Report

A gentle evening breeze brushed against the eaves of the shrine, carrying with it the cool Dusk.

He sighed softly, his voice gentle and sincere. "This feeling of returning home safely is wonderful."

The distant evening bells rang out at just the right time, layer upon layer, spreading across the entire Origin Island, drawing a gentle curtain over the island that had been bustling all day.

Dusk fell, completely enveloping the mountains, seas, and the human world.

Setsuna stood at the foot of the shrine steps, quietly gazing at the two figures standing side by side in front of him.

In a daze, the scene of the Naka River beach from decades ago quietly overlapped with the view before my eyes.

The young and spirited Madara Uchiha stood in the long wind on the riverbank and whispered a wish—to build a home where his clan could live in peace and where children would not have to die.

He held fast to this conviction, waiting half his life, enduring the chaos of war and the rise and fall of his people.

Now, the old friends have returned, and the old wishes have finally been fulfilled.

The side hall of Naka Shrine was brightly lit, with flickering candlelight illuminating the intricate patterns of the wooden beams.

The lingering sound of the evening bell from the main hall in the distance slowly dissipated into the night. The shrine, devoid of the daytime hustle and bustle, was so quiet that only the crackling of candlelight and the soft rustling of the wind outside the window could be heard.

Natsu sat down in the main seat, her posture relaxed yet exuding a natural aura.

Madara and Izuna Uchiha took their seats on his left, one after the other. The two brothers had very different temperaments, but were equally calm and reserved.

Izuna Uchiha casually surveyed the furnishings inside the hall, his gaze lingering on the complete map of the entire West Blue region spread out on the wall, a hint of interest in examining it closely hidden in his eyes.

Ban remained taciturn and silent, his gaze sweeping lightly over the stack of clan documents piled on the table, taking in their orderly arrangement with just a glance.

Fugaku and Setsuna sat down facing the two men, their posture upright and their expressions respectful.

In Setsuna, he raised his hand and unfolded the clan affairs briefing he had brought with him. His fingertips brushed against the smooth pages, and he cleared his throat lightly before taking the lead in reporting on the recent situation.

For the past month, the situation both inside and outside the Uchiha has remained generally stable, with no sudden crises occurring throughout the territory, eliminating the need for Natsu to personally coordinate and handle the situation.

Several major infrastructure projects on the island are progressing steadily. The land reclamation projects on Spirit Awakening, Sourceguard and Hillguard islands have entered the final stage. The expansion and renovation of major ports have also been basically completed, completely making up for the shortcomings in the West Blue route.

The internal combat force organization was also implemented smoothly, the expansion plan of the Earthly Chief Guard was completed as scheduled, and the combat force echelon was established.

Heavenly Star Guard's patrol range continues to expand, and now it covers most of the core shipping lanes in the West Blue, firmly guarding the lifeline of the entire sea area.

The only new development is that the first graduating class of the Clan Academy has set sail a few days ago, embarking on their first collective training journey in the first half of the Grand Line.

This new generation team is led by Chunwu as captain and Rin as vice-captain, with Uchiha Kei personally accompanying and protecting them throughout the entire process.

Natsu leaned back in her chair, her fingertips idly tapping the table, the crisp rhythm echoing softly in the quiet side hall.

"I knew about this before I set sail." He spoke calmly, with a hint of certainty. "With Uncle Qi accompanying me and looking after me, the foundation is solid, and I am very at ease."

He paused slightly, his gaze darkening, and added a crucial word of advice.

"Send a message to Uncle Qi: there's no need to rush to eliminate the tails following them. I know CP0 has been keeping track of Chunwu and the others; let these newcomers get used to being monitored all the time."

"Entering the Grand Line, being closely watched, tested, and spied on by various forces is the norm. Rather than constantly dodging and hiding one's strength, it's better to get used to being watched by countless eyes and still remain calm and composed."

Fugaku nodded solemnly, keeping these words firmly in mind. He then opened the detailed clan affairs summary file at hand and continued to report on the core tasks of the month.

For the past month, the tribe's focus has been entirely on the integration and standardization of the economic system across the entire West Blue region.

In Setsuna flash, he pushed a detailed chart showing the trade volume and shipping routes of each island onto the table, his tone tinged with genuine satisfaction.

After abolishing the privileges of the old nobles of the West Blue who exploited the region at every level and unifying the rules of navigation throughout the entire area, the efficiency of trade routes in the entire sea area increased several times compared to the old era of war and division.

In the past, merchant ships traveling between Laskamp Island and Spirit Awakening Island would have to pass through seven or eight checkpoints, paying taxes at each level and being exploited at every turn, which was time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly.

Now, only two routine registrations are required upon departure and arrival in Hong Kong, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted journey.

Merchants are driven by profit, and such a relaxed and stable environment naturally attracts merchant ships from all sides to flock there.

Currently, major ports are frequently receiving feedback from merchants complaining about insufficient berths and limited shipping routes, urging Heavenly Star Guard to open more shipping routes every day.

"The data doesn't lie." Fugaku raised his eyes and added with certainty, "Just looking at this month, the overall commercial growth rate in the West Blue has steadily increased compared to last month, and the number of merchant ship registrations has more than doubled."

Even several neutral ports abandoned by the navy and left unmanaged have proactively contacted us, hoping to be included in the Uchiha's shipping route protection system and stabilize their local trade through our order."

Izuna Uchiha lowered his gaze and swept it over the densely packed, realistic data on the paper, a hint of amusement appearing in his gentle eyes.

He tilted his head slightly and softly posed a question, "Aren't you afraid that some of these pirates, who are taking over large numbers of the West Blue's roaming pirates, will become arrogant and turn around to plunder merchant ships and disrupt shipping lanes?"

Fugaku answered decisively and without the slightest hesitation.

"All registered pirate crews are bound by the unified Navigation Permit. Anyone who dares to violate the West Blue Public Order Regulations will be publicly executed. The rules are transparent and the punishments are severe. To date, there has not been a single case of violation."

"As for those scattered bandits and outlaws who refuse to register and resist to the end, the Night Owl Guard and the Earthly Chief Guard have already launched multiple joint operations to wipe them out."

Those who survived were either sent to work in the island's mines as penance, or their bodies were hung high on wooden stakes in the harbor as a warning to others.

He paused, a subtle hint of sarcasm in his tone.

To be honest, the West Blue route is now far safer than it was during the period when the navy was stationed there and nominally controlled it. Who would have thought that this sea area, once rife with bandits, would ultimately be brought under control by the Uchiha?

Just then, the usually taciturn Madara suddenly spoke, his voice low and calm, without the slightest emotional fluctuation.

"How many people have been injured by the wooden stakes in the harbor so far?"

He was taken aback Setsuna Ban suddenly asked about such detailed killing figures. He quickly looked down and checked the corresponding records, and answered after a rapid check.

"This month, we cracked down on more than ten pirate groups, with a total of about two hundred leaders of all sizes. The number isn't large, since the vast majority of pirates understood the situation and voluntarily surrendered when the Registration Order was first issued."