The Akatsuki's new ship cut across the New World, its hull painted black with red clouds. Their flag a simple headband symbol with a line through it—flew above the mast. It was exactly the design Nagato requested.
A short flashback played in Nagato's mind:
Tesoro had personally overseen the construction."You helped strike the Celestial Dragons," he said. "That makes you allies. I'll fund anything you need."
Nagato listed the specifications.Tesoro nodded once, then ordered his workers to begin immediately.
The ship took weeks to complete.
During that time, the Akatsuki, Mainly Konan and Kakazu researched everything about this world, using Tesoro's resources to find out information about Haki, Devil Fruits, Admirals, Yonko, the Revolutionary Army, the bounty system, and the structure of the World Government.
Hearing about money and bounties was all Kakuzu needed.
"For every head… you're telling me they pay?" he asked, arms crossed.
Tesoro confirmed it.
Kakuzu's eyes gleamed."Then this world is perfect."
Deidara was interested in Devil Fruits, especially after seeing the bomu bomu no mi in a book about devil fruits calling it "the missing piece to complete my art."Hidan laughed at the idea of immortality existing in a world without Jashin, having heard about the so called unkillable Kaido.Sasori listened quietly, already planning new puppet ideas, preferably people with devil fruit abilities. Itachi analyzed everything, comparing it to chakra principles.Konan stayed close to Nagato, absorbing as much information as possible.Kisame simply grinned and said, "This world's strong. I like it."
And Enel… stood in the corner with his arms crossed, confused.
Everyone else seemed to know each other.They spoke casually, referenced past missions, argued like an old squad.
Enel finally muttered, "Tch… I don't know a single one of these people."
Kisame looked at him, smirked. "You'll get used to us."
"Don't treat me like I'm the outsider here," Enel snapped—though the tone betrayed some awkwardness.
Itachi simply turned to him. "You followed Nagato here. That's enough for now. The rest will come with time."
Enel clicked his tongue but didn't argue.
When the ship was finally finished, Tesoro handed it off himself.
"Use it however you want," he said. "Just keep going after the Celestial Dragons."
Nagato promised he would.
Now they stood on the deck, the New World wind blowing against their cloaks.
Nagato spoke first."Before anything else, we focus on Haki. If we can understand it, this world becomes much easier to deal with."
Itachi nodded. "It's similar to chakra flow… but not the same."
Deidara leaned over the railing. "If it lets me fight those light-speed guys, fine."
Hidan shrugged. "As long as someone tells me how to kill people with it."
Kakuzu cracked his fingers. "If mastering it lets me collect higher bounties, I'll learn it."
Sasori simply said, "New materials. New enemies. New puppets."
Konan looked at Nagato. "Where do we start?"
Nagato closed his eyes. "Observation first. The basics. Feeling presence. Identifying intent."
He opened them again."And from there… we learn everything this world has to offer."
The ship sailed onward, no clear location in mind for now.
------------------
A few days passed as the Akatsuki continued deeper into the New World.
Nagato stood at the front of the ship, sensing the waves of life around them. Kisame was sitting near Itachi, seemingly talking to Samehada. Deidara and Sasori were arguing about "true art." Hidan was praying loudly to a god nobody here recognized. Enel sat on the mast, arms crossed, listening to the ocean's waves.
Then Itachi's eyes shifted.
"…Approaching vessel. Marine."
Nagato turned.A Marine warship was cutting through the waves toward them at full speed, cannons already shifting into position.
Kisame grinned. "Heh. Finally."
Hidan cracked his neck. "Let me kill the first one."
Deidara raised a hand. "No way, my art should—"
Nagato stepped forward, readying himself. His Rinnegan narrowed.
"If they attack, we sink them."
But before anything started, the Marine ship suddenly stopped.
Confusion rippled across the Akatsuki.
On the Marine deck, telescopes snapped downward. Voices panicked.
"That's him!""That's Nagato!""Turn the ship around—NOW!""He defeated Admiral Kizaru! We're not fighting that!"
The Marine ship violently turned, nearly tipping onto its side as the helmsman spun the wheel with both hands.
Kakuzu scoffed. "Cowards."
Enel blinked, almost offended. "What? They're running? Without even trying to fight?"
Kisame rested Samehada on his shoulder. "Guess your reputation hit them harder than I expected."
Nagato watched them flee until they were nothing but a speck on the horizon.
"…Good," he said quietly. "The fewer interruptions, the better."
He turned from the railing.
"We continue."
The Akatsuki moved on.
But the Marines didn't waste a second.
Within the next minute, a Den Den Mushi was ringing off the hook inside Marineford.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Report from the reconnaissance ship on the New World route!"
Sengoku turned sharply. "Are one of the Yonko making a move?"
"No, sir. It's Nagato, Enel, and Kisame… and six new individuals."
Tsuru paused mid-step."Six?"
The Marine swallowed. "They weren't there during the Kizaru incident. They're confirmed to be traveling on Nagato's ship now."
A second Den Den Mushi rang—this one connected directly to Lieutenant Ink.
Sengoku picked it up immediately."Ink. Tell me you have something."
Ink's voice came through steady, though tinged with unease.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral. I've already used my Devil Fruit to confirm their identities."
Papers shuffled in the background.Ink continued:
"Names as follows:Deidara. Hidan. Kakuzu. Sasori. Konan. And… Itachi."
The room went still.
"Those names—none of them match any records. Again."
Ink exhaled."Same as with Nagato and Kisame. Their histories… their past… it's blank. Completely blank. There is nothing behind their names."
Sengoku's expression darkened.
"However one additional piece of information appeared for all of them." Ink added, "It say's they're all part of an organization called… the Akatsuki."
That name echoed through the office.
Garp leaned back, having fallen asleep.
Akainu clicked his teeth."So now it's an entire organization… not just three monsters."
Sengoku shut his eyes for a moment, the weight pressing on him.
"…Eight individuals with unknown origins.All following one man."
He reopened his eyes, voice low, as he spoke up to the first den den mushi that contacted him.
"Continue to monitor their movements, but do not engage. If possible, find out the abilities of the newcomers.
"Yes, sir."
The call ended.
Sengoku groaned at how troublesome this was becoming.
"…The Akatsuki," he muttered. "A new force in this world."
And one they were not prepared for.