Three Years Later

Three years had passed since Uchiha Chigusa entered the Land of Whirlpools.

A strange-looking ship sailed out from a secret harbor in the Land of Clouds.

The entire vessel was painted a deep, abyssal black, as if it swallowed all light, sending a chill down the spine of any onlooker.

The sails were also black, emblazoned with a striking white skull that snapped in the wind, exuding an aura that was both wicked and wild.

Yamada Yosuke stood at the bow dressed in coarse hempen robes, his canvas cloak dancing in the wind just like the sails above him, giving him the distinct air of a great pirate.

Since Chigusa had arrived in the Land of Whirlpools, a world-spanning war had erupted among the major nations.

In this frenzied global conflict, bandits emerged everywhere like hyenas scavenging for carrion in a wasteland, quickly draining every last drop of wealth from the common folk.

Consequently, those bandits with higher aspirations turned their eyes toward the sea, officially ushering in the Great Pirate Era.

Yamada Yosuke was one such man. He had originally been a samurai serving a daimyo in the Land of Water, and through years of campaigning, he had managed to save up a considerable fortune.

However, the daimyo he served was defeated and killed in a struggle against a rival, and all his territory was annexed.

Unwilling to serve the man who had killed his lord, Yamada Yosuke gritted his teeth, sold off all his assets to purchase this massive ship, and took his former subordinates to become glorious pirates.

Yamada Yosuke had designed this ship after consulting with veterans of the pirate trade. Not only was the color scheme chosen to project a wild, untamed spirit, but the very structure of the ship was meticulously crafted.

Parts of the hull were intentionally sanded down to look rough, and he had used blades to carve countless scratches into the wood, making the ship appear as though it had weathered innumerable storms and battles.

The hull was draped in heavy iron chains, hooks, and rusted nails, as if silently recounting its long, battered history to all who saw it.

A skull, carved from the bones of some unknown beast, sat at the prow, looking both ornate and ferocious. The entire ship resembled a pitch-black beast, ready to pounce on its prey at any moment.

Riding such an imposing pirate ship, Yamada Yosuke felt immensely satisfied with himself.

At present, the most prosperous small power on the sea was none other than the Land of Whirlpools.

Under the leadership of Uzumaki Ashina, the Land of Whirlpools had established the Village of Whirlpools, absorbing many wandering ninja into its ranks.

Its formidable military strength kept the major nations from encroaching, allowing the Land of Whirlpools to serve as a transit hub between the Land of Water and the Land of Fire.

The peaceful environment attracted many refugees to settle on Whirlpool Island, where they became citizens and provided services to passing merchant ships, leading to a boom in various high-speed industries.

The shipping lanes between the Land of Whirlpools, the Land of Water, and the Land of Fire became the busiest routes on the entire sea.

Such immense temptation attracted a vast number of pirates hoping to try their luck.

Even though the Village of Whirlpools organized a powerful maritime patrol, it could not deter the countless pirates dreaming of striking it rich overnight, and novice pirates like Yamada Yosuke arrived in an endless stream.

Just as Yamada Yosuke stood at the bow, daydreaming about hijacking a wealthy passenger ship and becoming rich overnight, a tiny black speck approached the pirate ship under the cover of night.

The very chains and hooks added to the ship to create a professional atmosphere now served as natural footholds, allowing the shadow to board the vessel silently.

Removing his black diving suit and helmet, the face of Uchiha Chigusa was revealed.

After three years, the once green boy had matured; his soft, delicate features had sharpened, and he now possessed the initial ruggedness of a man.

Dressed in a black ninja outfit, Chigusa moved across the deck as silently as a ghost.

He first arrived at the door of the cabin where the sounds of a dozen pirates drinking and cheering could be heard.

Taking a tube and some medicinal powder from his pouch, he inserted the tube through a crack in the door and gently blew the powder inside.

After waiting a short while, the sound of heavy bodies hitting the floor echoed from within, followed by total silence.

Chigusa pushed the door open and stepped inside to find a group of pirates—mostly dressed as samurai—sprawled across the floor in disarray.

He pulled out a rope and bound them all together; even the most brilliant rope-art masters of later generations would have been put to shame by his technique, which guaranteed they could not move a muscle.

Chigusa then crept through the shadows on the deck, knocking out every sailor he encountered with a sharp strike of his hand and binding them tightly.

After patrolling the stern, there were no pirates left who could move freely. Aside from the first mate steering the ship and Yamada Yosuke standing at the bow, every pirate on board had been neutralized.

"Someone!" Yamada Yosuke shouted from the bow. "Bring me a bottle of wine!"

Chigusa thought for a moment about the location of the wine cellar, silently retrieved a bottle, and handed it to Yamada Yosuke from behind.

Yamada Yosuke reached to pour the wine into his mouth without even looking, only to realize the seal on the bottle hadn't been broken.

"Baka yaro!" Yamada Yosuke roared in anger. He was a man who aspired to be the Pirate King; how could his underlings be so incompetent at such a simple task?

He turned around, ready to vent his rage, but instead of his clumsy subordinates, he saw a youth dressed as a ninja standing behind him. His brain stalled for a moment.

Seeing the stranger smiling at him, Yamada Yosuke drew the katana at his waist and demanded, "Who are you!"

Chigusa smiled. "Village of Whirlpools, Village of Whirlpools ninja. I am the Maritime Scavenger."

Yamada Yosuke's angry expression faltered. To pirates, the Maritime Scavenger was a terrifying legend.

It was said that every pirate who encountered him was swept into the sea like trash, with not a single one spared.

Only one senile old man, rumored to have been a dishwasher on a pirate ship, had been spared and sent back to a secret pirate port in the Land of Water.

That old man had spent his days wandering the docks, spreading the legend of the Maritime Scavenger.

Chigusa maintained his patient smile. Seeing that the man had nothing more to say, he took the initiative. "Are you Mr. Yamada Yosuke? I heard you only turned to piracy last week and haven't even had your official debut yet."

"In consideration of the fact that you haven't had the chance to commit any crimes yet, I suggest you put down your blade and turn back. It will effectively reduce your sentence."

Yamada Yosuke, naturally, would not surrender without a fight. He raised his katana and slashed toward Chigusa with great speed, displaying a flair worthy of a samurai leader.