Marketing

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The world seemed to stand still.

Everyone froze, staring at the scene in stunned silence, too anxious even to breathe. Time ticked by, second by agonizing second.

Then, Uchiha Kitaro did something no one could have predicted.

He sheathed his sword.

Jumping off Whitebeard, he casually put the weapon back into its scabbard at his waist. The move left everyone completely dumbfounded.

"What are you doing?!" Sengoku roared in outrage, his voice booming over the battlefield. "Just a little more! If you'd just swung that sword, that man—the man who's terrorized the entire world—could have been killed!"

He clenched his fists tightly, his frustration palpable. "Why didn't you finish him? Do you even understand what you've done?!"

Kitaro nonchalantly scratched his ear with his pinky and smirked. "Of course I understand. But why should I kill him? I don't have any deep-seated grudge against him. If anything, it's the World Government that's been chasing me with bounties on my head."

He crossed his arms and added, "Besides, let me make one thing clear: I stopped because I was only paid 5 billion berries. You all expect me to do a job worth around 50 billion. Tell me, where in the world would you find a deal that good?"

Sengoku's fury reached its peak. "You stopped because of money? Do you realize what you've just thrown away? Killing Whitebeard would have been a historic moment—an honor people would give anything to achieve! Do you even understand what it means to be the one to end the era of that man? For a measly 50 billion, you gave up the chance to be a hero!"

"Hero?" Kitaro raised an eyebrow and laughed. "I don't care about being a hero. I'm just a businessman running a security company. You get what you pay for. You want a horse to run, but you don't want to feed it? The world doesn't work that way."

Pausing, Kitaro's eyes sparkled as if he'd just remembered something. "Oh, right! Almost forgot my commercial!"

Turning to the nearest camera, his tone shifted to one of serious professionalism. "Attention, everyone! I'm Uchiha Kitaro, CEO of the Uchiha Security Company. We accept security contracts from all over the world."

He leaned closer to the lens and delivered his pitch with gusto. "Do you want peace and prosperity for your nation? A home free from pirate threats? A safe and happy life? Do you want your assets to remain untouched by thieves?"

"If you do, then hire Uchiha Security Company! Our professional team guarantees top-notch service. Affordable rates! Absolute satisfaction! Value for every berry you spend!"

"For inquiries, contact us at Transponder Snail number *******. And don't miss out—our first 100 clients will receive an exclusive gift! Act fast, first come, first served!"

With a cheerful grin, he flashed a victory sign at the camera.

The battlefield fell into an awkward silence.

"What the hell…" Everyone present was utterly baffled. This was the War of the Best, and Kitaro had somehow turned it into a marketing opportunity.

Suddenly, laughter broke the tension.

"Gurararara!!" Whitebeard's deep, rumbling laughter echoed across the frozen sea.

"Whitebeard?"

The legendary pirate sat up slowly, his massive frame casting an imposing shadow. He looked at Kitaro, the hint of a smile still on his lips.

"Kid, you're something else. You've got guts, I'll give you that. And your strength… it's undeniable. If I were in my prime, I'd love nothing more than to fight you for days on end. But…" He coughed slightly, his breathing heavy. "I have to admit...I'm old now. Slower, weaker.... Even so, you bested me. I lost."

"Old man!" his crew shouted in despair.

"What?!"

"Whitebeard… admitted defeat?!"

The declaration stunned everyone—Marines, pirates, and the global audience watching through live broadcasts.

This was Whitebeard—the man who symbolized the peak of strength in this era.

The Strongest Man in the World, Edward Newgate.

A man whose name was synonymous with fear and respect, who had faced countless challengers and sent them all to the depths of the sea. The idea of him acknowledging defeat was unthinkable.

Slowly, Whitebeard rose to his full height, placing a massive hand on Kitaro's shoulder.

"I hereby declare… from this day forward, the title of the Strongest Man in the World belongs to him—Uchiha Kitaro!"

"What?!"

"Whitebeard said… Uchiha Kitaro is the new world's strongest?!"

"Could it be true? Does that young man really have such power?"

"If Whitebeard himself acknowledged it, how could it be false?"

"Quick, report this immediately! This is the biggest news of the century!"

Whitebeard's words sent shockwaves across the world, igniting an earthquake of reactions from the battlefield to every corner of the seas.

"Whitebeard!" Sengoku's face twisted in rage as he roared in frustration. As a seasoned tactician, he fully understood the ramifications of Whitebeard's proclamation.

This war had been meticulously orchestrated to eliminate Whitebeard, a symbol of the old pirate era. Yet, with a few words, Whitebeard had passed his mantle on, ensuring that his legacy—and the chaos it brought—would live on.

Sengoku clenched his fists, his voice trembling with rage. "Damn it! We finally had the chance to end this era… and now you've created an even greater threat!"

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