Uchiha's personal opinion

"Lord Mizukage, this matter still requires your personal decision. However, as an ally, Mount Myōboku will fully support all your decisions!"

Fukasaku added, "Furthermore, if you're interested, Mount Myōboku also offers some spiritual techniques that don't require natural energy to learn..."

"...No need to think about it anymore, let's go with the South China Sea!"

Pipa Juzo took a deep breath and made a decision!

"Moreover, there shouldn't be such a strong navy in the South China Sea now, which is perfect for our shipbuilding development..."

The immortal was quite pleased.

"If possible, we'll find a restless king and form an alliance with him, while we remain hidden in the shadows..."

Once the scope of his thinking broadened, Pipa Juzo's intelligence returned to normal.

“We can even control the king of a small country…”

The immortal master Fukasaku patiently explained: "Sometimes, it's not necessary to conquer by force, after all, this world is mostly populated by mortal nobles."

"The immortal's strategies are indeed unparalleled!"

The more Pipa Juzo thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. "With the help of a sage, it's only a matter of time before Kirigakure and Mount Myōboku regain their former glory!"

"Of course, the prerequisite is to persuade the Jonin under the Mizukage's command..."

The immortal subtly changed the subject.

"That's right!"

Pipa Shizang deeply agrees!

……

On the Grand Line, on the fast route from Enies Lobby to Impel Down.

The sniper fleet led by Uchiha Shiina and Orochimaru is still locked in a tug-of-war with Admiral Kuzan's naval reinforcement fleet.

Although Admiral Kuzan was willing to take action personally, the problem was that the sniper fleet had been very cautious, always maintaining a distance of over the sea surface for long-range bombardment. Although this made the trajectory of the bullets clearer and easier to intercept due to the distance, Admiral Kuzan could not find an opportunity to make a move.

Even his strongest move, Ice Age, couldn't cover that far, but if he tried to run across the ice alone, he might get surrounded by the pirates.

Therefore, both sides, hesitant to act for fear of harming the enemy, remained locked in a stalemate; the sniper fleet, which maintained a safe distance, failed to achieve any significant results, and the naval reinforcement fleet had no chance to break through.

"What an incredibly frustrating battle..."

Uchiha Lunbu casually sent a complaining telegram to the cruiser squadron led by Orochimaru.

"Preserving our strength is of paramount importance."

Orochimaru immediately called back.

"Doesn't Director Orochimaru intend to test the enemy's strength?"

Uchiha Rumbu sent another message.

"His Majesty's tactics do not focus on short-term gains or losses."

Orochimaru's regeneration speed has increased even more.

Before Uchiha Lunbu could reply, Orochimaru sent another telegram: "As long as the ultimate goal of the Impel Down campaign is achieved, His Majesty will not care about the process of the battle."

"We're about to enter the doldrums, get ready for another salvo."

Uchiha Rumbu thought about it for a moment and decided to stop worrying about it.

"Time synchronization will begin in five minutes!"

Orochimaru's reply telegram arrived again.

Uchiha Rumbu began to change course, turning from the right front of the naval fleet to sail against the current.

Upon seeing this, General Kuzan, who was observing, couldn't help but feel his eyelids twitch!

This is a fast-flowing waterway with extremely fast ocean currents! It's incredible that some ships can navigate like this...

What type of ship propulsion do they use? Can you deduce it?

Admiral Kuzan casually approached a naval officer who was a proponent of shipbuilding and asked him a question.

"It should be similar to the latest turbine power system in Water Seven, but I didn't see their paddle wheels, so I can't be sure if it's real or not..."

Although the naval officers who advocated shipbuilding wanted to influence Admiral Kuzan's judgment, they dared not speak definitively. After all, having come from the Seven Waters, he knew very well that paddle steamers could never achieve such speeds.

"The power source for the engine room..."

General Kuzan muttered to himself, then fell into deep thought.

Naval warships are not actually the most advanced integration of technology; there are still many ships in the world that are faster and have more firepower than naval warships.

However, those warships were either unique vessels that could not be replicated, such as the snail ships of the Germa Kingdom; or they were high-tech warships of pirates that were often propelled by the abilities of Devil Fruits. Although these warships did have their merits, they simply could not meet the Navy's requirements for large-scale mass production.

In addition, the requirements for naval custom warships are always to maximize cost-effectiveness within the smallest possible budget. At the same time, for ease of maintenance, replicability and uniformity are particularly emphasized. Therefore, although naval warships are powerful, their strength is actually limited.

But the enemy ships that appeared before them were different.

Admiral Kuzan was still able to distinguish between standard warships and special vessels.

Whether it's the heavy-gunned ironclad warships that are circling to the right flank or the fast gunboats on the right flank, judging from their consistent appearance, they are undoubtedly warships mass-produced by the shipyard.

But where exactly in this world is such a force hiding?

We've already explored the entire paradise of the first half of the Grand Line!

Thinking about this, General Kuzan couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

This is also a problem that plagues the Navy Headquarters and even the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

Could it be that, outside the rule of the World Government, there is a vast, unknown force lurking in the depths of the ocean?

Moreover, the force capable of building such powerful warships is definitely not just a mere pirate crew!

"We haven't captured a single prisoner yet, have we?"

General Kuzan asked again.

"Never..."

The naval officers who advocated shipbuilding paused for a moment, then quickly racked their brains to recall: "According to the battle reports from various departments, the navy has not won a single naval battle so far, so it is only natural that they have not captured a single prisoner."

"I see……"

Admiral Kuzan, his face dark, waved away the naval officer who spoke without thinking.

"Boom boom boom!"

At that moment, the fleet that had been firing sporadically to harass the enemy suddenly launched a simultaneous attack!

A barrage of cannon fire once again rained down on the naval reinforcement fleet!

"Intercept!"

The naval officers were initially startled, but quickly realized what was happening and prepared to intercept them!

However, this time the shells seem to be a bit special.

Many shells exploded in mid-air before they even reached the outer edge of the naval fleet, followed by a burst of extremely thick smoke!

"This is……"

The naval officers, who were on high alert, were taken aback.

Although the airburst shell fragments scattered everywhere, these metal debris would at most cause injury to marines below the rank of lieutenant, and could be completely ignored by officers.

"idiot!"

General Kuzan's expression changed drastically, and he angrily shouted, "Quickly disperse the smoke!"

But before the Logia-type Devil Fruit users could unleash their respective techniques, another round of roars followed as a dense barrage of chakra projectiles once again rained down on the Navy's reinforcement fleet!

This time, due to the smoke obscuring their vision, the naval officers and generals, unable to determine the landing point of the shells by their trajectories, had an extremely low success rate in intercepting them, and the fleet was turned into a sea of ​​fire for the first time!

"What an utterly stupid guy!"

General Kuzan cursed, then puffed out his cheeks and spewed out another burst of icy air to extinguish the fire!

However, the damage to ships caused by the shelling was irreparable.

Admiral Kuzan glanced at the ships and saw that more than a dozen warships had been wrecked by a salvo. In addition, six lightly armored transport ships had their hulls breached and were beginning to sink slowly, while the sailors on board were desperately trying to salvage supplies.

"Boom boom boom!!"

The roar of the third salvo echoed once again!

This time, Admiral Kuzan really couldn't hold back anymore!

So he jumped up.

Then, his body formed a "大" (big) shape in mid-air.

Ice Age!

As the freezing air inside the body burst forth, a glacier quickly formed on both sides of the naval reinforcement fleet, and rapidly spread toward the fleet that was bombarding the flanks!

Under Vice Admiral Kuzan's control, the glacier did not affect the naval fleet on the fast route, but due to the freezing air, the weaker marines began to tremble.

"What are you still standing there for!"

Vice Admiral Kuzan landed on the mast, panting heavily, but when he saw the naval officers still staring blankly at the glaciers on both sides of the channel, he immediately became furious.

"As ordered!"

Many officers were witnessing the might of a general for the first time!

"We must build ships on a large scale!"

General Kuzan, panting, secretly made up his mind.

……

"Things are hopeless. Send a telegram to Commander Hanzo!"

Uchiha Rumbu, startled by the sudden eruption of the glacier, looked extremely grim. After gritting his teeth and hesitating for a while, he finally decided to give up and continue fighting.

"This is so frustrating!"

Back in the command room, Uchiha Rumbu, increasingly angry, grabbed a decorative item from the table and smashed it to pieces!

Orochimaru, who was sending a secret report to Uchiha Tokumitsu from the cruiser fleet, also had a gloomy expression.