The news birds are flying all over the sea.
The news shifted from the previous days' report of the clash between supernovas Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto to boasting about the Navy driving off the Hundred Beast Pirates.
The entire newspaper, with a huge spread, once again praised the foolproof strategies of the Navy's new generation genius strategist Yakushi Kabuto and the formidable combat power of Admiral Kizaru from Navy Headquarters.
Seriously...
Aren't these newspapers tired of this yet?
New World of the Grand Line.
G1 Branch Navy Base.
After the big action by the Akatsuki ended, everyone went their separate ways. Yakushi Kabuto chose to return to Marinford, while Kizaru hurried to the G1 Branch Base to confront Akainu.
When Kizaru arrived here, they didn't even need to speak; they both sensed the Tailed Beast Chakra within each other.
Indeed...
Wherever you go...
We're still on the same side, huh!
Akainu sat in his office, a cigar between his lips, flipping through a newspaper, and slowly puffed out a stream of thick smoke: "Hmph, it seems that neither Hundred Beast Kaido nor us Navy Admirals are free from that guy's control..."
"It's just inevitable..."
Kizaru sat on the sofa next to Akainu, leisurely blowing the steam off his teacup: "Anyway, the two of us have both joined the Akatsuki now..."
After saying this, Kizaru suddenly looked up at Akainu and quipped with a grin, "Who would've thought, it looks like the future of the Navy will fall into the hands of our laid-back junior..."
Kizaru was naturally referring to Aokiji.
Upon hearing Kizaru's comment, Akainu's face instantly flushed with anger: "That Kuzan guy... joined the Akatsuki even earlier than us!"
"Huh?"
Kizaru froze for a moment, then slowly lowered his head to continue sipping his tea: "Oh ho ho... seems like we're still colleagues, huh!"
"Get a grip, you!"
Akainu glared at Kizaru's laid-back attitude, his anger increasing, "I wanted to remind you not to act together with that Yakushi Kabuto bastard... and yet you still forget to bring a Radio Snail!"
"Don't say that..."
Kizaru sighed softly: "Things have reached this point, and no one wanted it... so what should we do next?"
Kizaru continued to sip his tea, letting out another sigh: "Since it's already like this, we might as well not take things too seriously in the future..."
Given that the Three Great Admirals of the Navy Headquarters are all Akatsuki undercovers, would their days just remain relaxed within the Navy, ensuring they don't bring any harm to the Navy...
This doesn't seem too different from Kizaru's past life...
Life feels the same, and joining Akatsuki doesn't seem to be anything special, since their colleagues are also Akatsuki infiltrators, there's not even a bit of the thrills of being undercover!
"Hey, get serious for a moment!"
Akainu couldn't suppress his anger, which rose again: "Stop finding these weird excuses, and be more serious from now on!
Before our identities as Akatsuki undercover agents are exposed, shouldn't we at least do more for the peace of this sea?"
Akainu's attitude was different from Kizaru's.
Originally, Akainu also wanted to slack off like Kizaru, but now the situation was different.
Since Navy Headquarters had been thoroughly infiltrated by the Akatsuki, he needed to seize the opportunity while he could still operate as an Admiral, and work even harder!
Before his identity gets exposed, he aimed to capture more pirates for the peace of the sea, rather than slacking off!
Damn it...
Now the Navy's situation has become this severe, with the Three Great Admirals of the Navy Headquarters, the new generation strategist, and the intelligence department all under Akatsuki's control!
Why is Kizaru's attitude still the same!
No...
Akainu suddenly realized that his attitude hadn't changed much either.
Aside from carrying the extra identity of Akatsuki, nothing really changed—the hardworking one remained diligent, the lazy one stayed lazy, and the slack-off Admiral continued to slack off.
"By the way, don't you find it strange?"
Kizaru slowly raised his finger, posing a question: "Yakushi Kabuto, that guy's contributions to the Navy far outweigh his harm... since he became the Navy Staff Officer, battle losses have halved."
"Hmph, that's just how it appears now..."
Akainu snorted, reaching for a document on the table: "That guy lurking in Marinford must have a bigger scheme in mind!"
"Though I suspect that too..."
Kizaru slowly shook his head and suddenly said, "Sakazuki, do you think if the Akatsuki controls the Navy, they would let pirates run rampant?"
"..."
Akainu remained silent for a moment, then put down the document.
The Admiral looked up at Kizaru and said in a low voice, "Borsalino, we can't place our hopes on..."
He interrupted himself, slowly clasped his hands together, and slightly furrowed his brows: "Speaking of which, my interaction with the Four-tailed Son Goku has been okay lately...
From Son Goku, I've actually gathered some detailed information about the Akatsuki and their leader, stuff that Kuzan didn't gather, no, maybe because knowing that guy's personality, he never bothered gathering information on the Akatsuki..."
Originally Akainu was speaking smoothly...
But when he mentioned Aokiji, his rage inevitably surged again!
Damn, that Aokiji guy is truly lazy beyond measure!
Even though he was the first among the three of them to join the Akatsuki, he didn't bother to understand this organization!
"The Son Goku within me might not have lied to me..."
Akainu slowly clasped his hands, supporting his chin, and said in a deep voice, "These Tailed Beasts are just like that bunch from Akatsuki. These Tailed Beasts prefer to refer to Uehara Naraku as a god walking among men..."
"A god?"
Kizaru's mouth curled up slightly. Remembering his battle with Uehara Naraku, he couldn't help but chuckle softly, saying, "If we talk about it, given his ability to easily crush my strength, that person really could be called a god!"
"I'm not discussing the matter of power."
Akainu interrupted Kizaru's words and continued coldly, "Remember what the Heavenly Celestial Dragons are called in the world... They claim to be the descendants of gods! Because the twenty kings who established the World Government back then were also called gods..."
Akainu looked at Kizaru and continued with a serious tone, "The title of god is not used casually. That leader of Akatsuki may also want to rebuild the world's order, just like the twenty kings from the past!"
This matter...
Akainu had never spoken of it externally.
Now, for the first time, Akainu talked about it with Kizaru, precisely because of their friendship over the years and their shared fate.
If Akatsuki truly wants to overthrow the World Government's order...
A force peering into the world's order trying to overturn the world would cause a huge upheaval!
And they, as Navy Admirals with justice in their hearts yet bound by Akatsuki, would be in a very awkward position.
Perhaps because of this...
Yakushi Kabuto gradually gained control over the Navy's power, constantly accumulating the Navy's prestige, and Akatsuki intentionally enlisted these Navy Admirals?
"Ah, if what you say is right..."
Kizaru's mouth suddenly curled into a smile, turning to glance at Akainu: "Sakazuki, what does this have to do with us?"
Kizaru smiled, shaking his head, and picked up his cup again: "Well, well, well... we're just the Navy... we should just continue capturing pirates..."
Kizaru slowly drank tea, adjusting his glasses, and continued to smile lightly: "Sakazuki, it's enough to uphold the justice in your heart... Besides, there's not much else we can do now, right?"
"You're right!"
Akainu slowly crossed his arms and said in a serious tone, "There's nothing wrong in the New World at the moment, tomorrow I'll return to the base at Marineford with you!"
"Eh?"
"Call Kuzan along, let's ask that guy Yakushi Kabuto!"
Black smoke of magma rose from Akainu's hand as his voice continued grimly, "If Akatsuki really intends to change the world's order and rule it... what place do they want to put the Navy's justice!"
Akainu's fist heavily hit the table, magma slowly burned through it: "No, let's go now, so as not to waste time!"
Off they went.
Akainu and Kizaru directly boarded the warship, traversing the Holy Land Mary Geoise on the Red Earth Continent, rushing back to the Navy Headquarters at Marineford.
Just in time, the Admirals of the Navy Headquarters all gathered at Marineford.
Upon seeing Akainu and Kizaru return, Aokiji also realized Kizaru had joined Akatsuki, and being on the same line again, the way the three Admirals interacted seemed to revert to their former state.
Perhaps because they all had another layer of identity...
Upon seeing Aokiji, Akainu did not leave coldly but rather stifledly called out to him: "Kuzan, we have something to discuss, come along!"
"Hmm, there's no need for that..."
Aokiji patted his forehead and slowly said: "Just as you're back to oversee Marineford, I'll go out to patrol..."
"Kuzan!"
Akainu interrupted Aokiji, coldly saying: "The current situation is very dangerous, I have something very important to discuss!"
"..."
Aokiji scratched his head.
Akainu, that guy, still so troublesome!
From Aokiji's perspective, now that all three Admirals at Navy Headquarters were Akatsuki's undercover agents, why not just continue to drift along calmly within the Navy?
Actually...
Akatsuki wouldn't demand anything bad from the Admirals.
Moreover, Akatsuki wouldn't inflict any harm on the Navy.
Because Aokiji had a private contact person, he could know Akatsuki's situation and Uehara Naraku's attitude through Nico Robin...
During this time, Aokiji understood more than Akainu.
According to Nico Robin in Wano Country, Akatsuki now has many powerful members, with tens of thousands of formidable armored forces on its periphery.
And regarding Akatsuki's policy in Wano Country, Akatsuki isn't truly evil; it's even more friendly to civilians. Perhaps in the future, it might be an organization that could bring order and peace to the world.
Of course...
Aokiji believed that even if he said this, Akainu and Kizaru probably wouldn't believe him, so he directly chose to leisurely stay at Marineford.
"Alright..."
Aokiji looked at Akainu, who was still stubborn, glanced at the helpless-faced Kizaru, and could only nod: "Why don't we find a place to have a drink?"
When it comes down to it...
The three Admirals seemed to have never gathered!
Or rather, Aokiji was single-handedly uninterested, because he and Akainu couldn't stand each other...
Now, due to the Akatsuki matter, the relationship between Akainu and Aokiji, it's unknown whether it's gradually improving or getting worse...
This world is truly absurd.
The Admirals of Navy Headquarters gathered not because they were the World Government's highest combat force, but because they were all undercover agents for Akatsuki.