Dracule Mihawk's life can be described as extraordinary.
In his lifetime, he had witnessed the death of Gol D. Roger, seen the dawn of the Great Pirate Era, and witnessed the Four Emperors' rise.
But...
Mihawk had never met anyone like Uehara Naraku.
Because Dracule Mihawk never imagined that someone with the power to resurrect the dead would use it so extravagantly to punish others...
No, this guy can no longer be called human!
In other words, should Uehara Naraku be called a demon, or a true god?
Twenty minutes later.
Dracule Mihawk's consciousness revived once again, and he closed his eyes, silently reciting: "The 100th death and the 100th resurrection, the Sword of Susanoo struck 1 centimeter off from last time..."
After saying this, Mihawk spread his arms, quietly waiting for the Sword of Susanoo to once again cut off his life.
The great swordsman had completely given up resistance.
Because after one of the resurrections, Mihawk chose to draw his Black Blade and commit seppuku before Susanoo could kill him...
But...
He still revived.
This made Mihawk realize completely that his life and death were truly not in his own control, but depended entirely on Uehara Naraku's mood.
Hawk Eye Mihawk remained true to his life.
But at this moment, Mihawk began to regret the wrong words he had once spoken, wondering why someone as strong as Uehara Naraku could be so petty?
Back then...
Did he really say something wrong?
This guy named Uehara Naraku brought him back to life repeatedly, only to kill him again and again, trapping him in an inescapable cycle of life and death...
But, wasn't it not his fault?
After all, the Akatsuki had always been deeply hidden.
Even Red-haired Shanks, who tended to overlook details, would have thought it was an unknown small organization when he first heard of Akatsuki, right?
Moreover, Uehara Naraku, as the leader of Akatsuki, hid his identity, even pretending to be an ordinary Navy Captain!
Who would have known that this guy could destroy the world? No matter which of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, none of them would have treated him with kindness, right?
This guy...
Clearly, he was baiting them, wasn't he?
Unfortunately, Mihawk himself took the bait.
Just as Dracule Mihawk was waiting for the glow of resurrection and death to descend on him again, he found nothing approaching.
Mihawk couldn't help but look up, only to see Uehara Naraku gracefully land in front of him, not Susanoo.
"Is it finally over?"
Mihawk felt a sudden sigh of relief.
Even when he had earned the title of the world's greatest swordsman, he hadn't felt as relieved as he did now.
"It all depends on your attitude."
Uehara Naraku's voice whispered in Hawk Eye Mihawk's ear: "Mr. Mihawk, are you willing to join this unknown organization, Akatsuki?"
"..."
Mihawk fell into silence.
After a long while, the world's strongest swordsman gazed at Uehara Naraku and calmly asked, "If I agree, what would I need to do for Akatsuki? If I refuse, what will you do?"
"Hmm..."
Uehara Naraku frowned, pondering for a moment before speaking: "Let's discuss what happens if you refuse! I might still kill you and then retrieve your soul from the Netherworld, resurrect you in another form as a puppet..."
At this, Uehara Naraku spread his hands and continued: "Of course, I might just let you go, sever all your bonds, and kill your friends or something... making your life worse than death."
"..."
Hawk Eye Mihawk remained silent.
Is this how the leader of Akatsuki operates?
To be honest, the fact that Akatsuki hasn't perished yet is purely because Uehara Naraku's strength is too overwhelming for anyone to resist, right?
Uehara Naraku thought for a moment about the obligations of Akatsuki members and then rubbed his forehead, saying: "If you choose to join Akatsuki... besides not revealing my identity, there doesn't seem to be anything particularly required of you?"
Except for the Summit War...
Is there really anything for Hawk Eye Mihawk to do?
Hawk Eye Mihawk spoke and continued to ask: "Alright, I think I understand... Then what is Akatsuki's purpose?"
"Let me think..."
Uehara Naraku, still rubbing his forehead, puzzled, responded: "Right now... maybe it's to bring peace and justice to the world?"
"..."
Hawk Eye Mihawk's expression became odd.
Who could ever believe that, no matter whom it was said to?
Hawk Eye Mihawk temporarily skipped this topic, continuing: "Then... what is your real identity, sir?"
"You talk too much."
Uehara Naraku's face turned cold, and a golden light of Time Reversal fell on Hawk Eye Mihawk, causing Hawk Eye's expression to slightly change.
The next moment...
Uehara Naraku grabbed the Black Blade Yoru stuck on the ice, and with a swift slash, directly cut across Hawk Eye's throat, once again killing this great swordsman!
A few seconds later.
Hawk Eye Mihawk revived once again.
Uehara Naraku flicked his wrist and tossed the Black Blade Yoru to Hawk Eye Mihawk, calmly asking, "Now, I just need to know your answer. Follow the true answer of your heart, and don't try to deceive my perception."
After Uehara Naraku saw Hawkeye take the Black Blade, he continued, "As for what you want to know, you will gradually understand in the future. If you want to glimpse the truth of the world, at least let me see how much you are willing to pay to find it..."
Uehara Naraku's gaze gradually became complicated, and his voice slowly grew somber: "Your life and strength are still not enough to see the truth of the world!"
"I understand."
Hawk Eye Mihawk looked down at the Black Blade in his hand, then glanced at the nearby Uehara Naraku, taking a deep breath.
If joining the Akatsuki would allow him to see the hidden mysteries on Uehara Naraku, it was worth joining the Akatsuki and becoming a part of this organization!
Dracule Mihawk put away his Black Blade, looked Uehara Naraku in the eye, and spoke in a deep voice: "In the future...please guide me, Leader!"
"Mm."
Uehara Naraku nodded in satisfaction and raised his palm: "Then let's go. We're going to welcome another newcomer to the organization!"
With Uehara Naraku's gesture, the waves surged up.
A navy ship and the small coffin boat it was towing slowly rode the waves and stopped in front of Uehara Naraku.
This time, Uehara Naraku acquired quite a bounty.
Side mission: Defeat the world's number one Great Sword Master Dracule Mihawk (1/1). Mission accomplished. Reward: 200,000 Life Energy points, 200,000 Armament Haki points, 200,000 Observation Haki points.
This is the downside of my cheating...
Perhaps originally it was a nice reward or legacy, but it was directly converted into three-dimensional values, though Uehara Naraku indeed needed these values.
Hidden mission: Use a small knife to battle the world's number one Great Sword Master Dracule Mihawk and achieve victory (1/1). Mission accomplished. Fixed reward Passive Talent Skill: World Swordsmanship.
World Swordsmanship: The most extreme swordsmanship talent in the world!
This description is really simple...
Uehara Naraku stood on the navy ship, pondered for a moment, then waved his hand to conjure an ice blade and slashed out a blow following his will!
The distant sea was instantly slashed into a wave hundreds of meters high!
Not much use...
The world's number one Great Sword Master has been defeated by him, and this Great Sword Master has also joined the Akatsuki, becoming one of his subordinates.
Hawk Eye Mihawk watched this scene, slowly furrowing his brows. This slash, relying on the Black Blade Yoru, he might achieve, but to casually slash like Uehara Naraku with just an ordinary ice blade...
The leader of the Akatsuki...
His swordsmanship is also quite powerful!
This man named Uehara Naraku possesses an endless amount of power. He can manipulate any force, even swordsmanship is no exception?
Then...
Faced with such a man as Uehara Naraku, would those Four Emperor monsters standing at the peak of the New World be his opponents?
At least Shanks...
Hawk Eye Mihawk doesn't think so.
"Lord Naraku."
Hawk Eye Mihawk's brows slightly furrowed, recalling his purpose for coming, and asked, "Has the war between Whitebeard and Kaido ended..."
"...Not yet."
Uehara Naraku shook his head, speaking softly, "I hope those two guys can quickly finish this war! They are no longer of any use now..."
After all...
The Akatsuki is secretly manipulating the war between Whitebeard and Kaido. The true purpose is just to lure out Admiral Kizaru of the Navy Headquarters, and incidentally lure out a few of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
On the other side.
Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto's battle continues.
The members of the Whitebeard Pirates and the Hundred Beast Pirates are becoming more anxious because they feel that this battleground seems a bit too dangerous!
Uzumaki Naruto, controlling the Golden Nine-tails, suddenly expanded its claws, with chakra and Haki swiftly gathering into its palm, coalescing into a continually spinning Tailed Beast Ball!
"Sage Art: Armed: Chou-Haki Tailed Beast Ball!"
This Tailed Beast Ball shot out instantly, flying towards Uchiha Sasuke's purple Susanoo. Once hit by this enhanced Tailed Beast Ball, even the Complete Form of Susanoo would be directly blown apart!
Uchiha Sasuke controlled Susanoo, drawing a ninja blade across the Tailed Beast Ball, knocking it away, and continued flying towards the Golden Nine-tails!
However...
That Tailed Beast Ball fell near the Moby Dick!
Even though the Moby Dick is moving further away from the battlefield, it still cannot avoid being caught in the crossfire. Whitebeard suddenly clenched his fist, white light gathered on it, and with a booming punch, he detonated the Tailed Beast Ball!
After resolving this crisis, Whitebeard looked down at the people beside him, who were still in shock, and couldn't help but laugh loudly: "Gurararara...it was truly dangerous...this battle is not one anyone can watch!"
Indeed...
Not just anyone can watch.
The flagship of the Hundred Beast Pirates, after rescuing Jack the Drought and a bunch of pirates, distanced itself from the battlefield. On the battlefield, only Hundred Beast Kaido remained watching...
Amidst the aftershocks of Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto's battle, Kaido is unable to protect his subordinates, so he can only let them retreat temporarily...
This is the disparity.
After all, Whitebeard's Quake-Quake Fruit ability boasts immense offensive power, capable of resolving many problems. Kaido only possesses the Mythical Zoan-type Fruit ability.
If he wants to protect the Hundred Beast Pirates...
He can only withstand it with his own body.
However, whether it's Uzumaki Naruto or Uchiha Sasuke, if either of their attacks falls on Kaido, they can indeed pierce through his defenses...
On the battlefield.
Uchiha Sasuke stood within the crystal of Susanoo and only breathed a sigh of relief after seeing Whitebeard resolve the Tailed Beast Ball.
Uchiha Sasuke suddenly turned around, his gaze locked tightly on the Golden Nine-tails, and within Susanoo's hands suddenly drew a long bow!
"Naruto, one blow to decide the outcome!"