Tsukuyomi

Itachi finally stopped on the sea less than fifty meters from the warship and raised his head.

His calm gaze swept over the marines standing on the deck, ready for battle, before settling on Vice Admiral Momonga, who was clearly in command.

His voice carried clearly across the water. It was quiet, yet brooked no argument:

"I bring an order from the clan head. These waters are off-limits. Navy vessels may not come within ten kilometers of the island's coast. Turn around and leave at once."

This was Uchiha Itachi, assigned to patrol these waters.

Following the orders of Yoru, his clan head and Big Brother, he searched the area for Sea Kings and brought them under the control of his Mangekyo.

He also intercepted any foreign ships trying to approach the heart of Kuja Island.

Yoru's assignment was practically tailor-made for Itachi.

Although Itachi and Uchiha Izumi had grown closer,

he still struggled to face anyone else.

The anguish weighed on him constantly.

Seeing this, Yoru simply sent him to patrol the surrounding waters each day, calling it a measure to keep the island safe.

In truth, he was giving Itachi the space to work through things on his own.

"How arrogant!"

Rear Admiral Shark flew into a rage. "Who are you to interfere with Navy business?!

"These waters belong to Amazon Lily, one of the World Government Member States. The Navy has every right to sail here! We've been ordered to meet Empress Boa Hancock!"

Itachi's expression did not change. As though he had not heard the challenge, he merely repeated:

"The clan head's order is not up for debate. Ten kilometers is the limit. Leave as soon as possible."

His attitude pushed Rear Admiral Shark over the edge.

"You're dead!"

Shark roared and stamped on the deck, launching himself forward.

His fist, coated in Armament Haki, tore through the air toward Itachi on the water!

"I'll take down this little fraud!"

Itachi remained calm in the face of the fierce attack.

He did not even move. His eyes simply turned scarlet, three Tomoe appearing within them and slowly revolving.

Illusion Technique: Restraining Chain!

Rear Admiral Shark stiffened in mid-charge and stopped dead.

To him, everything around him vanished. All that remained were those eerie red eyes, as though they could draw out his soul!

He felt as if he had sunk into a swamp. His movements slowed to a crawl, and his mind began to blur.

Thud!

Before the stunned eyes of every marine on deck, Rear Admiral Shark, a formidable fighter,

reached his opponent only to stagger as though drunk.

Then his eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness.

With a splash, he fell into the sea!

"Rear Admiral!"

"What did he do?!"

"Was that a Mental Attack?!"

The marines erupted in alarm and hurried to lower ropes to rescue Shark.

At that moment, Itachi's figure vanished before their eyes.

When he reappeared, he was crouching like a phantom atop the warship's mast, staring down at everyone on deck.

Vice Admiral Momonga's pupils contracted. Every instinct screamed a warning!

Even he had failed to see how the young man had struck!

That strange ability was anything but ordinary!

He drew the sword at his waist, and powerful Armament Haki instantly wrapped around its blade.

An oppressive presence, heavy as a mountain, radiated from him as he fixed his attention on Uchiha Itachi.

"Who... are you, really?!"

Vice Admiral Momonga's voice was graver than ever.

Everyone on the Grand Line knew there were no men on Kuja Island. Why was this man in its waters?

And why was he preventing their warship from going farther? Had something happened on the island?

Who was this strange red-eyed young man who could stand on the sea? And who was the clan head he spoke of?

"Uchiha Itachi."

Itachi could sense the vice admiral's strength as well.

Out of respect for a powerful opponent, he gave his name.

"Interfere with the Navy, and you die!"

Vice Admiral Momonga growled and flashed toward Itachi at a speed far beyond the rear admiral's, his sword sweeping down in a brilliant arc!

Itachi drifted from the mast like a willow catkin, lightly evading the blade.

His hands formed Hand Seals in rapid succession.

"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"

A massive fire dragon roared toward Vice Admiral Momonga, its scorching heat warping the air.

Vice Admiral Momonga slashed the fire dragon apart, but the scattering flames still checked his movement for an instant.

"The Flame-Flame Fruit?"

Vice Admiral Momonga frowned. Had his opponent eaten the Logia Flame-Flame Fruit? But then how could he walk on the sea?

Weren't Devil Fruit Users rejected by the sea?!

They exchanged several rapid blows on the deck.

With the Sharingan's insight, Itachi repeatedly evaded Vice Admiral Momonga's powerful slashes.

But the vice admiral's formidable Armament Haki and wealth of combat experience put Itachi under considerable pressure, keeping him from closing in easily.

Most ninjutsu could do little damage to Vice Admiral Momonga, who was skilled in Armament Haki.

Unable to break through, Vice Admiral Momonga grew impatient. He pushed his Haki to its limit, trying to overwhelm his opponent with sheer force.

I can't waste too much time!

Itachi was not suited to a prolonged fight. His opponent wielded Haki with practiced ease, and ordinary attacks were unlikely to work.

Then, as frustration at his stalled assault gave Vice Admiral Momonga a momentary lapse,

the Three-Tomoe Sharingan in Itachi's eyes spun faster. The Tomoe joined into a deeper, windmill-shaped Mangekyo pattern!

Vice Admiral Momonga's eyes met his for an instant.

That single glance dragged his consciousness into another dimension.

It's over!

Genjutsu: Tsukuyomi!

The scene before Vice Admiral Momonga changed abruptly. The marines, warship, sea, and sky all vanished!

Suddenly, he found himself bound to a massive cross,

suspended in a dim, blood-red space.

The black-haired, red-eyed young man stood silently before him, holding a long sword wreathed in black flames.

"Here, I will control the next seventy-two hours."

"Even with a body as strong as yours, how long can you endure?"

Itachi's voice was cold and merciless, as though it came from the depths of hell.

Then he thrust the blade in his hand like a striking viper, driving it clean through Vice Admiral Momonga's shoulder blade!

"Argh—!!!"

Agony far beyond physical pain erupted, as though it had struck the depths of his soul!

Vice Admiral Momonga let out a piercing scream. The pain was so real, so intense, that it nearly crushed his iron will.

Veins bulged on his forehead, and cold sweat instantly soaked the shirt beneath his Navy coat.

And that was only the beginning.