Navy Headquarters

Marineford, Navy Headquarters.

The midday sun spilled across the plaza of the white giant city, casting the coats of justice in a blaze like burning flames.

At the harbor, the Kuja Pirates' ship had just docked, the massive Swimming Serpents coiled at its side, drawing a mix of awe and curiosity from the gathered Navy soldiers.

Empress Boa Hancock descended the gangplank slowly, flanked by warriors of the Kuja Tribe, her red cheongsam skirt fluttering lightly in the breeze.

She tilted her chin up slightly, ignoring the saluting Navy soldiers around her.

"Empress, the other Warlords are already waiting in the conference room."

A Captain stepped forward briskly, offering a respectful bow.

Hancock merely gave a faint "Mm," then strode toward the headquarters building.

Her entourage swept along in a grand procession toward the main building.

Navy soldiers along the way snapped to attention and saluted.

Yet their gazes couldn't help but be drawn to the Empress's breathtaking beauty.

Meanwhile, in the corridor outside the Fleet Admiral's office.

Vice Admiral Momonga had not followed the Empress into the conference room. After escorting her there, he turned back and sought out the Fleet Admiral's office.

He stopped at the door now, speaking quietly to the Messenger stationed there:

"I have urgent military intelligence and need to see Fleet Admiral Sengoku immediately."

The Messenger recognized the veteran Vice Admiral and dared not delay, quickly entering to announce him.

Moments later, the side door to the office opened, and Sengoku's Adjutant stepped out, nodding to Vice Admiral Momonga:

"Vice Admiral, the Fleet Admiral will see you now."

Sengoku's office was not large—barely furnished beyond a desk and a sofa.

The office held more than just Fleet Admiral Sengoku.

By the window, Navy Chief Staff Officer Tsuru stood silently, her sharp gaze passing through her glasses to rest on Momonga.

And on the sofa in the corner of the office, a tall figure in a dog-head hood was dozing, head tilted to one side.

It was Navy Hero Vice Admiral Garp.

To dodge tedious paperwork, he often slipped into Sengoku's office to nap, and now he let out soft snores.

Sengoku sat behind his clean desk, the words "Justice" behind him starkly illuminated by light filtering through the blinds.

Several documents were spread across the desk, evidence that Sengoku had been working.

But now his full attention was fixed on the pale-faced Vice Admiral Momonga before him.

"The Empress is going too far!"

Seeing the weakened Vice Admiral Momonga, Sengoku's expression darkened further.

These Warlords, backed by the World Government, were all arrogant and unruly, showing no respect for the Navy.

Every time Navy personnel were sent to escort them, they ended up either toyed with or seriously injured.

Sengoku was growing tired of it.

"It wasn't the Empress's doing. It was a boy—I was defeated without any contest," Vice Admiral Momonga answered truthfully.

"What did you say?"

Sengoku set down his pen, leaning forward slightly, his brow furrowing deeply beneath his Fleet Admiral's cap into a pronounced crease.

"You were defeated? By a boy?"

His voice remained steady, but carried a note of disbelief.

Momonga was a veteran Vice Admiral of the Navy, having participated in countless major battles.

His strength, experience, and character were the backbone of the Navy's middle ranks.

To be described as defeated without contest meant the opponent's strength was at least at the level of a Warlord.

Or even higher.

Vice Admiral Momonga promptly reported the entire encounter with the Uchiha Clan in detail.

"Four days ago, I was ordered to head to Kuja Island to deliver a mandatory summons to Empress Boa Hancock. About five nautical miles from the island, the fleet was intercepted."

"The interceptor called himself Uchiha Itachi, appearing to be about thirteen or fourteen, with black hair and black eyes, wearing a high-collared black robe bearing a fan-shaped crest."

Momonga's description was precise and concise: "He stood alone, on the surface of the sea."

"On the sea?"

Tsuru repeated softly, her eyes shifting slightly.

"Yes. Not the elemental transformation or special ability manifestation common among Devil Fruit users, but as if standing on solid ground, directly atop the ocean."

Momonga showed no shame or concealment about losing to a boy.

"Rear Admiral Shark attempted to negotiate, demanding he identify himself and clear the passage, but the other party launched an attack directly."

The office fell silent, even Garp's snores seemed to soften.

"His method of attack—I've never seen anything like it."

Momonga frowned, reconstructing the scene as accurately as he could.

"Rear Admiral Shark hadn't even reached him before he collapsed unconscious and fell into the sea."

"It wasn't something like Conqueror's Haki; I sensed no anomaly at the time."

Vice Admiral Momonga added.

"After that, he boarded the ship. I drew my blade to strike, and he spat out a massive, blazing Fire Dragon from his mouth."

"If I recall correctly, the Flame-Flame Fruit was eaten by Fire Fist Ace, wasn't it?"

Just then, Tsuru interjected.

"Yes, Vice Admiral Tsuru. The other party seems capable of flame-based abilities, but it's not the Flame-Flame Fruit."

Thinking back to the other person on the dock who had also used the same Fire Dragon, Vice Admiral Momonga had long ruled out the possibility that he had eaten the Flame-Flame Fruit.

"His flame abilities and swordsmanship were passable, but there was another special ability."

"Special ability?"

"It seemed to be a technique executed through the eyes.

The moment I met his gaze, my consciousness was dragged into a bizarre space.

There, I was bound to a cross and subjected to seventy-two hours of blades piercing my flesh.

Yet according to the soldiers on the warship, only an instant had passed."

"A Mental Attack?" Tsuru's frown deepened.

No wonder she had seen Vice Admiral Momonga without visible injuries yet looking as if he were severely wounded and weak.

So it was a mental attack?

But for an ability to instantly incapacitate a vice admiral was truly baffling.

Mental Attacks weren't uncommon in the Pirate World.

For one thing, Tsuru herself was a user of the Wash-Wash Fruit.

This ability could purify a target's mind.

Those washed and dried by her power would have their evil thoughts weakened, their malice diluted.

Though it wasn't a damaging mental attack, it could fundamentally alter a target's malicious intent, stripping hostile opponents of their desire to do harm.

It was also a terrifying ability.

"Hypnosis?" Sengoku said gravely.

"More terrifying than any known Hypnosis ability." Momonga shook his head.

"It wasn't simple Hypnosis. A single glance was enough to ensnare me.

And it was torture directly targeting the mind, senses, and even the perception of time.

When I broke free, my body bore no external wounds, but my spirit was nearly shattered. Armament Haki offered no defense at all."

He paused, then added with difficulty:

"I could sense he had no killing intent. Otherwise, I doubt I'd still be standing here."

Sengoku and Tsuru exchanged a glance.

Devil Fruits with mental attack abilities weren't unheard of, but one that could reach such a level and bypass a vice admiral's Armament Haki...

It seemed no such fruit had appeared before.