Uchiha Sasuke was indeed in a bad mood.
Because in the eyes of the Straw Hat Pirates, as Uchiha Sasuke and Portgas D. Ace were chatting, Sasuke suddenly threw a punch, slamming Ace against the wall...
The Straw Hat Pirates were almost shocked to drop their jaws!
That Uchiha Sasuke with a 4 billion Belly bounty is way too fierce!
After a long time.
Portgas D. Ace and Uchiha Sasuke were done talking, or rather, Ace had been beaten by Sasuke's fists.
Portgas D. Ace, with a swollen lump on his head, walked over to the Straw Hat Pirates, smiled, and said, "Alright, we're done talking..."
"..."
The Straw Hat Pirates looked at Ace speechlessly.
Clearly, you were the one who got beaten!
If one were to ignore the lump on Ace's head, he was still the same polite, reliable-looking brother of Luffy.
Luffy looked at his brother, unable to help but ask, "Ace, what on earth happened... why did that guy hit you?"
"Haha, it's just a little disagreement we had..."
Ace glanced at Uchiha Sasuke next to him, smiled, waved his hand, and continued, "It's just a minor issue, and I've already resolved it."
This way of resolving it was by getting beaten by Sasuke...
The dispute between Uchiha Sasuke and Portgas D. Ace was, of course, about Marshall D. Teach. Uchiha Sasuke hoped Ace would stop hunting Teach and quietly return to the New World.
Because Uchiha Sasuke couldn't actively take Ace away.
At least on the surface, Uchiha Sasuke couldn't openly defect from Akatsuki, as Uehara Naraku definitely wouldn't let them go and might even intensify his actions against Ace.
Now…
Uchiha Sasuke could only hope in the overwhelming strength of Whitebeard Edward Newgate to shelter Ace a bit as he could no longer continue protecting him.
Unfortunately…
Portgas D. Ace was more stubborn than expected, so Uchiha Sasuke could only continue to follow Ace, his head aching.
At least with Sasuke around…
He could still ensure Ace's survival in Uehara Naraku's plan.
The Straw Hat Pirates, Portgas D. Ace, and Uchiha Sasuke didn't stay long in Alabasta before they dispersed and left, as Ace had found leads on Marshall D. Teach and the Blackbeard Pirates.
This time, when the Straw Hat Pirates left, Uehara Naraku, who had been following them, didn't act with them. He still remained in Alabasta.
Because the next task was the real business!
Alabasta, the desert's central area.
Uchiha Sasuke and Portgas D. Ace tracked the whereabouts of the Blackbeard Pirates, pursuing them all the way to the center of the desert.
Thankfully…
They finally saw Marshall D. Teach.
"Zehahahaha... you really came after me!"
When Marshall D. Teach saw Ace and Sasuke, his face was not frightened but filled with joy: "Join me! Ace, the old man is too old; only I can lead you to a new era!"
Marshall D. Teach's voice was full of allure, his eyes filled with longing for Uchiha Sasuke: "Sasuke... when I was on the Moby Dick, I already chose my vice captain, and there's no one more fitting than you!"
Marshall D. Teach spread his hands, his expression gradually becoming sincere: "I've now eaten the Dark-Dark Fruit and obtained this world's most precious treasure. Sasuke, as long as we join hands, this sea will be under our control..."
Teach said this very earnestly.
Ever since Marshall D. Teach saw Uchiha Sasuke defeat Kaido, he had coveted Sasuke!
Teach had long considered that after obtaining a powerful fruit ability, he must recruit Sasuke as his vice captain. This guy is strong and has incredible self-discipline!
To be honest…
Portgas D. Ace's Black Spade Pirates were really inexplicable back then. If Ace hadn't challenged Whitebeard so early, instead slowly taking territories and gathering men in the New World, he might have already become a new Four Emperors!
Not everyone is lucky enough to get a vice captain as versatile as Uchiha Sasuke, and those who do don't appreciate it...
What a huge waste.
"Better stop daydreaming..."
Ace slowly adjusted his hat, a flash of anger crossing his face: "You harmed Saki, and now you have the nerve to insult the old man?"
Ace suddenly opened his palm, a blaze erupting from it: "Stop dreaming, Teach. I originally just wanted to bring you back to account for your crimes... but we're running out of time, so I can only kill you here!"
Only by killing Marshall D. Teach can the Dark-Dark Fruit be reborn, fulfilling the agreement between Akatsuki and the Whitebeard Pirates!
"Want to kill me?"
Teach's hand gradually turned pitch-black, and a sinister smile crept up his lips: "Ace, have you never wondered why I let you catch up to me?"
"Zehahahahaha..."
Teach's face revealed a wild smile. He looked up at the silent, vast desert and shouted, "Our Lord Kabuto, I've already led them here for you. I'll leave the rest to you Navy, alright?"
"…Alright."
A coffin emerged from the desert without anyone knowing when.
When this coffin appeared, an overbearing aura slowly emerged in the desert, the powerful Supreme King Haki was almost completely unabashed!
Even Ace, who possessed Supreme King Haki himself, couldn't help but feel startled by this sudden manifestation of Haki!
This sudden appearance of Supreme King Haki stirred up an endless sea of sand, compelling everyone present to instinctively shield their eyes!
This aura of Supreme King…
Even when compared to Uchiha Sasuke, it was not inferior!
"Zehahaha, truly terrifying…"
Marshall D. Teach couldn't help but laugh wildly as he looked at the coffin: "Who would have thought the World Government would have such a powerful figure… If it's just to deal with Sasuke, it seems there's no problem!"
All the members of the Blackbeard Pirates nodded involuntarily; just this sky-piercing Haki alone was far stronger than Marshall D. Teach!
Although the Blackbeard Pirates have yet to see who is stronger between Uchiha Sasuke and the person inside the coffin, at least this battle is not something easily resolved!
At least…
They have gained another period of time for easy escape.
The silhouette of Black Zetsu slowly drifted out from Teach's body, its smile gradually becoming somewhat eerie: "Heh heh heh… It surely is a strong figure!"
Especially this person…
Was someone Black Zetsu knew well!
Upon sensing who was in the coffin, Black Zetsu stealthily returned to Marshall D. Teach's body; it didn't want to meet that person!
"Pretending to be mysterious!"
Ace's Supreme King Haki suddenly exploded, confronting the Haki released by the person inside the coffin, barely able to persist in this collision of Supreme King Haki.
The clash of the two Supreme King Haki was hardly comparable…
The sudden outburst of Supreme King from the person inside the coffin annihilated Ace's Haki instantly, sweeping endless waves of sand towards Ace!
"Pff pff pff…"
Ace spat out a mouthful of sand, turned to glance at Uchiha Sasuke wanting to say something, but only saw his companion staring in shock at the coffin.
Uchiha Sasuke's face was full of disbelief.
Not only because of the person in the coffin, but also because of the Haki the person now possessed, clearly just a Reanimation puppet, having only gained part of Chakra from Indra and Asura, clearly just a failed past life…
Why could that guy…
Actually still become so strong on this sea?
"That guy…"
Uchiha Sasuke clenched his fist, his expression gradually darkening: "Hmph, indeed, wherever he goes, can that guy become a powerful monster?"
Now forcing Uchiha Sasuke to admit…
The Supreme King Haki in that guy's body seemed stronger than his own!
But this matter seems not so uncommon, because the person in the coffin is indeed the man most easily awakened to Supreme King Haki, and the figure most easily able to enhance Supreme King Haki!
Even though he was already dead…
Even though his body was only restored with Reanimation…
If allowed to live with flesh and blood, even with countless strong enemies in the world, that man could still step to the peak of this world!
Even Uehara Naraku, after his death, tried in every possible way to find part of his body to make him a collectible with Reanimation!
This is quite normal…
Besides the Reanimation Bodies of the Four Hokage, Uehara Naraku also possessed the Reanimation Bodies of Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito, naturally wouldn't miss that guy!
Bang!
The man inside the coffin kicked the coffin lid!
A hand suddenly reached out, slowly resting on the back of the coffin.
Everyone involuntarily looked at the coffin, staring intently at the man walking out from inside the coffin, a man who made others instinctively hold their breath!
From the coffin emerged a man clad in red armor…
From his attire, he seemed like an ancient Samurai.
The man's face was full of fine cracks, like a burnt clay figurine, yet even so it couldn't hide his arrogant and defiant demeanor!
This guy, seemingly disregards everything in this world!
"Uchiha… Madara!"
Uchiha Sasuke couldn't help but grit his teeth.
Even Sasuke didn't expect that Uehara Naraku would actually send Uchiha Madara to deal with Ace; even Sasuke knew the difficulty with Uchiha Madara!
Even now, when Uchiha Sasuke has yet to truly battle Uchiha Madara, he doesn't think he has absolute confidence in facing him…
Who knows how much Uchiha Madara has strengthened on this sea?
Just judging from the earlier Supreme King Haki, this guy Uchiha Madara definitely hasn't stopped progressing, even as a Reanimation Body, he found an opportunity to become stronger!
"Hmph…"
Uchiha Madara looked at Portgas D. Ace and Uchiha Sasuke, his mouth couldn't help but curl into a sarcastic smile: "Seems there are quite a few old acquaintances here. Sasuke, the current you really seem quite disgraceful…"