""" What if Naruto was the son of the strongest Uchiha in history? 🔥 Read my new book, Naruto: My Father is Uchiha Madara, and watch Naruto inherit Madara's blood, power, and ambition to shake the entire shinobi world! """
As Luffy stepped into the crowd, he heard that familiar tone and voice.
"The Marines on this warship have already been turned to stone. This Empress is not here to fight you. Quick, tell me where Luffy is." One moment, the voice was arrogant and overbearing; the next, it turned incredibly soft and sweet. "Is he... is he safe...?"
The Division Commanders: "..."
The crew members who were already dazed by Hancock's beauty felt their hearts shatter in unison upon hearing her speak of Luffy with such tender concern.
"Seriously, what exactly is the relationship between Straw Hat and the Empress? To think she'd worry about him like this..."
"Ace's brother... he's got it good. To have the Empress come 'ten thousand miles' just to find him..."
"Hancock!" Amidst the crowd's shock and suspicion, a loud, cheerful voice rang out.
"Ahahaha! Hancock, what are you doing here?" Luffy lunged forward and pulled the Empress into a massive hug. "Hahaha... thank you so much for everything before, Hancock!"
"Ah... nn..." Hancock was instantly flustered. Her hands and feet felt like they didn't belong to her as she stammered incoherently, "Lu... Luffy... I'm so glad... you're safe..."
"ARGH! Straw Hat actually... He's so lucky, damn it!"
"My goddess... Curse you, Ace's brother!"
"Exactly! Ace's brother is barely even human anymore!"
The Division Commanders watched their grumbling crew members and collectively facepalmed. It was embarrassing; if it weren't for their own extraordinary mental discipline, they might have looked just as pathetic.
Ace and Sabo were equally dumbfounded. They exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes, before breaking into wide grins. This kind of situation wasn't really surprising when it came to Luffy; after all, their little brother had a knack for turning everyone around him into an ally.
Still, the Empress's behavior gave them a start. They had certainly heard of the Pirate Empress. Wasn't she rumored to despise men with a passion? Why was she like this with Luffy?
"It seems our little brother's charm is no small thing. Looking at the Empress, this relationship is definitely not ordinary," Ace said, chuckling.
"Yeah," Sabo agreed, shaking his head with a smile.
Being hugged so tightly by Luffy, Hancock felt her strength deserting her. She felt like she was about to melt into a puddle on the deck.
"Lu... Luffy... let go for a second..."
"Hancock!" Luffy stepped back slightly, keeping his hands on her shoulders. "I really don't know how to thank you."
The help she had given him was so immense that he felt he could never repay it. First, she had risked everything to get him onto a Marine warship to reach Impel Down, and then she had handed him the key to Ace's handcuffs at Marineford. Each was an act of profound kindness.
"Oh... Luffy..." Hancock's body was limp and her face was beet-red. Her thoughts had already flown to the heavens; she had no idea what Luffy was actually saying. The word "MARRIAGE" was flashing in giant letters in her mind, and she was already rehearsing the wedding vows.
After a long while, Hancock finally snapped back to reality.
"Luffy..."
"Yeah?" Luffy looked puzzled.
"Don't you need to find your comrades? I've already notified Sandersonia and the others. I will take you to the Sabaody Archipelago myself," Hancock said, looking at Luffy with eyes full of "devotion."
Luffy was completely blind to her expression, but hearing that he was going to Sabaody, he instantly energized.
"Really!? You're taking me to Sabaody? Haha, that's great!"
"Mm..." Hancock covered her flushed face with her hands, looking incredibly shy.
The Crowd: "!!!"
Seeing this, Ace turned to Sabo. "From the looks of it, he doesn't need your help getting back."
"Hahaha... yeah. Our little brother has really grown up," Sabo replied with a gentle smile.
"Then Sabo, how will you leave?" Ace asked. "You aren't really planning to just take a small boat, are you? This is the Grand Line, and you're a Devil Fruit user now. How about I escort you?"
Ace didn't know how Sabo had acquired the powers of the Flame-Flame Fruit, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that seawater is a power user's greatest weakness. In a storm, a small boat wouldn't survive. If it capsized, a power user would have no way to save themselves. This was why Ace was reluctant to let Sabo leave so casually.
The Whitebeard Pirates, however, couldn't linger here much longer; they had to return to the New World as soon as possible.
Just as Sabo was about to respond, a shout came from behind.
"Sabo!"
"Hmm?" Sabo turned around in confusion, only to see a massive face shouting toward him. Once he recognized the person, his lips curled into a grin. "Ivankov."
"Look, that warship belongs to Emporio Ivankov of the Revolutionary Army. And..." A crew member's mouth twitched as he saw the group of people following the giant head. "...and a whole bunch of Newkamas."
"It's alright, Ace. I'll take this warship back." Sabo and Ace shared a knowing smile.
"Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!" The Newkamas on the warship began a frantic, high-energy dance, leaving Sabo momentarily stunned.
"Straw Hat Boy! Jimbei!" Ivankov waved a massive hand, his expression theatrical and tearful. "Though it breaks our hearts to part, the time has come!" Ivankov covered his face, looking utterly devastated.
"Yeah... Straw Hat Boy, we'll miss you so much!" the Newkamas wailed.
Luffy stared at them, bewildered. Jimbei stepped out from the crowd as well, but found himself at a loss for words.
"But partings are inevitable! We have our own dreams and missions! The Kamabakka Kingdom and many sweethearts are waiting for me... mm-hmm!" Suddenly, Ivankov's tragic expression vanished. He gave a grand wave and struck a pose, showing only his "lonely" back. "Let's go!"
"Destination: Newkama Land!"
Sabo stepped onto the warship and looked back at Ace, Luffy, and Kenshin.
"Tell Dragon Soul goodbye for me. I'm heading out." With a wave, Sabo turned around, a slight smile on his face. It's so good to see you all safe...
"Sabo," Ivankov whispered, winking as he covered his mouth. "Are you... crying?"
"Huh?" Sabo looked away quickly, snapping, "Don't talk nonsense! Why would I be crying?"
Ivankov gave him an 'I understand' look. "Oh~"
The Newkamas all nodded in unison. It wasn't every day one got to see the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army show such emotion.
As the warship drifted further away, Luffy took a deep breath and roared, "Sabo! We'll meet again in the New World!"
Sabo, who had just regained his composure, couldn't help himself. A stray tear fell. He quickly wiped it away, pretending nothing had happened.
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