Grand Line, Alabasta — Rainbase.
This was the desert's only oasis of indulgence, home to its largest casino: Rain Dinners.
Crocodile sat on the leather sofa that symbolized absolute authority. His golden hook scraped across the table, carving deep gouges into the surface.
Behind him stood all of Baroque Works' elite agents.
Mr. 1, Daz Bonez, remained expressionless, though the cold sweat on his forehead betrayed his tension.
Miss Doublefinger wore a flamboyant blue bodysuit, a pipe clenched in her hand—unlit, forgotten.
Miss Valentine's Day, Mr. 5, and the others huddled in a corner, scarcely daring to breathe.
"They're here…"
Crocodile suddenly raised his head, eyes locked onto the tightly shut door.
Though his Observation Haki was far from the monsters of the New World, his predatory instincts screamed at him—
Death was standing right outside.
Boom!
No knock. No warning.
The massive solid-gold door collapsed inward, crushed like scrap metal by an invisible giant hand.
Dust billowed.
From the ruins, a tall, slender figure walked forward at an unhurried pace.
Silver hair. Crimson eyes. A Hokage cloak fluttering lightly.
Uchiha Tobirama stepped into the room, hands in his pockets, Rinnegan gaze sweeping indifferently across everyone present.
"So this is Rain Dinners?"
He let out a soft chuckle, disdain unmistakable.
"What awful taste."
The instant he entered, an overwhelming pressure smothered the room.
The elite agents' knees buckled; some nearly collapsed to the floor on the spot.
This… this pressure—
Crocodile drew a deep breath, forcing down the instinctive tremor in his heart.
He stood, plastered on a respectful smile that looked more like a grimace, and gave a shallow bow.
"To think the legendary Uchiha Emperor would visit in person… Your Majesty, what an honor."
"I am Crocodile—the master of this place."
The proud, arrogant sand crocodile now lowered himself to the dust.
He had no choice.
Akainu's corpse was still plastered across the newspapers. He had no intention of becoming the next headline.
"I was unaware of your arrival, Your Majesty. What brings you here?"
Crocodile spoke carefully, every word measured.
"If you need money or supplies, just say the word. Baroque Works will do everything in its power to satisfy you."
He was gambling.
Betting that this monster was merely passing through—or that he wanted something.
He would gladly go bankrupt if it meant sending this calamity away.
Tobirama regarded the Warlord before him, noting his unusually submissive posture.
His brow lifted slightly.
"Oh?"
"Your attitude's better than that magma bastard's."
He walked over and sat down as if the sofa were his own throne.
"A smile goes a long way."
"Since you're being sensible, I won't kill you outright."
Crocodile's heart leapt, the tension in his shoulders easing ever so slightly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty! It's my honor to serve—"
"Don't thank me yet."
Tobirama waved him off, cutting him short.
Leaning back, his gaze openly swept across the women standing behind Crocodile.
Miss Doublefinger's mature, alluring figure.
Miss Valentine's Day's youthful, energetic outfit.
Even Miss Goldenweek, still a young girl, did not escape his glance.
"I won't kill you," Tobirama said calmly. "But there are conditions."
He raised two fingers.
"First."
He pointed toward the women.
"My ship lacks a few maids for odd jobs. And a clown to liven things up."
"I want all of them."
"Regardless of age."
"Have them pack immediately and come with me."
Silence fell like a guillotine.
Miss Doublefinger's pipe clattered to the floor.
Miss Valentine's Day covered her mouth in shock.
Crocodile's smile froze solid.
This wasn't just taking people—this was ripping out the foundation of Baroque Works.
But he clenched his teeth and endured it.
"Of course… a beauty serving a hero is only fitting. It's their honor."
As long as the Pluton plan survived, women were expendable.
"Good."
Tobirama nodded, satisfied, then raised his second finger.
"Second."
His gaze locked onto Crocodile, turning glacial.
"Take the rest of your useless subordinates and get out of Alabasta."
"I've taken a liking to this country."
"The royal family here has people I need. I'll protect them."
"From now on, this land belongs to the Uchiha Empire."
"I don't want to see a crocodile playing in the sand in my backyard."
Boom!!
That sentence shattered Crocodile's last line of restraint.
Leave Alabasta?
This wasn't exile—it was erasing every scheme he'd spent years building.
His dream.
Pluton.
His ambition to dominate the world.
All of it—gone with a single sentence?
"You…"
Crocodile's forced smile vanished, replaced by raw fury.
Sand spiraled violently beneath his feet as his golden hook trembled.
"Uchiha Tobirama!!"
"Don't push your luck!"
He slammed his hand down.
The marble table instantly disintegrated into sand.
"I show you respect because you're strong!"
"But you want my people—and you want me out?"
"Who do you think you are?!"
"This is Alabasta! A desert!"
"Here, wherever there's sand—I am invincible!!"
The humiliation of his defeat in the New World, mixed with Tobirama's utter disregard, finally drove him over the edge.
He refused to believe it.
In a Logia's home terrain, he could challenge even an Emperor!
Could Tobirama really destroy the entire desert?
"Oh?"
Tobirama looked at him calmly, mockery deepening.
"So the fangs finally show."
"I thought you'd stay a coward."
He rose slowly.
That lazy composure vanished, replaced by overwhelming dominance.
"Negotiation is pointless."
"Since you won't leave with dignity…"
Tobirama raised his right hand and grasped the void.
Amenotejikara!
Swish—swish—swish!
There was no time to react.
Miss Doublefinger.
Miss Valentine's Day.
Miss Goldenweek.
The women vanished instantly from their spots.
The next moment, they appeared behind Tobirama.
Invisible spatial restraints bound them in place, leaving them wide-eyed with terror.
"I'll take the people," Tobirama said lightly, clapping his hands as if brushing off dust.
This was no mere insult—
It was utter humiliation.
"You bastard!!!"
Crocodile completely lost control.
Snatched right in front of him.
Trampled without a shred of respect.
"Die!!"
Boom!
His body exploded into sand.
The floor, walls, and ceiling transformed into raging yellow torrents in an instant.
"Desert Spada!!"
Crocodile roared, his arm becoming a colossal blade of sand that crashed down with earth-splitting force!
There was nowhere to dodge in this confined space.
"Turn into a dried-up corpse!!!"
Faced with the attack, Tobirama didn't move.
He didn't even bother to dodge.
He merely looked at the descending sand blade, lips curling into a contemptuous smile.
"Playing with sand?"
"You're not even on Gaara's level."
"Let alone mine."