"You!"
Compared to Yamato, a complete stranger, Crocodile remembered Sasuke's face very clearly.
Not only because Sasuke had crossed paths with him during the chaotic prison break at Impel Down, but also because this face had appeared multiple times in the World Economic News Paper.
Even the newspaper Crocodile had just read contained news about Sasuke.
There was no helping it. Compared to Karin, Sasuke's performance during the Summit War was even more eye-catching.
In terms of contribution alone, it was almost on par with those Emperors who were brought in to support the scene.
It was also through the layers of analysis and description in the newspapers that Crocodile realized how lucky he was to have escaped from these guys back then.
He dared not imagine what chance of survival he would have had if Naruto had tried to stop him.
"Ah... long time no see?"
Seeing that Crocodile recognized him at a glance and had such a big reaction, Sasuke, almost as if possessed, said this.
Upon hearing this, Yamato turned her head curiously.
"You two know each other?"
"Hmm... had dealings before."
"Then—"
"Don't worry, not friends."
"Then I'm relieved."
Yamato was quite understanding… at least she knew it was best not to beat up another friend in front of a friend.
"Bastards..."
The two's conversation completely ignored everyone else, basically treating them as if they were nothing.
This infuriated Crocodile.
Although strictly speaking, he had no grudge with the other party, he wasn't a reasonable man.
"Don't look down on me so much. Do you think I'm still the same as before?"
Mr.1 looked at his boss with some surprise, not understanding why Crocodile was reacting so strongly.
In his impression, the boss was always calm and composed in the face of danger… this reaction was really a bit over the top.
And what Crocodile said wasn't entirely just to save his dignity.
He really had been honing his skills.
During the time after Naruto and his group fought the Summit War and then went their separate ways, he hadn't slacked off for a single day.
When he had nothing to do, he would train his Haki, and whenever there was an opportunity… like today, encountering someone worth fighting, he would not hesitate to act.
Fight! Fight!
Only fighting could make him strong again!
And then stand before that man and defeat him!
No one else knew why Crocodile always seemed a bit anxious in this regard.
In fact, he had learned that Whitebeard didn't have long to live.
—This wasn't exactly a secret.
When Karin told Whitebeard about this matter, she hadn't avoided others. Not only the pirates but even some on the Marine side knew.
So many eyes were watching at the time.
Because of this, he was in such a hurry to become stronger.
Crocodile could not tolerate Whitebeard dying before being defeated by him.
At the same time, the spread of this news also caused quite a bit of turmoil within the territories under the Whitebeard Pirates' flag.
If not for this, Fossa wouldn't have been left alone to defend an entire island.
Currently, the Whitebeard Pirates and their subordinate fleets were all dispatched to maintain order. In this regard, they were even more 'diligent' than the Marines.
Actually, Crocodile wasn't entirely just boasting on one point.
Unless the Whitebeard Pirates chose to station one of their top-ranking 'combat-type' division commanders here, like Marco, or Jozu, or Vista, or even having Ace come would be okay.
Otherwise, changing to some other division commander really wouldn't be a match for Crocodile in his current state.
No matter how weak he was, or how much he was the 'shame of the Seven Warlords', at his core, he was still a Logia-type Devil Fruit user.
Plus, when he was young, he was also a capable fighter who could fight and run.
If later he hadn't gone astray like Moria, neglecting the training of his personal strength...
If it were a Crocodile who had been training and honing his body and Haki relentlessly since his defeat by Whitebeard, then Luffy and the others would have been wiped out in Alabasta.
No… if that were the case, he wouldn't have even gone to Alabasta, spending so much time on 'conquering the kingdom'.
"You do it, or I do it?"
Perhaps because Sasuke knew Crocodile, Yamato, unusually, 'yielded' for a moment, letting Sasuke choose.
"Sigh... whatever. Let's finish it quickly… we still need to order a new ship."
Saying so, he walked toward Crocodile's direction with complete nonchalance.
The two's arrogant attitude made a vein bulge on Crocodile's forehead, his jaw muscles tensing, the killing intent in his eyes boiling.
"Self-important fools. If that's the case, then die!"
Desert Spada!
Without further hesitation, Crocodile turned into sand and instantly dispersed, then silently reformed behind Sasuke.
It's the same move he used against Fossa earlier.
'Great, the advantage is mine!'
Seeing Sasuke remain motionless as if he hadn't reacted, a cruel smile spread across Crocodile's face.
Four giant blades made of sand rose high like the pincers of some monster, then slashed down fiercely toward Sasuke's head.
Swoosh!
"It's over?!"
Mr.3 and Buggy exclaimed from the side.
Honestly, from when Fossa attacked until Yamato and the others arrived, the two of them had been watching the battle on the sidelines, trembling with fear.
They're afraid of getting caught up in it accidentally.
Mr.3 was a bit better, as he still had plenty of confidence in his boss.
Buggy was different.
He had been planning to sneak away all along.
Fossa?
What's that!
The real trouble is the Whitebeard Pirates!
'That idiot Crocodile! Does he really think he can take on an Emperor?'
Although he hated Shanks, Buggy had to admit that the Four Emperors, including Red-Haired Shanks, were simply not on the same level as them.
'Leave quickly, leave quickly! While Crocodile is holding the front, I, Captain Buggy, will use this chance to disappear for a while!'
After thinking of this, without caring whether this newly appeared black-haired kid had already been killed, Buggy planned to continue his earlier plan, sneakily slipping away toward the coast.
However, he had only taken two or three steps when he felt the surroundings suddenly start to change, the ground getting farther and farther away.
"Hey, you, how can you sneak away while your own companion is still fighting?"
A pleasant female voice sounded, but it made Mr.1 and Mr.3's hair stand on end.
'When?!'
Yamato, one hand on her hip, the other holding Buggy, lifted him up, then shook her head as if very dissatisfied with him.
"Tsk tsk tsk, coward."
"Y-you bastard!! You! Hurry up and put the great Captain Buggy down!"
"And! That guy is not my companion at all!"
While Buggy was still flailing his limbs, Mr.1 and Mr.3 had already decisively attacked this suddenly appearing person.
"Candle Lock!"
White wax spread out rapidly, fixing Yamato's feet to the ground.
"Got her!"
There's no need for Mr.3 to say anything, as Mr.1 was already prepared.
Crossing his arms in front of him, his whole body shot out like an arrow from a bow.
"Cleave!"
An 'X'-shaped slash aimed at Yamato's vital points.
Mr.1 was not one to be gentle with women. Plus, the way Yamato and Sasuke had been in cahoots earlier, humiliating his respected boss to the extreme, had also fueled his anger.
This move was aimed at killing.
Mr.3's Candle Lock had even restrained a giant before… he wasn't worried at all that Yamato could dodge.
And in fact, she showed no intention of dodging.
Thump—
That was the sound of Mr.1's blade-like palm pressing against Yamato's neck.
There was no sound of metal clashing, nor the sound of flesh being cut.
"Hmm?"
Yamato didn't even change her posture, directly turning her head to glance sideways at Mr.1.
"You, are you tickling me?"