Naruto: Copy System - [635] : The Execution of Ace

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The Marines’ investigation was surprisingly swift—aided by the agents the Five Elders had dispatched to assist Sengoku.

The truth was confirmed: Ace was, indeed, the son of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. He was now imprisoned in the deepest level of Impel Down.

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In Sengoku’s office, the atmosphere was heavy.

“Garp,” Sengoku began, his tone grave, “the Five Elders have instructed me to give you a warning.”

Fortunately, this time, they had only issued a warning and had no intention of actually punishing him.

“You and Roger were enemies,” Sengoku said, looking at his old friend, who was staring at the floor. “Why would you help him?”

“Roger and I may have spent the better part of our lives trying to kill each other—” Garp said, his voice a low rumble, “—but we weren’t just rivals. You could say we were friends.”

It was the two of them, after all, who had joined forces to bring down the legendary Rocks D. Xebec, consigning him and his era to the history books.

Sengoku said nothing.

He understood. It was a bond forged in battle, a mutual respect between two monsters. Roger must have trusted Garp completely to entrust his own son to him. And he had been right to do so.

If not for Garp, Roger’s bloodline would have been extinguished over two decades ago. The fact that Ace had chosen the path of a pirate couldn’t be blamed on Garp, it was his own choice.

“Alright, don’t dwell on it,” Sengoku said, placing a hand on Garp’s shoulder. “They only ordered a warning. There will be no formal punishment.”

Even the Five Elders wouldn’t punish a man of Garp’s stature lightly.

He was the Hero of the Marines, a living legend with immense influence and the adoration of countless soldiers. Still, Sengoku knew that the trust the World Government had in Garp was now shattered.

Garp remained silent. He wasn’t worried about the Five Elders. He was worried about Ace.

“Sengoku…” Garp said, finally looking up, his eyes filled with a deep pain. “What are you going to do with Ace?”

“He will be executed.” Sengoku replied, his voice devoid of emotion, his eyes glinting with strategic coldness.

Ace wasn’t just Roger’s son. He was also Whitebeard’s son. And that was a fact of monumental importance. Sengoku knew Whitebeard’s fierce protectiveness of his crew. He would never abandon Ace.

This was his chance. He would use Ace as bait to lure Whitebeard into a trap.

Best case scenario, he could eliminate a Yonko.

Worst case, he would at least erase the “demon’s bloodline” from the world.

It was a brilliant, ruthless gamble. Knowing Whitebeard, he would walk right into it. The man’s love for his family was his greatest strength, and his greatest weakness.

“Can’t you change it??” Garp asked, his voice raw with desperation.

“No. This is also the Will of the Five Elders,” Sengoku said, his tone final. “Garp, don’t do anything foolish. I don’t want to see you throw your life away for a pirate.”

“I know,” Garp sighed, the fight going out of him. “Don’t worry, Sengoku. I won’t do anything.”

He knew what Sengoku was really saying: Don’t try to save him.

And he wouldn’t. As a Marine, his loyalty was absolute.

“I’m going to see him,” Garp said, standing.

“Alright.”

Sengoku considered it for a moment, then nodded. A simple visit wouldn’t break any rules.

After Garp left, Sengoku set his plan in motion. He leaked the news of Ace’s impending execution to the world, but he kept one crucial detail secret:

Ace’s true parentage.

The announcement was a declaration of war aimed squarely at the Whitebeard Pirates. Ace, despite being the son of the Pirate King, was just a means to an end.

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“Looks like the show is finally about to begin.”

Aboard the Pluton, slicing through the waves of the New World, Shin held a newspaper, a faint smile on his face. The entire front page was dedicated to the execution of Fire Fist Ace, scheduled for seven days from now.

“This is obviously a trap for Whitebeard,” Olvia remarked, reading over his shoulder. “A very blatant one at that.”

Anyone with eyes could see it.

Whitebeard himself would surely know it was a setup. The question was, would he still walk into it? Given his reputation, the answer was almost certainly yes.

“He’ll definitely go,” Shin said, his decision made. “Let’s leave the New World.”

With this news, he had no reason to linger. It was time to head back to Paradise and get a front-row seat.

The Pluton changed course, heading for the first half of the Grand Line. This was going to be a clash between a Yonko and the full might of the Marines.

If it played out exactly like the original story, it would be boring. But things were different now. Whitebeard had been restored to his prime.

How would that change the outcome?

Would he still die at Marineford?

The uncertainty was what made it so exciting.

“Heading back to Paradise now… the Marines will be watching us like hawks,” Robin commented.

“When are they not?” Shin laughed. “It’s not just the Marines. The Five Elders are always watching.”

He couldn’t care less. What were they going to do, attack him? Not now. With a war against Whitebeard looming, the last thing they wanted was to anger another Yonko.

They could handle one Emperor, but not two at the same time.

And the Kuja Pirates weren’t just any Yonko crew. Shin alone could probably take on all three Admirals and Sengoku himself.

So no, Sengoku would play it safe.

If anything, he was probably terrified that Shin would intervene on Whitebeard’s behalf.

Now that would be a nightmare for him.

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