Akainu: Madara Uchiha? What Are You Doing Here?!
Behind the Admiral, a group of veteran Vice Admiral, including Momonga, Doberman, Bastille, Strawberry, stood on both sides, all with solemn expressions, gripping their sword hilts, and their bodies faintly shimmering with Armament Haki, always in a state of extreme readiness for battle.
These Vice Admiral were all seasoned veterans of the navy, having sailed the seas for decades and witnessed the oppressive power of countless top-tier warriors. Their resolve was as firm as a rock, yet at this moment, everyone's mind was firmly drawn to that lone ship in the open sea, and an indescribable sense of oppression and powerlessness arose in their hearts.
A thousand meters out to sea, on the vast expanse of blue waves, a massive, ancient, and imposing warship hovers silently.
The ship's hull was engraved with intricate and exquisite Uchiha clan crests. Its jet-black hull gleamed with a restrained, cold light under the blazing sun. It did not raise its battle flags in a fierce display of power, nor did it launch any offensives to reveal its sharp edge. It simply remained quietly anchored, yet it suppressed all the storms and waves in the entire Sabaody Archipelago.
On the foremost deck of the warship, Madara Uchiha stood proudly.
His long, jet-black hair cascaded freely over his shoulders, the strands gently tousled by the sea breeze. His features were sharp and handsome, his face fair and fair, without a single wrinkle of age. His brows and eyes were sharp as unsheathed swords, and his posture was as upright as a solitary peak standing tall against the sea.
Despite his youthful appearance, his eyes held the weight of a thousand years of battles and vicissitudes, endless experience, and an extreme arrogance that looked down upon all living beings.
With such a youthful and handsome appearance, anyone who sees him for the first time would only think he is a newly rising genius and powerhouse, and would never imagine that he is a Shura overlord who has personally created countless legends, has been dormant for thousands of years, and whose combat power surpasses the top of the Four Blues.
Akainu gazed at the tall, solitary figure of the young man, his heart growing heavier with each passing moment. Unable to suppress his vigilance and apprehension any longer, he stepped forward, his voice booming like a bell, piercing the howling sea wind, and demanded:
"Uchiha... Madara! What are you doing here?!"
Upon hearing this question, the young powerhouse on the deck slightly raised his eyes and slowly crossed his arms in front of his chest.
His posture was languid and casual, yet he possessed an aura of supreme superiority that looked down upon all living beings. He looked down at the naval formation of thousands of troops standing on the coast, his dark eyes revealing an undisguised contempt and indifference. He spoke slowly, his voice clear and deep, carrying the weight of having traversed the vast ocean, clearly reaching the ears of every sailor.
"These are the Navy's so-called top fighting force... Marine Admiral? Akainu Sakazuki, Kizaru Borsalino, Kuzan... these three, right? Which one are you?"
His words were spoken slowly and deliberately, listing the names of the Three Admirals of the older generation one by one. His tone was calm, yet it carried the air of scrutinizing and judging the strong, as if he were taking stock of opponents worthy of serious consideration.
Throughout the entire process, there was absolutely no trace of the current Admiral Ryokugyu Aramaki, in his words or thoughts.
Madara's mind was filled with the information that Uchiha Natsu had previously given him.
Aramaki Ryokugyu was promoted to the rank of Admiral through the World Military Draft, making him a top-tier combat force standing at the top of the sea in the eyes of ordinary naval personnel and the world.
However, in the Uchiha Clan's power ranking system, this person is not worthy of being among the true strongmen.
His strength ceiling is only roughly equal to that of the Uchiha Yaoyu brothers, Uchiha Yakumi. If Uchiha Fugaku were to take action, he could easily crush and defeat them without any doubt.
Even if someone of this caliber were standing on the shores of Sabaody Archipelago right now, beside Admiral, they wouldn't even catch Madara Uchiha's eye; they wouldn't even be qualified to be mentioned or commented on.
The Vice Admiral lieutenant generals on the shore, all with keen senses, instantly noticed this detail. Their expressions froze, their cheeks involuntarily burning. They exchanged glances, their eyes swirling with a complex mix of embarrassment, awkwardness, and complicated emotions.
They knew all too well that Ryokugyu, as Marine Headquarters Admiral, was the highest-ranking combatant officially recognized by the World Government, holding a position above all Vice Admiral. He was the core pillar supporting the Navy's top combat power and a benchmark that countless Navy Soldier looked up to.
Yet, this very important figure was so insignificant in the eyes of this young-looking Uchiha powerhouse that he was as insignificant as an insignificant ant, not even worthy of being mentioned, and was completely and utterly ignored.
An indescribable sense of humiliation and embarrassment silently enveloped the hearts of all the Vice Admiral.
The navy's top-tier combat power, forged through rigorous selection and the expend of national resources, is utterly insignificant in the eyes of powerful figures from outside the region.
Madara completely ignored this, showing no interest in the complex emotions of the Marines below. In his mind, the emotions of the weak were insignificant.
He continued to mentally assess the combat strength of this vast sea. The Three Admirals certainly possessed the strength to be taken seriously.
Whether it's the explosive power of fighting alone or the destructive power of coordinating large-scale battlefield battles, each of the three possesses top-tier Logia Devil Fruit abilities.
Combined with decades of accumulated Haki and combat experience, the combat power he can unleash is completely comparable to the Four Emperors of the New World, and is on the same level of combat power Kaido of the Beasts, whom he previously severely injured.
This is the only reason he was willing to stay in Sabaody and patiently confront the navy.
If it weren't for the profound experience of the Three Admirals, and if it weren't for his concern for the legendary naval Garp the Hero, this seemingly imposing naval force wouldn't even have earned him a moment's attention.
Ban's initial motivation for this trip stemmed from the previous sensational island battle that shook the New World.
At that time, the new generation of geniuses of the Uchiha clan, such as Uchiha Chunwu and Uchiha Rin, joined forces with the Yashiro and the Night Owl Guard led by Tekka to fight. The battle was fierce and chaotic, with multiple forces clashing and fighting each other.
Throughout the entire campaign, the navy remained hidden in the shadows of the battlefield, patiently lying in wait, harboring ulterior motives, closely monitoring the attrition progress of all sides in the melee, and plotting the most despicable scheme of letting the two sides fight while the third party reaps the benefits.
They quietly waited for the Uchiha clan members and their powerful enemies to weaken each other, intending to seize the opportunity to reap the benefits of the war, secretly slaughter the new generation of Uchiha members, and reap all the rewards of this chaotic battle.
If it weren't for the Uchiha Yaoyu, Uchiha Yakumi, leading the Night Owl Guard reinforcements to their aid at lightning speed, overwhelming the hidden naval forces with their overwhelming combat power, the Uchiha Clan would have suffered irreparable loss of talent after that chaotic battle.
When news of this reached Uchiha Origin Island, Uchiha Natsu, who knew the whole story, instructed him to come to Sabaody to personally deliver the most solemn and chilling warning to the entire Navy's high command.