Unwavering Belief

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"I want to hire you." Whitebeard's words was heard by everyone.

"Uchiha Kitaro!"

Sengoku's tense roar reverberated across the battlefield, snapping everyone to attention. The surrounding marines grew visibly uneasy, even the three Admirals straightening in their seats.

They had already witnessed the full extent of Uchiha Kitaro's power—a young man capable of defeating Whitebeard, the so-called "Strongest Man in the World," in a head-to-head battle.

A monster like him could change the course of the entire war with a single move.

"You don't have to yell," Kitaro replied with a calm voice. "I'm not deaf. Relax. We at Uchiha Security Services pride ourselves on professionalism. The current contract is completed, but switching sides immediately? That would make us look like untrustworthy double agents, wouldn't it?"

His gaze swept over Sengoku. "Unlike you marines and the World Government, we don't play such petty games. Don't insult us by projecting your own shady methods onto me."

Sengoku exhaled sharply, feeling a mix of relief and indignation. If Uchiha Kitaro and Uchiha Shisui—two overwhelming forces—had suddenly joined Whitebeard's side, it would have been a catastrophe.

But at the same time, Kitaro's veiled insult stung. Since the moment this young man entered the scene, Sengoku had been subjected to one humiliation after another. It felt like he was destined to clash with this Uchiha.

"Well said!" Whitebeard's booming laughter echoed. "The World Government and Marine Headquarters—just a bunch of hypocrites! Gurarararara!"

Despite his earlier defeat, Whitebeard's spirits seemed inexplicably high, as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Shisui!"

"Understood!"

Uchiha Shisui summoned a flash of lightning, effortlessly shaking off Marco's pursuit.

Marco narrowed his eyes, realizing that Shisui had never intended to fully engage him in the first place.

If he hadn't experienced it firsthand, Marco would've struggled to believe that someone so young could possess such terrifying strength. The rumors claiming Uchiha Shisui was on par with a Marine Admiral weren't exaggerations.

Shisui joined Kitaro, who clapped him on the shoulder. Together, they ascended into the air, settling into a spectator's vantage point.

Watching this, Sengoku ground his teeth in frustration. But there was nothing he could do.

CLANG!

Whitebeard drove his massive weapon, Murakumogiri, into the ground with authority.

"From this moment on, I am no longer 'the Strongest Man in the World.' I am simply a father protecting his children!"

His voice boomed over the battlefield, silencing all noise.

"If you want to kill any of my sons, then you'll have to step over my dead body first!"

Whitebeard's voice thundered across the battlefield as he spread his massive arms wide, a living shield of unwavering resolve. His eyes burned with fierce determination, his towering figure a beacon of defiance.

"Come, my brats! If you're not afraid to die, follow me!!!"

"UWOOAAAHHHHH!!!"

The pirates roared in unison, their spirits ignited by his words. Morale soared to an electrifying crescendo. It didn't matter that Whitebeard had been brought to his knees earlier. To them, he was and would forever remain their invincible father.

Whitebeard was a man who could accept death in battle for him or his sons—it was the warrior's way. But to let his son die like animal, chained and helpless? That was a line he refused to cross.

Though he had never demanded their loyalty with force, his bond with his crew was unbreakable. They followed him not out of fear, but out of love and respect—a love forged through countless battles, shared hardships, and a father's unwavering belief in their dreams.

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On the other side, Sengoku's face turned grim. "All units, get into position! He's going to unleash his power! This is the Strongest Man in the World!"

Whitebeard moved.

"Clear a path for Pops!!!"

The pirates charged forward with renewed vigor.

"You won't reach the plaza, Whitebeard Pirates!"

BOOM!

"UWAAAH!"

A massive Vice Admiral from the Giant Squad, John, swung his enormous blade, scattering a horde of pirates like leaves in the wind. Against a giant, ordinary humans were no more than ants. Giants, with their immense size and strength, were considered natural-born warriors.

John advanced on Whitebeard, swinging his blade downward with devastating force.

But Whitebeard raised his weapon, Murakumogiri with a single hand, blocking the attack with ease.

"I may not be able to stop that brat's attacks," Whitebeard said, his voice like rolling thunder. "But you? Don't get in my way."

"You won't pass me!" roared John Giant.

Whitebeard smirked, planting Murakumogiri into the ground. He spread his hands into the air as though gripping an invisible sphere. Then, with a mighty heave, he twisted the very fabric of reality.

The ground beneath John shifted violently, causing him to lose his footing and topple sideways.

"Uwaaahhh!"

"Everything's tilting!"

"This isn't just an earthquake—the entire island and sea are tipping over!"

"AAARGH!"

Navy ships capsized, marines tumbling into the water, while Marineford's buildings shattered like glass.

Shisui watched in stunned awe from the air. "Unbelievable! What terrifying power!"

"This is the power of the Gura Gura no Mi," Kitaro said, a peculiar glint flashing in his eyes.

Whitebeard leaped forward, slamming his fist into the air.

CRACK!

Visible cracks formed in the sky, rippling outward as an earth-shaking shockwave traveled through John's massive body and slammed into the fortifications behind him.

BOOOOM!!!

The walls exploded into rubble, leaving a gaping hole that cleared the path to the execution platform.

"Great job, Pops!"

"Almost there! Destroy the execution platform!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

But just as the shockwave neared the platform, it veered off course, striking the nearby town instead.

"What's going on?!"

"It missed the platform!"

"Why did it deflect?!"

"Look—it's the Admirals!"

The smoke cleared, revealing the three Marine Admirals standing in front of the platform, their combined Haki redirecting the shockwave.

Aokiji muttered, "They're getting a little reckless down there."

"How frightening," Kizaru said nonchalantly, his tone completely detached.

"Tch. What a waste of time," Akainu growled. He shot a sharp glare toward Kitaro, clearly irked by his passive stance. Still, Akainu reassured himself that once Whitebeard was eliminated, Kitaro would be next on the list.

"Whitebeard's making his move. We should do the same," Kizaru remarked. "If we let him recover too much stamina, the World Government's five billion berries will have been wasted."

SWOOSH!

Kizaru dissolved into golden light, reassembling in midair as a radiant figure.

"Look out—it's Kizaru!"

The arrival of the Admiral immediately heightened tensions. Despite the recent blows to their reputation due to the Uchihas, Admirals still represented the pinnacle of Marine combat power.

"Yasakani no Magatama!"

ZAP! ZAP! ZAP!

Golden light bullets rained down like a storm, targeting Whitebeard below.

"Hey, hey… that's way too bright…"

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