311-315

Chapter 311: Siblings from Different Fathers and Mothers 

The banquet was taking place on the sea that Esdeath had frozen solid. 

The ice was so thick that it hadn't melted yet. 

Even though they had just fought a battle half a day ago and almost killed each other, for the big-hearted people of the pirate world, it wasn't a problem at all. It didn't affect them sitting together to drink, eat, and just chat. 

Uchiha Hikari's group only had a little more than a dozen people, but Whitebeard's side had several hundred. They were spread out across the ice, with bonfires lit everywhere, creating a spectacular sight. 

After a few rounds of drinks, Uchiha Hikari, sipping her juice, glanced over at Yamato next to her. 

"Hey, Yamato, have you thought about that thing I mentioned? Are you going to be Whitebeard's daughter?" 

"Uh..." Yamato scratched her head, her expression a little conflicted. "What do you think, Miss Hikari?" 

"Me?" Uchiha Hikari thought for a moment before answering casually, "If it were me, I'd probably say yes." 

"After all, Whitebeard is a powerhouse on the same level as your father, with great power and influence. Plus, he's a decent guy and wouldn't stab you in the back. Besides, isn't Ace Whitebeard's 'son'? If you accept Whitebeard as your 'father,' you two would be like siblings from different fathers and mothers." 

"Huh?" Yamato's eyes lit up, clearly moved by the idea. "Being siblings with Ace... that sounds pretty cool." 

But then, Yamato hesitated again. "But what about Mr. Minato..." 

"Huh?" How did Minato Namikaze get involved in this? 

"I told everyone in the chat group that I was going to make Mr. Minato my father, and he agreed..." 

"...Alright." Uchiha Hikari's mouth twitched, speechless for a moment. 

Something like that had indeed happened in the chat group. 

But... did she really take it that seriously? 

If you included Minato, along with her biological father Kaido and her soon-to-be adopted father Whitebeard, wouldn't Yamato be... well, a "Yamato with three surnames"? 

Uchiha Hikari pushed the thought aside and patted Yamato's shoulder—or rather, her thigh, since she couldn't reach her shoulder. "It's fine. You can only have one biological father, but you can have many adopted fathers. Just mention it in the chat group, and Mr. Minato will support you." 

"Later, once we revive Minato, you can have another father-daughter ceremony, and Bulma and I will be your witnesses." 

Yamato actually did tell Minato Namikaze about it in the chat group. 

Minato, of course, didn't mind. 

And so, Whitebeard was overjoyed to learn he had a new "daughter." He immediately chugged half a barrel of sake. 

Marco, "Diamond" Jozu, and the others gathered around also welcomed their new "sister." 

Well... maybe "sister" or "older sister." 

Because based on age, Yamato was actually a few years older than Ace and wasn't exactly young herself. 

In contrast, the rest of Uchiha Hikari's group looked younger and younger. The average age was in the teens, and Naruto was only seven and a half. With his small body—barely bigger than Whitebeard's hand—he was full of boundless energy, making him the perfect Whitebeard magnet. 

As they drank, Whitebeard's gaze kept drifting to Uchiha Hikari's group, and he specifically asked about Naruto's background. 

"...So this boy, Naruto Uzumaki, is an orphan whose parents died when he was young, and you raised him, Miss Hikari?" 

"Something like that," Uchiha Hikari replied noncommittally. 

The phrase "raised him" was a bit of an exaggeration, but she was technically Naruto's temporary guardian. 

Whitebeard took a few more gulps of sake. "You know, the last time I saw a kid that small on the seas was on Roger's ship. That little guy was also an orphan who Roger took in by chance. He's a lot like Naruto." 

"Oh? You're talking about Red-Haired Shanks?" Uchiha Hikari looked up. 

"You know that name, too?" Whitebeard was a little surprised but didn't think much of it. He nodded, his face full of nostalgia. "Yeah, that was over twenty years ago, before Roger found the final island... In a blink of an eye, the kid from back then is now a famous Emperor, and Roger's son has also become a prominent figure on the seas. It feels like a lifetime ago." 

"So... have you seen him recently?" 

"Ah, yes." Whitebeard set down his sake barrel, answering Uchiha Hikari's question. "Just a few days before I ran into you, that kid sent someone to my ship to try and stop Ace from chasing Teach. I kicked him right out... But thinking about it now, he meant well. My reaction was probably a bit too strong." 

"Oh?" 

A seemingly casual remark from Whitebeard was a significant piece of information for Uchiha Hikari. She quickly put the pieces together. 

So, the scene where Shanks sent Rockstar to deliver the message to Whitebeard had just happened? 

If so... 

It was likely that Shanks himself would arrive with his ship before long. Then, he and Whitebeard would clash swords and part ways on bad terms. 

For Uchiha Hikari's group, however, this was great news. 

One of their main goals in coming to the pirate world was to see the various powerhouses. They had already met Kaido and Whitebeard and had a good idea of their strength. As another Emperor, Shanks was naturally one of their targets. 

If they could meet him here, it would save them the trouble of looking for him later. 

She was sure Esdeath would be very happy about that. 

A few days after the banquet ended, the Blue Planet and the Moby Dick sailed into a nearby town's port. 

The Whitebeard Pirates split up and began using their pirate network to find volunteers for the clinical trials of the "New Oni-fication Serum," as they had agreed. 

Meanwhile, Tamayo and Kikyo started working on Whitebeard, performing a small operation to remove the diseased tissue, as part of the standard treatment. 

Uchiha Hikari and Bulma's group were finally able to relax. 

Bulma took this opportunity to begin researching Whitebeard's blood samples, hoping to figure out the internal mechanisms of how Devil Fruits modify a person's body. 

Uchiha Hikari, on the other hand, took a quick trip to the world of Inuyasha. She handed the broken Dragon-Bone Blade, along with a pile of forging materials she had collected, to Totosai, asking him to reforge the sword for her. 

After that, she made stops in both Konoha and at Doctor Gero's lab. 

Chapter 312: [Ultimate Mechanical Stereoscopic Armor: Strike Freedom Form Prototype 02] 

It hadn't been too long since Uchiha Hikari last returned to Konoha. 

Overall, there weren't many major changes within the Uchiha clan, though there were now three more Jonin with Three-Tomoe Sharingan. One of them was Uchiha Izumi, and there were also four or five Jonin-level genin preparing for promotion. 

That's right. 

This was the result of the "first phase clinical trial." 

The gene-targeting agent, crafted by Dr. Brief and then tweaked and improved by Orochimaru, had shown impressive results on the Uchiha clan members. Especially for those youngsters who already had good aptitude and the potential to become elite Jonin, it shaved off several years of detours, directly adding an extra tomoe to their Sharingan. 

This outcome greatly delighted the Uchiha clan. 

And because Fugaku, during a clan meeting, subtly hinted that all of this was Uchiha Hikari's doing, her prestige within the clan surged even further. Word had it that some clan members were even suggesting creating a golden statue of her to enshrine at the highest position in the Naka Shrine, while others claimed her face should be carved into the Hokage Rock, urging the undeserving Hiruzen Sarutobi to step down sooner rather than later. 

"Hmm..." 

It seems the Uchiha clan really does have a rebellious streak. 

If these words reached Hiruzen Sarutobi's ears, he'd probably have trouble sleeping at night. 

However, Uchiha Hikari wasn't interested in that position. 

Being a mere village leader—with little real power, yet burdened with endless daily tasks and an insurmountable pile of paperwork—such a life held no appeal for her. 

If Shisui wanted it and had the capability, she wouldn't mind giving him a push. 

"...Grandma, you're joking. How could I possibly be worthy of such a monumental task?" 

Shisui wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, not daring to elaborate on the topic. "By the way, Grandma, there's something I need to report. Lord Third and Lord Jiraiya have visited the clan several times recently, trying to find out your and Naruto's whereabouts... Naruto is the village's only jinchuriki, after all, and his current whereabouts are unknown, so they're worried someone might take advantage of the situation." 

"Heh." 

"When Naruto was here, they didn't seem to care much, nor did they cause any trouble. Now that he's gone, they're so anxious?" 

Uchiha Hikari waved her hand. "Tell them to wait. When Naruto has had his fill of fun, I'll naturally bring him back." 

"...Understood." 

Shisui nodded in agreement. 

After giving instructions to Shisui, Uchiha Hikari turned her attention to Orochimaru, who was nearby. 

After the "first phase experiment" concluded, Orochimaru hadn't left. Instead, he reactivated an old experimental base he had, beginning to research the blood samples of Shisui, Itachi, and other clan members. He was trying to use their genetic sequences to optimize the "Dragon's Curse Mark I." When Uchiha Hikari threw the "Oni-fication Potion 2.0" his way, he seemed a bit bewildered. 

"Lady Hikari, what is this?" 

"A research breakthrough from Dr. Gero. You can roughly think of it as a medicinal form of the 'Byakugo Seal,' possibly even more potent than that technique." 

In front of Shisui, Uchiha Hikari didn't explicitly mention the "Oni" (demons), but Orochimaru could probably infer it from the potion in his hand. 

Compared to Dr. Gero's lab, Orochimaru's research progress had been a bit slow lately. It was time to make him feel some pressure and get him to really buckle down. 

"Oh, by the way, Orochimaru." 

Uchiha Hikari seemed to remember something suddenly. She raised her left hand, holding up two fingers. "First, I have two questions for you." 

"First, how's the research on 'Reaper Death Seal: Release' coming along?" 

Facing Uchiha Hikari's inquiry, Orochimaru hissed, "I've made some headway with that. However, to break the 'Reaper Death Seal,' it might require a tool from the Uzumaki clan—a death god mask passed down through generations. According to ancient texts, this mask is enshrined in the Uzumaki clan's Hall of Masks, and its location is known only to successive clan leaders. I'm currently trying to find it." 

"Oh... If you find it, let me know." 

In the original Naruto story, while the Uzumaki clan's "Hall of Masks" was mentioned, its exact location wasn't specified, so Uchiha Hikari couldn't foresee it. But given that Orochimaru was the one who found it in the original story, he probably had some clues, so finding it again shouldn't be difficult. 

So, Uchiha Hikari continued, "Second, has there been any recent activity from the Akatsuki?" 

"Not yet." 

Orochimaru gave a negative answer, then paused. "Those guys were seen in the Land of Rice Fields once recently, seemingly inquiring about me and the Sound Village. It's unclear if they want to invite this rogue ninja to join them, or if they've discovered some clues related to you..." 

"?" 

Uchiha Hikari frowned slightly. 

She hadn't had any contact with the Akatsuki for a while. 

Logically, the Akatsuki had a motive to recruit Orochimaru; after all, he was an S-rank rogue ninja with both power and ability, and he was indeed a member of the Akatsuki in the original plot. With the Akatsuki's recent string of failed operations, it was reasonable for them to consider recruiting him. 

But the problem was... 

The Sound Village in this timeline had developed much faster and grown considerably larger than in the original story. 

With the addition of Karin and her mother, Kimimaro, Yakushi Nonō, and Kabuto... their presence had accelerated the Sound Village's growth, even giving it some renown within the Land of Rice Fields. And Uchiha Hikari herself was deeply connected to the Sound Village; her previous visits had been witnessed by many villagers. 

If there were a few moles among them, or if some new villagers were actually spies sent by Obito and others to gather intelligence... 

Then the reason for the Akatsuki's presence would be questionable. 

"I think I understand the situation." 

Uchiha Hikari thought for a moment. "Well, for now, let's just wait and see. If anything happens later, remember to tell me immediately." 

If the Akatsuki truly came with ill intentions, others might not matter, but Uchiha Hikari would definitely find a way to assist Karin and the others. 

Immediately after, Uchiha Hikari finished giving instructions to Orochimaru and a few words to Shisui, then temporarily left Konoha. She traveled via Bulma, making her way to the Dragon Ball world. 

Several hours later, deep beneath the Red Ribbon Army Headquarters' castle, in a massive underground experimental base. 

Uchiha Hikari looked up at the imposing and magnificent armor in front of her, accompanied by Dr. Gero and his wife, as well as "Mechamaru" and Kokichi from the Jujutsu Kaisen world. 

"So..." 

"...this is your latest research creation, the [Ultimate Mechanical Stereoscopic Armor: Strike Freedom Form Prototype 02]?" 

Chapter 313 The Heavenly Tribute 

No one even had to ask. That long, super chuunibyou name had to be something Yuzukaji came up with. If it were Dr. Gero, it would probably be something simple like "Number 01" or "Number 02," just like the Androids 17 and 18 he created back in the day. 

However, compared to the "Number 01" built from a standard Red Ribbon Army model, the "Number 02" had a massive change in appearance. I mean, it was night and day. First, the size was several times larger. The standard model was only about five or six meters tall, but this one was seventeen or eighteen meters, about the same height as a Second Stage Susanoo. 

The design was also more sleek and angular. The thick armor wrapping the torso and the five pairs of massive, slightly raised wings on its back all gave off a deep, metallic luster and a powerful, mechanical aesthetic. Even without any paint, you could tell from its current "base model" state how magnificent this mech would look when finished. 

"This... you designed this?" Uchiha Hikari turned to Yuzukaji. 

He scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed. "Yeah, I've watched the entire Gundam series and I'm pretty familiar with the look of those mechs. I originally wanted to do a one-to-one replica of the 'Strike Freedom,' but I discussed it with the doctor during the design process and found a lot of the original designs weren't very practical. So, I made some minor changes and adjustments..." He trailed off, looking a little nervous. "You won't mind me taking the liberty, will you?" 

"...You did well, I'm very impressed," Hikari said, giving Yuzukaji a pat on the shoulder as a sign of her approval. "I'll give you a few days off. Go ask Miwa Kasumi out on a date." 

"Ahem..." Yuzukaji coughed, scratching his head again. He looked a bit flustered at the mention of Miwa Kasumi's name. 

Honestly, Yuzukaji, the one who created "Ultimate Mechamaru," really understands a man's heart. He knows exactly what kind of mech design can make a guy go wild. His modified "Number 02" was even cooler than the original "Strike Freedom." If they made this thing into an action figure and sold it at a convention in the modern world, it would probably sell out in minutes. With a look like that, the performance almost didn't even matter. 

But Dr. Gero still had a surprise for Uchiha Hikari. 

"Lady Hikari, here are the design goals for 'Number 02.' Please take a look," he said, handing her a document. "Based on our design projections, the final form will be about two tons heavier than it is now, with most of that weight coming from the energy source and weapons. The inside of the body will have four nuclear batteries and backup solar panels, providing a maximum of 336 hours of continuous power. There are twelve missile launchers that can fire six different types of shells, including micro tactical missiles, miniature nukes, EMP rounds, and high-energy particle cannons, for hitting different targets. It can also switch between three different modes for land, sea, and air..." 

"Although some parts still need to be completed, we expect 'Number 02' to be about 90% finished in another month. At that point, you can try piloting it." 

"Wow!" Hikari's eyes lit up as she looked at the design charts filled with all sorts of stats. She had no idea what the difference was between the six types of shells Dr. Gero mentioned, but she could tell it was all seriously awesome. At this point, she was pretty much dying to see the final product. 

The Conversation in the Chat Group 

During these past few days, as Uchiha Hikari traveled between worlds, the chat group was buzzing with a few messages every now and then. It was mainly Bulma giving her daily updates. Also, Brand had taken advantage of the time their ship was docked to explore the nearby towns with Akame and Leone. It seems he saw a few instances of tyranny and oppression, which put him in a bad mood, leading to him complaining a few times in the group chat. 

This kind of thing is pretty common in the One Piece world. Besides a few kings with decent character, most of the leaders are no different from the arrogant Celestial Dragons, maybe even worse. The others couldn't really chime in on that topic. Only Minato Namikaze, having been a Hokage, had a lot of experience. He talked with Brand a few times and had a deep discussion about what kind of government would ensure long-term stability for its people. 

Hikari wondered if she should go to the Dragon Clan world's China and buy some Dragon-Slaying Arts for them to read. It might give them some inspiration. 

Then, today, a few messages suddenly popped up in the group chat. One was from Yamato: 

@Unnamed_No_Name: Lady Hikari, this is bad! Something has happened!! 

Unnamed_No_Name: Huh? Did your father, the leader of the Beast Pirates, come to capture you? 

@Unnamed_No_Name: No, not that... It's about Ace. It looks like Ace has been captured by that guy named Teach! 

Bulma: Ahem... Let me explain. A few days ago, didn't we tell Mr. Whitebeard about Ace's situation and ask them to try and contact him? Marco tried calling several times but couldn't get through. Today, he finally got in touch, but Ace said he had found Blackbeard's whereabouts and was going to capture him, and then he quickly hung up... I'm worried he might already be near Banaro Island. 

Unnamed_No_Name: Oh? 

In the Dragon Ball world, Uchiha Hikari, who was catching up with Master Korin on Korin Tower, narrowed her eyes as her mind started racing. 

Well, it looked like things had indeed gone south. Banaro Island was exactly where Ace found Blackbeard and fought him in the original One Piece story. And what they called a "fight" was really Ace getting utterly demolished, barely putting up a fight before being easily defeated and captured by Blackbeard. He then became a bargaining chip for Blackbeard to get his Warlord of the Sea position. 

However, Hikari was actually pretty happy to see this happen. Even if Ace was captured, he wouldn't die right away. In fact, the Marines would take good care of him to make sure he didn't die before the World Government's public execution plan. So there was no need to worry. On the other hand, if they rescued him early and prevented the "Summit War" from happening... well, that would be a shame. Her "Dimensional Pirate Crew" hadn't had a chance to make a big entrance in the One Piece world yet. 

But she couldn't say those things out loud. Instead, Hikari soothed Yamato in the chat, and then she saw a message pop up from Brand: 

Brand: Lady Hikari, Lady Bulma, have you ever heard of the "Heavenly Tribute"? 

Chapter 314: Bulma: You're Not Causing Trouble Without Me, Are You? 

The answer to that question is pretty obvious— 

The "Heavenly Tribute" is essentially a yearly tribute paid by the 170 nations affiliated with the World Government to the Celestial Dragons. In theory, it’s not just money, but also local specialties from each country. Once collected, all of it is handed over to the Marines, who then escort it to Mariejois, the Celestial Dragons' holy land. 

In the original story, there were a few brief scenes about the "Heavenly Tribute," but they were so short that most of the group members who had seen some of the series, like Uchiha Hikari, Bulma, and Eriyi, didn't recognize it. Only those who had read the whole manga knew about it. 

So... why would Bulma suddenly bring this up? 

Could it be that... she ran into some high-ranking officials from an affiliated nation who were squeezing the common people for money? 

[Bulma: That's exactly it.] 

[Bulma: Over the past few days, Akame, Leone, Tanjiro, and I have traveled quite a bit around the Kingdom of Sara—the island nation we’re staying on now. We heard some things from the locals. While not everything is confirmed, from what we know, the actions of these government officials are no different from the corrupt officials back in the Empire. They're taking away the people's food just to give it to the nobles. I don't think that's right.] 

[Nameless: So... are you thinking about starting another revolution here?] 

Uchiha Hikari's eyes flashed. She knew the general situation in the world of One Piece. Beneath the surface of freedom and adventure, this world had a very dark side. 

From the four seas to the Grand Line, from Orange Town to Wano, most of the people in this world live a life of hardship and oppression. This oppression comes from pirates, the Marines, and the Celestial Dragons. 

Powerful individuals like Whitebeard and Kaido are the exceptions. People like Luffy and Ace, who have special backgrounds, lots of connections from birth, and the good fortune to eat a useful Devil Fruit, are also rare. 

The vast majority of ordinary people are robbed, exploited, forced into slavery, or made to work in miserable conditions. They eat and drink contaminated food and water, and are even used as test subjects for human experiments. Wano had a secret base for such experiments, overseen by Queen the Plague, one of the Three Disasters. 

It's a ridiculous, but cold, fact: under the rule of the Four Emperor Big Mom, Whole Cake Island, which extracts years of life in exchange for a place to live, is one of the most livable places for ordinary people in the One Piece world. 

As a transmigrator, Uchiha Hikari could detach herself and look at these things from a higher perspective. But for Bulma and Leone, who came from humble backgrounds and experienced similar injustices that led them to join the revolution, it was difficult to ignore. 

However... since the One Piece world is Yamato's main stage and Ace's situation is more urgent, Bulma was a bit reserved in her words: 

[Bulma: It’s not really a revolution. I just want to do something for these people, even if it’s just taking out a few corrupt officials and giving them a temporary break from the Heavenly Tribute. Miss Bulma, would you allow Akame, Leone, and me to take a few days off? That is, if there’s nothing urgent happening with the pirate crew.] 

[Bulma: Hmm... taking time off is totally fine.] 

[Bulma: But... Bulma, are you really not going to start another revolution here, like Hikari suggested?] 

[Bulma: ...Huh? Are you serious?] 

[Bulma: Cough, cough... While it might sound bad, I was really curious about what you guys did back in the Akame ga Kill! world. I'm a little sad I couldn't be there. How about you bring me along this time and we all cause some major chaos here?] 

[Bulma: Of course, we still need to prioritize Yamato and Whitebeard's situation first.] 

Bulma wasn't kidding. She loved to stir things up. Choosing to experience the pirate life in this world already put her at odds with the World Government. If she could cause a big scene in the One Piece world, Bulma was more than willing to do it. 

But... Bulma was a bit lost. While he had debated politics in the chat a few times, he hadn't thought that far ahead. 

[Bulma: This... a "revolution" isn't that simple. It requires support from the people. We're just a few outsiders from another world; I don't think we could...] 

[Bulma: It’s fine! We can team up with the local Revolutionary Army. I think there are a few of their cadres in Impel Down, right? Or, we could find Luffy’s father, who is the leader of the Revolutionary Army. That should lead us to them!] 

[Nameless: ...By the way, Bulma, did you find out when the Sara Kingdom is paying the Heavenly Tribute?] 

[Bulma: I think it's sometime soon, but I'm not sure of the exact date.] 

[Nameless: If that's the case... then let's go big. The "Heavenly Tribute" isn’t just oppressing one country, it's oppressing all 170 affiliated nations. Rescuing the Sara Kingdom alone would only be a temporary solution. How about we steal all of the Heavenly Tribute from all 170 countries at once?] 

There was a precedent for this. Donquixote Doflamingo had done something similar once, using the Heavenly Tribute as a bargaining chip to become a Warlord of the Sea. 

But for Uchiha Hikari and her friends, the title of "Warlord of the Sea" was worthless. They just wanted to have some fun and turn the whole sea upside down. 

In just a few words, the plan to "hijack the Heavenly Tribute" was temporarily decided. It was definitely going to happen, but the specific action plan still needed to be discussed. After all, they didn't even have the basic information, like the tribute schedule or the Marines' escort route. 

After a brief discussion, Bulma and Akame took on the responsibility of gathering intelligence. Uchiha Hikari, after finishing her tasks, traveled back to the One Piece world. There, she, Esdeath, and the rest of the Whitebeard Pirates welcomed a long-awaited guest: half a month after Rockstar failed to deliver his message to Whitebeard, Red-Haired Shanks's crew appeared in their waters. 

Chapter 315: Red-Hair Arrives 

Shanks and Whitebeard were old friends. 

Although they didn't see each other often, Shanks knew a little about Whitebeard's health. Seeing him now, Shanks' expression was a mix of surprise and shock. 

"Whitebeard, your illness..." 

"Gurarararara! Surprised, are ya?" 

"It's all thanks to the 'Dimensional Pirate Group.' Come on, Shanks, let me introduce you to my new friends." 

Whitebeard let out his signature laugh, then put his arm around Shanks's shoulder and brought him over to Uchiha Hikari's group. He introduced each of them one by one with a sense of solemnity. 

There was a good reason for this formality. 

At first, Whitebeard respected them because Uchiha Hikari and Esdeath were as strong as any Emperor, and because Yamato was "Ace's friend." 

But now, his attitude towards the "Dimensional Pirate Group" was one of genuine admiration and gratitude. 

Although the "Oni-fication Serum 2.0" was still in the clinical trial phase, Kikyo and Tamayo had already operated on Whitebeard twice, removing several tumors and other ailments. They had also used a "Purifying Light." These treatments had alleviated several of Whitebeard's chronic illnesses to varying degrees, and his health was much better. The difference was clear in his appearance alone. 

Theoretically, if this course of treatment continued for a few more rounds, while his illness might not be completely cured, he could at least live for another three to five years without a problem. 

This result was a pleasant and unexpected surprise for Whitebeard. 

He was even tempted to adopt Kikyo and Tamayo as his daughters. 

Of course... he was rejected. 

Kikyo had always been a quiet, independent person. After the great change fifty years ago and her "resurrection," her view on familial bonds had become very distant. She had no desire to find a new family, so she politely declined Whitebeard's offer. 

As for Tamayo... 

"I'm sorry, it might sound strange, but I'm actually over 300 years old. I'm no longer a young person. Becoming your daughter... it's just not appropriate." Tamayo said this with an apologetic tone. 

"..." 

Whitebeard was a little dumbfounded. 

From his perspective, it was hard to imagine that Miss Tamayo, who looked to be in her twenties or thirties at most, was actually several centuries old. 

And this "several centuries" wasn't like Uchiha Hikari's where she had just been lying in a coffin. Tamayo had actually lived through hundreds of thousands of days and nights. If they were to determine seniority based on physical age, Miss Tamayo could easily be the great-grandmother of everyone in the Whitebeard Pirates, and even the "Dimensional Pirate Group." 

Back to the present. 

As he listened to Whitebeard's introductions, Shanks looked at Uchiha Hikari and the others with a hint of hesitation. He seemed surprised by their age and gender—it was rare to see "pirates" of this age, and apart from Boa Hancock's Kuja Pirates, it was even rarer to see a group of so many girls on the high seas. He still greeted them politely. 

"So you're Captain Bulma and Vice-Captain Uchiha Hikari... a pleasure to meet you." 

"You're Shanks?" Bulma looked him up and down. "You look pretty handsome, just a little old." 

"..." 

Born during Roger's era, Shanks was 37 at this point in time. 

Although this was nearly two and a half generations younger than the other three Emperors on average, he couldn't be considered young anymore. 

Compared to Bulma, Uchiha Hikari's attention was focused on Shanks' height. At 1.99 meters, he was a rare "normal person" on the seas. 

After the pleasantries were over, Esdeath let out a sigh and spoke in a calm voice. "Hey, I heard you're an 'Emperor of the Sea,' on par with Kaido and Whitebeard?" 

"Hmm?" Shanks instinctively tried to be humble. "That's just a meaningless title people gave me, it's nothing to brag about..." 

"Come on, fight me." 

Esdeath raised her hands, stretching her wrists and neck. Her eyes were filled with a burning desire for a battle. "I've already experienced the strength of Kaido and Whitebeard, so with you, that's three 'Emperors.' I can feel that your strength is considerable. Come on, let me see what the pinnacle of this sea looks like." 

"...Huh?" 

--- 

If you ranked the Four Emperors by overall strength, it's hard to say where Shanks would fall, but he definitely wouldn't be number one. 

However... 

If the ranking was based on Haki mastery... 

Then Shanks was undeniably number one. 

Even a prime Whitebeard from his younger days would probably have a hard time beating him. 

As Roger's adopted son and the only Emperor who hadn't eaten a Devil Fruit, his Observation Haki was almost on par with the former Pirate King. He could "see" and "hear" a glimpse of the future in an instant and react accordingly. 

In the original story, for example, he acted before Kid could awaken his Devil Fruit and destroyed his entire fleet with a single sword strike. 

When it came to Conqueror's Haki, Shanks had also developed a powerful technique that combined it with his swordsmanship, like "Divine Departure." 

But right now... 

"This is..." 

Before Esdeath could even start freezing the sea, Shanks seemed to have a premonition. He turned his head abruptly, a look of shock on his face as he stared at her. "You actually... What is your relationship with Aokiji, with an ability like that?" 

"Hmm? You mean that Marine Admiral?" Esdeath raised an eyebrow. 

She was more than familiar with the name Aokiji. 

She had heard Yamato mention him before she even came to the pirate world, and after arriving here, she had frequently heard his name from Jack the Drought, the Photo King, and the members of the Whitebeard Pirates. She was very curious about this person who supposedly had powers and a fighting style so similar to her own. 

"Yes," Shanks said with a serious expression. "While there are similar Devil Fruits in the world, fruits within the same system always follow a superior and inferior relationship. But Miss Esdeath's ability looks so incredibly similar to Aokiji's. If I hadn't recently heard about Aokiji's whereabouts, I might have thought you had stolen the power of the 'Ice-Ice Fruit' from him." 

"Is that so?" Esdeath's eyes narrowed slightly. "Do you know where this Aokiji guy is?" 

"I think so." 

"Then... can you tell me his location? I'm very curious about him."