One Piece: Starting with Sign-in Naruto Character Cards

"What kind of move is this?" Smoker was starting to feel the moisture in his body evaporating rapidly—something that spelled disaster for him.

His body required moisture to maintain his smoke form. If his body dried out, he'd lose the ability to transform into smoke entirely!

Cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.

"That's enough. I'm done wasting time with you. Game over."

Crocodile smirked with disdain and charged forward again, raising his poison hook.

—

Meanwhile, on the deck of a large marine warship still some distance away from Loguetown, Sakazuki (Akainu) clenched his flame-wreathed fist tightly.

After receiving Smoker's report, the first thing he felt was rage—he'd been played by a brat.

He'd wasted days guarding the route to the Grand Line for nothing.

Even if they rushed full speed toward Loguetown now, it would still take them an entire day to arrive.

He knew Smoker's strength well. In fact, back then it was precisely because Smoker often talked back and disobeyed orders that he had been constantly suppressed by Sakazuki.

And now, with Smoker facing Rikuya Kazama's pirate crew alone, there was no chance he could last a full day.

So at this point, Sakazuki could only hope that Rikuya and his crew wouldn't leave Loguetown too quickly after defeating Smoker.

Just then, Vice Admiral Yamakaji came rushing out.

"Fleet Admiral Sakazuki! We've received an urgent telegram from Marine Headquarters!"

He handed the telegram over without delay.

Sakazuki glanced at the message—and his expression instantly darkened.

Several other Vice Admirals around him were puzzled by the shift in his demeanor.

"What happened? Trouble from HQ?" asked Vice Admiral Onigumo.

"Headquarters just sent word that the World Government's top brass has ordered Rikuya Kazama and his pirate crew to be appointed as the new Warlords of the Sea."

Sakazuki's voice was cold and heavy.

"What?! But we already publicly announced a global bounty campaign against Rikuya's crew! And now they want us to stop halfway? Are they joking?"

Vice Admiral Doberman couldn't help but complain.

"Then again," Onigumo muttered thoughtfully, "with Crocodile defeated, a Warlord seat has opened up.

If Rikuya truly agrees to become a Warlord and stops his rampage, that wouldn't be a bad outcome for us."

"Hmph! I've already made my move. There's no turning back now."

Sakazuki's voice turned frigid. "Admitting defeat before we've even fought? They may be able to stomach that disgrace, but I sure can't!"

"So... what are you planning, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki?"

Onigumo asked cautiously after sensing Sakazuki's disagreement.

But Sakazuki didn't reply immediately. Instead, he clenched his right hand.

A burst of crimson flames ignited in his palm—

—and the urgent telegram from HQ turned to ash.

"Fleet Admiral Sakazuki! That telegram was crucial! We still needed it to reply to HQ!"

Vice Admiral Yamakaji was stunned.

For the navy, telegrams were critical communication tools.

When HQ or any branch sent a telegram, the recipient was supposed to sign and return it to confirm receipt.

The telegram from HQ even bore Fleet Admiral Sengoku's personal signature and seal.

Now that Sakazuki had destroyed it, they had nothing to send back in response.

"No need to reply. Just say our transmission machine malfunctioned. Also, shut off the Den Den Mushi (Transponder Snails).

As long as Rikuya's pirate crew remains in Loguetown until dawn tomorrow... everything will be settled."

Sakazuki growled, glaring in Loguetown's direction.

"Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, this is open defiance of our superiors!"

Onigumo warned nervously.

Though Sakazuki was a Fleet Admiral and second only to Sengoku, meaning he could get away with disobeying orders, the same couldn't be said for the other Vice Admirals.

There were dozens of them across the navy. If they were caught defying orders, it could earn the wrath of Sengoku and the World Government.

And if that happened, they'd risk being transferred to command outposts in the New World—a miserable fate for anyone.

That was why Onigumo was hesitant to follow Sakazuki into insubordination.

"You all came out here under my command. I'll take full responsibility if anything goes wrong."

Sakazuki said firmly.

"In other words, if we do find and defeat Rikuya and his crew, will the World Government really punish us?

No—they'll probably thank us instead."

He said this with a scoff, completely unbothered.

"But what if we don't find them? You really think Smoker can hold out for a whole day?"

"If they manage to escape again, so be it. Once I arrive at Loguetown, I'll personally contact Sengoku via Den Den Mushi and explain everything.

I'll just say the telegram was... accidentally lost. What, is Sengoku really going to punish me over a missing piece of paper?"

Everyone fell silent at Sakazuki's words.

It was clear—they could not go against Sakazuki's orders.

In the navy, going against a superior like him would also lead to a miserable end.

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