Chapter 22: Naval Plans

Grand Line, Naval Headquarters, Fleet Admiral's Office.

Right now, everyone in the Fleet Admiral's office was silent. They had seen the battle taking place and even though they had not seen it in person. They knew that Whitebeard had lost that battle. They could tell that when the human-shaped statue finished its attack. There was no longer any sign of fighting going on.

"So scary…" Kizaru was the first to open his voice, "Being able to beat Whitebeard in a battle like that. I wonder, who is that person really?"

"This is an opportunity for us to kill Whitebeard" Akainu said in a deep voice while looking at Sengoku.

"Stop it!" Garp immediately said seriously and looked at Akainu, "Do you think we can do that? Although at this time it was certain that Whitebeard lost that battle. Can you be sure that we Marines can attack him right now with that person currently with him?!"

"It's true what Garp said" Tsuru said seriously, "Although there is a possibility that Whitebeard is currently suffering very serious injuries from that battle. We can't try to attack him at the moment. We don't know if that person will help Whitebeard or not. Especially we also still don't know the relationship between the two of them. Whether the two of them were friends or foes. If the two of them are friends, we will be the ones who will suffer huge losses later."

Akainu was silent for a moment hearing this.

"We will not try to attack Whitebeard. Although we currently have the opportunity to do so. There's a lot of risk if we do that especially in the New World territory, Whitebeard's Fleet will definitely move to block us" Sengoku said in a deep voice and continued, "Instead of us having to go attack him. We can publicize Whitebeard's defeat. Although, we didn't do anything. However, this defeat will of course make Whitebeard's popularity decline. Then, if we know that the person who fought Whitebeard didn't join his group, we can try to invite him to join the Marines. If he joins the Navy. Whoever the opponent is even if it's Whitebeard. We will not be afraid"

"Arara~ I think it's a good idea" Aokiji said casually.

"Bahahahah… I never thought that you still have such a smart brain, Sengoku" Garp immediately laughed excitedly.

Tsuru nodded and continued, "Then how about Vice Admiral Momonga right now? Should we let him monitor there waiting for that person to leave the island?"

"Sure" Sengoku nodded, "Let Momonga do some monitoring there and wait to hear from that person. If that person doesn't join Whitebeard's pirate group. That means that person will definitely leave from there and return to his place. We can use that time to try and invite him to join us."

New World, Island Where Whitebeard and Hashirama Battled, Central Area.

"Gurarara~ Bastard Hashirama! Your last attack was very painful." Whitebeard was currently sitting on the ground while in front of him was Hashirama helping him treat the wounds caused by their previous battle.

"That is my strongest ability. Of course his attack power is stronger than my other abilities" Hashirama replied casually and continued again, "You have terrifying physical strength, Whitebeard. You can survive 500 consecutive hits. You are the first to be able to do that."

"Gurarara~ It's an honor for me to be the first" Whitebeard despite himself losing the previous battle. However, his current feeling was very happy because he had not experienced such an intense battle in a long time.

"By the way, Hashirama. Say, in your kingdom. How many people have the same power as you?" Whitebeard asked with great interest.

"How many?" Hashirama thought for a moment and tried to recall, "If there are 2 people with stronger strength than me. There are 7 people who have the same strength as me. There are currently 6 people with strength equal to yours. While the people with the power level like Kaidou are 4 people. These people I mentioned are the supreme fighting power of our kingdom. There are still people with the same level of strength as your vice-captain, Marko."

Whitebeard immediately fell silent hearing this and looked at Hashirama with a look full of horror. With Hashirama's presence alone, a group would become very scary even if Hashirama formed a pirate. At least his pirate level is on par with Whitebeard's pirate group.

"And all those people are currently following someone who is weaker than them?"

"Sure" Hashirama nodded, "Even though our current King is so weak that even an ordinary member of your crew can defeat him. However, our King has a very frightening intelligence and can easily make fun of a person or group. Besides, even though our current King is still someone who is very weak. However, in less than 5 years from now. Our king will be someone who stands on top of the world."

"Gurarara~ This is interesting. I'm very interested in waiting for that day to come." Whitebeard said excitedly.

Hashirama continued his healing that was done to Whitebeard until he managed to heal all the wounds that Whitebeard had, even the broken bones he had previously healed.

"Okay. You have been successfully healed. Let's go back. I'm a little sorry to your crew for making them unconscious at this time"

"Gurarara~ It doesn't matter. It can also help them open their eyes that this world is huge. There are many strong people in this world. They should also be aware by now that their strength is very weak." Whitebeard said calmly and continued, "Let's go. We also need to complete the transactions we did."

Hashirama nodded.

The two of them immediately walked back to Whitebeard's ship and saw that everyone there was still unconscious.

"Hahaha…" Hashirama's face was currently in a state of embarrassment, "I think I overdid it a bit"

Whitebeard and Hashirama started to wake up the commander of the Whitebeard pirates. The first person they woke up was Marko.

"Oyaji?" Marko, who woke up from his stupor, was suddenly shocked.

"Gurarara~ Marko, help Hashirama to wake up the others. We will sail back soon to complete the transaction we are about to do"

Marko was a little dazed hearing this then suddenly remembered the battle that Whitebeard and Hashirama should have fought, "How was the fight, Father? Did you won?"

"Gurararara~" Whitebeard didn't answer immediately but laughed then looked at Marko, "No. I lost"

"Lost?" Marko's eyes immediately opened wide hearing this while his mouth was also opened so big that he could fit a ball into it.

"We can discuss that later. Hurry up and help Hashirama wake up everyone who fainted."

Marko immediately woke up and saw Hashirama calmly start to wake the crew one by one. Marko then immediately helped Hashirama wake up the entire crew. Everyone was currently in a daze until they recalled that this time Whitebeard and Hashirama should be fighting.

"Father lost the battle" Marko immediately answered the confusion they were currently experiencing.

"Father lost? Are you kidding?! How could Father lose?" Joz asked with an unbelievable face.

"Marko isn't joking, Joz" Whitebeard replied calmly, "I lost that battle. Hashirama's power was really strong as Jinbei said. It was a fair match. Hashirama won that battle."

Everyone immediately fell silent hearing this and their gazes immediately looked at Hashirama who looked very calm as if nothing had happened there.

Marko couldn't help but sigh and looked at Hashirama, "Hashirama, during the previous battle. We could feel a very terrible pressure. Did it come from you?"

"Sure" Hashirama nodded, "You must have been told by Jinbei about spiritual energy control, right?"

They all nodded.

"Once a person has attained complete control over his spiritual energy along with the amount of spiritual energy he has in abundance. They can use the spiritual energy to spread in the surrounding area according to the amount of spiritual energy they have. The more spiritual energy they had, the wider the range they could spread. If a person or group is within the scope of that spiritual energy dispersion, the soul of that person or group will be suppressed by the spiritual energy. If the strength possessed by a person or a group is very weak. They will not be able to control their bodies or even under certain conditions they may become unconscious because they cannot withstand the pressure. Meanwhile, if that person has strong strength. They would only be suppressed in strength by 10%. That said, this ability itself is almost the same as the ability of Conqueror's Haki. If someone who doesn't have Conqueror's Haki but wants to have that ability. He could try to cultivate his spiritual energy as well as cultivate it. If the person has reached the point where the amount of spiritual energy is very large and also the control has reached the perfect level. Even though he doesn't have Conqueror's Haki. That person can defeat his opponent by releasing the pressure."

Everyone fell silent hearing this because they didn't expect that spiritual energy could be harnessed like that.

"Doesn't that mean you can currently be said to have two Conqueror's Haki within you?" Thachr asked strangely.

"Just say so" Hashirama nodded, "To be honest it's quite helpful. because with this ability. I don't need to fight against enemies weaker than me. It was quite rotten even though the enemy's strength was decent. However, it was quite troublesome for me to fight someone who was weak. I prefer to fight if the opponent has an ability like Whitebeard or a slightly weaker one compared to him like Kaidou and others"

"Gurarara~ Does that mean you're saying I'm stronger than them, Hashirama?" Whitebeard asked with a smile full of pleasure.

"That's how it is" Hashirama nodded, "Though I've never met them. However, my King said that their combat power is still below yours. That's why I prefer to fight with you than them."

The previous sad feelings were immediately filled with joy after hearing Hashirama say Whitebeard was stronger than Kaidou and the others.

"Hey, Hashirama" Ace suddenly walked over with a face full of pleasure, "What are you going to do after this? Will you come back right away after solving the transaction problem?"

"Come back?" Hashirama asked confusedly, "Are you guys going to do something?"

"Gurarara~ Of course!" Whitebeard said excitedly, "We just had a great battle. Despite losing. It was a very extraordinary battle. We will have a party. Hashirama, how about you join the party with us?"

"Party?" Hashirama's eyes immediately lit up with excitement, "Wait a minute. I will contact His Majesty. I wonder if I have a task to do or not"

Hashirama quickly took out his den-den mushi and immediately contacted Ars. Not long after, the communication line was connected and everyone there immediately noticed.

"Hello, Ars is here" Ars' voice was immediately heard clearly by everyone who was there.

"Your Majesty, it's me, Hashirama"

"Oh? Hashirama. What is it? How's the deal with Whitebeard's pirate group?"

"The transaction will take place immediately."

"Do it soon? Did you just finish your battle with Whitebeard?"

"We just finished it a while ago"

"I see" Ars nodded, "Well, is there anything you need?"

"I wonder, do I have any work to do after this?"

"Task? Do you want to do something out there? Oh, wait a minute. Do you want to party together with Whitebeard's pirate group?"

"How did you find out?" Hashirama asked in confusion.

This also applies to everyone who was there.

"It's easy enough to know about it. The party is a tradition that is always carried out by pirate groups. In doing the cruise, usually there will be boring days. Those boring days they will usually cover with a party. That also applies when they finish fighting or various other things. They will definitely do that." Ars paused and continued, "If you want to party. Please. Use this time for your rest. However, you come back tomorrow. There is a lot of work to be done."

"Hahaha… I see. I will definitely come back when the party is over"

The line of communication was immediately cut off as Hashirama immediately put away the den-den mushi and looked at everyone, "Everyone! I have obtained permission! Let's have a great party!"

"Oh!" Everyone immediately cheered with joy knowing that Hashirama would be joining the party.

"Gurarara~" Whitebeard laughed excitedly at this.

Whitebeard was previously worried that Hashirama would find it difficult to blend in with his children, especially when he defeated him. However Whitebeard did not believe that in just a short period of time. They all became very familiar.

Whitebeard's pirate group ship finally arrived back at Shinx Island. The entire Whitebeard pirate crew immediately took out all the drinks and food they had and then they began to party on the beach with full of fun even though their captain lost the battle.