Starting as the mastermind behind Naruto

Chapter 457 A New Generation of Strategists in Marineford... Emerges!

"You bastard, I'll kill you right now!"

Crocodile roared almost hoarsely as he brandished his golden poison hook, ready to pierce Uehara Naraku's body!

No matter who it is, if they knew that everything about them was under someone else's control, and that their life was being rewritten in secret by others, they would be furious!

Just as Crocodile was furiously about to pierce Uehara Naraku with his golden poison hook, the eyes of two Marine Admirals flashed!

The next moment, two tall figures attacked simultaneously!

Crocodile's left side was as cold as ice, while his right side was as hot as magma. He was immediately blocked by the two Marine Admirals!

This is a real naval admiral!

The two Marine Admirals unleashed their full power, their auras completely different from when they met in Alabasta. Aokiji's palm was filled with cold air, while Akainu's was filled with magma, instantly striking Crocodile's body!

The most fatal thing is...

The One-Tailed Shukaku inside Crocodile is still suppressing his power!

How is Crocodile supposed to fight now?

Even if they risked their lives, they had little confidence whatsoever!

Crocodile was sent flying backward, half of his body made of ice and half of magma, and he was instantly and seriously injured by the combined efforts of the two Marine Admirals!

At this moment, Crocodile truly realized the power of an Admiral, and also realized the limitations that Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast, placed on his body!

If it weren't for Shukaku, he might have been able to put up a fight; now Shukaku is trying to take over his body, leaving him powerless to resist the Admiral's attacks!

"Captain Crocodile."

Uehara Naraku walked to Crocodile's side, looked at the heavily injured Crocodile, and slowly said, "Do you remember what you said?"

Uehara Naraku squatted down beside Crocodile, looking at the furious crocodile, and chuckled, "Don't be angry. Didn't you treat all of us Baroque Works people as tools back then?"

Uehara Naraku patted Crocodile on the shoulder and said softly, "I wasn't angry when you treated me like a tool. I just did what you said and turned you into a tool. Why are you so angry?"

Uehara Naraku continued slowly, "As a person... it's best not to have double standards. I really dislike two types of people: one type is those who have double standards in their conduct and actions; the other type is those who don't allow me to have double standards."

"..."

Aokiji and Akainu, standing behind Uehara Naraku, were speechless.

Crocodile's eyes also showed a hint of confusion. What nonsense was this bastard talking about?

However, this did not diminish Crocodile's anger!

After briefly suppressing the power of Shukaku, Crocodile's hand suddenly transformed into a large sword made of yellow sand, ready to cut Uehara Naraku in two!

"The Desert Sword!"

Bang!

Crocodile's sword, made of yellow sand, was shattered by Uehara Naraku's punch!

Uehara Naraku's palm stopped on Crocodile's face, and a wave of water surged from his palm, quickly turning into a water sphere that enveloped Crocodile's body!

"This is…"

Crocodile stared in horror at the water sphere covering his body!

In just a few seconds, the water sphere quickly engulfed Crocodile, causing him to rapidly lose his Devil Fruit powers and slowly fall into a coma.

After watching Crocodile faint, Uehara Naraku slowly released the water sphere and whispered, "Let's send Crocodile to Impel Down! We'll have a chance to meet again in the future!"

"Um?"

Akainu looked at Uehara Naraku and said in a deep voice, "Why keep Crocodile alive? He's no longer of any use, is he?"

"Who knows..."

Uehara Naraku smiled, looked at the sand crocodile on the ground, and said softly, "Perhaps it's still somewhat useful... I need someone to reveal my identity at a crucial moment?"

I've been provoking this guy, trying to make him hate me, so that he'll unknowingly become a pawn in my game, filled with hatred.

"I can't understand it."

Akainu grabbed Crocodile by the collar, shook his head, and said, "Shouldn't someone like Lord Uehara be trying his best to hide his identity?"

Uehara Naraku smiled and spread his palms, saying, "If I did something bad but no one knew, how could I experience the joy of being the mastermind?"

"...Ugh...that's really some kind of twisted sense of humor..."

Aokiji shook his head helplessly and sighed, "But if that's the case, aren't you worried that Crocodile might leak the secret?"

Uehara Naraku waved his hand dismissively and chuckled, "This guy also has Shukaku on him, how could he possibly leak the secret?"

"..."

Akainu fell silent.

The admiral remembered the four-tailed Son Goku on his body.

Once you become a Jinchūriki, will you always be controlled by the person who can control the Tailed Beasts? Uehara Naraku didn't have time to pay attention to Akainu's little thoughts; he was looking at all the rewards he had received today.

Side Quest: Defeat Marine Admiral Akainu (1/1). Quest complete. Rewards: 200000 Life Energy, 200000 Armament Haki, and 200000 Observation Haki.

The rewards for defeating Akainu...

The reward is even higher than the reward for defeating Aokiji!

This is truly unexpected; Akainu's strength is actually higher than Aokiji's?

Regardless, this is good news for Uehara Naraku. Now, he has two of the three admirals of the Marine Headquarters... only the last one remains...

Side Quest: Recruit the three admirals of the Navy Headquarters (2/3). Quest incomplete, reward unknown.

Besides the mission to defeat Akainu...

Crocodile's rewards are surprisingly substantial!

Side Quest: Frustrate Crocodile's Plot (1/1), Quest Completed, Fixed Reward: Elemental Power (Sand)

This talent skill…

That's the ability that Uehara Naraku wanted most!

In addition, there are rewards for defeating Crocodile.

Side Quest: Defeat Crocodile (1/1). Quest complete. Rewards: 88000 Life Energy, 88000 Armament Haki, and 88000 Observation Haki.

This is a very auspicious number.

This is Crocodile's current bounty.

Crocodile's bounty was 8 million Berries when he left Alabasta, and after causing trouble in Water 3000, his bounty increased by 5000 million Berries...

Let's go!

Uehara Naraku waved his hand, summoning a cloud of yellow sand that appeared beneath his feet, lifting them into the air. He asked softly, "Go and report to Sengoku! By the way, could you perhaps promote me?"

"cannot."

"cannot."

The two Marine Admirals unanimously rejected Uehara Naraku's proposal, with Akainu even explaining in a deep voice, "This requires Fleet Admiral Sengoku's approval..."

"This is negotiable..."

Uehara Naraku sighed and said softly, "When you reported, you said I was brave and resourceful enough to capture Crocodile... Even if I don't become a Vice Admiral in the Marine Headquarters, I should at least be a Marine Captain, right? My rank is even lower than Kabuto Yakushi's!"

"That guy Kabuto..."

After a moment's hesitation, Aokiji whispered, "Kabuto Yakushi has been promoted to Rear Admiral for his successful negotiations with Kisame Hoshigaki, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea..."

This is absolutely outrageous.

Kisame Hoshigaki and Kabuto Yakushi, two allies, negotiated, and after their talks, Kisame became a Shichibukai, while Kabuto was promoted in rank…

This is treating the Navy and the World Government like fools!

Unfortunately, Aokiji couldn't reveal the truth, so he chose to ignore it.

Upon hearing this, Akainu frowned, his expression turning slightly grim: "That Marine Rear Admiral Kabuto... is also a member of Akatsuki?"

Akainu's expression darkened slightly. He slowly reached up and covered his hat, whispering, "That guy will be temporarily working alongside Zephyr and Vice Admiral Tsuru... learning how to be a competent staff officer and a true Marine!"

That young rear admiral!

If Akainu remembers correctly, Fleet Admiral Sengoku personally praised the young Kabuto Yakushi as quite intelligent and resourceful, somewhat like himself in his youth, and capable of succeeding Vice Admiral Tsuru as a staff officer at the Marine Headquarters…

After all, Lieutenant General Tsuru will soon be 72 years old…

We also desperately need successors for the new era…

Kabuto Yakushi is studying at Marineford, the Marine Headquarters, learning the Six Powers of the Navy, to see if he can awaken dual-color Haki. He is also an important talent that the Navy will cultivate for the future.

but…

Akainu remembered that Fleet Admiral Sengoku had mentioned that Kabuto Yakushi's parents were both from a branch of the Marines in a remote area, and they died in the line of duty during a mission.

The guy named Kabuto Yakushi grew up in the branch base where his parents lived, which is why he aspired to become a Marine.

It wasn't until that branch base was attacked and completely destroyed by a powerful pirate that the entire marine force at the branch base fought bravely to protect his only surviving son, giving Kabuto Yakushi a chance to live...

Kabuto Yakushi wandered for many years before finding another base and joining the Navy, which honed his wisdom... These things can indeed be found out; the Navy base that Kabuto Yakushi mentioned many years ago was indeed wiped out by a great pirate.

That great pirate's name is Edward Weevil!

It was precisely because of Kabuto Yakushi's tragic experiences...

Several years ago, Zephyr, the chief instructor of the Navy, who was heartbroken after most of the younger generation of the Navy were killed by pirates when they encountered a powerful enemy, learned about Kabuto Yakushi's background.

Former Navy Admiral and current Chief Instructor Zephyr showed more leniency towards Kabuto Yakushi, even making an exception and accepting him as his last student…

Because Zephyr's family was also killed by pirates...

Moreover, Edward Weevil, who destroyed Kabuto Yakushi's hometown, also killed many of Zeff's students and was the culprit who severely injured Zeff's right arm!

The two people had similar lives...and shared the same hatred.

As the senior disciple, Akainu had also heard about this junior disciple, and had even occasionally overheard Kabuto Yakushi speaking eloquently in the conference room of Marineford.

Kabuto Yakushi's strategy and wisdom are indeed quite remarkable.

Even if Kabuto Yakushi's strength can't keep up, his wisdom is enough to make him a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral sooner or later!

This is absolutely outrageous!

Now, in Marineford, the Navy's high command believes that Kabuto Yakushi, who is considered to be a very likely new generation of strategist, is actually an underling of Naraku Uehara!

Isn't this a bit too ridiculous?

This is not nonsense at all.

If Akainu could create a story as flawless as Kabuto's, and even add a touch of emotional appeal to his words, and finally complete it with a path of justice that everyone could accept, he too could become Marineford's new favorite.

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

Kabuto Yakushi stopped his training and walked to a beautiful girl with long, sea-blue hair standing beside the training ground. He asked earnestly, "Ain, what brings you here? Is there something you need, Zephyr-sensei?"

"Um!"

Ain nodded and said in a deep voice, "Kabuto... Professor Zephyr... has summoned us for something important! Please... do not be absent!"

"I see."

Rear Admiral Kabuto nodded, put on his navy cloak that he had placed aside, adjusted his glasses, and then looked at Ain.

"Let's go, don't keep the teacher waiting too long."

During this time, Kabuto Yakushi has completely integrated into his role in Marineford, and he seems completely natural in it.

First update!

(End of this chapter)