The War Begins

The young man's hands and feet were bound in chains, which clinked crisply with every step he took.

The moment they saw the bound young man being led over, Fugaku and the others recognized him.

"That's the young man who was previously escorted here on a warship."

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

"He's so young..."

Even if they did not possess the Mangekyō Sharingan, the Uchihas' Three Tomoe were still exceptionally powerful, granting them vision far beyond that of ordinary people.

They had spotted the young man who had sparked a great war between the Marines and pirates long before the warship reached shore.

Now that they were observing him up close, he looked absurdly young—not even twenty, perhaps.

To be executed at such a young age, anyone would feel regret for someone in the prime of his youth.

Fortunately, they had come.

And they had brought him a chance to live another life.

Though the death of his body was regrettable, it was no longer the only possibility now.

Ace bent down and was secured to the Execution Platform.

The executioners displayed their instruments, verified his identity, and stood at his side.

Before long, two more figures appeared on the path behind the Execution Platform.

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

The other was also elderly, but his expression was solemn and serious. He wore a seagull cap and round black-rimmed glasses over the bridge of his nose, giving him an air of wisdom.

After exchanging a few words, the two separated, and the man in the seagull cap stepped onto the Execution Platform.

Combining what Kenma had told them, Fugaku and the others recognized the man at once.

The Fleet Admiral who commanded the largest and most powerful force of violence in this world—the Mastermind, Buddha Sengoku!

Though he did not radiate the same domineering presence as the Three Admirals from before, he possessed a calm and composed aura that put people at ease.

Now that they saw him in person, he truly did have a certain bearing.

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

"Most likely. In the entire Marine force, he's the only one who would dare speak to the Fleet Admiral so casually."

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

The Uchihas discussed their thoughts among themselves.

After stepping onto the Execution Platform, Sengoku's gaze shifted, and he warily scanned his surroundings.

Fugaku and the others were secretly alarmed.

"Did he... notice us?"

"No, probably not. Even if he has some rare Devil Fruit ability, he's still a living person."

"Perhaps it's some kind of instinct, or simply the feeling of being watched."

"Quick, look away."

At Fugaku's reminder, they swiftly turned their heads and stopped looking at the vigilant old Fleet Admiral.

After looking around and finding nothing, Sengoku showed a fleeting trace of confusion before continuing toward Ace.

He took a Den Den Mushi from someone beside him, and a burst of piercing static rang across the plaza.

As Sengoku explained the significance of this Public Execution, the Uchihas were more focused on the snail in his hand.

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

"It's similar to technology like walkie-talkies and speakers... but what principle does it operate on? How can flesh and blood interact with mechanical technology?"

"Another world truly is wondrous."

"I wonder whether we can bring one back to the Soul Society."

While the Uchihas were filled with curiosity, Sengoku, one of the two central figures on the Execution Platform, was questioning Ace and demanding that he reveal his father's name.

But Ace considered Whitebeard to be his father.

When Ace refused to reveal his biological father's identity, Sengoku directly addressed the Den Den Mushi and announced that name to the hundred thousand marine elite, as well as everyone watching the broadcast.

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

Sengoku's slightly hoarse voice echoed throughout the plaza and over the broadcast.

The instant he spoke the Pirate King's name, everyone following this Public Execution was shocked by the revelation.

Even the Uchihas were greatly startled. It was entirely beyond their expectations.

They all looked toward Ace, who was gritting his teeth with a stubborn expression.

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

"Unbelievable. He's the Pirate King's child!"

"No wonder the Marines made such a massive move, even going so far as to start a war with one of the Four Emperors."

Kenma had never mentioned this matter to them.

As for the man whose final words had brought tremendous change to the world, the Uchihas felt disgust, admiration, or reflection after hearing about him.

They had thought it was a distant story, never imagining that its connection to the present would be so close.

"Twenty months... the Pirate King... This really is an unexpected turn."

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

"Sir, you must have known about this all along, right?" Shisui showed a bitter smile. "I didn't expect you to have such a mischievous side. You knew but didn't say anything. Fugaku and the others must be very shocked right now."

More than Ace's identity, Shisui was concerned with the personality his Master had subtly revealed.

He had never expected such a side to be hidden beneath that stern and rigid exterior.

Yet after the shock, it also made Shisui feel slightly more at ease.

"Some things make a greater impression when experienced firsthand."

Kenma's words were effectively an admission that he had deliberately concealed it.

Shisui suddenly frowned and turned to look toward the distant sea ahead. The exceptional vision of his Mangekyō Sharingan allowed him to see the situation in the distance with perfect clarity.

Through the hazy sea mist, ships of varying shapes and sizes emerged.

The ships were sailing in from afar, steadily drawing closer. Black flags, skull emblems of different designs, and fierce-looking pirates standing on the decks...

Every sight entered Shisui's eyes.

Seeing Shisui's movement, Kenma understood something and asked, "What happened?"

"Sir, a huge number of pirate ships... the pirates' grand fleet has appeared."

"Shisui, lend me one eye."

As soon as he spoke, Kenma opened his eyes again, and his right eye had become Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan.

Feeling the enormous difference in vision between his two eyes, Kenma felt somewhat uncomfortable and promptly closed his own pitch black eye.

Using Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan to look into the distance, he saw that pirate ships were indeed cutting through the waves toward them.

Whitebeard's Pirate Grand Fleet!

But after only one glance, Kenma shifted his attention to the center of the crescent-shaped bay.

There, dense streams of bubbles were rising from the sea.

Following Kenma's gaze, Shisui saw shadows lurking beneath the water and could not help but feel alarmed.

"There's something beneath the sea!"

"Could it be..."

Boom!

A large ship burst from the water. Its hull was wrapped in a layer of bubbles, which burst and vanished as the vessel leaped free, revealing its appearance.

Its bow was shaped like a white whale, and a pitch black pirate flag bearing Whitebeard's skull emblem flew from the ship.

The Marines below immediately erupted into commotion.

But before their astonishment could subside, the sea churned again, and three more large ships rose from beneath the water, all flying Whitebeard's flag.

"Master, this is..."

"Yes, Whitebeard is coming."

Kenma continued watching the four ships in the bay and the pirates appearing aboard them.

"The war is about to begin!"

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