Mufasa handed Daimyo Shimakage a set of lines printed neatly on paper.
"Read this, exactly as it's written," he said, his voice deep and steady.
Shimakage held the paper with trembling hands and began reading the lines aloud. Mufasa stood beside him, recording everything with a compact, rune-inscribed camera.
"Ten days from now," Shimakage said on video, "Whitebeard will execute Daimyo Shimakage at the execution platform atop the pirate stronghold. There will be no extensions."
His voice cracked at the end, and as soon as he finished reading, he collapsed.
Mufasa signaled for his crew. "Take him below and make sure he doesn't die on me. Yet."
He turned to Usobuku, who was leaning against the railing, a large black gull perched on his shoulder.
"Can your bird carry the tape?"
Usobuku gave a casual nod.
With a sharp whistle, the massive gull flapped its wings and soared toward Top Island, the tape secured in a capsule around its leg.
It landed at the old Yamazaki Shrine, where a few retainers quickly retrieved it.
Terumi Kou, having gathered his samurai and officials after news of the daimyo's disappearance, stood at the center of the courtyard as the tape rolled.
The room grew still.
Shimakage's face appeared on screen, pale and strained. He read the statement. Then came Whitebead's voice, calm and cruel, announcing the scheduled execution.
The tape ended. The room erupted.
"How dare this pirate kidnap the daimyo?!"
"This is a direct insult to the Land of Water!"
"We should mobilize immediately!"
Kou raised his hand, commanding silence. "Whitebeard... This isn't just some thug. I've looked into him."
He spread a handful of scrolls and bounty posters across the table.
"There are a dozen different stories about him. Some say he's a cursed swordsman from the Land of Iron. Others claim he commands the sea itself. There's talk of a ghost ship that devours everything in its path."
One retainer whispered, "Twelve fortresses on Top Island, each guarded by a different beast."
Kou nodded. "All rumors, but they point to one truth. He's dangerously powerful. We can't go in alone. We must coordinate with Kirigakure."
Everyone agreed.
"I will go myself," Kou declared, "and speak with the Mizukage."
The next day, Kou arrived at Kirigakure, greeted by Mizukage Yagura, Elder Genshi, Ao, Terumi Mei, and a masked newcomer standing quietly in the back.
Kou exchanged greetings with the familiar faces before squinting at the newcomer.
"And who might you be?"
The masked man gave a small bow. ". Recently appointed as Yagura-sama's aide and the current leader of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
Everyone gathered around the war table.
Kou wasted no time. "Whitebeard has kidnapped our daimyo. He sent a video. Watch."
The room fell silent again as the recording played. Gasps, curses, and clenched fists followed.
Ao slammed the table. "We can't let this stand. We move now!"
"Send the Seven Swordsmen!"
"Mobilize the Anbu!"
"Wipe the pirates out!"
Kou raised a hand. "He gave us ten days. We must strike before then."
Genshi agreed. "We'll send our elites."
Kou nodded. "The Land of Water's Navy will move with you. We've let these pirates run wild for too long. It's time we cleaned up our seas."
Everyone turned to Mizukage Yagura.
He had been quiet the entire time.
Under the mask, Obito whispered a command. Yagura's eyes flickered, and he spoke.
"Agreed. Whitebeard's forces are formidable. I will lead the Seven Ninja Swordsmen personally. We strike hard, and we strike together."
By the time Kou returned home from the meeting, the moon was already high in the sky.
His daughter, Terumi Mei, had stayed up and thoughtfully prepared a late meal for him.
The two sat down to eat, enjoying a quiet moment together.
"Father," Mei said after a pause, her tone serious, "something big is happening in the village."
Kou raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
She leaned forward, eyes sharp. "You really think I wouldn't notice? The Daimyo being kidnapped by pirates... that's not just some village gossip. It affects the entire Land of Water's reputation."
Kou gave her a stern look. "That's classified. The council ordered everyone to keep it quiet."
But Mei didn't back down.
"I saw all the high-ranking shinobi heading into the Water Studio and staying in there till late. Don't treat me like I'm clueless."
Living in the Mizukage's estate gave her a good view of everything going on.
Kou sighed and relented, rubbing his temples. "Fine, but don't spread it. This stays between us."
Mei nodded, eyes gleaming with hidden knowledge. She already had intel from Mufasa's network.
At the summit of Dingshang Island, pirates had gathered, preparing to clash with the combined forces of the ninja villages.
"Whitebeard's gone too far this time," Mei exclaimed, feigning outrage. "We have to bring him down and rescue the Daimyo."
Kou nodded gravely. "The decision's been made. The Daimyo Navy and our Mist Ninja forces will form a joint fleet to launch an assault on Top Island."
"Then take me with you," Mei said without hesitation.
Kou frowned. "What for?"
"To fight! To take down pirates and prove myself. If I make a big enough impact, maybe the Mizukage will finally lift my restrictions."
Kou hesitated.
Mei leaned closer, voice soft and sweet. "Please? You know I won't get in your way."
After a moment, Kou chuckled and gave in. "Fine. But you'll sneak aboard my ship and wait for the right moment. Understood?"
Mei smiled. "Deal."
The United Fleet was massive. Each clan from the Hidden Mist sent out their own ships. The Mist Village Headquarters mobilized their strongest forces.
Leading the charge was Mizukage Yagura himself, flanked by Anbu, and the reformed Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
At the Water Studio, Obito addressed the new swordsmen.
"This is your chance to restore the honor of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Save the Daimyo. Crush the pirates. Make the Land of Water feared once more!"
The six swordsmen shouted in unison, "Yes, my lord!"
The legendary sword Samehada had previously been stolen by the traitor Hoshigaki Kisame, but Obito had replaced it with a beheading blade bought from Konoha.
With six powerful shinobi, the group still bore the title of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Obito didn't care about the name. "We'll land on Top Island, teleport the Daimyo with Kamui, and cut down anyone in our way."
He grinned beneath his mask. "Whitebeard? Blackbeard? Redbeard? Doesn't matter. Against the power of a god, they all fall."
His plan was simple: overwhelm the enemy with a feint, let the main force act as decoys, while he, Yagura, and the swordsmen struck the heart.
In his mind, the pirates were nothing but bloodline freaks with flashy tricks. But Uchiha power? That was absolute.
Meanwhile, at the summit of Top Island, Mufasa drank with the generals of his fleet. The former Warlords of the Sea—now allied under Mufasa's command—feasted in celebration.
Ahri danced in the center, performing a routine she'd picked up from some pop idols.
Suddenly, Gulleye burst into the hall. "Boss, the Daimyo's joint fleet has set sail!"
Mufasa put down his cup. The room quieted.
"Keep monitoring them," he said calmly.
Gulleye hesitated. "There's more. Konoha's whaling ship—Shimura Danzo's crew—attacked and sank several of our hidden supply ships northeast of here."
The hall exploded with curses.
"Damn Danzo and his metal coffin of a ship!" shouted Enel.
Hoshigaki Jinbei pounded the table. "Let me sink him, Father!"
The pirates were enraged. Even the most morally grey of them couldn't tolerate an outsider waging war on their waters.
Mufasa stood. "The navy is already in motion. No need to complicate things. Besides, your ships are too slow to catch a whaler."
He stepped forward, his expression calm but commanding.
"Leave it to me. I'll take the Flying Dutchman. You all hold Top Island."
Everyone stood and saluted as Mufasa left the hall.
He stepped onto the balcony, then leapt onto the deck of the Flying Dutchman docked below.
"Set course! Target: Shimura Danzo's whaling ship!"