The headline about Arima sent shockwaves across the Grand Line and the Four Seas. Governments and Marine branches everywhere were keeping a close eye on it.
But in the New World, the news stirred little more than a ripple.
The Moby Dick was sailing through the New World when a News Coo delivered the issue that had set the seas abuzz.
"Interesting! A capable brat like that showing up on the seas!"
Edward Newgate, Whitebeard, the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates and the one all his men called "Pops", downed a massive cup of liquor in one gulp.
"Pops, how come we've never heard of this guy before? It's like he just popped out of a rock."
Marco, commander of the First Division, took the newspaper Whitebeard handed him and read it carefully.
"The seas are never short of strong ones. If that kid dares come challenge us, I will gladly teach him a lesson."
"Pops, you're not old at all! The Whitebeard Pirates have never feared anyone!"
Whenever Marco spoke of their family, his pride shone through.
"Gurararara! Marco, you all need to grow stronger, and quickly. The seas are all about struggle and conquest.
But so long as I can still raise my blade, I'll never let anyone harm my beloved children!"
"Pops…!!!"
The crew shouted up at him with heartfelt passion.
Meanwhile, a certain Second Division member, Marshall D. Teach, Blackbeard, stared at the article in silence, lost deep in thought.
…
On Totto Land's Whole Cake Island, Charlotte Linlin, Big Mom herself, was cramming handfuls of sweets into her mouth.
She tossed the "Fifth Emperor" headline to the floor, where her dripping stomach acid happened to fall across Arima's photo, slowly eating the paper away.
"Bring me more sweets! That damned Whitebeard, Fish-Man Island's candy will be mine! Mamamamama!"
Nothing stirred her more than desserts. As for this "Fifth Emperor"? Nothing but a joke.
…
On Onigashima in Wano Country, Kaido of the Beasts was guzzling down liquor.
"Has Doflamingo sold us any Zoan-type Devil Fruits recently?"
Half-drunk, he asked his right-hand man, King.
"No. He said he's handling something big first. After that, he'll be able to mass-produce artificial Devil Fruits for us again."
"Oh? Fine then, let's give him a little more time."
"There's a report here I think you'll be interested in."
King handed him the newspaper. Kaido unfolded it and saw the headline: The Fifth Emperor.
"Heh heh heh… What a joke! I'm bored anyway. Let's see how hard this guy's head really is."
He transformed into a massive azure dragon and flew off toward the West Blue.
…
As for the Warlords of the Sea, they were typically nonchalant.
"Fufufufu… How ridiculous. Becoming a 'Fifth Emperor' isn't that easy. I'd love to see his head roll."
Doflamingo laughed, tossing the article aside.
"Beh-heh-heh-heh! Doffy, when are we starting that plan?"
"Soon. Once we've secured that fruit, everything begins."
Boa Hancock, the newly appointed Warlord, captain of the Kuja Pirates and empress of Amazon Lily, also dismissed the report on Arima, handing it off to Nyon without a second thought.
When asked why she cared so little, Hancock answered proudly, "Because I am simply far too beautiful. No man can resist my charm!"
…
On Baltigo, Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army, was discussing yesterday's upheaval in Kano with his commanders.
"After we return from the East Blue, I intend to meet Arima personally."
After careful thought, Dragon made his decision. From Arima, he had glimpsed the strength to uphold kindness and justice for ordinary people.
"Then I'll go with you!"
Emporio Ivankov, commander of the G Army, struck a flamboyant pose.
"Fine. We must grow before the World Government fixes its eyes on us. By the way, any word from Kuma?"
"Not yet," said army commander Belo Betty, lowering her cigarette and adjusting her sunglasses.
"But our intel reports that Doflamingo's family has been unusually active lately. Seems they're plotting something."
"Hm. That clown always acts with purpose. I just wonder which nation will be the next to suffer."
Dragon could only sigh. The Revolutionary Army was still starting from nothing. Many challenges lay ahead, most beyond their reach for now.
"Alright, then. Everyone move. Before the World Government convenes, make sure our people are safely relocated underground!"
"Yes, sir!"
…
As time passed, Arima and his mysterious "Konoha" organization remained quiet. With no new moves, people gradually forgot about them.
Back aboard the Konoha Senju, Nawaki had been eagerly waiting to see his brother-in-law's wanted poster, but it never appeared. His disappointment grew.
Still, the benefits were undeniable.
No foolish small-time pirate crews dared attack them anymore, and every time they stopped at a port, the bold "Konoha" insignia earned them the best of treatment.
Meanwhile, Tsunade and the others had made huge progress.
Their Sage training was paying off, they could now enter Sage Mode for short periods. Their Haki training also advanced steadily; awakening was only a matter of time.
One day, they finally arrived at the treasure island.
The island was subtropical, lush with greenery, though clearly uninhabited.
"Brother-in-law, this place is huge! How are we supposed to find treasure here?"
"Let's just look around. Even if we don't find treasure, it's a nice vacation spot."
Arima wasn't desperate for treasure. He'd simply felt a sudden inspiration that this trip would yield something valuable, so he trusted that instinct and brought everyone here.
Placing his hands on the ground, Arima conjured several elegant wooden lodges for the group to rest in.
And so, the entire "Konoha" group set up camp and began to explore.
A month passed. They'd searched every corner of the island, yet found nothing.
Just as Arima was about to give up, something caught his eye: a hollow, withered tree near their lodgings. Strangely, not even ants gathered around it. The oddity stirred his suspicion.
He had noticed it before but dismissed it as some peculiar plant that kept bugs away. Treasure never crossed his mind.
But sometimes the safest place is the most obvious. Who would expect treasure to sit in plain sight?
Even when he had used the Byakugan to scan the island multiple times, he had always used that tree as his starting point.
Activating his Byakugan again, he peered into the hollow trunk and saw a small chest nestled inside. Within it lay a bizarrely shaped fruit.
He reached in, pulled out the chest, and opened it. Inside was indeed a Devil Fruit.
Studying it, Arima thought, 'Looks like a Devil Fruit of some kind. Shame I don't have a Devil Fruit encyclopedia, so I can't tell exactly what it is.'
Suddenly, after months of silence, the system's voice rang in his mind.
"Tori Tori no Mi: Swallow Model. Value: 100,000 Virtue Points. To remove its flaws requires 1,000,000 Virtue Points."
To Arima, this was like wealth dropping from the sky, an opportunity to take his power to the next level.
Not only could he instantly identify Devil Fruits, but he could also use them to earn Virtue Points.
What's more, the system allowed him to erase the flaws of Devil Fruits with Virtue Points, removing all worries about their drawbacks.
From here on, he would need to think carefully about which Devil Fruits to consume, and which to save for his family.
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