(From next chapter, I will combine 2 or 3 chapters to reach the point where I had promised before)
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Gan Fall was left speechless by Akira's declaration, stunned by the gravity of his words.
"Since everyone is here, I'll make an announcement," Akira began, his voice echoing across the island. "From today forward, this island and the surrounding Sky Islands are now under the domain of Amazon Lily and my Uchiha clan." He smirked, raising his chin. "I, Uchiha Akira, am the new god of Sky Island."
As he spoke, an orange-yellow exoskeleton formed around him like sun. In a flash, his fully-formed Susanoo appeared once more, its sheer presence casting a daunting shadow across the land. With this, Akira rose into the air, towering over the awestruck onlookers.
"He's flying!" someone whispered in awe.
Skypieans and Shandians alike gaped at the sight. While they had harnessed shells and other methods to simulate flight, seeing someone hover in the air through sheer power alone was beyond their comprehension.
Akira raised the sword in his Susanoo's hand, slicing it through the sky with a casual swipe. The dense clouds parted instantly, creating a split that ran across the horizon as if the heavens themselves had been cleaved.
"He... he split the sky in two!"
The crowd trembled in silent awe, their minds clinging to a single, resounding thought: god. Compared to Enel, Akira's display of power felt like a true vision of divinity.
The Shandians fell to their knees, despair heavy on their faces. In the presence of Akira's might, their years of rebellion felt as fragile as sand blown by the wind.
Akira withdrew Susanoo and hovered above them. "From this day on, I will be the god of Sky Island. Unlike Enel, I have no desire to destroy this land. A place as unique as Sky Island deserves preservation," he declared, glancing down at the awestruck crowd. "In fact, if I wished, I could bring more islands into the sky. But that's too troublesome. For now, this will remain the Upper Yard, Island of the Gods."
He pointed at the Shandians and the Skypieans . "You two tribes will govern this place. Fight if you wish; settle your conflicts as you like. I'm not here to interfere."
Finally, he turned back to the altar. "I'll be taking all this gold. If you want it back, feel free to come to the surface and find me. By then, the world will know the name of Uchiha Akira."
With those final words, Akira landed gracefully atop the Golden Bell's altar. The entire altar rose into the air, landing on Enel's golden ark, where the Kuja crew awaited. One by one, they boarded, and the ship began its ascent.
Below, Gan Fall, Wyper, and the remaining Shandians watched, confused and dazed. Akira had defeated Enel, claimed the title of god, and yet... he was leaving. Taking Enel, the gold, and their grudges with him.
Wyper clenched his fists, staring up as the ship disappeared. "Damn it! I swear, I'll take back the Golden Bell one day!"
The Shandians were silent, their resolve shaken. They had fought four hundred years to reclaim their homeland, sacrificing countless lives. And now, without resistance, they stood upon it once more, barely daring to believe it was theirs again. They realized, though Akira had taken the gold, he had left them something far more precious: their land.
Onboard, Hancock glanced at Akira, her curiosity piqued. "Why let them live?" She frowned, remembering her impulse to turn them to stone for their insolence.
"Leaving them alive costs me nothing, and gratitude, even forced, can be useful. If I need them in the future, they'll be there. Sometimes, sparing someone pays off," he replied. "Besides, a live population is worth more than gold."
Hancock mulled over his answer, a smirk forming on her lips. She saw the wisdom behind his choice, but she wouldn't admit it out loud.
As their ship drifted lower, skimming the clouds before plunging back to sea level, everyone seemed to relax. The sea brought a sense of stability after the surreal, floating Sky Island.
When they reached the ocean, the crew's excitement grew as they eyed the hold full of gold. For the Kuja crew, even a single box of treasure was a valuable haul; this amount of gold could enrich their entire nation.
"I'll need a Den Den Mushi for contact and an Eternal Pose for Amazon Lily," Akira said.
"What for?" Hancock asked.
"Just want to see more of this world and handle a few things," Akira replied, grinning. "Last time I was here, I barely had a chance to explore."
Shisui stepped forward eagerly. "Can I come too?"
Itachi remained silent, though the glint in his eyes showed he was keen to join them. At eleven and fourteen, the first half of the Grand Line was a vast playground for the two young Uchiha.
Akira gave orders to them. "Take the gold back first. It's too obvious a target and will definitely attract attention. Use a black cloth to cover it, and travel through the Calm Belt straight to Amazon Lily. Once the gold is secure, you can come find me."
Although Hancock also wanted to travel with him, she knew her duty lay in escorting the gold back. She gave a frustrated huff, reluctantly handing him a Den Den Mushi and an Eternal Pose. Akira took them with a grin, tucking Enel into a burlap sack before taking off, waving to the crew.
"See you all soon!" he called out, flying just above the waves.
"Vice-Captain, come back safe!" one of the crew shouted.
"Yeah, bring us even more treasure!" another cheered.
"Vice-Captain, I want to have your baby!" a third added, causing Akira to stumble mid-air in surprise before he caught himself, laughing along with the rest of the crew.
As he flew toward his next adventure, Akira felt a surge of excitement. The sky, the sea, and the vast, uncharted world stretched before him, ripe for exploration. The Uchiha had taken to the skies—and nothing would ever be the same again.
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