Nico Robin's personality is quite easygoing.
Even Usopp, who prides himself on his observational skills, found it hard to believe that Robin, behaving so calmly, was a woman with a bounty of 290 million Belly.
While they were enjoying the cherry blossoms on the island together, a squad suddenly appeared to attack them, initiating an assassination attempt on Robin. Zoro and Sanji, being combat members of the Straw Hat Pirates, naturally stepped up to help!
As a result...
The two of them were almost beaten to death.
One of their enemies had white hair and extremely fierce Kenjutsu, against whom Zoro stood no chance; another enemy, dressed in tight green clothes, kicked Sanji flying with just a couple of moves...
It wasn't until Nico Robin joined the fray that they managed to repel the attackers with their combined efforts.
Nico Robin glanced at the disordered cherry blossom forest and sighed, shaking her head: "It seems that we can't stay here any longer..."
"Miss Robin..."
Sanji sat on a chair, supported by Chopper, while bandaging his wounds: "What's going on? Why do those guys want to kill you?"
"They are CP Agents from the World Government."
Nico Robin shook her head and gave a bitter smile: "Because I am a survivor from the academic island Ohara, CP Agents have been secretly pursuing me for the past twenty years, and I'm already used to it."
"T-twenty years?"
Nami's expression froze.
She had known Nico Robin for some time, and in her impression, Robin was of noble status, given the strength of her subordinates...
She never imagined that this woman would be chased for twenty years...
Moreover, after the dissolution of Baroque Works, Nico Robin, the former Vice President, lived so miserably, even worse than Uehara Naraku, a mere underling.
The members of the Straw Hat Pirates chatted with Nico Robin for a while, finally understanding Robin's background and why the CP Agents were after her.
This woman...
was actually quite pitiful.
Zoro flexed his fingers, unable to suppress a trace of wild excitement: "If we protect this woman for a while, won't we always have a chance to face that white-haired swordsman?"
"Idiot, what kind of nonsense are you talking about!"
Sanji couldn't help but scold Zoro, turning his gaze full of admiration towards Nico Robin: "Robin-chan, please allow me to be your knight!"
They both agreed to protect Nico Robin, but neither mentioned inviting Robin aboard; only the captain invites others on the ship.
When Luffy woke up, he didn't care about past matters at all and openly invited Nico Robin to join the Straw Hat Pirates, as well as inviting Chopper as their ship doctor and spare food supply.
Because of a letter left by Ace, which included Ace's Life Paper, conveniently pointing towards the next destination of the Straw Hat Pirates...
Alabasta.
As the Straw Hat Pirates arrived at this Desert Kingdom, the warship that had been leisurely trailing them also arrived here.
Uehara Naraku disembarked with a cup of juice in his left hand and held the receiver of a Radio Snail in his right, with Ain following behind holding the Radio Snail: "Are Portgas D. Ace and Sasuke in Alabasta?"
Uehara Naraku took a sip of juice and continued slowly: "But letting Ace's journey end here... isn't that too harsh on Luffy..."
It's truly unfortunate for Luffy.
During the departure from Log Town, Luffy's brother Sabo was captured; upon leaving Alabasta, would Luffy's other brother Ace also be captured?
"It's unavoidable!"
On the line, Yakushi Kabuto explained with a slight smile: "If Sasuke is not stopped soon, he might kill Teach prematurely..."
"Then let's settle it in Alabasta!"
Uehara Naraku nodded and sighed: "Let's do it this way! But at least let those brothers meet first... Otherwise, the next time they meet would be in Impel Down Prison, wouldn't that be too cruel?"
"Fire Fist!"
Just as Uehara Naraku was leisurely talking to Yakushi Kabuto, a flame suddenly flew from Alabasta's dock, and a sky-covering blaze slammed into the warship anchored there!
This sight left everyone dumbfounded!
Uehara Naraku looked back in surprise, seeing his warship engulfed in flames; what the hell is going on?
As people at the dock rushed to extinguish the fire, several figures swiftly fled the dock area into the city and vanished among the crowd.
Uehara Naraku recognized several familiar figures—Uchiha Sasuke, Portgas D. Ace, and that group from the Straw Hat Pirates...
Ace and Luffy, the two brothers, have reunited.
As an older brother caring for his younger sibling, Portgas D. Ace's actions were indeed exceptional, directly burning down the warship that had chased them from Log Town.
In truth, that was Ace's primary intention.
Since Ace learned that a Navy Headquarters Vice Admiral's warship was trailing the Straw Hat Pirates, he constantly worried about Luffy's safety. Upon seeing Uehara Naraku's warship at Alabasta's port, he immediately destroyed it.
Even Uchiha Sasuke couldn't intervene in time, left with mixed emotions...
"Hey, Ace!"
Uchiha Sasuke, coming to terms with the reality, grabbed Ace's collar, barely restraining his anger: "Do you even realize what you've done?"
"Hahahahaha..."
Ace chuckled, patting Sasuke's hand, lowering his voice: "Hey, Sasuke, let go quickly; Luffy and the others are still behind us. As Luffy's brother, of course I'd help him with some small troubles..."
"You idiot..."
Uchiha Sasuke couldn't help but release his grip, rubbing his forehead. Directly burning Uehara Naraku's ship and calling it solving a small trouble effortlessly?
Back when they were in the Black Spade Pirates, Portgas D. Ace would run faster than anyone when faced with a chase from a Marine female ensign… but now, facing Uehara Naraku, who is officially a Vice Admiral, Ace's courage seems to have grown quite a bit!
Damn, this is clearly an idiot!
A true idiot is someone who never bullies those he can kill with a single punch, but instead provokes those who can kill him with one punch…
Except for Uchiha Sasuke…
Nico Robin, who had just recently joined the Straw Hat Pirates, had cold sweat all over her forehead and a faintly speechless expression on her face.
Portgas D. Ace truly deserves his reputation as the mightiest super rookie pirate, daring to openly challenge Uehara Naraku!
"Hurry up, that group of Marines is catching up!"
Portgas D. Ace laughed and waved to the Straw Hat Pirates, shouting loudly, "Hahaha, Luffy, Sasuke, you go first, I'll hold them off!"
"You guys go first!"
Uchiha Sasuke looked at Uehara Naraku and the group of Marines chasing them, shook his head grimly, and said, "I'll hold him off instead!"
"Hey, Sasuke…"
Ace was still a bit unwilling.
"Shut up!"
Uchiha Sasuke interrupted him, drew his Kusanagi Sword, and said undeniably, "Now, run as far as you can, absolutely do not look back, I'll find you after I handle this!"
Seeing Uchiha Sasuke take the initiative to stay behind, Zoro couldn't help but look at Ace and ask, "Hey, Luffy's brother, is it okay to just leave your companion to hold off the Marines? That Uehara Naraku is not so easy to deal with…"
Uehara Naraku could block Zoro's three swords with just one finger!
Because Zoro hadn't seen much of the world, from Zoro's perspective, Uehara Naraku's strength might be on the same level as Hawk Eye Mihawk.
Ace shook his head and said seriously, "Rest assured, in this world, apart from our old man, no one is a match for Sasuke."
"Ah, is he really that strong?"
Chopper's face showed a hint of surprise as he shook his little head incredulously, "That person is a Vice Admiral of the Navy now!"
"It's alright."
Ace squinted and smiled, continuing to shake his head, a mere Vice Admiral of the Navy; Uchiha Sasuke could easily defeat a Navy Admiral three years ago!
Nico Robin's forehead still had cold sweat, and she glanced at Ace with a strange expression, was this guy really so calm right now?
Ace seemed very composed because he himself didn't feel much pressure facing a Vice Admiral, at worst it would just be a tough battle…
Just as Ace was trusting his companion, Uchiha Sasuke was not in a good mood because after three years he finally met Uehara Naraku again.
"Ha, truly a remarkable adversary…"
Uehara Naraku gestured for the group of Marines to stop their pursuit, looked at Uchiha Sasuke, and couldn't help but smile, "Uchiha Sasuke of the Whitebeard Pirates, what do you wish to achieve by stopping me here?"
"..."
Uchiha Sasuke fell silent, gritting his teeth with an ugly expression as he looked at Uehara Naraku's smile, his mood growing more complicated.
This guy is still the same as always…
Seemingly like an ordinary person.
But Uchiha Sasuke knew very well that when Uehara Naraku smiled, it showed that everything was under his control because he always hid his arrogance behind a smile.
"I'm not here to do anything."
Uchiha Sasuke clenched his fist, sheathed his Kusanagi Sword, and bowed apologetically, "Sorry, Ace was too impulsive this time. I apologize on his behalf, and I hope you can forgive that idiot…"
"You are pirates, we are Marines…"
Uehara Naraku shook his head, spreading his hands with a calm smile, "A pirate burning a Marine warship is quite normal, and it's a Marine's duty to capture pirates and kill them. It seems there's no need for us to adhere to these manners, right?"
"..."
Uchiha Sasuke furrowed his eyebrows.
Things seem to have escalated!
Uehara Naraku actually speaking so nicely!
"If you really want to apologize…"
Uehara Naraku spread his hands and said with a chuckle, "Then bring the Moby Dick before me and have Portgas D. Ace burn it with his own hands as an apology… is that too much to ask?"
"That condition… is impossible."
Uchiha Sasuke gritted his teeth, no member of the Whitebeard Pirates would agree to such a condition, it was clearly Uehara Naraku deliberately making things difficult for him.
Uehara Naraku curled his lips, smilingly nodded and continued, "Since it's impossible, then so be it. Since Mister Sasuke is here, I, as just a Vice Admiral, naturally wouldn't dare lay a hand on Portgas D. Ace…"
As he said this, Uehara Naraku smiled and spread his hands to continue, "But as a price for this fair trade, if I don't act against Portgas D. Ace, I suppose Sasuke won't make a move in Alabasta, right?"
"Hmm?"
Uchiha Sasuke's expression was puzzled, and in the next moment, his expression suddenly changed. He asked in a low voice with a grim look, "Are you implying… the Navy, no, Akatsuki…are going to make a move on Ace?"
"Yes…"
Uehara Naraku nodded slowly, taking steps towards Uchiha Sasuke, his voice suddenly becoming gentle, "You've worked hard, Sasuke. From this moment on, your undercover mission in the Whitebeard Pirates is over."
"..."
Uchiha Sasuke's eyes suddenly fell into a daze.