Uchiha's personal opinion

"We have to finish this quickly, otherwise..."

Vegapunk said in a low voice, "And those rats from Cipher Pol, maybe we can get them to help out."

"I understand……"

Kizaru nodded slowly.

……

"The assassination squad's operational effectiveness is truly astounding?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu, who was silently lying in wait in the waters east of Tondo Island, was quite surprised when he received the battle report from Uzumaki Ichiraku.

In my memory, during his conquest of the ninja world, this kind of large-scale raids and assassinations behind enemy lines were basically ineffective against sizable ninja armies, but I never expected that it would achieve such great feats in the world of One Piece.

However, upon closer reflection, it seems reasonable.

After all, although the pirate world has a large number of marines, it still fundamentally admires individual heroism. The outcome of a war is often determined by the battle between one or two strong individuals. In addition, they have never seen or heard of the ninjas' assassination techniques, so they naturally lack corresponding defenses.

"If Your Majesty requires, I can dispatch Ninja Serpent to assist in the raid..."

The White Snake Sage, who was already somewhat impatient, took the initiative to say, "After our previous investigation, Ryuchi Cave has obtained the characteristics of the native snake creatures of this world. Some of the ninja snakes, after special adjustments, are now capable of infiltrating various places unnoticed, judging from their appearance and aura. They may be surprisingly effective for raids and assassinations!"

The reason for this proactive approach is that the snake ninja sent by the White Snake Sage had already smelled the special scent of the Devil Fruit user!

"Didn't the White Snake Sage already send out Ninja Snake?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu chuckled, neither confirming nor denying.

"Those were just reconnaissance snakes for the sake of being safe, nothing serious. It's really bad that Your Majesty is worried about them."

The White Snake Sage said without changing his expression, seemingly unaware of Uchiha Tokumitsu's veiled sarcasm: "However, large-scale battles involving ninja snakes still require His Majesty's imperial decree."

"...In that case, I'll trouble Ryuchi-dong."

Uchiha Tokumitsu didn't care much about the underhanded actions of Ryuchi Cave, after all, he still held the White Snake Sage's weakness in his hands.

"But remember, don't cause too much alarm, and definitely don't reveal the existence of the ninja world!"

"Especially the ninja snakes that have been deployed must not be captured!"

"I understand!"

The White Snake Sage revealed a sinister smile: "None of the ninja snakes participating in the battle understand the dialect of this world, and I will feed them poison. Even if there are minor mistakes, it won't affect the overall situation!"

After saying that, the White Snake Immortal licked his lips, and his breathing became more and more rapid.

It couldn't wait to experience what it was like to be a strongman in the pirate world.

Uchiha Tokumitsu nodded, and then went off on his own to discuss the specifics of battlefield medical care with the Slug Sage.

Although the Slug Sage also participated in the battle, Uchiha Tokumitsu didn't really need its combat power. What he valued most was the Slug's wide-range healing sage technique, especially the emergency treatment effect it could provide after further splitting the clones and attaching them to the ninjas.

"...Theoretically, as long as the wounded ninja is not shot through vital organs such as the heart or brain on the spot, they can be saved."

The Slug Sage shook his tentacles and said, "However, in this way, the clones attached to the ninjas will wither away, so the ninjas cannot continue fighting indefinitely."

"That's enough."

Uchiha Tokumitsu was not an ungrateful person; he was more than satisfied if he could theoretically give his ninjas an extra life.

"Furthermore, what kind of compensation does the Slug Sage need?"

"Not yet, but I'll let you know if I think of anything..."

The slug immortal, with his soft, gentle voice, appeared particularly innocent and pure, a stark contrast to the profit-driven white snake immortal.

Uchiha Tokumitsu nodded without saying anything more. He then gave a few brief instructions before leaving the cabin and ordering, "Notify Uzumaki Ichiraku to have those three battleships launch an attack!"

"As ordered!"

The Imperial Guard ninja immediately obeyed the order and telegraphed the telegraph room to send a secret message.

Uchiha Tokumitsu raised his head, looked at the sky filled with thick, dark clouds, and muttered to himself:

"What perfect weather for murder and body disposal!"

Chapter 525 Luring the Enemy Deep

Ruthless wars always come so suddenly.

Overnight, the silence in the waters around Yotsuba Island was completely shattered. The First Operational Group of the East China Sea Area Force, which could no longer endure the harassment from the assassination squad, launched a full-scale attack on Todoroki Island under the leadership of Admiral Kizaru.

Coincidentally, Uchiha Tokumitsu, who had already completed tactical preparations and tailed beast coordination training, also happened to be thinking about a decisive battle.

Therefore, this can be considered a coincidence.

"Oh, right, Shukaku..."

Before setting off into battle, Uchiha Tokumitsu gave each of the seven tailed beasts a detailed instruction on precautions, but the most troublesome one was Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast.

Because its abilities are completely useless at sea!

The journey from the Demon Triangle to the east of Todoroki had already exhausted Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast, who was considered the 'shame of the Tailed Beasts'. If it were to continue fighting, it probably wouldn't be able to play much of a role.

"How about you stay on Dong Island and accept the ninja army chief of staff's arrangements?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu pondered for a moment, then asked with a hint of probing, "Moreover, if you wish, you can also enjoy full participation benefits."

"no problem!"

Shukaku, who was already dizzy and disoriented during the sea voyage, immediately agreed.

As for the so-called 'sense of shame' brought about by being commanded by insignificant humans, it is utterly insignificant compared to the sense of security of being able to stand firmly on the ground!

The other six tailed beasts were somewhat envious and jealous, but they didn't say much, nor did they take the opportunity to bargain, which perfectly demonstrated their pride and composure as tailed beasts.

After all, their status is different now. As the tailed beasts that guard the territory and the national guardian beasts of the Uchiha Dynasty, under the intentional or unintentional influence of Matatabi, the Two-Tails, they have also begun to pay attention to their manners and demeanor as beasts.

Faced with the overwhelming force of the puppet government's navy, Uzumaki Ichiraku immediately ordered his battleships to attack after receiving the order. Ashura volunteered to personally take charge of the feigned defeat and the task of luring the enemy into a trap, and Uchiha Tokumitsu readily agreed to his request.

Unsurprisingly, Ashura's three battleships and Kizaru's rash fleet ran into each other in the waters around Yotsuba Island.

Just as the battleships unleashed a salvo, Kizaru, possessing the power of the Glint-Glint Fruit, charged in alone across the sea with lightning speed. If it weren't for Ashura's decent Body-Shifting Technique and the unpredictable Flying Thunder God Technique used to restrain them, the battleships would probably have suffered heavy losses as Kizaru rushed in!

But just as Ashura and Kizaru were locked in combat, as the Navy's warships closed the distance, the three battleships, which had already received instructions, immediately changed course and sped off towards Todoroki.

"interesting!"

After repelling Ashura, who had emerged from the seabed below, with a single strike of the Yata Mirror, Kizaru floated on the surface of the sea, looking down at Ashura, who was half-submerged in the water not far away: "As expected of the man who stirred up chaos in the East Blue! State your name and origins!"

After an initial exchange, neither of them used their trump cards, but they both gained a basic understanding of each other's strength.

Especially since Ashura seemed completely unaffected as he swam through the seawater, which surprised Kizaru somewhat.

'It seems CP0's intelligence was indeed flawed; this is something a Devil Fruit user couldn't possibly do!'

Even among the extremely rare Devil Fruit users of the Fish-Man race, none could move so freely in the seawater.

Therefore, the person in front of you may possess a power system that is completely different from Haki and Devil Fruits!

This made Kizaru's mood even heavier.

Ashura chuckled and ignored Kizaru's question.

How could a ninja easily reveal information such as his personal name!

So, after the three battleships departed at full speed, Ashura clapped his hands and activated his ninjutsu—

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

A giant wave surged up from behind Ashura, crashing down on Kizaru with overwhelming force!

"Yata no Kagami!"

With a gloomy expression, Kizaru fired a barrage of Yasakani no Magatama, creating a volley of projectiles that crashed into Ashura's giant wave, while simultaneously leaping towards the fleet behind him.

He initiated the battle to stall the three battleships, but now that they had escaped, there was no need to continue the fight.

Of course, Kizaru believed that if he went all out, he was confident he could defeat the person in front of him, but that was not in line with his personality, and he simply couldn't do something so strenuous and thankless.

"general!"

Kizaru leaped back onto the warship, and a group of naval officers immediately surrounded him.

"The opponent's strength should not be underestimated; they may be at least at the lieutenant general level!"

After giving a brief explanation, Kizaru prepared to go find the great scientist Vegapunk.

He was very unsure what kind of power system this ability to control seawater, which was neither Haki nor a Devil Fruit, came from.

It couldn't possibly be a huge kingdom from the 'Void Century'!

However, according to top-secret intelligence from the Navy, everything about the Great Kingdom had been completely erased by the Twenty Nations Alliance, the predecessor of the World Government. Even Ohara, an archaeological site that might be related to the past, was completely destroyed under the Buster Call.

But was all of this really done flawlessly?

Kizaru felt that since he could learn some inside information from the sidelines, there was no reason why such a big world couldn't hide the remnants of a few huge kingdoms.

Upon closer reflection, Kizaru increasingly felt that his guess was quite reasonable!

If the so-called 'Deep Sea Rebels' are simply remnants of a great kingdom, then everything makes perfect sense!

Those super warships might be the advanced technology of a giant kingdom, and the power to ignore the negative effects of seawater might have evolved from the special environment of their hiding place.

If that's the case, the entire pirate world will probably fall into a new round of chaos—although it's already pretty much in chaos right now.

With that in mind, after entering Vegapunk's cabin, Kizaru did not immediately communicate with him, but instead carefully examined the map on the wall.

Although he had a clear understanding of the situation in all the sea areas of the park, after having a preliminary 'deduction', Kizaru's imagination ran wild.

Whether it was the former Hidden Mist Pirates or the current Deep Sea Rebels, their main areas of activity are the East Blue and the Grand Line. As for the South Blue, there is still no trace of these mysterious enemies.

and so……

Kizaru's fingers traced across the map, eliminating each sea area in the park one by one.

"The Devil's Triangle!"

Ultimately, based on the available information, Kizaru deduced a highly probable sea area!

The Triangle of the Devil is a crucial passage on the Grand Line, where hundreds of ships disappear every year. And those ships that are rediscovered after a period of time are all empty, without crew! It seems there's more to the story than just unusual weather in the Triangle of the Devil!

"What are you doing...?"

Vegapunk, who had been watching from the sidelines for a long time, asked cautiously.