The War Begins

This young man's hands and feet were bound by chains, each step producing a crisp clinking sound.

Seeing the bound youth approaching, Fugaku and the others immediately recognized him.

"He's the young man who was tied to the warship and escorted here."

"He must be the target of this execution, Fire Fist Ace."

"So young..."

Even if the Uchiha weren't Mangekyo users, they were all exceptional Three Tomoe wielders, their vision far surpassing ordinary people.

They had already spotted this young man, who had sparked a massive battle between the Marines and pirates, before the warship even docked.

Now observing him up close, he looked incredibly young—probably not even twenty.

To be executed at such a young age, anyone would feel pity for someone in the prime of their life.

Fortunately, they had come.

And they had brought a chance to live another life.

Though the death of the flesh was regrettable, it was no longer the only outcome at this moment.

Ace knelt down, locked onto the execution platform.

The executioner displayed his tools, verified the identity, and stood at his side.

In just a moment, two figures appeared on the path behind the execution platform.

One had graying hair, an aged face, and a stitched scar at the corner of his eye.

The other, equally old, wore a solemn and serious expression, a seagull-shaped hat on his head, and round black-framed glasses on his nose, giving him an air of wisdom.

After exchanging a few words, they parted, and the man with the seagull hat stepped onto the execution platform.

Combining this with the information Kenma had given them, Fugaku and the others immediately recognized him.

The one who commanded the largest and most powerful violent organization in this world—the Fleet Admiral, the Mastermind, Buddha Sengoku!

Though he didn't exude the same overwhelming Haki as the Three Admirals earlier, he possessed a calm and composed aura that inspired a sense of security.

Seeing him now, he indeed carried a certain bearing.

"So, that gray-haired old Marine just now was the Marine Hero, Vice Admiral Garp?"

"That must be him. The only one in the entire Marines who dares to speak so casually with the Fleet Admiral."

"And he's the grandfather of the man about to be executed!"

The Uchiha exchanged their thoughts.

As Sengoku stepped onto the execution platform, his gaze shifted, and he warily scanned his surroundings.

Fugaku and the others felt a chill in their hearts.

"Is he... sensing us?"

"No, that shouldn't be. Even if he has a rare Devil Fruit ability, he's still a living person."

"It must be some kind of instinct, or perhaps that feeling of being watched."

"Quick, look away."

At Fugaku's reminder, the others quickly turned their heads, avoiding the vigilant old Fleet Admiral's gaze.

After checking around and finding nothing, Sengoku's face showed a flicker of confusion, which vanished in an instant as he continued walking to Ace's side.

He asked someone for a Den Den Mushi, and then a piercing static sound echoed across the plaza.

As Sengoku explained the significance of this Public Execution, the Uchiha's attention was more focused on the snail in his hand.

"So this is a Den Den Mushi. It can actually transmit sound."

"It's similar to technology like walkie-talkies or speakers... but what's the principle? How can a living creature connect with mechanical technology?"

"An otherworldly realm, truly fascinating."

"I wonder if we can bring it back to Soul Society."

Just as the Uchiha were filled with curiosity, the two main figures on the execution platform—Sengoku was interrogating Ace, demanding he name his father.

But Ace insisted Whitebeard was his father.

Seeing Ace refuse to name his biological father, Sengoku spoke directly into the Den Den Mushi, addressing the ten thousand Marine Elites and everyone watching the live broadcast, and uttered the name.

"Your father is the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!!"

Sengoku's slightly hoarse voice rang out across the plaza and through the broadcast.

The moment the Pirate King's name was spoken, everyone watching this Public Execution was shocked by this astonishing revelation.

Even the Uchiha were taken aback, caught off guard.

They all turned to look at Ace, who gritted his teeth with a stubborn expression.

"...His mother was pregnant for twenty months? How is that possible?"

"Unbelievable. This man is the child of that Pirate King!"

"No wonder the Navy is making such a big move, even willing to start a war with the Four Emperors."

They had never heard of this from Kenma's mouth.

For that man whose final words in life brought about a massive transformation to this world, the Uchiha felt either disgust, admiration, or deep reflection upon hearing about him.

They had thought it was a distant tale, never expecting it to be so closely connected to this moment.

"Twenty months... the Pirate King... what an unexpected turn of events."

Shisui's mouth hung slightly open as he looked at Kenma, whose expression remained calm.

"My lord, you must have known about this for a long time?" Shisui let out a bitter smile. "I never thought you had such a mischievous side, keeping it to yourself. Lord Fugaku and the others must be quite shocked right now."

Compared to Ace's identity, Shisui was more focused on the personality his master had subtly revealed.

He never imagined that beneath that stern and serious exterior lay such a side.

Despite the shock, it also brought Shisui a measure of reassurance.

"Some things are more impactful when experienced firsthand."

Kenma's words were an admission that he had deliberately kept it hidden.

Shisui suddenly furrowed his brow, turning to look at the distant sea ahead. The excellent vision of his Mangekyo Sharingan allowed him to see the situation clearly.

Through the hazy sea fog, ships of various shapes and sizes emerged from the distance.

These vessels sailed closer, gradually approaching. Black flags and different skull patterns adorned them, and on the decks stood ferocious-looking pirates...

All of this entered Shisui's eyes.

Seeing Shisui's reaction, Kenma understood something and asked, "What's happening?"

"My lord, a large group of pirate ships... the pirates' grand fleet has appeared."

"Shisui, lend me one of your eyes."

As the words fell, Kenma opened his eyes again, and his right eye had become Shisui's Mangekyo.

Feeling the vast difference in vision between his two eyes, Kenma felt some discomfort and closed his pitch-black eye.

Using Shisui's Mangekyo to look into the distance, sure enough, pirate ships were cutting through the waves.

The Whitebeard Pirate Grand Fleet!

But Kenma only glanced at them before fixing his gaze on the center of the crescent-shaped bay.

There, a dense stream of bubbles was rising from the sea surface.

Shisui followed Kenma's line of sight and saw shadows lurking beneath the water, startling him.

"There's something in the sea!"

"Could it be..."

Boom!

A large ship burst out from the sea, its hull wrapped in a layer of bubbles. As the ship emerged, the bubbles shattered and vanished, revealing the vessel's true form.

The bow was shaped like a white whale, and a black pirate flag hung from the ship, bearing the Whitebeard skull emblem.

The Navy soldiers below immediately fell into commotion.

But their shock was far from over. The sea churned again, and three more large ships rose from the water, all flying the Whitebeard flag.

"My lord, this is..."

"Yes, Whitebeard is coming."

Kenma continued to gaze at the four ships inside the bay and the pirates appearing on them.

"The war is about to begin!"

"Watch this great battle closely. This will be Whitebeard's final curtain call."