The wind howled. Thunder rolled through the dark clouds, as if the heavens themselves were about to be torn apart.
"Go save him!!"
"Mr. Dragon, give the order! Vice Admiral Garp is your father!"
"No matter how strong that Uchiha is, the Revolutionary Army isn't made of cowards!"
"Fight him! Drive that bastard pirate emperor out of the Grand Line!"
Bello Betty, Ivankov, and the others were filled with righteous fury, their eyes burning.
The capture of a naval hero wasn't just a personal matter—it was a blatant trampling of the order of the seas.
They could not tolerate the arrogance of that man named Uchiha Tobirama.
"SHUT UP!!!"
A thunderous roar drowned out every other sound.
Boom—
A violent hurricane erupted outward from Dragon, blasting Betty and the others dozens of meters away. The ground split apart, loose stones floating into the air.
Dragon stood at the eye of the storm, his dark green cloak snapping violently. The red square tattoo on his face looked grim and terrifying, while a chaotic red light flickered in his eyes—as if he were enduring an agonizing internal struggle.
Everyone stared at their leader in shock.
They had never seen Dragon lose control like this.
Dragon took a deep breath. His eyes closed, fists clenched so tightly that blood seeped from between his fingers.
A long time passed.
Finally, he opened his eyes.
The violent killing intent and rage were forcibly suppressed, replaced by a heart-wrenching calm and icy rationality.
"I'm not going."
Dragon's voice was hoarse, every word seeming to tear its way out of his throat.
"We… we won't go to rescue him."
"What?!"
Ivankov stared in disbelief, his expression filled with shock.
"Dragon! What nonsense are you talking about?! That's your father!"
"Precisely because he's my father…"
Dragon turned his back to the crowd, unwilling to let anyone see his expression.
"…I understand even more clearly just how terrifying a man who can defeat my father, kill Akainu, and wipe out a Buster Call truly is."
He raised his head, gazing at the gloomy sky, his voice heavy as a mountain.
"The Revolutionary Army is still too weak."
"We may look like we've ignited sparks across the world, but in front of a monster capable of destroying the world, we don't even qualify to stand in his path."
"If the entire army launches an attack…"
"There is only one outcome."
"Total annihilation."
Dragon suddenly turned around, his sharp gaze sweeping across every officer present.
"What are our ideals?"
"To overthrow the World Government!"
"To liberate all of humanity!"
"To end oppression and enslavement in this world!"
"If we bury the revolutionary flame we've built over twenty years—for the sake of saving one person, for my personal vendetta—at the hands of that Uchiha…"
"Then what about the future of this world?"
"What about the slaves still waiting for us to save them?"
"Compared to my father's life…"
"The hope of this world is more important."
His words struck like hammers.
The banner in Betty's hand drooped.
Ivankov fell silent.
Sabo clutched his head, dropped to his knees, and let out a painful cry.
They understood.
They all did.
What a cruel choice this was.
Sacrificing one's own family for the greater good—this pain was far worse than death.
"Mr. Dragon…"
Karasu lowered his head, his voice trembling.
"You… you are truly great."
The surrounding soldiers of the Revolutionary Army looked at the solitary figure standing in the storm with eyes full of reverence—and sorrow.
This was their leader.
A man willing to give up everything for the world.
Yet no one saw the single tear slip from the corner of Dragon's eye, instantly torn away by the raging wind.
Great?
No.
This was not greatness.
This was the helplessness of a son.
Dragon's heart was bleeding.
More than anyone, he wanted to rush forward and tear Uchiha Tobirama apart with his own hands.
But he couldn't drag everyone into certain death.
"Old man… I'm sorry."
"Just as you made countless sacrifices for justice back then, I'm now unable to save you because of the revolution."
"But…"
"As the leader, I cannot give the order to attack."
"But as a son…"
"I'll go by myself."
Even if it meant death.
Even if it meant being a moth drawn to a flame.
"I want to see you."
"If you can't be saved…"
"Then we'll die together under that Uchiha's blade."
This was Dragon's final resolve.
---
At the same time.
The first half of the Grand Line—Alabasta, the desert kingdom.
Sand. Scorching sun. Ancient ruins.
Heatwaves twisted the air.
"It's so hot! What kind of place is this?!"
Hancock held a parasol, fanning herself, sweat glistening on her skin. Her cheongsam clung tightly to her body, making her even more alluring—but her mood was clearly foul.
"Sir! Why did we come to this sandpit? There's not even water!"
"Exactly!"
Nami stuck out her tongue, holding an ice pop specially made by Karumen.
"My skin's going to get tanned! I heard the king here is useless, and rebel forces are everywhere…"
"Quiet."
Tobirama walked at the front.
Despite the blistering heat, he wore his Hokage cloak neatly, without a single drop of sweat. Within ten meters of him, the air was cool—as if an invisible air conditioner were running.
Ice Release chakra naturally overflowed around him.
"There's something here that interests me."
His gaze fixed on Rainbase, the oasis city in the distance.
"Clues to the Ancient Weapon—Pluton."
"And a piece of historical text."
"Most importantly…"
A playful smile curved his lips.
"There's an ambitious sand crocodile here."
"I hear he's planning to steal a country."
Tobirama, familiar with the course of events, knew it well.
Crocodile—celebrated as a national hero—was secretly manipulating Baroque Works, plotting civil war to seize Pluton.
Shrewd plans.
Unfortunately for him—
He ran into me.
"You all."
Tobirama stopped and casually tossed a black card to Nami.
"Go shop at the market. Buy some local specialties."
"Karumen, look for desert ingredients."
"I'll go play a few rounds at the biggest casino."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The women cheered happily, immediately scattering.
Even Hancock brightened. "I'm buying the best sunscreen! And some desert outfits for you!"
Watching them leave, Tobirama flashed into a streak of silver light, heading straight for the massive pyramid-shaped casino—Rain Dinners.
---
Rainbase — Underground of Rain Dinners Casino.
Dimly lit. Candles flickered.
A man with slicked-back hair, a scar across his face, a fur coat, and a golden hook sat on a sofa, swirling red wine, cigar in his mouth.
Crocodile.
One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
He was in an excellent mood.
"Hmph… Operation Utopia is proceeding perfectly."
"That fool King Cobra still thinks I'm his hero."
"In a few more years, this desert will be mine."
"And Pluton will be mine too."
Bang!
The door was kicked open.
Mr. 3 stumbled in, candle-shaped glasses crooked, his face white with terror.
"Boss—!"
"Something terrible has happened!"
Crocodile frowned.
"Mr. 3, what's with the panic?"
"Has the sky fallen? Or did a Yonko show up?"
"N-no… worse than a Yonko!"
Mr. 3 trembled, pulling out freshly received intelligence.
"It's… it's him!"
"That silver-haired, red-eyed monster! One trillion Berries bounty!"
"He killed Akainu! Wiped out the entire Buster Call!"
"The Uchiha Emperor!"
"What?!"
Click!
The wine glass shattered in Crocodile's hand.
He stood up abruptly, shock—and fear—filling his eyes.
"Uchiha Tobirama?! That monster?!"
"It's true!" Mr. 3 wailed.
"Our men saw him at the city gate! With several beautiful women! Exactly like the newspapers!"
"He's heading toward Rainbase right now!"
Boom—
Crocodile's mind went blank.
Arrogant as he was, he wasn't stupid.
If Akainu could be crushed to death, what was a mere Warlord?
"Damn it… damn it… damn it!!"
Sand spilled uncontrollably from his body as he paced.
"Why would that god of death come to this place?!"
"It's unlikely he's also after Pluton…"
"Boss… what do we do?" Mr. 3 trembled. "Should we… run?"
"Run?"
Crocodile gritted his teeth, madness flashing in his eyes.
This was the desert.
His territory.
After all these years… was he really going to hand it over just like that?
"No. Don't panic."
"If he came to the casino, he might not be here for me."
Crocodile forced himself to calm down, straightening his coat.
"Mr. 1! Miss Doublefinger! Assemble everyone!"
"No matter who he is…"
"This is my turf!"
"As long as he's a Devil Fruit user…"
"In this desert… I might still have a chance."
The gambler's madness burned in the sand crocodile's eyes.
He was betting everything—
That Uchiha Tobirama would underestimate him.
--------------Author---------------
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