Starting as the mastermind behind Naruto

Chapter 486 News That Shocked Even Yakushi Kabuto (Third Update!)

Fishman Island, inside the Dragon Palace.

Neptune drank a large glass of wine with satisfaction and sighed softly, "Because Kisame likes to drink fruit juice, none of us can drink alcohol anymore."

"Hmm? You like drinking fruit juice?"

Jinbe's gaze held a hint of surprise as he couldn't help but think of Sasuke Uchiha from the Whitebeard Pirates, who loved drinking fruit juice.

The black-haired youth not only drank juice himself, but also forced Ace to drink juice, and even the white-bearded man, who couldn't drink alcohol, gradually started drinking juice...

It's said that Ben Beckman, the vice-captain of the Red-Haired Pirates, has recently been drinking juice, and even forced his captain Shanks to drink juice as well…

and…

Everyone was only drinking orange juice.

This juice…

Where did this rumor come from? Is there something wrong with it?

Jinbe looked at King Neptune with a slight apologetic expression, sighed, and said, "Lately, I've been drinking juice with the Whitebeard Pirates along with Dad... I'll have a glass of orange juice too!"

"..."

King Neptune's expression gradually fell silent.

Why can't everyone drink alcohol? Why insist on drinking juice? Even his daughter, Princess Shirahoshi, who just left the tower, switched from milk to juice...

This was because it was frightened by Kisame Hoshigaki.

Fortunately, Jinbe's personality isn't as dark as Kisame's.

Jinbe sighed and spoke first, "I came back this time to have Kisame apologize to Whitebeard and resolve the misunderstanding about Kisame pulling down the Whitebeard Pirates' flag... but now it seems there's no hope."

"Kisame has a very stubborn personality."

King Neptune sighed and shook his head, saying, "There's simply no way he'll bow down..."

"No, perhaps he had no choice."

Jinbe vaguely understood Kisame's thoughts.

Because Kisame Hoshigaki has someone else backing him, he doesn't dare to contact the Whitebeard Pirates. Perhaps he has never been in control of his own destiny!

Jinbe suddenly started to defend Kisame Hoshigaki, which made Neptune's expression a little strange. You two just had a fight!

Jinbe only mentioned it briefly before stopping, instead continuing, "When I return to the Whitebeard Pirates, I'll see if I can persuade my father..."

Please.

Neptune nodded and continued, "Why don't I go with you? That way, things might be clearer..."

"No, the Whitebeard Pirates' target is only Kisame."

Jinbe shook his head and fell into thought again.

This battle between the Whitebeard Pirates and Kisame Hoshigaki, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, was not only a punishment for Kisame removing the Whitebeard Pirates' flag, but also a way of retaliating against the World Government for ambushing Sasuke Uchiha and the 2nd Division…

Could it be that they're also trying to test the person behind Kisame?

Perhaps this is the only way to make sense. Even with Sasuke Uchiha's persuasion, Whitebeard's resolve remained unshaken, and he even personally led the Whitebeard Pirates headquarters into action!

A mere Shichibukai...

It's definitely not worth Whitebeard personally getting involved.

After thinking about this, Jinbe's face showed a hint of regret: "For Fishman Island, I didn't expect Kisame and I to be walking the same path?"

For the sake of Fishman Island, Jinbe accepted the position of Shichibukai, while also working hard to maintain relationships with various powerful pirate crews around the world.

Fortunately, Jinbe and Whitebeard, who had previously served Fishman Island, treated Fishman Island well and never exploited them.

Kisame Hoshigaki...

Have they found a more powerful person to rely on for Fishman Island?

Jinbe was still a little uncomfortable; he didn't think there was anyone more suitable to be the protector of Fishman Island than Whitebeard.

"Um?"

Neptune glanced at Jinbe with surprise, somewhat confused by his meaning, and simply poured himself a glass of wine: "Actually, it's all thanks to Kisame that Fishman Island has been able to maintain peace for so long, and recently the island has become increasingly stable..."

At this point, Neptune added, "He defeated the Flying Pirates yesterday, so Shirahoshi can now leave the tower and go out to play..."

"Is Shirahoshi finally going to come out?"

A smile appeared on Jinbe's face.

Jinbe thought of Kisame's behavior and words again, and his smile slowly faded. He sighed and said, "That guy is actually a kind person with a cold exterior... Now I'm not sure if he's on the right path..."

He insisted on choosing the white-bearded man…

Kisame insisted on choosing the person behind him...

Perhaps they will only know whose choice was right after the person behind Kisame appears and this war ends.

However, out of understanding and respect for Whitebeard, Jinbe remained steadfast in his decision, because Whitebeard had sheltered them during Fish-Man Island's most difficult time...

Even if they have already chosen to side with others, they can't refuse to give face to their benefactor, Whitebeard, can they?

"Don't worry, King Neptune."

Jinbe finished his juice and said in a deep voice, "This war is not as simple as we imagined. Kisame is just a pawn in this vortex... It seems that all we can do now is wait for the outcome!"

On the sea.

The news that Whitebeard had personally set out on the Moby Dick to Fishman Island spread throughout the entire ocean in the blink of an eye.

It is said that this was to punish Kisame Hoshigaki, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, for his unreasonable behavior, and to retaliate against Kisame Hoshigaki for his previous attack on the Whitebeard Pirates!

Marineford.

The office of the Admiral of the Navy.

During this time, Admiral Kizaru finally recovered from his injuries and returned to Marineford from the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, where he resumed his life of slacking off at work.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Admiral Kizaru, Admiral Aokiji, Vice Admiral Tsuru, and Kabuto Yakushi were sitting here.

Apart from Admiral Akainu, who was stationed at the G1 branch, and Vice Admiral Garp, who had slipped away again, the entire high command of the Navy was here.

They all came because of the news that Whitebeard and Kisame Hoshigaki, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, were about to go to war, and to discuss how the Navy should respond.

Regardless...

A war between Whitebeard, hailed as the strongest of the Four Emperors, and Kisame Hoshigaki, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, is inevitable for the Navy.

If we just stand by and watch...

The navy, on the other hand, has very little credibility!

"How terrifying..."

Kizaru leisurely sipped his tea, glancing occasionally at the intelligence report sent by the CP department, a strange smile playing on his lips: "So, Sasuke Uchiha, who defeated me twice, is also out with Whitebeard?"

When Kizaru spoke of Sasuke Uchiha, his face showed no fear, not even resentment, as if those two defeats meant nothing to him...

It really isn't a big deal.

Kizaru's two encounters with Sasuke Uchiha were purely due to his bad luck; he was always on the defensive. Otherwise, with the power of the Glint-Glint Fruit, he could certainly have held his own against Sasuke.

Moreover, both of Kizaru's defeats can be considered sacrifices.

The first time Kizaru stopped Sasuke Uchiha, all the civilians on the island were evacuated, including three Celestial Dragons; the second time Kizaru stopped Sasuke Uchiha, the G1 branch of the Marines also escaped unharmed.

Speaking of which…

Whether in the eyes of the Five Elders of the World Government or in the eyes of the Marine Headquarters, Kizaru's two failures were actually more merits than demerits.

And this guy who's always slacking off...

Surprisingly, they proved to be very reliable in crucial moments!

After hearing Kizaru's words, Fleet Admiral Sengoku coughed a few times and reassured his subordinates, "Borusalino, don't take that to heart. That kid Uchiha Sasuke just got lucky..."

"No, no, no, it's not just good luck..."

Kizaru slowly shook his head, then continued with a grin, "That little guy is indeed quite strong... not bad at all compared to Whitebeard in his youth..."

"..."

Everyone couldn't help but glance at Kizaru.

Although they all knew that what Kizaru said might be true, it still made them feel that Kizaru was exaggerating the strength of the enemy to glorify himself...

After all, even the Warring States period couldn't do anything about his white beard when he was young...

"That makes sense."

Vice Admiral Tsuru clasped his hands together and sighed softly, "With Sasuke Uchiha joining, the Whitebeard Pirates are undoubtedly the strongest pirate crew in the world. In this world, apart from the Navy, there is almost no one who can stop them..."

"Yes, that's true."

Kabuto nodded, flipping through the intelligence reports in his hand, and calmly said, "No, or rather, it does seem that way... but they are not invincible."

Kabuto Yakushi pulled out a wanted poster and handed it to Lieutenant General Tsuru: "Does Senior Tsuru remember the information we received from Colonel Naraku?"

"Hmm? Kaguya Otsutsuki from Wano Country?"

Lieutenant General Tsuru took the bounty poster from Kabuto Yakushi's hand with surprise, and frowned slightly as he looked at the blond-haired youth in the poster.

Because the person on the bounty notice doesn't seem particularly unusual.

The blond-haired youth even seemed to be smiling somewhat foolishly.

Naruto Uzumaki, the Grand Inspector of the Beasts Pirates, has a bounty of 520 million Berries.

His initial bounty reached a staggering 520 million. Although Naruto Uzumaki was a rookie pirate and had only defeated one pirate crew without committing any major atrocities…

But his identity…

That's truly astonishing!

This is the Grand Inspector of the Beasts Pirates, a position second only to the Pirate Governor Kaido, and even above the Three Disasters!

"Is that the rookie pirate from the Beasts Pirates?"

Lieutenant General Tsuru turned to look at Kabuto Yakushi and couldn't help but ask, "What does this have to do with what we're talking about? Is this the one who can turn the tide...?"

"have no idea."

Kabuto slowly extended his palm and said in a deep voice, "Not long ago, a CP team sacrificed themselves in Wano Country. Before they died, they delivered the information they had obtained to Colonel Naraku, who then urgently relayed the information..."

Kabuto pointed to the blond youth on the wanted poster and whispered, "This guy named Naruto Uzumaki is a descendant of Kaguya, who occupied Wano Country..."

Furthermore, upon closer examination, the Beasts Pirates are one of the Four Emperors' pirate crews, undoubtedly filled with powerful individuals. It's impossible for just anyone to become the Grand Inspector of a large pirate fleet.

"That's right."

Lieutenant General Tsuru's eyes flickered slightly as he whispered, "We had similar suspicions back then, but we couldn't find anything at all..."

"We've found it now."

Kabuto clasped his hands together and calmly stated his conjecture: "Their alliance is probably stronger than we imagined. When the Whitebeard Pirates gain another monster, the Beast Pirates might gain another one too!"

At this point, Kabuto Yakushi added, "There's another unconfirmed rumor: it's said that Sasuke Uchiha was once one of those people from Wano Country, but later betrayed them for some unknown reason..."

Kabuto slowly pushed up his glasses, glanced at everyone present, and his voice gradually became heavy, or rather, he himself was shocked by what he was about to say.

"Before Sasuke Uchiha betrayed the invaders of Wano Country and entered the sea, his teammate at the time... was this Naruto Uzumaki!"

Third update!

(End of this chapter)