened child hiding behind older, stronger protectors.
How could he ever dream of surpassing them if he still needed to lean on them for support?
"So, what do you think, Naru?" Ace asked, turning to her with a raised brow.
Naru gave a relaxed shrug and shot them a faintly amused look. "Why are you staring at me like I am the judge of the universe? Luffy is perfectly capable of deciding what he wants. If his choice is to stay and train, then let him train."
Luffy's face lightened up immediately.
"Alright then, training it is!" Ace said with a wide grin. "But surely you're not planning to train alone, right? Do you want me to send someone tough to help you? Or maybe your big brother can stick around and beat some sense into you?"
Before Luffy could answer, a raspy voice suddenly chimed in from behind them.
"Why don't I be the one to train him?"
The siblings turned sharply toward the voice, startled. Standing there as if he had materialized from thin air was an elderly man with a weathered face and an unmistakable air of power.
Rayleigh.
"Rayleigh!" Luffy yelled, eyes sparkling with recognition as he rushed forward.
The others reacted with far more restraint. Sabo knew of Rayleigh by reputation only, so he offered a respectful nod. Ace was similarly composed. Despite the connection Rayleigh had with Roger, Ace did not feel a strong emotional pull toward him. Roger was little more than a shadow compared to the man Ace considered his true father. He returned Rayleigh's presence with courtesy, though there was a distance in his eyes.
Rayleigh approached with an easy smile, his gaze lingering on Ace with a subtle softness. "It is good to see you again, Ace," he said warmly.
Ace remained calm, politely thanking Rayleigh for the assistance he had given Luffy back at Sabaody.
Rayleigh, unfazed by the younger man's tepid response, turned his attention to the young lady of the group. His expression softened.
"As I said earlier, I can train Luffy if that is what he wants. Two years should be more than enough to prepare him for the New World."
Naru observed the complicated glances Ace shot at Rayleigh but chose not to comment. Her thoughts were her own.
Unlike the others, Naru actually had a strong impression of Rayleigh.
They had met years ago, back when she first visited Sabaody Archipelago. Their meeting had not exactly been by accident, either. Although they were not particularly close, there was an undeniable mutual trust that had formed between them. Quiet but steady.
Honestly? Naru saw no problem with Luffy training under him. If anything, Luffy could probably learn quite a few things that would be invaluable in the rough seas ahead.
Of course, the decision was not hers to make.
"What do you think, Luffy?" she asked, looking at him encouragingly.
"That sounds fun!" Luffy beamed without even a second of hesitation.
"Then it's settled," Rayleigh said with a chuckle, clearly pleased. With that, and having achieved his purpose, he gave them all a casual wave before strolling off, presumably to visit a certain pirate captain.
Once he left, Sabo tilted his head at Luffy. "What about your crew? How do you plan to reach them if you have no idea where they ended up?"
Ace nodded in agreement. "Sabo's right. As soon as they hear about what's happened, they'll definitely try to find a way back to Sabaody. You mentioned before that each of you has a piece of Rayleigh's Vivre Card, right?"
Luffy nodded eagerly.
"Good," Ace said. "That'll help. But knowing you, you'd probably prefer if they trained during these two years too, instead of just rushing back."
"Yeah!" Luffy agreed enthusiastically.
"Then this might help," Naru said. From seemingly nowhere, she produced a small snail shaped device. It blinked its beady eyes and lifted its shiny button adorned shell.
It was a Den Den Mushi, but not an ordinary one. This little snail was a special model capable of recording both video and audio. By pressing the button, it would create a hologram that replayed everything captured. Essentially, it was a visual letter device.
As Luffy examined the gadget in fascination, Naru continued, "Record a message. Once you're done, I'll send a copy to each of your crewmates."
"But... how are you going to find them?" Luffy asked, blinking in confusion.
"I have my ways," she said, flashing him a wink. With her sprawling spy network embedded across every sea and island, tracking down a few wayward crewmates wouldn't even be a challenge.
Thinking that his sister was the coolest thing since sliced bread, Luffy immediately set about recording a message. He introduced his siblings, told his crew to train as hard as they could, and declared with full confidence that they would reunite at Sabaody in two years' time.
Meanwhile, Naru found herself musing about a certain swordsman. She couldn't help but wonder what his reaction would be when he eventually discovered that his captain's sister was, in fact, a very familiar face from his own past. After all, she had never bothered to tell him her full name. Amused, she silently concluded that Fate had a mischievous sense of humor.
Once Luffy finished, he handed the Den Den Mushi back to Naru.
Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Ace called.
The door opened to reveal none other than Boa Hancock. The Sichibukai stood awkwardly at the entrance, her cheeks burning a brilliant shade of red as she fidgeted like an oversized, lovestruck schoolgirl.
For a moment, Naru could help but be reminded of a certain bashful Hyuga heiress from another world.
"Oh! Hancock!" Luffy greeted her cheerfully.
"L-Luffy!"
Oblivious with her weird behavior, Luffy thanked her for all the help that she provided him with. Being given such a bright smile from the person she admired, the taller woman seemed like she was about to pass out anytime soon, much to Naru's amusement.
"Is there anything that you need, Hancock-San?"
At her voice, the delusional Pirate Empress seemed to snap out of her lovestruck haze. She gathered herself and attempted a dignified smile as she glanced shyly at Naru, the future sister in law in her mind. "I heard from Rayleigh San that Luffy is searching for a place to train. If he does not mind, I know a suitable location."
""Really, Hancock?" Luffy asked, eyes widening.
"Y Yes," she said, cupping her cheeks again, already flushed and glowing from nerves.
Naru, with twenty two years of life in this world plus seventeen more from her previous life, would have to be painfully dense not to understand exactly why Hancock behaved this way. She glanced toward Ace and Sabo to see whether they had caught on.
They were chatting among themselves, oblivious to the emotional spectacle playing out.
Of course they were.
How typical.
.
.
.
Since it was an urgent matter for the Whitebeard Pirates to cross the Red Line, Luffy, Rayleigh, and Boa Hancock did not linger for long.
Without wasting any time, the three of them set sail toward Amazon Lily, the island famously ruled by the formidable female Shichibukai. Traveling in a small, modest boat, they disappeared into the horizon. Meanwhile, Sabo and his fellow revolutionaries had their own pressing affairs to attend to. They requested to be dropped off at a convenient location, where they would wait patiently for Dragon, their leader, to come and retrieve them when the time was right.
In the end, as the winds shifted and their companions departed one after another, only Naru remained by Ace's side. Together, they stood quietly, watching the distant figures of Luffy and Sabo growing smaller against the vast blue sea. Earlier that day, before their departure, all of them had paid their respects to Whitebeard — a somber and heartfelt tribute, given that they could not stay to attend his proper funeral.
"Naru, we're ready to go," Marco informed her in his steady voice, breaking the silence.
Naru responded with a firm nod, her expression resolute.
They now stood before the Red Line, the colossal continent stretching endlessly across the world like a natural fortress. Its sheer height towered above them, a reminder of the ancient divide that separated one half of the world from the other. For most, crossing this barrier was a near impossibility.
But Naru was not most people.
The Whitebeard Pirates, along with members of her own shadowy team, stood a respectful distance behind her. Awe, anticipation, and reverence mixed in their eyes as they watched her step forward. The air shifted the moment she lifted her arms. Chakra surged through her body, swirling and spiraling with raw elemental force. Winds gathered around her, twisting into a powerful current infused with her unmistakable presence.
The massive ship beneath their feet began to tremble. Creaks and groans echoed through the hull as the vessel rose steadily upward, lifted not by machines nor oars, but by Naru's precise and formidable control over her power. The sight of the enormous ship ascending into the sky like a majestic creature of the sea defying gravity left many breathless.
With unwavering focus, Naru guided the vessel upward, over the towering Red Line itself. The wind wrapped around the ship in protective currents, holding it steady as though invisible hands were carrying them all with gentle precision. This extraordinary method was unquestionably the safest, quickest, and most efficient way for them to bypass the world's greatest natural barrier. Certainly far safer than navigating the bottomless depths beneath the Red Line or risking the unpredictable terrors of the Calm Belt.
Once they descended on the opposite side, Naru allowed the chakra filled storm of wind to dissipate. The ship drifted down like a feather until it touched the surface of the calm waters with a soft and graceful splash.
Marco exhaled in relief before offering her a heartfelt nod of gratitude.
"Thank you for the incredible help," he said, sincerity warming every word.
Then, true to his role as the dependable right hand of the Whitebeard Pirates, he immediately ordered everyone to set sail for Sphinx Island. It was Whitebeard's homeland, the place where his roots were planted, and now the destination where his final rest would be honored.
Whitebeard's body had been sealed by Naru using one of her specialized techniques. Her power preserved him with immaculate care, protecting him from decay, time, and even the elements. His figure remained exactly as he had been at the moment he had fallen, lying in unbroken dignity.
To anyone who saw him, he appeared almost as though he were in a peaceful slumber rather than having passed on. Thanks to Marco's decision, Whitebeard would be laid to rest near the island of his birth, where the sea breeze could forever carry the memory of his presence back home.
As preparations continued, an unexpected visitor arrived. The sea parted quietly as a lone ship approached. Upon it stood Shanks, the legendary red haired Yonko, a man known for his effortless charisma and overwhelming presence. Yet today, he carried no crew at his side. He came alone, which only magnified the weight of his arrival.
As fellow Emperors of the Sea, Shanks and Whitebeard had been natural rivals, two colossal forces who had once shaken the world simply by crossing paths. Yet beneath their legendary clashes lay a relationship forged through countless encounters, mutual respect, and the unspoken understanding that only those at the pinnacle of the pirate world could truly share.
Now Shanks approached with a solemn expression. His eyes held a profound sadness, a heaviness that came from losing someone who, despite being an adversary, had also been an irreplaceable part of the era they shaped together. Without speaking a word, Shanks stepped toward Whitebeard's grave. He bowed deeply, his head lowering in reverence for the man whose presence had once collided with his like storm against wave.
He honored the fallen legend with silence and respect, knowing Whitebeard's legacy would echo across the seas for generations to come.