Chapter 251: Uchiha Yi, Leaving His Mark!
Chapter 251: Uchiha Yi, Leaving His Mark!
"Yahahaha!"
"The Thunder Fruit user has appeared!"
On a floating island drifting unpredictably across the skies, Golden Lion Shiki burst into uncontrollable laughter upon receiving the scout's report.
The crew below, hearing the news, erupted into an uproar, each scrambling to volunteer for the mission to capture the Thunder Fruit user.
"No need to argue!"
"The entire Flying Pirates crew will move out!"
"After all, it's the Thunder Fruit!"
"It deserves this level of attention!"
Shiki waved his hand, silencing the chaos with an authoritative declaration.
As captain, Shiki's word was final.
Seeing their captain's decision, the crew members could only reluctantly accept the outcome.
But the eagerness they had shown wasn't without ulterior motives.
Since Shiki's escape from Impel Down, he had lost much of his former glory, indulging instead in bizarre biological experiments, hoping to conquer the world with artificial creations.
To the crew, this was nothing short of laughable.
Many no longer saw Shiki as a worthy captain and had long entertained thoughts of abandoning the Flying Pirates.
Simply put, Shiki's declining strength could no longer suppress the rising ambitions of his fleet captains.
The only reason this fragile unity had lasted so long was due to two factors:
First, the fleet captains couldn't agree on how to divide Shiki's wealth and territory.
Second, while each fleet was strong, none had the power to stand as a top-tier force in the world.
Thus, instead of breaking away immediately, they chose to exploit the reputation of the Flying Pirates, using it to recruit promising new pirates and strengthen their own fleets.
Once they reached sufficient strength, they would sever ties and rise independently.
It was this delicate balance of ambition and pragmatism that maintained the crew's facade of unity.
So, when a rare treasure like the Thunder Fruit surfaced, their eagerness wasn't just for Shiki's sake—it was about strengthening their own positions.
But this time, the fruit's rarity was too tempting.
Even Shiki himself couldn't resist.
To maintain the fragile peace within his crew, everyone chose to suppress their discontent and abide by Shiki's decision.
---
East Blue – Windmill Village
On a remote hill overlooking Windmill Village, a man cloaked in dark green stood hidden in the shadows.
A sliver of sunlight revealed his stern, chiseled face, sharp as if carved by a knife.
He was silently observing a carefree boy wearing a straw hat, devouring meat with childlike joy.
For the first time in a while, a faint, awkward smile tugged at the corners of his rigid lips.
But just then, the transponder snail in his cloak stirred.
Knowing it must be urgent, the man vanished from the spot in an instant.
Finding a more secluded location, he finally answered the call.
"What is it?"
The man—Dragon, the world's most wanted criminal and the boy's father—spoke in a low, steady voice.
"Leader, our scouts have confirmed the appearance of the Thunder Fruit user!"
"Should we…?"
The voice on the other end sounded excited yet restrained.
"I understand."
"The Revolutionary Army can't afford large-scale mobilization right now."
"I'll investigate the situation personally."
"If there's an opportunity, I'll try to recruit them into our ranks."
Dragon's tone was calm but decisive.
"Understood!"
"Be careful, though. All the major factions are already on the move because of this."
"If it's not feasible, remember—the Thunder Fruit user is not essential to our cause."
The voice on the other end offered a final word of caution.
"Got it."
Ending the call, Dragon stood still for a moment, unable to calm the storm brewing within him.
If there was even the slightest chance, he was willing to take some risks to bring the Thunder Fruit user into the Revolutionary Army.
After all, they were desperately lacking in high-level combat power.
---
Skypiea
After dealing with Enel, Uchiha Yi found himself left with nothing but the remnants of long-standing disputes on the island.
But he had no interest in playing mediator.
He left everything in Robin's capable hands, indifferent to what methods she might use to resolve the conflict.
As long as peace reigned during his stay, he was satisfied.
The Shandians' demands were simple—they just wanted to reclaim their ancestral land.
Under Robin's arrangement, they quickly reached an agreement with Gan Fall, the former ruler of Skypiea.
Of course, this peaceful resolution was only possible due to Robin's overwhelming show of force.
Thus, centuries of conflict on Skypiea came to an end.
With the matter settled, Uchiha Yi, Nojiko, Vivi, and Robin indulged in all the island had to offer—exotic foods like sky fish, multi-functional shell-based tools, and unique sky-based transportation.
Even though Uchiha Yi already understood how everything worked, experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely.
"Wow!"
"This really is the City of Gold!"
"Gold everywhere!"
"Nami would go crazy if she saw this!"
Their final destination was Upper Yard—the land the Shandians longed to reclaim, originally a part of Jaya Island sent skyward by the Knock-Up Stream.
Seeing the endless golden glow, even Nojiko, Vivi, and Robin—none of whom were particularly obsessed with wealth—were momentarily dazzled.
Their eyes practically turned into Berries.
"All of this is ours now!"
Having come all this way, Uchiha Yi wasn't about to leave empty-handed.
With a wave of his hand, he summoned a legion of AI-controlled gold miners.
They dug tirelessly, excavating every last ounce of gold and storing it in his "Picture World" storage space.
But Uchiha Yi wasn't finished.
To achieve a very specific goal—and to leave a future surprise for a certain someone—he left behind a little "gift."
In bold letters, he carved into a prominent boulder:
"Uchiha Yi was here!"
Beside the message, he pinned a photograph depicting the glittering golden landscape.
Using his awakened Devil Fruit powers, he created a small subspace—a miniature painting world—and sealed the photo inside.
Then, he used projection abilities to display the image in the real world, visible but untouchable, preserved indefinitely and impervious to damage.
His intent was clear.
One day, when Nami inevitably reached Skypiea and discovered the empty golden plains, she would see his message and the proof of what she had missed.
The sheer heartbreak and fury she'd experience would be priceless!
"Brother Yi, you're terrible!"
"When Nami sees this, she'll definitely hate you forever!"
Nojiko, witnessing the mischievous prank, covered her mouth, laughing gleefully.
Knowing her sister's obsession with money, Nojiko was certain Nami would be furious enough to swear vengeance.
"Hahaha!"
"That's exactly the reaction I'm hoping for!"
Uchiha Yi burst into laughter, already looking forward to the day Nami discovered the truth.
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