Arrival at the Grand Line
Qi didn't reply, but the smile in his eyes faded slightly.
His Observation Haki remained steadily deployed, following the twenty vibrant and scorching auras ahead.
He followed quietly, silently guarding the first expedition of the new generation of his clan.
Ahead, on the sea, a long wind howled, and all the sails billowed in the morning light. The Uchiha Gunbai flag atop the mast fluttered in the wind, carving a new path across the boundless blue sea.
This marks the first step for the new generation of Uchiha to truly leave the West Blue and venture into the wider world.
The young people should just brave the wind and waves and forge ahead.
Behind them, the older generation of guardians have already provided a silent and reassuring support, covering for them throughout the entire process.
The moment the sailboat sailed out of Twin Cape, the Grand Line finally tore off its gentle facade, slamming its most tyrannical and unpredictable side hard onto this group of young Uchiha.
The clear, bright sky suddenly darkened, dark clouds pressed down on the sea, churning and gathering, and a torrential downpour began without warning.
The fierce sea wind tore at the sails, howling and whistling between the masts, making a piercing cracking sound, as if it wanted to tear the entire ship apart on the vast sea.
Chunwu stood at the stern of the ship, his hand firmly pressing down on the wind-soaked nautical chart, his fingertips steadily holding down the fluttering pages. In an instant, his other hand Hand Seals. A gentle Sensory Ninjutsu silently spread out, carried by the wind, rain, and ocean currents across the entire nearshore area.
He is searching for islands where he can temporarily dock.
The meteorological knowledge I learned in class now came clearly to mind. Extreme weather on the Grand Line always comes quickly and goes quickly, but once it continues to worsen, the flimsy sailboats simply cannot withstand it.
Rather than gambling that the storm will subside, it's better to seek refuge in the nearest port and weather this upheaval safely.
The thought had barely formed in his mind when the entire ship suddenly tilted violently.
A giant wave several meters high crashed against the side of the ship, and the icy seawater surged onto the deck. The anti-slip spells under the trainees' feet were washed away by the waves, making them sway.
Using the ship's tilting momentum, Chunwu firmly planted himself on the ground, his footwork steady, and issued a command in a deep voice, "Hard to port! Full speed turn toward Whiskey Peak! Lower all sails, activate assisted braking with skeeting!"
Amidst raging winds and torrential rain, towering waves crashed against the sailboat, which carved a daring, drifting arc across the turbulent sea, defying the turbulent currents and cutting into the leeward bay embraced by the mountains.
As the bow of the ship fully entered this tranquil, windless water, the still raging wind and rain outside seemed to be shut out by an invisible barrier.
Everyone stared at the raging sea outside, a sense of relief and relief washing over them.
Rin gripped the gunwale, casually flicking away the raindrops from her hair, which dripped onto the deck.
"This is the only island nearby we can land on." Chunwu looked at the still churning sea outside, his tone calm. "If we go any further, we'll have to hold out for at least several more hours. The ship won't be able to withstand the impact of a second giant wave."
Rin wiped the water from her cheeks and nodded slightly. "You were right, there was no other choice."
The sailboat slowly entered the harbor waters of Whiskey Peak.
As a classic starting point for the first half of the Grand Line, this island is a constant stop for merchant ships and wandering pirates. With its diverse population and intertwined factions, it has long been marked as a chaotic area of extremely high risk in the Clan Academy textbooks.
"All personnel shall dock for rest and recuperation, and take turns on guard duty in designated areas." Chunwu issued the rest order in a timely manner, "It is strictly forbidden to leave the team alone, and no one may leave their post without authorization."
Twenty teenagers dressed in identical Uchiha Clan Uniform stepped onto the port pier one by one. Their neat and efficient movements and their unified and imposing aura instantly silenced the noisy and chaotic dock.
Laborers carrying goods, patrons chatting by the tavern door, and sailors from merchant ships who had just landed—countless eyes converged on this group of unfamiliar yet intimidating young men.
A porter carrying a cargo box nudged his colleague with his elbow, his voice low and full of surprise. "Why are the Uchiha people in the first half? I remember they've always stayed in the West Blue and never set foot in this chaotic sea area."
His companion quickly raised his hand to silence him, his eyes filled with apprehension. "Don't talk nonsense and cause trouble. Those are the most dangerous Demon-Subduing Ghost Clan on the high seas right now."
The tavern owner peeked out briefly, then quickly retreated back inside, muttering under his breath that people should be very careful when traveling these days.
After all, that clan dared to publicly kill even the high and mighty Celestial Dragons, and always acted as they pleased.
The scattered whispers were broken up by the sea breeze, drifting intermittently into my ears.
Rin turned her head to look at Chunwu beside her and said softly, "They're all talking about us."
"I know."
Chunwu continued walking, his face calm and expressionless, yet his eyes held a clear and unwavering determination.
From the moment he left Origin Island, he knew that this experience was far more than just simple practical training.
This marks the first time the new generation of Uchiha has officially left the West Blue and set foot in this vast world of constant conflict.
They want the entire ocean to see clearly that the Uchiha has never been a secluded Isolated Island force; the new generation has grown up and will no longer remain confined to one place or hide behind the scenes.
During the port's resupply and rest period, a merchant ship captain who frequently traveled the Grand Line approached them and respectfully handed over his nautical nameplate.
"Young sir, our fleet traverses these waters year-round, where the winds and waves are treacherous and bandits roam freely. If Whiskey Peak could be adorned with an Uchiha Gunbai flag, we would feel much more at ease when we travel to resupply."
Chunwu took the nameplate and glanced at it, his tone calm but his stance clear. "The flag can be flown. But the Uchiha will not privately guarantee any merchant caravan's rights. We abide by the rules of the sea, not personal relationships or interests."
The captain nodded repeatedly, his face full of relief. "Rules are enough! Rules are enough!"
After replenishing their fresh water and rations, Chunwu led his team away from the bustling port area and headed straight into the heart of the island to advance the core mission of this training exercise—an assessment of the comprehensive combat capabilities and strategic value of the neutral island.
The team members had clear divisions of labor, recording the island's topography, freshwater resource distribution, port throughput capacity, and the power structure of the various factions entrenched there.
The information about the entire island is gradually revealed on the record pages on the back of the nautical chart.
Rin, accompanied by two team members skilled in perception, systematically investigated the strongholds of various factions on the island. After completing the investigation, she wrote a concise comment in her notebook: Bounty hunters are entrenched, the forces are scattered, and there is no unified command system.
Chunwu bent down to read the handwriting, then looked up and asked, "Is there any threat from top-tier combatants?"
"No." Rin shook his head firmly. "The strongest hunter leaders on the island are only roughly on par with Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral. They pose no lethal threat whatsoever."