26. Uchiha Mikasa Arrives At Jaya Island

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'How can I just let the Third Hokage relax and do as he pleases? I need to give him more trouble, enough to keep him occupied so he can't focus all his energy on targeting the Uchiha.'

'That way, the Uchiha clan will have more time to develop peacefully.'

"No problem! Leave it to me!" Uchiha Sora responded confidently, patting his chest in assurance.

"Alright then, it's settled!" Mikasa nodded. "I'll continue working on mapping the area. I'm close to Jaya Island now, and I should be able to complete that task today. Afterward, it's on to Loguetown!"

She sighed. "It's unfortunate we still haven't found a suitable flying ninja beast to land on Skypiea. For now, all we can do is wait."

If they had access to Skypiea, the clan's financial pressures would ease in an instant. While gold wasn't convenient to use directly as currency, it could easily be exchanged for local currency in the markets.

"Don't worry, Mom. It's only a matter of time!" Sora reassured her. "If you're determined, you might even find a suitable flying beast here in the Pirate World. Pay attention to anything that fits while you're exploring."

Mikasa's eyes brightened at the suggestion. "That's a great idea! I'll keep an eye out. For now, I'll head out. Bye!"

With a quick gesture, Uchiha Mikasa teleported away.

Half a day later...

"Huh! So this is Jaya Island. What a chaotic place."

As soon as Mikasa stepped onto the island, she felt an overwhelming sense of malice. Inquiring and predatory eyes seemed to watch her from every direction.

"This place lives up to its reputation as a pirate island," she muttered. "Let's take things slow. I'll explore a bit and open more maps. That way, Sora will have an easier time finding a stable foothold later."

She frowned slightly. "With his current strength, staying here would be too dangerous."

Deciding not to dock immediately, Mikasa maneuvered her boat around the island, surveying its perimeter. The pirates watching from the shore seemed perplexed by her cautious movements. Some abandoned their initial plans to attack her, while others began to scheme.

But Mikasa wasn't oblivious. Her Observation Haki had grown steadily stronger, and she could sense their actions clearly. A cold glint flashed in her eyes. "You're all courting death," she muttered under her breath. (T/N: Here it is)

A small, untrained group of pirates dared to consider her an easy target. They were about to learn the cost of underestimating her.

After a while, Mikasa brought her boat to a secluded beach on the northern side of Jaya Island. She stepped ashore, her movements calm and deliberate. Extending her hand toward the boat, she activated her Space-Time Gate authority. In an instant, the boat disappeared into a pocket dimension.

This storage space, gifted to her by Sora, was a 10,000-cubic-meter section of the Space-Time Gate—a perfect tool for storing supplies, equipment, and other valuables.

Mikasa also had access to a similar storage space. The vast Space-Time Gate, spanning ten kilometers in each direction with a height to match, was more than sufficient for their needs. Even better, it expanded as Sora's strength grew. Who knew? In the future, it might even evolve into a fully-fledged world.

Mikasa had barely finished stowing her boat when she heard shouting from nearby.

"Quick! Over there!"

"Haha! She actually landed! Look at her—what a beauty. She'll fetch a high price!"

"Sell her? Are you crazy? It'd be better to keep her as a prize for the boss!"

A burst of hurried footsteps and arrogant voices echoed from the forest not far away.

Uchiha Mikasa frowned, turning her gaze in that direction.

Moments later, a group of pirates emerged from the forest, their faces lit with confidence. Seeing that Mikasa hadn't fled, their expressions turned to glee, and they charged toward her without hesitation.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"

In an instant, Mikasa completed the hand seals, leaned forward slightly, and exhaled an enormous wave of flames. The intense fire spread out in a fan shape, engulfing the charging pirates in a massive inferno.

The area hundreds of meters ahead became a blazing sea of high-temperature flames.

"Ahhhh!"

"No, stop!"

Screams filled the air, but they faded quickly.

When Mikasa sensed no remaining life within the scorched zone, she ceased her chakra output. The flames subsided, revealing glassy, scorched earth and the charred remains of dozens of pirates.

Satisfied, Mikasa performed the Body Flicker Technique and vanished.

Over the next ten minutes, she scouted most of Jaya Island. To avoid unnecessary attention, she frequently employed the Transformation Technique, skillfully evading prying eyes.

"Hmm, I've done enough. It's time to head back," Mikasa muttered after surveying the shops in the town. Finding nothing of interest, she located an empty corner and teleported away.

In the Naruto World, within the Senju clan's courtyard...

"Grandma, you wouldn't believe how bold the Uchiha clan's changes to the Konoha Military Police Force have been!" Tsunade exclaimed, her excitement barely contained. After hearing about the reforms, she had hurried home to share the news with her grandmother, Uzumaki Mito.

"They're opening up the Konoha Military Police Force and even establishing an elite guard team! It's unbelievable!"

Tsunade shook her head, still puzzled. "This doesn't seem like something the Uchiha would've done in the past. They've always treated the authority of the Konoha Military Police Force as their private property, refusing any outside interference. I can't figure out what's changed this time."

Mito listened patiently, nodding. "I've heard about this as well. Monkey came to speak with me regarding it."

"Huh? Sensei did?" Tsunade blinked in surprise. "Why would he come to you about this? Did he want you to stop it or something?"

"Not to stop it," Mito replied, shaking her head. "On the contrary, this is an opportunity for him to gain influence over the Konoha Military Police Force. Monkey wouldn't let such a chance slip by."

Mito's expression grew thoughtful. "He doesn't understand the deeper reasons behind Uchiha's actions. That's why he wants me to meet with Uchiha Mikasa and gauge her intentions. More importantly, he's heard from his sources within Uchiha that Mikasa has suddenly returned to her peak strength. That has him nervous."

Tsunade's confusion deepened, but she nodded slowly. Meanwhile, Mito reflected on what else Hiruzen had shared with her.

He had warned her that Mikasa might undermine the Second Hokage's policies, the ones Tobirama had designed to isolate the Uchiha and turn public sentiment against them.

Mito, however, remained silent on this point. She had never agreed with Tobirama's policy.

'It was unfair to the Uchiha,' Mito thought. 'All it has done is push them further away. One day, it will lead to a disaster for Konoha, and the village will suffer for it.'

But she knew Hiruzen wouldn't listen. He was too entrenched in his ways, and arguing with him was futile. Mito merely acknowledged his concerns and didn't press the matter further.

Still, she agreed to meet with Uchiha Mikasa. Not to pry into Uchiha's secrets, but to confirm something important:

'Has Mikasa truly regained her peak strength? If so, is it possible she could help extend my life?'

Mito wasn't afraid of death. Her concern lay with those she would leave behind: Tsunade, Nawaki, Kushina, and the dwindling Senju clan. She hadn't yet secured their future.

Mito's wisdom made it clear that Hiruzen had been suppressing and testing the larger clans—Senju, Uchiha, and others—for years. She had always been able to keep the Third Hokage in check during her lifetime. But if she died, there would be nothing to stop him from acting against the Senju with impunity.