"WHAT?!" The loud yell of the Fleet Admiral echoed through the whole Marineford and it's denizens looked towards the highest building where the Fleet Admiral resided in alarm, before turning away as they decided it was merely another case of the Vice Admiral Garp annoying the Fleet Admiral.
Unfortunately, for once, that wasn't the situation.
"What do you mean a dragon stalemated Kaido and then joined his crew?!" Sengoku yelled again and predictably, received no answer since he was screaming at a fax report rather than screaming at someone and paper could not cower before him while giving answers.
Unless he had some North Blue sake before getting the paper.
"You wanna scream any louder? I don't think they heard you in West Blue." The Vice Admiral Tsuru, his old friend and a fellow legendary marine, said with a snort before taking a sip from her tea; looking as cool as a cucumber, unlike Sengoku who was starting to resemble a Carolina pepper with each passing moment.
"Don't give me cheek Tsuru! Do you have any idea what kind of disaster is this?! Any idea what kind of catastrophe we are facing if this report is not false?! What kind…"
"It doesn't matter." The other occupant in the room cut him off before he could continue his tirade and Sengoku glared at him for it for a moment before his eyes widened with shock. His friend, and all time headache, Garp; he looked serious. As a matter of fact he gave off the aura of the man their propaganda painted him as instead of the overgrown child he had to deal with almost every day. Even Tsuru was confused by the seriousness of their old friend.
"It doesn't matter what kind of disaster this is. All that matters is that there is a disaster and that it is our duty as marines to face this disaster. Now stop bitching about it and use that big brain of your's to analyze the situation." The Hero of the Marines grunted with his arms crossed over his chest and Sengoku sat back down with an air of calmness. Though he had to admit that he was somewhat embarrassed, who wouldn't be if they were called out to being dumb by Garp of all people?
"The reports claim that the man who fought Kaido to a standstill could turn into a dragon as well. Didn't Vegapunk once tried to recreate Uo Uo no Mi when we had Kaido in captivity?" Sengoku asked with a frown, not exactly liking the thought that the greatest scientific mind on the planet might have betrayed them. Which was why he was glad when Tsuru shook her head.
"Vegapunk claimed that the fruit was a failure. He might not exactly be an egomaniac like the rest of the members of the MADS, but the man is still quite prideful. He wouldn't claim that he failed at anything if he didn't genuinely believe that he failed. It is more likely that this new dragon has eaten a fruit that is simply similar to Kaido's. Likely another model that we didn't know of." The great tactician told her old friend with a shake of her head. She might not have much love for the eggheaded man, but she knew that he wasn't a traitor.
"The real problem is how Kaido will act. A battle that ended up in a stalemate means that he won't act immediately, he will wait until he is healed. But now that he has such a strong man in his ranks, he definitely will want to test his new 'weapon'." Tsuru said and Sengoku nodded with a thoughtful look.
"They likely won't target civilians, such a strong addition would have to be tested on a strong enemy; doesn't mean that civilians won't get caught in crossfire though. The question is whether he'll attack to the territories of one of his fellow emperors, or if he'll attack a marine base." The Fleet Admiral said with a frown as he thought about the atrocities that would be happening soon.
Who knew what kind of sinister plans were going on in the head of that monster.
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
"Pour me another!" The monster in Sengoku's thoughts cried out as he held his ridiculously large saucer up and one of his trusted subordinates, Black Maria, filled it with more sake. Which was consumed within the blink of an eye.
Sitting in front of him was the man that had actually managed to stalemate him, Retsu Kaioh. The newest member of Kaido's forces had a huge saucer in his hand as well, but he was quite controlled with it unlike the emperor.
"You know, most would be far more joyous in a party." Kaido smiled down with a small amount of red on his cheeks due to alcohol.
"I am joyous, I just show it in a different way." Retsu claimed as he took another sip from his saucer.
"Yeah, we'll show it more clearly since this will be the last party for a while. I got to find myself a new shogun since someone killed the last one." Kaido said with a mock glare sent towards Retsu who had, what many would call, a resting bitch face on.
"I have no intentions of apologizing, the man was a waste of space and the way he has wasted the resources of this land is inexcusable."
"Wasted?" Kaido asked with a raised eyebrow. He might have been a bastard and an idiot but Orochi had been the one to create the weapon factories. It wasn't exactly something Kaido would claim to be a waste.
"This land is a land of great warriors. Yet there have been no emergence of any true warrior since the day he took the throne. The way he treated this land as a toy box that he could shake and throw around has dampened the potential of these warriors." Retsu declared with conviction and those who were natives to Wano could not help but be moved by the respect this man was showing to their land, even if he was doing while drinking with the man that had made their oppression for over a decade possible.
"Hmm, you seem to have a lot of trust in them. I don't see it though, there was only one samurai who was truly impressive in this land and he's dead." Kaido declared with a frown and, dare the people around them think, sadness in his eyes.
"Then I shall prove it to you." Kaido raised his head at Retsu's declaration.
"I shall chose anyone in this room, someone who is not a warrior. And in two years I shall train them to the point they can challenge one of the Flying Six!" All the voice around them stopped, none dared to move after the man's declaration. How could they, the Flying Six were the strongest force in Kaido's crew after the All Stars and Retsu Kaioh had claimed that he would train someone to their level in merely two years. It was ridiculous.
"Worororororo! Is that so?! And what if you fail?" The emperor asked with a smirk which was answered by Retsu's own smirk.
"I won't."
"Wororororo! Very well, then choose." Kaido ordered and Retsu Kaioh started to look to the gathered people who were all trying to stay away from the man's gaze, not wanting to be a part of the ridiculous bet between the two monsters.
After a few moments, finally, Retsu raised his hand and pointed towards someone.
"Her." The people looked in the direction he was pointing with shock along with despair and the oiran Komurasaki lost all color on her face as she stared at the finger pointed at her.
"You can't be serious!"
"Please!"
"Don't!" The people around them cried out but then were silenced by Kaido's laughter.
"Worororororo! Are you sure about this? People would be very heartbroken if Komirasaki died due to a bet." Kaido said with a teasing smile, the blush in his face more prominent while Retsu's gaze was unwavering.
"Yes, I can tell it with a look. Among everyone here, she has the greatest potential. Potential that I shall bring out." Retsu declared and Kaido laughed once more.
"Worororo! Such impudence! Such guts! Such will! You are perfect!" Kaido declared and then slammed his fist to the ground as he looked at Retsu with a smile.
"Retsu, what do you say about becoming the new Shogun?"
<><><><><><><><><>
AN
For those who like my stories, please check out my Patreon where one can become a patron and get the right to vote for which of my stories will get a guaranteed update for the next week
patreon.com/user?u=25343580