After all...
The combined forces of Marineford and Enies Lobby...
can't possibly defeat the joint power of the Whitebeard Pirates and the Red Hair Pirates!
In any case...
Sengoku must find additional reinforcements. With the World Government unreliable, the only choice is the Konoha Pirates...
Island 1, Shampodi Archipelago.
The Konoha Pirates are all staying inside the auction house.
Orochimaru and Senju Tobirama are browsing through the Devil Fruits collected at this auction house, both engaging in scientific experiments on the Devil Fruits; Red Sand Sasori is meticulously organizing the materials he collected, planning to upgrade and innovate his puppets.
Everyone else...
is naturally watching the battle situation in Enies Lobby.
Senju Hashirama stroked his chin, watching Akihara Kagura and Marco's battle end, and slowly nodded his head: "Seems like that winged guy is pretty strong to have lasted so long against him before being defeated..."
"Hmph..."
Uchiha Madara scoffed coldly in displeasure.
Senju Hashirama didn't mind Uchiha Madara's disdainful displeasure and continued stroking his chin, "I've heard that Marco is a captain in the Whitebeard Pirates, and a captain managed to last several minutes under Akihara Kagura's hands..."
Honestly speaking...
Marco has actually performed quite powerfully.
Even in purely Taijutsu combat, no one in the Ninja World dares to say they could last half a minute in a battle against Akihara Kagura; most would be fortunate to survive a single strike...
The only one who could do it...
is probably Otsutsuki Kaguya, who is watching the Image Radio Snail intently.
"Clearly holding back strength on purpose, right..."
"Obviously doesn't want to showcase his true power in front of others..."
Senju Tobirama tossed aside the sliced Devil Fruit in his hand and spoke in a solemn tone, "When others assume his strength is just that, they're bound to step into his trap..."
"This time..."
"It's not just some ordinary trap."
Red Sand Sasori shook his head; he understood Akihara Kagura well enough to know part of Kagura's plan: "Ever since Kagura gained the Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability, for some unknown reason, neither the World Government nor the Navy have had plans to let him meet Vegapunk yet..."
"Generally speaking..."
"The Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability is surely something Vegapunk desires..."
"No scientist would miss the opportunity to research electricity and magnetism."
"Yet Vegapunk hasn't suggested meeting Kagura, the nominal Rumble-Rumble Fruit wielder, it seems the Navy scientist is still busy with something, without time to meet Kagura, Kagura's only left with the option of seeking him out to grow stronger..."
"What do you mean?"
Senju Hashirama had difficulty understanding Red Sand Sasori's meaning.
"..."
Red Sand Sasori glanced at his captain, knowing well the wisdom and emotional intelligence of this First Hokage, he outright abandoned the explanation, shook his head, and pulled out a Radio Snail.
"Never mind..."
"Let's deal with the matter at hand first..."
"The Navy Admiral should be calling soon, this time we'll set a condition: expose the undercover agent we planted in the Navy, it will strike the World Government's integrity, create a trust crisis between the World Government and the Navy, and pave the way for Kagura to ascend the Admiral position in the future..."
"Expose the undercover agent? Which undercover agent?"
Senju Hashirama pondered their numerous undercover agents within the Navy; they had quite a few, excluding Akainu, from the Navy Admiral to the Admirals were basically their agents!
"This time..."
Red Sand Sasori suggested a candidate: "Choosing a Vice Admiral, to prevent filling an Admiral vacancy in the future... let's choose Vice Admiral Ryokugyu, perfectly fulfilling his deal with another person!"
"Hmm..."
"Ryokugyu?"
Senju Hashirama instinctively reflected on the name, and suddenly, with a hint of surprise, questioned: "Wait, something doesn't seem right... is Ryokugyu our undercover agent?"