In the pirate world, strength reigns supreme.
For most pirates, bowing to a stronger man isn't shameful—it's simply natural.
The Whitebeard Pirates' great fleet, for example, boasted forty to fifty subordinate crews.
The same with the Straw Hat Pirates' grand fleet in the original story.
Or the many infamous pirates who followed Big Mom.
Looking at the fervent expressions of the prisoners, Naruto rubbed his chin. He began to think his earlier decision had been a little too rigid.
For these pirates, there was no need to put a Caged Bird-style seal on every single one of them.
Just like those few…
Naruto's eyes shifted toward the deepest part of Infinite Hell, where a silent, imposing man sat.
"Douglas Bullet… crew member of the Pirate King Roger…" Naruto murmured.
Douglas Bullet, known as the Demon Heir, heir to the title of "Monster," was once a member of the Roger Pirates.
A man of overwhelming strength—even Roger's comrades called him a monster.
After Gol D. Roger's execution, Bullet turned the seas upside down before finally being imprisoned in Impel Down's LEVEL 6.
Naruto turned his gaze deeper still, to where a man resembling a vampiric duke was held—
Baroric Redfield!
Also known as "Red the Aloof" and the Crimson Earl, a man so powerful he could stand shoulder to shoulder with Roger and the Whitebeard Pirates alone.
And beyond him—Bundy World!
Called the World Destroyer, known for obliterating everything he encountered.
For proud men like these, submitting to another was harder than dying.
In the end, Naruto freed only some of the prisoners—and placed seals on them.
"Captain, what's next? Are we heading to the New World to carve out our territory?" one of the newly freed pirates asked eagerly.
"No." Naruto shook his head.
"First we're going to pay Marine Headquarters a visit. Make a name for ourselves—then we'll take territory in the New World."
"Marine Headquarters!?"
Even among the big-name pirates present, many drew a sharp breath.
No one had ever seriously considered taking on Marine HQ—that was the strongest force on the seas.
"What, are you scared?"
Naruto's sharp gaze swept over them, rekindling their fervor.
"How could we fear those Marine trash? We follow the Demon Child himself!"
"That's right! The boss killed Celestial Dragons and even invaded the Holy Land—what's Marine HQ compared to that?"
"Our boss is destined to be Pirate King!"
"Let's give those Marines a real show!"
Their cheers filled the prison.
Naruto's mouth twitched slightly—he couldn't help thinking of Buggy in the original story.
At least he was truly strong. Even if these pirates betrayed him, he could crush them all single-handedly.
Turning away, Naruto's gaze fell on another cell—one holding many familiar faces.
Zoro, Sanji, Usopp… members of the Straw Hat crew. Somehow, they'd been imprisoned here.
"Let them out too," Naruto told Guren, pointing.
Guren nodded, slipping a crystal key into the lock. Zoro and the others stepped out, joy in their eyes.
"And those over there as well." Naruto pointed to the truly terrifying monsters deeper inside.
"…Hn?"
For the first time, Bullet stirred, surprise on his face.
"Blond brat… you're letting me out?"
He could see Naruto's strategy—not freeing everyone, but choosing only those he could use.
But Bullet wasn't the type to serve another.
Naruto said calmly,
"You were a Roger Pirate. This time, the Marines are moving against Roger's son."
Bullet's pupils contracted.
"Captain Roger… he had a child?"
"Yeah," Naruto nodded. "Rayleigh's already become his first mate again. I think you'll be interested."
"Ha… hahahaha!!" Bullet laughed uproariously.
Removing his shackles, he strode out.
"Interesting! If Rayleigh's back out at sea, I'll be paying an old friend a visit."
Next came Baroric Redfield and Bundy World.
Neither had any intention of following Naruto, and he didn't mind. He'd freed them because they weren't truly evil.
"Well then… let's get out of here."
Naruto had the freed pirates head up first. He himself looked coldly around at the cells still full of inmates.
Then—flames roared to life in his hands.
"…Huh?"
Bullet and the others froze.
"No way…" Bullet muttered, staring at the blond youth with a strange look.
"You're really gonna go that far?"
In a flash, he leapt up into Level 5's Extreme Cold Hell, the other pirates following by various means.
Looking down from above, they saw it—an ashen inferno.
Flames engulfed the prisoners below, their screams echoing upward.
Those still locked in cells had no chance to flee, left to writhe and wail in the blaze.
"This…"
Sweat rolled down Bullet's temple as he swallowed hard.
"He… just killed them all?"
Even these hardened pirates were shaken.
Every single prisoner in Infinite Hell was a legendary name on the seas. Even captured, they had not been executed.
Yet this young man—who could command them—had instead set the entire level ablaze without mercy.
A demon born of fire… even more ruthless than the Marines themselves.
Dai Enkai: Entei!!!
The sea of flames blazed higher, the temperature soaring—spreading even into the Extreme Cold Hell above.
Just as the screams began to fade, figures rushed toward the gap between levels.
Through the opening, the leader caught sight of the inferno below. His face changed drastically as he shouted:
"Demon Child! Stop! There are still comrades of mine down there—spare them!"
In the firelight, Naruto's figure turned toward the speaker—a fat, dark-skinned man.
"Blackbeard Teach…!?"
(End of Chapter)
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