Chapter 150: This Time It's Jack's Treat

The actions taken by Uchiha Tetsuka had already reached the ears of the Hyuga clan's branch families. However, after learning about it, they remained indifferent, choosing not to help Hyuga Hiashi. They had already tasted the scent of freedom and had no intention of returning to be caged birds.

The strict rules of the Hyuga clan were their biggest obstacle, and Hiashi often contacted them in private. They were unable to resist Hiashi due to the cage bird seal. Now that Hiashi had fallen, they could only clap their hands in approval.

Hiashi was taken away, directly sent to Shizune. What awaited him next was the bloodline fusion with the Lunaria tribe.

While in Konoha, Hiashi was quite clever, knowing what should and shouldn't be done. But could you imagine what it would feel like if your worst enemy became your superior one day? It wasn't that Hiashi was irrational or unaware of the current situation, but he didn't want to become a lapdog for the Uchiha clan. He plotted to have Tsunade take power instead, thinking it would put the Hyuga clan at odds with the Uchiha clan once again, showcasing their strength.

However, Hiashi was no different from the previous Uchiha Fugaku, only managing to show authority within his own household. When it came to maneuvering in Konoha, he was only creating trouble for himself. He couldn't comprehend why people would submit to Reijin, why his clan members would leave him, or why the alliance he built with the Senju clan collapsed overnight.

He only felt uncomfortable being here compared to Konoha, never considering what benefits others might have gained.

A month passed, and Dressrosa continued to develop in an orderly manner. Dressrosa, leveraging Big Mom's influence, directly entered the center stage of the world. Moreover, since Reijin was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Dressrosa didn't restrict pirate access. The colosseum was supported by Dracule Mihawk, along with various strange and unusual things. They even turned several nearby islands into entertainment paradises.

Now, the islands around Dressrosa had become hotspots on the ocean. Many who knew of Reijin's power came and behaved themselves. But there were also some who didn't, and without exception, they all ended up dead at the hands of Dressrosa.

"Good news! Fish-Man Island is now rapidly developing under Lord Reijin's guidance, and several beautiful mermaids have been introduced to Dressrosa. Gentlemen, you can try your luck with them."

"Who would've thought Fish-Man Island would be taken over? Wasn't it under Whitebeard's protection?"

"Hahaha, I heard the Whitebeard Pirates have already declared war on Dressrosa!"

"It doesn't matter. Dressrosa is now an ally of the Navy, and there were rumors of shady deals between the Navy Admiral and Dressrosa's king."

"Speaking of which, have you heard about Zephyr, the one-armed guy? I saw him recently, and he's fully recovered now."

"You just found out? A month ago, Zephyr descended like a god, with green flames burning on his body, and punched Kaido out of Dressrosa."

The liveliness of Dressrosa couldn't compare to the golden cities of later times, but it was on par with Happy Street. The most crucial point was that pirates wouldn't be arrested here by the Navy. Even if they had grudges, they could settle them in the colosseum by betting their lives.

This unique rule attracted many wealthy pirates and rich people to spend their money here.

"Jack, are you sure the auction in Dressrosa this time has those so-called bloodline factors?"

Kaido asked Jack, who had gained some weight over the past two months. Jack had only returned once during this time, spending all his time eating, drinking, and indulging in Dressrosa. He had gained so much weight that he looked like a fool, having blown through 10 million Beli in just a month. It was clear he wasn't there for reconnaissance but to play the role of a generous fool.

"Of course, I've confirmed it. Brother Jhin's powers are due to the fusion of Hashirama's cells, allowing for rapid healing and great strength, even granting ninja abilities. This auction includes bloodline factors from Brother Jhin and the fusion of Jhin's and Hashirama's cells!"

Jack handed the auction flyer to Kaido with a flattering smile, hoping Kaido would allocate more funds to avoid having to duel pirates in the colosseum for cash. After all, exchanging pirate bounties here came with a hefty 40% service fee. Dressrosa showed no mercy in exploiting pirates like them.

"Why aren't there any Uchiha bloodline factors?"

Kaido squinted his eyes. The power of the Uchiha clan was the most mysterious. Many were eyeing Reijin's power, but he'd only heard rumors that Big Mom's new husband was from Dressrosa. He hadn't heard of any other forces capturing Uchiha clan members. It seemed this king highly valued the Uchiha clan.

"It's said they do have it, but according to the people of Dressrosa, it wouldn't be much use to us. The practical effect is less than that of Hashirama's cells because opening those eyes is too difficult. We might never have the chance to awaken them. They said they wouldn't risk their reputation, so they only sell Hashirama's cells. But they also do private deals, and the price is high, but the goods are available anytime."

Jack explained that he had made a good friend during his time in Dressrosa, named Kakashi Hatake. Kakashi was very charming, always treating him with respect and occasionally treating him to good meals. Through Kakashi, Jack learned many of Dressrosa's secrets. For example, the Uchiha bloodline factors weren't sold.

"Hmph, do you believe that nonsense? The old hag found a man from the Uchiha clan, and he's said to be groomed as the next Three Sweet Commanders. The old hag and Dressrosa are deeply connected, so she must know something. Otherwise, why would she value him so much?"

Kaido let out a sneer, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.

He made several assumptions while in Onigashima, pondering what the old hag wanted with a man from the Uchiha clan. Could it be to complete the so-called "All Nations"? Unlikely. After all, the old hag's ambition was no different from his own—they both aimed for the Pirate King's throne.

Kaido had known for some time that Charlotte Linlin, that woman, planned to decipher the red Poneglyphs. She already had a daughter from the Three-Eyed Tribe, and it was said that when these girls opened their third eye, they could translate the Poneglyphs.

Could it be that the Uchiha clan also possessed such abilities? Though he couldn’t confirm it, once suspicion arose, trust would be impossible.

Now, Kaido was very anxious, desperate to acquire the power of the Uchiha clan. If he could obtain it, he would be that much closer to the Pirate King’s throne.

Jack scratched his head, unsure how to respond. It seemed like an ordinary alliance through marriage—next week was the wedding of Uchiha Reijin and Charlotte Galette. Even if he wanted to investigate now, it was too late.

“From now on, be more careful in Dressrosa. Gather useful information and stop wasting time on indulgences. Look at yourself—you haven’t trained for a month. What have you become?”

Kaido took a swig of sake and strode out of the hotel.

The concept of bloodline factors didn’t interest him much; they had a genius scientist on Onigashima, someone who once worked with Vegapunk—Queen. Though not an expert on bloodline factors, Queen was a master of body modifications, admired even by Vegapunk.

So, bloodline factors weren’t of great interest to Kaido. Even if they produced more warriors like King, they would never match King’s strength. The wood release, however, intrigued him a bit—it might add a few more tricks to their arsenal and improve their odds.

“King, do you think spending 10 billion berries on this wood release technique is worth it?”

Walking through the streets of Dressrosa, Kaido drew countless gazes—after all, he was a well-known figure on the seas, with a bounty exceeding 3 billion berries. Many would love to claim Kaido’s head, but his ferocious appearance radiated an overwhelming sense of oppression.

“I think it’s worth a try,” King replied candidly, clearly intrigued by the wood release technique. He sensed that this Kekkei Genkai held many secrets.

“Then buy it! Money is the last thing we’re short on,” Kaido laughed heartily. Onigashima would never lack money. A mere 10 billion berries was a small price to pay for something they truly desired.

“Mamama... Kaido, I didn’t expect to run into you here.”

A voice rang out, and a woman as large as Kaido appeared on the street. She was followed by a long line of children, and toy soldiers carried desserts by her side.

“Linlin!” Kaido narrowed his eyes, spotting a tall, long-legged woman by Charlotte Linlin’s side. The most striking feature was the flame behind her head, the same kind of flame King possessed. It was exactly as he thought—Dressrosa and Charlotte Linlin had a special deal.

Rumor had it that Charlotte Smoothie’s strength had greatly increased recently, causing quite a stir in the New World. She had completely replaced Katakuri as the number one under Charlotte Linlin. Kaido hadn’t realized that the boost in her strength was thanks to the bloodline factor, and it was from King’s race—the Lunarians.

The Uchiha clan… Kaido’s heart surged with rage.

“Linlin, I heard you’ve had another child recently. Didn’t expect to see you still out and about,” Kaido said with a grin as he walked up to Charlotte Linlin.

“Don’t think I’m that frail!” she retorted, locking eyes with him as tension crackled in the air between them. The atmosphere grew heavier, with ripples of energy stirring up and lightning flashing intermittently—a prelude to their clash.

“Excuse me, both of you,” Uchiha Tekkō intervened, appearing beside them unnoticed. “This is a town in Dressrosa. Fighting here is not allowed. If you wish to settle your differences, please do so in the Colosseum. We can arrange a perfect battle environment for you.”

Although Uchiha Tekkō’s presence wasn’t as imposing as the two powerhouses, he showed no fear in the face of their overwhelming aura.

“Hey, Tekkō, it’s me, Jack!”

“Jack? It’s you. Is this your captain, the infamous Beast Kaido of the Beasts Pirates?”

“That’s right! My boss is strong, huh? He’s just arrived in Dressrosa and isn’t familiar with the place yet. There won’t be any more trouble after this.”

“Understood. If there’s any grudge, it should be settled in the Colosseum. Fighting within the town is forbidden. If you wish to duel, just report to us. With warriors of your caliber, many would come to watch.”

“I get it. Next time, I’ll invite you and Kakashi for drinks. This time, it’s on me. I’ve got millions of berries to spend—we’ll go to the best place in town. This time, it’s Lord Jack’s treat!”

Before Charlotte Linlin and Kaido could react, Jack had already thrown an arm around Uchiha Tekkō, laughing and joking. Kaido paused, realizing that leaving Jack here might actually have some benefits—at least, it seemed like he’d made quite a few connections that could be useful for gathering information.

“Mamama... Kaido, I guess you’re also here for the bloodline factor, huh?” Charlotte Linlin withdrew her intimidating aura, showing respect to Dressrosa. After all, the king of Dressrosa was her partner in a sincere collaboration.

But it seemed Kaido’s men were quite familiar with the people of Dressrosa—unlike that useless Katakuri, who had been in Dressrosa for so long and hadn’t reported anything useful.

“I’m more interested in the ninjutsu here. This bloodline factor stuff isn’t as powerful as the Zoan-type Devil Fruits. By the way, Linlin, you don’t seem to mind that you were defeated by a mere youngster,” Kaido asked.

“Hmph, Uchiha Reijin is quite the lad. If he wants to use me as a stepping stone, let him try. Besides, I’m quite fond of that boy—his bloodline seems special.”

Charlotte Linlin recalled Reijin’s Susanoo and unconsciously licked her lips.

Kaido’s eyes narrowed. He knew the Uchiha clan was hiding something. As he thought, there was a reason Charlotte Linlin was so interested in Dressrosa.

“Just a bunch of weaklings relying on their bloodline factor. I’m not interested. I’ll see you at the auction. Right now, I plan to explore Dressrosa!”

With the information he’d gathered, Kaido turned and left, not wanting to exchange another word with Charlotte Linlin. Though he didn’t care much about face, he did owe this woman a favor and dreaded the possibility of her asking him to attack Dressrosa.

Recalling his recent battle with Zephyr, Kaido frowned. That technique must be ninjutsu—but how could he obtain it?

(Chapter End)