*Chapter 124: The Admiral’s Unjust Treatment*

Zepyr was simply too ruthless. This time, they clearly saw the decisiveness of the Admiral.

To curry favor with Raijin, he even betrayed his own students without hesitation.

What on earth had Raijin promised Zepyr to make him so loyal, even to the point of betraying his own students?

The conference room fell into silence after Zepyr left.

At this moment, the clan leaders didn’t know what to say.

They looked at each other, unsure of how to respond.

Should they really reflect on themselves?

But Zepyr’s words were clearly nonsense.

How could they take such words seriously?

“Ahem! Nara Shikaku did a good job with this matter!” Raijin said.

All eyes in the conference room immediately shifted to him.

No one expected Raijin to actually approve of Nara Shikaku’s actions.

They originally thought Raijin would at least put on an act of reprimanding him.

But Raijin didn’t even bother with pretense and instead openly praised Nara Shikaku.

Wasn't this sending a special signal?

Damn it!

Nara Shikaku had taken the lead again, without leaving them any clues on what to do.

Now, they didn’t even know what to do next.

“Kakashi, what Devil Fruits do we have in stock?” Raijin asked, turning his gaze to Kakashi.

It's time to reward meritorious service!

Nara Shikaku had contributed so much!

If they didn’t offer some kind of reward, it would only lead to disappointment.

Raijin didn’t have much on hand now, only some Devil Fruits he had scavenged.

“We have a Logia-type Snow-Snow Fruit, an Art Fruit, a Healing Fruit, and recently found a Bird-Bird Fruit, a Dog-Dog Fruit, and an Ancient Zoan-type Dinosaur Fruit.”

Recently, they had been expanding their inventory and searching the seas for Devil Fruits.

But Devil Fruits are the most scarce items in the ocean, and most people won’t sell them.

So, gathering three Devil Fruits in such a short time was quite an achievement.

Moreover, many people in Dressrosa had already eaten some fruits.

Finding Devil Fruits was like searching for a needle in a haystack!

“Is that so many? Let Nara Shikaku pick one for his son as a reward.”

“I’ve never been stingy with resources for those who contribute. If you want something, just work hard.”

“As long as you achieve something great, you don’t even have to ask; you can choose any Devil Fruit you like.”

Raijin spoke calmly, not even caring about the Logia-type fruit.

He let Nara Shikaku choose freely, as long as it suited his family’s abilities and preferences.

Raijin’s actions immediately caused a change in the expressions of the various clan leaders in the room.

Before, when Raijin gave the Akimichi clan a Devil Fruit and the Aburame clan two Devil Fruits, they thought it was just a move to win people over.

Perhaps it was just to entice them, making them work hard, only to find that they could never get a Devil Fruit no matter how hard they tried.

But this time!

It seemed like Raijin was serious.

They never expected him to actually be willing to share his resources.

This ignited their hearts, motivating them to earn Raijin’s favor.

“Bang!”

A woman suddenly slammed the table and stood up with a serious expression.

“If there’s anything, just give the order, Lord Raijin. The Inuzuka clan will be at the forefront!”

“We’ll reserve the Dog-Dog Fruit and will surely obtain it from Lord Raijin.”

Inuzuka Tsume stood up boldly, without the slightest embarrassment.

Her clan had always been close companions to dogs.

The Dog-Dog Fruit was the most suitable fruit for them.

Her daughter didn’t need it now, but her son could use it.

Inuzuka Tsume hadn’t expected Raijin to generously give away Devil Fruits.

Now that she saw so many fruits being offered, she was moved and wanted to show her allegiance to the Uchiha clan.

She was determined to obtain that Dog-Dog Fruit from Raijin.

“Excellent! Enthusiasm is what we need.”

Raijin nodded, satisfied with Inuzuka Tsume’s spirit.

The rest of the meeting involved assigning tasks for the time being.

The Uchiha clan took on most of the responsibilities.

But none of the clans could be left out.

Raijin was already short-handed.

Dressrosa only occupied two islands, one of which was uninhabited.

But there were many places where manpower was needed, and Raijin still lacked people.

In this respect, patience was required; there was no other choice.

After the arrangements were made, the people in the conference room gradually dispersed.

Only a few key people remained: Kakashi and Elder Hishi.

“Kakashi, the East Blue route has been secured. We can now establish an intelligence station there.”

“We’ve already explored four islands in East Blue. We can start infiltrating some countries.”

“If we can control their upper echelons, that’s ideal. If not, replace them with our people. We need to establish a foothold for our ninjas in East Blue.”

After most people had left, Raijin immediately turned his attention to Kakashi.

He was well aware of the importance of having backup plans.

---

Dressrosa is just too dazzling! It’s always under the watchful eyes of everyone.

Reijin needs to figure out a way to give the Uchiha clan a fallback option.

And the East Blue, known as the weakest sea, is the best place for that.

“No problem! I’ll personally select a few people! But, Reijin, my men are already spread too thin.”

“I’ve placed people in every key position, and now I’m struggling to find capable ones.”

“Why don’t you go to Konoha and recruit some more?”

Kakashi said with a shrug.

The number of ninjas is really too few.

Some people are handling two or three positions at once.

Take myself, for example—Kakashi is now so busy every day that he can’t even catch a break.

There are still many talents in Konoha that haven’t been tapped.

As a former member of the Anbu, Kakashi could easily write a list for Reijin.

These names combined could allow Kakashi to organize an Anbu team.

As for loyalty, there’s no doubt—these people would be 100% loyal to Reijin.

Kakashi definitely has the capability to handle this beautifully for Reijin.

“Let’s hold off on that for now. You should look for some trustworthy people in Dressrosa.”

“We can’t just focus on ninjas; we need to train strong individuals from the seas as well.”

Reijin nodded silently, but they’ve only been in the maritime world for about two months.

The first month was spent planning how to take the throne of Dressrosa and then developing the nation.

This past month has been about gathering intelligence on various countries and strengthening the Uchiha clan.

They’ve even been busy bolstering Dressrosa’s power.

So, Reijin hasn’t had a moment of rest from start to finish.

But they’ve only managed to lay the foundation for Dressrosa.

On the surface, it looks unremarkable, but in reality, Dressrosa is building up strength for a powerful future.

“By the way! Elder Hishimoto, I heard the Uchiha clan recently had a newborn, right?”

“Has the newborn been named yet? I want to see the first child born on the sea.”

Reijin looked at Uchiha Hishimoto and asked.

Reijin had been thinking about this child constantly.

He just wanted to see if the child would wear its underwear on the outside.

“Just delivered today, and you already know?”

Uchiha Hishimoto was stunned, surprised that Reijin knew about such a thing.

He wondered if it was because of a lack of trust and if Reijin had planted someone within the Uchiha.

But thinking about how the Uchiha now practically worship Reijin, almost as if he were the Sage of Six Paths, Hishimoto decided not to hide anything.

“It’s a boy, and the name is already given—Uchiha Kaidou. He’s quite extraordinary.”

“He’s just born and already has incredible strength, almost like a little superhero.”

Uchiha Hishimoto quickly told Reijin about the child.

That kid doesn’t seem like a normal human.

Where does a normal human have such terrifying strength?

With such power now, won’t he eventually be as strong as a tailed beast?

“Take me to see him!”

Reijin immediately became interested, surprised that a newborn could cause such a stir.

Who knows what kind of trouble he’ll cause as he grows?

Elder Hishimoto didn’t hesitate and led Reijin to the hospital.

Kakashi, also intrigued, followed along.

He was curious about what kind of child could earn such praise from Elder Hishimoto.

When they arrived at the hospital, Kakashi sharply sensed that the child had a strong life force and powerful limbs, already able to arm-wrestle the nurses.

“Not bad at all. He’ll be able to stand among the strong on the seas in the future, and he might become a powerful force for us.”

Reijin smiled, realizing that this child was already far ahead of others.

According to the information Reijin had read, Kozuki Oden threw his nurse as soon as he was born.

And this boy already has the ticket to becoming a strong person on the sea.

“Hey, are all children on the sea this monstrous?”

Kakashi was so shocked that he could have fit two eggs in his mouth.

Is this even a child?

This is completely a monster in its early stages.

Where does a newborn have such power?

Even the Sage of Six Paths couldn’t reach this level.

“Every child? Do you think everyone is an Uchiha? Every young Uchiha has had countless resources poured into them. Since coming to the sea, the child’s mother has been receiving the best of everything.”

“Every day it’s double the nutrition, so that’s why he’s so healthy. And this is an exception! Maybe one in ten thousand is like this! So don’t get the wrong idea.”

“But, Kakashi, you’re receiving the same treatment, so put in the effort. Maybe your child could be one in ten thousand too.”

Reijin patted Kakashi on the shoulder.

Recently, Kakashi’s complexion has improved a lot.

Maybe it’s because he has a girlfriend now; even those little troubles don’t bother him anymore.

But how long can this good complexion last?

In a little while, Kakashi might be just as busy.

“Yeah, I got it.”

Kakashi nodded, understanding Reijin’s message.

Now that he has a girlfriend, he doesn’t really have any objections to leaving behind an heir for the Hatake clan.

He even feels that if he doesn’t leave an heir, it wouldn’t be right.

If he dies, at least he can answer to his father.

It wouldn’t seem like he’s been struggling since his father passed.

“By the way! Has Borsalino found a woman yet?”

Suddenly, Reijin asked.

It was a key question.

Reijin’s biggest concern was this.

Borsalino is beyond saving, but did he leave behind any heirs?

“It’s too early to tell, Shizune is still observing.”

“But Shizune has been meticulously caring for them, maximizing their chances.”

Kakashi had also asked about this.

After all, they sacrificed Nara Shikaku, so did it pay off?

But the incident happened recently, so Shizune can’t confirm anything yet.

“Once Nara Shikaku recovers, have him handle communications with the various pirate groups and assist with managing the police department.”

“Since Shikaku can’t move around much, I’m worried he might get killed if he goes out. Let him stay in Dressrosa.”

“Mokuton! Wood Human Technique!”

With a shout, a massive wooden figure instantly stood up.

Its huge body was even larger than a warship.

Waves rolled across the sea, the warship swaying back and forth.

And the wooden figure didn’t stop; it took a few steps forward.

With a slight pinch, it crushed the pirate ship in front of it.

The pirates on the ship quickly jumped into the sea to escape.

This scene was projected back to Marine Headquarters!

The three Admirals, Tsuru, Sengoku, the two Admiral candidates, and several Vice Admirals were present.

They all knew Tsunade’s background. After acquiring the Mori Mori no Mi, they were eager to see its effects.

Sure enough, the results were outstanding. They didn’t misjudge Tsunade.

Sengoku smiled and nodded, quickly forgetting about Tsunade extorting a million Berries from him.

Now the Marines have added a new force, and its power is incredibly strong.

She could definitely be one of their trump cards!

But after thinking about it, Sengoku decided not to keep this hidden.

Right now, they have no plans to take action against the pirates on the sea.

These guys have already grown in strength; unless they mobilize a powerful force, they have no other way.

But the cost is too high, and it’s not worth it.

It might even give other pirates an opportunity to take advantage.

The Seven Warlords of the Sea were established to counter the big shots on the sea.

But they haven’t been used yet, and these guys might have ulterior motives.

So before doing anything, Sengoku plans to thoroughly assess the situation.

“Tsunade wasn’t kidding. She’s probably as strong as the three of you now.”

“This fruit has brought out tremendous power in Tsunade!”

Sengoku praised.

The Mori Mori no Mi was a perfect match for Tsunade, allowing her to showcase such great strength. Sengoku was extremely satisfied.

It’s just that, according to rumors, a certain natural energy is lacking, which could further elevate Tsunade’s Wood Release abilities.

But...

Tsunade has no clue, and neither do they. Maybe they should have Dr. Vegapunk study it.

For now, let Tsunade figure it out. But without natural energy...

Tsunade’s strength is still one of the top in the Marines.

“Yes, but Tsunade is part of Dressrosa. Are you really so confident that a Warlord will truly be loyal to the Marines? That seems impossible.”

“Why not eliminate the threat early and avoid future problems, rather than getting stabbed in the back?”

“After all, the people of Dressrosa are far from being as pure and kind as you say.”

“They’re worse than pirates, more despicable than you can imagine.”

At this point, Borsalino spoke in a mocking tone, even clipping his nails during the meeting.

He still couldn’t let go of what Dressrosa had done, and he wanted to punch someone.

Now, Tsunade joining the Marines was like a thorn in Borsalino’s side.

"If he doesn’t give Tsunade and Dressrosa a hard time right now, how can he continue as a Navy Admiral? As for Zephyr!"

"Borsalino was filled with complicated emotions. If it weren’t for the fact that this old guy was his teacher, Borsalino would have already gone to Dressrosa and taken him down."

"After all, this old man was really getting under his skin, using such disgusting tactics."

"Ahem, Borsalino, just let this go," Sengoku said.

"You know what kind of person Zephyr is, don’t you? Do you really think he would harm you?"

"Besides, you didn’t really lose anything. How about I give you an extra five days off? You can go out, have some fun, and relax a bit."

"Sengoku had a helpless expression on his face. He hadn’t expected Borsalino to come back acting like a mad dog, ranting about how dangerous Uchiha Reijin was and what Zephyr had done to him."

"Honestly, Sengoku couldn’t believe that Zephyr could do something like this. The change was so drastic that he barely recognized him."

"If he hadn’t just confirmed it over the phone, he would have thought that Uchiha Reijin was impersonating Zephyr."

"But why? Why would Zephyr do something like this? It all seems so inexplicable."

"Could it be that Zephyr has some hidden agenda?"

"It shouldn’t be, right? After all, Zephyr was a former Admiral."

"Even Garp said that Uchiha Reijin has absolute trust in Zephyr, even taking care of him thoroughly."

"In fact, Zephyr was living more comfortably in Dressrosa than we in the Navy."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, if you trust Zephyr so much, why don’t you go to Dressrosa for a while?"

"If you're willing to go, I’ll forget about my grievances, and I’ll pretend this never happened."

"This time, Borsalino was really fed up and directly snapped back."

"You advise others to let things go; why don’t you try doing it yourself?"

"If you went there once, you’d understand."

"When you return, it wouldn’t matter to me if you wanted me to let it go."

"But if, by then, you decide to wage war against Dressrosa, I’d still have to stop you and help you let it go."

"If I leave, how will the Navy function? I’m extending your leave to fifteen days—do you want it or not, Borsalino?"

"Sengoku frowned, feeling that Borsalino was going too far."

"But this time, Borsalino was the one who suffered; his old friend let him down."

"So Sengoku chose to endure it and gave Kizaru a longer vacation."

"After all, Borsalino had always wanted to slack off."

"I don’t want it! Sengoku, you’ll regret this! I’ll remember this and get my revenge one day."

"And also, don’t ever come to me about anything related to Dressrosa again."

"Borsalino slammed the table and left."

"The Navy is outrageous!"

"Protecting each other at the top!"

"As a Navy Admiral, he felt wronged and couldn’t even get justice."

"Isn’t that absurd?"

(End of chapter)