Moby Dick.
Haruno Sakura shyly left.
After seeing Haruno Sakura off, Uchiha Sasuke returned to the ship.
The pirates on the ship looked at Uchiha Sasuke, each of them couldn't help but whistle at Sasuke, and the whole Moby Dick was filled with joy.
After Whitebeard Edward Newgate pointed it out, most of the pirates could already tell the relationship between Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura.
Uchiha Sasuke couldn't help but frown and said to Whitebeard, "Hey, old man, don't say things carelessly!"
"Is that so?"
Whitebeard's mouth curled into a smile, he slowly shook his head and turned to look at Marco beside him: "Gurarara... Marco, youth is great, isn't it?"
"Yeah, Dad!"
Marco couldn't help but smirk as well.
The captains on the Moby Dick quickly gathered around Uchiha Sasuke, all of them wearing smiles on their faces.
"Hey, Sasuke, when's the wedding?"
"The Moby Dick can hold a wedding anytime!"
"Even if there's a baby, it's no problem. We've had two little babies on this ship before, we can help you take care of the kid!"
"Miss Haruno Sakura is very cute, get married soon! You're already twenty, a mature adult!"
"..."
This group of captains teased Sasuke one after another.
Even Portgas D. Ace couldn't help but laugh: "If a child is born, I must be their godfather!"
"You guys..."
Uchiha Sasuke's face didn't look too good, he couldn't help but rub his forehead and said, "Just shut up already!"
"Hmm, this is strange..."
Ace wouldn't listen, he couldn't help but touch his chin: "I remember Sasuke seemed to mention Miss Haruno Sakura occasionally, she seems to be your and Naruto's teammate?"
To be honest...
Ace's memory was thanks to Uzumaki Naruto.
After all, the people Uchiha Sasuke mentioned most often, if ranked, the top would definitely be the leader of the Akatsuki (that person).
Usually, when Uchiha Sasuke mentioned the leader of the Akatsuki, it was to warn Ace not to speak ill of that person, alas often led to the opposite effect.
Next would be Uzumaki Naruto, because Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto's relationship is complex, once they talk about the past, they can't avoid that blonde.
Then naturally comes Uchiha Itachi, occasionally when Ace and Uchiha Sasuke talk about family, they bring up Uchiha Itachi.
Haruno Sakura...
Rarely mentioned, usually associated with Uzumaki Naruto, so Ace never realized any emotional issues between Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura.
"Sakura and I used to be teammates in the same class..."
Uchiha Sasuke's face grew darker, he just responded with a sentence before angrily saying, "Didn't I say, stop talking about this!"
How should he put it?
Should Sasuke say it himself, that during his time at Konoha's Ninja Academy, he was very popular among the girls, and Haruno Sakura was just one of them...
Maybe a relatively important one.
"Really, it's obvious you also..."
Marco helplessly shook his head, just about to continue, when he saw Uchiha Sasuke's displeased face, he quickly changed the subject: "Alright, alright, let's drop it, is it okay to leave Miss Haruno Sakura on that island?"
"No problem."
Uchiha Sasuke nodded and said in a low voice, "That guy won't let people loyal to him get hurt, maybe by now Sakura's already been picked up..."
When they separated...
Haruno Sakura had already told him that Uehara Naraku was very unhappy with his actions, believing he was derelict for not reporting the Dark-Dark Fruit news in the first instance.
However...
Nothing escapes Uehara Naraku's notice.
Uehara Naraku even knew about Teach stealing the Dark-Dark Fruit!
"Let's talk business then!"
Uchiha Sasuke glanced at Whitebeard and said, "Old man, I'm going to hunt down Teach to see if I can retrieve the Dark-Dark Fruit... If Teach has eaten that fruit, I'll kill him. During this time, you guys should immediately search for the reborn Dark-Dark Fruit."
"Sasuke, let me go!"
Ace walked up to Sasuke and said in a deep voice, "Teach is my crew member, he broke the iron rule that cannot be broken on this ship, I have to capture him back!"
"Shut up!"
Uchiha Sasuke glared at Ace.
This time, Ace didn't back down as usual, he just said softly: "Sasuke, it's something I absolutely can't forgive myself for... If I hadn't overlooked Teach's ambition, Saki wouldn't have almost died."
"Ace, it's not your fault."
"Yeah, who would have thought that Teach, that guy, would harm his own companions over a Devil Fruit!"
"Don't blame yourself so much, Ace!"
"Sorry, everyone."
Portgas D. Ace took off his hat and said seriously: "Just this once, I want to make up for the mistake I made. My small boat is the fastest, I can go alone, I'll recover the Dark-Dark Fruit soon!"
As the Captain of Squad 2 of the Whitebeard Pirates, the guilt in Ace's heart made him have to stand up and take responsibility.
If he hadn't overlooked Teach...
The Whitebeard Pirates wouldn't have had so many troubles.
"Ace..."
Whitebeard showed a hint of hesitation on his face.
The agreement between the Whitebeard Pirates and the Akatsuki must be fulfilled, the mission to hunt down Marshall D. Teach, regardless, someone has to do it.
But...
This matter is quite troublesome.
Marshall D. Teach hiding within the Whitebeard Pirates for so many years, always pretending to be an honest person, no one could see through his intentions.
Now it seems...
That guy is possibly more dangerous than imagined!
Whitebeard shook his head and said in a deep voice: "We should spend these days here to think of other ways, don't be too hasty, Ace..."
"Forget it, I'll go with Ace!"
Uchiha Sasuke glanced at Ace, who stubbornly insisted. As the former Vice Captain of the Black Spade Pirates, Sasuke understood Ace's feelings well.
Uchiha Sasuke looked at Whitebeard and interrupted him: "Old man, we only have two months, Teach could eat the Dark-Dark Fruit at any time, we can't waste any more time, let's go!"
"Okay!"
Ace nodded his head.
Ace extended his finger, blazing a flame at his fingertip, quickly burning off the ropes of the Moby Dick, allowing a small boat powered by flame propulsion to drop onto the sea.
The figures of the two leapt down onto the small boat!
"Hey, Ace, Sasuke!"
"Wait for Dad to finish talking!"
"You're too impatient!"
A group of captains rushed to speak, trying to stop them, but they could only see the fiery waves that carried Ace's boat speeding into the distance.
Whitebeard's brow remained furrowed. He slowly clenched his fist and ordered in a deep voice: "Marco, we can't sit back, immediately issue captain's orders to other ships to hunt Teach in the New World..."
"Yes!"
Marco nodded promptly.
He glanced at Whitebeard again, trying to reassure him: "Old man, don't worry too much, with Sasuke and Ace together, they shouldn't encounter any trouble along the way..."
After all...
Uchiha Sasuke possesses strength comparable to the Four Emperors, even a Navy Admiral wouldn't be his match!
"It's fine."
Whitebeard shook his head, his expression still unsatisfied.
Just as Uchiha Sasuke and Ace were setting off to find Marshall D. Teach, Uehara Naraku received the news as well, he and Kizaru were still en route to Marinford.
Uehara Naraku tapped his fingers on the table, sighed lightly: "Seems I won't be staying long in the Navy..."
Based on the information Uehara Naraku recently received, the man behind the Summit War's eruption, Marshall D. Teach, had already left the Whitebeard Pirates, and there's no way Uehara Naraku would let this opportunity slip.
According to Uehara Naraku's plan...
Marshall D. Teach is the most suitable candidate for his number two.
However, joining Teach's Pirate Gang might require some effort, the most suitable place should be Impel Down Prison...
Kizaru didn't know Uehara Naraku's thoughts, a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips: "Oh ho ho... Doesn't Mr. Uehara like staying in the Navy anymore?"
That would be ideal...
Otherwise, wouldn't he be facing two bosses all the time?
The public boss being the Navy Admiral Sengoku the Buddha, and the private boss as the leader of Akatsuki, Uehara Naraku; having both together would indeed be stressful for this little Navy Admiral!
Uehara Naraku wanting to leave the Navy is indeed good news!
"Yeah, the Navy doesn't have much meaning."
Uehara Naraku sighed again and continued: "Before leaving, I still want to do something for the Navy..."
"Really?"
Kizaru's gaze became subtle.
Actually, the Navy doesn't need it; it's best if nothing's done!
But rejecting Uehara Naraku's request is generally impossible, whether he plans to do good deeds or bad ones...
If anyone dares to decline Uehara's goodwill...
It's said that this world would become hostile to them!
After pondering for a moment, Uehara Naraku suddenly looked at Kizaru: "Borsalino, if I capture the Revolutionary Army's leader Dragon for the World Government, will the Five Elders reward me by allowing me to kill some Heavenly Celestial Dragons for fun?"
"..."
Kizaru's gaze was puzzled.
What's Uehara Naraku thinking?
Capture Dragon, then kill some Heavenly Celestial Dragons?
Which side is Uehara leaning towards!
"I'm not sure if I should say this…"
Kizaru's face showed a hint of hesitation, but he still spoke up: "Dragon's situation is more complicated than imagined; capturing him..."
"It doesn't matter…"
Uehara Naraku waved dismissively, speaking in a low tone: "If I can't capture Dragon, the Revolutionary Army leader, it's probably okay to catch the second-in-command!"
A smile appeared on Uehara Naraku's lips as if remembering something amusing, his fingers tapped rhythmically on the table.
"It sure is intriguing!"
Uehara Naraku's smile was hard to suppress: "I specially expended some effort to finally help him regain his memory..."
"Who?"
Kizaru couldn't grasp Uehara Naraku's meaning.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Uehara Naraku shook his head without elaborating, his fingers tapping on the table more rapidly, and his smile growing more mysterious.
A memory-restored Sabo will likely follow Dragon to Log Town to see his sworn brother off on the Grand Line, won't he?