Moshi Moshi~

Another CP0 member had already taken out a Den Den Mushi and was issuing orders at a rapid pace.

Meanwhile, Shisui looked as though he had merely done something insignificant.

He did not even look at the Celestial Dragon he had kicked away, steadying the nearly unconscious Scarface with one hand.

His other hand quickly formed two seals before pressing against the man's chest.

"Medical Ninjutsu: Tailing Beast Extract."

A faint green glow of Chakra flickered, temporarily protecting Scarface's vital organs.

His injuries were severe. Shisui could only stabilize them for the time being; whether he would ultimately survive depended on his own vitality!

Whoosh!

Shisui vanished again with Scarface using Body Flicker.

The next moment, he appeared where Inabi and Hikari were.

The entire process—from saving the man, to kicking away the Celestial Dragon, to retreating—had taken only two or three breaths.

It had been so fast that most people could not even process it.

"Tch. I thought you'd draw your sword and kill that fat pig."

Inabi looked at the chaos in the distance, slightly dissatisfied.

"You're being too reckless, Inabi. Think of the ordinary people on Kuja Island. The Uchiha shouldn't make too many enemies right now."

Although he had ultimately decided to save the man, Shisui had still chosen not to take things too far.

What Shisui might not have expected was this.

To the people of this world, striking a Celestial Dragon—

was already taking things too far!

"Take them and leave immediately."

Shisui gently laid Scarface on the ground and said to Inabi,

"I'll need you to help get them out. I'll stay behind and cover the rear."

Seeing the serious look on Shisui's face, Inabi put away his mockery. He hooked one arm around each person and grumbled,

"What a pain. Watch yourself!"

"Trying to leave?!"

The White Mask Leader's icy voice sounded as if it were right beside them, while his figure appeared in midair almost simultaneously.

His hand, coated in pitch-black Armament Haki, formed a claw and tore downward with a shriek that ripped through the air!

That claw sealed off every route of escape for Inabi and the other two!

Shisui moved.

Facing the tearing claw, he advanced rather than retreating, his body twisting into a bizarre arc as though boneless.

He narrowly brushed past the edge of the claw wind, while his right index and middle fingers came together.

They struck with absolute precision at a joint on the inside of the White Mask Leader's wrist!

It was not a head-on clash, but an interception!

He targeted the critical point where the opponent exerted force, using the least strength for the greatest disruption!

A flicker of surprise flashed through the White Mask Leader's eyes. His wrist went slightly numb, and his claw slowed for half a beat.

That half beat was enough!

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Claw Red!"

Shisui spoke softly, flicking his left hand as several shuriken wrapped with Explosive Tags shot forth.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The violent explosions and flames instantly blocked their vision. The scorching shockwaves and fragments forced the White Mask Leader to temporarily avoid the brunt of the attack.

"Go!" Shisui barked.

Inabi seized the chance, carrying Scarface on his back and dragging Hikari as he shot toward the street behind them.

"After them!"

The White Mask Leader roared and was about to go around the flames to pursue Inabi.

But Uchiha Shisui had already blocked his path.

Black clothes, black hair, and Three Tomoe slowly spinning in his blood-red eyes.

He merely stood there quietly, yet he seemed like an insurmountable wall.

"Your opponent is me."

His voice was gentle, yet it carried a resolve to sever all things.

The White Mask Leader stopped, his cold killing intent spreading as if tangible.

He knew that unless he dealt with the man before him, he could forget about pursuing the others.

"Very good."

He slowly removed the pure white mask, revealing the face of a pale, indifferent middle-aged man with no distinctive features.

Only his eyes resembled two bottomless pools of ice.

"I will show you the price of defiling the gods."

The dusk over the Sabaody Archipelago was torn apart by firelight.

The once-level stone pavement was covered in charred scorch marks.

Several decorative Yarukiman Mangrove saplings had been severed at the waist, their cuts smooth as mirrors.

The shop windows around them had all shattered, goods scattered across the ground and soaked in someone's blood.

The air was thick with a pungent burnt stench.

"Cough, cough! Cough cough cough!!"

The CP0 leader on the ground struggled to prop up half his body, then coughed out another mouthful of bloody phlegm.

After steadying his breathing, he slowly lowered the hand covering his mouth.

Drip. Drip.

Blood flowed from between his fingers onto the stone pavement, pooling into a patch of crimson beneath him.

CP0's White Mask Leader had been defeated.

Uchiha Shisui stood several meters away, breathing slightly heavily. Fine beads of sweat covered his forehead, and his black clothes were damaged in several places, but his aura remained steady.

All around his feet lay sprawled figures.

Black-clad bodyguards, Executioners in white uniforms, and even several Sabaody Sheriffs who had arrived later as reinforcements.

Some were unconscious, while others groaned in pain.

But without exception, all had lost the ability to fight.

The residents who had originally gathered to watch had long since scattered like frightened birds, hiding far away.

Only a few bold souls peeked out from gaps in the ruins, their eyes filled with fear and disbelief.

Shisui turned, ready to leave the place.

The CP0 leader stared fixedly at Shisui's back. His voice was hoarse, but still icy and piercing.

"You think defeating me is enough?"

Shisui paused slightly but did not turn around.

"You struck a Celestial Dragon. The dignity of the World Government, built over eight hundred years, cannot be defiled."

The leader finished the sentence with difficulty and panted for a moment, but the chill in his voice only deepened.

"No matter where you came from or what your purpose is, from today onward, you will face the pursuit of the entire World Government.

"The Admirals... all of CP... even... the Knights of God. Cough, cough!"

Near-mad determination flashed through the CP0 leader's eyes.

"You have nowhere to run. There will be no place for you on these seas, and your people will pay a painful price for your foolishness today!"

The Knights of God.

Shisui remembered that name.

"The Uchiha have never known fear!"

Shisui finally spoke, his voice calm and without ripples.

Perhaps Inabi had been right. The Uchiha should never have feared anyone!

All this time, he had simply been too weak!

Shisui did not linger. His figure flickered, as though blending into the night wind.

After a few leaps, he disappeared into the shadows of the tangled streets, leaving behind only devastation and the gravely injured CP0 leader.

The leader stared fiercely in the direction Shisui had vanished until he could no longer see him, then collapsed in defeat.

With difficulty, he pulled a silver Den Den Mushi of unusual design from his clothes and pressed a button.

"Someone attacked Saint Charlos at the Sabaody Archipelago. I was defeated by them... cough cough..."

On the other end of the Den Den Mushi was deathly silence.

Several seconds later, an aged, authoritative voice devoid of emotion spoke.

"Understood."

Marineford, the Fleet Admiral's office.

Sengoku had just concluded an unpleasant meeting with the Empress. Rubbing his throbbing temples, he looked at the mountain of documents piled across his desk.

Some concerned the movements of the Four Emperors in the New World, some concerned Revolutionary Army activities, and some concerned disputes over the Shichibukai system.

Every single document was oppressively heavy and headache-inducing~