One year later, on the deck of the Six Paths of Samsara.
(Samsara is the name of his ship, I might call it Six Paths Of Reincarnation. It's still means the same thing)
Chiga sat on a lounge chair, basking in the sun with a pair of black sunglasses. Ever since he got his own warship, Chiga had grown to love this relaxing routine. No wonder Aokiji always enjoyed lying around like this—it really was comfortable.
Ain wore a small Justice coat over a dark blue short-sleeved shirt, denim shorts paired with black knee-high socks, and black high heels. She stood solemnly beside Chiga, looking every bit like a capable personal guard.
Her dynamic with Chiga resembled that of Smoker and Tashigi from the anime, except Ain lacked Tashigi's clumsy tendencies. Her demeanor was sharper, more competent.
Chiga opened his eyes and looked at Ain beside him. Seeing her serious expression, he smiled slightly and patted the empty seat next to him.
"You've worked hard. Come and rest for a bit."
Ain shook her head. It wasn't that she didn't want to, but with so many soldiers present on the deck, she would be far too embarrassed.
Chiga didn't press further and closed his eyes again, preparing to enjoy his sunbath.
Suddenly, the click-clack of heels approached. Kalifa walked up to him holding a Den Den Mushi.
Glancing briefly at Ain, Kalifa maintained her usual calm as she leaned down and whispered to Chiga, "Boss, Fleet Admiral Sengoku is looking for you."
"Hmm?"
Chiga raised an eyebrow. Since receiving his warship, he had taken on various missions—mostly patrolling or eliminating pirate crews. But this was the first time Sengoku had contacted him personally.
It must be serious. Chiga nodded, took the Den Den Mushi from Kalifa, and as soon as it connected, Sengoku's urgent voice came through:
"Is that Chiga? Return to headquarters immediately! A major incident has occurred—we need you on it!"
"This is Uchiha Chiga. What's happened, Fleet Admiral?"
"The Op-Op Fruit has appeared! This fruit is critical. I'll explain everything when you get back."
"Understood."
Hanging up, Chiga stood up at once. Kalifa quickly took his Justice coat from where it hung nearby and draped it over his shoulders. Ain pouted slightly at the sight.
Chiga gave Kalifa a faint smile, but his face quickly turned serious. With a single gesture, he ordered the warship to return at once.
---
Marine Headquarters – High-Level Conference Room
The three Admirals were absent from today's meeting, each tied up with their own matters. Akainu's absence made sense; Aokiji was likely off terrifying some poor kids again, and Kizaru was probably slacking somewhere as usual.
Gion wasn't present either. Vice Admiral Tsuru had assigned her a warship and sent her to sea with a squad of female Marines for training. Gion's wish to serve under Chiga had to be postponed, and he had to appease her for quite a while.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat at the head of the table, his expression stern. Once most of the senior officers had gathered, he spoke:
"I believe you're all aware of the importance of today's meeting. The Op-Op Fruit has resurfaced. The World Government has issued a direct order—we must secure this Devil Fruit. It's currently in the possession of the Barrels Pirates."
Tsuru nodded from her seat and asked, "So, what's the plan? Are we sending troops to take them down? That may be risky. Perhaps we should consider a more diplomatic approach."
Sengoku agreed with her. In fact, he had been thinking along the same lines.
"Yes, their captain—Barrels—was formerly a Marine. He's contacted us through an underground channel. He intends to sell the fruit."
"That's the most stable approach. What's the asking price?"
"Five billion Berries."
"What!?"
Several officers couldn't hide their shock. Five billion Berries! Most couldn't dream of earning that much even after a lifetime of service.
If Kizaru were here, he'd probably leap up and declare he'd rather retire, open a kindergarten, and dance PPAP with toddlers instead. Well... wrong timeline.
Even Garp, usually half-asleep in meetings, widened his eyes. Five billion Berries? How much senbei could that buy!?
Only Tsuru and Chiga remained calm.
Chiga knew the fruit's worth. A doctor who consumed it could become world-famous overnight, and the fruit's combat applications were exceptional. Most of all, the legendary immortality surgery made its value immeasurable.
In truth, five billion Berries was cheap.
The World Government is still stingy, Chiga mused, shaking his head slightly.
Tsuru considered the price and said, "It's within expectations. I think it's acceptable."
Garp immediately turned to her with wide eyes, as if she'd just thrown away five billion Berries worth of senbei.
Since Tsuru had voiced her approval, Sengoku finalized the deal. The next step was to choose someone to ensure the transaction went smoothly.
His gaze swept the room and settled on Chiga.
In Sengoku's view, Uchiha Chiga was the only one who embodied both power and trustworthiness. Those two qualities rarely appeared in the same person.
(Like how wealth and handsomeness seldom coexist—except, of course, among certain OP characters or web novel protagonists…)
Chiga noticed Sengoku's gaze and stood up voluntarily, raising his hand to accept the task.
Sengoku gave him a fatherly smile. Look at this guy—this is the one I've pinned my hopes on. And then there's the clown next to me… he glanced at Garp with exasperation.
Chiga sat back down, his thoughts already focused on the upcoming operation.
His goals were clear: obtain the Op-Op Fruit, prevent it from falling into the wrong hands, and most of all—save Corazon.
He wouldn't let history repeat itself.
---
Wondering if bro should use his Rinnegan on the Op-Op Fruit
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