Kusagakure Village didn't have any exceptionally strong ninjas. Even the village chief, Moriyama Yu, was just an average jounin at best. The strongest ninja in the village was a man named Sanji, a jounin of comparable strength to Moriyama Yu.
When Orochimaru first arrived in Kusagakure, they mistook him for a spy and surrounded him. A fight broke out, but most of his attackers were just chunin. Orochimaru swiftly dealt with them and then had to face Sanji himself.
Sanji was in...
2024-10-06 09:44:21 +0000 UTC
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As an adult soul in a teenager's body, Orochimaru's actions and mannerisms naturally mirrored the cold, calculating figure he would one day become.
Hearing the thinly veiled threat in Orochimaru's voice, the village chief, Moriyama Yu, quickly raised his hand, signaling his subordinate to step back. The Grass ninja hesitated but followed orders. Despite not understanding why his leader was so deferential toward this young man, as a ninja, he knew better than to question orders. Though ...
2024-10-06 09:43:45 +0000 UTC
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Kusagakure wasn't far from the daimyo's mansion in the Land of Grass.
Considering the size of the Land of Fire, it only took about a day to walk from Konoha to its capital. For a ninja running at full speed, that journey would be reduced to just a few hours. The distance from the daimyo's mansion in the Land of Grass to Hidden Grass Village was even shorter barely a half-hour run at ninja pace.
However, Orochimaru wasn't in a rush this time, so he decided to take his time, wal...
2024-10-06 09:42:56 +0000 UTC
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"Um, could you wait just a little longer?"
Haruno lowered her phone, glancing nervously at the tense faces of the Shinomiya family and Geto. She couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated after all, her family, the Yukinoshitas, were small players compared to the massive influence of the Shinomiya group.
"Of course, I'm quite curious about this sorcerer you've called," Geto replied with a smile, showing no signs of impatience.
"Tsk!" came the irritated sound from the twin ...
2024-10-06 09:42:07 +0000 UTC
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Fumino and Haruno were greeted with an ominous quietness as they approached the Shinomiya Group's manor. The massive estate, typically well-guarded, had no one at its gates. The door stood ajar, a troubling sight for a family as powerful as the Shinomiyas.
"Something feels off," Haruno murmured, casting a wary glance at the imposing structure before them.
Her mother, usually composed, seemed equally unsettled. Still, they had come this far. Turning back wasn't an option. "Let's ...
2024-10-06 09:41:21 +0000 UTC
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The day after Gao Shen arrived in Madrid, Butragueño brought him good news.
Real Madrid had agreed to the transfers of Callejon and Parejo, with the fees set at 1.5 million euros each. However, they required a buyback clause, just as Gao Shen had suggested: Real Madrid would have the option to buy back the players at market price, with priority given to them if they wished to do so.
Upon hearing the news, Gao Shen immediately contacted Marino and instructed him to finalize the ...
2024-10-06 09:40:36 +0000 UTC
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De la Red, Juan Mata, and Arbeloa were all players Gao Shen desperately wanted for his team.
De la Red, Gao Shen was most familiar with versatile, strong both offensively and defensively, and undeniably talented. As for Juan Mata, Gao Shen was eyeing him as the team's future attacking midfielder. Hamsik was already good, but Mata brought more technique and creativity to the table.
In the 4-2-3-1 formation Gao Shen favored, the attacking midfielder needed to have exceptional abil...
2024-10-06 09:40:03 +0000 UTC
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Not far from Cornillo Island, a massive ship hovered high in the sky one that would make any experienced pirate or Marine tremble in recognition. If anyone saw the distinctive flag it flew, they'd immediately exclaim, "Golden Lion!!"
Yes, this airship was none other than the flagship of Golden Lion Shiki's infamous fleet. Over the past few years, Shiki had become one of the most notorious pirates, his reputation soaring to unparalleled heights.
"Captain—no, Admiral! We've crac...
2024-10-06 09:37:58 +0000 UTC
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Nia stepped out to complete her tasks, while Crocodile sat huddled in the corner, his expression vacant, clearly trying to process what was happening. Meanwhile, Claudius and Admiral Sengoku continued their conversation in high spirits, almost as if nothing out of the ordinary was taking place.
Before long, Sengoku received a report from Kuzan: John's submarine had been apprehended, and Kizaru and Sakazuki were on their way to support the operation. At that moment, Sengoku felt a wave ...
2024-10-06 09:37:13 +0000 UTC
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Inside the hot spring hotel, Admiral Sengoku sat facing Claudius and his entourage, clearly a bit on edge. It wasn't every day that a situation like this cropped up, and he was visibly unsettled by the implications.
"Saint Claudius, my deepest apologies. The Navy had no idea you were vacationing on this island. The Buster Call was... purely a tactical decision," Sengoku began, his voice carrying a slight tremor. He knew what was at stake here. On the surface, it was about wiping out th...
2024-10-06 09:36:30 +0000 UTC
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Nia stood there, completely dumbfounded. Just a moment ago, everyone had agreed to stay put, wait for the Marines to land, reveal their identity, and then make a quick exit. And now, in the blink of an eye, His Highness had enthusiastically transformed into wind and vanished?
At that moment, Stussy spoke up, trying to calm Nia. "Don't worry. His Highness isn't weak. He probably sensed something interesting. He won't do anything too dangerous. Let's just wait for the Marines here."
<...
2024-10-06 09:35:56 +0000 UTC
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At this time, Crocodile was far from becoming the ruthless "Desert King" that the world would come to fear. He had only recently set out to sea, and somehow, he'd gotten his hands on the Logia-type Sand-Sand Fruit. Captain John, recognizing the potential in him, had taken Crocodile under his wing, grooming him to be a future right-hand man.
Captain John wasn't wrong in his judgment Crocodile had immense potential. A Logia-type Devil Fruit user, especially in a crew full of seasoned pir...
2024-10-06 09:34:56 +0000 UTC
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In the waters near Cornillo Island in the New World, a massive Marine fleet was gathered. Sengoku, the Marine Admiral, stood on the deck of a colossal warship, his expression unreadable as he seemed to be waiting for news.
Behind him stood Borsalino, the future "biggest slacker" in the Marines, though now a Marine Vice Admiral. Since Dragon left, Borsalino had become a top candidate for the position of Admiral. Despite his incredible potential, his lazy and indifferent attitude was a ...
2024-10-06 09:33:54 +0000 UTC
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At the Holy Land Mariejois, on the top floor of the World Government headquarters, the Five Elders were gathered, discussing pressing matters.
The Five Elders were the true power behind the World Government. Above them was a figure known only as "Imu," an enigmatic individual whose existence even most of the Celestial Dragons were unaware of. Imu rarely intervened, only appearing when it was necessary to "extinguish" certain threats, to erase individuals or ideas deemed too dangerous. ...
2024-10-06 09:33:19 +0000 UTC
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Just moments ago, Dragon had solemnly declared he would devote his life to overthrowing the Celestial Dragons, only to find out his 'best friend' was one of them? Did he just spill the beans to the worst possible person?
If Claudius went back now and asked CP-0 to do a thorough investigation, the fledgling Revolutionary Army would be squashed before it even had a chance to grow.
Dragon's mind was in chaos. He realized that if he didn't eliminate Claudius right here, the secret w...
2024-10-06 09:32:24 +0000 UTC
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In a hot spring hotel on Cornillo Island, Claudius and Dragon were soaking in the hot spring, steam rising around them as they relaxed.
Claudius had a feeling Dragon was planning something big, so to avoid unwanted attention, he had instructed his butler Nia to book the entire hotel for them. With no one else around, they could speak freely without fear of being overheard.
Dragon leaned back in the hot water, his expression much more relaxed than before. With a sigh of relief, ...
2024-10-06 09:31:34 +0000 UTC
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"So… what if I said I wanted to take revenge on Mariejois?"
Doflamingo's voice came hesitantly through the phone. He paused for a moment, as if waiting for Claudius's response, but before Claudius could answer, he quickly added, "Of course, not revenge on you, cousin. I know you've always treated me well. If it weren't for your support over the years, I probably wouldn't have made it this far. And if my father hadn't stubbornly refused your kindness, we wouldn't have ended up living...
2024-10-06 09:30:36 +0000 UTC
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Sea Circle Calendar, mid-1496. It had been five years since the Doflamingo Homing family caused a stir by trying to return to Mariejois.
According to the original course of events, by 1493, Doflamingo would have grown tired of watching his father, Homing, continuously fail, blaming him entirely for their family's downfall. In his frustration, Doflamingo would have killed his father in North Blue, severed his head, and brought it back to Mariejois, hoping this act would allow him to rec...
2024-10-06 09:29:33 +0000 UTC
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Claudius turned around and prepared to leave, deciding it was best to distance himself from the scene before things got worse. His group quickly followed him, while Rothschild, now left alone and leaderless, stood looking lost and confused.
His "servants" were all knocked out cold from the earlier events. After seeing what had transpired, he finally understood there were people in this world who didn't care about his status as a Celestial Dragon. Fear crept into his heart. Realizing he...
2024-10-06 09:28:39 +0000 UTC
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After Rayleigh's attack was blocked, he didn't make another move. Instead, he looked up at Claudius and his group on the hill, his expression a mixture of confusion and surprise. He couldn't quite understand why Claudius had stepped in to stop him.
Wasn't this the same guy who slapped another Celestial Dragon earlier? By all logic, there shouldn't be any good blood between the two, so why defend him now?
"You're the guy from the auction house, aren't you? Crowe, right? What's go...
2024-10-06 09:27:08 +0000 UTC
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With Rayleigh the handsome, troublemaker out of the picture, no one else dared to challenge Claudius for the Demon Blade Shindō. Why, you ask? Well, it was simple: no one in their right mind would dare.
The fact that Claudius managed to win a renowned sword ranked among the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords at a minor auction like this was already a pleasant surprise. After all, the swords in this category were coveted treasures, weapons that could only be wielded by true masters of the b...
2024-10-06 09:26:16 +0000 UTC
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Claudius wasn't the only one who recognized Rayleigh. If the legendary swordsman hadn't spoken up, sitting quietly in the last row, it was likely no one would have noticed him at all. But as soon as Rayleigh placed his bid against a Celestial Dragon, he attracted the attention of everyone present.
Rayleigh wasn't just some random nobody; he was the vice-captain of the Roger Pirates.
Years ago, his name might not have been as widely known, but after the Battle of the Valley of th...
2024-10-06 09:25:36 +0000 UTC
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After stepping into the lawless zone, Claudius could feel the chaotic energy that permeated the area. However, with Stussy accompanying him and a few discreet guards trailing behind, no one dared to provoke him.
Truth be told, the chaos in the lawless zone rarely affected those who appeared to be well-off or of noble descent, like Claudius. Most of the violence and crime targeted people who were destitute and alone those whose deaths would go unnoticed.
People like Claudius, who...
2024-10-06 09:24:44 +0000 UTC
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After Dragon left, Claudius didn't bother staying at the Marine hospital. He wasn't a Marine, so there was no need for any formal discharge procedures. Once he packed up his belongings, he left Naval Headquarters, Marineford.
Before he departed, he had one last meeting with Admiral Zephyr. What surprised him, however, was the unexpected appearance of Marine's so-called "Flower of Gion," who showed up at the port just to see him off.
The reason? Claudius had managed to defeat her...
2024-10-06 09:23:52 +0000 UTC
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Claudius ended up staying at Naval Headquarters for seven days, though six and a half of those were spent in the hospital. By the third day, Gion, the beautiful Commodore who had been injured alongside him, was discharged. She was growing impatient in the high-end ward.
There were three people sharing the ward Claudius, Dragon, and Gion—but Gion felt out of place, like an outsider. Claudius and Dragon seemed to hit it off immediately, spending most of their time deep in conversation ...
2024-10-06 09:23:07 +0000 UTC
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Dragon raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Claudius's response. Could this really be an original work? The thought surprised him. The few lines he had overheard earlier carried ideas that seemed radical, even rebellious ideas that would be considered dangerous by the World Government. The fact that this text wasn't widely available made it even more compelling.
Dragon couldn't help but wonder how Claudius had gotten his hands on such a book. It was certainly the kind of work that might be ...
2024-10-06 09:22:15 +0000 UTC
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On the top floor of Marineford's Naval Headquarters Hospital, in the most advanced ward equipped with the best medical technology, Claudius lay on a hospital bed in a patient gown, looking relaxed. It would be hard to believe that just a few hours ago, he had been fiercely battling Gion in a high-stakes training match, narrowly winning with a risky, self-sacrificing move.
The aftermath of that fight had nearly given several bystanders a heart attack especially those aware of Claudius's...
2024-10-06 09:20:30 +0000 UTC
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"He's fast!" Gion thought, eyes widening in surprise as she watched Claudius' movements. His speed had more than doubled from earlier, catching her off guard. At that moment, Gion was fully convinced that Claudius had finally gotten serious.
In the blink of an eye, Claudius closed the distance between them, throwing a powerful straight punch aimed at Gion's chest. Reacting quickly, Gion stepped back to avoid the hit, thinking she'd successfully evaded the attack. But just as she prepar...
2024-10-06 09:19:10 +0000 UTC
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Momonga was straightforward and honest in his defeat. His words left a good impression on Claudius, who nodded and said, "Alright, then I'll gladly accept the victory."
At the same time, Zephyr smiled and added, "Yes, in battle, no one would question the validity of such a win. It's just that Momonga was too careless, and that's what led to his loss."
Momonga nodded regretfully and stepped back. However, Claudius wasn't quite satisfied yet. He stood in the arena, giving a meanin...
2024-10-06 09:18:13 +0000 UTC
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Claudius and Zephyr chatted casually as they made their way deeper into Naval Headquarters. There wasn't a grand welcoming committee or any big names showing up to greet them, given that Claudius wanted to keep his identity under wraps. After all, if a Celestial Dragon suddenly appeared for "internal discussions" with the CP agency, it would be odd not to have the admirals or even the higher-ups like Sengoku and Kong in attendance. That would raise too many questions.
Though they didn'...
2024-10-06 09:17:22 +0000 UTC
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