"Ahhh!"
Kozuki Oden let out a pained roar as his body was sent flying by the massive impact. He crashed through several thick trees before finally managing to stop himself, gasping for air.
Though Shiro's Divine Departure didn't pack the same terrifying force as Roger's, it was still more than enough to leave Oden staggering, his body wracked with pain.
"You… you know that technique too?!"
Oden's eyes widened in shock, his words stammering. From that moment on, he no longer dared underestimate the boy before him.
Three straight days of relentless combat had drained Oden's stamina to its limit. Struck once again by that devastating slash, he finally collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, sweat soaking through his robes.
Meanwhile, Shiro darted across the battlefield like a phantom, his Paw-Paw Fruit teleportation making him untouchable. He timed his strikes perfectly, unleashing wave after wave of crushing shockwaves at Whitebeard's crew.
Marco, with his Phoenix flames, managed to recover from his wounds—but the others weren't so fortunate. Each one bore the marks of Shiro's attacks, battered and injured.
What had started as a friendly sparring match had turned into a one-sided slaughter. Seeing his allies in such a state, Roger raised his voice sharply:
"Enough! That's enough!"
He turned, frowning deeply at the groaning members of Whitebeard's crew. His tone was half reprimand, half disbelief.
"Shiro… was this all your doing?"
"That's right." Shiro stood tall, hands clasped behind his back, his expression brimming with confidence. "I wanted to show them just how brutal life on the seas can be. This way, they won't forget."
Roger's forehead throbbed with frustration. Anyone could tell this was supposed to be a friendly match, not a massacre. But Shiro had crushed them without mercy.
"You brat!" Whitebeard bellowed, fury surging from him like a storm. "You dare wound my sons—I'll tear you apart!"
He charged forward, murderous intent radiating from his massive frame. But before his quake-powered fist could fall, Roger jumped between them.
"Newgate, calm down! Shiro ate the Paw-Paw Fruit. He can heal your men's wounds—he'll set things right!"
Whitebeard froze. Then, with a booming laugh, his anger subsided.
"Gurararara! So that's how it is. Fine then, brat—get to it. Heal my sons!"
Shiro snapped his fingers. "Little Fang, follow me. We've got patients to treat—and maybe a few snacks for you too."
The sword spirit zipped after him, and together they worked through Whitebeard's men. Within half an hour, Shiro had expelled every injury and sickness… all except for those of Marshall D. Teach.
When Whitebeard pressed him, Shiro answered smoothly, his expression unreadable:
"Teach's wounds are too severe. Even with my ability, I can't treat him."
In truth, it had been Shiro who dealt those injuries. But he dared not admit it. Whitebeard sighed, heavy and helpless, having no choice but to let it go.
Deep down, Shiro mused darkly: If I could crush Blackbeard here and now, the future might be spared a great evil.
But Teach's tenacity proved monstrous. During the celebratory banquet, the so-called "blood ox" regained consciousness, staggering back to life as if nothing could kill him.
The party was rowdy, Whitebeard drinking until his face flushed red. At the height of his cheer, he threw an arm around Shiro's shoulder and boomed:
"Gurararara! Brat, how about it? Come join my crew as my son!"
Shiro pinched the bridge of his nose. There it is again—his obsession with making sons. Someone get this guy a live-stream channel instead of a family registry.
Before Shiro could refuse, Roger cut in sharply, unable to hold back:
"Forget it, Newgate! Shiro belongs to the Roger Pirates—he's our future, the future of the entire pirate era!"
The two titans clashed in words, bickering as usual.
As the banquet wound down, Roger learned a shocking truth: Kozuki Oden could read the Poneglyphs. Overjoyed, he immediately begged Whitebeard to let Oden sail with him—promising that once they reached the Final Island, Oden would return.
Whitebeard's rage flared like a quake.
"Roger! First you deny me the brat, now you want to steal Oden?! Over my dead body!"
Desperate, Roger clenched his fists. To fulfill the dream of reaching the Final Island, he even thought of kneeling before Whitebeard.
But before he could, Shiro stopped him, sharp and decisive:
"Captain, no. This isn't Whitebeard's choice to make—it's Oden's."
Roger froze, then hope rekindled in his eyes. He turned to Oden.
The samurai hesitated, but then his gaze hardened. "Brother Newgate, I want to see the Final Island for myself. Please—let me join Roger's crew, just for a time."
The ground shook as Whitebeard's fist clenched, his Devil Fruit power rattling the air with his anguish. Yet in the end, he respected Oden's will. With a pained nod, he let him go.
And so, the Roger Pirates gained a formidable new ally.
Now, with Roger, Rayleigh, Gaban, Shiro, Bullet, and Oden, the crew's strength rivaled even the legendary Rocks Pirates of old.
Aboard the Oro Jackson, life grew livelier than ever. Oden, with his wife Toki and their children—Momonosuke and Hiyori—brought new warmth to the ship. The crew adored the children, playing with them constantly, even the usually mischievous Shanks and Buggy.
But Shiro only sneered at young Momonosuke. Knowing what the boy would one day become, if not for Oden's bond as a comrade, Shiro would have crushed him without hesitation.
As for Lady Toki, however, Shiro treated her with respect. Not out of lust, but because of her Time-Time Fruit. If the Paw-Paw Fruit's power could be honed, perhaps it too could transcend time.
For that reason, Shiro resolved to study her abilities carefully.
One day, watching her in her kimono, he blurted out on impulse:
"Lady Toki… surely you don't want your son to—"
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