The Third Hokage: First Move Send Danzō to Prison

"We won."

Uchiha Itachi dispelled his Susano'o, his voice laced with exhaustion he could no longer hide.

If not for finding such a compatible partner in this world, he never would've dared employ such an aggressive tactic this strategy, successful or not, came with a price: mutual destruction.

This was an ambush long in the making. From the moment he agreed to enter this war, Uchiha Itachi had been waiting for the right target. The nature of his abilities meant he'd likely only get one shot at a decisive blow.

Among the three Admirals, Aokiji had always been the most ambiguous in his stance eliminating him would only backfire.

Kizaru couldn't be said to be slacking off in battle, but he clearly wasn't fighting at full power. With that attitude, it was no surprise that the man named Rayleigh was able to keep him engaged in a stalemate.

As for the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Mihawk was the only one whose strength could decisively shift the battlefield. But he, too, was merely playing along never giving his all against the Whitebeard Pirates.

Marine hero Garp was Ace's grandfather. Naturally, he wouldn't be a true obstacle.

That left only two valid targets: Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Admiral Akainu.

Other enemies on the field weren't worth the effort.

Once Garp willingly traded blows with Sengoku and occupied him, only one prime target remained:

Akainu, the Marine's strongest active combatant.

And right on cue, their employer Portgas D. Ace just like the Third Hokage before him, seemed to have undergone some unknown transformation. He'd managed to confront Akainu head-on, giving Itachi a much greater chance of success.

That was an unexpected boon.

Originally, Itachi's plan hadn't factored in Ace's combat strength at all. His true strategy relied on the other two backup forces: Luffy's fleet and Red-Haired Shanks arriving later to turn the tide.

But everything had gone smoother than anticipated. At this rate, the war would likely end soon.

I wonder how Sasuke is doing now…

"Hey, you alright?" Marco's voice pulled him back to the present.

"I'm fine. Just a bit drained," Itachi answered calmly, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield.

"Haha! We really are the ultimate duo!" Marco laughed heartily, his flaming wings stretching wide as he worked to ease Itachi's condition with healing flames.

With Akainu the Marines' strongest active combatant defeated, the battlefield fell into an eerie silence.

No one could comprehend how one of the Navy's highest-ranking powerhouses had fallen first.

The already fragile symbol of "justice" suffered yet another blow.

Previously, the cracks had been ideological Marines deserting due to disillusionment. Now, it was about power.

The soldiers dropping their weapons and retreating in droves weren't idealists. They simply no longer believed in the Marines' strength. And let's be honest: most of them hadn't joined out of love for justice.

"Ha! I knew it would be that move!"

"Hahaha! In this life, I get my revenge!"

With the battle's outcome all but certain, Ace leapt onto Marco's phoenix back and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Itachi.

"No surprise there, Itachi-sensei!"

"I totally called it Totsuka Blade, right?"

"…What?" The bizarre nickname made a question mark pop up above Itachi's head. And this employer… Ace seemed to know a lot about him.

Even Marco raised an eyebrow. "Wait, Itachi, didn't you say you'd never met this guy? And Ace, you're a hell of a lot stronger now."

Itachi nodded. "We hadn't crossed paths before. I came here on the Third Hokage's request."

Ace grinned wide and waved it off. "Long-distance admiration, y'know? I gave your posts so many likes on the Hokage forum."

…Even though most of them were flame threads, he thought, starting today, I'm a full-blown Itachi fan.

"Anyway, let's go. With Akainu down, I doubt the Marines have the will to keep fighting," Ace added cheerfully.

Hokage forum? What's that?

Itachi didn't ask. Not the time or place for idle talk. But something was becoming clear this "employer" was very much like the Third Hokage… or rather, the reformed version of him.

Itachi was starting to understand why Konoha had changed.

Midfield – Warlord Zone

Elsewhere on the battlefield, one of the Seven Warlords had just been sent flying by the blazing red Susano'o riding the Phoenix of Rebirth.

Donquixote Doflamingo crawled out from a pile of rubble, his flamboyant pink feathered coat stained with dust. He adjusted his crooked sunglasses, a vein throbbing at his temple.

"Fufufufufu… how pathetic," he muttered, flicking a rock off his shoulder. Threads shot out to reconnect his dislocated arm with his String-String Fruit powers.

"I just got careless, that's all—"

His voice caught in his throat.

He had just witnessed it: Admiral Akainu, the Navy's strongest force, had been taken out in a short burst by that combo Uchiha Itachi and Marco. And Itachi's bounty was only one billion.

"…You've got to be kidding me."

This infamous Heavenly Demon so used to being untouchable felt his fingers tremble. Cold sweat drenched his back.

I was actually going to go provoke those two? Was I out of my damn mind?

Doflamingo whipped his head around to check on the other Warlords.

Over there, Gecko Moria who'd also been casually knocked away was just struggling to get up. Upon seeing Akainu's defeat, his jaw dropped to the ground.

Hawkeye Mihawk had already sheathed his sword. Standing beside Vista, both men stared at the execution platform in shock.

Bartholomew Kuma seemed to be… spacing out.

And Boa Hancock? She was straight-up cheering.

Tch. This was supposed to be the downfall of the Whitebeard Pirates, not their resurgence.

Doflamingo wisely decided to quit while he was still breathing. This war was far more dangerous than he'd realized.

Back on the other front…

The Kusanagi Light Blade flared with blinding brilliance, forcing Rayleigh to retreat several steps.

For once, Kizaru didn't look calm. Behind his mirrored lenses, his eyes flashed with rare frustration.

"Tch. The thing I feared most actually happened…" he muttered under his breath, the usual flippancy gone from his voice.

As someone who shared a long history with Akainu, he found it hard to keep his cool. That last sword strike had been meant for him if they'd fought to the end out on the sea, it might've been him who got sealed.

Now that Akainu had been taken out, the Marines had pretty much lost. Their ace was gone. How do you win a game where your main carry logs off five minutes in?

"Looks like it's over," Rayleigh said as he sheathed his sword, silver hair flowing in the smoke. His job was to stall Kizaru now, with his task complete, he could finally relax.

The old pirate watched the Whitebeard Pirates cheer in the distance, a nostalgic glint in his eye.

The captain's son… has really grown. And that mysterious ally of theirs what a ridiculous move.

"So, what now?" Rayleigh asked casually.

Kizaru responded with a grimace, slashing again with his glowing blade.

Rayleigh parried the strike with ease.

"Don't ask me," Kizaru said darkly. "I'm not the Fleet Admiral."

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