XX-level Hokage

“I have no interest in those cumbersome warships.” Zona had already begun directing a few still-functioning grunts (who had been jolted awake by her electric shock and then physically “persuaded”) to move the golden treasure chests beneath the altar. “I only care about these! Wow, is this a pure gold goblet? This ruby ​​is definitely of good quality!”

Seeing her sister so obsessed with money, Flora sighed softly, but a indulgent smile played on her lips. Several days later, in the Holy Land of Maria (now the capital of the Ocean Kingdom).

The enormous Pangu City has now been transformed into Mashiro's palace in the One Piece world.

Compared to the extravagance and oppression of the Celestial Dragons in the past, the Imperial City is now full of vitality, with exotic flowers and plants from all over the world planted everywhere, and even cherry blossom trees from the ninja world.

Inside the Sky Garden.

"So, you not only destroyed a smuggling ring's stronghold, but also brought back two hundred million Berries' worth of treasure?"

Nami sat under a parasol, a glass of orange juice in one hand and a long bill in the other, scrutinizing Zona before her. Time seemed to have left few marks on Nami's face; she remained stunningly beautiful, only now possessing an added air of regal grace befitting a queen.

“It’s 230 million Berries, Mom!” Zona corrected, then went over with a fawning expression, “According to the old rules, Flora and I will contribute 70% and hand over 30% to the national treasury.”

"The remaining 30% will go into your damage compensation fund." Nami interrupted her mercilessly, pointing to a line on the bill, "When you set sail, you forced the use of the overloaded wind cannon in order to save time, which caused a slight crack in the keel of the White Whale. The repair cost will just offset your share of the profits."

"Huh?! How could this be!" Zona let out a mournful cry and slumped onto the table. "That was to avoid a storm! And that ship was so fragile, it couldn't compare to the ships in the world Father talked about..."

"That's because Uncle Franky hasn't had a chance to fully enhance it with the Adam Tree yet," Robin said with a smile.

Robin, dressed in an elegant black gown, was sorting through the rubbings of the Poneglyphs that had been returned with Flora. The two of them, sitting together, exuded an almost identical intellectual aura.

“Well done this time, Flora.” Robin looked at the text on the rubbing, a hint of approval in his eyes. “This part of history fills a gap in the record of a great flood eight hundred years ago. Your father should be interested.”

“Speaking of floods,” Flora put down her pen and looked towards the edge of the Red Line in the distance, “I heard that Ruri has been very busy lately?” Nami and Robin’s expressions became slightly more serious at the mention of this topic.

“Yes, the Sea Kings in the Calm Belt have been unusually restless lately, causing several large-scale tsunamis,” Nami frowned. “Although Mashiro is dealing with the source, Ruri, as the new Sea King, is calming those giant beasts in the deep sea. That child, although she cries easily, is surprisingly reliable in matters of great importance.”

“Little Ruri inherited Aunt Shirahoshi’s power; she can hear the sound of the sea,” Flora said softly. “But I heard that Sister Boa Feren also went?”

"Philan... Thinking of Empress Hancock's extremely strong-willed daughter, Nami couldn't help but facepalm. "When she heard that someone dared to cause trouble in the Ocean Kingdom's territorial waters, she immediately led the warriors of Amazon Lily to attack, saying she wanted to make those who caused the tsunami taste what it's like to be bitten to death by a snake."

"I hope they don't start fighting." Robin chuckled. "After all, Philon always complains that Liuli cries too much, and Liuli is terrified of Philon's giant snake."

By this time, Zona had recovered from the shock of losing her allowance. She chewed on her straw and mumbled, "Since Father hasn't come back yet, why don't we go join the fun tomorrow? I heard that sea king meat is delicious, especially the deep-sea kind."

"You stay put!" Nami smacked Zona on the head impatiently. "Tomorrow you're going to teach the new batch of Royal Navigators; it's your duty. Don't even think about running away."

"I know, I know," Zona drawled, then looked at Guan Kong. The setting sun had dyed the clouds orange-red, her favorite color.

“Speaking of which, I really want to go see the ninja world,” Zona suddenly said. “I’ve heard that the older and younger sisters there are quite interesting. Especially that one named Yu…”

Side Story: The Other Side of the Sea (Part Two)

Location: First half of the Grand Line, Saint-Ice Island, Alabasta Kingdom; Time: Noon, under the blazing sun.

The heat distorted the air above the horizon, and golden sand dunes undulated like ocean waves, stretching to the very edge of the field of vision.

As an important member state and breadbasket of the "Kingdom of the Seas," Alabasta has enjoyed unprecedented prosperity under the governance system of True White.

The drought of yesteryear has faded into history, and today, St. Ting Island is dotted with oases and crisscrossed by canals. Yet, the desert's scorching heat remains unchanged.

"When will this awful weather ever end?! My skin is cracking! Unforgivable!"

Above a luxurious camel caravan crossing the desert, a petite figure floats in mid-air, holding a burgundy parasol adorned with black boutonniere, muttering to herself.

The girl looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old. She had pink spiral curls just like her mother's, tied into playful pigtails. She wore a gothic-style black and white tutu dress, round-toed leather shoes, and was tightly hugging a strangely stitched, yet inexplicably cute, teddy bear.

She is Lilim, the daughter of Mashiro and "Princess Mononoke" Perona.

“Just bear with it a little longer, Lilim. We’re only three kilometers from Rainland, where there’s a newly built, large, temperature-controlled indoor garden.” The blue-haired girl who answered her was riding on the back of the lead giant running dog, Bright (a descendant of Karoo Duck).

The girl had long, smooth, light blue hair, which was braided into a neat tactical braid and coiled at the back of her head. She wore a modified version of the Alabasta royal attire, which retained the flowing gauze of a dancer while incorporating close-fitting soft armor for combat.

Her eyes and brows held the gentleness and resilience of her mother, Weiwei, but her tightly closed lips and sharp eyes subtly revealed the aura of a master belonging to Zhenbai.

She is Nefertari D. Alice, the daughter of Mashiro and Nefertari Vivi.

"You grew up in the desert, of course you're not afraid of the heat!" Lilim puffed out her cheeks angrily, and several translucent white ghosts even seemed to float in the air behind her. "I should have known better than to take this mission. I should have been hiding in the castle drinking chilled grape juice and cursing that girl named Zona for stealing my most desired limited-edition doll."

“This is an inspection mission assigned by my father, and also an opportunity for us to gain experience,” Alice sighed helplessly, tightening her grip on the reins. “Moreover, I’ve recently heard that a group of sandstorm poachers has appeared in the nearby oases, specializing in plundering water sources and ancient artifacts. As a princess, I cannot stand idly by.”

"Hmph, it's that boring fighting again." Lilim curled her lip, flipped in the air as light as a feather, "Anyway, if we encounter enemies, I'll just use the Pessimistic Ghost to make them kneel on the ground and count the sand."

"Speaking of which, why doesn't Father just send people to wipe these guys out? They're driving us crazy with their constant barrage of complaints," Lilim muttered, pouting.

"I remember Lord Jiaoqin saying that this kind of behavior is unstoppable because there will always be people who want to gain without effort. Since it won't amount to much, Lord Jiaoqin is too lazy to take direct action. It's just a good opportunity to use it as a test for the new generation of the Empire," Alice replied softly.

"Oh, I see... Then why is it always the two of us who have to do this kind of thing! Honestly!"

"There's no other way. We can't handle anything too dangerous, and we can't handle anything too special. This is all we can do."

"Tch! It's clearly because of Aunt Vivi, after all, Alabasta is your fiefdom." "Ahem, maybe."

Just as the two were chatting, the sand dunes in front of them suddenly began to move.

The once calm sand surface began to tremble violently, as if some enormous creature was moving underground.

Immediately afterwards, more than a dozen huge sand pillars shot into the sky, blocking the caravan's path. "Hey, looks like we've got some good luck, caught a few fat sheep."

With a loud laugh, dozens of masked bandits riding giant desert scorpions emerged from the sandstorm. They were armed with various modified heavy firearms and barbed chains, and the leader, a one-eyed man, was carrying an exaggerated serrated broadsword.

"Is this a royal supply convoy?" The one-eyed dragon greedily scanned the camels behind Alice. "Leave the water and treasure, and perhaps I'll consider sparing your lives."

Alice reined in the startled Liang, her expression instantly turning cold. Without the slightest panic, she simply raised her hand, signaling the guards behind her to step back.

"This is Alabasta territory. Any unauthorized armed plunder will be punished by law." Alice's voice was clear and powerful, exuding an unquestionable authority. "I am Neferutari D. Alice. I am giving you one last chance: lay down your weapons and surrender."

Nefertari? The princess?!

The thieves were taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! So she's just a little liar! Why would Her Majesty the Kingdom's princess personally escort the goods? And she can't even spread her lies evenly! Haha, perfect, capture her and make her the boss's wife!" The one-eyed man laughed arrogantly, his broadsword slashing down. "Brothers, charge! As long as you don't kill her, you can do whatever you want with her!"

A sigh filled with disdain came from the air.

Lilim floated in mid-air, using her parasol to cover half her face, her large, visible eye filled with disdain: "What a bunch of rude and tasteless bastards! How dare they interrupt a lady's journey and laugh so awfully."

“Lilim, the left wing is yours.” Alice’s hand was already on her waist.

"I know, I know, you really know how to boss people around." Lilim lazily stretched out a finger. "Go, my little darlings, give them a little surprise." The next second, dozens of translucent white ghosts suddenly surged out from behind Lilim.

They emitted eerie laughter, yet they weren't simply the kind of negative ghosts you'd find. "Improved Version: Ghostly Carnival Night - Scare Box!"

The ghosts didn't pass directly through the enemy's body; instead, they instantly expanded, transforming into all sorts of terrifying yet somewhat comical monster shapes—some with enormous tongues, others with popped-out eyes.

They charged at the desert scorpions.

Although the desert scorpions were fierce, they had never seen such a strange creature before. They were so frightened that they scattered and fled in all directions, even colliding with each other, no matter how the thieves whipped them.

"What the hell?!" The thieves were thrown into chaos. Meanwhile, Alice moved as well.

What she drew from her waist was not a traditional sword, but a pair of exquisite peacock feather fans.

But this is no ordinary decoration; the fan ribs are crafted from a special rare metal, with edges as sharp as knives. "Wind Release: Peacock Chain - Sandstorm Waltz!"

Alice's figure rushed into the enemy ranks like a blue butterfly. Her double fans spun rapidly, creating a small tornado in the dry air. She used the wind to weave between the thieves, and each wave of her fan brought forth a sharp blade of air.

The thieves' weapons snapped the moment they touched the air blades. Then, the manipulated whirlwind whipped up the yellow sand on the ground, transforming it into rope-like shapes that precisely bound each thief together.

This not only inherited Vivi's Peacock Wood-Cutting Machine, but also incorporated a trace of Wind Release Chakra Nature Transformation techniques taught by Mashiro.

"Damn it! He's a trained fighter!" The one-eyed leader roared as he watched his men fall one after another. His muscles bulged, clearly indicating he was also a skilled martial artist. He swung his broadsword at Alice, yelling, "Die!"

"Too slow." Alice's eyes were calm as she inexplicably bent backward, dodging the blade. Then, the feather fan in her hand snapped shut, transforming into a short...

The stick was aimed at the opponent's abdomen.

However, at that moment, a pink light and shadow moved even faster than her. "Extra-large Pessimistic Ghost Bombardment!"

A gigantic ghost, nearly half a person's height, pierced straight through the one-eyed man's chest.

The one-eyed man, who had been exuding an imposing aura and had a face full of menacing features, suddenly froze, and his broadsword fell to the ground with a clatter.

Immediately afterwards, the burly man knelt down, his hands supporting him on the sand, tears streaming down his face: "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have been born into this world... I..."

I'm not even worthy to be a grain of sand... I want to become a sea cucumber.

The battlefield fell silent instantly.

The remaining thieves were so frightened by their leader's appearance that they could barely hold their weapons.

"Is this Lilim's soul attack...? It's terrifying no matter how many times I see it." Alice put away her feather fan and looked at the burly man who wanted to become a sea cucumber with some sympathy.

Lilim landed lightly on the camel's back, opened her parasol to block out the sun again, and said haughtily, "If you hurry up, I won't have to dirty my ghost. It was specially maintained for tonight's tea party."

"Yes, yes, thank you for your help, Miss Lilim." Alice smiled and shook her head.

Just as the guards stepped forward to bind the prisoners, a hawk suddenly cried out from the sky.

Immediately afterwards, two figures descended from the sky and landed on the sand dune. "Looks like the battle is over. How boring."

The speaker was a woman holding a pink lace parasol and wearing a gothic dress. She floated in mid-air, surrounded by several adorable ghosts. Although she was a mother, Perona still looked like a delicate doll, only with a touch of mature charm in her eyes and brows.

Standing beside her was a noble-looking blue-haired woman in a magnificent robe, riding on the back of a huge royal steed, her gaze both gentle and majestic—it was Vivi, the Queen of Alabasta.

“Mother! Aunt Perona!” Alice quickly bowed.

"Mom! I told you I could handle this myself, why did you have to come along!" Lilim complained, but her body language betrayed her, and she drifted towards Pey.

Beside Rona, she showed off the doll in her arms, saying, "Look, I only used one move, and that guy wanted to become a sea cucumber."

"Hehehe, well done! You didn't embarrass me." Perona patted Lilim's head with satisfaction. "However, your ghost control precision isn't quite there yet; you almost affected your own people just now."

Vivi smiled and walked up to Alice, smoothing her slightly messy bangs: "You handled it very decisively, Alice. You used diplomacy first, then force, and minimized casualties to the greatest extent possible. You did a great job."

“It’s all thanks to Mother’s excellent upbringing,” Alice replied modestly, then asked with some concern, “But why did you come in person, Mother? Is there some emergency?”

Vivi gazed into the distance into the desert, her eyes growing thoughtful: "It's not exactly an emergency, it's just... I received a message from your father..."

Upon hearing the word "father," the two girls' eyes lit up instantly. Evening, rain, Royal Oasis Palace.

As the sun sets and night falls in the desert, the oppressive heat finally dissipates, replaced by a refreshing breeze. On the palace terrace, a small family dinner is underway.

Perona was directing her ghostly servants to serve plates of exquisite desserts, while Vivi was discussing with Alice the power structure behind the thief gang.

"So, the great flood in the Ocean Kingdom has receded?" Lilim asked curiously, chewing on a ghost-shaped Kumasimacaron. "When will Father return? I want to show him my newly developed 'Ghost Bomb'."

“It should be soon,” Perona said, taking a sip of her red tea and floating in mid-air. “I heard it’s because of the sea kings’ riot in the Calm Belt, and Mashiro went to calm down those big fish. Honestly, she’s the ruler of the country, yet she always does this kind of manual labor.”

Because that was her father's responsibility, and also her gentle side. She smiled slightly and said, "Moreover, I heard that this incident seems to be related to the Kingdom of Nada..."

There is some connection.

“The Ninja Kingdom…” Alice put down her cutlery, a longing gleaming in her eyes. “Is it that place across the sea, the world where Father was born?” “Yes. I’ve heard there’s no sea there, only vast continents and towering mountains,” Lilim chimed in, swinging her legs. “I’ve heard Zona mention it.”

The women over there all use something called ninjutsu, and some can even breathe fire and water. Especially that woman named Uchiha Miko, she seems really powerful.