"He is innocent."
Aokiji never liked killing the innocent.
The Konoha Pirates ordered him to kill the Navy Officer Vergo of the G5 Branch, something Aokiji absolutely didn't want to do. He just wanted to join the Konoha Pirates to investigate their secrets, not to truly become a bloodstained Great Pirate.
"This is making things quite troublesome..."
Red Sand Sasori stood beside the Golden Ark, softly inquiring, "If you refuse to kill a navy officer as a pledge of allegiance, how can we trust you?"
"Aokiji..."
"If you want to defect from the Navy and join Konoha..."
"You'll also need to prove your resolve to us..."
Red Sand Sasori spread his palm, casually revealing some secrets: "On this ship, there are many who have defected from their homeland, including myself. But when we left our past behind to choose a new life, we all killed the most important person from our homeland, using their death to solidify our decision to take another path. You joining so lightly seems a bit out of place..."
"..."
Aokiji's eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Isn't it...
The people of the Konoha Pirates...
Are they really this extreme in their actions?
To embark on a new life, must one kill the most important person from the past?
However, upon hearing Red Sand Sasori's words, the members of the Konoha Pirates showed no expression. They even instinctively looked towards Uchiha Madara and Orochimaru.
No choice.
The people of the Konoha Pirates do things ruthlessly.
When Uchiha Madara defected from Konoha, he nearly clashed heads with his old friend Senju Hashirama; after Orochimaru defected, he killed his teacher Sarutobi Hiruzen; Red Sand Sasori killed the Third Kazekage.
"Aokiji..."
Orochimaru, seeing Aokiji's furrowed brow, grinned and said, "If you want to join Konoha, you should slightly prove your resolve..."
"..."
Aokiji remained silent, not knowing what to say next.
Because...
He knew he couldn't bring himself to do it.
The atmosphere temporarily turned to a stalemate.
Blublublu...
The sound of a Radio Snail on the ship rang out urgently.
Everyone on the Golden Ark ignored it, as if they hadn't heard it. Everyone knew that whoever was calling now was definitely unimportant.
Truly important people...
Don't need to call them via Radio Snail.
However...
There were still some people on the ship who didn't quite understand the situation.
Hawkeye Mihawk looked at everyone present in surprise, walked to the Radio Snail, answered it, and heard some shocking news.
"Big News Morgans' message..."
Hawkeye Mihawk hung up the Radio Snail in his hand, and looked at the group from the Konoha Pirates: "The World Government has issued a bounty on Aokiji, and is even sending people to hunt him down..."
"Oh?"
Senju Hashirama immediately became curious and turned to look at Hawkeye Mihawk: "This young man's strength is still quite strong, who is coming to hunt him?"
"Admiral Akainu."
Hawkeye Mihawk's eyebrows also slightly furrowed.
"!!!"
Aokiji suddenly lifted his head.
"Isn't that convenient?"
Orochimaru glanced at Aokiji below the ship, and said with a slight smile: "I heard that Admiral Aokiji and Admiral Akainu have never been friendly. If he can't bring himself to kill a so-called innocent Navy officer, killing the not-so-friendly Akainu should be no problem, right?"
"A battle between two Admirals..."
"Should be quite interesting..."
"This is also a suitable battlefield..."
"Formerly contentious Admirals of the Navy Headquarters, one with extreme and aggressive methods remained with the Navy, while the other with a gentle temperament joined the Pirates. Two men with different temperaments also choosing different paths, their duel is quite natural..."
The members of the Konoha Pirates immediately began discussing, and indeed, most of them grew up in this kind of environment. Many had had disagreements with their former friends, and after deadly battles, they each chose different roads.
This kind of show...
It's been a long time since they've seen one.
In fact, everyone was somewhat excited for a fight between two Admirals where their Devil Fruit Abilities perfectly countered each other, their personalities completely opposed, and their strengths equally matched.
"..."
Aokiji's furrowed brows seemed capable of killing a fly.
Isn't it...
How are these people discussing this so enthusiastically?
"Aokiji."
"We won't force you to kill Vergo any longer."
Red Sand Sasori ignored the discussion behind him, his gaze fixed on Aokiji, and his mechanical voice echoed in the air of Punk Hazard: "However, Akainu is already on his way. Kill him here, let us see your firm resolve to join Konoha!"
"Only then will we allow you to board this ship."
"..."
Aokiji exhaled cold air, speaking in a deep voice: "But I can't be completely sure of dealing with Sakazuki without a real fight..."
"It doesn't matter."
Red Sand Sasori waved his hand, continuing softly: "The result doesn't matter. What we want to see is your resolute choice for Konoha."
"..."
Aokiji's face involuntarily twitched.
He only wanted to probe Konoha's secrets, but it seems to join this group of pirates, he really needs to get some blood on his hands?