Back in Konoha, Fugaku had served as clan head for over a decade.
He had endured, compromised, and backed down at every turn, yet in the end, he had still nearly led the entire clan into the abyss of extinction.
It was this eleven year old boy who had single handedly planned the entire evacuation, leading the clan out of Konoha’s cage and finding a place where the wandering Uchiha could finally settle down.
Besides, in this completely unfamiliar world, whether it was the power system, the rules of survival, or the path ahead, Shinsuke understood them far better than he did and possessed far stronger judgment.
Instead of clinging to the hollow authority he still held, perhaps letting Shinsuke lead the clan forward was the best choice for the Uchiha.
When Shinsuke returned to camp, Uchiha Yakumi and Uchiha Yashiro were leaning against a tree, wiping down their kunai.
The moment they heard him call out, both men stood up immediately.
Without asking a single unnecessary question, they simply nodded, slung their ninja tool pouches over their shoulders, and followed him.
The three made their way down a gentle forest slope.
The salty scent of the sea grew stronger with every step, while the rich black soil beneath their feet gradually gave way to sandy marshland.
Towering ancient trees still blocked out the sky on both sides.
From time to time, enormous birds of unknown species swept across the canopy, each with a wingspan of nearly twelve feet.
Yakumi instinctively reached for the kunai at his waist before relaxing when he realized the creature was simply circling away into the distance.
As they rounded a dense patch of bushes, they ran into Uchiha Ye and his scouting party returning from their patrol.
The group was covered in dew and bits of leaves.
Ye, who led the group, was still carrying a bloodstained beast bone in one hand.
The moment he saw Shinsuke, he quickly stepped forward and bowed.
“Young Lord Shinsuke.” “Uncle Ye, how did the reconnaissance go?” Shinsuke asked as he stopped.
“We’ve just finished searching the eastern side of the island.” Ye straightened up, confidence evident in his voice.
“So far, we’ve found no signs of human activity anywhere.
No abandoned camps, no villages.
Nothing.
The entire island is filled with wild animals.” He paused before adding with visible amazement, “The strange thing is that the animals here are unbelievably huge.” “We ran into a tiger in a river valley just now.
From head to tail, it was nearly thirty three feet long.
Standing upright, it was taller than a two story building.
I’ve lived for over thirty years and never seen a beast that massive.
At first glance, I thought it was some clan’s summoned beast.” One of the Jonin beside him couldn’t help adding, “At first we assumed it was like a ninja beast with chakra, so we prepared for a tough fight.
But once we actually fought it, we realized it only looked intimidating.
Its strength was about that of a newly promoted Chunin.
Apart from being tougher than normal, it didn’t have any special abilities.
We killed it in two moves.” Yashiro raised an eyebrow, his face full of disbelief.
“A tiger over thirty feet long?
That’s twice the size of the biggest tiger ninja beasts in the shinobi world, and it’s only that strong?” “That’s simply how this world is.” Shinsuke smiled faintly.
“Most creatures here are like that.
Their size is ridiculously exaggerated, but most don’t possess any extraordinary abilities.
They only look frightening.” He turned toward Ye.
“Keep that in mind during your reconnaissance.
Don’t let their size scare you, but don’t let your guard down either.
Safety comes first.
If you encounter something you can’t handle, send a signal and retreat immediately.
Don’t force the fight.” “Understood!” Ye replied at once with another respectful bow.
Shinsuke nodded and wasted no more time.
He left with Yakumi and Yashiro, continuing toward the direction from which the sea breeze was blowing.
After passing through the final stretch of forest, the scenery suddenly opened up.
An endless blue ocean stretched out before them without warning.
Waves crashed against the golden beach, leaving behind countless patches of white foam as the salty wind carried cool mist across their faces.
Shinsuke gave Yakumi and Yashiro a slight nod.
The next moment, chakra gathered beneath his feet.
Without the slightest hesitation, he shot forward across the rolling sea.
Yakumi and Yashiro exchanged a glance before channeling chakra into their own feet as well.
Their figures blurred into afterimages as they skimmed across the water, closely following behind Shinsuke.
Water walking was one of the most basic techniques every ninja learned.
For elite Jonin who had survived countless battles, it had long since become instinct.
Even the raging rivers of the shinobi world posed no obstacle to them, let alone these calm coastal waters.
In this world ruled by the sea, where Devil Fruit users regarded seawater as their greatest enemy, three elite Uchiha sprinted freely across the ocean as though no one else existed.
The waves churned beneath their feet without even wetting the edges of their clothes.
Every step created only a small ripple before their bodies shot forward like arrows, racing toward the open sea.
Just over a dozen nautical miles away from where Shinsuke’s group was speeding across the water, a merchant vessel drifted lazily along one of the fixed trade routes between the East Blue and West Blue under the blazing midday sun.
The sea was calm as the blue and white sails fluttered above the three masted merchant ship bearing the flag of a trading company.
Sailors on deck busied themselves organizing ropes while the captain of the escort guards leaned against the railing, polishing his sword as he joked with his men.
“This route has been running for decades.
We’ve never run into pirates stupid enough to attack us.” Before he could finish speaking, the lookout atop the mast suddenly screamed.
“Behind us!
Pirate ship!
Closing fast!” Everyone spun around.
On the distant horizon, a single masted pirate ship flying a blood stained skull flag cut through the waves like a hungry shark.
It was smaller than the merchant ship but carried six cannons along its sides.
The deck was covered with scars from countless battles, making it obvious this was a veteran pirate crew.
On the bow stood a group of half naked, vicious looking pirates waving blades and muskets while shouting wildly.
At their front stood a burly man with a long scar running across his face.
He carried a massive serrated broadsword.
He was “Sawblade” Hall, an infamous pirate who terrorized the surrounding seas with a bounty of 8,000,000 Beli.
“Fire!
Cripple their ship!” Hall roared.
The next instant, all six cannons thundered together.
The cannonballs screamed through the air before crashing into the waters around the merchant ship, sending towering columns of seawater soaring into the sky.
The entire merchant vessel shook violently under the impact, and the sailors on deck instantly descended into chaos.