---
Marine Headquarters – Marine Fleet Admiral's Office
A Den Den Mushi on Sengoku's desk buzzed to life. "What's going on?" he demanded, glancing at the urgent report.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! This is Enies Lobby! Buster Call is in jeopardy! Immediate support is required!"
Sengoku frowned. "How is that possible? It's just the Straw Hat crew. A battleship and five Vice Admirals can't handle them? And isn't Kuzan there as well?"
"No, sir. It's not about the Straw Hat crew. We're facing… the Uchiha Security Company."
"The Uchiha Security Company?" Sengoku's eyes narrowed. "How many of them are there?"
"Only three, sir, but one of them is a Logia Devil Fruit user with the power of the Thunder Fruit."
Sengoku's expression shifted to surprise. The Thunder Fruit was known to be as potent as any Admiral's power. For it to fall into the hands of this mysterious Uchiha clan was troubling.
"But it's still one Admiral against three young criminals. Kuzan should have this under control."
Vice Admiral Doberman's voice tense. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the man fighting Admiral Aokiji now isn't the Thunder Fruit user. There's another—his strength is formidable, just a little behind that of Admiral Aokiji's own. If these two align their forces… it won't end well."
Sengoku's brow furrowed, eyes narrowing as he processed Doberman's warning. "Are you certain, Doberman? We were under the impression that only the Thunder Fruit user posed a serious threat."
"Yes, sir," Doberman replied. "This other man, Akira… his abilities and skill are strange. He's matching Aokiji by some powers that don't seem like coming from a devil fruit. If he teams up with the Thunder user, we could be looking at a far greater threat than anticipated."
Sengoku's face darkened, a hint of worry showing through his usual stoic composure. "Very well, Doberman. Hold your position. I'm sending support now. We cannot afford to lose this battle."
Sengoku's face turned grim. "An Admiral can't be defeated." He clenched his fists, knowing he had to act quickly.
What was a Marine Admiral? The highest combat force of the World Government, the very symbol of its power. For a Marine Admiral to be defeated would send shockwaves throughout the world. The allied nations would question Marine strength, and pirates would grow even bolder, seeing Admirals as nothing more than myths.
And right now, of all times, with the plan to end this era of piracy within reach—Marine Admirals could not afford to lose.
In his office, Sengoku dialed a number. The line crackled before a voice answered.
''Moshi Moshi'
"Kizaru, this is Sengoku."
"Oh, Sengoku-san! What's the matter?"
"Head to Enies Lobby immediately. You're to join Aokiji in eradicating the Uchiha Security Company's presence."
"Uchiha Security Company?" Kizaru muttered, taken aback. He hadn't even heard of them—who in their right mind would start a security company in this chaotic era?
"Their leader, Uchiha Akira, is the primary target," Sengoku confirmed.
With a low whistle, Kizaru agreed. "Understood."
---
Whoosh!
Aokiji reappeared mid-air, several ice spears forming around him. "Ice Block: Partisan." With a flick of his hand, the spears shot toward Akira.
"Big Ball Rasengan!"
Akira's palm spun with a massive sphere of swirling chakra. He thrust it forward, colliding with the ice spears. The Rasengan shattered them effortlessly, and the ensuing explosion hit Aokiji head-on, shattering his icy form into countless fragments.
"Aokiji Admiral!!" The Marines gasped in shock as they saw their Admiral scattered in pieces.
But behind Akira, Aokiji reformed from the ice, his eyes cold and unyielding. "Ice Time." He raised his hand, and a burst of frigid air washed over Akira, encasing him in ice.
"Akira!" Luffy and his crew gasped, eyes widening.
"Now what do we do? He's frozen solid!"
"Do we stand a chance against an Admiral?"
They remembered the crushing defeat Aokiji had dealt them on Long Ring Long Land. Though they'd grown stronger, the Admiral's power still seemed insurmountable.
The Marines, witnessing the freeze, began cheering.
"It's Aokiji Admiral's win!!"
But in the distance, Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi remained still, expressions calm as they watched the scene unfold.
'Kaka—crack!'
Suddenly, cracks formed across the ice encasing Akira. In one explosive movement, the ice shattered, and Akira emerged unscathed, shaking off the last remnants of frost.
"What?!"
Marine jaws dropped. The Straw Hats stared in disbelief, especially Luffy, who had once been laid low by that very technique.
"Achoo—!!" Akira rubbed his nose. "Brr… that was colder than I expected! If I'd known, I would've avoided it entirely," he said, shaking out his shoulders.
Aokiji's frown deepened. "Not afraid of being frozen to death?"
Akira shrugged. "Oh, I am. But it's not every day you get to face a Marine Admiral. I thought I'd see how far you'd go."
Aokiji was visibly irritated. "You're playing with fire, kid. Do you understand what you're getting yourself into? Show some respect"
Akira nodded, his tone respectful. "It's no wonder you're the World Government's top force. Marine Admirals truly live up to their reputation."
"Yet, there's no fear in your eyes," Aokiji observed, eyes narrowing.
Akira met his gaze steadily. "Fear? It's just a bit troublesome, nothing worth fearing."
Annoyance flickered across Aokiji's face. "Troublesome? You're awfully arrogant. Didn't your parents ever teach you some humility?"
Akira's eyes darkened. "Parents? Both of mine died in the war when I was barely a year old. Everything I know, I've learned on my own. Many have tried to teach me their 'life principles'—and now they lie in graves with grass growing over them."
Aokiji snorted. "So, a tragic past justifies harboring criminals and breaking the law?"
Akira's hand moved to the handle of the Nichirin blade at his side. His voice was firm. "Criminals? That's just the label your World Government uses to brand those who defy its authority. If you want to talk about crime, the biggest criminal here is the World Government."
Aokiji's brows lifted as Akira unsheathed the Nichirin blade for the first time. The dark blade gleamed ominously as it absorbed the sunlight, casting a dim shadow over the "Island That Never Sleeps." Gripping the sword with both hands, Akira's expression turned focused.
The blade's dark hue began to burn, turning red as if heating from within. On the left side of Akira's forehead, a black pattern appeared, forming a three-fold mark akin to the Sharingan.
'Fwoosh'
Akira's entire being ignited with a radiant, fiery aura, his body almost blinding as he began to channel his full power.
From the sidelines, Shisui and Itachi watched, and for the first time, Itachi's calm face shifted with a flicker of excitement.
Itachi murmured softly, "Akira… is finally serious."
Shisui nodded, "He finally used it, the one we couldn't learn, Sun Breathing."
...