Magellan was visibly stunned by Smoker's response.
"You really believe that?"
Smoker exhaled slowly.
"Meet him once, and you'll get it."
"When that guy decides to do something, nobody—and I mean nobody—can stop him."
"Not even me, and I consider myself a friend."
"And you? You've got no chance."
"Admirals, Fleet Admirals, Navy, the World Government—none of it matters to him. It's all the same in his eyes."
Magellan went quiet.
"But this isn't just any place," he muttered. "This is Impel Down. You can't just break in by force."
"If he sneaks in alone, it's suicide.
Let's be real—even here, I'm the one in control."
"Even Sakazuki, Akainu himself, has decided to step in personally…"
"You seriously think he can take on the two of us?"
Smoker let out a sharp laugh.
"You still don't get it, Magellan…"
"It's not just you and Akainu. Even if all three admirals showed up—even if the Five Elders themselves took action—if Uchiha Chiyu sets his mind to something, there's no stopping him."
"This isn't about power. It's about will."
Behind them, Vice Warden Hannyabal sneered.
"Smoker, what's the point of all that talk? The moment that guy sets foot in here, he's dead." cough cough "Actually, why not let me catch him? Might even get me promoted to Chief Warden!"
Magellan shot him a glare.
"You? Don't be ridiculous."
Hannyabal quickly backtracked.
"Heh—just kidding, just kidding…"
Magellan was about to speak again when his face suddenly twisted in pain.
"Crap. I need to—"
"To the bathroom!"
He rushed out without another word.
Smoker rubbed his temple.
Yeah, that was Magellan for you. The Venom-Venom Fruit gave him insane power, but also came with brutal side effects. Constant stomach problems were just part of the deal.
Most of his day was spent on the toilet.
Watching him leave, Hannyabal sidled up to Smoker with a greasy grin.
"Smoker, how about a deal?"
"Help me take down Uchiha Chiyu. I can't set you free, but I can sneak you into a more comfortable cell... You get a better stay, I get a promotion. Win-win, yeah?"
Smoker didn't even look at him. He walked back to the corner, sat down, and closed his eyes.
Hannyabal scoffed and turned to leave.
"Fine! Rot in here then!"
Smoker sat silently, eyes shut, lost in thought.
"Uchiha Chiyu… whatever you're planning, don't do anything reckless…"
…
Out at sea...
Black Arm Zephyr and Chiyu stood side by side on the deck, gazing at the vast ocean.
"Uchiha Chiyu," Zephyr said, "I'll be honest, nothing would make me happier than storming Impel Down with you and tearing the place apart."
"But we're already in the New World—the second half of the Grand Line. If we want to hit the prison, we'd need to double back."
Chiyu nodded. He understood.
Impel Down, Enies Lobby, Marineford—all in the first half of the Grand Line.
Surrounded by unique currents, forming a strategic triangle.
Zephyr grinned.
"No matter how wild we are, trying to cross Marineford and go over the Red Line is a death sentence."
"Only one real option—go back through Fish-Man Island, dive 10,000 meters, and sneak in from below."
Chiyu agreed.
"Yeah, that's the only way."
Zephyr laughed.
"Lucky for us, we've got a coating craftsman onboard. But the Navy isn't dumb—they'll guess our route. Fish-Man Island's not exactly gonna be safe…"
"If I were Sakazuki, I'd set up a trap there right away."
Chiyu said, calmly, "We are going back—but not all of us."
Zephyr frowned.
"You mean…"
Chiyu explained.
"Impel Down isn't an island. Doesn't matter how strong our warships are, we're not breaking in head-on."
"That means infiltration's our only option. Which also means our fleet and crew won't be much help."
Zephyr understood immediately.
"You want the rest to stay here in the New World."
"Just the two of us head in?"
"Exactly."
The crew erupted.
"NO WAY!"
"Chiyu-sama, that's insane!"
"Zephyr-sensei, this is a suicide mission!"
But Zephyr thought it through—and nodded.
"Chiyu's right. Four warships are too conspicuous. The Navy will be watching."
"But two guys? That's a small enough target."
Ain looked worried.
"But Impel Down is insanely dangerous… no one's escaped in 800 years…"
Zephyr chuckled.
"Not true. Golden Lion Shiki escaped—and that lunatic pulled it off alone."
Ain frowned.
"That doesn't matter! Even Akainu is going there in person!"
"You think I'd lose to him?" Zephyr asked with a smirk.
Ain bit her lip. Her teacher was old, over seventy, missing an arm… no Devil Fruit.
And Akainu? He was in his prime. Not a fair fight.
Not to mention: Magellan, a full Navy defense force, traps everywhere…
Zephyr waved it off.
"I may be old, but I've still got fight in me. And Chiyu's with me, isn't he?"
Hina stepped forward.
"Chiyu-sama, Ain's right. It's too risky. Let me go with you. Smoker's my friend too."
Chiyu shook his head.
"If you go, who protects the Uchiha? The ship needs you."
Hina hesitated… but she knew he was right.
Franky raised his hand.
"Then take me! I've been itching to raise hell down there anyway!"
Chiyu shook his head again.
"You're too important. Your connection to Pluton makes you a walking target."
Franky sighed, remembering Tom's words.
Nami opened her mouth—
"No."
Chiyu didn't even let her finish.
Tears welled in her eyes, but Chiyu was firm. He'd never let a kid walk into that hell.
Zephyr sighed.
"Alright, how about this—we each bring one backup. Just in case."
Chiyu paused, then nodded.
"Alright."
Zephyr looked at his students.
"Ain, Binz—you two stay."
"Shuzo, you're coming with me."
"Yes, Sensei!"
Chiyu turned to Blade.
"You're with me."
Blade lit up like a firework.
"Yes, sir!"
Chiyu chose him for a reason—elite Armament Haki, no Devil Fruit, no Sea-Prism weakness.
With the team decided, Chiyu ordered the Uchiha to head for the Red Line.
Zephyr was confused.
"Shouldn't we be heading for Fish-Man Island?"
"No," Chiyu replied.
"We're not taking that route."
Everyone was stunned.
"You're not… crossing Marineford, are you? That's suicide!"
"Nope. Not Marineford. Not Fish-Man Island."
"Then… where?!"
"The Red Line."
Silence. Then shock.
Zephyr squinted.
"You mean... climb it? Straight up?"
Chiyu nodded.
"Exactly."
Ain gasped.
"Can that even be done?!"
Zephyr stroked his chin.
"Fisher Tiger did it once. Climbed the Red Line, broke into Mary Geoise, freed the slaves. If he did it, we can too. But..."
"But what?"
Zephyr sighed.
"The Red Line hides a lot of secrets… like the Lunarians, the so-called 'God Race'…"
Chiyu already knew.
Once, the Lunarians lived atop the Red Line. Now, nearly extinct. Kaido's top man, King, was their last survivor. Their homeland? Destroyed—by the World Government. No one was allowed to live there anymore.
It was all connected to the Celestial Dragons.
Chiyu nodded.
"Most of the Red Line is impossible to cross. But with just a few of us, we can make it."
"I see," Zephyr said. "Let's do it."
With Chiyu's command, the Uchiha and Zephyr's warship turned back, heading straight for the towering Red Line.
After days at sea, they finally arrived.
What they saw wasn't a continent—it was a wall of mountains, soaring into the clouds, plunging into the ocean. An endless, impassable barrier.
To most. But not to Chiyu.
Blade looked nervous.
"Chiyu-sama, I can probably climb it… but it'll take a while…"
"I don't want to hold you back."
Chiyu smiled.
"No need. I'll carry you—like lightning."
Zephyr glanced at Shuzo.
"And us? Old bones don't fly."
"I'll take you both too."
"You're going to carry three people?!"
Chiyu smiled again. Then—Shadow Clone Jutsu. Three Chiyus appeared.
He hadn't used ninjutsu in a while. It felt good.
Zephyr's jaw dropped.
"What kind of power is that?!"
Chiyu didn't explain.
His original and two clones each grabbed a person, then all three exploded into lightning bolts, rocketing skyward past the clouds—gone in a flash.
Back on the ship…
Hina sighed, hands clasped.
"Please be safe, Chiyu-sama. Smoker…"
Nami stared at the sky.
"I just wish… someone else could help them…"
Suddenly, a voice spoke from behind them.
"If you let me out, I can help."
They turned. It was the prisoner they'd captured in Dressrosa—
Baby 5, the Weapon-Weapon Fruit user.
"You?!"
"You think we'll fall for that? Don't be ridiculous!"
Baby 5 looked serious.
"I mean it. I can't just sit here watching you all so worried. And that little girl said it—'If only we had more help.' So I spoke up."
Nami snapped.
"Who would believe you?!"
But Franky and Hina exchanged a look.
"We believe her."
Nami was speechless.
"Wait—what?! Have you lost your minds?! She worked for Doflamingo!"
Hina replied calmly.
"Franky saw what happened when we caught her. That'll explain it."
Franky grinned.
"I told her to surrender—and she just did. This woman's got some serious issues, hahaha!"
Nami facepalmed.
"You're one to talk!"
Hina actually unlocked her cell and set her free.
"We need your help, Baby 5."
Baby 5 lit up.
"Yes! I understand!"
Half of her transformed into a missile—and she launched herself straight at the Red Line.
Nami stared, speechless.
"…I honestly don't even know what to say anymore."
~~~
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