To be honest, the World Government had acted with breathtaking dishonor throughout this entire affair.
They issued their orders with imperial authority, repeatedly demanding swift action to capture the "great criminal" while painting the mission as a routine high-priority arrest. But they never bothered informing the Navy forces below about Naruto's true threat level.
Of course, one could argue they were simply protecting their own reputation.
After all, how could they possibly announce: "The great criminal fought five opponents simultaneously, defeating the God's Knights and Saint Warcury without them managing meaningful resistance, and then proceeded to destroy most of the Holy Land in the process"?
Such a detailed report would require them to list each devastating technique Naruto had employed, one by one, like a catalog of their own humiliation.
The World Government's higher-ups simply couldn't bring themselves to commit such institutional suicide.
In their calculation, if the Navy could handle the situation, everything would resolve satisfactorily. Even if they failed, at least the government had demonstrated the appropriate response to such unprecedented aggression.
This wasn't just about internal face-saving. Every power on the ocean was watching this crisis unfold with keen interest.
If someone could attack the Holy Land without facing consequences, it would establish a dangerous precedent. Everyone would learn that such audacity was possible.
Although not everyone possessed Naruto's ridiculous strength, where there was one lunatic, there would inevitably be others...
It wouldn't do to let petty villains disturb Lord Imu's tranquility again.
One madman like Rocks had been quite enough for several lifetimes.
Any future troublemakers would have to seriously consider whether they could withstand Admiral-level pursuit before causing problems.
Of course, this noble strategy had also thoroughly screwed over Garp and his companions.
Vice Admiral Tsuru observed Garp's smoking form as he plummeted earthward, her weathered features etched with grave concern.
Fortunately, the legendary Marine appeared to have sustained only superficial damage. After falling for several seconds, his eyes snapped open with characteristic defiance. He quickly readjusted his position and used Moon Walk to regain altitude, though his current appearance was rather less dignified than usual.
The Navy coat that seemed permanently attached to his shoulders had vanished entirely. His upper body clothing hung in charred tatters, and even his famous chest hair showed signs of singeing from the intense heat.
Most telling was the back of his right hand, where blood continuously seeped through splits in the skin from direct contact with the Rasenshuriken.
Even with Haki as deep and vast as an ocean trench, facing Naruto's unreasonable techniques still exacted a toll.
At least this wasn't Marineford, where he might be forced to take fatal wounds for someone else. So far, the split hand represented his most serious injury.
He casually tore off his necktie and wrapped it around the wounded appendage, immediately stemming the bleeding with practiced efficiency.
"Gah... haha, you're getting more and more terrifying, kid," he called out with genuine admiration. Despite nearly losing consciousness moments earlier, Garp's face showed little dejection after his recovery.
"Hah... knew it wouldn't be that easy," Naruto muttered under his breath, then materialized another ominous black sphere in his palm.
Clearly, this scale of Rasenshuriken caused virtually no drain on his reserves. His chakra recovery rate actually exceeded his consumption.
"Old man, that's about enough, right? You can give the World Government their explanation now."
Naruto casually tossed the Rasenshuriken between his hands like a child's toy. This creation of compressed high-concentration chakra and Haki appeared remarkably stable in his grasp, betraying nothing of its devastating potential.
During recent days, Naruto had been systematically familiarizing himself with this new technique. His current proficiency could honestly be described as "effortless mastery."
"Ha! What nonsense are you spouting!" Garp laughed boisterously while raising his fist to charge forward once more.
But in the next moment, every person present fell into stunned silence.
Bang bang bang bang...
Massive clouds of smoke erupted across the sky. When the haze cleared, countless "Narutos" floated in mid-air like a swarm of deadly locusts.
Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
Garp finally remembered what crucial detail he'd overlooked. This kid had employed this exact strategy before.
The title "One-Man Army" had originated from precisely this capability.
More despairing than facing hundreds or thousands of Naruto clones was the sight of each duplicate currently holding a familiar black orb in their hands.
The clones aimed their palms toward the Navy forces below, though several pirates found themselves included in the targeting as well.
"I say we call it here for today," Naruto announced with casual finality.
"Anyone who still wants to fight... step forward."
At that moment, no one, including Big Mom and Hancock, could manage a single word of response.
The countless black orbs suspended in the sky appeared like a true natural disaster in their eyes, a biblical judgment awaiting release.
No one possessed any desire to test the consequences of making those spheres detonate.
Every gaze on the battlefield focused upward with mixture of awe and terror.
During this tense standoff, two figures moved with practiced stealth across the fractured terrain.
One was Donquixote Family executive Diamante, using his cloak's concealing properties to wrap his petrified, unconscious companions and young master. He moved with minimal motion along the cracked cliff walls, desperately seeking escape.
He wasn't alone in fleeing. No one had time to concern themselves with his movements now.
The Donquixote Family had chosen to side with the Navy during this conflict, essentially severing all ties with the Big Mom Pirates. With their strongest leader defeated and unconscious, retreat was the only viable option.
The other figure moving silently possessed a rather unique identity. It was actually Big Mom's fiancé, Orochimaru!
He soundlessly collected and transported several unconscious pirates and Navy personnel with the efficiency of someone for whom such behavior was deeply ingrained instinct.
"Excellent. These specimens will provide fascinating research material," he murmured with barely contained excitement.
The soul of a research fanatic had possessed him once again. Orochimaru had carefully selected his targets. Each unconscious figure was a so-called "Devil Fruit user."
He could barely contain his eagerness to begin his investigations.
In a sense, Orochimaru's plan could be considered successful. Although the "main body" in the ninja world would gain nothing from this venture, this creation carrying his genetic code had successfully begun researching the special powers of the pirate world.
Congratulations were definitely in order.
Of course, it remained unknown whether this newborn Orochimaru would obediently accept the role of dispensable clone if the two versions ever met face-to-face.
"You brat, when did you become so underhanded?" Garp asked, finally dropping his fighting stance as the reality of the situation settled over him.
This gesture essentially announced the end of their battle.
"This isn't underhanded. It's avoiding needless sacrifice," Naruto replied with conviction.
"Their lives serve better purposes elsewhere."
Naruto's main body approached Garp while the Rasenshuriken in his hand disappeared entirely.
"Well then, I'll leave the ocean's security in your capable hands, old man." He pressed his palms together and raised them in a mock ceremonial gesture, which annoyed Garp enough that the veteran snorted and didn't bother with farewells before dropping directly toward the ground.
After a brief, hushed conversation between Garp and Vice Admiral Tsuru that no one else could overhear, the Navy reached their decision.
Retreat.
What else could they possibly do? Actually sacrifice everyone's lives in this place?
On Big Mom's side, watching the Navy forces withdraw, the residents of Totto Land displayed visible relief across their features.
In such conflicts, the strong could revel in slaughter while ordinary people could only endure disaster passively.
The current outcome represented the best possible scenario for them.
Big Mom herself studied Naruto with wary calculation, then reluctantly watched Kizaru transform into a stream of light to rejoin the Navy formation.
Others might not grasp the full implications, but Big Mom understood perfectly.
Naruto's challenge, "Anyone who still wants to fight... step forward," had been directed at her as well.
Know when to stop. Don't push beyond reasonable limits.
Otherwise, the next bombardment might target Totto Land itself.
Charlotte Linlin experienced that sense of powerlessness that came with being threatened for the first time in decades.
Naruto had forced everyone to cease fighting through indiscriminate displays of overwhelming force.
This approach proved more convincing than any appeal to "face" or reputation.
But standing in the sky above them all, Naruto Uzumaki wore a somewhat peculiar expression that suggested his thoughts had already moved far beyond the current crisis.