"Demon Eye Ryūjin, you are always welcome to visit Whole Cake Island."
"We may lack many things, but food is something we have in abundance."
"Come enjoy the delicacies here anytime."
…
After the festivities concluded, Ryūjin Uchiha did not linger. He formally took his leave of Big Mom.
At the pier of Whole Cake Island, Big Mom personally led more than a hundred of her closest subordinates to see him off, a display of great importance.
For someone like Big Mom, who lived for food, the lavish banquet had been costly, enough to sting, yet she still wore a satisfied smile.
Once news of Demon Eye Ryūjin's visit spread, the reputation of the Big Mom Pirates would inevitably rise.
That was no exaggeration. With Ryūjin's current influence across the seas, even his most casual actions could shift the balance of power.
"Charlotte Linlin, thank you for the hospitality."
"This trip was enjoyable."
"Well then, farewell."
Ryūjin gave a brief wave before departing with his crew under the enthusiastic gaze of Big Mom and her subordinates.
The members of the Big Mom Pirates watched them leave, each wearing expressions of excitement.
They had shared a banquet with a figure like Demon Eye Ryūjin.
"Mama, I didn't expect him to be so easygoing."
Baron Tamago scratched his head, still visibly thrilled.
Before Ryūjin arrived, they had been tense and fearful. After meeting him, that fear had completely transformed into excitement.
They had imagined a ruthless tyrant, yet he carried himself casually, approachable, almost like an ordinary young man.
What they did not realize was that something extremely important had already been taken from them by that same "ordinary" young man.
…
On Ryūjin's ship.
Once they had fully left Whole Cake Island behind, Ryūjin raised his right hand and extended a single finger.
Wood Release activated.
A square sheet of paper formed instantly.
Fine wood particles gathered from all directions, assembling themselves across the surface until a detailed pattern emerged.
"Ryūjin-san… that is a Poneglyph."
Nico Robin's pupils shrank slightly as she stared at it, excitement flashing in her eyes.
Ryūjin was replicating a Poneglyph.
During his time on Whole Cake Island, he had not only gathered rewards but had also located Big Mom's Poneglyph and copied it using his Sharingan.
For anyone else, such precision would be impossible. For him, it was effortless.
"This… this is not an ordinary Poneglyph. This is likely a Road Poneglyph."
Robin's voice carried even more excitement as she studied the text.
A Road Poneglyph pointed toward Laugh Tale.
"So that's it. One step closer, then."
Ryūjin glanced at it, unimpressed but satisfied.
"Nami, bring the map."
Nami quickly brought it over.
Ryūjin studied it briefly before making a decision.
"That's enough. Crocodile, we're heading to Fish-Man Island."
Now that his strength had reached its current level, there was no need to focus solely on fighting strong opponents. It was time to shift priorities.
Finding the Poneglyphs mattered more.
He wanted to see for himself what secrets awaited at Laugh Tale, especially regarding Devil Fruits.
One of the four Road Poneglyphs had an uncertain location, based only on speculation. Finding all of them was not guaranteed.
It did not matter.
If needed, he could simply go to the Sabaody Archipelago and make Silvers Rayleigh talk.
Whether Rayleigh was willing or not was irrelevant.
"Yes, Lord Ryūjin."
Crocodile adjusted the course immediately.
At their speed, reaching Fish-Man Island within a month was no issue. Returning to Marineford afterward would be tight, but manageable.
Ryūjin had already planned for that.
He could use Kamui to return to Sabaody, then travel from there.
Time was not a problem.
Whoosh!
Pulled by a Sea King, the ship surged forward at incredible speed, far surpassing ordinary vessels.
In just over ten days, they arrived near Fish-Man Island.
Next came underwater navigation.
Ryūjin retrieved the coated ship prepared by Silvers Rayleigh.
"I'm really looking forward to this," Nami said, eyes shining. "I've never seen a mermaid before. They're supposed to be beautiful."
Fish-men and merfolk were entirely different.
Nami had encountered fish-men before, and none of them were pleasant to look at.
Mermaids, on the other hand, were said to be stunning.
Robin remained quiet, though her interest was just as clear, focused on another Poneglyph.
"Crocodile, prepare to dive…"
Ryūjin paused mid-sentence.
He tilted his head slightly, a faint smile forming.
"What is it, Ryūjin-san?" Nami asked.
"We've got a guest."
"A guest?"
Nami and Robin looked around, but the sea stretched endlessly, empty.
Nami raised her binoculars and scanned the horizon.
Then her expression changed.
"Wait…"
She adjusted her view, eyes widening.
A figure was flying toward them, standing atop an unfamiliar device, approaching with complete confidence.
"Ryūjin-san, someone's coming. They look… dangerous."
Ryūjin nodded.
"I know. If I'm not mistaken, that's the strongest person in this world."
"The strongest?" Nami and Robin both froze.
They had assumed the Gorosei were the peak.
"Ryūjin-san… who is he?" Robin asked.
"Imu. The one who controls the Gorosei."
"The Elders… have a master?"
Their understanding of the world fractured instantly.
"Surprised? Those 'gods' are just someone's dogs."
Ryūjin shrugged.
They had no response.
By the time they processed it, the figure had already arrived.
A blur cut through the air, then solidified before them.
He appeared to be in his thirties, with long, layered hair. Beneath his feet was a device far beyond current technology.
He did not spare Nami or the others a glance.
To him, they were nothing.
"In hundreds of years, you are the first to make me appear in person, Demon Eye Ryūjin."
His gaze remained fixed on Ryūjin.
"Should I feel honored? Imu."
Ryūjin looked up with mild amusement.
"You know who I am?"
Imu's expression shifted.
That knowledge should have been impossible.
His existence was the world's deepest secret.
Yet Ryūjin spoke it casually.
In that instant, Imu's wariness deepened.
"Demon Eye Ryūjin, you cannot be allowed to live. With someone like you around, I cannot rest."
Killing intent surged.
"Didn't expect I'd keep you up at night," Ryūjin replied flatly. "Too bad. I was planning to put you to sleep permanently."
Swish, swish, swish!
His eyes shifted to the Tenseigan.
Several fist-sized light orbs shot forward instantly.
Each one carried devastating Six Paths power, amplified to an extreme degree. Their size was deceptive, each capable of erasing a small mountain.
Facing Imu, Ryūjin did not hold back.
Imu's expression grew serious.
"No wonder you killed three of them."
Black Armament Haki coated his entire body.
Without hesitation, he struck the incoming orbs head-on.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each orb shattered under his fists.
Violent energy surged outward in all directions, distorting the sea itself.