### Chapter 162: Zepyhr , Do You Really Think I'm Afraid of You?

As Shanks and Whitebeard arrived in Dressrosa, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin received the news.

The two of them didn’t expect that Raijin would actually invite these two people. They didn’t know what Uchiha Raijin was planning, but they were certain that if they encountered Whitebeard in the future, a battle would be inevitable.

As a result, they immediately formed an alliance on the spot! If they ever faced Whitebeard in the Shinobi World, they would stand together to oppose him. Beyond that, however, their relationship remained competitive.

After all, Whitebeard was indeed incredibly strong. If Charlotte Linlin or Kaido were to fight him one-on-one, they might find themselves at a disadvantage. His power had already exceeded the limits of human imagination. The Tremor-Tremor Fruit in his hands had become a weapon capable of destroying the world.

So, they had to join forces—only by uniting could they have hope. As for Uchiha Raijin, the fact that he brought so many people here meant he was probably just waiting to sit back and watch the tigers fight. There was no need to think twice about whether he could be trusted as an ally.

As long as he didn’t stab them in the back, that would already be considered a good thing.

Neither Kaido nor Charlotte Linlin trusted Raijin. But they had a decent relationship with each other and could rely on that foundation to build mutual trust.

After forming their alliance, the two of them brought their people directly to the palace. Upon arriving, they saw Shanks, Mihawk, and Whitebeard already there, waiting and ready to depart for the other world.

Seeing their old enemies stirred up old feelings of animosity. Charlotte Linlin and Smoothie had already drawn their weapons. Just as Charlotte Linlin was about to speak, the sound of footsteps echoed through the palace.

Everyone turned their gaze toward the direction of the sound, and they saw someone they least expected.

“Sengoku, you old bastard, what are you doing here?” Charlotte Linlin narrowed her eyes, her voice dripping with murderous intent.

They initially thought they were dealing with only a few pirates, but they didn’t expect even the Navy to show up. This made the competition much fiercer.

“You bunch of sea scum can be here, so why can’t I?” Sengoku said sternly, sitting down at the conference table without any hesitation. “Besides, we paid for our spot here, just like you.”

Sengoku recognized all the people present, many of whom were from his era. Now, those from his time were slowly dwindling, one by one, fading into obscurity.

But Sengoku felt that it was better if these people in front of him grew old and disappeared. These guys were the biggest obstacles to their domination of the seas. If they were gone, who knows how much calmer the seas would be.

“Hmph! I didn’t expect Uchiha Raijin to actually allow you Navy dogs to join us,” Kaido sneered, carrying his spiked club. “But, Sengoku, be careful this time. Don’t end up in my hands.”

Kuzan, standing next to Sengoku, looked slightly impatient. He raised his head and spoke to Kaido, “Oh? Seems like there are a lot of big talkers around. Can't you all quiet down a bit?”

Suddenly, a powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki filled the palace, its terrifying force sending chairs and tables flying. The sheer power of it caused cracks to appear on the palace walls.

The storm of Haki erupted among them, even affecting Shanks, Whitebeard, and Mihawk.

“Mamamama!” Charlotte Linlin burst out laughing, releasing her own Conqueror's Haki. The two waves of Haki spiraled above Dressrosa, as if a tornado could erupt at any moment.

“Kaido, Charlotte Linlin, don’t get too cocky. The Navy isn’t something you can push around.” Sengoku’s glasses flashed as he unleashed his own Conqueror's Haki, matching theirs without fear. As the Navy’s Fleet Admiral, there was no way he could back down in front of these pirates. They might have the numbers, but there was no way he would allow the Navy’s momentum to falter.

Meanwhile, a cold aura began to emanate from Kuzan’s body, as if he intended to freeze the entire palace. The icy chill seeped into the bones, forming layers of frost around them.

If the pirates were planning to cause trouble with their numbers, Kuzan had no intention of showing mercy. It would be best if all these scum perished! After all, they dared to look down on him, an Admiral of the Navy.

“I think you all should know when to stop!” Shanks’ eyes flashed red as he pushed back against the three waves of Conqueror's Haki, drawing everyone's attention to him. They had initially thought Shanks was just there to make up the numbers, but it turned out he actually had the strength to hold his own against them. This was something Kaido and Charlotte Linlin hadn’t expected, and it sparked a flicker of anger in them.

These younger generation pirates were getting too bold. First it was Raijin, and now Shanks.

Kaido and Charlotte Linlin both felt as though everyone was after their claim to the Pirate King’s throne.

“Gurararara, you lot, stop making a fool of yourselves on someone else’s turf.” Whitebeard clenched his fist and slammed it into the air, causing the entire palace to shake. Dust fell from the palace roof, and cracks appeared in the structure.

Everyone quickly steadied themselves, not wanting to embarrass themselves in front of Whitebeard.

“Hmph!”

---

The overwhelming presence of Conqueror’s Haki had faded, and the weather above Dressrosa was now twisted beyond recognition.

However, the people present were glaring at each other, with no intention of backing down.

With the tension this high, it would be embarrassing not to fight.

Kaido hadn’t been drinking this time, and seeing this group made him eager to try taking down a couple of them.

“These pirates really have twisted hearts. It seems becoming a Warlord of the Sea was a good choice,” said Issho, standing in the back, observing the pirates in front of him through his Observation Haki.

What he saw was a sea of corpses and blood, and hearts as evil as demons. Even with the support of Conqueror’s Haki, they were just monsters feeding on the blood of others.

Although Issho regretted not joining the Navy to gain official power, becoming a Warlord of the Sea gave him more freedom.

Issho believed that if he could step up, the seas would have far fewer innocent people suffering.

“Who’s this guy?” Kaido’s eyes turned to Issho, sensing that he was a powerful individual. Kaido was surprised, realizing that the Navy had come well-prepared this time.

They had brought so many strong fighters that something shocking was bound to happen.

“Future Warlord of the Sea, Issho!” Issho introduced himself briefly, picking up his blind cane. After all, he was facing a group of ruthless pirates.

“Mamamama, Warlord of the Sea? Is this the best the Navy can do? Dragging in some nobodies from who knows where,” Charlotte Linlin sneered, feeling that the Warlords of the Sea were a joke.

Except for Uchiha Raijin, she didn’t think much of the other Warlords. Running into them was nothing but a hassle, and even spitting on them felt like too much effort for her.

“Charlotte Linlin, the seas are full of powerful people. Be careful not to die unexpectedly,” Sengoku sneered, confident in Issho’s strength. Although he had lost his sight, his power was not to be underestimated.

Charlotte Linlin wouldn’t be talking like this if she had seen Issho’s combat abilities. Sengoku figured there would be plenty of opportunities for her to learn.

“Sengoku, come on! Let me see if you can actually kill me,” Kaido roared, slamming his spiked club into the ground, clearly challenging Sengoku to a fight.

It was obvious he wanted to start a brawl in Dressrosa before moving on.

Thud! Thud! Footsteps echoed as the arguing group fell silent.

“Kaido, you’re awfully cocky these days. Haven’t seen you in a while—guess your injuries have healed?”

“Sengoku’s too old to fight now. Why don’t you take me on? Let’s see if I can beat the crap out of you today!”

A burly, middle-aged man with sunglasses walked over, arrogantly beckoning Kaido with his finger.

This sight shocked everyone, leaving them staring in disbelief.

“Zehahaha! This is Zepyhr!” “Is this really Zepyhr?” “Teacher Zepyhr?”

The pirates weren’t the only ones shocked—the Navy was just as surprised.

They wondered who dared to say such bold words, only to discover it was a retired Navy officer.

But what made Zepyhr so confident in openly challenging Kaido? Kaido’s strength was undeniable.

Zepyhr had lost an arm due to his injuries, and his combat ability was a fraction of what it once was. How could he fight Kaido? Was he planning to just annoy Kaido into submission?

“Zepyhr, do you really think I’m afraid of you?” Kaido instinctively picked up his spiked club, retreating a couple of steps to the door. He looked ready to transform and run at any moment, his earlier bravado gone.

This shocked everyone even more. No one expected Kaido to back down like this. Though he kept up the tough talk, his actions spoke volumes—Kaido was genuinely scared and ready to flee.

“Zepyhr, you seem to be in good shape,” Kuzan commented, noticing Z’s newly attached arm. It seemed Dressrosa had some special method of giving Zepyhr a new arm, and it looked incredibly intimidating. Had Zepyhr done something to Kaido in the past?

“Hey, Kaido, what are you doing?” Charlotte Linlin was confused. Kaido had been so aggressive earlier, ready to take on anyone. Why was he acting so cowardly now?

“Ahem!” Kaido noticed the confusion on everyone’s faces and realized what was going on. The time he attacked Dressrosa must have been covered up. No wonder Kaido hadn’t heard any rumors about the aftermath—it was as if the incident never happened.

Dressrosa… Uchiha Raijin, you sly dog! Hiding such a dangerous weapon like Zepyhr by your side.

“Kaido, don’t worry. Raijin said that as long as you don’t cause trouble, I won’t lay a hand on you. This time, you can compete fairly, but no one from Dressrosa will take sides. So even if you insult me, the worst I’ll do is come back to hassle you later,” Zepyhr said, pushing his glasses up with a faint smile.

Last time, he’d beaten Kaido so badly that the man was now genuinely afraid of him. Zepyhr thought it was a bad sign—Kaido might start avoiding him altogether, making it hard to find an excuse for another beating.

Sengoku was slightly taken aback by Z’s confident demeanor. There was a lot to unpack in what Zepyhr had said, especially the part about "our Dressrosa." Sengoku noted that down. It seemed Zepyhr was already treating Dressrosa like home. But wasn’t he part of the Navy? Why not say "our Navy"? And why wasn’t he standing with them?

Sengoku felt a surge of frustration building up inside.

“Hmph!” Kaido returned to his original spot, letting out a cold snort but staying silent. Zepyhr didn’t pay him any more attention and instead looked at Kuzan. “Dressrosa’s medical treatments are excellent. When we get back, you should stay there for a while to recover. You’ve worn your body out over the years.”

Kuzan was taken aback. He didn’t expect Zepyhr to be so concerned about him. But honestly, Kuzan felt that few people in the Navy knew more about recovery than he did. After all, he had spent most of his time in the Navy just lounging around. Unless he was up against monsters like Kaido, there wasn’t much to worry about.

But he couldn’t refuse Z’s request.

“Uh, we’ll see,” Kuzan replied, giving a vague answer.

“Alright, we’ll talk about it later. Since everyone’s here, let’s not waste any more time. Follow me!” Zepyhr led the group of monsters to a place that Raijin had already prepared. Raijin was already standing there, waiting for them, having presumably sent the others into the Kamui Dimension. Now, only these people remained.

Sengoku glanced around, sensing that the space was sealed. They hadn’t detected Raijin’s presence earlier, so Dressrosa must have some special methods. It was likely that the Hidden Village island had been set up in the same way!

“It looks like you’re ready. Then let’s go in,” Raijin said, seeing that Zepyhr had brought everyone. He could tell everything was in place.

The group looked expectant, feeling that this journey was going to be very interesting. Mihawk followed behind them, having also been invited. However, unlike the others, he had tasks to complete for Raijin. Meanwhile, Tsunade had already been sent into the Kamui Dimension, waiting for everything to be ready.

“Whoosh!” A massive black hole opened in front of them, drawing everyone’s attention like an abyss. No one had expected Uchiha Raijin to have this kind of power. Charlotte Linlin couldn’t help but laugh—if Uchiha Raijin was this strong, her future children would be even stronger. She was already eager to see what the children of the Uchiha clan would be like.

“I’ll go in first and check it out!” Newgate sneered at the others’ hesitation, stepping into the black hole first. Marco quickly followed, not daring to let Newgate face danger alone.

“Whitebeard, that old guy,” Charlotte Linlin snorted, stepping in as well, with Smoothie following closely to protect against any sneak attacks.

One by one, the others couldn’t hold back and moved in as well! Kaido showed no hesitation and also walked into the black hole.

“Heh, interesting,” Shanks chuckled, glancing at the remaining Navy officers before following the others inside. With most of the pirates already gone, only the Navy remained.

“Zepyhr, I hope after this is over, you’ll return to the Navy,” Sengoku said as the others left.

“I’ve already retired from the Navy. Their business is no concern of mine! Sengoku, you should worry about yourself this time. I can’t help you—not without Raijin’s permission.”

Zepyhr patted Sengoku on the shoulder, wondering why his old friend couldn’t see the bigger picture. Did he really think Uchiha Raijin would let people go so easily? Raijin’s house was so tightly guarded that even a passing mouse had to leave something behind. Now that Zepyhr was in Dressrosa, there was no way he could leave. And Raijin had even encouraged him to poach from the Navy, though Zepyhr was only targeting retired officers for now.

“You bastard!” Sengoku glared at Zepyhr, surprised at how heartless he was being. But he didn’t say any more, leading his

After Uchiha Raijin attacked and left Konoha, the entire Shinobi world underwent massive changes.

Konoha lost a famous ninja and a powerful ninja clan.

Even the heads of various renowned clans disappeared without a trace.

The four major shinobi villages, which had been eyeing Konoha like a piece of juicy meat, could no longer hold back.

Cloud Village began causing various skirmishes along the border with Konoha, sometimes even engaging in full-scale battles.

The atmosphere in the shinobi world was already tense, and it seemed inevitable that a major conflict with Konoha would soon erupt.

All that was missing was a spark, and the moment that spark appeared, it would ignite the Fourth Great Shinobi War.

Konoha had been coveted for a long time, and they had been salivating over it for quite a while.

"Have you found any trace of the Uchiha clan?"

Inside the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen, with a pipe in his mouth, looked noticeably more aged.

In just a few short months, matters within Konoha had become more complicated.

Now, Sarutobi Hiruzen no longer trusted anyone else to manage Konoha’s affairs.

As a result, most of the responsibilities had fallen onto his own shoulders.

"Not yet, but it seems Uchiha Fugaku has found some traces. He was reportedly active in the Land of Earth recently but has since disappeared again."

"Uchiha Fugaku has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. Capturing him won’t be easy. We underestimated him before."

Danzō, sitting next to Sarutobi Hiruzen, had a different appearance. His face was glowing with health, as if he had been rejuvenated. His aura was even more formidable than before.

After seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen in this state, Danzō began taking care of himself.

He spent a large sum of money with Orochimaru to ensure he could maintain his peak condition for a longer period.

Danzō wanted to ensure that once the Third Hokage stepped down, he, as the Fifth Hokage, could stay in power for at least twenty years.

After all, everyone in Konoha knew that the Uchiha rebellion had been a severe blow to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The continuous skirmishes with the surrounding four nations had taken a toll on him, wearing down both his body and spirit.

Moreover, Konoha still lacked a suitable successor, leaving Sarutobi Hiruzen severely strained both physically and mentally.

“Whew…”

Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke and picked up the scroll on the table, reading it intently.

No news of Uchiha Raijin meant no progress. What he needed was information about Uchiha Raijin.

After the Uchiha clan left with the heads of various other clans, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt the pressure.

Konoha no longer had a leader. Previously, by eliminating some of the Fourth Hokage’s men, he had reduced Konoha's military strength significantly.

Now, with Raijin taking away even more of their strength, Konoha was emptier than ever.

Jiraiya alone was holding the front line, and Sarutobi Hiruzen feared that he wouldn’t be able to hold out.

"If necessary, we could let Orochimaru return."

Danzō smirked slyly at Sarutobi Hiruzen as he suggested this.

Orochimaru, the rogue ninja of Konoha, had been branded a human experimentation fiend.

If Sarutobi Hiruzen was forced to bring Orochimaru back due to pressure, it would overturn his previous stance.

Hehe, Danzō thought, if he could just stir up some trouble, he might be able to push Sarutobi Hiruzen out of the Hokage position.

"It's not that desperate yet!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at his old colleague. He could easily guess what Danzō was scheming.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was very aware that Danzō had been itching for this for a long time.

But after the incident with the Uchiha clan, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt increasingly powerless.

He was finding it harder to keep Danzō in check. It was only a matter of time before Danzō would take over.

Before that happened, Sarutobi Hiruzen needed to find someone capable of succeeding him in Konoha.

"Konoha should be able to survive this war."

Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared calm, but his eyebrows were furrowed in concern.

In his heart, he was anything but calm. He was just hoping that Jiraiya would scare off the other four nations.

After all, Jiraiya's Sage Mode was quite intimidating. If they could avoid this war, Konoha would rise from the ashes even stronger.

"Whoosh"

Raijin stepped out of the Kamui space and looked around at the forest.

This was the Land of Springs. He had previously arranged some business here, but it had already been sold off.

He hadn’t expected that after all this time, this would be the first place he’d return to.

Raijin didn’t hesitate. He opened the Kamui space, and a line of people gradually emerged.

The ninjas, upon recognizing the familiar surroundings, immediately vanished into the landscape to gather information.

The only ones left were the pirates and marines from the Grand Line, who were curious about this new world.

Sengoku’s expression remained unchanged as he fiddled with the Den Den Mushi in his pocket, but he noticed it had lost signal.

It seemed they were too far from Marineford, so the signal was weak.

He decided to wait until they left to determine their location and see if anyone could be sent to find them.

"So, this is where the shinobi live?"

Whitebeard looked around with some curiosity, taking in the surroundings.

It didn’t seem much different from the sea, except that the trees were a bit thicker.

But such trees weren’t unusual in the world. There were also some primeval forests out at sea.

"Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma, doesn't seem like much!"

Charlotte Linlin laughed, finding nothing particularly different.

"How could this place compare to the sea? We’re just hidden deep within it."

"You’re free to move around as you wish. If I decide to leave, I’ll contact you."

"Oh, and unless necessary, don’t provoke the Five Great Nations. They do have some strength."

Raijin smiled as he addressed the group in front of him.

He had given them some advice, but whether they chose to heed it was up to them. Raijin wouldn’t interfere.