One Piece : Brotherhood

Hello dear readers, 

I sincerely apologize for the missed update yesterday. To make up for it, I'll be sharing this chapter as an apology for the delay in our regular schedule. Thank you for your understanding and continued support!

*****

MarineFord, Grandline

"I wish I could just quit, and then I wouldn't have to deal with all this mess," Sengoku muttered, rubbing his temples as he scanned the new bounty updates from the World Government. The paper in his hands carried the familiar image of Donquixote Rosinante, now with an even higher bounty stamped across it. His eyes narrowed as he read the number—a figure that was, in his opinion, excessive.

He couldn't understand the sudden urgency behind this. Rosinante's previous bounty was already astronomical, far surpassing the actual threat level he posed. In all his dealings, Sengoku had observed a strange pattern with Rosinante.

The man didn't go out of his way to cause trouble for the Marines or the World Government unless provoked. And yet, despite his warnings, the World Government seemed hell-bent on poking the hornet's nest, again and again.

"Why now? Why increase the bounty so recklessly?" Sengoku muttered to himself, frustration clear in his tone. He glanced out the window of his office, watching the waves crash against Marineford's docks, wishing for a momentary respite from the political games of the higher-ups.

His gut told him that Rosinante wasn't the problem—it was the ones pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Kano Country's recent downfall was a prime example. It hadn't been some grandiose plan on Rosinante's part—it had been a reaction, retaliation for a provocation that could have easily been avoided.

Rosinante had been quiet for the most part, managing his own affairs, keeping his movements subtle. But someone, somewhere, had made the decision to push him. And now, the consequences were unraveling.

"They keep pushing him," Sengoku muttered, almost to himself. "They keep forcing his hand, and then they act surprised when he strikes back harder."

He let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. The World Government's obsession with the Donquixote brothers, particularly Rosinante, baffled him. Sure, they were dangerous—Doflamingo, in particular, was a walking disaster waiting to happen.

But Rosinante? He was more strategic, calculated, and didn't seem as interested in blind destruction. Sengoku had read the reports closely, seen the patterns. Rosinante's movements were measured, like a man playing a long game. And yet, the World Government treated him like some unpredictable powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.

"Maybe it's because of what he knows… or who he knows." Sengoku frowned, his thoughts drifting toward the deeper, darker secrets of the world. It was no secret that the Donquixote family had ties to the Celestial Dragons.

That alone made them dangerous. But Rosinante had always been different from his brother—quiet, reserved, playing his cards close to his chest. Perhaps that was what made the World Government nervous. A man like Rosinante, who knew too much and had too much power, was a liability they couldn't control.

Sengoku sighed again, heavier this time. He'd fought countless battles, seen countless men rise and fall. But these political games, these subtle manipulations of power—it was exhausting. There was no clear enemy to fight, no direct action he could take.

He was caught in a web of decisions made by men who sat in high towers, far away from the realities of the battlefield.

"Maybe they're right to be afraid of him," Sengoku muttered, finally pushing the bounty papers aside. "But raising his bounty won't make him go away. It'll only make him angrier."

[WANTED]

[DONQUIXOTE ROSINANTE]

[DEAD OR ALIVE]

[4,004,000,000 BERRY]

"Maybe there's a reason the World Government is truly weary of the Donquixote brothers," Admiral Hazard muttered, his eyes scanning the new bounty updates spread across the table. He couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.

"Has there ever been another pirate group that's grown to such a level in under a decade?" His voice, heavy with concern, trailed off as his gaze shifted toward the newest bounty poster—one that seemed to signify the World Government was finally taking the Donquixote threat seriously.

[WANTED]

[DONQUIXOTE DOFLAMINGO]

[ALIVE OR DEAD]

[3,399,000,000 BERRY]

Hazard tossed the folder onto the table, shaking his head in disbelief. "He's ruthless, isn't he? Publicly executing a king affiliated with the World Government... It's like he doesn't fear them anymore. And Chinjao—" He leaned back, crossing his arms.

"I heard the entire Happo Navy and the Chinjao family were wiped out. Is that true?" He couldn't help but ask, amused yet disturbed by the sheer audacity.

Borsalino, leaning over lazily, picked up another poster from the stack, his golden glasses glinting under the lights. "So scary, indeed," he mused, his voice carrying its usual lazy drawl.

"Look at this. A kid, barely ten years old, and already his bounty exceeds most pirates in the Grand Line." He chuckled as he showed the others the picture of a young, fierce-looking Rob Lucci.

[WANTED]

[ROB LUCCI]

[DEAD OR ALIVE]

[414,500,000 BERRY]

"He's stronger than the Supernovas," Borsalino continued, waving the paper slightly. "Bringing down Don Chinjao in a single battle... This kid is no joke."

"They're all pirate scum," Vice Admiral Sakazuki growled from across the room, his voice a deep rumble of frustration. His fists clenched on the table. "It doesn't matter if they're kids or not. They need to be put down. Without mercy."

Sengoku, growing irritated with Sakazuki's relentless aggression, shot him a sharp look. "In that case, would you like to lead an expedition to Kano Country?" Sengoku's voice was laced with frustration.

"I'm sure Rosinante is still there. Would you like to bring him to justice yourself?"

Sakazuki's jaw tightened. For a moment, he said nothing. The tension in the room grew palpable. Despite all his bluster, even Sakazuki knew the weight of the name Donquixote Rosinante. The man wasn't an easy target, and facing him head-on could spell disaster. His pride wouldn't allow him to admit it, but deep down, he wasn't confident enough to confront Rosinante alone.

Sengoku sighed, turning away from Sakazuki. "Do we have any orders from above?" Borsalino asked, shifting the conversation.

"Kano Country is a complete mess now. There's no governing body, and we can't let pirates run nations. Should we mobilize forces to regain control?"

Admiral Raylene, seated quietly so far, nodded in agreement. "We can't let the people suffer under pirates."

Sengoku grimaced. "We've been ordered by the higher-ups to stand down for now," he said reluctantly, his fingers tapping against the table. "But we should keep our forces ready. It's only a matter of time before we're needed."

The room was silent for a moment, each admiral contemplating the precarious situation. Then Sengoku's gaze shifted to the quiet figure of Tsuru, the Chief of Staff, who had been unusually silent during the meeting.

"Tsuru, you haven't said anything. Is something on your mind?" Sengoku asked, noticing the concern etched on her face.

Tsuru's eyes darkened as she spoke. "Have you forgotten, Sengoku?" Her voice was calm but carried the weight of her words. "Every time we or the World Government target the Donquixote brothers, they retaliate. First it was the Germa Kingdom, then Impel Down, later Punk Hazard.

But those attacks were mostly directed at Doflamingo. This time, we've targeted Rosinante." She paused, her gaze sweeping across the room. "It won't be Rosinante retaliating. It'll be Doflamingo. And unlike his brother, Doflamingo won't hold back to prevent an all-out war."

The realization struck the room like a hammer. All these years, Rosinante had been provoked here and there, but never directly. The full force of Doflamingo's fury had yet to be unleashed. Now, with Rosinante targeted, it wasn't just a bounty—it was a declaration of war.

Suddenly, the door to the meeting room burst open with a loud crash. A Rear Admiral, drenched in sweat, staggered into the room. His face was pale, and his uniform was disheveled, as if he had run the entire way. He stumbled towards Sengoku, not even caring about the shocked expressions of the admirals before him.

Without a word, the Rear Admiral dropped a thick stack of papers in front of Sengoku. "Sir... You need to see this... It just came in."

Sengoku frowned as he took the stack of papers and flipped it open. His eyes widened in disbelief as he scanned the pages. It wasn't just another report or bounty update. No—this was something far more serious.

It was the latest edition of the World Economy Newspaper and World Times. But what truly made Sengoku's blood run cold were the bounty posters. Hundreds, no—**thousands**—of bounty posters. But they weren't for pirates.

They were for the Marines.

"What is this madness?" Sengoku shot up from his seat, flipping through the posters. Names of Marines, from Rear Admirals to even high-ranking officers, littered the stack. Faces of men and women who had dedicated their lives to the World Government were now plastered with bounties over their heads. The largest bounties were reserved for the Admirals and higher-ups.

The room went dead silent. No one dared to move, let alone speak, as the weight of the situation dawned on them. It wasn't just a fight against pirates anymore. The pirates had declared war on them.

Tsuru, usually composed and level-headed, clenched her fists and growled with an uncharacteristic fury.

"It's him. It's definitely him—the Heavenly Yaksha, that bastard..." Her voice, trembling with rage, echoed through the room, starkly contrasting her usual calm demeanor. The declaration of war against the Marines and the World Government felt like a punch to the gut, a direct challenge they had never anticipated.

The Rear Admiral standing before them swallowed hard, his face pale as a ghost. His eyes darted around the room, as if seeking permission to continue. The weight of what he was about to say bore down on him like an anchor.

"Sir... there's more," he stammered, his voice barely holding together under the tension. "It's not just the Marines." He paused, his throat visibly constricting as if the very words were poisonous.

"Bounties have been placed on the World Government agents... Cipher Pol as well." He hesitated again, his eyes wide with disbelief. "There are even bounties for the Celestial Dragons' heads... and the Five Elders too."

The air in the room turned ice cold. It felt as though time itself had stopped. Every eye was locked on the Rear Admiral, and every breath seemed to hang in the air like a death sentence. It wasn't just a challenge. It wasn't just a declaration of war.

It was madness. Pure, unbridled madness.

"Hiss..." The entire room seemed to exhale as one, a collective gasp of disbelief. It was unimaginable. A nightmare come to life. This wasn't just about the Marines anymore—this was an all-out assault on the entire World Government, the very system that had held the world together for centuries.

Sengoku's hands tightened around the stack of bounty posters. His face, usually stone-faced, betrayed a flicker of fear, then deep contemplation. He knew the implications of this. If even the Celestial Dragons—the untouchable rulers of the world—had been targeted, then no one was safe. Not from this.

"Was it Doflamingo?" Sengoku's voice broke the silence, but it lacked the certainty that Tsuru had shown. Unlike her, he didn't jump to conclusions. He knew better than to assume, especially when the stakes were this high. "Has it been confirmed who's behind this?"

The Rear Admiral shook his head violently, his voice trembling. "No, sir! No party has come forward to claim responsibility." His eyes flickered nervously as if afraid of the truth. "But the bounties... they're real. They're being sanctioned through the Underworld network."

Sengoku clenched his jaw. The Underworld—where chaos and power merged in ways even the World Government struggled to control. If these bounties were legitimate and spreading through the Underworld, it meant the situation was already spiraling out of their control. The whole world was about to descend into bloodshed, and the Marines were now prey.

The Rear Admiral hesitated again, his face turning even grimmer, if that were possible. "Sir..." he continued, voice shaking, "Some people have already begun to act. Marines have been killed—ambushed." His voice cracked. "Even an ensign's head is worth a thousand berries. We've received multiple reports of Marine patrols being attacked, their heads... cashed in."

A cold, sickening wave of dread washed over the room. Marines being hunted like common bounties. People who had dedicated their lives to upholding the law, protecting the world, now had prices on their heads. Not just by pirates, but by anyone with the stomach for blood and a desire for coin. This wasn't just a threat—it was a massacre in the making.

Admiral Sakazuki's face twisted in fury, his volcanic temper simmering beneath the surface. "Cowards," he spat, his voice full of venom. "Putting bounties on our heads? I'll burn them all to ash for this."

But despite his rage, even Sakazuki knew the gravity of the situation. His pride wouldn't let him admit it, but he understood the truth. This wasn't a fight they could simply muscle through. The tides were turning, and they were unprepared for the sheer scale of what was happening.

Sengoku stood, his gaze sweeping across the room. His face was pale but firm, his mind racing through the possibilities. They were now officially at war—not just with pirates, but with the very world they had sworn to protect. And worse still, they didn't even know who their true enemy was.

"This isn't just about the Donquixote family," he muttered, his voice low but carrying the weight of the world. "This is bigger than Doflamingo. Someone is pulling the strings. Someone wants chaos."

His eyes fell on Tsuru, who had calmed down slightly but still wore a grave expression. "Tsuru... You may be right about Doflamingo. But there's something more at play here. Someone wants us to crumble from the inside."

Admiral Kizaru, always the enigma, let out a long, slow whistle. "It's hard to say who's crazier—the one placing these bounties or the fools who are going to try and collect them." His tone was lazy as ever, but even he felt the unease beneath the surface. The world was changing, and not for the better.

Sengoku's eyes returned to the bounty posters, his thoughts swirling. "We need to prepare," he finally said, his voice resolute. "The Marines will not be hunted like animals. We will find out who's behind this, and we will end it."

But as the room fell into a heavy silence once more, everyone knew this was only the beginning. The game had changed, and the stakes had never been higher. The Marines, once the hunters, were now the hunted. And somewhere in the shadows, someone was laughing.

The world had just been thrown into chaos, and no one—not the Marines, not the World Government, not even the Celestial Dragons—was safe anymore.

******

Dressrosa, New World

The bounty on the World Government's authority figures—the Marines, Cipher Pol agents, and even the Celestial Dragons—sent shockwaves throughout the world, shaking it to its core.

The very notion of putting a price on the heads of the untouchables was madness, but when the legitimacy of the bounties was confirmed, chaos erupted. The news spread like wildfire.

Governments scrambled, World Government agents plunged into the underworld, desperate to find the mastermind behind this bold move.

"Fufufufu! Someone certainly knows how to stir the pot," Doflamingo chuckled, leaning back in his chair, twirling the newly printed bounty poster of the Five Elders between his fingers. His smile was as wide as it was dangerous, his pink coat draped like a predator's cloak over his shoulders.

The audacity of it all delighted him, and he couldn't help but wonder who had the gall—and the brilliance—to declare such a blatant act of rebellion against the world's highest authorities.

His thoughts wandered, admiring the chaos. For once, it wasn't of his own making. And that intrigued him all the more.

Suddenly the familiar ringing of his personal transponder snail cut through his musings.

"Peri...peri...peri..." He picked it up, still grinning, as he heard a voice he knew well.

"Tell me, Doffy, did you have anything to do with this recent madness...?" It was me, Rosinante, my voice cool yet curious. Even though I knew my brother well—he would've consulted me before pulling off something this grand—I couldn't completely dismiss the thought that he might be behind it.

After all, with the recent assassination attempt on me by the Elders, Doflamingo wouldn't be above such retaliation.

"I wish, little brother, I truly wish." Doflamingo laughed, the dark joy in his tone unmistakable. "But rest assured, I had nothing to do with such a marvel. I almost regret not thinking of it first! Tell me, do you have any idea who could have pulled off something this... spectacular?" His voice was practically gleeful, like one artist admiring another's masterpiece. "I'd love to meet whoever orchestrated this."

His admiration for the chaos was palpable. Doffy loved mayhem, thrived in it. His entire existence revolved around breaking the chains of order and creating something beautiful from destruction. But this was different. Someone had beaten him to the punch—and done it so well that he couldn't help but admire it.

"Even though we didn't do it, Doffy, you know the Elders won't see it that way," I said, my voice measured, but with a hint of worry. "With the grudges we hold against them, it won't be long before they point their fingers at us. And to pull something like this off... the resources it would require are no joke."

Doflamingo's smile faded slightly, considering the implications. He didn't mind being part of chaos, but being held responsible for someone else's storm? That was another matter. He didn't want to get burned by a fire he didn't set.

"You've reached out to Morgans, I assume?" I asked. "The guy's got his wings in everything. He'd at least have some inkling about who's responsible for spreading this through both his papers. Unless..." I paused, the thought sinking in.

"Unless he was cornered. Someone might've put him in a position where he had no choice but to print it."

"Fufufufu! Of course, little brother," Doffy chuckled again, his eyes gleaming.

"You think I wouldn't? You're right—our feathered friend was indeed caught between a rock and a hard place. Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing. Morgans doesn't know who they are either. That bird's in hiding, waiting for the World Government's wrath to blow over."

Doffy's voice was light, but I could hear the edge of anticipation. He thrived on the tension.

"I have to admit," he continued, "this whole scheme... it's something I could've come up with. But it's early—too early. Whoever pulled this off, they've got a taste for drama, and they know how to cover their tracks. It's a masterpiece, little brother. A real masterpiece."

"You're right, Doffy," I agreed, my voice thoughtful. "I had a similar plan in mind... but not for another decade or so. Whoever did this played it perfectly. They lit the fire and slipped away before anyone could notice. A true masterstroke."

As we spoke, a knock echoed on Doffy's end. The door creaked open, and Senor Pink walked in, his face set in a rare frown. He carried a transponder snail in his hand, the device etched with a deep scowl.

"Master Doffy," Senor said, placing the transponder snail down carefully on the glass table. "It's one of the Elders..." His voice was respectful, but there was tension in the air. Despite the hostile relationship, we had secured a few transponder snails from captured Cipher Pol agents that allowed the Elders to contact us directly when necessary.

Doflamingo's grin widened, sensing the inevitable conflict. He leaned forward, fingers resting lightly on the table as the snail came to life, broadcasting the unmistakable growl of Elder Saturn from the other end.

"Tell me, Donquixote... Was it you?" The Elder's voice crackled through the device, deep with fury, as if every word barely restrained the rage threatening to explode. "Is this your way of getting back at us for targeting your little brother?!"

The accusation hung in the air like a blade ready to drop. The Elder's voice was thick with menace, and though I was on the call through another transponder snail, I could feel the fury radiating from the man. It was more than just anger—it was fear. Fear that Doflamingo had orchestrated something that could bring the entire system crashing down.

Doflamingo leaned back, a sinister smirk curling on his lips. His voice, when he finally spoke, was calm and dripping with amusement.

"Fufufufu... Elder Saturn, how could you accuse me of such brilliance? Do you truly believe I have such power?"

The Elder's rage surged again, his voice like a hammer striking steel. "You dare mock me, Donquixote?! The world is burning, and you think this is some sort of game?"

Doflamingo's grin widened even further, relishing the chaos, the uncertainty he was causing. "No, Elder. I think this is a masterpiece. But, sadly, not one of my own creation."

The Elder fumed, his breath ragged on the other side of the line. "If we find out that you had any hand in this... your entire bloodline will be wiped from history!"

As the transponder snail roared in anger, Doffy chuckled softly, basking in the aftermath.

"Fufufufu... It seems the world is on fire, little brother. Isn't it beautiful? Seems like the elders are on the receiving end this time around."

*****

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