The Second Exchange

"Here it comes—the Empress's posture of utter contempt!"

"How beautiful~"

The moment the Empress struck her haughty pose, the Kuja warriors behind her all had stars in their eyes, looking ready to swoon.

"Is this... is this really the same powerhouse from before?"

Yashiro stared at the Empress's performance across the way, asking Tekka and the others beside him in disbelief.

On the Uchiha side, though many were also affected by the Empress's beauty and felt their hearts stir.

To have them act as crazed as the Kuja warriors?

They'd need time to adjust!

The relaxed, carefree vibe of the Pirate World natives was something the Uchiha, hailing from the Hokage World, could never hope to match!

"Empress, don't be willful. You are the ruler of the Kuja Tribe!"

Granny Niu ignored Hancock's antics and emphasized once more.

"Tch!"

After a tense standoff, the Empress relented.

"If I find you've been deceiving me, then your people can wait to all turn to stone!"

After throwing that threat at Yoru, the Empress waved her hand.

The Uchiha clansmen she had petrified earlier in the camp were all restored to freedom.

"Now you can speak."

The Empress looked down at Yoru before her.

If his answer displeased her, she would make him taste the consequences of angering her.

"Of course, Empress."

Fortunately, Yoru had no intention of mocking her and spoke earnestly:

"The reason we can freely cross the Calm Belt and reach Kuja Island is that our clan has the ability to control Sea Kings—they won't attack us."

"What? You can control Sea Kings? I don't believe it!"

The Empress glanced at Yoru and the frail-looking clansmen behind him.

She simply couldn't imagine such weak bodies controlling the violent Sea Kings.

He dared to toy with her!

But before the Empress could erupt.

Watching Itachi moving swiftly through the jungle in the distance, a pleased smile tugged at Yoru's lips.

"Empress, if you don't believe me, that's fine—our first exchange has already concluded perfectly.

Now, let's proceed with the second exchange, and I'll also prove that the Uchiha Clan has the strength to control Sea Kings."

The moment Uchiha Yoru finished speaking, a chilling rustling sound came from the dense forest not far away, accompanied by the crack of trees being forcibly pushed aside.

Everyone's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the commotion.

Uchiha Itachi's figure emerged from the woods like a phantom, landing steadily beside Yoru.

He remained as calm as ever, giving Yoru a slight nod:

"Big Brother, mission complete."

Then, to the horrified stares of the crowd, two massive, brilliantly colored giant swimming serpents slowly poked their ferocious heads out from the edge of the forest!

Their eyes seemed somewhat dull, their movements carrying an unnatural stiffness.

These were precisely the two giant swimming serpents that the Kuja Pirates relied on to cross the Calm Belt!

"Salome! Dora! What are you doing here?"

Hancock and the Imperial Guards behind her cried out in unison, disbelief written all over their faces.

These two fierce venomous sea snakes usually pulled the Kuja Pirates' ship.

When the pirates weren't at sea, the two serpents rested near the dock and never came ashore.

In response to the Empress's call.

The two swimming serpents acted as if they hadn't heard, ignoring her completely, and came straight to stand behind Uchiha Yoru, facing off against the Empress and her group.

Seeing the crimson Three Tomoe reflected in Salome and Dora's pupils.

The Empress instantly understood.

"You... what did you do to Salome and Dora?!"

Hancock was both shocked and furious, her overwhelming killing intent locking onto Uchiha Yoru again.

If looks could kill, Yoru would be riddled with holes by now.

These two swimming serpents were vital to Kuja Island—they were the key to the island's connection with the outside world.

If not for these two Swimming Serpents, even the Kuja Pirates themselves would be unable to smoothly enter or leave the waters around Kuja Island.

Now Salome and Dora had fallen into the enemy's hands!

Uchiha Yoru, facing the Empress's fury, remained composed and unhurried. He reached out and patted the massive serpent's head beside him, explaining:

"Empress, there is no need for anger. We have not harmed them. Our Uchiha Clan happens to possess an Eye Technique capable of briefly influencing and controlling the minds of living creatures.

This should now prove that we have the ability to control Sea Kings.

After all, these two Swimming Serpents count as special large sea beasts, do they not?"

He deliberately stressed the word "control," meeting Hancock's gaze without flinching.

Hancock stared at her two beloved serpents, their eyes vacant and clearly under someone's sway.

"You deserve death!"

Hearing Yoru's explanation, the Empress erupted in fury.

Since she had become Emperor of the Kuja Tribe, no one had dared to threaten her—not even the Marines.

And now she was being provoked time and again by a group of enemies.

First they invaded Kuja Island and captured her Imperial Guards, and now they had taken control of the serpents she cherished above all else.

"Perfume Femur!"

The Empress kicked with full force toward the smiling Yoru.

Without even waiting for Yoru's command, Itachi, who had instantly grasped the situation on the battlefield, controlled the two Swimming Serpents to move forward and block the incoming attack.

"You..."

Seeing her own beloved serpents standing in the way, the Empress forcibly pulled back her Perfume Femur mid-kick.

When she tried to change her angle and strike again, the serpents, under Itachi's control, shifted position once more to block her path.

Seeing this, Yoru silently gave Itachi a mental thumbs-up.

Truly his brother—this battlefield awareness, this sharpness of eye.

Clearly cut from the same cloth!

"Empress, calm down, calm down!"

While the Empress was still seething, Granny Niu, who had been observing from the sidelines, hurriedly pulled her back and tried to soothe her temper.

She had already realized that Salome and Dora were completely under the enemy's control.

The Kuja Tribe could not afford to lose these two Swimming Serpents; otherwise, they would be trapped forever on this island, completely cut off from the outside world.

"Young clan head of the Uchiha, what is the second exchange you mentioned?"

Granny Niu, while desperately holding back the enraged Empress, turned to ask Yoru.

"Simple. We return these two little darlings to you, and you agree to let the Uchiha Clan settle on the island.

A fair exchange, is it not?"

Yoru spread his hands, signaling his harmlessness.

"You old hag, let go of I! I agree to your exchange, but from now on, you are not to set foot in Kuja City. Otherwise, don't blame I for being rude to you!"

Shaking off Granny Niu forcefully, the Empress pointed angrily at Uchiha Yoru and warned.

"Of course. Itachi~"

Yoru tilted his head and called out to Itachi.

Itachi nodded in understanding and immediately released his control over the two Swimming Serpents.

Hiss... hiss...

Salome and Dora froze. The Three Tomoe Sharingan in their pupils slowly faded, and their minds returned to clarity.

The moment control was lifted, they fled straight to the Empress, hiding behind her.

Not daring to look directly at the man across from them again.