Whitebeard's words hit Chiyu harder than he expected.
From a strategic standpoint, it made no sense.
Risking the entire Whitebeard Pirates for one person? That was practically a death sentence.
No true tactician would ever make such a reckless move.
But Edward Newgate—Whitebeard—wasn't that kind of man.
He had unmatched power and influence.
But what he truly cared about… was family.
He saw his crew as sons.
What he wanted wasn't dominance—it was connection, trust, the warmth of belonging.
Risking everything for just one person? Foolish.
But risking everything for family? That's different. That's what family does.
Chiyu sighed. Just like everything else up until now, maybe some things are simply inevitable.
"All right," he said. "If you're really prepared to deal with the losses and fallout… then let's do this together."
Whitebeard gave a faint smile.
"Uchiha Chiyu, you've been talking about what I'm willing to do. What about you?"
"You broke into Impel Down just to rescue Smoker. Now you're heading to Marineford to go toe-to-toe with the entire Navy for Zephyr. Don't tell me you haven't thought this through?"
"I have," Chiyu replied coolly.
"Why else would I go as far as owing you a favor—just to avoid clashing with Akainu and potentially jeopardizing Smoker's escape?"
Whitebeard understood immediately.
To someone like Chiyu, owing a debt was worse than death.
And yet, for Smoker, he swallowed his pride.
It meant that for the sake of his goal, Chiyu was even willing to give up his dignity.
Whitebeard couldn't help but respect him more.
"You've made a name for yourself fast—burning like wildfire. People call you cold and ruthless, yet you'll go all in for your crew and your friends. They say you're a killer, but everything you do ends up saving lives. You're a walking contradiction, you know that?"
Chiyu's response was simple.
"I kill to save. I want to wipe this world clean. If I can eliminate every evil out there, then a new world will rise."
Whitebeard stared into the distance, almost wistful.
"A new world, huh…? Can't say I'll live long enough to see it. But I've lived a hell of a life. That's enough for me."
They hadn't spoken much, but every word they traded cut to the core.
In no time, they understood each other—where they stood, and where they wanted the world to go.
Jinbe exhaled. He knew both their temperaments.
To see them negotiate so peacefully was more than he could've hoped for.
"All right then," Whitebeard said, standing tall. "Time to prepare for battle! Chiyu—what's your move?"
"Let's be honest," Chiyu replied. "You guys are the main force. Sixteen divisions, forty-three allied pirate crews—over fifty thousand strong. You're the strongest force in the world, aside from the World Government."
"We'll support. My army's grown fast, but we're not at your level yet."
Whitebeard laughed. "Straight shooter! I like that.
In that case, here's our plan."
"Marineford's front will be a fortress. A direct assault plays into the Navy's strengths. So we'll coat our ships and dive deep. We'll surface from the ocean floor—right in the middle of their formation—and catch them completely off guard."
Chiyu already knew the plan, but frowned anyway.
"Isn't that basically walking into a trap?"
Whitebeard laughed again.
"Sometimes the line between 'surprise attack' and 'suicide mission' is razor-thin. Whether we're hunters or prey depends on how well we execute."
Chiyu nodded. "Even so, there's still a chance the Navy detects your approach from the deep sea… So how about this—we'll launch a direct frontal assault and draw their attention. That'll keep them from spotting you."
Whitebeard was surprised. "You're really willing to do that?"
It was a clever strategy.
But charging head-on meant Chiyu and his men would be the first to take the full force of the Navy's attack.
The casualties would be heavy.
"There's no war without bloodshed," Chiyu said.
"I'm a pragmatist. Your side is stronger, so you lead. We'll be the bait."
"And whatever we lose along the way—that's on me."
"Like you said—hunter or hunted depends on the strategy."
Whitebeard nodded, a grin spreading across his face.
"Didn't expect to find someone like you among the young."
"If you survive this… I wouldn't be surprised if you flipped the whole world on its head someday."
Jinbe and Smoker exchanged looks.
It really felt like the old era was handing the torch to the new.
Whitebeard rose—still towering like a mountain.
"All right, Uchiha Chiyu. I'll see you again… on the battlefield at Marineford."
Chiyu nodded. The two of them slammed their palms together in a powerful handshake—equal parts promise and challenge.
Whitebeard suddenly unleashed a portion of his monstrous power—and the ground of Dressrosa shook violently under the pressure.
Chiyu wasn't one to back down. He released his own Conqueror's Haki.
Their energies clashed, black lightning crackling through the sky, splitting clouds and shaking the heavens.
Jinbe, Smoker, King Riku—they all froze, stunned.
"Th-That's…"
A collision of Conqueror's Haki.
The air exploded with black lightning, tearing across the land, knocking out weaker soldiers instantly.
The sky darkened with swirling, torn black clouds.
BOOM—
BOOM!!!
This was the power of kings.
Neither side gave an inch.
Whitebeard laughed, pulled his aura back, and strode away.
Jinbe followed, nodding one last time to Chiyu.
"Stay sharp, Chiyu-sama."
"Yeah." Chiyu let out a breath.
Whitebeard might be older, weaker than his prime—but he was still a monster.
Smoker stood in awe.
"No wonder they call him the strongest man in the world… But for you to hold your ground against him? You're already at the top."
Chiyu shook his head.
"He's weaker than he used to be. And…"
"He wasn't going all out."
Still, because of Chiyu's involvement, this war was breaking out years earlier than in the original timeline.
Even though Whitebeard was sick, he was still far stronger than he'd been at Marineford in the original history.
And those extra two or three years? They made a massive difference.
When you're sick and aging, time works against you fast.
But rewind the clock… and Whitebeard was a completely different beast.
…
After leaving Dressrosa, Chiyu and Smoker returned to Raijin Island—their main base.
Once back, Chiyu immediately gathered everyone and laid out the battle plan.
The army didn't hesitate. They moved fast.
Right now, under Chiyu's command, there were five captured Navy battleships—plus the custom-built warship "War God" constructed by Franky himself.
Six ships total.
Roughly ten thousand soldiers.
The alliance with Whitebeard was locked in, and Chiyu wasn't about to hesitate.
Their mission: a direct assault.
Marineford was located on the Red Line, but on the other side—facing the first half of the Grand Line.
Which meant… to get there, they had to head back through the first half of the Grand Line.
And just like Whitebeard's fleet, Chiyu's army had only one path: through Fish-Man Island, ten thousand meters below the sea.
Luckily, Fish-Man Island held both men in high regard.
They welcomed them without resistance.
Princess Shirahoshi even summoned the Sea Kings to escort them safely through the depths.
Officially, the island didn't dare get involved in the Paramount War.
But helping from within their own territory? The Navy couldn't stop that.
Especially not with Shirahoshi—the Sea King herself—involved.
If the Navy tried to start anything at those depths, they'd just be throwing themselves into a watery grave.
No one could stand against that many Sea Kings.
Chiyu's fleet successfully returned to the first half of the Grand Line.
But he didn't bring everyone forward.
He left Hina in charge of base defense.
As for Nami and the younger recruits—he strictly forbade them from joining the fight.
Chiyu's own warship advanced first toward the Sabaody Archipelago.
More specifically, he landed there alone.
He didn't want to alert the Navy by moving in force.
After all, Sabaody was basically Marineford's backyard—crawling with Navy presence, and even Celestial Dragons.
Chiyu had killed one of those so-called "gods" here before. He was still one of the Navy's top targets.
So this time, he moved with caution.
To gather intel, he returned to Shakky's Rip-Off Bar.
The moment she saw him, Shakky flashed a bright, knowing smile.
"Well now… but I should tell you, Rayleigh's not here."
Chiyu raised an eyebrow.
"That so? Guess I've got great timing—missed him last time too."
Shakky chuckled.
"He's gone to help Boa Hancock."
Chiyu's eyes narrowed.
Boa Hancock…
Of course.
He remembered the original timeline—Rayleigh was her benefactor.
With the Seven Warlords abolished, the Navy had likely moved to capture her.
So Rayleigh stepped in.
That meant Amazon Lily was probably holding its own right now too.
Shakky clearly read his thoughts.
She smirked.
"That old man's impossible to predict," she said.
"But he does like you. If you could convince both him and Amazon Lily to join your cause… you'd have enough power to go toe-to-toe with the Four Emperors."
Chiyu shook his head.
That was a fantasy.
Rayleigh had retired from the world. He lived a quiet life now.
Even if he stepped in to save Hancock, it didn't mean he'd sign up for someone else's war.
And besides…
Rayleigh and Hancock were still pirates.
And Chiyu had his own path.
"What's the situation at Marineford?" he asked.
Shakky let out a long sigh.
"They've set a trap the size of the damn ocean, all to catch you and Whitebeard at the same time."
"It's something else… Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Vice Admiral Garp. Strategist Tsuru. All three Admirals—Akainu, Kizaru, Aokiji. Dozens of Vice Admirals. And one hundred thousand elite Navy troops, all fully armed, waiting for you both to walk right into it."
"Honestly? Even the strongest version of the Whitebeard Pirates wouldn't stand a chance.
And even with you? It's not looking good."
Chiyu nodded.
"I know… but…"
"Some things… just have to be done."
And with that, he turned and walked out.
Shakky watched him go, shaking her head with a smile.
"Stubborn man… But I gotta say… I like that."
Back on his warship, Chiyu gave the command—
Full speed ahead to Marineford.
…
Meanwhile… Marineford
Just like Shakky described, Fleet Admiral Sengoku had Marineford locked down tight.
On the towering execution platform stood two figures:
Black Arm Zephyr
Fire Fist Ace
Both were shackled in sea prism cuffs, unable to move an inch.
They weren't alone.
Guarding them—alongside the executioners—was a grizzled old man who looked more like a stubborn grandpa than a soldier.
Vice Admiral Garp. The Navy's living legend.
Zephyr sneered.
"Garp. Still pretending you don't see how rotten the World Government is?"
"You know they're the Celestial Dragons' lapdogs, and yet here you are—eating their scraps, letting them leash you, siccing you on others like some attack dog."
Garp burst out laughing.
"Zephyr, spare me the lecture. I don't care what you think."
"Sure, the Navy's got rot. The World Government's full of it. But you think pirates are any cleaner?"
"The world's a mess. No argument there.
But blowing it all up? That's not justice. That's madness."
"You're the real lunatic here!"
Ace, still chained beside him, said quietly:
"Gramps… I actually think Zephyr makes sense."
"You've lived most of your life already. Don't you think it's time you followed your own will?"
Garp ignored Zephyr's sarcasm. But hearing that from Ace?
BANG.
He slammed a fist down on Ace's head.
"You little brat! That's how you talk to your grandfather?!"
"And what the hell do you mean by 'follow my own will'? I've always done what I wanted!"
"You think running off to become a pirate with that old bastard Whitebeard was a good idea?
And Luffy—damn kid followed that red-haired idiot and went to sea too…"
Ace's eyes widened.
"Luffy… He set sail?"
"Yeah. Probably heard you got captured.
But don't expect him to show up here—he just entered the Grand Line."
Garp let out a deep sigh.
"Why do you have to be so damn stubborn?
If you'd just surrender, I could keep you alive.
Worst case, I'd get you locked in Impel Down.
At least then, you'd have a chance to see Luffy again…"
Ace laughed.
"Even if it costs me my life, I'm not backing down.
Same as you, old man."
"As for Luffy… Yeah, he'll cry when he hears I died as a pirate. But he'll respect me for sticking to my path."
"If I surrendered… that's when he'd start to look down on me."
Garp's face twitched.
"You little idiot…!"