"Absalom! Where the hell are you?!" Gecko Moria's furious roar echoed through the dimly lit halls of the eerie castle on Thriller Bark. His voice carried across the entire ship, sending chills down the spines of the zombie minions scattered throughout the island.
"Moria-sama! Moria-sama! What's the matter?" A soft, high-pitched voice chimed in as Perona, holding a maroon parasol and with her signature pink twin-tails, floated toward Moria.
"Absalom's gone missing. Find him now!" Moria growled.
"Right away, Moria-sama," Perona replied and quickly set off to search for the elusive Absalom.
Gecko Moria was known for his deep attachment to his comrades. After the devastating loss of his crew to Kaido, Moria had spiraled into despair. He would later go to extreme lengths to rescue Absalom from Blackbeard, even knowing the overwhelming odds he faced. Moria's willingness to confront Blackbeard and his entire crew singlehandedly, despite knowing Absalom was likely already dead, demonstrated how much he valued his comrades.
Daniel, fully aware of Moria's loyalty, didn't hesitate to eliminate Absalom when the time came. Caring for one's crew was not uncommon in the world of pirates—after all, even Doflamingo had his strong familial bonds with his subordinates.
"Well, how do you like her talent?" In the expansive underground training area beneath Rainbase, Daniel asked as he turned toward Akame, who had just completed a sparring session with a figure shrouded in shadow.
Daniel hadn't defeated Ryuma to bring him here. If that were the case, Ryuma's zombie body would have lost Brook's shadow and reverted to a lifeless corpse. Instead, Daniel had made a different proposition—he offered Ryuma the chance to pass on his swordsmanship to the next generation. Ryuma, despite the influence of Moria's Shadow-Shadow Fruit, found the offer appealing, especially since Daniel's unique abilities allowed Ryuma to temporarily break free of Moria's control.
It was important to note that Ryuma's current strength was a far cry from his peak. Even pre-timeskip Zoro, without his rigorous two-year training, had managed to defeat him. This wasn't because Ryuma was weak in life, but because the zombie version of Ryuma was a shadow of his former self.
In his prime, Ryuma had been one of the greatest swordsmen, renowned for slaying a dragon in Wano. This wasn't one of Vegapunk's artificial dragons, but a true legendary creature. However, details about the incident had faded into myth after centuries, even within Wano itself.
Ryuma, or at least his zombie version, knew little of his past. Moria had dug up Ryuma's remains and reanimated them with Dr. Hogback's science, but the shadow wasn't a perfect match for Ryuma's prowess. With Brook's comparatively limited skills inhabiting the body, Ryuma's true potential had been greatly diminished.
Despite this, Ryuma still possessed immense knowledge of swordsmanship. He wielded the black blade Shusui, one of the 21 Great Grade Swords, and his techniques far outshone Brook's despite sharing the same body. Ryuma's experience and skill made him an ideal teacher for Akame, who had recently begun mastering the Thunder Breathing technique.
Akame's Thunder Breathing, particularly the signature Thunderclap and Flash move, was a natural fit for Ryuma's one-sword style. Her single-minded determination to kill her enemies in one swift strike mirrored Ryuma's deadly efficiency.
"She has great potential," Ryuma commented, drawing his black blade, Shusui, as he prepared to personally test Akame's abilities.
"The Shadow-Shadow Fruit is powerful, but it has its limitations. Moria focuses too much on gathering strong bodies but overlooks the importance of matching them with strong shadows. It's an oversight," Daniel mused as he watched Ryuma prepare to spar.
It was true—without a shadow that matched the strength of the body, Moria's zombies could never reach their full potential. Trying to place a weak shadow into a strong body would result in a zombie far weaker than it could have been. It was like giving Nami Roger's body—no matter how powerful the body, the user wouldn't be able to wield it effectively.
Sanji and Nami had experienced this firsthand during the Punk Hazard arc, where they temporarily swapped bodies. While Sanji's kicks remained as powerful as ever, Nami struggled to use Sanji's combat abilities effectively.
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
Akame's lightning-fast form zipped toward Ryuma, her katana slicing through the air with deadly precision.
"Impressive," Ryuma chuckled as he parried her strike effortlessly with Shusui. But just before their swords collided, Akame's form flickered, vanishing from her initial trajectory and reappearing at Ryuma's side.
"When did she reach this level? Has she already combined the Six Powers techniques with Thunderclap and Flash?" Daniel marveled at Akame's progress. Her movements, combining the Soru, Geppo, and Kami-e techniques of the Six Powers, alongside the speed of Thunder Breathing, were dazzling. Even Ryuma, with his centuries of experience, had to take her seriously.
Ryuma's undead face remained impassive, but his increased focus was palpable. Daniel could tell from the weight Ryuma put into his strikes that he acknowledged Akame as a formidable opponent.
"That technique of hers—so long as she's not facing an opponent overwhelmingly stronger than herself, no one will be able to block it. And if she uses her cursed sword, Murasame, in conjunction with it, even stronger enemies will find themselves in danger."
Daniel couldn't help but admire Akame's progress. Her single-minded focus on mastering her techniques, combined with the resources Daniel provided, had resulted in extraordinary growth.
"Simple minds can be terrifying when they're focused."
"Very impressive," Ryuma finally said, nodding approvingly. His body was covered in several minor wounds, but he seemed pleased. "She's surpassed me when I was her age."
Akame's achievements were indeed remarkable. Her training, which drew from multiple worlds, was an amalgamation of the best techniques available. With access to vast resources and strong mentors, her rapid improvement was no surprise.
The right teacher could make all the difference. The members of the Straw Hat crew had benefited greatly from their respective mentors during the two-year time skip. Without Rayleigh's guidance, Luffy wouldn't have reached his current level of strength, and without Mihawk's tutelage, Zoro wouldn't have grown as much as he had.
Before the time skip, Zoro and Sanji had been relatively equal in strength. But after training with Mihawk, Zoro had surged ahead, leaving Sanji a step behind.
"Let's not rush the voyage just yet. Everyone should attend Ryuma's lessons," Daniel advised, gathering Esdeath, Kurome, and the others to join Akame in their training with Ryuma. Even Daniel himself attended Ryuma's lessons, eager to gain new insights into the sword techniques of the past.
---
"Old man, we can't just let this slide. A mere Warlord dared to insult us like that! Let me head to Alabasta and deal with him." On board the Moby Dick, Marco seethed as he spoke with Whitebeard. Ace had returned from Alabasta, detailing the events that had transpired with Teach and Daniel Davis.
"Let's hold off on that for now, Marco. We have a visitor to attend to," Whitebeard said, raising a hand to calm Marco. Out on the horizon, a ship was approaching the Moby Dick.
"It's the Red-Hair Pirates. What are they doing here?" Several Whitebeard Pirates tensed up as they recognized the Jolly Roger of Shanks' crew. Many of them instinctively grabbed their weapons.
"Everyone, calm down," Marco barked, ordering the crew to stand down.
"Captain, there was no need to come. Teach is already dead," one of Shanks' crewmembers remarked as they neared Whitebeard's ship. He was smiling, but his tone hinted at confusion.
"We're already here, aren't we? Can't leave without saying hello, now can we?" Shanks scratched his head, looking somewhat flustered.
The Red-Hair Pirates had fought their way through several Marine ships to reach Whitebeard's territory. They had initially come to discuss the matter of Teach, only to learn along the way that the former Whitebeard pirate had already been killed by Daniel Davis, a Warlord of the Sea, who had collected the bounty.
As Shanks' ship docked alongside the Moby Dick, Marco warned the crew, "If you can't handle the pressure, step aside."
But it was already too late. As Shanks stepped onto the deck, the oppressive force of his Conqueror's Haki swept over the crew. One by one, the weaker members collapsed, unconscious from the sheer intensity of Shanks' presence.
By the time Marco realized what was happening, several crewmembers had already slumped to the floor. Even the ship's hull groaned under the weight of Shanks' Haki.
"Shanks, you're going too far," Marco growled as he saw cracks forming in the ship's railing. While knocking out weaker members was one thing, damaging the ship was another matter entirely. Repairs would take time and resources.
"Just a little greeting," Shanks chuckled.
"What brings you
here, Shanks? Aren't you worried Sengoku will come after you for meeting with me?" Whitebeard asked as Shanks approached, his eyes filled with curiosity.
A meeting between two Yonko was a dangerous event. If the Marines caught wind of it, they would likely assume an alliance was being formed. They had already sent Kizaru to intercept Shanks, but the Red-Hair Pirates had destroyed every surveillance ship sent their way.
By the time the Marines realized what was happening, Shanks had already reached Whitebeard's territory. Unwilling to risk a direct confrontation with two Yonko, the Marines had no choice but to observe from a distance.
The Yonko and the World Government had an unspoken agreement: as long as the Yonko didn't attack Marine territory, the Marines wouldn't actively seek out conflict with them.
"I came to discuss something important, but it looks like it's no longer an issue. Anyway, I brought you some sake from my homeland," Shanks grinned, tossing a giant sake jug to Whitebeard.
Whitebeard caught the jug effortlessly, despite its size, and uncorked it with one hand.
"You risked starting a war with the Marines just to bring me some sake?" Whitebeard gave Shanks a skeptical look but didn't hesitate to take a swig from the jug before tossing it back.
"Too mild. Not to my taste. If you're done here, you should leave," Whitebeard grumbled, unimpressed by the drink.
"My bad!" Shanks laughed, finishing off his own bowl of sake in one gulp before standing up.
"Before I go, I'll give you some advice: keep an eye on Ace. Certain things might have come to light," Shanks warned as he prepared to leave.
"I don't need you telling me how to raise my sons."
"Get out of here," Whitebeard growled, making it clear that the conversation was over.
Thanks to Daniel's intervention and Teach's death, the legendary clash between Whitebeard and Shanks never happened. The earth-shattering duel that would have split the heavens remained a moment that never came to pass.
---
"Looks like Luffy and his crew are still in the Sakura Kingdom. Without any enemies to keep them on their toes, they've grown complacent," Daniel remarked, scanning through various intelligence reports. "Chopper won't be able to escape now. But that means Luffy won't reach the Sabaody Archipelago anytime soon."
After reviewing the information, Daniel issued a few more instructions and then prepared to explore a new dimension.
"Perhaps it's because of my fight with Mihawk, but the pirate factions around Alabasta have been pulling back. Even Doflamingo's slave-hunting crews have disappeared," Daniel mused. "I've cracked down on them before, but now they've voluntarily retreated."
Satisfied that things were under control, Daniel shifted his attention to his next journey.
"What thick fog... where am I?" Daniel muttered as he stepped into a new world through a dimensional portal. Dense mist surrounded him, and the sounds of fierce battle echoed in the distance.
Using his Observation Haki, Daniel quickly sensed several figures fighting within the fog.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
The simultaneous shouts rang out from within the mist. As Daniel focused, he finally caught sight of the two combatants.
"So it's them. That means I'm in that world. My luck's pretty good this time," Daniel thought as he recognized the two shinobi clashing in the mist.
It was none other than Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja of Konoha, and Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist.
"Which means... Water Release, Haku, Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha... I've arrived in the world of Naruto."
Based on the surroundings and the battle at hand, Daniel quickly deduced the situation—he had landed in the midst of the mission to the Land of Waves.
_________________________________________
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