The Shichibukai Meeting

A month passed.

The Uchiha Clan's compound began to grow livelier.

The Uchiha working for the clan outside the compound had bought back a large amount of supplies, gradually restoring the place to the prosperity it had once enjoyed in Konoha.

Shisui returned during that time. Uchiha Tamaharu gave him and the others working for the clan ten combat suits that Vinsmoke Judge had made overtime, improving their safety.

Vinsmoke Judge had personally made Uchiha Tamaharu's own combat suit. When he first got it, he played around with it for a while.

But he soon focused on training. He didn't have time to play.

Although his strength had improved, he still needed time to adapt to fighting. He also copied all the clan's ninjutsu scrolls and diligently trained in their techniques.

He trained every day, and he also had to make two Shadow Clones to practice Release Techniques. Meanwhile, his real body worked on adding different attributes to Rasengan and developing new elemental techniques.

Before, he hadn't had enough Chakra or the strength to develop new techniques. Even developing Lightning Style had taken a lot out of Uchiha Tamaharu.

He had tried combining Fire Release and Lightning Style to see if he could develop a Kekkei Genkai, but it was too difficult. The two elements were both unstable, making them hard to fuse, so Uchiha Tamaharu had to focus on developing new elemental techniques instead.

He could train in every element, but his Chakra had natural affinities. Using a technique that didn't suit him would greatly reduce its power, making the cost hardly worth it.

But now, Uchiha Tamaharu had plenty of Chakra, so he didn't mind. Water Release was his first priority. It was genuinely useful in this world.

Fighting at sea and using Water Release could completely restrain Devil Fruit Users, forcing them to focus on clearing away the seawater. He could then use Lightning Style in the water, and most opponents wouldn't be able to withstand it.

However, the sudden ringing of a Den Den Mushi interrupted Uchiha Tamaharu's training.

"Brring, brring."

"This is Uchiha Tamaharu."

Uchiha Tamaharu took out the Den Den Mushi and answered.

He knew what this was about as soon as he saw the Den Den Mushi.

"The World Government has summoned the Shichibukai to Mary Geoise for a meeting. It will take place in ten days. Please be sure to attend."

The voice on the other end wasn't the same person who had negotiated with Uchiha Tamaharu before.

It sounded like someone whose job was to deliver messages.

"Understood."

Uchiha Tamaharu replied, then hung up.

"By my reckoning, the seal I placed on Luffy should take effect in the next few days."

"A Shichibukai meeting?"

"Looks like the Summit War is about to begin."

"I'll use the trip to test Blackbeard and see how things stand. If it seems risky, I'll head back to the Shinobi World and get the Rinnegan first."

Uchiha Tamaharu thought it over, then put down the Den Den Mushi and continued training.

The ten days were for the other Shichibukai to prepare. He wouldn't need that long to get there.

He didn't set out until the seventh day.

There was nothing in the clan that needed his attention. He was supposedly the Clan Leader, but in practice he was more of a figurehead. Fugaku Uchiha was the one doing the work.

As he neared Sabaody, Uchiha Tamaharu put away his Susanoo. He wasn't ready to let more people know about this power.

He used his Sharingan to control a Sea King and rode on its back, simply waiting for it to swim along.

Even so, he reached Sabaody on the afternoon of the eighth day. He looked around and tested an idea there. On the tenth day, he went to meet the World Government official in charge of the matter, who escorted Uchiha Tamaharu to Mary Geoise.

"Genjutsu can control Celestial Dragons. There's basically no problem with that, which leaves plenty of room to maneuver."

Uchiha followed a colonel, thinking about the results of his experiments over the past few days.

He had caught a Celestial Dragon alone and controlled him with genjutsu from more than twenty meters away. There had been nothing unusual about the Celestial Dragon.

The Chakra cost had been low, too. Celestial Dragons were physically unimpressive, and their mental strength was even worse, so they were easy to control. If something happened, he could manipulate a dozen or so Celestial Dragons into causing trouble, which would solve a lot of problems.

Soon, they arrived at Mary Geoise. They walked down a long corridor and entered a particularly large reception hall.

Of the Shichibukai, Uchiha Tamaharu was the last to arrive.

"Is this the newcomer who became a Shichibukai not long ago?"

"He doesn't look all that impressive!"

Doflamingo stood on the seat cushion, sitting on the backrest.

He spoke in a mocking, sarcastic tone.

After all, he felt the position of Shichibukai shouldn't be handed out so casually. He had gone to considerable lengths to earn his own place among them.

In his eyes, Uchiha Tamaharu had become a Shichibukai just by capturing a small pirate with a bounty of three hundred million Beli. It was a complete joke!

"Hmph! I was careless last time. Otherwise, Straw Hat Luffy would definitely have been mine!"

Gekko Moria snorted. He still had bandages around his head, but that didn't stop him from talking big.

He was furious that Straw Hat Luffy had been taken away just like that, leaving him no chance for revenge.

He also had no fondness for the person who had defeated Straw Hat Luffy, let alone any desire to thank him.

Blackbeard was happily eating a feast and showed no interest in joining the conversation.

It seemed no one else knew that Bartholomew Kuma had been beaten up. He sat to one side in silence, watching them coldly.

Neither Dracule Mihawk nor Empress Hancock cared about the provocation. One was a loner, while the other had no interest in anything involving stinking men.

Several Vice Admirals were seated nearby. They had no fondness for these people either, whom they regarded as pirates.

"A stray dog driven out, and a loser who lost to a newcomer. You think you're qualified to judge me?"

Uchiha Tamaharu replied without holding back.

He wasn't going to swallow the insult. He mocked them outright.

There was no point in backing down if he wanted to establish himself on these seas!

Doflamingo's mocking smile vanished.

"You little brat, do you want to die?!"

Gekko Moria flew into a rage and shouted at him.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, Gekko Moria's pupils contracted sharply. Uchiha Tamaharu's right hand, wrapped in Chidori, was less than ten centimeters from his thick neck.

Gekko Moria could clearly hear the crackle of electricity.

"Keep shouting, and I'll snap your neck."

Uchiha Tamaharu stood on the dining table, pointing his Chidori at Gekko Moria as he warned him.

"You!"

Gekko Moria was both furious and alarmed.

He wanted to strike back, but he felt that if he did, his opponent would really cut his throat.

"All right, that's enough. Stop."

Someone stepped in to break up the quarrel.

Vice Admiral Tsuru.

She was in charge of this meeting.

Thanks, everyone, for the recommendation tickets and monthly passes.