Conflict Concludes
In a deserted corner of the island, the remaining prisoners of the Blackbeard Pirates were all kept under guard.
Lafitte, Doc Q, and Doc Q's mount, Stronger, were all tightly bound by heavy, cold Seastone shackles. Layers of Uchiha Sealing Jutsu covered their bodies, completely sealing off their Devil Fruits abilities and Haki.
Lafitte, stripped of his powers, was no longer the elegant and composed man he once was. His face was pale and weak, his eyes dull and lifeless. All his former cunning and arrogance had vanished, leaving only the dejection and deathly silence of a prisoner. He curled up motionless on the cold sand.
Doc Q leaned against his mount, Stronger, his usually sickly and languid face now shrouded in gloom, all traces of his carefree and unrestrained nature gone, and no trace of the Plague emanating from him remained.
Stronger, with its enormous head drooping, lay obediently on the ground, its ferocity completely gone. It was being closely guarded by the Night Owl Guard, with no chance of escape whatsoever.
The battlefield was completely calmed down, and the tense atmosphere was completely relieved.
Ace let out a long sigh, a bright yet slightly embarrassed smile on his face. He strode forward and waved enthusiastically to the Yaoyu and Yakumi brothers, who had just landed. His tone was familiar and cheerful. "Haha, Yaoyu and Yakumi! Long time no see, we meet again! Thank you so much for coming to help us in time this time!"
The two brothers landed side by side, the Mangekyo Sharingan light in their eyes slowly receding, their expressions remaining indifferent. However, their gazes towards Ace carried a familiar helplessness and a hint of mockery, typical of the Uchiha, sharp-tongued, and soft-hearted nature. "Yeah, troublemaker."
"Last time you caused trouble and were arrested Impel Down, barely escaping with your life, and you're still not satisfied? This time you've caused such a big commotion, do you really want to go back in there for a few more days?"
Ace's smile froze instantly. He helplessly scratched the back of his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
He was already used to the brothers' personalities. The Uchiha clan members were always sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. They would complain and criticize him with every word, but whenever he was in danger, these two would always be the first to come to his aid.
What may seem like a sarcastic remark is actually a sign of genuine concern from a friend.
He completely ignored their sharp tongues and shamelessly stepped forward, his attitude exceptionally sincere and earnest. "I know you mean well. This time it was indeed our side that caused the trouble, dragging you all into the confrontation. I'm really sorry for the trouble you've gone through."
Yakumi pursed her lips, looking impatient but not genuinely displeased. She waved her hand dismissively, her tone tacitly agreeing, "Alright, alright, enough with the pleasantries. Just behave yourself next time and don't cause us any more of this kind of huge trouble. That's better than anything else."
Despite his constant grumbling, Yaoyu raised his hand and gestured for the entire clansman to rest. His cool voice calmly issued the order, the teasing gone, replaced by the composed solemnity of a top-tier expert. "Dismount from battle formation. Take your assigned posts, rotate shifts, and rest. Quickly recover your eye power and Chakra. Inventory battlefield supplies. Keep a close watch on the prisoners. Do not let your guard down."
As the order was given, the giant war eagles that had been circling high in the sky landed on the coast, and dozens of Night Owl Guard members landed in an orderly manner, disbanding their tense battle formation and each performing their duties.
Some personnel take turns on duty at sea to guard against any remaining potential hazards in the area;
Some people rested and recuperated on the spot to replenish their physical strength and eye power lost in the battle;
Special personnel were assigned to guard the prisoner area to prevent any unauthorized movements by the remaining Blackbeard Pirates.
On one side of the battlefield, Uchiha Chunwu and Rin stood side by side, their eyes still showing the faint weariness from overusing their Mangekyo Sharingan.
Having gone through life-and-death battles and Awakening their eye powers, the youthful immaturity of the two has largely faded, replaced by a more composed and resilient demeanor born from experience.
Several new-generation Uchiha clan members gathered around, their eyes filled with admiration and envy, whispering amongst themselves.
"Rin, you're amazing! You survived the trials of the illusion and successfully Awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"This battle was extremely dangerous. To survive and transform is both your good fortune and your strength."
Faced with her companion's praise, Rin, who was reserved and gentle, blushed slightly and shook her head gently. She didn't say much, but her eyes held a firm determination that came from her transformation.
Seeing this, Chunwu stepped forward and spoke gently and calmly to defuse the situation, reminding everyone. "There's no need for further discussion. This battle has been extremely taxing; everyone's eye power and physical strength are severely depleted. Take this time to rest and remain vigilant. There is never absolute peace in the New World; stability is only temporary."
Tekka slowly walked to the front of the new generation of soldiers, his cold and sharp gaze sweeping over the group of young clansmen. His tone was calm but carried a heavy teaching. "Today's battle is your opportunity, and also your warning."
The sea is never short of danger, and various forces are vying for power. Today's standoff is just a minor matter. Maintain a calm mindset, conserve your energy, and hone your strength; this is the foundation for your survival in this chaotic world."
The new generation of clansmen nodded in agreement, dispersed to rest and recuperate, and dared not slack off in the slightest.
Sabo stood quietly beside Ace, looking at the disciplined and well-mannered Uchiha Clan before him, his eyes filled with admiration.
Unlike the carefree and unrestrained nature of pirate crews, the Uchiha Clan possesses immense fighting power yet is extremely disciplined, patient, and plans their moves carefully. Their vision and strategic thinking far surpass those of most other forces in the Four Blues.
A warm sea breeze gently caressed the deserted island, dispersing the last wisp of smoke. This sea, which had witnessed bloody battles and high-level confrontations, finally ushered in a brief period of peace.
Everyone was making the most of the time to rest and recharge, clear the battlefield, reinforce the defenses, and guard the prisoners.
This top-level confrontation that shook the entire New World quietly came to an end. There was no fierce final battle, but it allowed all the forces across the ocean to truly glimpse the unfathomable and terrifying power of the Uchiha Clan.
The brief respite is merely the calm before the storm.
The Uchiha Clan's path to unification, conquering the Four Blues and overthrowing the old order, has only just begun. In the future, they will have to face the powerful Holy Land, the God's Knights, and countless other hostile forces.
The sea breeze of the New World gently swept across the deserted island, carrying a faint scent of sea salt and the lingering smell of gunpowder.
As the naval fleet completely disappeared from view, the oppressive and suffocating atmosphere that had gripped the entire sea finally dissipated.
The Uchiha clan members quickly cleaned up the mess on the beach and took care of the aftermath of the battle, bringing the long standoff and bloody battle to a complete end.
The life-or-death crisis that had been taut for several days was suddenly relieved, and the exhaustion of both the battle-hardened Night Owl Guard elites and the new generation of clansmen who had just completed their eye power transformation finally surfaced.
Everyone planned to take advantage of this rare moment of peace to recuperate, rest their bodies and minds, and restore their fighting strength.