Throughout Madara's life, he had met countless individuals who commanded his respect.
But regardless of who they were, those who needed to be killed, would be killed. Hesitation born from respect would only foster a formidable enemy, a decision that would inevitably lead to regret.
Although in Madara's eyes, none of the pirates before him possessed the potential to become a true threat, the realm of possibility was boundless.
The future remained an enigma, veiled in uncertainty.
It was better to extinguish them.
Just as he himself could never have envisioned reaching the pinnacle of power he currently occupied. He could never have imagined traversing into another world. His past self was but an insignificant ant compared to his present form; such was the miracle of life.
Therefore, it wasn't inconceivable that these individuals before him might one day view him with the same insignificance.
This too, was the miracle of life.
To transform such a possibility into an impossibility required a single action: the complete eradication of those lives capable of creating miracles.
"I've always had a question."
Garp spoke.
He knew death was inevitable today. He hadn't embarked on this journey with the assurance of returning alive.
However, a persistent question lingered in his heart. If it remained unanswered, he would die with unresolved doubts.
"What question?"
Madara inquired. He held a profound respect for the man before him. Though Garp lacked cunning, he possessed the heart of a true warrior.
"Is the Ninja Pirate Crew truly connected to God?"
Garp voiced his inner quandary.
Madara momentarily faltered, about to respond when another voice interjected.
"Allow me to answer that question."
The sudden voice startled everyone.
Then, under their watchful gaze, a figure materialized out of thin air.
A man of extraordinary beauty, possessing charm that reached its absolute peak. Initially hailed as the most handsome man in the world, he later became known by another name:
God!
Yes, Hui had arrived.
In that instant, everyone froze. Charlotte Linlin's crew was drenched in cold sweat, while Garp and Whitebeard seemed to hold their breath.
Outside the barrier, people widened their eyes, overcome with excitement.
"God! It's God!!!"
Someone cried out, unable to contain their astonishment.
The Ninja Pirate Crew, the Sage Shinobi Nation.
In the eyes of outsiders, they were invariably linked to God. God was seemingly their ultimate protector.
But in truth, aside from the inhabitants of the Hidden Sage Village, everyone else in the Sage Shinobi Nation harbored uncertainty.
While they never refuted the connection, they couldn't confirm it either. They maintained an ambiguous stance, clinging to the possibility of a relationship with God.
Yet now, God had truly appeared.
The rumors were true, and Konan's words were validated.
They were indeed God's subordinates. The Sage Shinobi Nation was God's domain!
"Wonderful! We are God's people!"
"Now, who dares to oppose us?!"
"The Sage Shinobi Nation is destined to conquer the world! The future belongs to the Sage Shinobi Nation!"
The citizens of the Sage Shinobi Nation were ecstatic, their hearts overflowing with excitement. Even Konan and the others were visibly thrilled.
"Hmph, Brother Hui has been here all along... and he didn't even heal me!"
Konan pouted, her complaint sounding more like a little sister grumbling.
"So Lord Hui has been watching over us! Kakashi, ...was my performance just now, alright?!"
Kisame couldn't contain his excitement, then anxiously asked Kakashi about his performance. This was Hui, the object of his childhood admiration.
No, it was more than admiration; it was faith.
Born after the Great Unification War, Kisame had been raised on the teachings of the Great Unification Era. For Kisame's generation, Hui was their faith, their one true God. Now, face-to-face with Hui, how could he not be excited?
Kakashi's lips curled into a smile. He too was thrilled, though he managed to compose himself better than Kisame.
After all, in the past decade, Kisame had seen Hui fewer than ten times. Kakashi, on the other hand, had lost count of his encounters with Hui.
Moreover, Hui was his uncle.
"Don't worry, your performance on the battlefield were absolutely super awesome!" Kakashi affirmed, his mind preoccupied with his own performance.
He breathed a sigh of relief; his own actions had been flawless as well.
"With Lord Hui here, we can act without restraint from now on."
Ranzuki spoke, a sense of ease washing over him.
No one could provide a greater sense of security than Hui. With Hui present, he had nothing to fear.
"Indeed, but let's not forget our purpose here. We came to train, to hone ourselves, so that in the future, we can face the enemies from the depths of space with even greater strength. "
Kei Yuki spoke with a serious tone, giving Ranzuki pause. Then, a carefree smile spread across Ranzuki's face.
"If we constantly rely on others, what's the point of our training? Lord Hui's absence must have been intentional. Therefore, we cannot act recklessly. On the contrary, we must be even more meticulous, striving for perfection in our self-improvement."
Kei Yuki's words resonated with Ranzuki.
"That's right. Rest assured, we will become the village's most important pillars, the sharpest blades in Lord Third's hands!"
He declared, his gaze firm.
Within the barrier, everyone was stunned by Hui's sudden appearance. Even Madara hadn't anticipated Hui's presence.
"I didn't expect you to come personally."
He said, a hint of gratitude in his tone. To Madara, Hui was his savior, the one who granted him a new life. Though unspoken, Madara held deep respect and gratitude for Hui.
"I came to witness something."
Hui replied to Madara before addressing Garp, "The Ninja Pirate Crew does have a significant connection to me. The members of this crew are my juniors; I sent them out to the sea."
Garp fell silent for a moment, then took a deep breath and continued his questioning: "Then, can you tell me about your origins?"
This was his other burning question.
The Marines had invested considerable effort in investigating Hui. However, their efforts yielded nothing but a blank slate.
It was as if Hui had appeared out of thin air, without a trace of his past.
"My origins? It's not that I can't tell you...but the time isn't right. Perhaps, I can tell you in the future."
Hui's answer seemed like an attempt to persuade, perhaps even to recruit.
"The future...we have no future."
Garp's response was a clear rejection.
No future implied that they would die today.
They would see their death to the end!
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