One Piece: I am Imu

"Hmm?"

In the Teigu World, Imu had just finished reading a report about the Demon Slayer World.

At that moment, a new report marked 'Major Event' popped up on the holographic display.

He tapped it open and gave it a quick scan, a look of surprise immediately flashing across his face.

Shanks had somehow escaped from Mary Geoise right after Imu had left the Starfish World—and he had taken thirteen Celestial Dragons with him, ones who had failed to graduate from the Celestial Dragon Academy!

Talk about timing.

Even if those brats had made their move a few hours earlier, they wouldn't have succeeded.

If Imu had still been there, he would never have turned a blind eye.

He didn't believe that Shanks could have known exactly when he would leave.

It could only be chalked up to sheer luck—as if some unseen hand had decreed that Shanks was meant to make a clean getaway from Mary Geoise.

"Eh—whatever, let him go," Imu muttered.

After thinking about it, he shook his head and decided not to send elite forces to pursue them, after all, Garling didn't care much for his son, and Imu didn't have the patience to 'enlighten' him and make him stop constantly considering the superiority of the Celestial Dragons and accept Shanks as well as Shamrock.

Besides the current World Government, the current Starfish World—he had full confidence that he no longer needed to concern himself with Monkey D. Luffy, much less with Shanks.

However, as a former One Piece fan, Imu had no intention of locking Shanks up for life.

Better to let him roam free for a while, see the world.

As long as he didn't do anything too outrageous, Imu was willing to turn a blind eye.

Still, since they had broken the rules, the identities of those Celestial Dragons would have to be revoked.

Even if they died out there, he would never order anyone to intervene.

[Knock, knock, knock!]

Just as Imu was dragging out another report about the Teigu World, someone suddenly knocked on the study door.

It was Esdeath!

Imu instantly recognized the aura and identity of the visitor.

But what was Esdeath doing here?

This was the first time she had ever come to him directly.

"Come in."

As the door opened, Esdeath strode in.

"What brings you here?" Imu asked, waving his hand to dismiss the holographic projections.

He leaned back casually in his chair, speaking in a soft voice.

"Hmm."

A flicker of hesitation flashed through Esdeath's icy blue eyes, but it was quickly replaced by steely resolve.

Then, placing both hands on the desk, she leaned forward. In doing so, her figure was fully displayed, accompanied by a seductive smile.

"Lord Imu," she cooed, "I heard that the Ninja World is a land just as powerful as this one, filled with many strong warriors. I would so love to go and experience it firsthand~~"

"You want to join the campaign?"

Imu raised an eyebrow. "But according to our agreement, you must first possess the strength to defeat a general. Are you confident you can do that now?"

The truth was, Imu wasn't particularly eager to let his woman participate in the wars.

They didn't exactly lack for high-level fighters these days.

"Lord Imu, I don't intend to join the war," Esdeath quickly explained.

"I simply wish to travel there under my own name—and maybe spar a little with some of the strong fighters from the Ninja World."

Imu listened quietly, but replied in an indifferent tone, "There are still dangers there. If you want to spar with the ninja, I can arrange something for you after the conquest."

But Esdeath wasn't ready to give up. Flattening herself over the desk, she leaned in even closer, her alluring figure and sweet, pleading voice making her appeal all the more irresistible.

"Arranged matches are so boring, Lord Imu~ Surely you know me better than that~"

"Please, my lord, let me go! If you could assign me a mission, I swear I will complete it!"

Although Imu's face remained expressionless, he was actually a little moved.

After all, with Esdeath displaying such enchanting charm and lowering herself to plead so sweetly...

It was truly hard to refuse.

"What level is your strength at now?"

"You can test me!"

Seeing that Imu's attitude had softened, Esdeath immediately offered eagerly.

She had full confidence in her current strength.

"Tomorrow at noon, I'll arrange a match for you against Doflamingo."

After a moment of thought, Imu decided to give Esdeath a chance.

It would also serve as a good opportunity to gauge Doflamingo's current strength.

"If you win, I will allow you to go to the Ninja World."

"Doflamingo..."

Esdeath froze for a moment.

Of course, she was familiar with him.

After all, they both lived on the Ark Noah.

She saw him every day, training relentlessly.

She often watched him sparring against the 'Giant God Warriors' too—the commotion was impossible to miss.

Still, she had never actually spoken to him even once.

Nevertheless, judging by his daily displays, she knew he was extremely powerful.

Even so, her confidence was unshakable!

"And one more thing," Imu added.

"Even if you win, you must take Akame and Kurome with you."

"You are forbidden to refuse, and you must not abandon them. Otherwise, forget about ever getting another chance."

Imu calmly locked eyes with Esdeath's unbelievably beautiful azure-blue gaze.

"And what about my mission?" Esdeath asked, nodding as she listened, her tone full of anticipation.

It was a habit of hers, born from her days as a general—

always wishing to be assigned a clear operational objective.

"Mission..."

Imu frowned slightly and pondered for a moment before speaking slowly: "There's a country called the Land of Snow in the Ninja World."

"This country should currently be developing a large geothermal device capable of turning their perpetual ice and snow into blooming spring landscapes within a short time—and maintaining it permanently. You could call it an environmental transformation machine."

That was about all he remembered; the rest Esdeath would need to find out for herself.

"Your mission is to temporarily occupy the Land of Snow and ensure that their research into the environmental transformation machine continues,

at least until the World Government finishes conquering the entire Ninja World."

In his eyes, the tiny Land of Snow was the perfect playground for Esdeath.

However, to prevent her from running wild, he added another condition.

"Remember: if the environmental transformation machine is damaged during this time, your mission will be considered a failure."

"Understood!"

Esdeath was visibly excited, but suddenly seemed to remember something, and shyly bit her lip before asking: "Lord Imu, may I bring one more person with me?"

Imu raised an eyebrow, curious. "Who?"

"Guren!"

...

The Shinobi World.

At the eastern border of the Land of Wind.

An army of 10,000 Iwagakure shinobi, led by the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, surged forth like a flood covering the mountains and plains, pouring out from the Land of Birds toward the vast golden sea of sand.

Meanwhile—

Over in Amegakure—

The young A also led his own force of 5,000 Kumogakure shinobi, along with nearly 800 additional ninjas from Takigakure and Kusagakure who had joined later, and they surged forward with overwhelming momentum toward the Land of Roran.

Beside him—

Stood a man wearing a metal helmet designed for protection against poisons.

Hanzō!

In truth, according to the original plan, they should have mobilized several days earlier.

However, Hanzō had insisted on securing a Two-Tails jinchūriki first.

Left with no other choice, A had to communicate with Ōnoki to postpone the schedule by a few days.

Although Ōnoki complained a little, he also understood that Hanzō's strength entitled him to such demands, so he agreed—albeit rather begrudgingly.

Fortunately, their luck turned out to be quite good.

Hanzō's public announcement had, in fact, successfully attracted a suitable candidate.

A prodigious boy named Yahiko, about twelve or thirteen years old.

His determined gaze and passionate ideal of peace were so sincere that even the otherwise cynical A could not bring himself to mock him.

What followed was as expected.

After the Two-Tails' chakra was injected into Yahiko, although he initially showed signs of losing control, he quickly regained his composure.

The process went so smoothly that even Hanzō and A were visibly surprised.

Naturally—

Their emotions were very different. Hanzō was overjoyed and immediately accepted Yahiko as his final disciple, while A was considerably less pleased.

As for Konan and Nagato, who had accompanied Yahiko, no one paid them any attention.

It wasn't that Nagato's Rinnegan failed to attract notice; rather, to avoid trouble, he had concealed his Rinnegan in advance using a Transformation Jutsu.

Thus, Yahiko was now officially a jōnin of Amegakure.

Meanwhile, Nagato and Konan, having not demonstrated their full strength during the tests, were merely ranked as chūnin of Amegakure.

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