"How could a thing like that happen without me!"
Kaido's boisterous, wild laughter echoed through the air before he even arrived.
As his voice faded, Big Mom's arrogant, unbridled tone followed immediately after.
"Ma-ma-ma-ma! Kaido, with that measly strength of yours, you'd better not show off. You'll only make a fool of yourself."
At the double doors of the tea room, two massive, powerful figures appeared before everyone's eyes, shoving each other as they tried to enter at once.
Fortunately, the rooms in this palace were designed for the size of giants; even with their towering heights, the space accommodated Kaido and Big Mom easily.
Kaido still bore the appearance of a horned brute, his frame magnificent and towering, covered in knotted veins.
He looked much younger than he had at the moment of his death, appearing to be in his early forties.
His heavy footsteps made the ground tremble with every stride. His long mustache swayed as he walked, exuding an overwhelming aura.
Beside him, Big Mom was no longer the bloated, elderly woman she had been in life. Restored to her twenties, she possessed refined features, skin like cream, and a graceful, alluring figure.
With every step, her chest swayed significantly—a grand, surging sight to behold—leaving a trail of fragrance in the air.
Watching the two arrive, Ren smiled inwardly and pointed to the sofa next to Whitebeard.
"Have a seat."
Behind them, a large crowd of their former subordinates flooded into the room.
There were so many that even this spacious tea room began to feel cramped.
A dark figure behind Kaido caught Ren's eye.
He looked over to see a figure just as tall, completely covered from head to toe, with two black wings sprouting from his back.
Even in the bizarre world of pirates, this appearance was unique.
"Kaido, is that King the Conflagration, your former Lead Performer?"
"How did he end up dead too?"
Ren remembered that after the Wano Country arc, King and Queen were defeated by Admiral Ryokugyu and sent to Impel Down.
Could he have been executed in secret?
Seating himself beside Whitebeard, Kaido pointed at his capable subordinate with a proud grin.
"I took a trip to the living world earlier and broke King and the others out."
"King saw that my forces lacked a pillar after my death, so he followed me here."
Jack, another of the Lead Performers, was a member of the All-Stars, but he clearly lacked the brains for such a critical role.
Ren raised an eyebrow and looked at King, his expression showing blatant admiration.
To follow Kaido here... since Kaido was already a ghost, the manner in which King had followed him was painfully obvious.
"Loyalty is a grand virtue. Kaido is lucky to have you."
"I am unworthy of such praise, my King."
King bowed politely.
King felt a deep, genuine respect for King Enma, the man who had given Kaido and the rest of the Beasts Pirates a second chance at life.
Ren looked at Kaido's subordinates again. With King and Jack, those two giants, standing behind Kaido, he couldn't help but ask, "Where's that fat guy who likes to sing, dance, and rap? Did he not come?"
Although Queen was a source of comic relief, he was a solid combatant with exceptional scientific expertise.
King's voice was low and dripping with disdain. "That idiot Queen started bawling his eyes out the moment he heard he was coming to the Land of the Dead."
"Big Brother Kaido saw he was unwilling, so he's letting him live out his life in the world above. Once he kicks the bucket, we'll drag him down here."
Ren chuckled at that. "You're much better than Queen."
"I am Big Brother Kaido's right hand," King said firmly. "I will follow him to the depths of Hell itself!"
Ren nodded privately and looked at Kaido, sighing with genuine emotion. "Kaido, you have a fine subordinate."
"Worororo! Of course! King is a brother to me!"
Kaido's laughter was full of pride, causing Big Mom, who sat beside him, to scowl.
Big Mom surveyed the crowd Kaido had brought, her expression sour.
"Kaido, you brought too many lackeys in here. Tell some of them to get out."
"Linlin, you're just jealous because you don't have this many men under you!"
"Fool! My precious children have wonderful lives to enjoy in the living world. Why would I drag them here while they're still so young?"
Big Mom rose from the sofa.
Walking through the aisle between the coffee table and the seating, she didn't wait for Whitebeard or Kaido to speak before announcing, "Newgate, Kaido, scoot over. I'm sitting next to Ren."
"Hah? Why the hell should I listen to you?"
"Linlin, what kind of game are you playing now?"
"Stop babbling and move."
Without waiting for Whitebeard's consent, Big Mom sat down, shoving the two men aside.
Seeing she had already parked herself there, Whitebeard gave up the argument and shifted over.
"Kaido, move further down."
"Fine."
A triumphant smile spread across Big Mom's face. She turned toward Ren in the seat of honor, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Ren, marry me!"
A sweet fragrance wafted toward him.
Ren frowned, waving away the scent and refusing her outright.
"I've told you how many times now? I'm already married. I have a wife. I'm a respectable man."
"Then... after this meeting is over, let's have a quickie."
"..."
Speechless, Ren gave Big Mom a side-eye.
"I refuse!"
"Linlin, are you serious?"
Big Mom was over eight meters tall. With Ren standing at less than two meters, could they even feel anything?
She could probably swallow him whole without effort!
Comparing the size difference, Ren would be little more than a vibrating toy to her.
Kaido roared with laughter. "Worororo! Linlin, rejected again, I see!"
"Shut it, Kaido! Do you want me to sew your mouth shut!?"
"I'd like to see you try."
"Stop it, both of you. The war council is about to begin. Quiet down!"
Seeing they were about to go at it again, Whitebeard threw a fist at each of them from his position in the middle, shutting them up.
Ren surveyed the grand assembly in the room.
On the left sat the Marines: Zephyr, Sengoku, Garp, and Sakazuki.
On the right were the powerhouse pirates: Big Mom, Whitebeard, and Kaido.
And then there were all their subordinates.
Ren's ranks were truly overflowing with talent now.
Even the legendary Rocks D. Xebec never commanded such a star-studded lineup.
Ren handed the documents beside him to Guernica.
Guernica produced a Visual Den Den Mushi and projected the documents page by page onto the wall.
Seeing this, Maha closed the windows and drew the curtains.
The room fell into darkness, leaving only the clear projections on the wall for everyone to see.
"Now, the war council officially begins."
Meanwhile, on the other side, Shisui passed through the Senkaimon and returned to the ninja world, heading straight for the Hidden Leaf Village where he had lived.
After a brief stroll through the village to soak in the familiar atmosphere of his home, he arrived atop the Hokage Rock.
Looking down at the village from above, Shisui's expression was nostalgic, yet tinged with a hint of melancholy.
Tap.
The sound of a light footstep echoed behind him, followed by Fugaku's deep voice.
"Shisui, I didn't expect you to choose this place for our meeting. Do you have some special feelings regarding the village as it is now?"
"It's nothing."
Shisui didn't turn around. His gaze remained fixed on the village below—specifically the Hokage Building. His emotions vanished as his face returned to its usual composed mask.
"It's just been a long time since I've been to the Hidden Leaf. It feels the same as it always has. Not much has changed."
Hearing Shisui's flat tone, Fugaku walked up beside him and looked out over the village as well, his expression complex.
Despite Shisui's calm demeanor, Fugaku could sense the emotions hidden within. After all, this was the home where he had grown up and fought desperately to protect.
It was no different for Fugaku himself.
"The village has a new Hokage."
"Three years ago, Hiruzen Sarutobi was killed by Orochimaru. Afterward, Tsunade-hime of the Sannin took over the position."
"I already heard about that in the previous reports," Shisui said, glancing at his former Clan Leader. "What progress has been made since the last briefing?"
"According to the intelligence I've gathered, the Akatsuki has made significant gains. They've already collected several Tailed Beasts."
Fugaku gave a brief summary of recent major events.
"The Hidden Leaf seems to have discovered that the Akatsuki's base of operations is in the Hidden Rain Village. They've already dispatched Jiraiya of the Sannin to investigate."
"I scouted the Hidden Rain myself. There's a pair of Rinnegan there. With Jiraiya's strength, he is clearly outmatched."
"He is a renowned hero, after all. I imagine the Lord would appreciate his soul. I placed a Kido on him earlier; we just need to collect him when the time comes."
Shisui had already read the intel on the Rinnegan in Fugaku's previous reports, so he wasn't particularly moved now. However, its wielder was indeed a soul worth collecting.
He nodded slightly. "It's not just Jiraiya. Based on the Lord's attitude earlier, he seems quite interested in the Hidden Leaf as well."
"The Hidden Leaf?" Fugaku's brow furrowed, his voice quickening. "Why? Is the Lord planning to move against the village?"
"There are likely powerful individuals in the village that the Lord finds interesting."
Detecting the slight urgency in Fugaku's voice, Shisui frowned.
He turned his head, his expression grave as his crimson Sharingan activated, staring intently at Fugaku's serious face.
"Clan Leader, after all this, surely you don't still harbor feelings for the Hidden Leaf?"
"If the Lord truly decides to act against the village, do not let sentimentality interfere with your duties!"
Shisui didn't hide the warning in his voice. Fugaku remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "It is our home, after all. The village we were willing to bleed and die for in life."
He looked at Shisui and countered, "Aren't you the same, Shisui?"
"Don't tell me you don't feel a thing for the village now; otherwise, you wouldn't be standing here in this state."
Shisui's eyes flickered before settling into an unshakable resolve.
"If the Lord decides to move against the Hidden Leaf, I will be the sharpest blade in his hand!"
"Regardless of whether the opponents are former friends or acquaintances, I will show no mercy!"
"I hope... you understand that as well. Don't be foolish when the time comes, Clan Leader Fugaku."
Fugaku nodded. "I understand. Since that night, the Uchiha clan has had no ties to the Hidden Leaf. If anything, there is only hatred."
"These complex feelings are just a temporary vent for personal emotions. They won't interfere with the mission."
"Besides, knowing the Lord's character, he usually doesn't act against the living."
Shisui nodded in agreement.
To the people of the ninja world, the Lord's power was on a completely different dimensional level—something they couldn't even begin to comprehend.
Even Shisui and Fugaku themselves were invincible entities that the shinobi of this continent could hardly stand against.
That was, of course, excluding the Uchiha ancestor hiding in the Pure Land.
He was a figure of myth and legend; who knew what special abilities he possessed.
Fugaku dropped the subject and shifted to another topic. "If we're collecting the souls of powerful figures, I can recommend someone who might be of great use to us."
"Who?"
"A man named Kabuto Yakushi."
"Kabuto Yakushi? What's his story?"
Seeing Shisui's confusion, Fugaku explained, "You've heard of the Reanimation Jutsu, the forbidden technique created by the Second Hokage, haven't you?"
"I have," Shisui replied with a nod. "It's said to summon the souls of the dead from the Pure Land and force them to fight."
"For our purposes, it would make acquiring the souls of the strong much more convenient."
He looked at Fugaku, his voice turning certain. "Are you saying this Kabuto Yakushi knows that forbidden jutsu?"
"Exactly."
Fugaku continued, "He was Orochimaru's subordinate. Since Orochimaru failed to take over Sasuke's body and was killed by him instead, Kabuto is the only one definitely known to possess this forbidden jutsu."
"Kabuto Yakushi... I'll keep an eye on him."
Shisui nodded, then noticed a discrepancy in Fugaku's words. "You said 'body.' Does that mean Orochimaru has other clones still alive?"
"And what about Sasuke?"
Fugaku's previous reports had mentioned Orochimaru's situation, including his intentions regarding Sasuke.
"It's not clones. Orochimaru used some secret technique to divide his soul and chakra into several parts. A small portion is inside Sasuke, waiting for an opportunity to act."
Fugaku had brought his wife to the ninja world under the guise of gathering intel, but in reality, his true motives were practically self-evident.
He wasn't particularly worried about Orochimaru's trap within Sasuke.
What could a fragmented soul hope to accomplish in the face of the Sharingan?
Only...
Fugaku's eyelids lowered. "After killing Orochimaru, Sasuke gathered a team and has now located Itachi's position," he said in a low voice.
"Mikoto has already headed there. The two brothers are at a former Uchiha stronghold; a fight to the death is unavoidable."
At the mention of the last two remaining Uchiha in the ninja world, Shisui's eyes flickered, and a brief flash of softness crossed his face before vanishing instantly.
"In a fight between them... Sasuke will likely be the winner."
"I think I understand Itachi's mindset to an extent. He loves Sasuke so much that he likely enters this battle intending to die."
Fugaku nodded; he and Mikoto shared the same view of the coming battle.
They were both his own flesh and blood, yet they were forced to cross blades. And Itachi... Sigh.
Shisui spoke softly, "After Itachi dies, we will inevitably obtain his soul. How do you plan to handle it?"
Fugaku's face darkened, his brow furrowing deeply with an indescribable grief.
"I discussed this with the elders before coming to the ninja world."
"After what he did to the Uchiha clan, none of our people will forgive him. The consequence... is naturally for him to experience the clan's wrath firsthand."
"Even if it was on the village's orders, he was the executor. He cannot escape responsibility!"
Fugaku was conflicted, and Shisui was no different.
He had always viewed Itachi as his own younger brother. They had spent so much time together and shared a deep bond, yet Itachi had committed such atrocities.
Even if forced by circumstances, he had gone way too far. There was no reason to let it slide.
He sighed inwardly and added, "And then there's that masked man!"
"On the night of the massacre, the Lord had assigned me to guard the Police Force headquarters. A mysterious masked man broke in and slaughtered everyone inside."
"And from what I observed, that man was clearly a member of the Uchiha clan."
After their deaths, the Uchiha clan had reviewed the events of that night many times; that masked man was a key piece of the puzzle.
He cannot be allowed to get away either!
"Since it's a battle between Itachi and Sasuke, I can't afford to miss it either," Shisui said. "When do they begin?"
"I knew you'd say that, which is why I came to tell you."
Fugaku's voice was low.
"Soon. The brothers are about to clash."
"Then there's no time to lose. Let's head there now."
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]