Kong didn't know what to say. Right now, only one question filled his mind—why would the Five Elders agree to let Kaito be promoted to Fleet Admiral when they clearly knew he wasn't exactly fond of the World Government?
Was it because they feared Kaito's strength?
Granted, Kaito's power had reached an absolutely terrifying level. But Kong had seen Imu before, and the pressure Imu exuded was no less than the one before him now.
While Kong was still thinking, Kaito suddenly spoke.
"Commander-in-Chief Kong, was this meeting your idea, or the Five Elders' idea?"
Kong froze.
"Of course, it was mine."
Hearing it was Kong's own idea, Kaito gave a small nod, though in his mind he thought—Imu's really good at keeping calm. Is she preparing something?
Should I test the waters a little?
Thinking that, Kaito casually waved his hand. A black coffin wrapped in darkness dropped out of the Door-Door Space, landing with a heavy thud. Inside was Lizveil.
"Commander-in-Chief Kong, this here is a Celestial Dragon. She attempted to attack the Fleet Admiral of the Navy. I've arrested her and plan to bring her back to Marineford. What do you think?"
"Nani!?"
Kong completely lost composure. He hadn't expected Kaito to stir up such a huge mess within a single day of arriving at Mary Geoise. The Fleet Admiral arresting a Celestial Dragon—once news of this got out, it would cause an earth-shattering uproar.
This was outright provocation against the Celestial Dragons and the World Government!
Kong stood from his chair, staring fixedly at Kaito. But Kaito's expression was calm, as though he'd just apprehended some petty criminal.
"What's this Celestial Dragon's name?"
"Lizveil."
"Do you understand what this means?"
"Mm. It means justice."
"…If I told you to release this Celestial Dragon, would you agree?"
"Commander-in-Chief Kong, are you joking?"
Kong's face darkened as an intense pressure erupted from him, locking firmly onto Kaito.
Kaito's expression didn't change. His voice was cool.
"Commander-in-Chief Kong, I respect you as a person. Don't make things hard for me."
As he spoke, a violet gleam flashed through Kaito's Rinnegan. An invisible wave of power spread outward, and the entire Red Line began to tremble violently.
Sweat beaded on Kong's forehead. What an overwhelming aura—almost inhuman.
But as the Supreme Commander of the entire military, he forced himself to withstand it.
"Do you intend to betray the World Government? To betray the Navy?!"
"Heh…"
Kaito slowly rose from his chair, meeting Kong's eyes.
"From the day I became Fleet Admiral, the Navy was no longer something the World Government could control. What right do they have to point fingers at my Navy?"
Kong was genuinely rattled. But before he could speak again, a furious shout rang out from the doorway.
"Bastard! Uchiha Kaito! So you really do harbor treacherous intentions!"
Kong's heart sank. Looking past Kaito, he saw five elderly men standing at the entrance to the council chamber—the highest authority in the World Government, the Five Elders.
They had felt the Red Line shaking and, knowing it must have something to do with Kaito, had rushed over.
The one who had just spoken was, unsurprisingly, the blond-haired Elder who had never liked Kaito.
His face was dark as he barked at Kong,
"Kong! Why are you still standing there? Arrest this bastard at once!"
Kong's expression grew uglier. He hadn't expected things to escalate this far. Because of Sengoku and the others, he bore no ill will toward Kaito and had no desire to fight him.
Kaito, however, turned toward the blond-haired Elder.
He'd disliked this man for a long time. From him, Kaito saw a shadow of the person he hated most—Konoha's "Shadow," Danzō.
Just thinking of that loathsome figure made Kaito's lip curl. He raised his hand and unleashed a Universal Pull.
The blond Elder was yanked toward him with a violent force.
Before anyone could react, Kaito's hand was clamped firmly around the man's throat.
Kong knew he couldn't sit back any longer. He lunged toward Kaito to stop the situation from spiraling further.
But before he could touch him, a repulsive force blasted him back, slamming him hard to the ground.
Before Kong could get up, a black vortex swirled into existence beneath him. Dark tendrils shot out, wrapping around his body and pinning him in place. No matter how he struggled, it was useless.
Kaito didn't even look back at him. His gaze was fixed, amused, on the blond-haired Elder.
"Weren't you going to arrest me? I'm right here—go on."
"Mmph… mmmph…"
The blond Elder couldn't make a sound, his airway crushed. He was on the verge of suffocating when suddenly a slash of sword energy shot toward Kaito.
Buzz!
Another repulsive wave burst forth, scattering the sword energy.
Kaito narrowed his eyes past the blond Elder, spotting the Elder in a kimono, sword in hand, its point leveled at him.
So he was the one who had launched the slash.
Judging from its strength, it was at least more powerful than Red-Hair without his White Kama activated.
Still, to Kaito now, that level of attack was merely… decent.
Holding the blond Elder like a rag doll, Kaito glanced at the kimono Elder.
"Do you want to dance as well?"
As he extended his free hand toward him, ready to unleash another Universal Pull, the kimono Elder moved quickly. He sheathed his blade without hesitation—then did something that shocked everyone present.
He bowed deeply to Kaito.
"Fleet Admiral Shikiryū, I believe there's been some misunderstanding between us. Please, do not be angry."
Kaito arched an eyebrow, then casually tossed the blond Elder aside. He hit the ground beside the kimono Elder like discarded trash.
The kimono Elder didn't so much as glance at him.
"Thank you for sparing him, Fleet Admiral Shikiryū."
Kaito floated the black coffin containing Lizveil into the air. His voice was cool.
"I'm taking Lizveil with me. Any objections?"
"Lizveil has already committed an unforgivable crime by offending you. From this day forward, she is entirely at Fleet Admiral Shikiryū's disposal."
The blond Elder, still on the ground, trembled with rage. His fury was because Lizveil was a member of his own family. This outcome was utterly unacceptable to him.
The kimono Elder cast him a cold glance and ignored him.
"Fleet Admiral Shikiryū, does this satisfy you?"
Kaito smiled, storing Lizveil back into the Door-Door Space. He slowly stepped closer to the kimono Elder and spoke in a low voice.
"Of course I'm satisfied. I just wonder… what exactly is Imu-sama thinking?"