To everyone's surprise, Kronos wasn't thinking about finishing off Whitebeard.
After a moment of silence, he cast a glance at Uchiha Madara and said,
"Didn't you keep saying you wanted to fight Akainu? Fine—here's your chance. How about it?"
The entire crew froze.
What? Their target… wasn't Whitebeard, but Marine?
"That doesn't make sense," someone muttered.
Albedo tilted her head curiously.
"Why not strike while the iron is hot and take down the Whitebeard Pirates instead?"
Gojo Satoru grinned, his tone playful but sharp.
"I've got a better idea. Since Akainu and Whitebeard are tearing into each other anyway, why not take out both of them? Two birds with one stone."
He pushed his sunglasses up and continued,
"Imagine it—two emperor-level monsters erased in a single day. Wouldn't that make the Kamui Pirates the stuff of legend?"
His words sent a ripple of excitement through the crew.
Anyone with sense knew it: the greater the glory of the Kamui Pirates, the faster Kronos would rise as a contender for Pirate King. Both Whitebeard and Marine could serve as stepping stones to that throne.
But Kronos simply shook his head and spoke lightly,
"Don't bother persuading me. Do as I say. Whitebeard still has his uses… it's not yet time to erase him."
The crew exchanged confused glances but nodded. If Kronos had decided, then there had to be a reason—even if they didn't understand it.
As for Uchiha Madara, the chosen warrior himself, his eyes gleamed with feverish excitement.
"Wait, Captain… are you saying you'll let me face Marine alone?"
His voice trembled—not from fear, but from anticipation. His heart pounded violently in his chest.
To fight side by side with others was one thing. To claim the battlefield for himself… that was something else entirely.
It was like a feast laid out before him, and every bite belonged to him alone.
Kronos smiled faintly.
"Of course. Do you think I was joking?"
That was all Madara needed to hear.
He threw back his head and laughed, then in the next instant, his figure vanished—streaking across the battlefield like a bolt of lightning, straight toward Marine's lines.
Hashirama couldn't help laughing as well.
"My old friend looks truly happy."
Pain folded his arms, his expression unreadable.
"He's been waiting for this—an opponent strong enough to push him to his limits. A chance like this… he wouldn't let it slip by."
Gojo suddenly chuckled, as though remembering something amusing.
"Speaking of Akainu—word is Sengoku really did retire. Which means it's actually possible Akainu's the next Marine Marshal."
That made Kronos pause for a moment before smirking.
"Then wouldn't it be something… if Madara crushed the future Marine Marshal? I'd pay to see the look on the Five Elders' faces when that news spreads."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to [jeremy]for joining my Patreon page!🎉Your support means the world to me. 🙏
You can visit my Patreon page:
Patreon.com/PhoeniXcel
There are 60+ advanced chapters available for you to read.
Your support would be greatly appreciated.
Check out my new Naruto fanfic!
[Naruto: I Don't Want Recognition]