One Piece: Starting with Sign-in Naruto Character Cards

"Sakazuki, the Navy Headquarters has decided to suspend your position as Admiral. You are to immediately cease all your current operations and return to HQ to deliver a full report directly to Fleet Admiral Sengoku!

Here is your suspension order. Read it for yourself!"

As she spoke, Tsuru casually tossed a sheet of white paper toward Sakazuki.

This time, Sakazuki didn't burn the paper as before. He caught it, gripped it tightly in his hand, and gave Rikuya Kazama and the others a cold, disdainful look.

"You lot better remember this—I'll make you pay one day!"

With that, Sakazuki turned and walked off the plaza without looking back.

At the same time, the other three Vice Admirals present gathered together.

"You three are to return to HQ with Sakazuki and reflect seriously on your actions!"

Tsuru understood that the three likely had their own reasons for disobeying orders, but orders were orders, and consequences had to be faced. For now, she could only instruct them to go back.

"Understood. Thank you."

Yamakaji and the others still held respect for these senior Navy officers. After bowing in acknowledgment, they too departed from the battlefield.

Once the Navy group had left, Garp slowly stepped forward toward Rikuya Kazama and the others.

At this point, Rikuya's "Might Guy" possession had already worn off. If Garp wanted to sneak attack him now, one punch might be enough to leave him half-dead on the spot.

But it was clear that Garp had no intention of making a move against them.

Because of that, Rikuya chose not to use another possession for now.

Meanwhile, his three companions remained on high alert—especially Bartolomeo, who once again raised his signature hand gesture, ready to deploy his defense at a moment's notice.

"The World Government has recently issued an official appointment regarding you and your crew. From this moment forward, you are now one of the Shichibukai. Congratulations."

Garp said this in a calm, flat tone.

Hearing Garp's declaration, everyone present—except for Rikuya Kazama—stared at him in utter shock.

Clearly, none of them had taken Rikuya's earlier mention of going to Mary Geoise seriously—they'd thought it was just a joke.

But this changed everything.

If Rikuya actually accepted the appointment, then he could enter Mary Geoise legally and openly!

"Do those old geezers at the World Government seriously believe I'd accept this appointment? Being one of the Shichibukai holds no appeal to me whatsoever."

Just when everyone thought Rikuya would accept without hesitation, his words caught them completely off guard.

"Oh? You don't want to accept the appointment?" Garp's brow furrowed tightly upon hearing that.

Behind him, Tsuru and the others also became visibly tense.

The previously calm battlefield atmosphere once again turned tense and hostile.

"Are they senile, or are you all just stupid? You want me to be just a Shichibukai? I blew up Impel Down and stole a warship from the Red-Haired Pirates, and this is how you reward me?"

Rikuya snapped without restraint.

And honestly, he wasn't wrong. The Shichibukai might hold high status and power, but Rikuya had gone toe-to-toe with Shanks's crew and come out on top. Becoming a Shichibukai now would be a joke—and a humiliating one.

After all, if the World Government dared to appoint a Yonko-level pirate as a mere Shichibukai, they'd probably get punched on the spot!

It was clear the World Government was just trying to placate him with a title, and Rikuya wasn't going to tolerate that.

"Hmph, so what exactly do you want?"

Garp clenched his fists.

"You need to give me a higher-ranking appointment. Also, the rest of the Shichibukai must fall under my command. I answer to no one."

Rikuya spoke calmly, but with unwavering authority.

The moment those words left his mouth, Garp was stunned for a second—then suddenly burst into loud laughter!

"Kid, aren't you being a little too full of yourself? Never mind the rest—even putting the other Shichibukai under your command? That's not up to us.

In fact, it's not even possible. So should I assume you're just messing with us?"

Garp didn't mince words in rejecting Rikuya's demand.

"You're just a Vice Admiral. This kind of matter isn't up to you. The higher-ups didn't send you all this way to negotiate—they sent you to deliver a message and test my limits. Don't pretend you don't understand that."

Rikuya's sharp words made Garp's face darken instantly.

At the same time, Douglas Bullet's fists began to quietly emit a layer of red-and-black energy.

The situation felt like it could erupt into another full-blown fight at any moment.

But right then, Garp let out a cold snort and replied again:

"You want a higher position? That's not something you can get with just talk.

If you want real benefits from the World Government and Navy HQ, then you have to offer something valuable in return."

"That's easy. I'll take out the rest of the Shichibukai for you. That alone would be a massive win for the Navy.

Besides, I've already cleaned up a lot of your messes along the way—you all know it, even if I don't say it."

Rikuya's stance was clear: all along this journey, he had taken down numerous pirates and even subdued Crocodile and Douglas Bullet.

That alone had saved the World Government and the Navy a lot of trouble.

Not only that—he was promising to completely crush the rest of the Shichibukai and bring them under his banner.

But therein lay a massive risk.

If Rikuya truly succeeded, his power might reach terrifying new heights.

At that point, even the Navy might not be able to challenge him head-on anymore!

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