Thanks to the Eternal Pose pointing to Totto Land, Naruto didn't need to stop at other islands to replenish his Log Pose's magnetism.
He steered the Gale Breaker straight toward the heart of Totto Land… Whole Cake Island.
Meanwhile, after failing to find Naruto on Fish-Man Island, the Marines knew he had escaped. Unfortunately, his departure had been too stealthy, leaving them temporarily clueless about which direction to pursue.
It wasn't until two days later that the World Government's intelligence agents reported sightings of Naruto. Based on the islands where he had appeared and their locations along the sea routes, Vice Admiral Tsuru easily deduced his destination: the stronghold of one of the Four Emperors, the Big Mom Pirates.
This left the Marines in a dilemma.
Should they pursue?
What if it triggered a war between one of the Four Emperors and the Marines?
The officers on the ship had differing opinions.
Garp abstained, as he simply didn't care. While he wasn't afraid of Charlotte Linlin or her crew, that didn't mean he was eager to fight Naruto.
Despite their opposing sides, Garp honestly didn't see anything wrong with what Naruto had done. Freeing slaves and killing Celestial Dragons… both were things Garp, as a Marine, had wanted to do but couldn't. The fact that he hadn't applauded Naruto's actions was already professional courtesy.
If forced to criticize Naruto, Garp would say he shouldn't have been so reckless. Couldn't he have gone at night? Or at least disguised himself?
Garp knew full well the kid had an ability to transform into a beautiful woman. Of course, he hadn't shared this intel with anyone, so as far as he knew, he was the only one aware of it.
Vice Admiral Tsuru, with her steady and cautious approach, wasn't in favor of making such a bold move.
On the other hand, while Vice Admiral Gion fully obeyed Tsuru's orders, her personal style was far more aggressive.
She believed they should arrest Naruto as quickly as possible… if they could intercept him before he ventured too deep into Totto Land, there'd be no issue.
Borsalino, like Garp, also abstained. He was just a dutiful employee, following orders. Whether it was the World Government or the Fleet Admiral commanding him, he'd go if told to and turn back immediately if not.
Unfortunately, the decision-making power didn't lie with Tsuru.
After confirming that Naruto was no longer on Fish-Man Island, the World Government immediately ordered his pursuit… full force, no hesitation, no regard for consequences, dead or alive. Their stance was uncompromising.
Well, with orders from above, no matter how many concerns Tsuru had, she couldn't voice them.
And so, the warship carrying an Admiral, an Admiral Candidate, and two of the Navy's legendary heroes set sail toward Big Mom's territory.
Meanwhile, in Dressrosa...
"Doffy, what do you think? Should we go?"
Holding the invitation in his hand, Trebol sought his young master's opinion.
As the infamous underworld broker, [Joker], Donquixote Doflamingo had his hands in many shady dealings… slaves, Devil Fruits, weapons, and more.
Lately, however, he had been gradually phasing out the slave trade. Not out of any moral awakening, but because he realized it was slow, high-risk, and far less profitable than selling weapons.
Currently, Kaido dominated Wano Country, mass-producing weapons that were then shipped worldwide through Dressrosa… even reaching the Marines and the World Government.
The profits skimmed from these deals alone were enough to keep him swimming in wealth, making the slave trade seem insignificant in comparison.
Even if the Sabaody Archipelago slave auction house hadn't been destroyed in the battle between Naruto and Sakazuki, Doflamingo would've abandoned it soon enough.
Just as he was looking forward to deepening his collaboration with Kaido, Big Mom somehow found out that he had taken in a scientist who had researched Lineage Factor… Caesar Clown, an expert who had once worked alongside the genius Dr. Vegapunk and later joined the World Government's science division.
If not for the lab accident that led to Caesar's arrest, Doflamingo wouldn't have had any way to recruit him.
Now, he and Kaido were collaborating on artificial Devil Fruit and human gigantification research using Caesar's expertise.
'But how did Big Mom find out?'
'Did Kaido leak the information?'
Though slightly annoyed at Kaido, Doflamingo knew better than to challenge him… he wasn't in a position to oppose the Emperor.
His ability to maneuver between the Beasts Pirates and the World Government relied on more than just his revoked Celestial Dragon's status.
"I'll go. I'll go myself."
Doflamingo rejected his subordinates' suggestion to send representatives in his place. He knew all too well that when dealing with powerhouses like Big Mom and Kaido, lacking the necessary presence could mean not even being able to speak properly.
Besides, the subject of the discussion involved his own life and fortune… this was something he had to handle personally.
Just then, the rapid clicking of high heels echoed from outside the door.
The door swung open, and a blond boy in ultra-short shorts and a bull-horned hat rushed in.
He was one of the Donquixote Pirates' executives, the half-Fish-man, Dellinger.
"Young Master! Look at this news!"
With that, he spread out a newspaper in front of Doflamingo.
The moment Doflamingo saw the contents, his beady eyes behind his sunglasses widened in shock.
"—He actually attacked Mary Geoise?! Hahahaha! This guy… is even crazier than me! Uzumaki Naruto!"
He burst into loud laughter, slapping the armrest of his chair repeatedly, as if thoroughly approving of Naruto's actions.
"Interesting! I really want to meet this guy!"
When it came to dealing with Celestial Dragons, Doflamingo felt he and Naruto might have some common ground.
"Change course! Head for the New World!"
"Yes, sir!"
…
Meanwhile, aboard the Perfume Yuda, the [Pirate Empress] Boa Hancock once again issued a course correction to her crew.
The ship quickly turned under the pull of its two giant sea serpents, accelerating toward a new direction.
Though this was already the third course change, the crew harbored no complaints… their devotion to Hancock was absolute.
…Except for her two younger sisters.
"Sister, are you really going there?"
"What if the World Government questions you about it?"
The two sisters pleaded with their older sister, not just because they knew this 'husband hunting' would likely end in failure once again, but also because Naruto's actions this time were too extreme.
If she kept chasing after him, she might drag Amazon Lily into the conflict.
"Have you not read the news?! That man… Naruto… he's done something like this again!"
As she spoke, Hancock pointed dramatically at the bold headline on the newspaper.
At first glance, her tone sounded displeased, but her eyes and expression radiated emotion and joy.
"This must be the power of love!"
'No, no, that's clearly not it…'
Her sisters didn't dare say it out loud. They knew their sister had already been overjoyed just to find traces of that man after so many years.
And now, he had once again struck against the Celestial Dragons, repeating his great feat of freeing slaves.
How could Hancock, who loathed the Celestial Dragons with every fiber of her being, not be moved?
"Besides… no matter what I do, I'll be forgiven!"
Crossing her arms, Hancock declared this as if it were an indisputable truth.
Her younger sisters could only nod silently, sweat dripping down their faces.