Chapter 172 – Shocking the Entire Whitebeard Pirates, Clash of Conqueror's Haki Between Renji and Whitebeard!
"Young people really are different."
John gulped down his wine, a trace of melancholy rising in his heart. It seemed that this captain carried far greater ambition than the last. Yet at his own age, he did not know how long he could keep walking alongside him.
He truly wished to see that era the captain spoke of!
The bitter wine burned his throat, his heart ached, and he suddenly felt as though he had been born into the wrong era.
"Captain, can I go to sea with you?"
Toki timidly leaned close to Renji's side and asked.
She had already given up on traveling through time. Over the years she had felt herself fall behind the world, and now she wished to follow Renji to see the lands beyond Wano.
"If you follow me, it will be very dangerous."
If Toki went with him, she would inevitably appear on wanted posters and be targeted by the World Government.
He was no ordinary pirate anymore—he had greatly offended the World Government.
Once Toki was wanted, she would never again have peace at sea. To travel, she would need to grow stronger and remain by their side.
"Eh? The outside world is dangerous?"
"No. I am a wanted criminal."
As Renji spoke, he saw Toki's expression shift, finally settling into astonishment.
He was wanted? Why would Nika be a wanted criminal?
"After Nika failed, the World Government was established, and all who defied it were hunted."
Renji explained.
Since she had lived in Wano, and in her era bounty posters may not even have existed—or certainly never reached Wano—her ignorance was natural.
"I see."
Nika being hunted made sense. He had inherited Nika's will, seeking to liberate the world. As Renji said, when Joy Boy was defeated, the Great Kingdom collapsed, and those who carried its will were inevitably pursued.
"I still want to go with you, Captain."
Even if she was hunted, she wished to see beyond Wano. When Renji persuaded her to remain in this era, a restless desire had already begun to stir.
The longer she stayed, the stronger her yearning to see the world outside. Yet she was sensible—since Renji had not mentioned it before, she never brought it up. Now that he had decided to leave, she naturally wished to follow.
"Fine. The rest of you stay here and train."
After agreeing to Toki's request, the other two also grew restless. Aside from Kuma, Ginny and Ivankov both longed to go.
They had lived in Wano for a long time. Now that Renji would finally leave, how could they not wish to follow? But when Renji told them to remain and train, their faces fell at once, miserable.
"Do you want to go out only to be relentlessly hunted by the World Government? Better to stay now, build strength, and later venture out on your own. Choose for yourselves!"
Renji's words made sense. Toki did not know—but could they claim ignorance?
As survivors of God Valley, they knew exactly what Renji had done.
Following him meant bearing the same mark and suffering the same pursuit.
"But Captain, do you mean we will never act together again?"
Ginny was clever. She realized Renji did not plan to take them now. But did that mean they would never move together in the future?
"For now, staying with me will harm you. I have my own plans. Do not be tied to me for the time being."
"Alright, I understand."
Ginny's eyes flickered. She quickly grasped Renji's intent.
"Then I'm off. Train well. I'll leave a shadow clone here to watch over you."
Originally, they thought that if Renji left without them, at least they could slack off. Old John never cared what they did. But leaving a shadow clone changed everything.
"Ginny, why won't the captain let us go with him?"
After Renji departed, Ivankov quietly asked.
"Because he has his own plans, and we are too weak. To build his forces, he must separate us from himself for now."
Ginny explained.
It was simply that they were too weak. Renji was protecting them.
Her heart warmed. Since God Valley, Renji had always cared for them. Their lives had been saved by him. Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit and her own Gale Fruit had also come from Renji.
New World, Whitebeard Pirates.
"Gurararara! Bring out all the best wine!!"
"Is Pops holding a banquet today?"
Marco looked at Whitebeard in puzzlement. Hadn't he said yesterday that supplies were short and there would be no banquets?
"Just bring it out! Marco, get out of the way!!"
Whitebeard barked, then seized Murakumogiri from his side and slashed toward the sky.
At the same time, a figure descended at great speed before the eyes of Marco and the others.
Boom!
The collision of their Conqueror's Haki erupted in streaks of purple-black lightning. Many around them fainted under the clash. Watching his sons fall one by one, Whitebeard paid no mind—his grin only widened.
"Gurararara! You bastard, I thought the World Government had captured you!"
"Whitebeard, if you got caught, I sure as hell wouldn't!"
Renji laughed and cursed, pouring greater strength into his strike and unleashing his Conqueror's Haki to its peak.
In his arms, Toki turned pale with fright and fainted.
"You brat!!"
Whitebeard glanced behind him. Nearly all his sons had collapsed. Anger flickered in his heart, but he also resolved to train them harder.
Couldn't they even withstand Conqueror's Haki?
Only Marco, Jozu, and Vista held out, though even they struggled bitterly.
"Enough. I didn't come here to fight."
Renji sheathed his blade, his Haki dissipating. The crushing pressure on Marco and the others vanished, letting them breathe easier even as they watched him warily.
This man…
They knew full well it was Conqueror's Haki. Their fainting comrades were the result of Renji and Whitebeard's clash.
"Pops?"
"Don't mind this bastard!" Whitebeard glared at Renji, then roared, "Renji, you bastard, I really should have given you a proper beating back then!"
Now that all his sons had fainted, this bastard came here just to stir trouble? Fine, fine! When he ran into Renji's crew later, he would return the favor!
"My apologies then, Whitebeard!"
Back then Whitebeard's strength had truly crushed him. If Whitebeard had wanted to beat him, even Rocks probably wouldn't have stopped it.
That petty old man—no, petty middle-aged man.
"Did your dream come true?"
Renji's lips curved slightly. Around them lay bodies scattered everywhere, and among them he even saw several familiar faces, including Blackbeard who had already joined the crew.
It seemed the Whitebeard Pirates had already taken shape. But was this timeline missing Kozuki Oden?
On his journey to Wano, Renji hadn't seen Oden. Later, from surveillance, he learned that because of their invasion, Oden had left immediately. Now it appeared that the story had changed—Oden had not joined Whitebeard's crew. He didn't know if he would later.
"Renji, these are all my sons!"
Whitebeard nodded, a trace of warmth in his eyes.
At last he had realized his dream of having a family. These were orphans of war, willing to board his ship and call him Pops, and he was willing to protect them.
"Son, I told you before—you should have had kids with Big Mom. Wouldn't you have more by now? How many children does she have these days anyway?"
Though Renji had just left Wano, he had already heard many rumors about Big Mom.
That woman really was prolific, like a sow, producing child after child. Her influence and career were only growing stronger.
At this time, many still wanted children with her. After all, in her prime, Big Mom was still charming. If it were the anime's timeline, when she had grown grotesque, everyone would only feel disgust.
"Don't bring up that crazy woman! Disgusting!"
A flash of loathing crossed Whitebeard's face. Beside him, Marco interjected, "Back then, she did ask Pops to have children with her, but Pops refused!"
He spoke casually, seeing that Renji and Whitebeard seemed to know each other well.
Was he from Pops' old crew?
Marco knew that Pops had once sailed with another pirate crew. Charlotte Linlin had come from there as well.
"Tch. Whitebeard, whatever you say, Charlotte Linlin is still a beauty. You could have just enjoyed it and walked away! Haven't you heard—don't waste a good girl, and don't waste a bad one either?"
Renji muttered, annoyed that Whitebeard didn't understand such a simple truth.
Serves him right that Miss Bakkin duped him later.
"Damn!! Incredible!!"
Marco had never heard such a theory. His values were shaken to the core.
Was rejecting Charlotte Linlin actually Pops' mistake?
"Renji, you bastard, why didn't you? I remember that woman, Charlotte Linlin, was interested in you too!"
Whitebeard shot back. He wasn't shameless enough to take that route, and he had no desire to father Big Mom's children.
He disapproved of her way of birthing children only to build her crew.
It was her business, not his—but he could control his own choices.
Besides, she hadn't only shown interest in him, but in Renji too. Why hadn't he?
Didn't he just say "don't waste them"?
"She and I don't match."
Renji shrugged. Compared to her height, his own was nothing.
But he thought of something else. Weren't there still the little people? No wonder Charlotte Linlin had that idea.
"So that's your type?"
Whitebeard glanced at Toki, who was still unconscious in Renji's arms from the earlier clash of Conqueror's Haki.
Did this guy kidnap her from somewhere?
Back on the Rocks Pirates, he had been untouchable—no woman could get near him. He had shown no interest, even though once he secured his place as a captain, plenty of women on the ship wanted him as their protector.
The women of the Rocks Pirates were practical. Without strength or status, they wouldn't bother with you. But if you had both, even if you were ugly, someone would still stay at your side.
"She's my crew member. I just happened to bring her along this time."
"You're being hunted by the World Government, and you still dare to bring others with you?"
Whitebeard curled his lip, but didn't pursue the matter.
Though Renji had disappeared for a long time, once he showed himself again, he would surely be hunted relentlessly by the World Government.
For years, the World Government had been erasing the impact of Renji killing Celestial Dragons. The events of God Valley were being buried, just like the taboo events of eight hundred years ago. No one dared to speak of it.
"I remember now—you were with Pops back then. You're the one who killed the Celestial Dragons at God Valley!"
Marco suddenly realized where he had seen Renji before.
He had been a child, but he would never forget the man once called the Celestial Dragon Slayer.
"You really are slow to catch on."
A dark line crossed Renji's face. As he glanced at Marco, his eyes fell, almost unconsciously, on Blackbeard.
That one would betray them one day. Should he warn Whitebeard now? If Blackbeard were cast off the ship, wouldn't that trigger a whole chain of changes?
But Renji only thought about it, then let it go. Whitebeard would never listen. Blackbeard had already boarded—why would he cast him off because of Renji's words?
And how could he even justify it?
If he claimed he knew the future, Whitebeard would take him for a fool.
"Hey, why are you staring at my son?"
Whitebeard instantly flared up when he noticed Renji's gaze. Was this bastard eyeing one of his sons?
Blackbeard was bewildered too. Why was this man staring at him?
(End of chapter)
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