— — — — — — — —
"Alright! Then it's time for us to set off for Fishman Island and the New World! Let's go!"
With that, Kaito, Koshiro, and the others all stood up, ready to depart.
"We'll see you off!" Shakky and Rayleigh quickly got up to bid them farewell.
Soon, the group arrived at a nearby harbor.
As Kaito and the others boarded the Uchiha Pirates' ship, Rayleigh couldn't help but ask, "So, when do you think we'll get our hands on the Human-Human Fruit?"
Now that he had regained his youth and acquired incredible martial arts skills, he was eager to train and grow even stronger.
He was already imagining the day he could beat down Roger, Whitebeard, and Garp. That was going to be a sight to behold.
With such exciting prospects ahead, his enthusiasm for training was at an all-time high.
"Just wait! If you gather enough materials quickly, you might get your turn in a month or two."
"But if you're slow, collecting too little, then it might take a year or two."
"So, work hard and collect those materials! There's a long line of people waiting for Devil Fruits!"
"The more you contribute, the sooner you'll get one."
Kaito grinned as he encouraged them.
"Understood! We'll do our best to gather materials! Safe travels!"
Rayleigh and Shakky nodded in agreement and waved goodbye.
"Same to you guys! We're off!"
Kaito and his crew waved back before setting sail. With a command, the ship's coating activated, and they started descending into the depths.
Before long, they vanished beneath the water's surface.
Rayleigh and Shakky then returned to the bar.
As soon as they entered, Roger looked at Rayleigh and asked, "Hey, Rayleigh, would it be possible for me to see Ace?"
"Also, what do I need to do to get that slacker kid to bring Rouge back to life?"
"Even if it's just bringing her back the same way I was revived, that would be fine!"
Seeing Rouge again would even help ease the hostility between him and Ace. Otherwise, things could get a bit tricky.
"You can see Ace anytime you want!"
Rayleigh smiled. "Since I made a contract with Kaito, I've gained the ability to teleport. I can take you to see Ace whenever you're ready!"
"As for reviving Rouge, that's even simpler. No extra conditions are needed. I'll just ask Kaito to bring her back."
"But it'll only be Edo Tensei. If you want a true revival for both of you, that'll require effort on your part."
"You'd need to form a contract with Kaito first."
"So? Do you want me to take you to Ace now, or should we go revive Rouge first?"
Thanks to Kaito's contract, Rayleigh had access to plenty of information on the subject, so he could answer with confidence.
He knew that Kaito definitely wanted Roger on his side—he'd be a valuable fighter.
If they were going to overthrow the World Government in the future, someone like Roger would be essential.
The more powerful allies, the better.
"Wait… it's that easy? Kaito just left for Fishman Island. Wouldn't it be a bit late to ask him now? Are you suggesting I chase after him?"
Roger was slightly stunned.
"No need for all that hassle!" Rayleigh chuckled and shook his head. "Since I'm contracted with him, I can contact him anytime."
"And with his abilities, he can teleport over whenever he wants."
"No need to make things complicated!"
"Though, we'll have to locate Rouge's grave first."
"All I know is that it's somewhere on Baterilla Island. You're familiar with that place, right?"
Roger's face showed a nostalgic expression. "Baterilla Island, huh? Yeah, I know it well."
"No time to waste. Should we head over there now?"
"Can you teleport directly to Baterilla Island?"
"Nope!"
Rayleigh shook his head, amused. "That place hasn't been marked yet, so I can't teleport there directly."
"But I can get us to an island a few hundred kilometers away that's already marked."
"From there, I can summon a flying ninja beast to take us the rest of the way—it won't take long!"
"You stay put here at the bar. Don't wander off."
"Also, let's keep the bar closed for now. We don't want anyone noticing you, especially the World Government or the Navy. That would be a huge headache."
That was precisely why Rayleigh hadn't let Roger join them in seeing Kaito off earlier.
"Got it."
Roger nodded. "I won't do anything reckless. You hurry up and get things done."
"Alright!"
Rayleigh nodded and glanced at Shakky.
"Go on! The sooner, the better! I've got material collection to organize here!" Shakky waved him off.
She had more on her mind.
Not only did she want to secure a Human-Human Fruit for herself and Rayleigh, but she also wanted to get some for the elite warriors of Amazon Lily!
Hancock was already taken care of—she had formed a contract with Kaito long ago and was deeply infatuated with him. Given their close relationship, Shakky didn't need to worry about Hancock getting a Devil Fruit.
But Amazon Lily needed more strong warriors for the battles ahead.
In fact, Shakky was already thinking about how to get the entire island to glorify Kaito, ensuring they met the requirements to form contracts with him.
The best outcome would be for all of Amazon Lily to become his contracted followers.
That way, the island would gain a significant advantage and become incredibly powerful in the future.
"Alright then, I'm off!"
Rayleigh nodded, and in the next moment, he vanished from the bar.
— — —
Meanwhile, aboard Kaito's ship…
"Whoa! The view down here is amazing! So many strange and exotic fish, even Sea Kings!"
"This is way more beautiful than the seas of the Ninja World!" Kaito marveled at the underwater scenery outside the ship's coating.
"Agreed!"
Hatake Sakumo and the First Hokage both nodded in approval.
The flora and fauna of the One Piece (Pirate) world were indeed much richer and more diverse than those of the Ninja World.
"Hey, why don't we call Mito and the others to enjoy this rare sight too?" The First Hokage suddenly suggested.
"Great idea!"
Kaito's eyes lit up at the suggestion. He immediately used the communication space to send a message to Uzumaki Mito, Uchiha Naori, Kushina, Mikoto, Minato, Kuina, Nami, and others.
Before long, they all teleported aboard the pirate ship.
"Wow!!!"
Seeing the breathtaking underwater scenery beyond the ship's coating, everyone gasped in amazement.
After a while, Uchiha Naori asked, "So, you're heading to Fish-Man Island?"
"Yeah!"
Kaito nodded. "I just formed contracts with Rayleigh and Shakky and asked them to gather materials to replicate the Human-Human Fruit."
"Oh, and I also resurrected Gol D. Roger!"
"Now that everything here is taken care of, it's time to head to the New World!"
"Oh?"
Uchiha Naori raised an eyebrow. "You actually revived Roger? That's interesting. But will he really listen to you? Would he even agree to a contract?"
People like him were probably as stubborn as Uchiha Madara.
"Of course!"
Kaito nodded confidently and explained his plan to win Roger over.
He added, "Besides, I plan to revive Roger's wife, Rouge. Between that and my mentorship of Ace, I'm not worried about Roger's loyalty. He'll definitely form a contract with me."
He had already laid out the perfect strategy.
"Sounds good!"
Uchiha Naori nodded in satisfaction.
— — —
Half a day later…
Sailing with the currents, Kaito and his crew finally arrived at Fish-Man Island.
"That flag… It's the Uchiha Pirates! Quick! Notify King Neptune! We need instructions on how to respond!"
The guards at Fish-Man Island's entrance were stunned to see the familiar flag and quickly relayed the news.
Kaito and his crew saw the commotion but didn't pay much attention. They simply sailed through the checkpoint and docked at one of Fish-Man Island's harbors.
At the same time, Neptune and Queen Otohime had already received word of the Uchiha Pirates' arrival. They hurriedly made their way toward the port, instructing the guards to ask Kaito and his crew to wait for them.
The guards obeyed and approached Kaito's ship. "King Neptune asks you to wait for a moment. He will be here shortly."
"Understood! We'll wait."
Kaito and his crew exchanged glances before responding to the guard.
Since they were in someone else's territory, it was only polite to comply.
Besides, Fish-Man Island played a key role in Kaito's long-term plans.
Not to mention Princess Shirahoshi's immense strategic value as Poseidon, the island itself held great importance.
If properly developed, it could become a vital stronghold for them.
— — —
Half an hour later…
Neptune, accompanied by Queen Otohime and their eldest son, arrived at the checkpoint and finally met Kaito's crew.
After a brief conversation confirming that the Uchiha Pirates meant no harm and were simply passing through before heading to the New World, Neptune breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, he extended an invitation. "Since you have come to Fish-Man Island, as the host, I must extend my hospitality. Would you be willing to join me at Ryugu Palace for a banquet?"
Neptune was well aware of the Uchiha Pirates' reputation. Unlike most pirate crews, they weren't known for pillaging or senseless destruction. On the contrary, they actively fought against evil pirates.
From this brief interaction, he could tell these people were different, so he extended the invitation.
Fish-Man Island's situation was precarious, so forming a relationship with such a strong and promising crew was a worthwhile move.
If they could establish a bond of trust, Fish-Man Island might have powerful allies to rely on in times of trouble.
.
.
.