The reason Ayr was willing to go to such great lengths to resurrect Rocks D. Xebec stemmed directly from the power of the Outsider Rinne Tensei Technique—a forbidden art that allowed him to restore a soul from the afterlife and bind it to a body. This resurrection wasn't simple necromancy; it affected the spirit. It could tame even a will like Rocks', suppressing his madness and amplifying loyalty through spiritual conditioning.
Combined with Ayr's overwhelming strength—enough to awe and dominate even the former terror of the seas—Rocks, once resurrected, had become fanatically loyal to him.
And for such a powerful and devoted subordinate, Ayr naturally had every reason to bring him back completely—permanently.
After hearing Ayr's confirmation, Whitebeard remained silent for a few seconds. Then, with a serious tone, he said:
"I won't question your motives, Ayr. Since this is your request, I'll have my sons do everything in their power to find the fruit for you."
Whitebeard didn't need Ayr to spell it out. It was obvious: Ayr wanted to resurrect Rocks not with limited life, but with full biological and spiritual restoration. The only way to do that, aside from the Rinne Tensei, was to use the Huangquan (Yellow Spring) Fruit.
And since Ayr came to him for this help, Whitebeard didn't hesitate.
"Thanks a lot, Edward," Ayr said with a calm smile.
Though Ayr commanded a global network of loyal subordinates, Whitebeard's influence was unmatched in the New World. With dozens of subordinate pirate crews and a sprawling network of alliances, the Whitebeard Pirates were the strongest force on the seas. Deploying them to search would make locating the fruit far more likely.
As for why Ayr didn't ask others like the Golden Lion, the reason was simple.
He knew the moment they caught wind of his objective, they'd also hunt down the Yellow Spring Fruit—but not to hand it over. They'd keep it, fearing Ayr would grow too powerful by resurrecting Rocks. The moment Rocks returned, he'd tilt the balance of power, and Ayr's dominance would be undeniable.
"Gu la la la... we don't need to be formal, Ayr," Whitebeard laughed, raising his sake.
"Then let's drink until we drop tonight, Edward."
They clinked glasses and drank freely, catching up on old memories. The feast went from noon to night, with barrels emptied and laughter echoing in the tavern.
Eventually, Whitebeard hiccupped, leaned back, and said:
"By the way, Ayr... I recently took in a new son. Name's Marshall D. Teach. Said he's always wanted to meet you. Think you could give him an audience?"
Whitebeard had met Teach during a visit to a town in the New World. The boy had been abandoned, and Whitebeard—moved by his pitiful state—had brought him aboard the Moby Dick.
Ayr's eyes narrowed. "Teach?"
He froze.
Marshall D. Teach. Blackbeard. The one who, in the original timeline, betrayed Whitebeard, killed Thatch, stole the Yami Yami no Mi, and ultimately became the catalyst of the war that led to Whitebeard's death and the collapse of his pirate empire.
Ayr, who had the perspective of a god due to his Sage of Six Paths system, understood who Teach was—a hidden serpent, wearing the skin of a brother until the right moment came to strike.
After a pause, Ayr said carefully:
"Edward, I don't mean to interfere with how you run your ship. But be cautious. Some men carry storms in their hearts."
Whitebeard raised an eyebrow. He could feel the weight in Ayr's words. "You know this man, Teach?"
"No," Ayr lied smoothly. "Just a hunch. Trust is important... but instincts matter too."
Whitebeard stared at him, his gaze deepening. "You think one of my sons has a different heart?"
"Do you want the truth?"
"Say it."
"Yes. There's someone on your ship whose heart is out of place."
Whitebeard exhaled heavily. A long silence passed. Then he said solemnly:
"I understand, Ayr."
Even without knowing how Ayr could know such a thing, Whitebeard respected his insight. After all, this was a man who could bring Rocks D. Xebec back from the dead.
From this day forward, he would watch Teach closely. Not out of suspicion—but with the hope that he could influence his heart, steer him from that dark destiny.
"Well then, Ayr, I think I've had enough for tonight. I'm too old to keep up with you now—if I drink more, my boys will have to carry me back."
He chuckled, scratching his head.
Ayr nodded. "Then I won't keep you. Rest well, Edward."
"Gu la la la... take care, Ayr."
Whitebeard let out a hearty laugh and exited the tavern, footsteps heavy with both alcohol and lingering thoughts.
Though the moon was high and the town quiet, Ayr didn't feel sleepy.
Whitebeard's words still echoed in his mind—particularly about Blackbeard. The future was shifting, but danger still loomed.
Ayr looked down at his arm. Still youthful, strong, without a single wrinkle. But he could sense time catching up.
Despite possessing the full power of the Sage of Six Paths, he had not obtained immortality. No Sage in the original Naruto universe ever truly lived forever. Not even Hagoromo or Kaguya. Ayr had simply slowed his aging through the system—but not stopped it.
Eventually, he would age. And he knew it.
"To truly live on... I need to become a Master in the truest sense. Immortal."
Strength wasn't enough. Even god-like power faded.
If he wanted to shape the world's destiny for centuries to come, he needed to defeat time itself.
Currently, he knew of only two sources of true longevity in this pirate world:
1. Pure Gold
2. The Op-Op Fruit (Ope Ope no Mi)
Pure Gold was a legendary metal, hidden deep within the sea. The light it emitted could dramatically slow the biological clock. It interfered with the body's life rings, causing aging to nearly halt. A person wearing Pure Gold for a year might only biologically age a few days.
The effect was subtle but powerful—functional immortality through stagnation.
Then there was the Op-Op Fruit, one of the most miraculous Devil Fruits in existence. Its surgical powers could cure any illness, modify the human body, and at the ultimate cost—grant immortality through the Perpetual Youth Operation.
But this operation required the user's own life. A forbidden miracle that could make someone truly eternal.
"If I am to remain in this world, shaping it across eras... I need the Op-Op Fruit."
Ayr stared into the night sky.
His goals had outgrown the limitations of flesh. His enemies were time and fate themselves. And to defeat them, he would need the power to never die.
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