Chapter 304: Surrender

(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)

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Since a certain incident long ago, Uchiha Madara had developed an unusual sensitivity. (Cough, black Zetsu, cough)

Anyone attempting to sneak up behind him triggered an almost allergic reaction from him.

It was now an instinctive reaction from him, a hardened reflex from countless battles.

When Doflamingo attempted to attack him from behind with his threads, it unearthed memories that were best left forgotten.

'Tsk, bastard!'

If it weren't for Colt's clear instructions, Madara might have already ended the man without hesitation.

Doflamingo now lay sprawled on the ground, staring up at the vast, cloudless sky above him.

His arrogance was shattered; the usual grin had long since faded from his face.

Even if he pushed his Devil Fruit powers to their fullest, it wouldn't have changed the outcome.

For years, he had taken pride in his Shichibukai status, and relished his alliance with Kaido.

It had been enough to make even the Four Emperors acknowledge him in their own ways.

Yet today, that confidence felt like an illusion, ruthlessly torn apart by Madara's overwhelming power.

'From the perspective of the strong, I'm indeed nothing but a clown'

'Perhaps even Kaido sees me as nothing more than that,' he thought, a bitter smile crossing his lips.

The realization stung, but it was undeniable.

A flicker of defiance remained in him, though, and he spoke up, voice low but clear.

"I have one request," Doflamingo began, his tone carrying a thread of resignation.

"Kill me if you must, but spare my family. They're no threat to you. Plus, they had nothing to do with what I had done"

Madara's eyes narrowed slightly, a glimmer of something indecipherable in his gaze.

"Interesting… a shred of responsibility." It was rare for Madara to offer even the faintest hint of praise, but his voice was as cold as ever.

"But unfortunately for you, as long as you are an enemy, you're in no position to negotiate." He took a step closer, his shadow looming over Doflamingo.

"Surrender, and I may grant you a chance—to serve us."

Doflamingo's face registered a flash of surprise, his heart pounding.

"You're… not going to kill me?" he asked, unable to keep the curiosity from his tone.

Madara's gaze didn't waver.

"No. Someone else has made that decision. And now you have a glimmer of a chance,"

For the first time since his defeat, Doflamingo felt a hint of hope reignite.

"Is it that person who was on the den-den mushi? I don't understand. Your strength rivals the Four Emperors. Why would you submit to anyone? I can feel your Haki…"

Haki was about willpower, and Madara clearly had that aura of conquest, how could he serve under anyone then?

"Silence!" Madara's voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.

"I, Uchiha Madara, have never had to explain myself to anyone. Why would I explain anything to you, now?" His stare hardened, brimming with power.

"You have only one option: fulfill the tasks I assign, or I'll send you to the Pure Land along with your family."

Doflamingo's expression grew grim.

His mind raced, absorbing the gravity of the situation.

Was this the price for daring to oppose Madara, even briefly?

His thoughts lingered on Kaido.

Had he not once been a pawn, a mere tool for Kaido's ambitions?

Becoming a puppet for Madara's interests didn't seem so different…

Reluctantly, he nodded, murmuring his agreement.

"I agree…"

With that simple word, the lives of the Donquixote Family were spared.

Though every member was badly injured, their survival was certain under Madara's command. Given enough time, they would recover.

"Good. You'll have tasks soon enough," Madara said, giving Doflamingo a final, pointed look before he turned to leave.

The apology banquet Doflamingo had prepared for Madara went unused and he only needed to agree it seemed.

Without sparing a glance, Madara departed, his next move already clear.

With the Donquixote Family's intelligence network at his disposal, he acquired the information he needed and left without hesitation.

The brief skirmish with Doflamingo had barely scratched the surface of his interest; only the Sasuke matter lingered in his mind.

Watching Madara's figure vanish in the distance, Doflamingo laughed bitterly to himself.

"Fufufu… I wonder who's really pulling the strings behind him," he muttered, eyeing the ruins of his palace.

His defeat was complete, yet he couldn't help feeling a strange thrill.

Power of that caliber… it was frightening but undeniably captivating.

A while later, his cadres woke up.

"Doffy, are we really going to do things for them?" Diamante asked cautiously.

He'd sensed the lethal danger surrounding Madara and his hidden boss; any misstep could spell doom for the entire Donquixote Family.

"Do we really have a choice?" Doflamingo replied with a strained smile.

"Besides, it's not every day that we get the chance to get acquainted with a power on this level. In the coming chaotic times, that's the only way to secure our place."

The faint sound of a den-den mushi echoed, breaking the moment's silence.

Doflamingo raised an eyebrow and answered with his usual confidence.

"Well, well… what an unexpected guest, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."

****

At Marineford, Sengoku put down the receiver, his face grim.

The Marines had always kept close tabs on Doflamingo, knowing he was one of the most volatile Shichibukais.

When the reports of his clash with Madara came in, they couldn't ignore it.

Sengoku had hoped that Doflamingo would provide some information, though he wasn't expecting to hear much.

But Doflamingo's words confirmed Madara's overwhelming power, as it was enough to bring Doflamingo to his knees.

One thing stood out from their conversation—the name "Uchiha."

It struck a nerve, raising more questions about Madara's possible connection to Sasuke.

Seeking clarification, Sengoku placed a call to Naruto himself.

"Naruto, do you know Uchiha Madara?"

A crackle of static preceded Naruto's reply.

"Sorry, Grandpa Marshal, I was chasing a pirate. Uchiha Madara? He's… also from the Uchiha clan and can be considered Sasuke's elder and their relationship is complicated, to say the least."

Sengoku frowned, sensing that there was more to the story, but Naruto's tone suggested that he wouldn't give any further details.

"Is that so? I see," he murmured, though his thoughts were far from settled.

Uchiha… Uzumaki…

Just where did this Konoha Village emerge from?

The Marines' intelligence had attempted to locate this mysterious "Konoha Village," but no one had managed to find even a trace of it.

The village was as elusive as Laughtale itself, wrapped in layers of secrecy.

After some thought, Sengoku decided against placing a bounty on Madara; after all, he hadn't committed any acts of piracy.

However, Madara's name was quietly added to the Marine's watch list.

The potential threat that he posed was undeniable.

If he and Sasuke were to combine forces, their strength could potentially rival any of the Four Emperors.

"What's going on in these seas?" Sengoku muttered, a sense of foreboding creeping into his voice.

****

In the days that followed, rumors of Madara's encounter with Doflamingo spread like wildfire.

Despite the Marines' efforts to keep the information under wraps, the intelligence broker Morgans caught wind of the story and wasted no time publishing it.

Madara's name then resonated across the seas, carrying an aura of fear and mystery.