Starting as the mastermind behind Naruto

Chapter 438 Should I continue to infiltrate her side?

Naval Headquarters.

Marineford, Marshal's office.

After listening to Drake's report, Sengoku sighed deeply and said, "Kakuzu is our most ideal candidate for the position of Shichibukai!"

Buddha Sengoku pulled out a document and continued in a deep voice, "As a bounty hunter, Kakuzu would never rob civilians, or at least would not cause them any harm."

"That's hard to say."

Vice Admiral Tsuru sat opposite him and sighed softly, "I've heard of his reputation. That bounty hunter is extremely greedy. Making him one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea might cause even greater harm to the sea if he were to start legally plundering as well."

"I will send someone to talk to him."

Sengoku the Buddha handed the document to Vice Admiral Tsuru and calmly said, "Take a look at this news first! Another Shichibukai, Jinbe, was captured by the Spade Pirates yesterday, supposedly to stop them from challenging Whitebeard..."

"Whitebeard has always protected Fishman Island..."

Vice Admiral Tsuru looked at the intelligence report and frankly said, "It's understandable that Jinbe did what he did. If he were killed by the Spade Pirates..."

"That's perfect."

Sengoku the Buddha calmly continued, "After the war against Crocodile is over, I will privately send someone to talk to that fishman named Kisame Hoshigaki. He must go to Fishman Island to replace Jinbe in order to maintain the balance of the sea."

Sengoku the Buddha said softly, "Crocodile and Jinbe, two of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, have both met with misfortune. One of their positions will be given to Kakuzu, and the other to Kisame Hoshigaki."

"So, you told Rear Admiral Drake about having Kisame, Sasori, and Deidara compete for the same spot..."

"Just to deceive those pirates along the way."

Sengoku the Buddha's expression remained perfectly calm, showing no shame whatsoever. He continued, "I never imagined that Crocodile's power would surpass our expectations."

Major Uehara Naraku of the SWORD Squad had already warned us, but ultimately we thought his strength was too low and we were too careless about what he said.

"I wonder how things are over there..."

Lieutenant General Tsuru's eyes showed a hint of worry: "This operation was rushed too much under the World Government's pressure. We should gather more people and make thorough preparations before taking action."

"Hmph, they're probably anxious about Hades' whereabouts!"

Sengoku's face immediately showed a hint of dissatisfaction: "Those old guys never take the lives of the navy seriously. Fortunately, the SWORD force did not make any mistakes this time. Although there was a certain amount of luck involved, the SWORD plan has proven to be feasible."

"Um."

Lieutenant General Tsuru nodded slowly.

This time, Drake's operation to take down Baroque Works and Crocodile encountered some trouble, and it was only by sheer luck that the operation was barely considered a success, but the cost to the Navy was not high.

If the Navy were to formally encircle and annihilate a Shichibukai and his forces, it would need to deploy at least one admiral, along with a full complement of accompanying warships and soldiers.

Alabasta.

After the two parties agree on the terms.

Kisame Hoshigaki, Sasori, and Deidara immediately rushed to the center of the desert to assist Admiral Aokiji in besieging Crocodile. When they arrived, the battle had already reached a fever pitch, with Crocodile manipulating endless yellow sand to frantically attack Aokiji's ice wall!

"Magnetic Escape·Golden Sand!"

With a flick of his fingers, Sasori manipulated the Third and Fourth Kazekage to make the magnets and gold dust in the yellow sand tumble out. In an instant, the magnets and gold dust formed a hard wall that blocked the sandstorm's attack!

"Water Release: Big Explosive Water Wave!"

Kisame Hoshigaki showed no weakness, opening his mouth and spewing out a torrent of water. A towering wave of water descended from the sky, transforming into a huge lake that directly submerged Crocodile's sandstorm!

"Mr. Crocodile."

Kisame Hoshigaki grinned, his smile particularly sinister: "We meet again! I didn't expect so many people to be vying for your head..."

"Kisame Hoshigaki, Sasori, Deidara..."

Crocodile's gaze slowly moved as he saw them appear, and he said coldly, "Looks like Nico Robin doesn't have a very good eye for people..."

That woman…

Why did you pick a bunch of traitors?

At this moment, Crocodile felt that Nico Robin was deliberately messing with him. How did so many powerful people manage to infiltrate Baroque Works?

"At least one thing Miss Robin wasn't wrong about."

Kisame Hoshigaki pulled out Samehada from his back and chuckled, saying, "The people she chose are all quite strong... oh, only Uehara Naruto's strength isn't that great."

"puff…"

Deidara, standing atop the giant clay bird, couldn't help but burst out laughing. He quickly nodded and said, "That guy's strength within Baroque Works is indeed a bit questionable..."

Why does this person look down on Uehara Naraku?

Major General Drake frowned slightly. He didn't quite like these people's slander against Uehara Naraku, who was his direct subordinate.

Yes, although Uehara Naraku is not very strong, he has a stronger sense of justice than everyone in Baroque Works, and his life is more meaningful than that of the pirates in Baroque Works.

Crocodile manipulated the yellow sand to form a tight sand sphere, enveloping himself within it, and his expression subtly turned sinister and terrifying.

"A bunch of bastards...showing up at this time..."

"Mr. Crocodile..."

Kisame Hoshigaki grinned, brandishing his Samehada sword as he charged in, cleaving the sand sphere in two with a single strike. He looked at Crocodile and chuckled, "Only at times like this can you fetch a higher price!"

"Do you think you've already won?"

A cloud of yellow sand suddenly floated up from Crocodile's feet, carrying his body into the air. Under his control, an endless sea of ​​sand surged in from all around!

"Of course we're going to win!"

Deidara flung out clay twin-winged birds, laughing and saying, "Hahahaha, you know nothing... how are you going to fight us? Hahahaha!"

Suddenly, clay biplanes appeared around Crocodile, instantly blasting away the yellow sand beneath his feet!

Crocodile's figure instantly collapsed!

"Water Release·Water Crush Wave!"

A burst of water gushed out of Kisame Hoshigaki's mouth, wetting Crocodile's body and preventing him from entering the Sand-Sand Fruit's elemental form!

Sasori of the Red Sand manipulated the Third Kazekage to shoot out black magnets that instantly pierced Crocodile's body, imprisoning him in place!

Crocodile looked at the wound on his shoulder where the magnet had pierced him, and suddenly a thick tail grew from his back, pulling him out of his predicament.

"I have to go now..."

Crocodile's expression was not good. Although Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast, was helping him recover from his injuries, the enemies he was facing now were not easy to deal with.

Kisame Hoshigaki is too much of a counter to his abilities...

Add to that the strangely powerful enemies Sasori and Deidara, and the ever-present threat of Admiral Aokiji…

This place is no longer safe!

A massive manhunt that spanned across Alabasta has begun!

Crocodile, almost covered in wounds, was fleeing all over Alabasta. He had been on the run for several days, with the people behind him chasing him like a cat playing with a mouse!

Whenever he wanted to stop and rest for a while, his pursuers would appear behind him. In the past few days, Crocodile has been unable to rest or even replenish his strength, and has been desperately rushing towards the nearby city.

The only good news for Crocodile was that Nico Robin didn't seem to have abandoned him; she even sent a Den Den Mushi to tell him to run away together.

"Mr. Crocodile."

Nico Robin's voice sounded somewhat relaxed: "I'm leaving Alabasta soon. Want to come with me? I've heard all about it..."

"snort…"

Crocodile snorted coldly, his voice chilling as he said, "I thought a woman like you would betray me too..."

"I was betrayed too!"

Nico Robin sighed and said softly, "Because I'm the vice president of Baroque Works, I can no longer stay in the first half of the Grand Line, but it would be very dangerous to enter the New World without any crew..."

"Prepare a speedboat and wait for me at the harbor!"

Crocodile coldly gave the order, his voice chilling as he continued, "If I discover any problems..."

Don't worry.

Nico Robin chuckled softly, glanced at Uehara Naraku beside her, and continued in a low voice, "We already have a homeless high-ranking agent on our ship, so all we need now is a powerful captain!"

After saying that, Nicole Robin hung up the phone.

Crocodile's expression showed a hint of hesitation; he wasn't sure whether he should trust Nico Robin, after all, the organizations she had previously served had all been destroyed…

Oh shit…

Why didn't he learn his lesson?

Unfortunately, apart from Nico Robin, there isn't a single one of his own in Alabasta right now, because Crocodile has never trusted the strength of his comrades and subordinates, so he doesn't have any subordinates at all.

As for the high-ranking agent that Nico Robin mentioned, it should be Uehara Naraku, who is the weakest, right?

Is loyalty justified because of weakness?

Crocodile had no time to think. The pursuers arrived again, forcing him to believe Nico Robin's words and leave Alabasta no matter what!

Alabasta, port.

Nico Robin hung up Crocodile's Den Den Mushi.

Uehara Naraku dialed Rear Admiral Drake's Den Den Mushi and whispered, "Rear Admiral Drake, I've encountered Vice President Nico Robin. I'm no match for her."

But now she's inviting me to leave Alabasta together and head to the second half of the Grand Line... Hmm? Should I continue to infiltrate her side for now?

(End of this chapter)