Chapter 44: Changes in the New World
After exchanging greetings, Jinbe settled into a cross-legged position and got straight to the point.
His first words made Luffy jump up in shock.
"WHAT?! Akainu and Aokiji fought each other?!"
Jinbe sighed heavily. "You haven't even heard about something this major?"
He crossed his massive arms, studying Luffy's bewildered expression.
"It seems Rayleigh's training kept you quite isolated these past two years."
"I know! I know!" Chopper waved a small hoof eagerly. "Tell us everything!"
Beside him, Usopp—still carrying the extra weight from the timeskip—wore the same confused expression as his captain.
"Yeah! Why would two admirals fight each other?"
Itachi listened in silence, filing away the unfamiliar names.
Akainu. Aokiji. Admirals of the Navy, if I understood Robin correctly.
He exhaled slowly, a familiar thought crossing his mind.
Truly not my world.
Jinbe continued, his voice carrying the weight of someone who'd witnessed history unfold.
"Shortly after the Paramount War ended two years ago, Fleet Admiral Sengoku resigned his position."
"Sengoku originally intended to recommend Aokiji—a man trusted and respected by his subordinates—as the next Fleet Admiral."
"But within the World Government's upper echelons, many favored Akainu instead. The votes gradually shifted in his favor."
Jinbe paused, letting the significance settle.
"Aokiji, who usually seems indifferent to everything, strongly opposed Akainu's appointment."
"The two began confronting each other. It escalated into an unprecedented battle for the position of Fleet Admiral."
Luffy leaned forward, meat skewer forgotten.
"Where did they fight?"
"Punk Hazard." Jinbe's voice grew heavier. "A small island in the New World."
He exhaled slowly.
"In such battles... the dead have no voice. The loser has no right to speak."
"Those two fought for ten full days. Their strength was nearly equal—a true deadlock."
"But in the end..."
Jinbe met Luffy's eyes.
"Akainu emerged victorious."
Luffy's hand instinctively went to his chest. Beneath his shirt, the massive X-shaped scar throbbed with memory—Ace pushing him aside, Akainu's fist piercing through, the fire fading from his brother's eyes.
"That man..." Luffy's voice was quiet, but his jaw tightened.
Jinbe nodded grimly. "He's the one who gave you that scar. Who pierced my chest when I tried to protect you."
"So Aokiji died?" Luffy asked.
"No." Jinbe shook his head. "Even Akainu showed mercy to his former comrade."
"But Aokiji chose to leave the Navy rather than serve under him. He simply... walked away."
Usopp sat up straight, eyes wide. "An admiral just left the Navy? But admirals are the Navy's strongest fighters!"
"Exactly." Jinbe nodded. "To fill that void, the World Government took unprecedented measures."
His expression grew serious.
"Listen carefully. There are two major changes shaping the world right now."
He held up one massive finger.
"First—Sakazuki, 'Akainu,' became Fleet Admiral. Through a worldwide conscription, he has transformed the Navy into a force more powerful than ever before."
A second finger rose.
"Second—the rise of the Blackbeard Pirates."
The name hit the Straw Hats like a physical blow.
"Blackbeard..." Nami's eyes widened. "That guy we met in Mock Town?"
Memories surfaced—Luffy beaten and bloodied by Bellamy, and in the corner of that bar, a man with broken teeth laughing.
"What 'new era' are they talking about? That's nonsense."
"Zehahaha!"
"A person's dreams... never end, right?!"
Luffy remembered him too. Not just Mock Town—but Impel Down. The chaos. The escape. The man who had somehow walked away from it all.
Jinbe continued.
"Blackbeard was originally a veteran of the Whitebeard Pirates—one of their oldest members."
His voice hardened.
"After Whitebeard died at Marineford, Blackbeard moved quickly. He seized control of the seas that had belonged to the Whitebeard Pirates."
"And the power he used... it was Whitebeard's own Devil Fruit. The Gura Gura no Mi—the Tremor-Tremor Fruit."
Sanji's cigarette nearly fell from his lips. "He took Whitebeard's power? How?"
"Unknown." Jinbe shook his head. "But now he's been named one of the Four Emperors of the New World—alongside Red-Haired Shanks, Big Mom, and Kaido."
Nami's lip curled. "How disgusting. Taking Whitebeard's territory and his power. He didn't earn any of it."
"He's exactly that kind of man," Jinbe agreed. "Sly, ruthless, and utterly without honor."
He leaned forward.
"There's something else. The Blackbeard Pirates seem capable of hunting and harvesting powers from other Devil Fruit users. The mechanism is still unknown."
Chopper's eyes went wide with alarm. "Hunting Devil Fruit users?! Then I need to be careful!"
Usopp whispered to him. "They probably wouldn't bother with a Zoan like yours. Too common."
Jinbe turned his attention to Luffy.
"Regardless—you and Blackbeard have a serious history, Luffy. Given your path, you'll eventually—"
He stopped.
Luffy had wandered to the edge of the buffet table and was calmly selecting more food.
Jinbe stared.
"LUFFY! As captain, you should at least know the most basic information about the world!"
Sanji exhaled smoke, utterly unbothered. "Relax, Jinbe. We all heard. He just doesn't care."
Chopper nodded sagely. "That's what a captain is, right? Someone who doesn't follow orders?"
Beside them, Itachi's eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly.
This is Luffy's definition of captain?
Jinbe was not amused.
"As captain, isn't his first duty to ensure his crew's safety?! Luffy!"
Luffy glanced back, still chewing.
"Ah, don't worry so much, Jinbe." A grin spread across his face. "I'll fight anyone who needs fighting. Simple as that."
Jinbe stared for a long moment. Then his shoulders sagged.
"...It must be exhausting, sailing with him."
The synchronized sigh from Nami, Usopp, and Chopper answered that question perfectly.
Nearby, Zoro had already fallen asleep against his pillar, completely undisturbed by the conversation.
Jinbe turned to Itachi, a hint of relief in his expression.
"At least they have you now, Itachi-san. That should improve things considerably."
He studied the shinobi with open curiosity.
"Speaking of which—did you eat a Fire-type Devil Fruit? That technique in the plaza... the flames covering the entire sky..."
Itachi shook his head. "According to what Robin explained, I've never eaten any Devil Fruit."
"Then how—" Jinbe leaned forward, genuinely fascinated. "How did you create those flames?"
"I'm a ninja."
Jinbe's eyes went wide.
"Ninja?!"
He leaned closer, examining the forehead protector with its engraved symbol.
"Are you from Wano Country? I've heard there are ninja there."
Itachi touched the metal plate briefly. "Probably not. But if the opportunity arises, I would like to see Wano for myself."
Before Jinbe could ask more, Itachi's expression shifted. His eyes—still tired, still strained—focused on something beyond the banquet hall.
"What is it?" Jinbe asked.
Itachi stood. "Something's wrong."
At that moment, Keimi and the starfish Pappag appeared, waving cheerfully.
"Luffy! What are you doing hiding in the corner? You're the heroes of the banquet!"
But Luffy had already straightened, his expression changing. Beside him, Sanji rose as well.
"Tear-trough Itachi," Luffy said, his voice losing its usual carelessness. "You sensed something too?"
Itachi nodded slowly, scanning the room. The disturbance he'd felt hadn't come from anywhere nearby—but his instincts, honed by years of survival in the darkness, never lied.
Near the pillar, Zoro's bubble-nose popped. His eye opened.
"Yeah. Something's off."
Sanji glanced between them. "Itachi, you have Observation Haki too?"
Itachi shook his head. "Observation Haki? No. This is something else."
"Not Haki?" Sanji's eyebrow rose. "Then how did you—"
Itachi was already moving.
He flowed through the banquet hall like water finding its level—silent, swift, and utterly focused. In seconds, he had vanished through the nearest exit, leaving the Straw Hats staring after him.
"What's going on?" Keimi asked, confused.
No one answered. They were already following.
(End of Chapter)
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