"Let's get wild! Spread out across the world and make some noise—the bigger, the better!"
The ninja from the Hidden Villages exchanged odd glances at Lin Xuan's words. His command was bizarre, lacking any clear goal or direction.
Deidara from the Akatsuki couldn't hold back. "Uh, can I ask what you mean by 'make some noise'? Like, what exactly are we supposed to do?"
Lin Xuan grinned. "No specifics. Do whatever you want—just don't go causing any real harm. The Ninja Guild was founded on true justice, after all!"
The ninja stared at him, baffled. No clear objective? Just… do whatever? For a group accustomed to precise missions, Lin Xuan's vague order was disorienting.
Of course, Lin Xuan wasn't about to tell them the truth: their chaos was a way to boost his reputation points. Instead, he paused, then rephrased it. "Here's the deal. After that last war, many of your summoning contracts are losing their spark. So, before our next big move, I'm giving you free rein in this world. If you can stir up some trouble and spread the Ninja Guild's name, show off our strength, and boost our influence—well, that's even better!"
That clicked. Excitement rippled through the group as they began to buzz with anticipation. Some were eager to explore this new world, while others couldn't wait to show off in front of its people.
Deidara, naturally, was in the show-off camp. He let out a loud laugh. "No problem! I'll make sure this world gets a taste of my art! Hmph!"
Konan frowned slightly at his enthusiasm. "Deidara, take it easy. The people here aren't our enemies."
"Don't worry, Konan," Deidara replied quickly. "I'll just blow up some villainous pirates or corrupt navy types. No innocent folks will get hurt, I swear!"
Oddly enough, Deidara—who was usually cocky and dismissive—turned into a model student around Konan. Maybe it was because her six hundred billion explosive tags outshone his own "art" in his eyes. Whatever the reason, Lin Xuan approved of his attitude.
In fact, that was exactly Lin Xuan's intent. Reputation points needed an audience, after all. If Deidara and the others went overboard and wiped out entire towns, who'd be left to spread the word?
Seeing their enthusiasm, Lin Xuan added one last instruction. "Oh, and if you come across any Devil Fruits, turn them over to the Guild. You can send them directly to me via reward packets. Don't worry, you won't hand them over for nothing—I'll give you generous points in return."
"Points? What are those for?" Itachi Uchiha asked, his tone calm but curious.
Everyone else turned to Lin Xuan, intrigued.
Lin Xuan smiled. "They're useful for a lot. For instance, some of you might want me to bring your loved ones back, to this world or another. That'll cost points."
Their eyes lit up. Clearly, many of them had people they'd love to see again.
But Lin Xuan wasn't done. "Or, say, if you want to be truly revived—not just as reincarnated bodies, but as living, breathing people again."
That hit like a thunderbolt. Even powerhouses like Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju couldn't stay calm.
Revival! True revival, in this new world!
The idea was electrifying, even for those who'd known resurrection techniques back in the ninja world. The reincarnated body had its perks, sure, but it also had flaws. They couldn't savor this world's food, and while they could learn new skills, they couldn't grow stronger. It was a half-life, with no real future.
But now, Lin Xuan was offering hope.
No one doubted him. If he could summon them across dimensions, why wouldn't he have a way to revive them fully? Their minds raced, already imagining scouring the seas for Devil Fruits to trade for points.
Lin Xuan, pleased with their reactions, waved a hand. "Alright, get moving!"
In an instant, over a hundred ninja vanished in a blur, scattering in every direction like shadows. Whether they'd act alone or in teams, where they'd go—Lin Xuan didn't care.
As they left, he turned his focus inward. "Training doesn't stop. I can't keep relying on system items in every fight. I need to keep pushing my own strength."
Meanwhile, the World Government was holding a meeting to finalize their plan to publicly execute Ace.
The plan came straight from the Five Elders. The war in the Sabaody Archipelago had been a humiliating defeat, shaking the government's authority. The rise of the Ninja Guild only deepened their unease, as if control was slipping through their fingers.
Worse, the Guild's influence was eroding the public's fear of the Celestial Dragons. The Guild's open declaration that they'd accept contracts to kill Celestial Dragons had forced the government to recall all of them to the holy land of Mariejois, guarded by elite forces. The Five Elders couldn't risk the Guild following through on that threat.
To reclaim their dominance, they needed a bold move to restore their prestige. And what better way than to take down one of the Four Emperors?
Their target: Whitebeard, the strongest man on the seas. Though legendary, recent intelligence confirmed that age had taken its toll on him, riddling his body with ailments.
With the full backing of the World Government, the Navy was mobilizing, laying the groundwork for a decisive strike.
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T/N:
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