Marine Headquarters – Fleet Admiral's Office.
After hearing Kuzan and Sakazuki's full report on the Ohara operation, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's expression grew increasingly grim.
"Ninja…? Are you two absolutely sure you weren't mistaken? That boy didn't just eat some unusual Devil Fruit?"
He stared doubtfully at the two Vice Admirals.
If it weren't for his trust in Kuzan and Sakazuki, Sengoku would've suspected they were conspiring to fool him.
Kuzan sat lazily on the sofa and spread his hands.
"I wish I could say it was a Devil Fruit, but... there were no signs of one."
"Gales, water release, lightning, and that legendary ninja technique—Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Shadow Clone Technique)… No known fruit can do all of that."
"And then there's the fox demon form. I've never heard of ninja having such powers, but I'm certain it's not from any Devil Fruit…"
Kuzan laid out his analysis in full detail.
Sengoku's face darkened.
"If what you say is true… and there really are legendary ninja out there, then this is a serious problem…"
A boy no older than six or seven had wounded two future Marine Admirals with bizarre abilities.
Even though neither Kuzan nor Sakazuki had gone all out, the fact that they'd been injured at all spoke volumes.
"The World Government destroyed Ohara… it's likely that boy now bears a grudge that runs bone-deep. And he escaped in the strangest way…"
Sengoku massaged his temples in frustration, fingers tapping rhythmically against the desk.
On a nearby couch, another Admiral candidate, Borsalino, commented lazily:
"A little ninja kid, huh? Pretty amazing. With that kind of power at his age, he might grow up to be another Yonko someday."
The room fell into a heavy silence as the men recalled the current Yonko.
After all, Big Mom had been dubbed a walking steel balloon as a child, possessing brute strength enough to beat giants.
Finally, Sengoku made a decision.
He looked down at the photo of Naruto on his desk and said gravely:
"From today onward, issue a bounty for Uzumaki Naruto. The amount…"
After a pause, he declared:
"Three hundred million Berries."
The three Vice Admirals were stunned. None of them expected Sengoku to set the bounty so high.
The West Blue wasn't like the Grand Line or the New World—bounties over 100 million were extremely rare.
But Sengoku simply asked:
"You don't think he's worth it?"
The room went silent.
Soon after, Naruto's bounty poster was sent out across the seas. Upon seeing the number, the world was shaken.
[Devil's Child: Uzumaki Naruto]
[Primary Suspect in the Destruction of Ohara. Singlehandedly sank twelve Marine warships.]
[Bounty: 300,000,000 Berries]
The sea erupted into a frenzy. Countless bounty hunters and pirates moved in response.
"Haha! A brat with a 300 million bounty? If I kill him, I can live the rest of my life in luxury!"
"Twelve warships, huh? Maybe he used some explosives or something…"
"Doesn't matter—he's just a kid. Easier than catching a big-name pirate. Boys, move out! Find that little bastard!"
…
Meanwhile, the Ohara scholars, safely relocated to the remote island by Naruto, saw the news in the newspaper delivered by a seagull.
"Naruto-kun… has a bounty of three hundred million…"
Robin stared at the poster in a daze.
Olvia tried to reassure her. "Don't worry. With his Doa Doa no Mi (Door-Door Fruit) ability, he should be safe."
The other scholars could only nod in concern.
They were just scholars—helpless to do anything beyond worry.
But Robin shook her head firmly, gripping the bounty poster in her hands.
"Naruto-kun has gone back to his homeland… but I know he'll return. And before then…"
"I'll set out to sea too. I'll become stronger!"
…
As for the one who stirred the world into chaos—Naruto had already returned to Konohagakure.
He stood atop the Hokage Rock, frowning down at the chaotic scene below.
"What's going on? Are the time flows in both worlds… different?"
He had spent six months in the world of pirates, yet only one night had passed here in Konoha.
He could still see villagers scrambling in panic from the previous night's incident, rushing into shelters.
"Whatever," Naruto muttered, shaking his head before diving into his mental world.
Now that he had returned to the shinobi world, the Gate of Worlds in his mind had once again turned blue—signifying the gate to the pirate world.
He tried pushing the gate with his will, only to find it much heavier than before.
It was clear—the door to the One Piece world now resisted him, almost as if it realized he was an intruder.
"To open this door again, I'll need even more chakra and physical power…"
After several failed attempts, Naruto gave up.
Thinking of Robin and the others, he leapt off the Hokage Rock in one swift motion.
Normally, any ninja would have to descend carefully using the rock face.
But for Naruto now, this was child's play.
BOOM!
The blond boy landed hard, feet sinking into the earth—but he walked out casually, unfazed.
On the road, several villagers heading to the shelter spotted him—and their eyes turned hostile.
"You again? Don't come near us!"
"Get lost! A monster like you shouldn't be afraid, right?"
"Just great, as if having one demon wasn't bad enough, now we've got a little thief running around too…"
They muttered and whispered, venting their anxiety and fear.
Naruto… closed his eyes for a moment and inhaled deeply.
Ah… that feeling.
He almost enjoyed it.
After bouncing between worlds, it had been a while since he'd heard this level of unfiltered hatred.
It reminded him he was home. These were, after all… his creditors.
"Wait…" one villager narrowed his eyes. "Something's off. Hasn't the brat… grown taller?"
That prompted others to look again.
Naruto had been under a meter tall before. But now? He looked around 110cm.
"He's a monster, right? Growing fast is just normal for a freak like him."
The others nodded. They chattered among themselves, still completely dismissive.
After all, Naruto had never reacted no matter how much they insulted him.
But today was different.
Naruto smiled.
His bright blue eyes locked onto them.
"Have you… said enough?"
(End of Chapter)
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