Chapter 39: The Sea Knight Appears
"Hahahaha! So you're Luffy's brother! How is that kid doing now?"
On the deserted island, Red-Haired Shanks, captain of the Red Hair Pirates, laughed heartily, arms slung around Ace as they drank together. His grin was so wide, his back teeth were visible.
As for the disappointment from earlier—digging up a treasure that turned out to be worthless paper money—Shanks, ever the optimist, had already forgotten it.
Well, I'm used to this kind of thing. More importantly, it's time to throw a banquet!
Shanks didn't yet know that Ace was the son of his late captain, Gol D. Roger. But just the fact that Ace was Luffy's brother was enough for him to treat Ace warmly.
After a lively banquet, Ace mentioned his desire to challenge Whitebeard. Shanks didn't object or mock him. As a pirate himself, he would never laugh at another's dreams. Although he believed Ace was far from Whitebeard's level in strength, he wouldn't openly discourage him either.
In the end, Ace never brought up Conqueror's Haki. And Ayaan didn't push the subject.
"Even if Shanks doesn't teach him, Ace will still join the Whitebeard Pirates in the future and learn it there," Ayaan thought.
"With talents like Ace and Yamato, they'll figure it out eventually. The most important thing is that they have the concept."
Amidst the drinking and revelry, Ayaan remained an outlier—quiet, reserved, and largely avoiding alcohol.
That was a habit from his past life in the shinobi world. Compared to the wild and carefree pirates of this world, the people of the Naruto world were far more cautious and deeply contemplative. The two cultures couldn't be more different.
"The only thing both worlds have in common," Ayaan mused, "is that they're both broken. One is chaotic and lawless. The other is cold-blooded and cruel. The weak can't live well, and the strong rarely die well."
---
The next morning, the Spade Pirates and Red Hair Pirates parted ways.
As the Spade Pirates' ship faded into the distance, the smile on Shanks' face slowly faded too. His expression grew nostalgic.
"Ace… Vice Admiral Garp's grandson… So Roger's bloodline still lives."
Shanks recognized Ace's name—"Ace" was also the name of Roger's treasured sword, and the familial connection to Luffy meant he had to be Garp's grandson. The pieces came together easily for someone who had known both Roger and Garp.
"Beckman," Shanks said seriously, "Send a letter to Whitebeard. There's a very interesting son of an old friend who wants to challenge him."
If Ayaan had overheard that, he would've understood why Whitebeard was so generous toward Ace in the future—letting him sail on the Moby Dick, even attempt to assassinate him multiple times.
Sure, Ace's talent and drive were important, but the fact that he was Roger's son—someone Whitebeard deeply respected—played a huge part. After all, Roger once had taken Oden from Whitebeard's crew. If a Marine like Garp could raise Roger's son, how could Whitebeard do any less?
---
Back on the Spade Pirates' ship...
"If we keep sailing in this direction, we'll enter Whitebeard's territory soon. Are you sure you're ready for this?" Ayaan asked Ace, staring out at the sea.
"Of course. I can't wait."
Ayaan rolled his eyes. "You can't wait to become Whitebeard's son?"
Ace was stronger than he had been at this point in the original timeline, but compared to Whitebeard? Still too far behind.
"Ace," Deuce said seriously as he approached. "There are fish-men tailing our ship. We're being followed."
Yamato, who had been lying on the deck lazily, immediately jumped up with excitement. "Enemies?! Are we being attacked? Finally, I can warm up!"
"Calm down," Ayaan warned her. "If they pierce the ship while we're still at sea, it could be bad. Let's find an island before picking a fight."
"Fine! Then hurry up and find an island! Where's the nearest one?" Yamato asked eagerly, already spinning her kanabo mace.
About two hours later, the ship approached a deserted island. Yamato, no longer able to wait, leaped into the sea and partially transformed using her Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Okuchi no Makami powers, instantly freezing the surrounding water.
"It's so cold!" a startled voice cried out. The ice cracked open, and a large, blue-skinned fish-man leapt from the water.
"Why have you been following the Spade Pirates?" Yamato shouted, pointing her weapon at him.
"I've been following you to stop you from challenging Whitebeard!" the blue-skinned man said, rubbing his arms to warm up.
Deuce took a closer look. "Isn't that Jinbe, the Sea Knight? One of the Shichibukai?"
Ayaan glanced sideways. "Obviously. The flag of the Whitebeard Pirates flies over Fish-Man Island. Of course Jinbe's going to be involved."
"That's right," Jinbe replied. "Whitebeard saved all of Fish-Man Island. Ace, if you truly want to challenge him, you'll have to get past me first."
With that, Jinbe dropped into a Fish-Man Karate stance.
"Really? So I have to defeat you to see Whitebeard?" Ace grinned as he leapt off the ship. "Let's take this to the island."
"Huh?! Wait—didn't we agree that I'd fight him first?!" Yamato asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"But he challenged me directly," Ace replied.
"No need to argue. You can both come at me together," Jinbe said with confidence. "These rookie pirates always think they're invincible."
As one of the strongest Fish-Men alive, and a master of both Haki and Fish-Man Karate, Jinbe was confident. Every year, dozens of rookie pirates entered the New World. Most of them burned bright for a moment, then vanished. He expected nothing different from these two.