When Neptune's army rushed to the scene in a flurry, they found that everything had already settled.
King Neptune and his three princes were still sprawled on their whale mounts, their faces a picture of bewilderment.
They had an unreal feeling.
How to put it? It was like they participated... but didn't fully participate. They really were just hostages, weren't they? Are pirates outside really this strong now?
At this moment, only Jinbe was still immersed in that detached state, unable to extricate himself. He sat quietly on the ground, his brows slightly furrowed, constantly replaying the ins and outs of this operation in his mind.
He muttered to himself, "The development of this matter to this point shouldn't be like this, by all accounts. Which part went wrong?
Luffy should have become a hero admired by everyone in this operation, so why did he end up like this now? Where did things start to go wrong? Wait... where is Hody Jones?"
At this thought, a flash of inspiration struck Jinbe's mind. He seemed to have experienced such a human disappearance before. Could it be...? Jinbe, lost in thought, his eyes shining brightly, as if he was about to touch the truth hidden behind layers of mist.
His thoughts raced through his mind, those details he had overlooked, those fleeting clues, were now piecing together little by little, just a tiny bit more...
He would be able to make everything perfectly clear.
The shouts and laughter of the people around him seemed to be automatically blocked out.
And Orochimaru, who was preparing to return to the sunny, saw Jinbe's shining eyes and the words he was muttering, and his hand involuntarily began to itch.
Action speaks louder than words.
Orochimaru raised his hand and with a "smack" sound,
He slapped Jinbe firmly on the back of the head, then pouted and said,
"Move aside! You're in the way! Don't you know how big you are?! Stop overthinking here, fathead fish!"
Orochimaru's tone was full of disdain and impatience.
No one in the Straw Hat Pirate Crew, besides him, needed to have a brain!
Jinbe, who was immersed in his thoughts, was startled back to reality by the sudden slap. The inspiration faded, and he instinctively covered the back of his head and turned around.
"I told you! I am a Whale Shark! Not some fathead fish!"
Orochimaru scoffed with a "tsk," too lazy to argue with Jinbe about it, and pointed at Luffy, saying,
"Luffy has something to tell you."
Luffy looked confused, pointed at his face, and asked doubtfully, "Me?"
Orochimaru pointed at Jinbe.
"Don't you want him?
Hurry up, there's a lot to do later, the sooner you say it, the sooner it's resolved.
And don't you want to eat the custom gourmet food from Ryugu Palace? The meat is waiting for you."
When Luffy heard there was delicious food, especially meat to eat,
His eyes instantly lit up, and his previous confused expression vanished.
Luffy's expression became exceptionally serious, and he walked towards Jinbe with steady and firm steps, slowly extending his hand.
His eyes were full of sincerity and expectation, and he said loudly,
"Ore wa, Monkey D. Luffy, I am the man who will become the Pirate King!
Jinbe! Be my Companion!"
Luffy had a brilliant smile on his face, looking up at Jinbe. Luffy's voice echoed around, and everyone's gaze focused on the two of them.
Jinbe looked at Luffy with deep eyes, recalling how, at first, he had indeed shown extra care for Luffy out of his affection for Ace, as Luffy was Ace's younger brother.
But as he interacted with Luffy, Luffy's unwavering belief in never giving up no matter the desperate situation, his unreserved sincerity towards his Companions,
And his burning dream of becoming the Pirate King, all shone like brilliant lights, and Jinbe saw them all.
It made him acknowledge Luffy, this remarkable young man, from the bottom of his heart.
At this moment, looking at Luffy, who was sincerely and firmly inviting him to become a Companion, Jinbe was deeply touched, and an emotional expression gradually appeared on his face, as if he was making an important decision internally.
"Not yet."
Luffy felt a bit deflated when he heard this, and his face instantly puffed up like a small balloon. He clutched Jinbe's clothes tightly, jumping up and down like a child, while shouting in a somewhat coquettish voice,
"Why refuse! Jinbe! Let's go on an adventure together! Okay? Let's set sail! It'll be so much fun!"
He looked so adorable, it would be hard for anyone to be firm enough to refuse him.
Orochimaru clutched his chest and staggered back a few steps, deeply hurt. Luffy hadn't acted coquettishly with him for so long! He was actually being coquettish with that fathead fish!
Usopp also chimed in from the side, raising his hands high and shouting excitedly,
"Yeah! Join us, Boss Jinbe!"
Chopper was even more excited, happily bouncing around, his eyes sparkling.
"Join us! Join us! With a former Shichibukai joining! That's so reassuring!"
Orochimaru's gaze drifted unpleasantly behind Jinbe, and he slapped him again.
"Hurry up! What are you being so sentimental for! You don't have anything to do right now!"
Orochimaru frowned tightly, his eyes full of displeasure... This wasn't the original plot; you haven't joined the Big Mom Pirates. Things are almost veering off into the Naruto World.
This fathead fish is still being sentimental. Now that Luffy has invited him so sincerely, he still won't agree. What's he doing?!
Thinking this, Orochimaru still felt unappeased. He raised his hand, and with a "smack," he slapped Jinbe on the back of the head again.
Jinbe suffered continuous blows, feeling a sharp pain in the back of his head. He quickly covered his head, and with a resentful expression, he looked up at Orochimaru floating in mid-air, his eyes seemingly saying:
This is too overbearing, isn't it? Isn't this forced buying and selling? How can it be like this... The most important thing is, can he let him finish speaking? Seriously.
But complaints aside, Jinbe knew that now was not the time to dwell on this. So, he slowly turned his head, his gaze once again falling on Luffy.
"Listen to me carefully! So I said, 'not yet'! I'm truly happy that you invited me to join. It would definitely be fun to sail with you all.
But I still have some things to do."
At this point, Jinbe's gaze shifted to Orochimaru.
"Originally, this matter should have been resolved a long time ago, but because of certain people, I haven't gone yet.
Fish-Man Island's current peace is all thanks to Whitebeard.
Even during the Marineford War, when Big Mom was eyeing Fish-Man Island, it was Whitebeard who resolved it.
I've always wanted to go and thank him. Although I lost my position as a Shichibukai,
The entire Fish-Man Island is protected by the Whitebeard Pirates.
If I am to join you, out of respect, I need to personally speak with Whitebeard.
So, please wait for me a little.
Once I've resolved this matter, when we reunite, please invite me to join the Straw Hat again."
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