Could Garp or Shanks do what needed to be done, and yet Whitebeard couldn't?
In the end, such a man was nothing more than a schemer—a hero of ambition, but never a true sovereign.
Ordinary Group Leader (Roxie Vale): "That's true, but even so—this kind of thing could happen in any pirate crew. But in Dad's (Whitebeard's) crew? I just can't wrap my head around it."
Ordinary Group Leader: "Everyone in Whitebeard's crew treats each other like family. If Teach had just told Saatchi he wanted the Dark-Dark Fruit, do you really think Saatchi wouldn't have given it to him?"
Ordinary Group Leader: "He probably would've laughed and handed it over, joking, 'Then you better find me a good Devil Fruit someday in return.'"
Ordinary Group Leader: "But Teach didn't even ask. He went straight for the kill, without hesitation. It proves he never cared about the bonds in Whitebeard's crew. He never trusted Saatchi—or any of them—from the very beginning."
Boil Dagu Into Soup: "Of course he could've asked. He just couldn't risk the slightest chance of failure."
Boil Dagu Into Soup: "In his eyes, the Dark-Dark Fruit was far more important than any bond with Whitebeard's family."
Evilest Spirit: "But we have to admit—people like him, who are willing to cast aside everything for their goals, are the ones who can go the furthest."
For those who stop at nothing to achieve their ends, there is nothing more terrifying. Their accomplishments defy imagination.
But in stories, people like that rarely meet good ends.
Richest Man (Tony Stark): "What I wonder is—if the Dark-Dark Fruit had never appeared, would Teach really have stayed with Whitebeard for life?"
Richest Man: "If that were the case, Ace wouldn't have been captured, the Marineford War wouldn't have happened, and the Whitebeard Pirates would still exist."
Come Be My Son (Whitebeard): "But sadly, there are no 'ifs.'"
Come Be My Son: "I cannot allow someone who killed his comrade for a Devil Fruit to remain my son."
To him, the bond with his sons was the most precious thing. Teach had shattered that with his own hands.
Had Teach hesitated even a little, perhaps Whitebeard might have felt a trace of mercy. But no. From the very moment he saw the Dark-Dark Fruit, Teach must have been plotting how to kill Saatchi and claim it.
Child of Nature (Brandon White): "And yet, Dad, you're still going to wait, aren't you?"
Child of Nature: "You'll wait until Blackbeard truly reveals his murderous intent, until you're certain he means to kill Saatchi—only then will you act against him, right?"
Child of Nature: "Part of it is because he hasn't done anything yet, so you don't have a reason to strike first. But the bigger reason is—you still want to give him one last chance, don't you?"
Child of Nature: "You want to see if, just like in the memory projection, he'll really kill Saatchi over a Devil Fruit."
Whitebeard fell silent at Brandon's words.
Even though he already believed the memory projection, what if…?
What if history really had changed, and Teach chose not to harm Saatchi?
He wanted to give Teach one more chance—and give himself one as well.
Come Be My Son: "I've already spoken with Saatchi about this operation, and told him what Teach is planning. It wouldn't be fair to keep him in the dark."
Come Be My Son: "Though he didn't really believe me."
Come Be My Son: "But if Teach really does act as in the memory projection, I will never forgive him!"
Ordinary Group Leader: "You'll kill him?"
Come Be My Son: "Of course!"
Child of Nature: "You won't hesitate?"
Come Be My Son: "How could I hesitate against one who betrays this bond?!"
Whitebeard's tone was firm—but whether he would truly do as he said, Brandon doubted.
Child of Nature: uploads image.jpg
Brandon sent an image: Marineford, where Blackbeard begged Whitebeard for mercy—only for Whitebeard's moment of hesitation to be repaid with a sneak attack.
Child of Nature: "This was what you were thinking at that time, wasn't it?"
Ordinary Group Leader: "The ultimate slap-in-the-face moment."
Richest Man: "The greatness of a father's love."
Boil Dagu Into Soup: "The father may be kind, but the son was unfilial."
Uchiha Dance King: "Pathetic."
Just Like That, Meow: "Tragic, meow."
Come Be My Son: "..."
Come Be My Son: "This time, I will not make the same mistake!"
In the world of One Piece.
Night had fallen. After the banquet, the Whitebeard Pirates had all retreated to their rooms, sleeping soundly.
At that moment, a burly figure appeared outside Saatchi's quarters—Teach.
Unaware that every move he made was being watched.
Whitebeard's eyes carried disappointment.
"History… it truly isn't so easy to change."
With a quiet sigh, he opened the live broadcast room.
They had agreed beforehand: if Teach ever tried to kill Saatchi and seize the Dark-Dark Fruit, Whitebeard would stream it live for everyone to witness this new history.
In that instant, the cold voice of the chat group echoed in everyone's ears.
"Ding. Member [Come Be My Son] has started a live broadcast."
Ordinary Group Leader: "Knew it. There's no way Teach would turn over a new leaf. If he had, I'd start wondering if he was a transmigrator too."
Evilest Spirit: "After all, our worlds exist because of those stories. If someone doesn't take the actions that fate demands, then everything would unravel. What happens was always inevitable."
Uchiha Dance King: "When I return, Black Zetsu… heh."
Golden Flash (Minato Namikaze): "Betrayal. Truly disgusting."
Boil Dagu Into Soup: "Then here's a question—don't you think Naruto would've been better if Naruto betrayed the village?"
Richest Man: "How is that the same?! This is Teach betraying Whitebeard. That would be the villagers betraying the Fourth Hokage!"
Glory of the Northern God (Thor): excited_barking.jpg
Some of their worlds were already deep into the night, yet none of them had gone to bed. They were waiting for this.
Except for Whitebeard himself, no one believed Teach had even the slightest chance of sparing Saatchi.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be Teach.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
"Captain Saatchi! You awake?"
Teach's voice came from outside. After a moment, Saatchi opened the door, his eyes hazy with drunkenness as he looked at him in confusion.
"What's the matter, Teach?"
"Hahaha, I didn't drink enough at the banquet. Thought I'd come and share a few more cups with you, Captain."
A hearty grin spread across Teach's face as he stepped inside, Saatchi laughing as he welcomed him in.
Yet as Teach entered, he never noticed the complicated look in Saatchi's eyes.
Earlier, after finding a Devil Fruit, Whitebeard had summoned Saatchi and told him everything—about the Dark-Dark Fruit, and about Teach.
When Saatchi heard Teach would kill him for it, he could hardly believe it.
To him, Teach wasn't particularly strong in the crew, but he had always seemed dependable. Honest. Loyal.
And now…
(End of Chapter)