Marine Movements
Sengoku lowered his eyes to look at the warships' voyages recorded in the dossier, his mind churning with thoughts.
He wasn't sure who was on the ship, nor could he fathom what the Uchiha Clan's intentions were in sending a warship to Sabaody this time.
However, the Navy is currently making every effort to prepare for Great Conscription and a comprehensive crackdown operation, and absolutely cannot provoke the Uchiha at this critical juncture.
"Pass down the order." Sengoku raised his head, his steady voice resounding throughout the conference room.
"All monitoring vessels in the area shall continue to track the other party's trajectory, only recording and conducting reconnaissance. Proactive approach and provocation are prohibited; the primary objective is observation. Without orders from headquarters, no one may make contact with this Uchiha warship."
"Understood!" The major who came to report saluted solemnly, took the file, and left.
The Vice Admiral returned to their original topic, and conversations about conscription, deployment, and resource allocation filled the meeting room once again.
Orders were continuously sent to various Marine Base via Den Den Mushi and intelligence messengers. Notices of recruit recruitment were about to be posted in every corner of the sea, and countless branch fortresses began to inventory ammunition and military equipment.
Inside the New Marineford, a massive war machine is slowly beginning to turn.
But deep in everyone's hearts, the image of that Uchiha warship heading towards the Sabaody Archipelago remains vividly etched in their memories.
No one knew the true intentions of the people on the ship; they could only watch from afar and quietly wait to see how things would unfold.
The Sabaody Archipelago, a crucial hub connecting the two halves of the Grand Line, will soon be simultaneously occupied by Marine Admiral and uninvited guests from the Uchiha Clan. The fates of these two forces will quietly intersect here.
At the naval port of New Marineford, waves surged, and the icy seawater repeatedly pounded against the bluestone embankment, splashing up tiny white sprays.
The entire port was filled with flags and an atmosphere of solemnity, with seven massive naval battleships lined up in a row, their dark hulls gleaming with a cold, hard metallic sheen.
On the deck, cannons stood in rows, and weapons were neatly arranged. Layers of naval cloaks merged into a pure white expanse. Tens of thousands of elite soldiers from headquarters stood in full gear, their footsteps echoing in unison, creating an atmosphere of solemnity before battle.
Following the conclusion of the comprehensive plan for conscription across the entire region and the clearing of the seas during the Sengoku, the first core deployment of the naval leadership has officially been implemented.
Akainu Sakazuki and Kizaru Borsalino, under Fleet Admiral orders, led their team to the Sabaody Archipelago to secure this core hub connecting the two halves of the Grand Line, and to make all necessary preparations for the final sweep of the Grand Line after the Second Grand Great Conscription.
Two figures with completely different auras stood at the forefront of the flagship, controlling the pace of the entire fleet.
Akainu wore a bright red Marine Admiral's cloak, his face was as cold and stern as iron, and he was surrounded by a fierce aura of decisive killing. His domineering, lava-like aura spread out, making even the surrounding sea breeze calm down a bit.
His eyes were fixed on the boundless sea ahead, his expression unwavering, his gaze filled with an absolute obsession with order and a resolute determination to eradicate the darkness.
In stark contrast, Kizaru's bright Kizaru cloak billowed in the wind, his face bearing his usual lazy and nonchalant smile. His hands were casually in his pockets, and he swayed slightly, appearing completely indifferent.
He glanced at Akainu beside him, whose aura was overwhelming, and slowly began to complain, his tone full of perfunctory weariness.
"Oh dear, Sakazuki, you've really had a tough time. We've only just settled down, and now you're leading so many men on a long march to Sabaody, both for garrisoning and preparing for the subsequent mopping-up operations. You probably won't even have a moment to relax."
Akainu didn't even turn his head, his voice deep and heavy, carrying an unyielding attitude. "The Navy's duty is to eliminate pirates and stabilize the seas."
Since the World Government has given the order, we must go all out; there is no hardship involved.
Once conscription is over, the Paradise will be sealed off, the Four Blues will be cleaned up, and the order of the entire ocean will be thoroughly restored."
Kizaru helplessly spread his hands, shaking his head with a smile, "I understand the reasoning, but the workload is just too immense. Tens of thousands of elite troops, seven capital ships, and the coordination of subsequent branch deployments—it's an extremely troublesome task."
The two men's completely different styles of doing things and their temperaments were revealed in a simple conversation, adding a touch of lively life to the somber military port.
On the flagship's deck, seven Headquarters Vice Admiral stood on either side, each with a distinct posture and aura, representing the backbone of the navy's current combat power.
The five veteran lieutenant generals Vice Admiral Momonga, Tokikake, Bastille, Strawberry, Doberman, have been through many battles and are surrounded by a calm and sharp aura that has been honed by years of combat.
With sharp eyes, he silently surveyed the surrounding sea, already calculating the garrison layout and troop allocation for the Sabaody Archipelago.
Among the ranks, two relatively unfamiliar yet extremely powerful figures stood out. They were the two newly promoted Headquarters Vice Admiral the headquarters who had been promoted exceptionally based on their absolute strength during the last Great Conscription — Lantuo and Shouya.
Lantuo has a tall and slender figure, with a simple and unadorned longsword hanging at his waist. The scabbard is covered with warm marks from years of handling, but it hides a sharp edge.
He was originally the chief bodyguard of a kingdom in the South Blue. He was loyal to his master throughout his life, possessed superb martial arts skills, was proficient in top-level Two-Color Haki, and his Swordsmanship was divine.
However, due to the undercurrents in the court, he was framed and driven out by treacherous political enemies, and had no choice but to leave the kingdom's court.
Despite becoming Pirate Hunter, he never abandoned his original aspirations. He single-handedly formed a small team and traveled to various parts of the South Blue. He once led his entire team to encircle and capture a large pirate crew with a bounty of 900 million Beli.
With his outstanding military achievements and widespread reputation, he was eventually recruited by the Navy through an exceptional recruitment process based on his solid merits and formidable combat power, and rose to the rank of Headquarters Vice Admiral.
At this moment, his expression was calm, his eyes were sharp as a blade, and his aura was composed and restrained, exuding an imposing presence without anger.
Beside him, the Shouya exuded an even more ferocious and sharp aura. He was tall and strong, with taut muscles, and his entire body was filled with the explosive power and oppressive aura of a beast.
He is Zoan Lynx-Form Devil Fruit user, perfectly suited for extreme Taijutsu combat. Combined with his masterful Two-Color Haki of Haki, his close-quarters fighting ability is extremely terrifying, swift and powerful, and adept at both offense and defense.
Compared to the composure of a veteran Vice Admiral, he possessed a more wild and fierce quality. His gaze swept across the sea, a hint of fighting spirit hidden in his eyes, always in a peak state ready for battle.
"Our core mission for this deployment to Sabaody is singular." The Momonga stepped forward, breaking the silence, his tone serious and steady.
"Consolidate our strongholds, prepare our military equipment, and gather intelligence on the surrounding waters, awaiting the successful conclusion of the second Great Conscription. During this period, we must strictly guard the sea defenses, refrain from provoking trouble, but also never tolerate any pirate disturbances, firmly protecting the gateway to Paradise."