While watching the battle unfold, Arima also noticed some suspicious movements among the bystanders.
'What's the World Government up to this time? Trying to pull the same trick again? Doffy's sticking his nose in too, don't tell me that bull-headed brute came along as well?!'
Seeing the CP agents and the Donquixote Pirates gathering in a hurry, Arima decided not to act just yet. He wanted to understand their purpose first.
'Hm? That's… CP0? What are they doing here?'
As he observed the CP agents, his eyes narrowed when he spotted that distinct white uniform, CP0.
Back when he had looted the Celestial Dragons, he'd managed to steal CP0's personnel files as well, uncovering some buried secrets.
Ever since then, he had kept a close eye on this mysterious organization whose intelligence network spanned the seas and whose power rivaled even the Red-Haired Pirates.
Arima remembered that during his talk with Dragon, the man had mentioned CP0 specifically, admitting that even the Revolutionary Army was wary of them.
'Could they be here for the Revolutionaries?' Arima guessed instinctively.
Then his gaze sharpened. 'Wait, are they targeting Kushina?!'
He saw the CP0 agents moving swiftly toward the place where Kushina was fighting Katakuri, and he immediately understood their intent.
'But why? The Float-Float Fruit? Or maybe… ah, I see!'
Watching Kushina glide freely through the seawater, Arima realized the truth. The World Government's plan ran deep, it was a fourfold scheme.
If Kushina were captured, the battle would tilt instantly in Big Mom's favor, and "Konoha" would take a heavy blow in this war.
Once her Float-Float Fruit power was sealed, Arima's airborne fortress would collapse as well, dealing another devastating loss to Konoha.
On top of that, the Government could use Kushina as bait to distract him.
And since she was a Devil Fruit user who could resist seawater, she also had immense research value to the World Government.
'Looks like I should give them something else to worry about.'
A sly smile formed on Arima's lips as he looked at the scheming CP0 agents.
He used Kamui to warp back to Skypiea, where his beloved wife was still fast asleep.
"Tsunade, get up. Someone's attacking our family."
At those words, Tsunade hurriedly threw on her clothes, not even bothering to wash her face. She grabbed Arima's arm and urged him to take her back to Loguetown.
When the couple arrived, they saw a squad of CP0 operatives preparing to attack Kushina, who was trapped in a water prison.
The moment Tsunade saw the scene, she didn't hesitate for even a heartbeat, her body flashed forward like lightning, blocking the black-clad agents' path.
"What's this? Trying to attack my sister?"
Tsunade hovered in the air, her body wreathed in violet lightning, radiant and divine like a goddess of thunder.
The CP0 leader, a man in a white mask, stared in shock. "Tsunade of Konoha? What are you doing here?"
Tsunade frowned slightly. "So you know my movements… looks like you've planted a spy somewhere. Not bad."
The man said nothing. He simply gestured, and over a dozen muscular men stepped forward, each armed with weapons made of Seastone.
Snipers in the back loaded their rifles with Seastone bullets, ready to fire.
"Well-prepared, aren't you?" Tsunade said coolly. Thanks to the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, she could sense their ambush with ease.
"Attack!"
At the leader's command, the men launched forward using Moonwalk, surrounding Tsunade from every direction.
"So you're all martial artists, huh? I'll admit, you've got some skill in handling Devil Fruit users."
Before she finished speaking, one CP0 agent lashed out from her blind spot with a Seastone chain.
Sensing the strike, Tsunade's right hand flared with Haki as she turned to counter, clashing head-on with her attacker.
Seeing this, the others struck from all directions, attacking her openings and trying to overwhelm her.
But Tsunade excelled in taijutsu. She had never slacked off in her training over the years, and their combined assault couldn't break through her defense.
What surprised her, though, was that every one of them could use Ryuo, their Armament clashed with hers evenly, neither side yielding ground.
In terms of speed, they couldn't match her lightning-powered agility, but their coordination was impeccable. For the moment, even she couldn't find a clear weakness to exploit.
'These enemies are quite a handful,' she thought grimly. 'If Orochimaru and Jiraiya were here, this would be much easier.'
But the pace of battle was too fierce to allow her any distraction.
…
"CP0 really is competent. They must have prepared for this in advance. But how did they get intel on us?"
As Arima puzzled over it, the Den Den Mushi in his coat started ringing. When he took it out, he saw the caller ID, Vice Admiral Garp.
"Hello, Vice Admiral Garp. What can I do for you?"
"Brat, you're still in Loguetown, aren't you?!"
"That's right. What, are you planning to interfere too?"
"Well, the East Blue is my home sea. I can't just let you kids wreck the place."
"So what's your plan?"
"You take your people and leave. I'll handle the rest."
"I'm afraid that won't work."
"Why not, brat? If you've got demands, spit them out."
Garp hadn't expected Arima to agree easily, so he already had some bargaining chips in mind.
"You misunderstand. I'm not asking for anything from you. But now that CP0's involved, I can't just let them walk away."
"There's more to this? Hold on, don't hang up. I'll check with Sengoku."
Garp set the Den Den Mushi aside and pulled out another one, dialing Sengoku.
"Hey, Garp. Have you arrived in Loguetown yet?" Sengoku's voice came through first.
"Almost. Sengoku, why is CP0 here too?"
"…"
The other end fell silent.
After a pause, Sengoku finally replied, "The Five Elders gave the order personally. Since Arima and Tsunade are on Skypiea, this was the perfect opportunity to capture their subordinates."
Garp's expression darkened. "Sengoku, that brat is in Loguetown right now. I'm talking to him, and he just confirmed it himself."
Sengoku hadn't expected that. "I can't overrule CP0. I'll report to the Five Elders, wait for my response."
But Arima, listening in on their conversation, had already made up his mind.
"Vice Admiral Garp, I'll be taking those CP0 agents with me. If they want them back, tell the Five Elders they can ransom them with Devil Fruits. I'll be waiting for their offer."
The line went dead on Arima's end just as Garp received Sengoku's reply.
"Garp, the Five Elders are willing to recall CP0. If Arima releases them, they'll consider lifting the bounties on him and Tsunade."
"Too late for that, Sengoku. The brat's already pissed. If the Five Elders want their people back, they'll have to pay in Devil Fruits. And don't expect me to play messenger between you two."
Sengoku could only sigh helplessly, asking Garp to at least try to help CP0. But Garp said nothing and hung up without hesitation.
Back in Loguetown, Arima ended his call with Garp and refocused on CP0. The leader had just received new orders and was retreating with his men while still fighting.
A swirl of space distorted before them, Arima's Kamui blocked their path.
"Since you're already here," he said coolly, "why not come to Konoha for a cup of tea before you leave?"