A storm raged in Boa Hancock's mind.
In her imagination, she was back in the Nine Snake Island palace, wearing a white wedding gown, radiant with happiness as she clutched a bouquet of flowers.
Down the aisle came a golden-haired figure — also in a white wedding gown — holding a bouquet, stopping before her to say:
"Hancock, please marry me."
"Ahhh…" Hancock squirmed on the bed like an overexcited caterpillar.
"Hancock, what are you mumbling about?" Naruto asked around a mouthful of food. He was used to these strange outbursts by now.
During their voyage, Hancock had gotten inexplicably flustered like this almost every day.
"It's nothing, Naruto-sama…" she said quickly, then beamed. "Have you eaten enough? If not, I'll have them bring more—"
Her voice cut off as her gaze fell on the people seated beside Naruto.
Her expression darkened immediately.
Those wretched women…
Gathered around Naruto were Guren, Uchiha Izumi, Robin, Nami, and — wearing slave collars — Tsunade and Shalria.
They were all enjoying the Navy-provided feast with him.
If the Marines knew the food they'd prepared for Hancock was being shared by half a dozen women, they'd probably vomit blood.
To these girls, this was just another shipboard banquet.
"Naruto-sama… why did you let these women come too?" Hancock's gaze on them was cold, as though she were already sizing up her future rivals.
Nami and Robin, already familiar with her, were casual in their reply.
"Hancock-sama, it was boring staying on Fishman Island, so we came along," Nami said.
"I heard Impel Down holds many prisoners. I want to see if there are any archaeologists among them," Robin added.
Hancock could tolerate those two — she already knew their connection to Naruto. But her eyes slid to Guren, Terumi Mei, and Uchiha Izumi, her tone sharpening.
"And you three? Why are you here?"
Izumi's answer was calm: "We're Naruto-sama's subordinates. If he comes, we follow."
Guren nodded. "We only came to assist Naruto-sama."
Terumi Mei, however, met Hancock's gaze head-on.
"What does it have to do with you if we accompany Naruto-sama?"
Hancock immediately focused on her, speaking haughtily:
"Ugly woman, are you trying to steal Naruto-sama from me?"
Terumi Mei didn't back down.
"Naruto-sama isn't yours. You're just one of his followers."
Enraged, Hancock conjured a floating pink heart in the air.
"You thieving cat! Naruto-sama is my husband—"
Terumi Mei's red lips parted, releasing tendrils of corrosive white mist.
"Naruto-sama isn't yours—"
Naruto, chewing on a piece of fish, spoke mildly:
"Terumi Mei, if you want to argue, go back to Kirigakure. We're only on this ship thanks to Hancock."
Hearing that, Terumi Mei bit her lip and lowered her head.
"…I understand."
She knew too well the advantages of being in the pirate world, and she wasn't about to lose her ticket back to Naruto's side.
Seeing Mei subdued, Hancock's heart soared. She cast Naruto a lovestruck look.
"Naruto-sama… defended me…"
Tsunade, watching, clenched her jaw and whispered to Mei:
"You're the Fifth Mizukage. How can you take orders from this brat? Tell Konoha what's going on here…"
If Konoha learned Naruto's location and situation, they wouldn't let him go — and she might regain her freedom.
But Mei only shot her a sidelong glance.
"You think I'd betray Naruto-sama?"
Now that she knew his identity and strength, she admired him too much to even consider it. She was, in truth, one of his women now.
"But—"
Tsunade didn't finish. Hancock's sharp voice cut in:
"You… slave… daring to plot against Naruto-sama?"
In a blur, the tall empress lashed out with a kick — bam! — slamming Tsunade's head to the deck.
"Ugly woman, serving Naruto-sama and me as a slave is your fortune. Betrayal means you're finished," Hancock declared loftily.
Face flushed with rage, Tsunade tried to draw on her chakra — but Naruto's seal held firm. Weak and humiliated, she could only glare upward… before Hancock's boot pressed her back down.
Shalria crawled over, speaking meekly:
"Master, she's only been trained a few days. I'll teach her properly."
Seeing the former Celestial Dragon abase herself made Hancock feel all the more triumphant.
Stepping on her former "master" and calling her a slave — she no longer feared the Tenryūbito at all.
By now, Naruto had finished eating. Taking in the scene, he grinned.
"Hancock, Tsunade… looks like neither of you's convinced. Fine — let's go to bed and see who lasts longer."
Hancock blinked, blushing furiously.
"Naruto-sama, how can I… share with this slave—"
Tsunade's eyes widened, dread sinking in.
"Uzumaki Naruto, wait! I'm a kunoichi even your mother respected. She'd call me 'Tsunade-sama'! You can't possibly—"
Naruto ignored them both, taking Hancock by the hand and Tsunade by her slave collar, leading them to the bed.
The other women's faces flushed red.
[…Scene Omitted…]
Half a day later, there was a knock on the door.
"Empress-sama," a Marine called, voice full of excitement and adoration, "we've reached Impel Down. Vice Admiral Mole says you may come ashore to tour it."
"I… I understand…" came Hancock's breathless reply from within.
The Marine's heart pounded, and a strange thought crossed his mind.
"Why does her voice sound so winded…? Is she exercising in there? As expected of a Shichibukai…"
(End of Chapter)
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