Repercussions I

Holy Land of Mary Geoise

In the council room of the elders, the atmosphere was icy. The echoes of the battle between Gojo and Sukuna still resonated in their minds, but it was their subsequent alliance that truly sent shivers down their spines.

"Unthinkable," murmured one of them, his fingers trembling on the armrest. "Two pirates of such magnitude, united..."

"This Gojo, daring to defy the Celestial Dragons..." Saturn spat out these words with disgust. "And now Sukuna, the two-faced demon..."

"We have tolerated their provocations for too long. This alliance is a declaration of war," said Mars.

"CP Aigis reports they already have administrators," intervened Saint Ethanbaron. "Pirates, revolutionaries..."

The last Elder, who had been silent until then, spoke up. "We must act. Immediately. Kong!"

The former Fleet Admiral, now Commander-in-Chief of the World Government forces, stepped forward into the light.

"Mobilize all our resources," Saturn commanded. "I want CP-0 in the field. Spread the word: anyone who aids these pirates will be considered an enemy of the World Government."

*********

Marine Headquarters, Marineford

Sengoku's office almost vibrated with tension. The Grand Admiral, usually a commanding figure of calm and authority, seemed to have aged ten years in a few hours.

"These two..." he growled, staring at the wanted posters on his desk. "They are going to unleash an unprecedented storm."

Garp, lounging on a couch, casually nibbled on a doughnut. "Oh well, let them have their circus. Adds a bit of excitement!"

"Excitement?!" Sengoku jumped up, his Den Den Mushi jumping on his desk. "Gojo humiliated the Celestial Dragons openly, just for his pleasure! Sukuna razed three islands last month! And now they..."

"It's not their strength that should worry you the most," Tsuru interjected, who had been silent until then. Her calm voice cut through the air. "It's their influence."

Sengoku sat back down slowly, intrigued. "Go on."

"Young ones aspiring to become pirates speak of them. Feeling some admiration towards them."

Garp stopped eating, his usually carefree face turning serious. "She's right. It's like with Roger... Sometimes, an idea is more dangerous than an army."

A long silence ensued. Finally, Sengoku sighed deeply. "You're right, Tsuru," he said in a calmer tone. "We must keep a cool head. But I can't help but think about what might happen if we do nothing."

Garp shrugged. "What do you want to do?" he asked. "You're not sending Marines to fight these brats. That would be suicide."

"There must be a solution," he said, getting up and pacing the room. "We can't just let them do as they please."

Tsuru pondered for a moment and then said, "Maybe we could try to contact them," she suggested. "To understand their motivations and see if it's possible to find a compromise."