*Chapter 160: Shadows Everywhere, Jonin on Every Corner*

Charlotte Linlin and Kaido both agreed, so there wasn’t much else to discuss.

What remained was simply to talk about bringing a few people along.

As for what they planned to do once they got there, Raijin didn’t need to ask much.

After all, they were just partners, not that close yet.

After some discussion, Charlotte Linlin and Kaido decided that they would only bring their best subordinates.

They’d each bring just one person; the rest would stay back to guard the sea.

With both captains of these powerful pirate crews personally taking action, bringing more people along would just be a burden.

Raijin, surrounded by an ethereal mist, served up the best food and drink to entertain them and then left the room.

Just then, he saw Kakashi approaching!

Kakashi glanced into the private room and immediately understood Raijin’s intentions.

He couldn’t believe Raijin was so bold as to bring along two such monsters.

If he really dared to take them, the shinobi world would be in serious trouble.

“Send someone to contact the Whitebeard Pirates, the Red-Haired Pirates, and the Navy. See if they’re interested,” Raijin instructed.

“The entry fee is a Devil Fruit. If they’re interested, they should come and find me to sign up.”

“I’m sure the World Government and the Navy are very interested in this place; they’ll definitely come to investigate.”

“I can give them the opportunity, but whether they can seize it is up to them.”

Raijin didn’t say much, but he planned to draw the top forces of the entire sea to one place.

To bring so many people to his homeland at once for a visit.

“What are you planning?” Kakashi squinted, sensing that Raijin’s actions were unusual this time.

If he were to go back, he’d do it quietly, so why make such a big fuss?

Now that he’s causing such a commotion, it must be premeditated.

“Kakashi, the waters of the sea are as deep as Mariejois! But the waters of the shinobi world are another story,” Raijin replied.

“The shinobi world is incredibly deep, but it will take about seven or eight years before things start moving. However, I can tell you one thing.”

“The Sage of Six Paths is still alive, and my purpose in returning this time is to avoid being tracked by him. These people are just a smokescreen I’m putting out.”

“So, it’s best if you can move discreetly during this operation. Don’t let yourself get caught easily!”

Raijin was a bit helpless since this conflicted with his plan.

He didn’t yet have the power to oppose the Sage of Six Paths, so bringing more people along wasn’t a bad idea.

When they stir up trouble in the shinobi world, it’ll help divert attention from Raijin.

“The Sage of Six Paths…” Kakashi’s pupils contracted sharply!

He never expected that the Sage of Six Paths was still around.

He’s lived in the shinobi world for so many years and never heard of such a danger.

Why did it sound like, from Raijin’s perspective, the shinobi world was full of crises?

It seemed like one wrong step could lead to a deadly fall.

This made Kakashi not want to return to the shinobi world at all!

“The shinobi world is deep, and what you’ve seen is just the tip of the iceberg!”

“In the future, without the power of someone like Kaido or Charlotte Linlin, you won’t even be qualified to set foot in the shinobi world.”

“The future shinobi world will have shadows everywhere, jonin on every corner. Even the Five Kage will struggle to survive until the end.”

Raijin said with a sigh, looking at Kakashi.

The shinobi world was still relatively normal, without too many monsters.

But once the Shippuden era arrives, that’s when the shinobi world will undergo massive changes.

At that time, Raijin’s Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan might barely qualify him to stand near the front.

But if he’s too far forward, he might just get caught in the crossfire and die.

“Is it really like that?” Kakashi found it hard to believe Raijin’s words.

He felt that the biggest threat to the shinobi world was Raijin himself.

But according to Raijin, the shinobi world was full of dangers.

And Raijin was just a minor character; the real big players hadn’t even shown up yet.

If Raijin was considered a minor character, then what did that make him?

This put Kakashi in an awkward position.

Maybe he was just falling behind the times.

“In the future, you can see it for yourself. The current shinobi world is nothing.”

“Whatever you do, don’t provoke those lurking beneath the surface!”

Raijin patted Kakashi on the shoulder, not saying much more.

Kakashi would eventually have to return to the village, so a little warning was enough.

He didn’t want Kakashi to become overly cautious when he returned to the village.

“Alright, I’ll be careful.”

Kakashi nodded, feeling that Raijin was being particularly sneaky now.

The shinobi world was already in such a mess, yet he was still planning to have these powerful figures from the sea lead the way.

Who could come up with something like that? This guy was definitely from the Uchiha clan.

But what did the lives of Charlotte Linlin and Kaido have to do with him?

Even if they died in the shinobi world, Kakashi wouldn’t care.

He wouldn’t even mourn for them.

“Huh? Did Uchiha Raijin just invite me to his homeland? But there’s an entry fee?”

Whitebeard looked at the messenger before him, astonished.

He was full of questions!

Didn’t Uchiha Raijin know they were fighting?

And now he had the leisure to invite him?

What was this guy thinking?

“Dad, this must be Uchiha Raijin’s scheme. It won’t be that simple,” Marco warned, immediately eyeing the messenger Kakashi had sent with suspicion.

---

In his mind, Uchiha Raijin was a scheming and treacherous person, certainly plotting some kind of conspiracy.

He might even trick their father into coming over, then join forces with others to take action. Or worse!

Anyway, Marco absolutely did not trust anyone from Dressrosa, finding them even more detestable than pirates.

"Gu-la-la-la-la, Marco, do you think I'm afraid?"

"Since Uchiha Raijin invited me, go back and tell him that I'm bringing Marco along too."

Newgate waved his large hand dismissively. How could he possibly fear Uchiha Raijin?

No matter what kind of scheme this kid had, it was insignificant in his eyes.

Even if Charlotte Linlin and Kaido were involved, he wouldn't back down.

This time, he wanted to see exactly what Uchiha Raijin was up to.

“Father!”

Marco looked anxious.

He hadn’t expected Whitebeard to agree so readily.

If there really was some conspiracy, then they...

Marco didn’t dare to think too far ahead, only focusing on how to prevent Whitebeard from going.

“No need to say more; I know what I’m doing!”

Whitebeard chuckled, a sharp gleam in his eyes.

This might be the Navy testing him.

If that was the case, then Whitebeard had nothing to hesitate about.

He wanted to see what kind of confidence the Navy had to dare to test him.

In Sengoku’s office, he watched as the Dressrosa envoy opened the door and went next door for tea.

Sengoku’s expression was serious; he felt that this situation was not easy to handle.

"Have Kuzan, Sakazuki, Tsuru, and the vice admirals meet me in the conference room."

Sengoku ordered his adjutant.

“Yes, sir!”

The adjutant went out to inform the others.

As for why Borsalino wasn’t called, that was self-explanatory.

Sengoku also planned to report this matter up the chain, to see what the Five Elders would say.

Taking advantage of the time before the others arrived, Sengoku picked up the transponder snail and dialed the Five Elders.

He relayed what the Dressrosa envoy had said, without expressing any personal opinion.

The Five Elders' reply was to have Sengoku go check it out.

After all...

They still hadn’t found the so-called ninja world that Raijin and Tsunade mentioned.

They felt like Raijin and Tsunade might be making things up, so they wanted to see if it was true.

After receiving their answer, Sengoku immediately went to the conference room.

Inside, a row of vice admirals was seated around a table, waiting!

Tsunade was also present, looking a bit impatient.

The lack of Berries lately had really made her anxious.

"Sengoku, is this about Dressrosa?"

Tsuru asked first.

The Navy was aware that Dressrosa had taken action against Amazon Lily.

But Borsalino had already intervened, and the rest of the Navy had yet to express any opinions.

Now that Sengoku was holding a meeting, it was definitely to discuss this matter.

Which side would Sengoku take? The answer was obvious.

Nine times out of ten, he’d side with Dressrosa.

“Yes and no.”

Sengoku nodded and sat at the head of the table.

“???”

Everyone in the conference room looked puzzled.

They didn’t know what riddle Sengoku was speaking in this time.

“Ahem! It is indeed about Dressrosa, so no need to guess, but it’s unrelated to the Amazon Lily situation.”

“Uchiha Raijin has submitted something to us, saying Hancock is no longer fit to be a Shichibukai. The Five Elders have already approved it.”

“So there's no need to discuss the Amazon Lily matter further. What’s more important is that Uchiha Raijin has invited our Navy to visit his homeland.”

Sengoku bluntly conveyed Uchiha Raijin's invitation, and the room fell silent.

Everyone instinctively turned their gaze to Tsunade, since she and Uchiha Raijin were from the same place.

Now that Uchiha Raijin was charging a fee for entry, they wanted to see if Tsunade had a way to waive it.

“What are you looking at me for? I got dragged out by that guy too! Only Uchiha Raijin knows how to get back to Konoha Village.”

“I don’t even know how to return myself. Tch, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, if you’re going back, count me in!”

“I’ll talk to Uchiha Raijin myself. That guy won’t refuse.”

Tsunade also felt nostalgic for the ninja world. She wanted to go back and see it again.

Especially to see if she could master Sage Mode.

That should significantly enhance her abilities.

“Go ahead and talk to him yourself.”

Sengoku didn’t pay much attention to Tsunade, shifting his gaze to the others to see what they thought.

“What do you all think? The World Government has already approved our mission, and they’ll cover the costs.”

“But we can only send three people, so you’ll need to decide among yourselves who will join me.”

Sengoku got straight to the point.

Upon hearing that the World Government had approved it, everyone in the conference room reacted differently.

The fact that the World Government agreed hinted at something unusual; this wasn’t an ordinary situation.

They were even covering the expenses—it was practically an official-funded vacation.

They must be very interested in that ninja village!

“Well, I’m curious about that world. I’ll go with you.”

Kuzan raised his hand, expressing his interest in the ninja village.

He wanted to explore it thoroughly!

“Alright! Then Sakazuki will temporarily take over as Fleet Admiral while I’m away.”

“Once we leave, all naval matters will be under your command.”

“Sakazuki, you should be fine with that, right?”

Sengoku nodded. Kuzan was a perfect fit.

He had originally planned to choose between the two admirals, and now that Kuzan had volunteered, it was an ideal choice.

“Of course!”

Sakazuki nodded seriously, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Although the length of Sengoku's absence was uncertain...

But being Fleet Admiral! That was a big deal!

Sakazuki had long been eyeing that position.

A soldier who doesn’t aspire to be a general isn’t a good soldier.

Sakazuki was eager to make a bid for the Fleet Admiral position.

“Now, we need one more person.”

Sengoku looked over at Tsuru and the other two candidate admirals.

The basic requirement was strength.

They were unsure about the strength levels in that place.

So they had to prioritize power.

“Sengoku-san, I think there’s someone who might be suitable!”

“Who?”

“One of the newly recruited Shichibukai—Issho.”

A sharp glint flashed in Sengoku's eyes; this piqued his interest.

After Raijin mentioned Issho, Sengoku had been searching for him across the seas.

He found him, and Issho turned out to be exactly as Raijin had described.

In fact, Issho's sense of justice rivaled Sengoku's own.

But due to pressure from the World Government, they had no choice but to make Issho a Shichibukai.

It was Sengoku's biggest regret that Issho couldn’t join the Navy.

But bringing Issho along this time...

Maybe he could have a good talk with him.

“Issho would be a good choice. I’ve met him; he has a strong sense of justice!”

Tsuru chimed in.

Issho was indeed a good candidate!

The others in the conference room exchanged glances, not saying anything more.

The Navy's top brass had already made their decision; there was no point in speaking up now.

“Then it's decided. Go inform Issho and have him prepare.”

“Tsunade, you can contact Uchiha Raijin and see if you can negotiate another ticket for us.”

A gleam of cunning flashed in Sengoku's eyes!

This way, the Navy indirectly secured four slots.

He heard that...

Charlotte Linlin, Kaido, and Whitebeard were also interested in going.

Now, with the Navy's current strength, they might stand a chance.

(End of Chapter)