No one would have expected that the ones to find Naruto and the others before the Marines, bounty hunters, or even World Government's agents would be-
"Hurry... hurry up and release our Captain!"
"Don't worry, Captain! We're here to save you!"
A ship as large as a small island suddenly rose from the depths of the sea. However, perhaps because they themselves had experienced deep-sea travel, Sasuke and the others weren't particularly surprised.
If forced to give an evaluation, there was only one word.
"So… Big!"
Konohamaru stared at the colossal ship, as large as a Marine fortress, with a figurehead resembling Byrnndi World's face, and couldn't help but exclaim in awe.
Even Karin had to admit, upon seeing this massive ship, that even her awakened form wasn't as large as this vessel.
At that moment, several people stood at the front of the ship, or rather, the small island, shouting towards the Gale Breaker, which seemed like a mere raft in comparison.
Every single one of them appeared elderly.
Apart from a giant, sunglasses-wearing fish-man, their average age was probably over sixty or seventy.
The two who had just shouted were: one, a hunched figure hooked to an IV drip… the first mate of the World Pirates, and also Byrnndi World's older brother, Byojack, and the other, the ship's doctor, Nightin, wearing a white doctor's coat and round glasses.
Due to insufficient crew, she also served as the left-side engineer, jointly responsible for the daily operation of the Groseade with Gairam, who sported two blocky pigtails.
"It seems your crew hasn't given up on you."
Not a trace of worry showed on Naruto's face. Instead, he leaned cheerfully against the ship's rail, speaking to the silently standing Byrnndi World beside him.
Byrnndi World's eyes also faltered slightly as he looked at his companions, all advanced in age yet still intent on 'rescuing' him.
He wanted to say something, words stuck in his chest, but ultimately they turned into a cold "I don't need comrades."
Seeing this, Naruto just shook his head, then shouted towards the remnants of the Byrnndi World Pirates ahead.
"Your captain doesn't seem to want to leave with you!"
"Lies!"
"Captain, are you being coerced? If so, blink twice!"
Sebastian, the fish-man and giant hybrid crew member, shouted, only to be tapped on the shin by a companion's hammer.
"Idiot, you're blind. You wouldn't see even if the Captain blinked."
Sebastian, hammered by Gairam, didn't get angry. Instead, he scratched the back of his head and said,
"Oh... that's true. But I have you guys, right?"
After saying this, he turned his head to 'look' at Byojack, hooked to the IV drip, who seemed to tremble even while walking.
"First Mate, what do we do now?"
Hearing this, Byojack's expression hardened as he looked towards Byrnndi World on the small ship in the distance.
The other had only glanced their way before sitting back down, so given his own height, he couldn't meet his brother's gaze again.
"Never mind. Even if we have to snatch him, we're getting the Captain back."
The moment they received news of Byrnndi World's jailbreak, Byojack had used the Vivre Card's guidance to rush at full speed towards the Gale Breaker's location.
The massive ship they piloted, the Groseade, had been painstakingly built by the few of them bit by bit over the thirty years Byrnndi World was imprisoned.
When it came to his younger brother, Byojack could not give up no matter what.
Hearing the First Mate's order, the few remaining crew members exchanged glances, then decisively charged towards the deck of the Gale Breaker.
"Not going with them?"
Naruto's question received no reply. He then turned to look at Sasuke and the other two.
"Would you mind entertaining these guests? Be gentle, don't damage the Gale Breaker, I just finished repairing it."
Hearing this, Sasuke and the other two leaped down towards the opposing ship, stepping on the water to reach the approaching Groseade first.
They didn't sense any killing intent from the three charging over. They genuinely seemed to just want to 'rescue' their captain from unknown pirates.
As for why they didn't attempt peaceful measures or negotiation first, perhaps it was because they saw the look of utter despair on Byrnndi World's face.
Nightin, seeing the three leap from the ship and charge onto their base instead, immediately pulled out a bunch of unknown liquids and powders from her bosom, gulping them down.
"Chinese Medicine Martial Art Nostrum: Ginseng Newcomer!"
Under Karin's stunned gaze, Nightin instantly transformed from a seventy- or eighty-year-old woman into a fair-skinned, firm-bodied, large-chested, narrow-waisted beauty in a cheongsam.
"So amazing! You can even achieve rejuvenation?"
Seeing this, Karin immediately recalled the [Pure Gold] Naruto had mentioned not long ago. The young girl, who had developed a strong, unspoken anxiety about her appearance since coming to this world, now set her sights on Nightin's medicine formula.
"Hahahaha, this is my specially made medicine! See! Even at eighty years old, taking this medicine can make me beautiful and attractive again!"
It's safe to say the vast majority of women couldn't ignore such a miraculous drug.
Perhaps only a peerless beauty like Hancock, with absolute confidence in her own looks, would remain unmoved.
"E-Eighty years old? This... beautiful granny, do you sell this powder? Or the formula?"
On the other side, Sasuke and Konohamaru were already engaged with the giant fish-man Sebastian and Gairam, while Karin had started inquiring about the formula.
Perhaps because Karin's words were sweet, Nightin momentarily forgot what she was doing and was about to promote her painstakingly researched product to the young girl.
"Nightin! Don't forget our mission!"
Luckily, Byojack reminded her in time, and Nightin remembered they were in the middle of a captain retrieval battle.
"Sorry, sweet-talking girl! Chinese Medicine Martial Art Secret Technique: Kudzu Root Toe Kick!"
After reverting to her youthful state, Nightin's physical abilities had also enhanced significantly. She flashed in front of Karin in an instant, launching high-speed kicks.
However, the kicks imbued with Armament Haki didn't land a single hit on Karin, who easily dodged them.
"Observation Haki? Young people these days are truly remarkable."
After dodging the attacks, Karin partially transformed into her hybrid form, a pair of golden wings quickly unfurling.
"Great Body: Thousand Feathers."
Golden feathers rained down on Nightin like a storm, pelting the Groseade and creating numerous small pits.
Yet, Karin's attacks were forcibly halted mid-air by this rejuvenated woman using a strange medicinal powder.
"Hahahaha! Chinese Medicine Dome! What's the matter, helpless now?"
Seeing Nightin's triumphant laughter, Karin let out a soft sigh.
"Alright... I was originally planning to hold back a little."
"Big talk-"
Before Nightin could finish her sentence, a flash of extremely fast golden light appeared at the corner of her eye.
Even with her Observation Haki, she couldn't react in time.
"Don't worry, just lie down for a bit."
Karin's voice sounded beside Nightin's ear.
Somehow, she had appeared behind the other woman, her wings encircling Nightin.
Immediately after, a phoenix-like cry erupted at point-blank range, directly piercing through Nightin's mental defenses.
"Great Cry: Kite's Lament."