"Naruto-nii!"
The plump Marigold called out happily upon seeing Naruto and the others arrive.
Her voice was like a great bell, quite penetrating.
Naruto also greeted her cheerfully. Although they had met again on Whole Cake Island, he had been tied up with various matters and didn't have time to catch up with these two old acquaintances properly.
Sasuke maintained his blind swordsman act, naturally finding a seat. Konohamaru looked curiously at the two sisters, whose art style was clearly different.
"Kid, what are you looking at?"
Although unsure of Konohamaru's identity, Marigold held a friendly attitude towards anyone with Naruto, so she didn't mind the sturdy child's gaze.
"Big Sis, you're so tall! Almost like Uncle Bullet! That's amazing!"
Konohamaru's compliment was sincere. After a moment's surprise, Marigold burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! Interesting kid!"
"I can get even bigger!"
Marigold was straightforward, as she even intended to demonstrate her hybrid form right there.
Having eaten the Hebi Hebi no Mi, Model: King Cobra, her true combat mode was her half-human, half-snake form, where her length could easily exceed ten meters.
Fortunately, her sister interrupted her before she could act.
Unlike her sister, the second sister, Sandersonia, though initially overjoyed, soon remembered something, and worry quickly overshadowed her joy at the reunion.
"Naruto-nii… why did you come back?"
"Ah?"
Naruto was confused by this statement.
Karin, who had been mentally celebrating prematurely upon seeing the sisters' appearances, pushed those thoughts aside to listen to what the green-haired giantess had to say.
"You should run, quickly. Last time you left without a word, Nee-san is probably furious. While she's not back yet..."
As she spoke, Sandersonia ignored Naruto's bewildered look and started pushing him towards the exit.
"No need to rush off. We'll probably meet at Marineford in a few days anyway..."
"Best to avoid it for now if you can."
Sandersonia clearly didn't have much confidence in her sister's temper.
But at that moment, a bell with a special meaning rang out.
Similar ringing sounds followed, spreading to other parts of the island. Sandersonia's face changed upon hearing them.
"Too late..."
Naruto clearly knew the meaning of the bells and said with a smile,
"See? Perfect timing. Let's go, Hancock is back."
Hearing this, the others followed him out of the palace. Karin watched as even the door guards temporarily abandoned their posts, jogging towards the pier.
'Tsk tsk... This Empress's prestige in this country is really high.'
She walked behind the others, silently marveling.
Even without knowing her appearance yet, just seeing this terrifying rallying power made it clear this Empress had formidable charisma.
'Maybe Naruto-san was attracted by that charm?'
Karin's thoughts became increasingly self-deceptive, probably because she had already associated Hancock's looks with those of the two younger sisters.
"Of course. Hancock is arguably the most prestigious among the successive Kuja Kingdom's Empresses. Even I couldn't command such influence in my time."
An elderly voice suddenly spoke beside her, startling Karin. She turned to see a dwarf-like old woman, leaning on a snake-shaped cane, with a flower in her hair.
"Wah! Who are you!?"
Clearly, the sudden appearance of Gloriosa took Karin by surprise.
"My name is Gloriosa, the former former Empress of this country-"
As she spoke, the old woman winked at Karin, then walked out, one hand behind her back, leaning on her cane.
"Really... came back last time and didn't even visit me before running off again... no semblance of an empress at all..."
Despite her muttering, Gloriosa's steps were not slow at all.
It was hard to tell now, but this old woman was once a great beauty herself.
She had even joined the famous Rocks Pirates.
Karin scratched her head upon hearing this, then involuntarily started associating again.
She merged Gloriosa's large face with Marigold's figure, creating a rather imposing image.
'Uh...'
Shaking her head, Karin decided there was no point in wild speculation. She could just go out and see for herself.
…
At the pier, Hancock and Stussy disembarked from a specially designed steamship.
This ship was one of Stussy's personal vessels.
After all, Hancock's Perfume Yuda was too conspicuous, completely unsuitable for appearing before various factions at this time.
"This is my first time setting foot on Amazon Lily."
Stussy's high heels clicked on the stone tiles. Dressed in a sharp ladies' suit with sunglasses, Stussy looked like the CEO of some major corporation this time.
Yet, compared to Hancock beside her, her figure seemed almost childlike.
"Hmph, you can leave now. I did not invite you."
Hancock's words were sharp, but she showed no intention of actually making Stussy leave.
Clearly, during their time together, the two women had reached some sort of tacit understanding.
Suddenly, their gazes simultaneously pierced through the cheering crowd, landing on a stylish medium-sized ship.
More precisely, on the spiral pattern etched on its sail.
Both had seen an identical pattern on a certain man's clothes.
It was the symbol of the Land of Whirlpools.
Naruto, in his youth, hadn't understood the meaning of this spiral pattern on his clothes but instinctively felt drawn to it.
Even after changing his style as an adult, he often incorporated similar symbols in inconspicuous places.
"Hey… no need to walk so fast, is there?"
Watching Hancock's expression change before she strode through the crowd with her long legs, a playful smile appeared on Stussy's face.
Of course, her own pace wasn't slow either.
One shouldn't underestimate the physical skills of a CP0 Agent.
Meanwhile, Karin rejoined the main group and spotted Hancock walking towards them with great momentum from afar.
No introduction was needed.
Karin knew instantly that this woman was the Hancock Naruto spoke of.
The Empress hailed as the world's most beautiful woman.
The moment she witnessed Hancock's appearance, figure, and aura with her own eyes, Karin decisively typed [GG] in her heart.
'I lose.'
'Can't compare. Absolutely cannot compare.'
If Karin was a slightly unripe apple, then Hancock was a ripe, dewy godly peach.
The gap between them wasn't small.
Unlike Karin, Gloriosa's gaze was fixed intently on the woman following behind Hancock.
"Stussy?"
Miss Buckin, like Gloriosa, had also been part of the Rocks Pirates.
And at that time, she was also called 'Stussy'.
The two great beauties had once vied relentlessly for the title of the era's number one beauty.
Of course, that position was ultimately snatched by Shakky… Gloriosa's former deputy.
'It doesn't make sense. How did she become young again??'
Seeing Stussy's identical appearance to the young Miss Buckin, Gloriosa fell into deep doubt about life.
Naruto, for his part, clearly hadn't expected Stussy to appear together with Hancock.
Based on his shallow understanding, it would be good if these two didn't fight upon meeting. So he wondered how they were now acting like close sisters.
Sensing Naruto's gaze, Stussy's smile widened, and she even blew him a subtle kiss.
But soon, Naruto couldn't see anything clearly anymore.
Because a foot had viciously kicked the upper half of his face.
"Perfume Femur!!!"
That day, the people at Amazon Lily witnessed their Empress's ultimate technique once again after a long time.