"Speaking of which, it doesn't seem to matter what we say..."
Kizaru stroked his chin, leisurely laughing as he spoke, "Kabuto, after all, we're also members of Akatsuki... you're not surveilling us, are you?"
"Of course not."
Yakushi Kabuto spread his palms, smiled, and said, "You both have the Four-Tailed and Seven-Tailed inside you, why would I waste my time? I simply have some business with Admiral Aokiji and happened to hear a bit..."
"What do you want with him?"
Akainu slowly stood up, putting on his robe.
"The most important thing in the Akatsuki organization is fairness."
Yakushi Kabuto looked at Aokiji, smiling as he spoke, "Because Admiral Aokiji doesn't have a Tailed Beast, Lord Naraku is worried it isn't fair to you, so he entrusted me with sealing the Three-Tailed Isobu within you, making you the Three-Tailed Jinchuriki."
At this point, Yakushi Kabuto turned his gaze to Akainu and Kizaru, chuckling as he continued, "It seems you've already realized how much a Tailed Beast can enhance your powers, this is indeed a gift from the gods..."
"There's no need for that..."
Aokiji waved his hand, intending to refuse this matter.
Even though Tailed Beasts greatly aid them, Aokiji knows that becoming a Jinchuriki means being constantly restrained by the Tailed Beast inside, even under surveillance at all times.
"Admiral Aokiji."
Yakushi Kabuto spread his palms with a smile, speaking softly, "A gift from the gods, I believe no one would refuse, and you won't either, right?"
"Kabuto..."
Aokiji tilted his head, looking at Yakushi Kabuto and asked, "Are you threatening me? I'm also a member of Akatsuki, and aside from Uehara, our members don't really have a hierarchy, right?"
As Nico Robin informed Aokiji, in the entire Akatsuki organization, the hierarchy isn't strict, and aside from Uehara Naraku, all members are considered equal.
This is quite important.
Because Nico Robin is very familiar with Aokiji's character, she was worried that he might have issues with Yakushi Kabuto's unreasonable demands, so she specifically warned him.
If there's really no way out, one doesn't need to fear Yakushi Kabuto.
Of course, one should not offend Yakushi Kabuto either.
Because Yakushi Kabuto is a confidant of Uehara Naraku.
Moreover, having followed Uehara Naraku for a long time, Yakushi Kabuto has picked up some of Uehara Naraku's quirks, like being petty and holding grudges...
Furthermore, with Yakushi Kabuto's high intelligence, he could easily set someone up without them even knowing how they got played...
"..."
Hearing Aokiji's words, Yakushi Kabuto squinted his eyes.
Yakushi Kabuto couldn't help but smirk slightly, showing a bit of amusement, "Admiral Aokiji is correct, but receiving the Three-Tailed Isobu was a task given to me by Lord Naraku... are you sure you want to refuse?"
Yakushi Kabuto spread out his hands, continuing to smile, "As a member of Akatsuki, I believe no one would turn down Lord Naraku, right?"
"Hmm, not quite..."
Aokiji scratched his head, speaking slowly, "If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Uehara seems more lenient than I thought, and he doesn't seem to mind small issues..."
Nico Robin also told Aokiji this.
It's true that Uehara Naraku often doesn't act like a leader in front of them; when faced with unreasonable orders, Akatsuki members can openly express their opinions.
Like Deidara, for instance.
Like that old senior Kakuzu.
Uehara Naraku rarely refuses their requests.
Of course...
If you deliberately provoke...
You'll definitely have your life arranged by Uehara Naraku.
Yakushi Kabuto looked at Aokiji, adjusted his glasses, and slowly nodded, chuckling softly, "Admiral Aokiji has a point, but as subordinates of Lord Naraku, I don't think anyone should take his leniency for granted..."
The smile on Yakushi Kabuto's lips remained as he continued calmly, "Well, since Admiral Aokiji doesn't want to right now, let's leave it at that for now!"
Yakushi Kabuto slowly walked away from the bathhouse, waving his hand, "Admiral Aokiji, I'll be waiting in the lounge nearby, within ten minutes, you'll surely change your mind..."
"..."
Aokiji remained silent.
No matter what, he wouldn't change his mind.
After Yakushi Kabuto left, Kizaru couldn't help but stroke his chin, speaking lazily, "In that case, is it really okay?"
"Akatsuki is quite lenient."
Aokiji slowly turned to look at Kizaru and Akainu, speaking in a low voice, "We are Akatsuki members, and as long as we operate within Akatsuki's rules, we have significant autonomy..."
This is how they use the rules.
As long as they're within Akatsuki's framework, they have considerable freedom, even more than the identity of a Navy Admiral.
To be honest...
Being a member of Akatsuki...
Is actually far more appealing than being an Admiral.
If possible, Aokiji would truly like to resign from his position as an Admiral; living like Kakuzu and those Art Pirates is too relaxed...
When Aokiji said this, he stretched lazily, yawned, and leisurely sat at the tea table, "Life feels no different from before, and if you accept this fact, you actually live a bit more carefree..."
"It really does seem that way..."
Kizaru also sat at the tea table, speaking slowly, "If it weren't for the Seven-Tailed Chomei inside me, I'd almost forget I'm part of Akatsuki."
It feels like this organization doesn't even need us, though we could be doing more with our Admiral status..."
"..."
Akainu sat next to them, speaking in a gruff voice: "Don't let your guard down, who knows about those guys from Akatsuki..."
Plop, plop...
Plop, plop, plop...
A sudden ring from a radio snail interrupted their conversation.
Aokiji couldn't help but furrow his brows, finding it rare that Kizaru was actually quite easy to get along with, and Akainu seemed to have changed a bit from before as well.
Aokiji was just thinking of getting along well with his colleagues...
Damn, at this time... whose radio snail is calling?
When Aokiji slowly answered his radio snail, Nico Robin's voice came through.
The two didn't chat for long before Robin got to the point: "Aokiji, why did you refuse the power of the Three-Tailed Isobu? Mr. Uehara finally agreed to my suggestion..."
"What's this..."
Aokiji rubbed his forehead indifferently, waving his hand dismissively: "Hey, Robin, I don't need the power of the Three-Tailed Isobu..."
So...
Was transplanting the Three-Tails Nico Robin's request? Really don't know what Robin is thinking, actually asking him to transplant the Three-Tails...
"No way!"
Nico Robin's voice carried an undeniable firmness, with a hint of pleading: "Aokiji, Mr. Uehara promised me, as long as you become the Three-Tailed Jinchuriki, he will lift the dark contract between you..."
"..."
Aokiji fell into silence.
The dark contract inside him was established by Uehara Naraku to prevent his betrayal, a constraint more terrifying than becoming a Jinchuriki.
Speaking of which...
Aokiji nearly forgot about it.
Besides, he gradually accepted Akatsuki's philosophy, naturally not caring much about this contract, nor the threat it posed, as life was just a fleeting thing...
Who would have thought...
Nico Robin still remembered this threat.
"Aokiji, I said don't do something stupid..."
In the radio snail, Nico Robin's voice fell slightly: "Remember what you promised me before, no matter what happens, we have to live well..."
"...Hmm."
Aokiji tightened his grip on the radio snail in his hand, speaking in a low voice: "I understand, Robin, I'll go find that guy Yakushi Kabuto..."
"..."
Kizaru's mouth couldn't help but curl into a peculiar smile.
Akainu's face looked slightly unpleasant; no matter what, he still somewhat disapproved of Aokiji's interactions with the Child of the Demon.
A few minutes later.
The Three Great Admirals of the Navy Headquarters stood in front of Yakushi Kabuto.
Aokiji glanced at Kizaru and Akainu next to him, sighed, and then looked at Yakushi Kabuto: "Alright then, let's discuss the timing of the Three-Tailed transplant!"
"We can do it now."
Yakushi Kabuto's mouth still held a smile.
Kizaru's face couldn't help but show a trace of longing: "In that case, does that mean you're about to leave Marinford..."
"There's no need for that."
Yakushi Kabuto extended his hand, placing it on Aokiji's arm, speaking leisurely: "Admiral Kizaru, I'm a staff officer at Navy Headquarters, how could I leave my post without permission!"
Suddenly, a time-space vortex appeared.
The moment the time-space vortex appeared, it swallowed Aokiji and Yakushi Kabuto into the Kamui Space!
When they reappeared, Aokiji had already gained the Three-Tails' chakra, clearly having become the Three-Tailed Jinchuriki.
However...
Aokiji's gaze contained a hint of seriousness.
This Yakushi Kabuto, who had infiltrated the Navy as a spy, was not just relying on intelligence, but also on this bizarre ability!
Just as Aokiji was about to leave, he suddenly turned to Yakushi Kabuto and asked: "Uh, Kabuto, to lift the dark contract on me, did Robin pay any price for making me the Three-Tailed Jinchuriki?"
"No price at all."
Yakushi Kabuto adjusted his glasses, narrowing his eyes with a smile: "It's just that she happens to have to deal with something she dislikes the most again..."
Yakushi Kabuto looked up at the towering Aokiji, smiling as he continued: "It's not a bad thing either, Admiral Aokiji, you'll have the chance to meet often..."
"What do you mean?"
Aokiji frowned tightly.
"This is really interesting."
Yakushi Kabuto rubbed his forehead, chuckling: "Do you remember the CP9 department that secretly defected to Lord Naraku? Recently, the highest meeting of the Akatsuki organization will dispatch a group of Anbu to reinforce this intelligence agent department.
Just because Nico Robin's intelligence talents are exceptional, as the price for helping you, she will be sent to Water Seven City to serve as the secret commander of the potentially large-scale CP9, assisting me in integrating Anbu Ninja into the CP9 department..."
"..."
Aokiji fell silent.
The next moment, Aokiji rubbed his forehead.
Why would Nico Robin, a Child of the Demon with an extremely high bounty, someone who has always been hunted by CP Agents, become the boss of those CP9 agents?
Surely this world is broken, right?