Yakushi Kabuto, this guy...
No wonder he's the subordinate Uehara Naraku values the most!
Everyone present was simply confused; they hadn't even figured out what Uehara Naraku meant before Yakushi Kabuto already came up with a flawless answer.
"Alright."
Uehara Naraku patted Yakushi Kabuto on the shoulder, and his gaze fell on Kizaru: "Let's take a look at our Admiral now!"
"I have already surrendered..."
Kizaru was covered in wounds, but his attitude hadn't changed, and he even chuckled as he spoke: "It's truly unexpected; you possess the Glint-Glint Fruit ability that even amazes me!"
During the battle, Kizaru couldn't help but suspect that he had eaten a fake Glint-Glint Fruit because Uehara Naraku seemed to have developed even more abilities.
This guy...
He's really strong!
Moreover, the Armament Haki that Uehara Naraku unleashed at the end was so intense that even Kizaru was somewhat shocked; the strength of that Armament Haki could definitely rival Vice Admiral Garp!
"No matter how much you say, it won't change your fate..."
Uehara Naraku looked at Kizaru, spread his hand, and said softly: "Admiral Kizaru, I guess you wouldn't mind if I gave you a little gift, would you?"
"What is it?"
Kizaru's face still had a smile, but there was a hint of caution in his eyes. Surely this guy wouldn't just give him a date?
"Because you've never really considered the Akatsuki as your home..."
Uehara Naraku stretched out his hand, and a black hole emerged from beside his hand. A strange-looking bug crawled out of the black hole.
The Seven-Tailed, Chomei!
Uehara Naraku reached out to stroke Chomei's horn and said softly: "And I guess you might never really care about the Akatsuki's matters, so I plan to give you something. You shouldn't mind, right?"
As an Admiral of the Navy Headquarters, there's really no Tailed Beast that suits Kizaru's traits. Perhaps the Eight-Tailed would be a better fit, but that would be too much of a waste!
Even the Seven-Tailed, Kakuzu wasn't too pleased.
Kakuzu frowned and couldn't help asking: "Are you really giving this guy the Seven-Tailed Chomei? Uehara, that's a bit too extravagant, isn't it?"
This leader of ours...
Really knows how to waste resources!
"It's just to monitor him."
Uehara Naraku spread his hand nonchalantly: "Because, in my future plans, the Navy is a particularly important component, and we must ensure that the Navy's power is under our control..."
"I still think it's too wasteful."
Kakuzu couldn't help but glance at Kizaru and remarked: "Hmph, can't we kill off this guy and support Kabuto to become a Navy Admiral?"
"That would be troublesome..."
Uehara Naraku shook his head, chuckling softly as he continued to explain: "Besides, I really hope that a future Navy Headquarters Admiral can truly become a member of Akatsuki! Wouldn't their power be quite entertaining?"
The Three Great Admirals of the Navy Headquarters.
Each Admiral could be regarded as monstrous figures. Coupled with their Devil Fruit abilities, they could undoubtedly become high-ranking forces within Akatsuki.
These Admirals...
Are indeed quite useful.
And this is also for Kizaru's sake.
If Kizaru couldn't join the Akatsuki, in the future when Aokiji and Akainu directly defect and reveal their identities, Kizaru would be the only one still appearing loyal to the Navy...
Wouldn't that be too awkward?
"What is this... it looks..."
Kizaru looked at the Seven-Tailed Chomei, and his eyes revealed some doubt.
Kizaru didn't recognize the Seven-Tailed Chomei; he just thought this ugly and intimidating-looking bug wouldn't be given to him as a pet, right?
"This is a divine blessing."
Yakushi Kabuto adjusted his glasses, looked at the suddenly pale-faced Kizaru, and said in a low voice: "Admiral Kizaru, this is a gift from Lord Naraku!"
If you can gain its recognition, your power will increase tremendously, and the cost is just a negligible bit of freedom..."
"Don't make it sound so terrifying, Kabuto..."
Uehara Naraku smiled, slowly waved his hand.
Under his control, the Seven-Tailed Chomei transformed into a stream of chakra that flowed into Kizaru's body, and Uehara Naraku's voice carried an undeniable firmness: "Admiral Kizaru, don't resist. I won't harm you."
"Is it necessary?"
Kizaru's expression became somewhat uneasy: "I've already agreed several times to join your Akatsuki..."
Saying you're not harming someone while stuffing a monster inside their body?
Do you really believe your own words?
This... doesn't sound like something a human would say!
However, as the chakra from the Seven-Tailed Chomei flowed into his body, Kizaru finally slowly sensed that there seemed to be a new creature inside him, along with a newfound power.
In his spiritual world...
That large monstrous insect lingered there, as if it could pounce at any moment, seizing control of his body!
Uehara Naraku's voice appeared in Kizaru's spiritual world, leisurely speaking: "Well then, Chomei, Admiral Kizaru, I hope you two can get along well and not do anything to upset everyone..."
At this point, Uehara Naraku added a warning: "If there's any issue, you can directly ask your friend, Akainu. You both are Jinchuriki, so you can privately exchange notes..."
"Hmm?"
Kizaru's gaze fell on Uehara Naraku, his mouth twitched slightly, revealing an odd smile: "That guy Sakazuki... is he also a member of the Akatsuki?"
Could it be...
It can't be true, right?
Even though Kizaru has always been mentally strong...
he still found it hard to believe when he suddenly heard this news.
If Kizaru himself surrendered to the Akatsuki, it might be acceptable. If Aokiji surrendered, it could also be acceptable, because both of their personalities predestined them not to care about such identities...
But...
There's no way Akainu would surrender!
Kizaru knows his friend very well. Akainu's personality is fierce, and facing the lawless group like the Akatsuki, he would rather die than join!
"Yes, he is also with the Akatsuki."
Uehara Naraku interrupted Kizaru's thoughts: "Admiral Akainu was a few months earlier than you... He has probably already accustomed himself to the power of the Four-tailed Beast!"
"Four-tailed? Seven-tailed?"
Kizaru frowned, but couldn't help but feel a bit relieved: "Does Sakazuki have a similar monster inside him as well?"
This feeling was somewhat subtle.
"Don't call Chomei a monster; it won't be beneficial for your relationship."
Uehara Naraku looked at Kizaru with a considerate expression: "How do you feel now? Not too pressured, right? You and Admiral Akainu were in the Navy Training Camp at the same time, colleagues in the Navy, and now colleagues within the Akatsuki..."
"..."
Kizaru's expression grew increasingly subtle as he listened.
Even though Uehara Naraku was right, if Akainu also had the same monster within him, it seemed this matter could be temporarily accepted...
No wonder Kizaru had felt Akainu had grown stronger and more profound in thought when he went to visit him at the G1 Branch Base after his injuries healed...
And always with a sigh about life's brevity...
So that guy had secretly joined the Akatsuki!
Kizaru's eyes flickered as he thought of a question: "Ah, so if that's the case, two of the Admirals of the Navy Headquarters are already undercover within the Akatsuki?"
This is somewhat dangerous!
If it was just Kizaru joining the Akatsuki, he could still slack off, and it wouldn't have had much impact on the Navy...
But if Akainu had also joined the Akatsuki...
Would the Navy's future depend on the lazy Aokiji? The feeling that the Navy might soon collapse grew stronger.
Uehara Naraku did not answer Kizaru's question, but merely curled his lips: "This matter... you should ask Akainu when you return!"
This kind of thing...
How could he say it himself?
"Alright."
Uehara Naraku looked at Kizaru and continued: "The Seven-tailed Chomei is very helpful to you, and you can just head to the G1 Branch in the New World and get some intel on the Tailed Beasts and Jinchuriki from Akainu. He knows quite a bit more than you do..."
After saying that, Uehara Naraku withdrew from Kizaru's spiritual world.
The goal of this journey was basically achieved.
The crisis Hoshigaki Kisame faced from the Whitebeard Pirates was resolved.
Hawk Eye Mihawk, the world's greatest Sword Master, joined the Akatsuki, and the last free Navy Headquarters Admiral, Kizaru, joined half-willingly and half-forced.
Besides these, Uehara Naraku also completed tasks related to Hawk Eye Mihawk and Admiral Kizaru and received quite lucrative rewards.
Side Quest: Defeat Navy Headquarters Admiral Kizaru (1/1), mission complete, reward: 180,000 Life Energy, 180,000 Armament Haki, 180,000 Observation Haki.
Kizaru's abilities should be the most troublesome...
Unfortunately, the system rewards are slightly weaker than Akainu's.
Side Quest: Recruit the Three Great Admirals of the Navy Headquarters as subordinates (3/3), mission complete, reward: 500,000 Life Energy, 500,000 Armament Haki, 500,000 Observation Haki.
This mission's reward...
Can be said to be the most luxurious reward to date!
Even Uehara Naraku had never seen such a level of reward appear, but it's normal because once you've taken control of the Navy Headquarters Admirals, it means having the power to absolutely dominate them... It couldn't just be through persuasion, right?
Besides these fixed three-dimensional rewards, there was also a hidden task reward.
Moreover, this hidden task was completed before the battle with the help of Yakushi Kabuto, with Uehara Naraku just manipulating things behind the scenes.
Hidden Task: Let Kizaru experience the feeling of being played (1/1), mission complete, fixed reward: Skill Light Binding.
Light Binding: Uses the power of the Light Element to form a cage that restricts the enemy's movement, sealing their actions. Minimum cost of 100 Life Energy, and no cooldown time.
It was precisely this hidden reward that allowed Uehara Naraku to easily defeat Kizaru.
This journey for Uehara Naraku could be considered complete...
Perhaps the only regret...
is that Sasori of the Red Sand and Deidara were toyed with by Perona's abilities, failing to deal with another Seven Warlords of the Sea, Moonlight Moriah, though luckily their identities were not exposed…
This sea truly can't be underestimated...
Now, the great operation of the Akatsuki has finally ended.
After the Red Sun Array on the entire small island was lifted, all members of the Akatsuki and the Reanimation Ninja, under Uehara Naraku's orders, returned to their respective positions.
It's estimated that not many people across the sea realized that while their eyes were still on the aftershocks of the war between the Hundred Beast Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates... the power dynamics of this world had already undergone unimaginable changes.
However... they will know soon enough.