The Battle of Impel Down was over.
Uchiha Chiyu's name shook the world to its core.
He'd done the unthinkable—
Not only did he rescue Smoker, but he completely shattered the myth of the "impenetrable" underwater prison… and practically tore the whole place apart.
In the aftermath, both the Navy and the World Government became an international joke.
Chiyu had played them like fools—and thanks to the involvement of the Whitebeard Pirates, every Marine at Marineford lost face.
Akainu came back with absolutely nothing to show for it.
He failed to kill Chiyu and ended up looking like a complete joke.
Of course, the Navy and the World Government weren't going to take that lying down.
They immediately launched a new plan.
…
Meanwhile, on an island in the New World…
Edward Newgate, the man known as Whitebeard and the strongest in the world, sat listening to his crew's report.
He was massive, muscular, and imposing. That signature crescent mustache was as pristine as ever, radiating authority.
But he was old now. His body carried who-knows-how-many illnesses.
Still, no one ruled the second half of the Grand Line—the New World—like he did.
"Oh yeah?"
He gulped from a massive bowl of sake and burst into laughter.
"So the Navy really got played like that? Gurararara!"
The young man next to him smiled too.
"Kind of satisfying, isn't it? Though without Chiyu pulling all the strings, the Navy probably wouldn't have been duped so easily."
"Pops, you did help him out. Now he owes you big time."
Whitebeard let out another booming laugh.
"Uchiha Chiyu, huh? He's a fascinating one…"
"He hates pirates with a passion—swore he'd wipe us all out. Technically, we're enemies. But I can't say I dislike him."
Marco the Phoenix, First Division Commander, chuckled lazily.
He got what Whitebeard meant. If Pops didn't respect Chiyu, he wouldn't have lifted a finger.
Not even for Jinbe.
When Whitebeard wanted something, nothing could stop him.
When he didn't, no one could make him do it.
"Hey Ace, what do you think?"
"He's from East Blue too, right? Your home turf?"
Marco turned to Portgas D. Ace, the new recruit.
Ace had mysterious origins and insane power—he'd fought Jinbe to a standstill for seven days before challenging Whitebeard directly (and losing).
But Whitebeard didn't punish him—instead, he welcomed him as family and made him Second Division Commander.
A massive honor. And the crew respected it, because Ace truly had the power and presence to back it up.
Ace adjusted his hat and grinned.
"Chiyu, huh? When he was clearing out East Blue, I'd just started out. Never ran into him."
"Kinda a shame. Would've liked to meet him."
Marco joked, "If you had, he might've tried to take your head."
Ace just smirked. "That'd be fine. I'd love to see how strong he really is."
Blackbeard (Teach) let out a laugh.
"If that happened, you might've never made it to our crew!"
Ace frowned. "What's that supposed to mean, Teach?"
"You think I couldn't handle him?"
Teach chuckled. "Who knows?"
Whitebeard waved a hand. "Alright, alright, enough. That man's no pushover."
"Other than that bastard Golden Lion, no one's ever broken someone out of Impel Down… And Chiyu went further—he blew the place apart."
Just then—
"Pops! Jinbe's here!"
Whitebeard perked up. "Oh? Bring him in!"
Jinbe, the Sea Knight, strode in and bowed deeply.
"Pops, thank you for helping me out."
Whitebeard waved it off.
Jinbe nodded to Marco, Ace, and the others in greeting.
Ace raised an eyebrow. "For you to personally ask Pops for help… that guy must be pretty important to you."
Jinbe sighed.
"I owe him a debt I'll never repay…"
Marco said, "It's about the Mermaid Princess, right?"
"I heard she's awakened her powers—and that makes her the ancient weapon, Poseidon?"
Jinbe hesitated, then nodded.
"Yeah. The rumor's out, but Fish-Man Island's been staying quiet. No confirmation. No denial."
Marco smirked. "Keeping it vague to scare the World Government while staying off their radar. Smart."
"Exactly."
"But let's not get off track. Pops helped a lot this time, and now Chiyu owes him big."
Whitebeard shook his head.
"I helped because I wanted to. He doesn't owe me anything."
"But let's be real—he's not the kind to carry favors."
"And even if he pays that debt back… he might still come for my life."
"He's that kind of guy. Obsessive. Extreme."
Whitebeard laughed again.
"Isn't that what makes it fun?"
"This sea's been boring for way too long."
"We need fresh blood. We old folks shouldn't hog the spotlight forever."
Ace caught the tone and frowned.
"Pops… you're not saying—?"
Whitebeard waved him off.
"I'm just saying… everyone gets old. Pirate Kings, Emperors, Admirals, even those damn Celestial Dragons. No one escapes time."
Everyone exchanged looks.
That sounded a lot like… retirement talk.
Marco and the others glanced at Ace.
They could tell Pops was seriously looking at him as the next generation.
Jinbe, staying respectful, just said, "Take care of your health, Pops."
Whitebeard moved the conversation back.
"That guy—Chiyu—now that he's back in the New World, he's bound to challenge one of the Four Emperors."
"Guess who?"
Marco said, "Tough call. But he's already pissed off two: Kaido and Big Mom."
"He killed Doflamingo, destroyed Kaido's SMILE factory, killed Caesar Clown, and wrecked a ton of Big Mom's business."
"They're not letting that slide."
"As for Red-Haired Shanks…"
Ace added, "I heard Chiyu clashed with him in East Blue—over a pirate named Buggy the Clown."
"Buggy ended up dead."
Whitebeard raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? He killed Buggy in front of Shanks? No way Shanks lets that slide."
"They were both apprentices on Roger's ship, right?"
Jinbe looked uneasy.
"So that's three Emperors already."
"When Chiyu shows up in the New World… he's going to be enemy number one."
Whitebeard eyed him. "You sure do care a lot about him."
"Thinking of switching sides?"
Jinbe quickly waved his hands. "No way! Fish-Man Island survives under your protection, Pops."
"But you know me—I repay what I owe. I can't turn my back on him either."
Whitebeard laughed. "Relax, I know you."
"Just messin' with you."
"But…"
"Even with Zephyr and Smoker backing him, Chiyu's nowhere near strong enough to take on a Yonko crew."
"Not ours. Not anyone's."
Everyone nodded.
Jinbe sighed. "Either way, the world's about to change."
Whitebeard grinned. "Let him come, then."
"I wanna see the true New World before I die."
…
Grand Line – New World
Chiyu's crew had crossed the Red Line again.
Back on track.
Hina, Nami, and the others were thrilled to see Chiyu return safely.
With Smoker and Tashigi officially joining, their strength had grown again.
They now had a loyal following.
Only downside? Their battleship couldn't cross the Red Line. They had to leave it behind.
Smoker, after everything, was still processing it all.
But staring out at the vast New World, he knew—
This was just the beginning.
"Chiyu," he said, "to survive here, we'll have to challenge a Yonko and take their place."
"Which one do you plan to go after?"
Chiyu answered calmly, "I don't think it's up to us anymore."
"The one who wants us dead the most is probably… Kaido."
Everyone nodded.
Killing Caesar and Doflamingo had cost Kaido major resources and wealth.
He wouldn't forgive that.
Zephyr cut in, "The Yonko aren't the real threat."
"It's the World Government."
"Chiyu—you killed a Celestial Dragon. You destroyed Impel Down. You've become the one they hate most, even more than the Four Emperors."
"I guarantee something terrifying is coming."
Just then—
Tashigi rushed in, breathless.
"Chiyu-sama! Smoker-sama! We just got a Den Den Mushi transmission—"
"It's the new bounty posters!"
Even though they'd left the Navy, they still had insiders. And this kind of intel came fast.
Everyone crowded in.
Nami grabbed the stack with eager hands.
"Wonder how much Chiyu-sama's bounty jumped…"
She pulled his poster from the bottom—froze—and gasped.
"Th-this is…"
"Three BILLION Berries?!"
Everyone was stunned.
Zephyr said quietly, "Three billion…"
"Chiyu… you're now the most wanted man alive outside the Four Emperors."
"And unlike them, whose bounties reflect massive organizations… you earned that alone."
"The Navy and World Government clearly want your head—no matter the cost."
Hina read the rest.
"Zephyr-sensei—two billion!"
Zephyr laughed. "Guess I'm a full-blown pirate now, huh? Not bad!"
She continued down the list:
Smoker – 800 million
Hina – 780 million
"Wait, why am I lower than him?!"
Smoker puffed his cigar. "You didn't break into Impel Down."
"…Fair."
Blade – 250 million
Box – 180 million
Barbara – 150 million
Franky – 120 million
Nami – 50 million
"YES!" Nami beamed. "Big upgrade!"
Shuzo – 200 million
Ain – 220 million
Binz – 160 million
Baby 5 – 230 million
She smiled. "Guess I'm officially part of the team."
She'd fought hard in Impel Down. No one questioned her place.
Hina did the math.
"All together, we're over 8 billion Berries."
"That's Yonko-level."
Chiyu spoke calmly:
"But we're not pirates. And we never will be."
"Even with these bounties, we're still a long way from defeating a Yonko crew."
He wasn't being modest. Just honest.
He knew how terrifying a Yonko really was.
Take Kaido—his own power, the Three Calamities, Flying Six, the Numbers, the Gifters, the Headliners…
He had an entire army of monsters.
And he ruled Wano—a titan among nations.
Compared to that?
They were still ten, maybe a hundred times weaker.
But Chiyu wasn't reckless.
He already had a plan.
And it was brilliant.
~~~
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