Sabaody Archipelago

After several days of sailing, the Marine warships and the Kuja Pirates finally slowly emerged from the Calm Belt.

With the sea breeze at their backs, the group moved faster and faster.

The azure sea gradually gave way to a strange sight.

When the enormous island shrouded in countless colorful bubbles appeared on the horizon, the atmosphere aboard the Marine fleet visibly relaxed.

They were finally passing through the Sabaody Archipelago, which meant Marineford was only half a day's voyage away.

"That's the Sabaody Archipelago."

Sandersonia stood at the bow, her green hair streaming in the sea breeze.

She naturally began explaining it to the Uchiha standing beside her:

"Actually, the Sabaody Archipelago isn't an island. It's the world's largest Red Tree—the Full-Power Red Tree. Its sprawling roots formed seventy-nine islands of varying sizes. This giant tree constantly secretes a special resin, creating the bubbles you see.

"Because the resin bubbles are restricted by the climate and cannot leave the islands, they have created a unique form of transportation and architecture. It's quite interesting."

After spending the past few months together on Kuja Island, she had become far less hostile toward these Uchiha outsiders.

In fact, it was not just her. The warriors of the entire Kuja Tribe no longer held such strong hostility toward them.

The female warriors of Kuja Island did hate men.

But compared to hating men, they revered the strong even more.

And this group of Uchiha who had suddenly arrived were unquestionably strong. They suited the Kuja women's tastes perfectly.

Uchiha Yoru narrowed his eyes as he watched the bubbles refracting rainbow-colored light beneath the sun.

Some were as enormous as houses, carrying buildings slowly upward; others were as tiny as pearls, drifting through the air. The whole island seemed like the point where fairy tales and reality met, beautiful to the point of being unreal.

"The island is divided into functional areas by tree number. Areas 1 through 29 are for human trafficking and other illegal activities. Areas 30 through 39 contain the Bubble Park. Areas 50 through 59 are shipbuilding and coating districts, while Areas 60 through 69 fall under Marine jurisdiction."

Sandersonia added, "It's a famous tourist destination, but it also hides plenty of filth."

She clearly meant something by that, but did not elaborate.

Yoru nodded, though his gaze remained fixed on the steadily approaching docks.

He could see ships of every kind moored there, bustling crowds, and strange-looking structures clinging to the towering Red Tree trunks in the distance.

The Sabaody Archipelago was a necessary stop for every ship entering the latter half of the Grand Line.

Ordinary ships wishing to reach the New World had to submit a request to the World Government, then cross directly through the Holy Land Mary Geoise atop the Red Line.

That meant abandoning their ships, spending a great deal of money, and waiting a long time for approval.

The advantage was that it was safe.

Naturally, pirates could not use this method to reach the New World.

The other route was to first reach the Sabaody Archipelago, coat one's ship in Yarukiman Mangrove resin, and dive ten thousand meters beneath the sea.

They would pass through a massive hole beneath the Red Line, travel along the seabed route through Fish-Man Island, and arrive in the New World.

This method was dangerous, but it was the route chosen by nearly every pirate ship.

Thus, the Sabaody Archipelago was a chaotic mix of all kinds. Human traffickers and Bounty Hunters were everywhere, and the trade of humans, merfolk, and fish-men was tacitly permitted here.

Of course, no matter how chaotic it was, the area was temporarily under Marine control.

So ordinary pirates had no right to openly dock their pirate ships at the piers.

Most pirate ships could only weave through the gaps between the tree roots and secretly land on the islands in remote corners.

"Empress."

Yoru suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's attention aboard the ship.

The Empress also glanced over at Uchiha Yoru.

"We Uchiha will get off here. There's nothing interesting about Marineford anyway, so we won't be going."

Yoru bade them farewell.

The Empress was heading to Marineford with Vice Admiral Momonga for a meeting.

There was no point in tagging along with them. Getting a ride this far was enough.

It was time to disembark.

"Huh? You're not coming with us? Then I'll have the helmsman bring us ashore now."

Sandersonia was somewhat surprised, then prepared to order the ship toward the coast.

"No need. It's only a short distance. We'll get there ourselves."

On the warship carrying Vice Admiral Momonga, a lookout was using binoculars to monitor every movement of the Kuja Pirate Ship.

When he saw Uchiha Yoru standing at the bow and gesturing around, he immediately reported, "Vice Admiral! Those strange people seem to be discussing something!"

Vice Admiral Momonga forced himself to the railing and took the binoculars.

Sure enough, he saw the young man leading them seemingly calling for something.

At his summons, those red-eyed people gradually gathered behind him.

Aboard the Kuja Pirate Ship.

Yoru walked to the railing and looked down at the blue seawater below.

The Kuja Pirate Ship was currently sailing near the 12th Mangrove Area of the Sabaody Archipelago, only a few hundred meters from shore.

"Let's go!" Yoru waved toward those behind him.

More than a dozen Uchiha clansmen nodded in perfect unison.

Uchiha Yoru was the first to step over the railing, plummeting straight toward the sea.

"He jumped into the sea?!"

The Marines behind Vice Admiral Momonga cried out in alarm.

He hadn't jumped into the sea!

Vice Admiral Momonga shook his head, recalling the first time he had seen Uchiha Itachi standing on the ocean and stopping them.

Just as expected.

The instant before Uchiha Yoru touched the water, his feet landed firmly upon the sea's surface.

He did not sink, nor did he fall into the water.

He simply stood atop the rolling sea, ripples spreading from beneath his feet as rings of waves rippled across the surface.

"So he can use that technique too."

Vice Admiral Momonga stared fixedly at Yoru, who stood steadily upon the sea.

The other Uchiha aboard the Kuja ship also leaped over the railing one after another.

Splash, splash, splash—

Like dumplings dropping into a pot, more than a dozen black figures traced arcs through the air before—landing steadily atop the sea.

"Let's go," Yoru said as he turned back to his clansmen.

"This is your true first stop in this world. Go and witness this world's wonders for yourselves!"

He took his first step.

Ripples spread across the sea beneath his feet, without the slightest sign of sinking.

A second step, then a third...

Uchiha Yoru began walking across the sea as if he were treading upon invisible glass.

His clansmen followed closely behind, their steps neat and synchronized, their black robes snapping in the sea breeze.

"They can all walk on the sea..."

A young Marine soldier muttered in disbelief, his voice filled with awe and fear.

"Devil Fruit users?" another guessed.

"Impossible." Vice Admiral Momonga's expression turned grim.

"Even Devil Fruit users couldn't possibly have so many people capable of walking on water at once, let alone people who are clearly from the same clan."

He stared fixedly at those black figures gradually disappearing into the distance.

He needed to report everything here to Sengoku immediately.

A group of uninvited guests had appeared upon these restless seas!