Aokiji's voice was unusually firm as the Den Den Mushi mimicked his expression.
"Fleet Admiral… we made contact. It didn't go well."
Sengoku: "I assumed as much. Report."
Aokiji exhaled, a chilled mist drifting from his mouth.
Aokiji: "We didn't come back empty-handed. This time… we figured out a lot about their abilities."
The room on Sengoku's end fell silent.
Aokiji: "First—Hidan. He's the most dangerous out of the group, in my opinion."
Sengoku's brows rose. "More dangerous than Nagato?"
Aokiji: "In a different way. The man is… immortal. We watched him take wounds that should be fatal. And once he gets someone's blood… that's it. We saw a Vice Admiral die during our retreat. No contact. No direct attack. Just… dead. It's an execution ability."
Sengoku's grip on the receiver tightened.
Aokiji continued.
Aokiji: "Kakuzu uses multiple element-based techniques.Deidara creates explosive constructs with some special clay, however it doesn't seem infinite. Sasori uses deadly poisons and some sort of puppetry. Konan transforms into countless sheets of paper—each acting independently. Kisame manipulates water on a massive scale. And Itachi… we still have nothing. He didn't move."
Sengoku: "And Nagato?"
Aokiji's expression hardened on the Den Den Mushi's face.
Aokiji: "He used something we couldn't see. Invisible… intangible… but real. They hit us from angles we couldn't predict. Even our Observation Haki only picked up faint traces."
Aokiji: "Whatever it is—he overwhelmed two Admirals at once without effort."
A long silence followed.
Sengoku finally breathed out, slow and heavy.
"…Understood. Return to Marineford immediately."
"Right."
The call ended, leaving the air in Marineford suffocating.
For the first time in years, Sengoku felt something he despised most:
Uncertainty.
-----------------
Two hours later…
The black-and-red warship rocked gently as Kakuzu approached from the Sabaody dock, dragging two enormous burlap bags behind him—each one so full of berries the seams looked ready to burst.
Deidara leaned over the railing. "Oi… Kakuzu, what'd you do, rob the whole base?"
Kakuzu clicked his tongue.Kakuzu: "I collected what I was owed."
He stepped aboard, the bags thudding heavily against the deck.
Kisame whistled. "That's more than just bounties…"
Kakuzu: "Some Marines tried preventing the payout. So I visited their treasury too."
Nagato didn't even look surprised."Did anyone survive?"
Kakuzu shrugged. "Enough to keep the base functioning. Barely."
Konan raised a brow. "You restrained yourself."
Kakuzu: "Only because the corpses don't pay once they're burned to ash."
Hidan burst out laughing.
Kakuzu dragged the overflowing bags toward the ship's interior, muttering as he went:
Kakuzu: "This world is a goldmine."
Nagato watched him go, then turned to the others.
Nagato: "Prepare to depart. We're done here."
------------
Mary Geoise — Pangaea Castle
The atmosphere inside the high council chamber was heavier than usual. A long silence hung in the air before Saturn finally spoke, breaking it with a grim exhale.
Saturn: "So… Nagato has finally revealed his true power."
Mars' expression twisted in irritation.Mars: "Not only him. His entire group is a problem. These 'Akatsuki'—every report we've received places their strength far above standard pirates."
Warcury slammed his staff against the floor, his voice echoing.Warcury: "Two admirals forced to retreat. That alone warrants immediate action."
Nusjuro leaned back, stroking his beard slowly.Nusjuro: "And the immortal one… Hidan. A man who can kill simply by obtaining blood? That ability. It's troublesome."
Peter, the quietest, closed the report file in front of him.Peter: "Troublesome isn't the word. If the Marines hadn't retreated when they did, more vice admirals, and possibly even an Admiral would've died. We can't afford that—not with the world already destabilizing."
Saturn placed a hand on the table, his tone decisive.
Saturn: "Issue an immediate recall. All Celestial Dragons are to return to the Holy Land until further notice."
The other elders raised their eyes.
Mars: "All of them?"
Saturn nodded."Every last one. If Nagato's group is on Sabaody, they're already too close to the Tenryuubito for comfort. We will not risk an incident."
Warcury added sharply: "And inform the Marines: no direct confrontation with the Akatsuki until further analysis. We need more information before we deploy drastic measures."
Nusjuro tapped his sword against his shoulder, smirking slightly despite the tension.
"They think they can challenge the world government… Let them enjoy their freedom for now. It won't last."
Peter whispered the final words of the meeting:
"Nagato… Akatsuki… this isn't the first time someone has challenged the worlds order. Just like Rocks, they'll be purged and then erased from history."