Chapter 102: Panel Review!
[The Pola - Dining Hall]
The epic duel between the Captain and the Ninja God had concluded, leaving the turbulent seas of the New World eerily calm and the sky above devoid of clouds.
Inside the dining hall of the heavy cruiser Pola, the atmosphere had shifted dramatically—from the suffocating tension of a standoff to the warm, chaotic, and surprisingly loud domesticity of a family meal.
Before the leftovers from the first breakfast could even be cleared by the diligent maids, Suzaku once again sat down grandly at the head of the long mahogany table. He slumped into the high-backed chair, his stomach growling with a ferocity that rivaled the ship's engines.
He couldn't help it.
Earlier, he had been too engrossed in admiring the astonishing appetites of the two big-eater girls, Akame and Pola. That scene was indeed pleasing to the eye—two cute girls destroying a mountain of meat with the efficiency of industrial shredders. But the problem was, he hadn't eaten much himself before Madara had dragged him off to "stretch his muscles" and split the heavens.
Fighting a legend burns calories. A lot of them. His body, enhanced by the Vermillion Bird bloodline, demanded fuel to replenish the massive energy expenditure of using high-level Haki and flames. Every cell in his body was screaming for protein.
"Rem, Ram," Suzaku called out, leaning lazily against the chair back. He waved a silver fork in the air like a baton. "Please bring out another round. I'm starving! Prepare for Second Breakfast! Make it heavy on the meat!"
"Understood, Suzaku-kun," Rem's sweet voice floated from the kitchen, followed by the clatter of pans and the sizzle of fresh ingredients hitting a hot griddle.
No sooner had he spoken than a furtive gaze shot over from the corner of the dining room doorway.
Peek.
Akame hid herself behind the wall, only peeking out half her body.
Beneath her smooth, jet-black hair, her clear, large crimson eyes were staring intently at Suzaku. Or rather, they were staring past him, fixated on the empty plate in front of him with a longing that bordered on spiritual.
She looked exactly like a sneaky, peeping cat meme. Her hands were clutching the doorframe, her knuckles white. She had already eaten enough to feed a squad of Marines, but for an assassin with a high metabolism and a history of food insecurity, hunger was a constant companion.
Suzaku almost burst out laughing at the sight. He waved in her direction.
"Alright, stop observing in secret with those big eyes! You're an assassin, not a stalker."
He teased good-naturedly, his voice warm.
"If you want to eat, just come over and sit down openly. By the way, if I'm not mistaken, at least seventy percent of that first table was devoured by you and Pola, right? I'm amazed you can still eat! Do you have a black hole in your stomach? Or is it a Teigu ability?"
Akame's small, delicate face flushed slightly. She pouted a bit in embarrassment, her stoic mask slipping for a second. But she didn't refute him. Logic dictated that food was fuel, and she needed fuel to be an effective weapon.
Her gaze was immediately drawn away from Suzaku to the steaming trays in the hands of Rem and Ram, who were now emerging from the kitchen like valkyries of sustenance.
They carried majestic platters of grilled Sea King steaks, miso soup, steaming white rice, and fresh sausages that snapped with flavor.
Akame moved. It wasn't a walk; it was a tactical advance. She slid into the seat next to Suzaku silently, picking up her chopsticks before her butt even hit the chair.
Suzaku didn't pay her any more mind. He picked up his own chopsticks.
He took a thick piece of grilled fish, dipped it in soy sauce, and put it in his mouth.
"Mmm..."
The texture was perfect—crispy skin, tender meat. The rich sauce exploded on his tongue.
"This is great," he sighed, narrowing his eyes in bliss. "With Rem and Ram around, my quality of life has skyrocketed. Fighting Madara is worth it for this meal alone."
While enjoying the delicious food, Suzaku multitaskingly delved into his consciousness.
"System. Open Panel."
The translucent blue screen materialized in his mind's eye, overlaying the reality of the dining room. It was time to check the data of his new, terrifying companions. He needed to understand their capabilities down to the smallest detail to integrate them into his strategy for the New World.
First, the black-haired beauty next to him.
[Subordinate: Akame]
[Origin: Akame ga Kill!]
[Constitution: Elite-Tier]
(Description: A killer's physique honed by the Empire's cruel training. Possesses superhuman endurance, flexibility, and explosiveness. She can dodge bullets and lightning. However, her physical defense is average; she relies on dodging rather than tanking damage. If she gets hit by a Haki punch, she will break.)
[Haki Status]
Armament: Beginner-Tier (Just awakened due to System bond).
Observation: High-Tier (Specialization: Killing Intent Perception).
(Note: Can clearly perceive surrounding killing intent, malice, and hostility over a very wide range. A perfect anti-ambush radar. She can sense a sniper aiming at her from kilometers away.)
Conqueror's: None.
[Skills]
Presence Concealment: Can actively eliminate or greatly reduce one's own presence. Can interfere with an enemy's Observation Haki perception to a certain extent. To a normal Haki user, she appears as a stone or a shadow.
Assassination Arts (Master): Silent movement, stealth, disguise, anatomy, and poisons.
Sword Art: Night Wind: A high-speed sword style that integrates assassination techniques. Focuses on vital points (neck, heart, arteries).
Forbidden Technique: Yaku Koji (Demon Enforcer): Greatly enhances physical abilities for a short period. Pupils turn crimson with black sclera. Speed and strength surge, but consumes stamina and life force.
[Weapon: Teigu - Murasame]
(Description: The One-Cut Killer. A demon katana coated in a cursed poison. Even a scratch induces a rule-level instant-death curse that stops the heart within seconds. Very few beings can resist it. NOTE: Logia users in elemental form are immune, but if cut in physical form (via Haki or Sea Stone), the curse applies.)
[Bond Level: Friendly]
(Note: Recognizes Suzaku as a trustworthy companion who provides "a home" and "food." Willing to fight to protect the crew.)
"Tsk," Suzaku evaluated in his mind, analyzing the data. "As expected, the panel data isn't particularly flashy in terms of raw stats compared to monsters like Madara or Albedo. Her durability is her weak point."
However, his gaze fell on "Murasame · One-Hit Kill".
"Rule-level instant death," Suzaku nodded knowingly. "That's the equalizer. In this world, where people survive getting punched through mountains or burned by magma, a sword that says 'you die if I cut you' is terrifying."
He glanced at Akame, who was happily chewing on a sausage.
"Against a brute like Kaido or Big Mom... physical damage might be shrugged off. But a curse that stops the heart? That ignores durability. If she can land a scratch... she can kill a Yonko."
Now, for the heavyweight.
Suzaku swiped the screen to the next profile. The air in his mind seemed to get heavier just looking at the stats.
[Subordinate: Uchiha Madara]
[Origin: Naruto (Warring States/Reanimated Prime)]
[Constitution: Legendary-Tier]
(Description: The body of an Asura incarnate. Immense chakra reserves, superhuman vitality, and battle adaptability. Can fight for days without rest.)
[Haki Status]
Armament: Top-Tier (Intuitive mastery of Chakra enhancement mimicking Ryou).
Observation: Top-Tier (Rinnegan/Sharingan Specialization).
Conqueror's: Top-Tier (Arrogance of a War God. His will can crush fleets).
[Skills]
Ninjutsu Master: Mastery of Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, Water, Yin, and Yang. His Fire Release is potent enough to burn water and counter Logia users (like Ace or Sabo).
Taijutsu (Uchiha Style): A fierce combat style integrating Haki and Chakra.
[Special Abilities: Dojutsu (Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan / Rinnegan)]
Genjutsu: A nightmare for those with weak wills. Can control Tailed Beasts (or Sea Kings/Zunesha). Even Haki users without strong mental barriers are vulnerable.
Perfect Susanoo: The ultimate defense and offense. A moving natural disaster capable of altering maps.
Limbo · Border Jail (Rinbo: Hengoku): Summons "shadows" in an invisible world that cannot be observed or attacked by conventional means. (Note: Requires Advanced Observation Haki/Future Sight to even sense).
Tengai Shinsei: Summons massive meteorites from the upper atmosphere for a map-wide wipe.
Preta Path: Absorption of energy/chakra/haki attacks.
Deva Path: Gravity manipulation (Chibaku Tensei).
[Weapon: Gunbai Uchiwa]
(Description: Uchiha ancestral war fan. Possesses the ability to reflect elemental and energy attacks (Uchiha Return).)
[Bond Level: Friendly (Rival)]
(Note: Recognizes Suzaku's potential and strength. Views him as a "collaborator" in achieving the goal of "Ideal World." Respects power above all else.)
"He's really strong...!"
Suzaku looked at the dazzlingly luxurious panel, his mouth twitching uncontrollably. The list of abilities was endless. Each one was a cheat code in itself.
In that battle just now, Madara indeed had fun. He used Majestic Destroyer Flame and Susanoo.
But looking at this list...
He held back.
He didn't use Limbo. Imagine fighting four invisible Madaras while dealing with the real one.
He didn't use Meteorites. That would have sunk the ship and the island.
He didn't use Genjutsu.
"This guy was indeed just testing my capacity," Suzaku thought to himself, taking a bite of rice to calm his excitement. "He wanted to see if I was qualified to lead. If I had been weak, he might have killed me and taken the ship to find his own way."
That's right. After all, it's Uchiha Madara. It would be abnormal for him to bow down easily.
With such a powerful, proud, and goal-sharing "companion," the future journey would certainly not be boring. The New World was about to get a lot more chaotic. With Albedo as the Shield, Ulquiorra as the Scout, Akame as the Assassin, and Madara as the War God... the Suzaku Pirates were ready for war.
When Suzaku snapped out of the system panel and looked up, he was instantly dumbfounded.
At some point, Akame and the ship girl Pola had already sat down on either side of the dining table again.
Their actions were remarkably consistent.
Chomp. Chew. Swallow.
Cheeks puffed out like two little hamsters preparing for winter. Each girl was clutching food—Akame a drumstick, Pola a sandwich. They hadn't even swallowed what was in their mouths, but their eyes were already fixed on the next dish on the platter, as if engaged in a silent, high-stakes eating competition.
"Mmph!" Akame signaled for the salt, her eyes serious.
"Mmh!" Pola passed it, not breaking eye contact with a ham.
"Alright, alright, eat slowly," Suzaku shook his head helplessly at these two uniquely styled foodies. "No one's snatching it from you two. Don't choke! We have a doctor shortage right now, and I don't want to perform the Heimlich maneuver on a ship girl."
After a while, the three satisfied individuals rubbed their bellies and walked out of the dining room onto the deck.
[The Deck of the Pola - Morning]
"Ah... feeling full and content," Suzaku stretched broadly, basking in the warm sunlight. The cool breeze of the New World felt refreshing against his skin. "I feel completely alive again! The weather today is truly wonderful! Not a cloud in the sky."
No sooner had he spoken than Rem appeared behind him, holding a freshly brewed cup of black tea on a silver tray. Her maid uniform was pristine, fluttering in the wind.
"Suzaku-sama," she said in her sweet, matter-of-fact voice.
"The reason the weather seems so good... is because the Conqueror's Haki collision between you and Madara-sama earlier physically dispersed all the storm clouds above this sea area for fifty miles."
"Ah? Is that so?"
Suzaku froze mid-stretch. He looked up.
Indeed, the sky was unnaturally clear. It was a perfect circle of blue in a sea of grey, turbulent clouds on the distant horizon. The 'Hole in the Sky' effect was still visible, a testament to the clash of Kings.
"Hahaha... hahaha!" Suzaku scratched his head awkwardly, chuckling. "Right. My bad. Environmental damage. I guess we don't need Nami to predict the weather if we just blow it away."
Rem giggled softly. "As expected of Suzaku-sama."
Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps broke the peace.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The usually taciturn Ram took small, quick steps, running over from the direction of the crow's nest.
She stopped in front of Suzaku. There was an unusual seriousness on her face, her pink eyes sharp. Her body crackled slightly with static electricity—a sign of her Logia vigilance.
"Lord Suzaku," Ram reported, pointing toward the horizon where the blue sky met the grey clouds.
[Akarin Note:
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