Due to the interference of Marshal Sengoku and Admiral Aokiji, Vice Admiral Garp stayed behind in Marinford.
Uehara Naraku didn't really want Vice Admiral Garp to join the operation; this Navy hero was a bit unpredictable and a true headache.
He doesn't seem to have much brains…
But the guy's intuition is incredibly sharp!
Furthermore, from what I've seen, Garp seems to have never lost a fight against anyone…
Monkey D. Garp, Whitebeard Edward Newgate, these figures who stand at the pinnacle of the sea, who knows how powerful they would be if they fought with all their might.
These people are quite terrifying when they give it their all, their real combat power has no equal for comparison.
The most important thing is, if Uehara Naraku goes to the East Sea this time and doesn't meet Sabo, he might have to secretly target Vice Admiral Garp's son, Dragon, just to involve the Revolutionary Army in the Summit War, which would be too cruel to Garp…
At the port of Marinford.
Uehara Naraku stood on his warship, with Aokiji standing by his side. The warship was manned by Navy personnel from the logistics department, and also had a beautiful Sword Master lieutenant.
Her name was Ain.
This beautiful Sword Master lieutenant was Aokiji's junior and Yakushi Kabuto's senior, and she was also a disciple of Grand Admiral Zephyr.
Due to Yakushi Kabuto's obstruction, Zephyr hadn't been able to form the Navy's guerilla unit and was still serving in Marinford, Ain also remained within the Navy's deployment.
As for why Ain was here…
Of course, it was because Marshal Sengoku knew that Uehara Naraku's strength might not be sufficient, so he sent this capable Sword Master captain as his lieutenant to help ward off most troubles.
The reason this beautiful Sword Master could be on Uehara Naraku's ship was because of Yakushi Kabuto's arrangement, as she was one of the members Kabuto had developed secretly over the years.
Ain held a cup of juice and slowly walked behind Uehara Naraku and Aokiji, seriously asking, "Vice Admiral Naraku, Admiral Aokiji, can we set sail now?"
"Let's go."
Uehara Naraku took the cup of juice from Ain's hand and nodded, saying, "Let's set off! Head straight to Log Town in the East Sea, no stops along the way."
"Hmm, let's do that…"
Aokiji nodded, and after Ain left, he couldn't help but ask, "You're not really planning to capture Mr. Garp's grandson, are you?"
"Of course not."
Uehara Naraku glanced at Aokiji and smiled with narrowed eyes, "This time, I might just want to capture his son instead."
"..."
Aokiji's expression froze.
This guy actually wants to capture the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon!
As Vice Admiral Garp's former lieutenant, Aokiji knew all about Garp's family matters, and his face grew a little grim: "Is your target really Dragon? That guy isn't easy to deal with, not just his mind and ideas, but also his strength…"
"It seems like everyone from the D clan is difficult to handle…"
Uehara Naraku grinned, "Speaking of which, if I'm there to support, can you secretly help me capture Dragon?"
"That's hard to say…"
Aokiji scratched his head and calmly said, "Besides, it's quite unrealistic for us to get Dragon's whereabouts… even Kabuto hasn't been able to track him down…"
Because Yakushi Kabuto has been secretly tracking the Revolutionary Army, he has found quite a bit of information about the Revolutionary Army's officers, which has increasingly gained recognition from the Five Elders.
But Yakushi Kabuto really hasn't found much information about Dragon.
"Is that so? I'll find an opportunity to chat with Kabuto!"
Uehara Naraku slowly nodded, planning to have a good chat with Yakushi Kabuto to see how he could maximize their benefits.
Just as Uehara Naraku and his team set sail for the East Sea.
Uchiha Sasuke and Portgas D. Ace were still on the trail of Blackbeard, having already passed through Fishman Island and entered the first half of the Grand Line.
With the Whitebeard Pirates taking full action, the news about Marshall D. Teach harming his companions and defecting from the Whitebeard Pirates spread all over the New World.
Whitebeard Edward Newgate commanding Uchiha Sasuke and Captain of Squad 2, Portgas D. Ace, to hunt down the traitor Marshall D. Teach is also gradually spreading.
This news immediately shocked the New World.
Although Uchiha Sasuke often caused trouble for the Akatsuki organization, his reputation in the New World was no small thing!
Over the past few years, Uchiha Sasuke has almost always been the main fighting force for the Whitebeard Pirates, challenging the Four Emperors wasn't a rare thing for him…
Even Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach, who was on the run, couldn't help feeling a bit anxious; he didn't expect it would be Uchiha Sasuke and Ace coming after him!
Even though Teach already acquired the Dark-Dark Fruit's power, he didn't think he had the strength to defeat Uchiha Sasuke at present…
It's ridiculous…
Clearly, that guy is someone who can rival the Four Emperors, yet he continues to hide within the Whitebeard Pirates playing games.
Since Uchiha Sasuke is coming after him now, Marshall D. Teach has a way to deal with it, and he plans to try to leverage the Akatsuki organization…
On a small island in the first half of the Grand Line.
Marshall D. Teach bit into a cherry pie and dialed Uchiha Itachi on the phone snail, "Ze~hahaha… Itachi-san, I've got the Dark-Dark Fruit on my end, can we meet up somewhere?"
"Oh?"
Uchiha Itachi on the phone snail was surprised for a second, but his voice soon returned to calm: "Sure, hand over the Dark-Dark Fruit to us, and I'll convince Sasuke to spare your life."
"Ze~hahaha, isn't that a bit too much?"
Marshall D. Teach chuckled, "Couldn't… you let me join the Akatsuki organization too?"
"You want to join Akatsuki?"
Uchiha Itachi's voice revealed some doubt, but the next moment his tone turned icy: "Then let's arrange a place to meet, hand over the Dark-Dark Fruit to me first, and if everything checks out, I'll let you join Akatsuki!"
"Ugh…"
Marshall D. Teach let out a belch and continued to laugh heartily, "If I were a Dark-Dark Fruit ability user... should I also be qualified to join Akatsuki?"
Uchiha Itachi's voice suddenly turned cold, questioning sharply, "Marshall D. Teach, did you eat the Dark-Dark Fruit?"
Noticing Uchiha Itachi's cold tone, Teach couldn't help but swallow his saliva, hurriedly explaining to Uchiha Itachi on the other end of the Radio Snail: "Mr. Itachi, doesn't Akatsuki only need the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit?
Moreover, through the Dark-Dark Fruit, I seem to have obtained a way to collect Devil Fruit abilities, a method only I know!"
As Marshall D. Teach reached this point, his voice gradually turned sinister, "I can help Akatsuki gather any Devil Fruit ability you desire, even including the quake abilities of the old man..."
This once ambitious man, his voice slowly turned seductive, "Zehahaha... that's the fruit power capable of destroying the world!"
This is the secret that Teach hid!
Up to now, he wanted to use this to entice the Akatsuki organization.
This was the trump card that Marshall D. Teach intended to use to attract Akatsuki after eating the Dark-Dark Fruit himself!
"... Have you finished?"
After hearing Marshall D. Teach's words, Uchiha Itachi's voice remained calm, "It sounds like you've eaten the Dark-Dark Fruit, right?"
"Yes..."
Teach nodded, attempting to argue further, "But..."
"No buts."
Uchiha Itachi shook his head, speaking calmly, "You no longer have any value. Since you've laid hands on what Akatsuki wants, there's no need for you to stay alive."
Uchiha Itachi's voice reverted to being cold, "I'll inform Sasuke to swiftly eliminate you, and revive the Dark-Dark Fruit once more."
After speaking, Uchiha Itachi hung up the Radio Snail.
Marshall D. Teach stared in shock at the restored Radio Snail in his hand, his muscles twitching involuntarily on his face: "What... does this mean?"
The next moment...
Teach clenched the Radio Snail tightly, looking at it with a pained expression, his demeanor gradually becoming fierce!
"Damn it..."
"Who do you think you are?"
"The Dark-Dark Fruit rightfully belongs to me!"
"Just wait! When my plan succeeds, you sewer rats will know who truly owns the Dark-Dark Fruit!"
On the other side of the sea.
Just as Marshall D. Teach was losing his temper.
In the waters of BIG·MOM, on the central island of Totto Land, Uchiha Itachi calmly put away his Radio Snail.
Lying beside Uchiha Itachi, Katakuri, chewing on a massive donut, slowly opened his mouth: "What is it, Itachi, did something happen?"
Over the past few years, Uchiha Itachi had spent most of his time with Katakuri, and their relationship was getting better and better.
Perhaps...
Because they are both older brothers?
Uchiha Itachi shook his head, softly saying, "Nothing, it's just another overconfident person who has fallen into our leader's trap, and by the way, don't mention that you've seen Black Zetsu."
"Got it."
Katakuri slowly finished his donut, wiped his hands and mouth, and wrapped his mouth again with his scarf: "The one who fell into the trap, must be Marshall Teach who escaped from under Whitebeard's nose, right?"
"Yes."
Uchiha Itachi nodded, then shook his head, "However, there's no need to pay much more attention to him now."
As for Marshall D. Teach's business.
The Akatsuki organization had already arranged for it, and Uehara Naraku had long prepared the right companion for Teach. The first member of the soon-to-be-established Blackbeard Pirates had already appeared in front of Teach.
Its name is Black Zetsu.
In the First Half of the Grand Line, on the small island where Marshall D. Teach was temporarily staying.
Just as Teach was still somewhat angry and anxious about having provoked the big trouble known as the Akatsuki organization, a shadow gradually emerged from the ground and slowly clung to his body.
This mass of shadow was like sludge.
Because its stealth was too high, it wasn't until Black Zetsu attached to him that Marshall D. Teach noticed the appearance of this shadow!
"What on earth is this?"
Marshall D. Teach, still a little shaken and overwhelmed, looked at the sudden shadow appearing on his arm. This pitch-black thing just attached to him, seemingly as if it originally belonged as one of his organs!
"Hehehehe..."
This pitch-black entity suddenly emitted a sinister laugh, "The new master of the Dark-Dark Fruit? Do you know what it means to eat the Dark-Dark Fruit?"
"Damn it! What are you?"
Marshall D. Teach looked at the shadow with suspicion and uncertainty as it flowed over his body, only feeling that it could merge directly into his body at any moment!
"You, who have eaten the Dark-Dark Fruit, don't you know its power?"
Black Zetsu's voice continued to laugh sinisterly, it gradually revealed a grotesque face on Teach's arm: "Don't you want to know why the Dark-Dark Fruit is called the most sinister fruit in the world? Don't you understand why the Dark-Dark Fruit cannot become elemental?"
"What?"
Teach's face remained shocked.
The next moment, Marshall D. Teach's eyes suddenly flashed with a fierce light, "You... are the Dark-Dark Fruit..."
"No, I am you!"
Black Zetsu's eerie smile was like a demon's, "When the master of the Dark-Dark Fruit requires power, the will dormant in the heart awakens, transforming into a creature known as Black Zetsu, always abiding by your will!"