In the Calm Belt, even seabirds seemed much fewer.
Apart from the news coos under Morgans' command, almost no seabirds chose to cross this area where they couldn't catch any wind.
"Where are we going next?"
Karin stood to the side, watching Naruto adjust their course using the Eternal Pose in his hand.
Her question also drew the attention of the three unexpected guests on board.
It had been a day and a night since they successfully left Impel Down, and everyone's condition had improved somewhat.
Byrnndi World hadn't spoken since suppressing the coastal artillery, sitting motionless on the deck.
In contrast, Bullet and Redfield seemed much more at ease.
One was very familiar, rummaging through the cabin for something to drink, while the other leaned against the deck, gazing into the distance.
"First, let's find a... well, a place to rest."
Naruto glanced at everyone on board before speaking.
This was, after all, the Calm Belt.
Usually, only Marine ships passed through, and almost no other vessels traveled here. Even if they were to drop off Bullet and the other two midway, it would be better to do so after leaving this sea area.
Thud-
Bullet, emerging from the cabin, casually tossed a barrel of rum towards Naruto on the upper deck, while opening one for himself and taking a drink.
Despite being the kind of barrel that could serve multiple rounds in a tavern, it looked like a mere can in their hands.
After throwing a barrel to Naruto, Bullet also glanced at the Redfield, his meaning clear.
"-No, thank you for the offer, but I would be delighted if there was some tea."
Redfield waved his hand politely, with a courteous smile on his face.
The rising morning sun shone on his face, allowing the old man to feel a new sense of hope for the first time in many years.
He could sense that, apart from the still self-destructive [World Destroyer], everyone else on this ship had grown closer due to fighting side-by-side.
Unfortunately, Naruto hadn't stocked any tea, and no one on board particularly cared for it.
"Hah, you're too particular."
After downing a third of the barrel, Bullet wiped his mouth and said.
It felt truly refreshing, something he hadn't experienced in a long time.
Although he could endure decades of imprisonment in Impel Down day after day, when it came down to it, a man of the sea couldn't truly do without his drink.
"I'll leave it to you for now, just keep this course."
Don't drink and sail, don't sail and drink.
Naruto was very safety-conscious.
After saying this to Karin, he also walked down to the deck, naturally drinking with Bullet, his former colleague whom he had been fighting to the death not long ago.
A barrel of alcohol had been placed next to the reclining Byrnndi World at some point.
However, the man acted as if he hadn't seen it at all, remaining silent and lying on the deck with a vacant stare.
After a day, everyone on the ship seemed to have grown accustomed to his role-playing as a carpet.
"You're really similar to that guy."
After chugging another large barrel, Bullet softly uttered words he never thought he'd say.
The 'that guy' he referred to was naturally the man he had tried countless times to surpass, Gol D. Roger.
"Captain Roger taught me a lot... What? Didn't he teach you anything?"
After clinking their barrels together, Naruto said this teasingly.
Hearing this, Bullet's face first darkened, then he involuntarily laughed.
"Hah... Maybe. Maybe he did."
"What are your plans after this? Want to go compete for the title of [Pirate King] too?"
"That thing... is meaningless."
The ultimate goal revered by countless pirates was, in Bullet's words, something to be discarded casually.
"If I wanted to, I could go to [Laugh Tale] anytime. It's just a title."
As Bullet said, he possessed an Eternal Pose pointing to the final island, Laugh Tale.
If he were willing, he wouldn't need to steal any Road Poneglyphs from the Emperors, and he could simply sail there himself and claim the title of [Pirate King].
But such an empty title meant nothing to Bullet.
For him, only real, pure power was his lifelong pursuit.
"That's the treasure hunt Roger left for you guys. I'm not interested."
"Don't include me in that. I gave up being a pirate a long time ago."
Naruto waved his hand dismissively.
Although he had once been an apprentice on Roger's crew, he abandoned his pirate identity a few years after leaving the ship, instead roaming the seas freely as a lone wolf.
"Haha, how interesting."
Redfield also descended from the upper deck, looking at the two drinkers.
"If the fools out on the seas knew that what they seek is right here on this ship, they would charge here relentlessly."
"Let them come."
A fiercely combative smile appeared on Bullet's face, and Naruto laughed along with him.
"So what do you plan to do? Find a quiet place to retire?"
"If we're talking about retirement, I have quite a few good spots to recommend."
Naruto became enthusiastic at this topic.
After all, both Crocus at Reverse Mountain and Rayleigh on Sabaody Archipelago were decent retirement places.
"If I hadn't met you... perhaps I would have thought so too."
Redfield looked at the back of his hand, covered with wrinkles eroded by time.
No matter how powerful he was, time was always fair.
"However, now you've sparked some passion in me."
Redfield suddenly changed his tone, a smile blooming on his face.
"I'm going to search for a way to restore my youth. When that time comes, we'll fight again."
Before Naruto could respond, Bullet slammed his barrel heavily onto the deck.
"If you're old, just stay put and behave-"
He glared fiercely at Redfield, then turned his gaze to Naruto.
"The one who will defeat this kid is me."
"Next time, next time I'll show you my peak condition, Uzumaki Naruto. Don't think you can let your guard down just because you won once."
Bullet's words might sound like an attempt to save face, but he truly wasn't at his best.
As the Gasha Gasha no Mi User, he hadn't used his Devil Fruit's abilities at all during the recent battle, relying purely on his formidable physique and Haki to clash with Naruto.
"Hah... You're welcome anytime."
Naruto raised his barrel to him, laughing without any concern.
This was how heroes on the seas were… fighting to the death one moment, sharing a drink the next.
As long as you drink together, you can be friends.
As for fighting?
That can wait until after this round.
For them, the meaning behind the fight might not be that important, because the fight itself was the meaning.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Just then, the sounds of sparring, or rather, Sasuke serving as a training partner for Konohamaru, came from the other side, catching Bullet's attention.
Seeing this, Naruto proactively moved aside, revealing their figures to Bullet.
"So? Konohamaru is a kid with a lot of potential, right?"
Hearing this, Bullet glanced sideways at Naruto.
"That brat still has a long way to go."
After saying this, he gulped down the rest of his drink.
"We still have some time before making landfall. Consider it payment for the ride. Let me train him a bit."
Saying this, he strode with his imposing presence towards Konohamaru.
Thanks to his innate physical prowess and Karin's Medical Ninjutsu, Bullet had almost fully recovered by now.
-But even if he weren't fully recovered, he was more than enough to serve as a training partner for the current Konohamaru.
"Well now, it sounds like I've become a freeloader."
Redfield watched Bullet's figure with a smile, then also walked over.
"Your black-haired companion seems quite talented in Observation Haki. If you don't mind-"
"Be my guest."
Whether it was Sasuke or Konohamaru, due to their innate talents or special bloodlines, both, though still considered youths, had already displayed potential surpassing many others.
Perhaps, as Redfield implied, they didn't want to owe a big favor and then continue freeloading on the ship.
Or perhaps it was the excitement of discovering two uncut gems… admittedly, Naruto's teaching skills were somewhat... hard to describe.
After leisurely finishing his rum, Naruto walked over to Karin's side.
"So? Do you want to receive some guidance from them too? Don't be fooled just because I defeated them, in terms of strength, these two are absolutely 'top-tier'."
Unexpectedly, Karin just shook her head.
"Their fighting styles don't suit me. If possible, I'd like you to be the one to guide me, Naruto-san, especially in utilizing this power."
As she spoke, Karin showed the [Kama] on her hand, also recounting Momoshiki's movements when Naruto displayed the full power of the Otsutsuki form.
"Ah... I almost forgot about him."
Naruto reached out, gently touching the diamond-shaped mark, his will probing inside.
Unfortunately, apart from a faint Otsutsuki's Chakra Reaction, like a seed, he couldn't sense any spiritual presence.
Perhaps stimulated by Naruto, Momoshiki, feeling escape was hopeless, had actively withdrawn his spirit into the Kama, entering a state similar to hibernation.
"Alright. We still have some time before Ace's execution. Let's deal with this first."
It seemed everyone on the ship had found something to do.
-Except for Byrnndi World, who was still role-playing as a carpet.