The three admirals of the Marines have very different personalities and each goes to extremes.
Rosen was very clear about this.
So when he decided to come to G-1 Branch to meet Sakazuki, he had already figured out how to face this leader of the generals.
Among the three admirals of the Marines, he is the most tough, fierce, and powerful.
Sakazuki and Douglas Bullet are very similar, even identical.
A natural soldier's demeanor.
Applying the same approach you used with Borsalino to Sakazuki would work, but that would only allow them to be colleagues, friends, or allies on the same side, not subordinates.
To subdue such a general, nothing—no amount of strategy, wealth, or power—will work.
Only pure strength and outstanding achievements can make Admiral Akainu bow his head in sincere admiration.
Just like Douglas Bullet.
As the strongest general in the headquarters, how could Sakazuki possibly bow down to someone inferior to him?
"Obey you?"
"Rosen."
"Can I take this as you formally declaring war on me right here?"
Sakazuki's gaze sharpened, and a chilling and scorching aura emanated from his entire body.
at this time.
He was like a supervolcano looming over Rosen, with magma gathering and about to erupt completely.
"No, my sword is not meant to strike the Marines."
Rosen seemed completely oblivious to the overwhelming, scorching heat that rushed towards him, like molten lava.
His words instantly dispelled the tense atmosphere in the office.
"Rosen."
"I've also heard about your decision to put collars on the Shichibukai. It was the right thing to do, and it was quite remarkable, but that's not enough."
"This is a cruel world of pirates. To deal with such a cruel world, you must become even more cruel than the world."
"So, if you want to become the Fleet Admiral, you must point your sword at me; just as if you want to end the Great Pirate Era, you must point your sword at the Four Emperors."
Sakazuki subtly withdrew his aura that had been spreading in all directions.
Although their personalities, character, and sense of justice differed, he had heard of Rosen's deeds and genuinely respected this junior he was meeting for the first time.
Because the other party dared to reach out to the Shichibukai right after graduation, putting collars on unruly and lawless pirates like Donquixote Doflamingo and Dracule Mihawk.
Unlike Borsalino's ambiguity, or Kuzan's resentment and laziness, he chose to use his own sword to change the shameful system of the Shichibukai.
This is why, upon sensing Rosen's arrival, Sakazuki put aside his weightlifting routine of the past ten years and arrived at the fortress entrance early to personally wait for and welcome Rosen.
Whether in terms of rank, seniority, or seniority, Sakazuki had absolutely no need to do this.
But he did it anyway.
Because he genuinely approves of the man in front of him.
"My teacher Sengoku once taught me something."
There are many ways to solve a problem; you don't necessarily have to resort to violence.
Why did Rosen address Sakazuki as "senior" upon their first meeting?
Even when he first met Borsalino, he didn't do that. Instead, he kept his distance until Borsalino repeatedly called him "junior" and insisted that Borsalino call him "senior." Only then did their relationship and terms of address become fixed.
But this is not the case when facing Sakazuki.
Because Rosen had read Sakazuki's thoughts and some of his memories, he knew that Sakazuki also genuinely respected him and regarded him as a junior.
That's why, although he wanted to subdue Sakazuki, he never thought of pointing a knife at his senior.
"oh?"
"Then tell me, what are you planning to do?"
"Without resorting to swords, you can make me willingly give up my position as Fleet Admiral and obey you."
Upon hearing this, Sakazuki also became somewhat interested.
He was not power-hungry, but he shared the same belief as Kuzan that becoming a Marine admiral would allow him to better uphold his sense of justice.
Therefore, when it comes to the justice he upholds, even if the other party is a junior he genuinely respects, he will not back down. On the contrary, out of respect for Rosen, he will fight with all his might against the other party.
Either win honorably or lose convincingly.
A true soldier's demeanor.
This was Sakazuki's idea, and it was also the reason why, despite his brilliant performance in the Marineford War, where he surpassed Kuzan in military achievements, strength, and prestige, and gained the recognition and support of the World Government, and was practically guaranteed the position of Fleet Admiral, he still chose to give Kuzan a fair chance to compete.
The winner becomes the marshal, the loser becomes the general, and there is no regret.
Unexpectedly, Kuzan couldn't handle the situation. After his defeat, he resigned and switched sides to join the pirate camp.
"The new world is too small to accommodate so many emperors, and it's time to reduce the number by one."
Rosen stared intently into Sakazuki's eyes.
"Is headquarters going to declare war on the Four Emperors?"
Sakazuki's expression changed upon hearing this.
There was surprise, excitement, and joy.
Obviously.
He had been looking forward to this day for a long time.
"It's not that headquarters wants to wage war against the Four Emperors, but that I want to wage war against the Four Emperors."
Rosen realized that Sakazuki had misunderstood him, so he corrected him.
"You yourself?"
"Rosen, are you crazy?"
"The Four Emperors are not individuals, but rather a massive pirate crew."
Sakazuki then realized what was happening, and his brows furrowed instantly:
"I absolutely will not allow you to prove yourself in such a dangerous way."
He had already understood Rosen's thoughts.
It's nothing more than using the defeat of a Yonko pirate crew to convince themselves.
But he would rather face Rosen with swords than have him do that.
In a civil war between generals, the outcome is at most a matter of determining superiority or inferiority, but not life or death. The result is not too serious. However, if Rosen were to fight the Four Emperors alone, it would be fine if he won, but if he lost, the problem would be much bigger.
If he died in battle, then there's nothing more to say; he's just a dead man.
If he's still alive, he can forget about becoming a Marine admiral.
Declaring war on the Four Emperors without permission from higher authorities is a major taboo for the World Government and the Marine Headquarters.
In particular, the various negative consequences of the defeat could not be contained even with Sengoku backing Rosen.
At that point, Rosen's Marine career would be effectively ruined.
If it were someone else, they might be secretly pleased, having one less rival for the marshal's position, but Sakazuki didn't have that thought.
Firstly, his personality and sense of justice prevented him from having such thoughts.
Secondly, just as Rosen regarded him as a senior, he also regarded Rosen as a junior.
"I know that your talent is unparalleled in the entire army, and you have never been defeated since your debut."
"However, you must understand one thing: going to war with the Four Emperors is not a one-on-one fight. Pirates will not talk to you about fairness and justice; they will just swarm you and kill you."
"Indeed, you fought against many and wiped out the Infinite Hell, and you possess Conqueror's Haki, but the prisoners in the Infinite Hell are completely different from the Four Emperors' pirate crews."
"In the battle for the Emperor, even the slightest external factor can affect the outcome, or even determine life and death."
"Sakazuki said in a deep voice."
He himself was a monster with the magnanimity of a great general, and he had also been young and impetuous, so he naturally understood Rosen's mentality.
"Take Kaido for example."
"If it's a one-on-one fight, I'm not afraid of him at all. But if the All-Stars are there to support me, I have to pay attention to their every move and be on guard against their sneak attacks. In that case, Kaido can attack without restraint and unleash his full strength, while I can only use 70 or 80% of my strength at most. Even if the All-Stars are just there to support me and don't attack, I will still be defeated."
"If Kaido and the All-Stars join forces, it will be even simpler. Putting aside the difference in strength and numbers between the two sides, Kaido and the All-Stars are just playing a game of margin for error. It is certain that I will only have two outcomes: defeat or escape. There is no chance of winning."
Sakazuki shared his experience with Rosen without reservation:
"Anyone below the level of Emperor is no problem to fight multiple opponents. Without the Four Emperors to restrain me, whether you ask me to wipe out Kaido's All-Stars, Big Mom's Four Sweet Commanders, or Ochoku's Three Bosses, my clothes won't even get dirty."
"Only when the dozen or so division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates join forces will they put some pressure on us."
"Above the rank of Emperor, there is no possibility of one person fighting against many."
"Like Whitebeard, he might be able to defeat me, Borsalino, or any one of Kuzan, but if I join forces with Borsalino or any one of Kuzan, even the strongest man in the world will only die in battle or run away. There is no chance of victory."
"Therefore, you must immediately and completely abandon the idea of waging war against the Four Emperors alone."
"Since you call me senior, I have the responsibility and obligation to stop you from doing things that will ruin you."
Sakazuki, unlike his usual fierce and assertive self, instead displayed a more earnest and respectful demeanor, like a mentor.