When the three arrived near the palace, the scene before them left them all stunned.
There was a large ship, and also a... submarine?
These two behemoths were 'parked' in the square before the palace.
Of course, this wasn't the reason for Hancock's fury.
What truly provoked this pregnant Empress into such an uproar were the people disembarking from those vessels.
Naruto, Sasuke, Karin, and also...
Konohamaru saw Adam in Stussy's arms and thought to himself, 'This sister-in-law named Stussy had indeed given birth to the child first... this sea was truly amazing.'
'But if it were only this, Hancock-nee shouldn't have gotten this angry.'
'After all, when Naruto-Aniki set out, she had said that Stussy-nee was probably going to have a child… Hancock-nee herself knew about this.'
However, Konohamaru's confusion was soon answered as he drew closer.
After rounding the obstruction of the large ship, Konohamaru saw the others who had appeared in the square.
There was a dark-skinned big sister, a glasses-wearing big sister, a maid-dressed big sister, and one... 'Wow, such a tall, horned big sister.'
When Konohamaru's gaze finally focused on the last figure, who was not a 'big sister' but rather petite, he thought he had roughly guessed the reason.
It was a little girl with white hair in a bob cut and a pair of black wings on her back.
Most crucially, her appearance was almost exactly like Hancock's, a complete miniature version of her!
...
Time rewind to before the Haki eruption.
A pitch-black spatial door unfolded above the central square of Amazon Lily, and two seafaring vessels emerged from the void.
—Then, unsurprisingly, they directly plummeted from mid-air.
"Whoops! Still a bit rusty. I'll need to practice this more."
Naruto, using Yomotsu Hirasaka to transport so many people and objects over such a long distance for the first time, was quick-witted and rapidly slapped his hands on the bottoms of the submarine and the ship.
Activating the Ultra Lightweight Rock Technique, the two large vessels finally avoided crushing the square's floor and safely 'landed' in the center of Amazon Lily.
This spectacular relocation naturally drew the attention of the Amazon warriors.
In fact, given their appearance position, right in front of the palace! It was impossible for those warriors not to see them.
The moment the spatial door unfolded, they had already armed themselves and stood ready.
But the Empress of Amazon Lily, Boa Hancock, sensing a familiar aura, actively walked out of the palace.
Although she was over three months pregnant, Hancock's abdominal bulge was not very obvious and did not affect her freedom of movement at all… perhaps with the Empress's current strength, even at nine months pregnant, it might not hinder her.
For details, refer to Big Mom.
Now, Hancock's strength wasn't necessarily inferior to that only female among the Four Emperors.
"Hmph, finally back. You've kept me waiting—"
Hancock descended the stairs with an arrogant stride, approaching Naruto, who had gently placed the two ships in the square.
This always dominant Empress was about to say something to her 'Queen' when her gaze was drawn to the figures disembarking from the ships.
"Hancock! Ah, you should just rest well now, no need to walk around—"
Although he knew his lover's strength, Naruto still offered necessary concern.
He walked over to Hancock and was about to extend a hand to support her when he noticed her staring at the crowd of women emerging behind him...
Ah, there was no helping it. After all, both Sasuke and Karin seemed quite talented at attracting female companions.
He really wondered who they learned that from.
But as a mature man of the sea, Naruto immediately began introducing them to Hancock… also to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
"These two are Kalifa and Naomi, companions Karin made when she set out to sea."
Naruto pointed at the two, who were clearly intimidated by the Empress's aura, and then casually introduced Sasuke's side.
"This is Baby-5, Sasuke's girlfriend."
"He's my fiancé~"
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Baby-5 and Sasuke's voices sounded almost simultaneously.
"As for her—"
When Naruto introduced Yamato, he paused slightly, as if searching for words.
But Yamato clearly had no such concerns. She directly strode forward, then bent her legs slightly in a very formal greeting posture.
"Nice to meet you! Boa Hancock Sister-in-law! This humble one is an unworthy disciple inspired by Naruto-sama to embark on the path of a Righteous Hero. You may call me Yamato!"
Her speaking tone and manner were very solemn, which instead caused Hancock, who had been slightly narrowing her eyes at Yamato's dangerous figure, to freeze for a moment.
"Ah... hello, Yamato..."
To be honest, even Naruto was seeing this kind of uncertain expression on the dominant Hancock's face for the first time.
As the saying goes, innocence conquers all.
"Naruto... why does she call herself 'humble one'?"
Hancock even directly grabbed Naruto and whispered in his ear.
"Ah, that... well... it has to do with her family of origin..."
"Oh..."
Hancock wore an expression of general understanding, then her expression suddenly changed as she remembered that one annoying person hadn't appeared yet.
Tap, tap...
Just as Hancock thought this, the crisp sound of shoes on the ground also sounded in sync.
Stussy, having changed into a looser, more casual long dress, wearing a sunhat and holding little Adam in her arms, calmly walked down from the submarine's exit.
This outfit, compared to the ladies' suits and short skirts she usually preferred, had a little less allure but a bit more softness.
Coupled with the maternal look in her eyes when she gazed at Adam, for a moment Hancock almost didn't recognize her.
'Was this still that thieving cat always trying to compete with me for affection?'
But Hancock's gaze only lingered on Stussy for a few seconds before focusing more on Adam.
Little Adam, perhaps because he had just eaten, was already sleepy on the ship and was now fast asleep.
'So this woman actually found a way...'
'But this child, he really looks like Naruto... so cute...'
Looking at the whisker-like birthmarks on Adam's face, similar to Naruto's, and the quiet way this little ball of flesh slept, the maternal instinct in Hancock's heart also uncontrollably overflowed.
Alongside this maternal instinct came a trace of envy.
But when she instinctively placed her hand on her lower abdomen, this envy quickly disappeared.
'Hmph, my child will be born soon. She will definitely be cuter than this little ball of flesh.'
Hancock thought defiantly.
Her gaze met Stussy's in mid-air. Neither said anything, yet it seemed everything was said.
The onlookers all instinctively stepped back, pushing Naruto, the one responsible, to the front.
You caused this mess; you fix it.
Just as Hancock was about to suggest everyone rest first, the final figure also emerged from the submarine. Then, under Hancock's dumbfounded gaze, silently came to stand behind Stussy.
"Your umbrella, my lady."
Medusa, like the most dutiful attendant, held a parasol for her mistress and also produced a lounge chair from somewhere, placing it behind Stussy.
It was at this moment that Stussy revealed her true smile, looking playfully at Hancock across from her.
Hancock's gaze frantically darted over Medusa's face, which was almost a mirror image of her own.
Especially seeing someone with a face so similar to hers being so deferential to that woman, the veins on Hancock's forehead finally couldn't hold back.
At this point, even the slow Naruto sensed something was wrong.
"Wait, Hancock, she—"
Hum!
Terrifying Conqueror's Haki instantly swept across the entire island, in an instant knocking out all the curious female warriors watching.
As for the bystanders, with Karin, Sasuke, and Yamato's three Conqueror's Haki protecting them, they weren't too affected.
But their understanding of Hancock's strength deepened considerably.
'So strong...'
This was Sasuke, purely marveling at the strong one.
Yamato felt similarly.
Except this silly girl was also a bit eager to try. If not for Hancock's pregnancy, she might have actually challenged her.
As for Karin.
'Indeed... I'm still far behind...'
The little girl had unknowingly fallen into another misunderstanding, always feeling Naruto didn't choose her because of her strength.
Of course, among everyone present, the only one not surprised, instead wearing a beaming smile, was Stussy.
'Yes! Perfect! This is exactly the expression!'
'After waiting so many days, wasn't this the very expression I wanted to see right now?'
The bad woman covered her mouth, with a smile of successfully scheming on her face.