Chapter 246: We Don’t Want Our Children to Be Fatherless

"We are here at Marineford to visit Admiral Borsalino! We’ve brought quite a few gifts this time!"

"We have no intention of causing trouble for Admiral Borsalino, even though he holds some hostility towards Dressrosa!"

"Dressrosa has maintained good relations with the Navy, so I’m here to restore Admiral Borsalino’s view of us and see if we can mend our relationship."

Kakashi stood at the port, speaking seriously, though his tone was overly formal.

His gaze flickered subtly toward one of the buildings in Marineford.

He felt like someone with a hostile presence was staring at him.

After thinking for a moment, Kakashi had a rough idea of who it might be.

It was probably Borsalino watching him.

"I see, but whether Borsalino welcomes you is up to him," Akainu said, a cigar between his lips and his face devoid of any other expression.

Dressrosa wasn’t a pirate nation, though it had countless ties to pirates.

Still, Dressrosa leaned more toward the Navy, so Sakazuki’s attitude wasn’t too harsh.

After all, Dressrosa had provided the Navy with a strong, admiral-level fighter.

Even though they had also lured away several veteran Navy officers, that was of little concern.

In a way, they were helping the Navy find placements for those older officers.

"It’s fine, Admiral Sakazuki. This is a box of cigars from the New World’s best cigar-producing region."

"And we’ve also brought some of the finest wines from Dressrosa. Consider these a small gift for you!"

Kakashi called out to the people behind him, and instantly, Judge’s three sons appeared, each carrying a large box.

These items weren’t cheap in the New World, though they were nothing compared to the Navy’s salary.

Still, since it was a gift, Akainu accepted them without hesitation.

"Thank you," Sakazuki said, though the caution in his eyes hadn’t faded.

"Oh, by the way, Admiral Sakazuki, would it be possible to send some people to your unit?"

Kakashi’s face now carried a hesitant look.

"Hmm? My personal unit isn’t just for anyone to join! If they want to enlist in the Navy—"

"We recruit heavily every year. If they meet the requirements, they’ll naturally be able to join us."

Sakazuki looked calmly at Kakashi, a hint of disdain in his eyes.

Did he really think Sakazuki’s personal troops were just a bunch of trash?

"They aren’t just anyone! These are individuals from Dressrosa with special abilities, and they have an intense hatred for pirates."

"They’ve heard of your iron-fisted methods, how you never let a pirate go unpunished, and they’re eager to join your unit."

Kakashi smiled flatteringly as he spoke.

It was as if Kakashi could switch expressions with ease; whatever expression he wanted to show, he did. Even Sakazuki couldn’t detect anything suspicious.

In Konoha, Kakashi was known for his wisdom, and in all areas, he excelled. Diplomacy was no exception.

That’s why Raijin had entrusted Kakashi with so many tasks, sending him all over.

"Special abilities? You mean like that subordinate of Tsunade's, someone with immense strength even without relying on a Devil Fruit?"

Kakashi’s words made Sakazuki’s eyes light up. He had taken quite an interest in Tsunade's subordinate.

Even without a Devil Fruit, they could easily build an entire house.

Their power might not be extraordinary, but it was certainly beyond that of an ordinary person.

With some research, they could become even stronger.

"Exactly. One of them possesses the Byakugan, which allows them to see through any obstacles and observe enemies from several kilometers away."

"There are also others with unique techniques. Many are eager to join your forces!"

Kakashi nodded earnestly.

Suddenly!

At that moment, someone rushed over.

"Kakashi-sama, Admiral Borsalino has requested your presence in his office!"

Borsalino’s adjutant arrived next to Kakashi, speaking steadily.

"Understood."

Kakashi nodded and glanced at Akainu, who had yet to respond.

"Admiral Sakazuki, if you’re interested, feel free to come to Dressrosa and select the best candidates!"

"I assure you, they’ll be top-tier and won’t hold you back."

"Now, if you’ll excuse me, Admiral Borsalino has invited me up."

Kakashi said to Akainu, "I understand."

Sakazuki's eyes flickered for a moment, and he nodded. He had been pondering something.

This situation seemed like it wouldn't cause him any harm. Even if Dressrosa wanted to steal Navy secrets, they would still be under his watchful eye. What could they possibly do?

To him, this was a win-win deal. He could gain some uniquely skilled subordinates, expanding his forces, and might even personally visit Dressrosa to select recruits. He could consult Z for advice on who would be the best to train.

Without hesitation, he could bring them into the Navy, strengthening its power. There was nothing better for the Navy than this.

"I need to inform Sengoku-san about this. He should be able to contact Teacher Zephyr. Talking to Zephyr should give me some insight."

For the first time, Sakazuki was genuinely interested in Dressrosa. After all, Kuzan had accompanied Sengoku to the Ninja World, which was filled with strange and powerful ninja techniques. Now, he had the chance to bring some of those over as well.

Sakazuki glanced at the gift Kakashi had brought and fell silent. Since becoming a Navy officer, no one had given him a gift before. This was a first.

If Dressrosa ever faced any difficulties, he could lend a hand, as long as it wasn't too unreasonable.

"Admiral Borsalino is waiting for you inside," said Kizaru's aide at the office door, turning to Kakashi.

"Thanks, brother! Come visit Dressrosa when you have time. I'll treat you to a drink," Kakashi said, carrying two boxes, smiling as he walked in without knocking. Inside, Borsalino was sitting at his desk, trimming his nails with a sleazy expression. He hadn't taken out his nail clippers in a while—they were almost rusty from disuse.

But this time, he was using them to make an impression on Dressrosa. "No manners at all. Shouldn't you knock before entering someone's office? Are all people from Dressrosa as uncultured as you?" Borsalino said without looking up, carefully trimming his nails.

He had no fondness for people from Dressrosa, so they shouldn't expect any warmth from him. In fact, it was almost impossible.

He didn't attack Kakashi only because of a warning from Sengoku and his diminishing status in the Navy. After his failure in chasing down the Akatsuki, Borsalino's position in the Navy had become precarious. Many were pushing for Tsunade to take over as the next admiral, but Borsalino wasn’t ready to step down yet.

"I'm terribly sorry!" Kakashi raised an eyebrow but didn't get angry. He calmly stepped out, put the boxes down, and knocked gently on the door.

"Come in!" Borsalino’s voice came from inside, finally allowing Kakashi to enter.

"Admiral Borsalino's office is a bit modest, isn't it? Do all admirals live this humbly?" Kakashi said with a smile, placing the boxes down. "But Admiral Kuzan sure knows how to enjoy life in Dressrosa!"

Borsalino, filing his nails, replied, "I was fooled by your Dressrosa once. I’m not interested in such things anymore."

"That's not fair to say. We at Dressrosa meant well," Kakashi chuckled. "We sometimes encounter... friends with certain 'appetites.' It’s just that Lu Jiu mistook you for one of them."

Borsalino ignored Kakashi’s words and cut to the chase. "What does Dressrosa want from me?"

Kakashi saw that Borsalino had no interest in small talk. "Of course, we’re here to restore our relationship. I believe there's been some misunderstanding between us."

Kakashi sat down, glanced at the teapot on Borsalino's desk, but clearly, Borsalino wasn't going to offer him tea. "Dressrosa should know better than I do if there’s been a misunderstanding," Borsalino said, a flash of anger in his eyes, though it quickly disappeared as if it had never been there.

"Of course, it’s all a misunderstanding. In fact, we’d love to invite you to Dressrosa as our guest. Family and friends are of utmost importance to us," Kakashi said with a grin.

Borsalino’s hand paused, his eyes narrowing at Kakashi. The mention of "family" gave him an uneasy feeling.

A card flew across the room, and Borsalino caught it effortlessly. On it was a picture of a baby peacefully sleeping in a crib. The child’s face triggered a surge of rage in Borsalino, emotions he struggled to contain.

"You think you can threaten me with something like this? Do you believe such a cheap trick can threaten an admiral?" Borsalino glared at Kakashi, his voice icy.

Kakashi remained calm. "We have no such intentions. I’m merely saying we don’t want the child to grow up without a father. We hope the father can spend more time with the child. That’s all we ask. Of course, you can bring the child to Marineford to raise him if you wish. We’d have no objections."

"It’s entirely up to you, Admiral Borsalino," Kakashi said softly. "We’ll even send some ninja techniques over to Marineford for the child to learn. It’s all for the sake of the child."

There was no sign of threat, just a seemingly sincere offer. It was hard to refuse, almost too good to be true.

"Heh, what’s Dressrosa’s real demand?" Borsalino sneered, clearly not buying it.

"Honestly, there’s no catch," Kakashi said, looking slightly troubled. "Raijin said to grant all of Borsalino’s requests, but now you’re asking what we want, and it’s a bit tricky."

"I don’t believe you’re acting out of kindness, but you’re here under Uchiha Raijin’s orders, aren’t you? Whatever that guy wants, I’ll never agree to it. No more discussion. Take your things and leave Marineford," Borsalino said coldly.

"If Admiral Borsalino doesn’t trust us, then so be it," Kakashi replied, unfazed. "On the back of the photo is the child’s address. He’ll live there until he turns eighteen. His mother is just an ordinary woman from the Uchiha clan. His father died six years ago in battle, and they’ll likely live a hard life on their own. That’s why we hope you can spend time with the child. If you’re worried about any tricks from Dressrosa, you can bring the child to Marineford. There shouldn’t be any problem with that."

Kakashi sighed, stood up, and walked out of the office with a broader smile on his face. After thinking for a moment, he headed to the marshal’s office.

When Sengoku saw Kakashi, he immediately had tea and snacks brought out and asked him about his visit to Marineford. Kakashi didn’t hide anything and repeated everything he had told Borsalino, making sure there were no misunderstandings between Dressrosa and the Navy.

"Are you really willing to send the child to Marineford?" Sengoku asked, sipping his tea.

This situation was beyond Sengoku’s expectations. He couldn’t detect any hidden agenda from Dressrosa, and it seemed like a good deal for Borsalino. It would also rid Borsalino of a potential weakness. The incident with Dressrosa would be put to rest this way.

What’s there to hesitate about?