Two days later, in Sengoku's office at Marine Headquarters, a eting was being held.
Due to the severity of the recent incident, Sengoku had no choice but to take it seriously.
After setting down the docunts in his hands, Sengoku spoke, "What are your thoughts on this incident?"
"The losses this ti are substantial..." Vice Admiral Tsuru said with a furrowed brow. "Five warships were completely destroyed, and the remaining five suffered varying degrees of damage. Not to ntion, the casualties among our soldiers are significant."
"If Kuzan hadn't been present, perhaps none below the rank of vice admiral would have made it back."
The docunts indicated that the enemy's final attack was terrifying—had it struck the ocean, few would have survived.
Fortunately, an admiral had been there; otherwise, the losses would have been catastrophic.
"Indeed," Sengoku sighed. "Doberman and Onigumo are still in critical condition. Whether they'll even be able to continue serving as vice admirals after waking up is uncertain."
The poison used by the enemy was particularly vicious. According to the doctors, Doberman would most likely be unable to retain his position as a vice admiral.
As for Onigumo... his condition was harder to predict.
"Pirates these days are truly frightening~" Kizaru remarked.
Taking down two Marine Headquarters vice admirals in their first appearance—though they used underhanded thods—a win was still a win. Who cared how it was achieved?
Akainu shot Kizaru a glare. His face, already dark from the news about Onigumo and the others, grew even darker.
"What a despicable bunch of pirates," Akainu said coldly. "To dare attack a Buster Call... they must have a death wish. The last one who tried is already rotting in Impel Down!"
At this, Akainu slamd his fist on the table and stood up. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, let take them out."
As he spoke, the temperature around his clenched fist rose sharply, as if it were about to burst into flas.
"Sit down!" Sengoku snapped, frowning.
Akainu glanced at Sengoku, hesitated for a mont, then reluctantly sat back down.
"Soone is already handling the pursuit," Vice Admiral Tsuru said.
"Who?"
"Kuzan."
Akainu: "..."
This was the sa guy who had recklessly initiated the Buster Call, leading to the loss of so many warships and personnel. And now, instead of reporting back, he was out chasing them?
If he was really capable of catching them, why hadn't he frozen the ocean with his ability?
Akainu was deeply skeptical of Aokiji's motives.
"With Kuzan on the case, the chances of capturing them are high," Sengoku said.
Aokiji was undeniably powerful. As long as he intercepted the Straw Hat Pirates, apprehending them shouldn't be an issue.
Akainu scoffed but said nothing more.
"Ninjas..." Tsuru muttered, rubbing her temples. "They really are troubleso."
That ability to manipulate seawater was practically the bane of Devil Fruit users.
"Ninjas?"
Kizaru instinctively raised an eyebrow. Had Kaido sent people to stir up trouble?
"It's all in the docunts right in front of you!" Sengoku glared at Kizaru in exasperation. This guy was slacking off again, not even bothering to read the materials he'd been given.
At this, Kizaru rely chuckled without the slightest hint of embarrassnt, picking up the docunts on the table for another glance.
"This guy actually has hypnosis-like abilities?" Kizaru remarked in surprise.
"Indeed," Sengoku nodded. "Though similar abilities aren't unheard of on the seas."
"Compared to this ninja's naval combat skills, it's nothing special."
"What about this CP9 situation?"
"Well..." Sengoku hesitated before saying, "It's unclear whether they defected or were hypnotized."
"But since they're World Governnt personnel, it's not our concern."
Truthfully, Sengoku wasn't entirely sure. Judging from the situation at Enies Lobby, CP9 had been defeated head-on by the Straw Hat Pirates.
The hypnosis theory didn't quite hold water—otherwise, the opponent could have simply used hypnosis to avoid combat, at least for those with strength comparable to Blueno.
Kizaru nodded and said nothing more.
"Where did this guy even co from?" Akainu frowned.
"Frankly, I don't know what's up with this ninja either," Sengoku admitted. "According to available intel, he's a recent addition to the Straw Hat Pirates."
"At least before Enies Lobby, this person never made an appearance."
"A rookie?"
"Not necessarily," Vice Admiral Tsuru interjected after so thought. "Considering the situation in the Land of Wano, he might not be a rookie."
It's just that due to Wano's unique circumstances, the individual might not have a bounty.
"The Land of Wano?" Akainu raised an eyebrow. "You don't actually think this is so hidden piece planted by Kaido, do you?"
"No, you're overthinking it," Sengoku replied. "Kaido wouldn't do sothing so foolish."
For most people on the seas, ninjas only existed in legends or stories.
But for people like them, ninjas were very real—after all, the Land of Wano genuinely had ninjas, making this hardly a "hidden piece."
Besides, there'd be no point. What would infiltrating the Straw Hat Pirates achieve? Trying to establish a connection with Garp?
That old bastard Garp might be troubleso, but he'd never lose sight of what truly mattered.
"Then..."
"The seas are vast. It's not impossible for unique individuals to erge," Sengoku mused.
"More than that, I'm concerned about his abilities," Tsuru said, narrowing her eyes. "He's not a Devil Fruit user, correct?"
"Correct."
"Yet he's mastered so many bizarre abilities... If we could capture him, could the Navy potentially acquire such powers?"
Tsuru's words echoed the thoughts of everyone present.
"Exactly," Sengoku agreed. "That's precisely what I was thinking."
"His naval combat skills are terrifying. Even if his raw strength falls short of a Navy Vice Admiral, he can still inflict significant damage using ninjutsu."
"If we allow him to continue growing..."
Sengoku left the sentence unfinished, but everyone understood his aning.
Potential!!
Yes, potential.
Regardless of whether this guy ca from the Land of Wano, he represented unimaginably terrifying potential.
Just having debuted and already causing such significant losses to the Navy without even mastering Haki—if he were allowed to develop in the New World for a few years, who knows how powerful he could beco.
"If Kuzan can capture him, that power might still be turned to our advantage," Vice Admiral Tsuru said.
"Don't worry, Kuzan should know his limits."
"Don't celebrate too soon," Akainu interjected. "Though his abilities don't co from a Devil Fruit, that doesn't an just anyone can learn them."
"This isn't re physical combat!"
"Bloodline... could very well be the vessel for this power."
Akainu's words made Sengoku and Tsuru think of a particular race—the Lunarians, who inherited formidable power through their bloodline. This was also the very reason they had been wiped out.
"Regardless, we must at least try," Tsuru said, rubbing her temples.
"The Straw Hat Pirates' bounties need to be raised further," Sengoku declared. "I've already ordered it to be handled."
Kizaru gave Sengoku a surprised glance but remained silent.
"Don't look at like that," Sengoku said. "Kuzan isn't guaranteed to stop them either."
After a pause, he continued, "Borsalino, head to Sabaody Archipelago imdiately. Station yourself there and ensure the Straw Hat Pirates are captured before they reach the New World!"
As Kizaru opened his mouth to speak, Sengoku glared. "That's an order!"
"Yes, yes, understood~"
"How terrifying~"
Sengoku: "..."
He really wanted to punch him.
"By the way, where's Garp?"
"Hmph, who knows where that bastard ran off to," Sengoku grumbled.
After discussing the Straw Hat Pirates with him, the man had vanished without a trace.
"Now, let's talk about this Blackbeard," Sengoku said, narrowing his eyes. "About... his capture of Fire Fist Ace!"
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