Uchiha Itachi pressed the kunai to Saint Charlos's throat and gave it a light slice.
"Aaaagh!!!"
Blood trickled down the Celestial Dragon's fat chin as his scream echoed through the sky.
"If the admiral makes a move," Itachi said calmly, "your throat is next."
Charlos howled and sobbed in pain. "Useless dog! Save me! Isn't that what the Navy is for? You're nothing but our lapdogs!"
Even in tears, he couldn't help insulting the admiral.
"I'm telling my father! You're finished! You'll never be an admiral again!"
Kizaru's face twitched with irritation.
At this point, it was obvious this pig was better off dying in a so-called pirate accident than being rescued.
In a sudden burst of light, three golden laser beams shot forward, targeting the hostages, Itachi, and Marco.
But in truth, only one of the attacks was meant to kill. The other two were a feint. The real target was Charlos.
A crimson skeletal arm materialized and blocked the blast. The laser exploded against it, sparking brightly.
"Marco, full speed home!"
Itachi stood atop the blue phoenix, his Mangekyō Sharingan locked onto Kizaru. His red-and-black cloak flapped wildly in the wind.
Behind him, a wailing Celestial Dragon and a traumatized mermaid girl clung to the phoenix's back.
Marco pushed his speed to the limit. The blazing blue flame trailing behind him stretched out like a comet's tail.
Kizaru reformed behind them, sword of light in hand, Haki laced through the blade as he brought it down with a swift strike.
The distance was close enough.
Instantly, Marco's entire body flared with healing flames, shielding Itachi, the mermaid, and even the Celestial Dragon.
Itachi's Mangekyō spun wildly.
In that split second, Kizaru froze mid-strike.
He immediately broke into photons and retreated at high speed, reappearing a hundred meters back, just out of range.
Now trailing behind them at a cautious distance, Kizaru wiped the cold sweat from his brow and patted his chest.
"That was too close. You're way too dangerous, you know that? The moment I got close, my Observation Haki was going nuts."
Itachi said nothing, but he was clearly disappointed.
His plan had been to trap Kizaru with Tsukuyomi at close range and hit him with a surprise kill, then seal him away using the Totsuka Blade before he could escape.
With Marco's healing fire keeping him stable, the plan had a real shot.
But in this world, Observation Haki was a serious problem.
Flying ahead, Marco burst out laughing. "Itachi, looks like you really scared him."
Itachi's vision blurred for a moment, but the healing flames quickly restored him. He spoke evenly.
"Admiral Kizaru, if you keep trailing us like this, you'll soon be in Whitebeard territory."
Kizaru, still in partial photon form at a safe distance, was growing irritated.
"Tch... So you're not a mind-based fruit user after all. Some kind of mythical Zoan, huh?"
There was no need to explain anything to an enemy.
Itachi continued to press him. "Also, that attack just now... even Saint Charlos, as dimwitted as he is, must've noticed."
Charlos was still crying and calling for his father, but now he didn't dare insult Kizaru again.
Kizaru clicked his tongue. Damn it... this is exactly what I was afraid of.
"Tomorrow's headlines will probably read, 'Navy Admiral Attacks Celestial Dragon. Whitebeard Pirates Risk Everything to Rescue Him.'"
Kizaru's face darkened. "No paper would dare print that."
But in truth, his stomach turned at the thought. Morgans, the news king, really would publish anything.
"So what now?" Itachi asked coolly. His Mangekyō stared down the admiral, the blue flames still mending his condition.
Kizaru was powerful, no question. But his will wasn't particularly strong.
Kizaru stayed silent.
Should he let them go? Or take the risk and fight?
As one of the Navy's top combatants, his odds weren't bad if he went all in.
But was it worth it?
…
No. Forget it.
He'd done enough. The Five Elders couldn't blame him now.
Besides, these weren't some rookies he could take down with minimal effort. He couldn't even offload the pig-faced noble under their noses.
Kizaru finally stopped in midair. He pushed his sunglasses up and returned to his usual lazy tone.
"Fighting you really is a hassle, Uchiha Itachi."
"If you ever change your mind and want to join the Navy, let me know. I'll recommend you as an admiral candidate."
He glanced at Marco. "Same goes for you."
Sitting cross-legged on Marco's back, Itachi gave a faint smile.
"If you're still feeling that casual after reading the newspaper in a few days, we can talk then."
Marco let out a booming laugh as he sped forward.
Kizaru clicked his tongue again.
There was no point continuing. He hovered in place, watching the streak of blue flame stretch into the distance, shrinking until it vanished at the edge of the sea and sky.
...
The three of them landed back on the Moby Dick.
Itachi leapt from above, carrying both a fish and a pig.
In his left hand was Saint Charlos, unconscious from the trauma and tossed to the wooden deck like a sack of meat.
In his right was the mermaid girl, shaken but visibly grateful.
Whitebeard sat in his throne-like chair, Murakumogiri resting by his side. He looked at Marco and Itachi with a complicated expression.
Clearly, everyone had been waiting for them.
The surrounding commanders and crewmates burst into cheers.
"Marco, you're too cool! Why didn't you bring me along?"
"Damn, why didn't I think of that? You stole the spotlight!"
"It was your idea, right, Itachi? That was bold, man!"
"A mermaid, huh? We'll get someone to escort you home soon."
"Hero saves the damsel, huh? Classic move!"
...
Whitebeard was the kind of man who'd taken responsibility for Ace chasing Blackbeard. Naturally, he wasn't going to scold Marco now for doing something reckless.
Especially not when the deed was already done.
He raised his giant sake bowl and took a deep swig, laughing heartily.
"Gurararara! Marco, you've really pulled off something big!"
Marco stepped to his side, voice tinged with apology. "Sorry, Pops. I acted on my own."
But Whitebeard only laughed louder.
He did worry for the crew's future after his death, but right now, he was nothing but proud.
"Haha! That was a great move! We'll use this Celestial Dragon as our bargaining chip!"
Then he turned toward Itachi, whose expression and presence still felt out of place on this rowdy ship.
With a grin, he said, "Itachi... Ace really found himself a solid friend."
He raised his bowl high.
"Boys! It's party time!"
Amber sake swirled in the sunlight, and the cheers of the Whitebeard Pirates echoed across the sea.
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