"Did you hear? East Blue..."
"Look at the news..."
"Golden Lion..."
At the sea restaurant Baratie, head chef Zeff was looking through a newspaper from the World Economic News Agency.
Usually he didn't much like reading such things.
But recently, guests coming to Baratie had all been discussing the "island falling" incident that occurred in East Blue not long ago.
It was said that on that day, over ten islands of various sizes suddenly fell from the sky into that sea area.
Among these islands, the smaller ones were about the same size as the small island where Cocoyasi Village was located, while the larger ones even exceeded the legendary Water 7.
Fortunately, no ships were passing through that area at the time, or it would have been a complete disaster.
So who was the culprit behind this incident?
Not only was Zeff curious, but many great pirates who had their hometowns in East Blue but might have already gone to the New World were equally curious.
After all, no one wanted their hometown to be destroyed by falling disaster from the sky someday.
In the newspaper, several lines of bold, enlarged text paired with somewhat blurry photographs occupied over sixty percent of the entire newspaper's layout:
"Islands Fall! The culprit is 'Flying Pirate Admiral,' 'Golden Lion' Shiki!"
Below this line, small text detailed Golden Lion's abilities and some of his past "shocking deeds."
The most famous among these was his death match with the Pirate King and his escape from naval prison.
Here you could see that Morgans really didn't give the Navy any face.
"Shiki Confirmed Dead!"
The accompanying image next to this headline was a photograph where you could barely make out a silhouette from behind.
The person was bare-chested, exposing a muscular physique, with long yellow hair tied in a ponytail hanging down his back.
Something seemed to hang from this person's waist, but the photo content wasn't very clear, making it hard to distinguish.
Who knows where Morgans' reporters managed to capture this photograph from.
Although the content written above said "mysterious person of unknown identity defeated Golden Lion Shiki," boss Zeff almost immediately recognized the identity of the person in this photograph.
Wasn't this Naruto Uzumaki, who had come to his restaurant for a big meal just a while ago!
Logically speaking, Morgans should know Naruto Uzumaki.
But for some unknown reason, he had neither included Naruto's frontal image nor added Naruto's name above.
Therefore, most people were discussing how powerful Golden Lion, with his mountain-moving and sea-filling abilities, truly was, and exactly who had killed him.
Some guessed it was the Navy; some guessed pirates.
Some even guessed the Revolutionary Army.
Of course, the most popular possibility was still bounty hunters.
These were just the discussions this newspaper had caused in the first half of the Grand Line.
New World, Totland.
"Mamamamama! This brat is really quite surprising!"
Inside a massive castle built of sweets, one of the Four Emperors, "Big Mom" Charlotte Linlin, was loudly chewing cream cake brought by her children while slapping the armrest and laughing loudly.
Golden Lion Shiki had been a former crewmate from the "Rocks Pirates," just like her. The two could be considered old acquaintances.
Who would have thought this guy would fall at that brat's hands.
"Mama, it's Naruto Uzumaki, pero."
Beside her, Perospero, serving as the Big Mom Pirates' strategist, also saw that newspaper, making his characteristic sound.
Last time, all of them had been suppressed by that Naruto Uzumaki kid alone, and even when Mama took action, it only resulted in a draw with him.
Therefore, speaking of Charlotte Linlin's children's feelings toward Naruto, the vast majority could be said to be not too favorable.
Even if they had held a "harmonious" banquet afterward, it didn't mean both sides had truly reconciled.
Of course, this didn't include Katakuri.
He should be the most friendly toward Naruto among Big Mom's many children.
Purely because of admiration for the strong and affirmation of Naruto as a person.
So at this moment, he was just silently looking at that figure's back in the newspaper, his mouth hidden under his scarf slowly curving upward.
Truly worthy of you, Naruto Uzumaki.
"Speaking of which, we can send this kid an invitation to the next tea party."
Suddenly, Big Mom put down her cake and said to her children beside her.
"This... Mama, you're inviting him?"
Perospero seemed to want to ask Big Mom why she would invite this guy.
"Smoothie, what do you think of this kid?"
Big Mom suddenly turned her head to look at the silent, silver-haired, long-legged woman beside her.
This was one of her daughters and the only female among the "Four Sweet Commanders," the "Squeeze-Squeeze Fruit" ability user Charlotte Smoothie with a bounty exceeding 900 million.
With these words, everyone understood Big Mom's meaning.
This was about arranging a political marriage.
"I'll listen to you in everything, Mama."
Smoothie's naturally cool personality made her respond calmly to Big Mom.
Smoothie didn't approve of Big Mom's "marriage alliance plans."
In her view, expanding Totland's influence through marriage was ultimately less reliable than depending on hard strength.
But she also wouldn't go against Mama's wishes. She wouldn't disobey Big Mom's orders.
Looking at that silhouette in the newspaper, Smoothie just coldly picked up "fresh-squeezed juice" from beside her and began drinking.
On the other side, in the Calm Belt.
Amazon Lily, also known as Maiden Island.
As the name suggests, this was an island with only women.
The island's ruler was the great pirate known as the Pirate Empress of the Kuja, who also held the World Government-recognized "Seven Warlords of the Sea" status: Boa Hancock.
She possessed stunning beauty and an explosive figure that would make most men fall in love at first sight, along with formidable strength sufficient to protect this Maiden Island.
She was an undeniably strong warrior of the seas.
At this moment, this strong warrior of the seas was crying and making a fuss, wanting to leave her palace.
Her younger sisters, Marigold and Sandersonia, were hugging their big sister's legs together, preventing her from moving.
"Let go quickly! I must go find that man and get some answers!"
"Sister! Don't be impulsive!"
"That's right, this is news from several days ago, and besides, that might not necessarily be him!"
Hearing this, Hancock directly slapped the newspaper with Naruto's silhouette photograph in front of her two sisters, then pointed at it and said:
"How could I mistake this silhouette! Can't you recognize it either?"
When hearing this, both younger sisters also somewhat guiltily looked away, seeming unable to continue saying anything against their conscience.
How could they not recognize this silhouette?
Fifteen years ago, it was the owner of this silhouette who had rescued all three of them from that hell.
"I must find him!"
"That big liar!"
"He clearly promised he would take me along!"
The Empress, with her legs held by her sisters, couldn't possibly actually attack them, so she could only stand in place and rage helplessly.
Regarding this, the previous-previous generation Empress, Elder Nyon, just shook her head and said nothing.
The news of Naruto defeating Golden Lion was spreading across the entire sea at an alarming speed.
Unfortunately, neither Golden Lion nor Naruto was very familiar to the new generation of pirates.
Perhaps some could still remember mentioning Golden Lion's legends, but with just Naruto's silhouette, really not many people could recognize him.
Those who could recognize Naruto's identity at a glance were either strong warriors of the New World or people who had previously had contact with him.
In a certain room, a blonde woman in a pure white dress chuckled softly, then took out lipstick and gently drew a circle on that photograph.