While the rest of the battlefield raged with chaos and clashing wills, Naru remained where she was, standing utterly still, seemingly doing nothing at all.
It was not that she did not want to fight, far from it. But at this moment, there was simply nothing meaningful she could contribute.
At least, not yet.
Her brothers were safe, and her team was handling the situation admirably. The remaining marines were no match for them. Among her group, Nikolas and Yue were leading the charge, thanks to the overwhelming powers granted by their Devil Fruits. Meanwhile, Yuzu and Barlow each faced off against a powerful opponent in one-on-one duels.
With Nikolas and Yue causing devastation on a large scale, Naru had no real concerns, even if they were up against the full force of the marines. And if, by some twist of fate, those two somehow were not enough? Well, she still had a card up her sleeve, for she alone could wipe this place clean with her one-woman army if she truly wished. Of course, she had no intention of flaunting her Kage Bunshin to the world just yet.
Oh, the irony of it all.
In her previous life, the Kage Bunshin had practically been her calling card, her signature move.
And yet, in this life, she had not even unleashed a single clone in direct combat.
Instead, her Kage Bunshin served a far more insidious and effective purpose, to expand her sprawling spy network, which was a project she had diligently begun even before she left the East Blue behind. Truth be told, the clones were far better suited for espionage than brute force these days.
Deciding to check on her team's progress, Naru casually let her gaze sweep across the battlefield.
She spotted Yue soaring gracefully through the air, plucking the shining feathers from her own wings and transforming them into deadly arrows she fired with precision. Nikolas was locked in a heated clash against Smoker, the same marine who had once shared an oddly amicable encounter with her clone back in Loguetown. It seemed that even after all this time and a new station, Smoker had not kicked his old habit of chomping down on two cigars at once. Some things never changed. Moving along, Naru caught sight of Barlow trading fierce blows with none other than Aokiji, and then there was Yuzu, who was fiercely trying to run Doflamingo through with pure, lethal intent.
Satisfied for the moment, Naru tore her gaze away from them and surveyed the broader field.
Her sharp eyes instantly zeroed in on a hidden corner, a darkened place that practically reeked of negativity. She frowned, narrowing her focus. Whoever lurked in that shadowed place was not just hiding, they were scheming, plotting something malicious.
Just then, something fast hurtled toward her like a bolt of lightning. Calmly, effortlessly, Naru sidestepped the incoming attack, watching without a flicker of surprise as it exploded on the ground where she had stood, tearing up the earth.
She glanced upward, spotting a smiling Kizaru floating lazily in the air, almost as if he had not just tried to blast her into oblivion.
Despite his casual attack, Kizaru was not even looking at her now, his attention was fixed on Yue, admiring the girl's unique combat style.
"Your friend there has a very interesting Devil Fruit," he remarked almost dreamily.
Then, with a slow, deliberate turn, his golden eyes met hers. "You as well. Your abilities are interesting... but I cannot quite pin them down. I know Sakazuki well. There is simply no way he could have been defeated so easily by a mere kick."
A slow, dangerous smirk tugged at Naru's lips as she channeled her wind chakra to lift herself off the ground, rising to meet him at eye level in the sky.
"Ho? I thought it was pretty obvious that Whitebeard delivered the finishing blow. Why are you pointing your fingers at me?" she teased, her voice light but laced with steel.
Kizaru tilted his head in that lazy, almost mocking manner of his. "Still... I'm sure you did something strange to him before that."
He was not wrong.
On the day the marines launched their assault on Uzu, Kizaru had been the first to clash directly with the Uzukage. Yet something bizarre had happened, the moment she touched him, his strength had inexplicably begun to weaken. Whatever she had done that day, it had not been anything Whitebeard could claim credit for.
Kizaru knew it. Deep down, he understood he could not afford to let his guard down against this particular enemy.
Even so, he was wholly unprepared when Naru, faster than even his light-speed reactions, vanished from sight and reappeared in an instant, gripping his wrist in a steel-tight hold.
"I wonder," she said smoothly, "which one of us is truly faster. You lost pretty badly the last time, remember? But hey, I'm quite busy right now, so how about you go play with someone else, hm? Have fun!"
Before Kizaru could even process her mocking words, she hurled him with incredible force, sending the admiral hurtling through the sky like a rag doll, crashing toward the battered ruins of Marine HQ.
A few seconds later, a shadow loomed over him, a massive pair of curious eyes peering down at him.
Meanwhile, back where she floated, Naru calmly watched Kizaru's unceremonious crash-landing and thought with an inward shrug, better he deal with whatever trouble is brewing over there than me.
That said, she could not help feeling mildly surprised. How had none of the higher-ranking marines, not her grandfather, not even Sengoku, noticed the sinister energy hiding in the shadows?
Well, to be fair, the old goat Sengoku was busy barking orders at the frantic marines, trying to regain control of the crumbling battlefield. As for her grandfather, he had already retreated to Sengoku's side and now watched the chaos like a simple bystander.
Naru shifted her gaze toward Whitebeard and felt her heart sink. His face was paler than ever, ghostly even. His once-mighty presence seemed to shrink by the second.
It was obvious.
Whitebeard's condition was deteriorating rapidly. He would not be able to hold on much longer.
She knew it. He knew it. His crew knew it. Everyone knew.
And yet, here he stood, rooted to the ground by sheer force of will, refusing to leave.
"The least I can do is protect my children. You will help me... will you not, Kitsune?" he had asked her, his voice thick with the weight of finality.
"Of course," she had answered without hesitation.
He had laughed then, a big, booming, hearty laugh, one that momentarily defied death itself.
Naru wanted to do more for him. She desperately wished she could heal him, save him, do something. But even with all her talents, she could not help a man who had already chosen his fate.
The best she could do now was honor her promise, protect his crew no matter what, and get them out of this hellhole alive.
"Stay sharp. They're about to make their move," Kurama warned, breaking his long silence from within.
No sooner had he spoken than another deafening explosion rocked the battlefield. Kizaru shot back up into the sky, unleashing a wild barrage of energy blasts at the already-crippled Marine HQ.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Sengoku bellowed furiously. The Grand Fleet Commander had enough fires to put out without one of his own admirals making it worse.
The unexpected spectacle snapped everyone's attention to the sky. For a moment, all the fighting ceased. Even Naru's team broke off from their respective battles, rushing to regroup at her side.
"We have company," Aokiji murmured grimly.
As the smoke and debris began to settle, the outlines of a new group came into view, and what a sight it was. A towering giant stood proudly amidst the devastation, surrounded by a motley crew of vicious, grinning figures. Some of them still wore the tattered black and white stripes of prison uniforms.
It was unmistakable.
The Blackbeard Pirates had arrived, and they had brought with them some of the world's most notorious criminals, men who should never have walked free again.
"Teach!" The Whitebeard Pirates' collective snarl of hatred ripped through the tense air.
Standing at the head of the group, Marshall D Teach, Blackbeard himself, grinned that same grotesque, oily grin they all despised.
"Zehahahahaha! It has been a while, has it not, old man?! What a wonderful day to witness your death!" he cackled, spreading his arms wide as if welcoming the chaos.
Whitebeard did not deign to respond to the man's taunts. But his grip tightened on his weapon so fiercely, it was a wonder it did not shatter under the pressure.
The arrival of Blackbeard and his monstrous crew did not just ignite fury among the Whitebeard Pirates, it sent a shockwave of dread rippling through the marines too.
After all, these were not just any criminals.
They were the worst of the worst, men who had been buried away because execution was deemed too merciful.
And now they were here, standing free, with one of their own former comrades among them.
Sengoku and the others were utterly baffled when they caught sight of Shiryu standing amongst the criminals.
They had been betrayed by one of their very own.
"What the hell?!" someone shouted in disbelief.
"What is Shiryu-san doing over there?!" another voice cried out.
"For the love of all Gods, why do people we least expect keep popping up like unwanted surprises?!" someone else raged, their voice filled with exasperation.
While Sengoku furiously demanded answers from the newcomers, Naru moved with silent precision. Without drawing attention to herself, she activated a powerful barrier technique, a Barrier Seal, one she had once painstakingly learned from the legendary Jiraiya. This barrier now enveloped the ship carrying the Whitebeard Pirates, serving a very specific purpose, to restrain them. Particularly one very troublesome individual.
That certain someone was now furiously hammering his fists against the invisible wall, each blow sending visible ripples shuddering across the unseen shield.
"LET ME OUT! LET ME SLAUGHTER THAT TRAITOR!" Ace roared with feral fury.
"ACE, STOP IT!" Sabo yelled, lunging to restrain him, temporarily forgetting that Naru's barrier was not something that could be broken, not from the outside and certainly not from within. As things stood, they were effectively imprisoned.
"Leader, what is the plan now?" Nikolas asked, his voice tight with tension.
"We wait," came the calm, unwavering reply.
And so, they waited.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Blackbeard finished delivering his grandiose, self-satisfied speech, leaving even the normally unflappable Fleet Admiral speechless with disbelief. Seizing the moment, Whitebeard unleashed his infamous Quake Punch, this time infused with an overwhelming killing intent that made the very air tremble.
The sheer force of his attack caused the surroundings to collapse into chaos.
In an instant, it was no longer a battle between the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates. No, this had become a brutal, personal war between Whitebeard and Blackbeard.
Yet, to everyone's shock and growing horror, Blackbeard and his assembled group survived Whitebeard's devastating assault with barely a scratch between them. In stark contrast, Whitebeard's already critical condition deteriorated even further. From where she stood, Naru could keenly sense his rapidly fading life force, like a candle guttering in a violent wind.
For a fleeting moment, she considered rushing to his aid.
But Kurama, ever attuned to her heart, spoke before she could even twitch a muscle.
"You knew this moment would come sooner or later," he rumbled with quiet finality.
Naru clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. "I know..." she admitted silently.
"And you know that, even if you tried, he would never accept your help."
'I know, Kurama,' she thought again, feeling bitter about the whole situation.
"In this world," Kurama said gently but firmly, "you can't save everyone."
She did not respond out loud, but deep down, she accepted the truth of his words. She had no choice.
Naru had lived in this world longer than she had ever lived back in the Elemental Nations. Over those many years, she had embarked on countless journeys, met all manner of people, and learned harsh, unforgettable lessons from them. One of the most profound truths she discovered was that here, in this world, pride was valued even more dearly than life itself.
Whitebeard, the mighty and prideful Yonko, was the perfect embodiment of that belief.
After knowing the old man for so many years, she had long ago noticed how his life force was gradually waning. She had broached the topic carefully, even offering to ease his illness with her healing powers. But to her shock, Whitebeard had flatly refused.
He had laughed heartily, that familiar booming laugh, and said to her and everyone else, "So what if I'm sick? That's not gonna stop me from living my life to the fullest! My time is almost up anyway, so I might as well enjoy every damn second left! Gurararara!"
Naru had struggled to understand that mindset. She could not comprehend why he would willingly endure such pain when he could have lived longer, healthier. But he had made his choice, and she had learned to respect it.
In this life, she had learned the hard way, that sometimes, you had to step back and let people fight their own battles.
And so, she stood silently and watched.
She watched as Whitebeard fought valiantly to hide his suffering from his crew, refusing to show even a glimpse of weakness. She listened as he thundered for all to hear that he no longer recognized Teach, the traitorous wretch who had killed a comrade out of selfish ambition, as his son. He declared it with such conviction, such heart-wrenching finality, that even the heavens seemed to mourn.
Whitebeard would never forgive the betrayal. Not in this lifetime or the next.
And if fate had truly decided that this was the day he would meet his end, then by the gods, he would drag that bastard Teach down into hell with him.
In the meantime, just like Ace, Marco, and the others who could hardly bear the sight of their captain suffering, they all tried desperately to break through Naru's barrier. However, they were met with a thunderous and harsh warning from Whitebeard himself, who, with a voice that brooked no argument, ordered them not to interfere. His declaration went so far as to threaten that anyone who dared step between him and Blackbeard would be cast out and no longer considered part of his crew. This shocking statement sent yet another wave of chaos and heartbreak through the already devastated Whitebeard Pirates.
Whitebeard then let out a ragged gasp of pain, the sound cutting through the battlefield and tightening the throats of everyone who heard it.
"Oyaji!" Ace and the others cried out in agony, their voices cracking under the weight of helplessness.
Gritting his teeth against the torrent of agony ravaging his body, Whitebeard refused to succumb. No matter how ferociously the pain tore through him, this was not how he intended to fall.
The flame of his life, though now flickering weakly, still burned with a fierce, unwavering determination. He had one final duty left, to avenge the fallen Thatch, the crewmate whose death had set these tragic events in motion.
Blackbeard, on the other hand, never once took the old man's resilience seriously. With nothing but derision, he unleashed a guttural, vicious laugh as a dark, corrupt aura began to surge around him. Crying out "Black Hole!" the ominous black energy expanded from his body, spiraling outward until it swallowed the ground and reached his target.
"This, right here," Blackbeard bellowed, his voice thick with twisted pride, "is the power of the Devil Fruit I stole after killing Thatch! The most fearsome power, the Yami Yami no Mi!" He went on to mock Whitebeard and Thatch, spewing insults that only deepened the resentment of his former crewmates, who now glared at him with murderous intent.
Even Naru's face darkened. While she could respect Whitebeard's firm wish to fight alone, every fiber of her being itched to storm across the battlefield and crush that arrogant traitor beneath her heel.
The battle raged on. Blackbeard gleefully demonstrated the terrifying ability of his Devil Fruit, his Black Vortex nullified Whitebeard's mighty attacks as if they were nothing more than a breeze. He bragged loudly about how useless Devil Fruit users were against him, believing himself invincible. Yet, his arrogant boasting was abruptly cut short when Whitebeard, with no more than sheer brute force and his trusted naginata, dealt him a devastating blow.
Gripping his weapon with all the strength he had left, Whitebeard hurled Blackbeard to the ground. The impact shook the earth, and Blackbeard howled in agony as blood spurted from his battered body. Whitebeard then pinned him down with the hilt of his weapon, holding him firmly in place. Just as he prepared to deliver a final, fatal strike, the traitor panicked. Dropping all semblance of dignity, Blackbeard pathetically groveled, crying out, "I am your son!" in a desperate bid for mercy.
But Whitebeard, filled with righteous fury, was not deceived. His eyes blazed with unwavering resolve. Disregarding the traitor's pleas, he mercilessly crushed him, generating a colossal impact that shrouded the two in a thick cloud of dust and smoke.
As the haze finally cleared, disappointment gripped the hearts of the onlookers, for Blackbeard still lived, gasping and bloodied, yet alive. Naru could feel it: the old man had poured an enormous amount of power into that blow. However, Whitebeard's body was simply too battered, too weakened. It had not been enough to end it. The Whitebeard Pirates, unaware of the extent of their captain's condition, urged him to finish the traitor. They shouted, pleaded, but Whitebeard did not respond.
It was then that Yue, standing calmly beside Naru, broke the heavy silence.
"Leader-san," she said gravely, "he is weakening rapidly. At his current rate, he will not last more than a couple of minutes."
Their ship was still close enough for those who had honed Kenbunshoku Haki to overhear her solemn words. The excitement drained from their faces, replaced by the crushing weight of grief.
Naru stared at Whitebeard's broad back, her heart aching with sorrow and frustration.
If only he had let me help him back then...
Meanwhile, Blackbeard, still reeling from the beating he had received, was in complete disbelief. How could a man on the brink of death possess such monstrous strength? His disbelief quickly morphed into rage as he shrieked at Whitebeard to finally just die already. He then barked out an order to his subordinates to attack.
And they obeyed.
Ace, Marco, and the others could only watch in torment as their beloved father figure was besieged. No matter how desperately they wanted to rush in, they could not break through Naru's barrier, and even if they could, Whitebeard's orders bound them. His final wish was absolute, and disobeying it would be a betrayal they could never live with.
Even if it meant watching him die before their eyes, they would honor his will.
Blackbeard and his crew laughed cruelly, finding it all too easy to pummel Whitebeard. They even mocked him aloud, jeering that maybe he had already died while standing, given that he showed no reaction to their strikes.
But then, he spoke.
"It is not you..." came Whitebeard's voice, low but unmistakable.
"What...?" Blackbeard gaped.
"It is not you..." Whitebeard repeated, ignoring the searing agony that racked his body. Blood continued to drip from countless wounds, pooling beneath his feet. Yet, in his eyes, acceptance glimmered alongside an unbreakable determination. He still had something left to say, something the world needed to hear.
"The person Roger is waiting for," Whitebeard rasped, "is certainly not you, Teach! And all of you, listen well, there are many out there who will carry on Roger's will! The one chosen by fate will rise among them!"
Whitebeard coughed violently, spraying more blood, but he pushed onward, using every last shred of strength to project his voice.
"No matter how much you struggle, no matter how many you destroy, the inherited will, the flame born from ancient times, will never be extinguished! One day, someone will emerge, shouldering the history of all these centuries, and they will challenge this world and claim it!"
As he said the word world, Whitebeard lifted his gaze toward the towering flag of the World Government. For a fleeting moment, his eyes met those of a certain Vice Admiral, an unspoken understanding passing between them.
He then turned to find Sengoku, the stern and silent Fleet Admiral. To him, Whitebeard spoke with a voice that shook the very air:
"You people of the World Government, you fear that day more than anything. That is why you hunted so desperately for Roger's child. But listen carefully, Ace is not the only one born with the potential to be a king."
He cast a fleeting, meaningful glance toward Naru, who met his eyes with solemn understanding.
Sengoku's stomach twisted into a knot of dread. Whatever Whitebeard was about to say, he knew instinctively it would not be something he wanted the world to hear.
He was right.
"As soon as that chosen one finds the great treasure, this world will no longer belong to you!"
Sengoku's eyes widened in horror. "No! Newgate, do not you dare say it!"
"That day will come!" Whitebeard roared, lifting his head skyward. With one final breath, he let loose a declaration that would ripple across the world, a tsunami of truth that no power could suppress.
"ONE PIECE... DOES EXIST!"
And with that, Edward Newgate, the great Whitebeard, passed from the world, his towering figure still standing proud, his spirit forever etched into history.
For a moment, silence reigned, as if the entire battlefield itself was paying tribute.
Then came the explosion of reactions.
The Marines cheered, some wildly, others with weary relief. The last remaining threat of the day had finally been vanquished. Yet among their ranks, there were a few who bowed their heads, paying silent homage to the fallen titan. After all, legend or enemy, Whitebeard had been a force unlike any other.
Garp and Sengoku remained still, silent as stone. Though they had achieved what the World Government desired, neither man could summon any words. In their hearts, they recognized the magnitude of what had been lost.
"Fufufu... he actually died, huh?" Doflamingo chuckled darkly, showing no sympathy whatsoever. To him, it was just another piece off the board.
Meanwhile, the Whitebeard Pirates collapsed in grief, howling in despair. Some fell to their knees, beating the bloodstained earth. Ace, devastated beyond words, was among them.
Naru clenched her fists tightly. She closed her eyes, drew in several deep, calming breaths, and then turned toward the broken remnants of the crew.
"Marco," she called, her voice firm yet gentle. "It is time for you all to leave."
Marco stared at her, vacant and shattered. But slowly, painfully, he nodded. Wiping nothing away, letting his tears fall freely, he forced himself to lead.
With heavy hearts, they obeyed, and the ship began to move forward once more.
Naru and her team did not budge. They would not leave until the Whitebeard Pirates were safely beyond danger. Naru had made a promise to Whitebeard, and she would see it through to the very end.
Gazing at the fallen Yonko, whose body bore not a single wound on his back, who still proudly displayed his Jolly Roger to the world, Naru's mind drifted back to their last conversation.
"You only have, like... well, to be frank," she had said, her tone teasing but honest, "you are going to die soon."
And what did he say back then?
He laughed loudly and said, "My life has certainly reached its end! Gurararara! Now, let me tell you a story, little Kitsune. A story of a man's final journey until the end!"