Uchiha's personal opinion

"Now that they've given us the time gap, shouldn't they have reported it promptly?"

Sakassky said.

"Judging from the Den Den Mushi signal monitoring, the pirate reinforcement fleet did make three or four outbound calls, but because their calls were too short, they failed to break through the surveillance..."

The naval officers responded immediately.

"That should be about right..."

Sakazuki was somewhat disappointed, but he didn't say much.

Marshall D. Teach, standing to one side, was drenched in sweat, feeling as if he had been completely caught in a huge vortex.

None of my family members understand! The navy has started resorting to underhanded tactics!

"Now it's your turn to perform..."

Sakazuki turned around, patted Marshall D. Teach on the shoulder, and said in a seemingly consultative tone, "I have a task for you to prove your loyalty to the Navy. Is that too much trouble?"

"Your Excellency General, please give your orders..."

Although Sakazuki's pat on the shoulder was very gentle, Marshall D. Teach's posture became increasingly bent until he bowed at a 90-degree angle.

Such a graceful figure is already considered a very standard naval lackey.

Sakazuki was even more satisfied. "See those losers...?"

"Go and bring Fire Fist Ace back to me!"

Sakazuki pointed to Ace's fleet, which was once again in chaos, and said, "After this is done, you will be one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"

"I……"

Marshall D. Teach's mouth opened and closed, his hands and feet were ice-cold, and his mind was blank.

Although Ace's subordinates seemed to have no will to fight at this moment, if he were to run off alone to capture someone, what difference would that make from sending him to his death!

"Don't worry! A warship will assist you!"

Sakazuki said irritably.

"As ordered!"

Marshall D. Tichy immediately gave a standard 90-degree bow.

……

Just as Marco and Bicester's pirate fleet was blocked by artillery fire, Kizaru once again led three warships to launch an attack, targeting the two's reinforcement fleet.

Meanwhile, five more naval warships aimed their cannons at the trapped Ace fleet, providing fire support for Marshall D. Teach's raid to capture him as a "pledge of allegiance."

Marco and Vista also tried to organize their warships to counterattack, but because the pirates lacked training in volley fire and did not know how to project cannonballs over Ace's fleet between the two sides, they could only haphazardly aim their heavy cannons at Kizaru's squadron, which had left the fleet formation, and launch sporadic bombardments.

Moreover, these shells did not achieve any significant results, as they were all intercepted in advance by the officers and soldiers on the naval warships.

As for Ace, although he tried his best to intercept the incoming cannonballs, he was ultimately limited by his own strength. Before long, except for his flagship, all the other pirate ships were bombarded into a ball of seawater and fire by the Navy's warships!

Initially filled with trepidation, but then quickly turning fierce, Marshall D. Teach also approached Ace's flagship aboard a naval warship. Surrounded by naval officers, he was the first to board the pirate ship.

"Loyal to Lord Sakazuki!"

Wielding a naval-issue longsword, Marshall D. Teach cleaved a former comrade in two with a single blow, letting out a heart-wrenching scream.

For the title of Shichibukai!

……

"You are my whole life?"

Upon learning that a powerful individual, whom even Sakumo Hatake greatly admired, had volunteered for the auxiliary military service, Uchiha Tokumitsu took time out of his busy schedule to personally meet this mysterious, unknown, and powerful individual from humble origins.

"It is I..."

He bowed respectfully with his hand on his chest throughout his life.

Within his Observation Haki perception, Uchiha Tokukatsu was like a black hole, swallowing up all the probing sensations. Although he was not as sharp and outspoken as Hatake Sakumo, who had sparred with him, this extreme restraint better reflected the difference in strength.

Moreover, when he learned beforehand that he would be meeting the lord mentioned by Hatake Sakumo, he thought that the person he would meet next would be a fat, eccentric figure like a Celestial Dragon, but he did not expect that he would be a strong person who looked young.

Although Uchiha Tokumitsu's aura wasn't as mystical as the so-called "abyss or prison," the Uchiha clan's innate arrogance, the prestige of long-held positions, and the confidence brought by their great strength combined to create a very good first impression.

"A wise and benevolent ruler!"

Although he wasn't so intimidated as to immediately bow down in worship, he still held his lord in high regard throughout his life.

Of course, the excellent performance of the Imperial Guard ninjas during the recruitment process is also a plus.

"Please have a seat!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu didn't put on any airs. He first picked up the documents and glanced at them, then asked, "If the documents are correct, you are from the East Blue, and you have always presented yourself as a swordsman?"

"Yes……"

Yi Sheng, who was half-sitting in a chair, said, "I believe that individual strength is not a reason to bully the weak."

"That's really rare..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu was somewhat surprised.

Even with the added advantage of past life memories, to be honest, after just a few words of conversation, he still had a very good impression of her.

How do you view the world?

Uchiha Tokumitsu raised an eyebrow and continued to ask.

He also regarded the meeting as a special interview, and if the candidate's answers satisfied him, he would not hesitate to spend a fortune to give him an important position.

"...There are simply too many filthy and despicable people in this world that are unbearable to look at! It is fortunate that I can turn a blind eye to them!"

He remained silent for a while before replying softly.

How should one conduct oneself in a turbulent world?

Uchiha Tokumitsu continued to ask.

"Pure is not pure, and stained is not stained. The mortal world is also a great arena. When the mood strikes, one will help those in need, and when there is nothing to do, one will go to the casino to play a few rounds."

He answered without hesitation.

What is injustice? What is justice?

"To bully the weak is injustice; to uphold benevolence and righteousness is justice!"

"Was your application driven by interest or was there another purpose?"

"There is indeed another purpose!"

The answer throughout my life was still without the slightest hesitation.

But Uchiha Tokumitsu didn't care at all; on the contrary, he appreciated this straightforward nature even more.

Having a purpose is fine; the Uchiha Dynasty can tolerate a fellow traveler with their own will.

What is the purpose?

Uchiha Tokumitsu asked again.

"If the opportunity arises, I will use the Lord's power to cleanse this utterly corrupt world!"

The answer to life grows ever louder.

"While cultivating one's own virtue, one should not forget to consider the world; while lying dormant in the deep, one should not abandon one's lofty aspirations!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu said with great satisfaction, "In that case, show us your strength!"

"Besides swordsmanship, I also possess the Paramecia-type Gravity-Gravity Fruit power..."

As Yisheng slowly raised his left hand, the objects in the room floated up as his fingers curled.

"A very impressive ability!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu laughed.

He also formed a hand seal with one hand, and then he and the chair he was sitting on floated up.

This is a flexible application of the Earth Release: Super Light Heavy Rock Technique from the original Iwagakure lineage.

"The lord's power is truly unfathomable..."

Although he was deeply surprised by this ability, which was so similar to his own multiple fruits, he didn't ask any questions. He simply sat on the floating chair, put his hand on his chest, and bowed.

"You need to offer a pledge of allegiance..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu manipulated the floating chair to slowly land.

What is a pledge of allegiance?

He spent his life seeking the Dao.

"Prove that you will stand with us."

Uchiha Tokumitsu said leisurely.

How can this be proven?

He finally understood Uchiha Tokumitsu's meaning.

"Since the siege of Rogge Town has been unsuccessful, I plan to send Shuo Maoqing with his troops to reinforce it. If you are willing, you may join the battle."

"Uchiha Tokumitsu said."

"If my lord is willing to trust me, then why is this so-called pledge of loyalty necessary?"

He asked himself questions throughout his life.

"I need you, who upholds righteousness, to make a public break with the Navy, which clings to outdated justice."

Uchiha Tokumitsu made no attempt to conceal his intentions: "In this way, the high positions in the Republic Alliance and even the Dynasty will be left vacant!"

"dynasty……"

Although he knew very little about this mysterious force that established the East Blue Republic Alliance, he could still sense something different from the word 'dynasty' in Uchiha Tokumitsu's words.

"Is the lord not a descendant of a great kingdom?"

"The so-called Great Kingdom is nothing but a bunch of idiots in the Navy making wild guesses based on hearsay. What does it have to do with me?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu laughed and said, "Once you join the army to conquer Loguetown, you will naturally understand our identities!"