Jinbe wasn't particularly polite either, grabbing a roasted fish and gnawing on it with gusto.
Ace watched him, eyes wide, as the Fish-Man devoured his meal, oil dripping from his chin. He couldn't help but ask,
"Huh? Can Fish-Men eat fish too?"
Jinbe paused, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and replied in a muffled tone,
"Of course we can. It's the Merfolk who don't eat fish."
Intrigued by the customs of Fish-Man Island, Ace continued chatting with Jinbe. Their conversation flowed easily, and before long, the two had become fast friends—so much so that by the end of their meal, they were already calling each other brothers.
Chiga snapped his fingers, and in an instant, all the trash scattered across the ground vanished. Everyone patted their slightly bloated stomachs and began leaving one after another.
The next morning, the day of Princess Shirahoshi's birthday, Chiga's exclusive warship—the Six Paths of Samsara—was already anchored at the harbor.
The ship looked less like a war vessel and more like a floating luxury palace, its exterior radiating such grandeur that it left even seasoned sailors speechless.
After Uchiha Chiga and a number of high-ranking Marines boarded, the ship immediately set sail.
Despite its enormous size and heavy frame, the ship moved swiftly over the water. As Chiga's personal flagship, every detail—inside and out—was crafted with the highest quality materials available. No one dared to complain about excess or extravagance; after all, everyone knew who the ship belonged to.
Before noon, the vessel had already reached Fish-Man Island.
Sengoku stood on the deck, gazing at the majestic island floating atop the sea, and sighed deeply.
"Truly incredible. Who would've thought that Fish-Man Island, once buried ten thousand meters beneath the ocean, would rise to the surface?"
Ace and the others who were unfamiliar with the island's history couldn't help asking about it. When they learned that Fish-Man Island had been raised from the depths by Chiga himself, their astonishment knew no bounds.
As they marveled, thunderous cheers erupted below.
They looked down to see the shores crowded with Fish-Man Island residents, while soldiers from the royal palace struggled to maintain order.
King Neptune stood at the forefront, flanked by his sons, while Princess Shirahoshi stood alone before them. Her hands were clasped before her chest, her bright eyes filled with eager anticipation as she gazed up at the Ship.
Under the crowd's watchful eyes, a large contingent of Marines disembarked, forming two neat rows that created a pathway from the ship.
When Chiga appeared at the end of that passage, the cheers exploded once more. Countless mermaid maidens screamed his name, their excitement threatening to burst through the royal guards' control. The soldiers struggled to maintain order, drenched in sweat.
Even they were tempted to turn and admire the King's commanding presence, but the crowd's fervor was overwhelming. If they allowed even a single gap in their line, chaos would erupt immediately.
Behind Chiga, Luffy gawked at the spectacle and exclaimed,
"Wow! What a grand welcome! Are they greeting us?"
Sabo shook his head with a small smile.
"No, Luffy… they're welcoming the King."
As they spoke, Neptune approached. Though he was the King of Fish-Man Island, even he bowed deeply before Chiga—the true King in their eyes. His gesture of respect was mirrored by his sons and soldiers, as thousands of citizens watched in reverent silence.
Shirahoshi blinked in confusion at her father's actions. Her pink tail curved slightly, and she tried to imitate his bow.
But Chiga simply waved his hand, and a gentle gust of wind swept through, lifting Neptune and his sons back to their feet.
He smiled kindly and said,
"Today is Shirahoshi's birthday. There's no need for such formality. We're guests here, not rulers."
Neptune opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Shirahoshi rushed forward with joyful tears in her eyes.
"Chiga-sama!"
Standing nearly twelve meters tall, Shirahoshi towered over everyone. Even Chiga, who stood a solid three meters, looked small before her.
Without hesitation, she scooped Chiga into her embrace, pressing him against her chest in unrestrained affection. The Marines behind him collectively froze, their expressions twitching.
Aokiji pushed up his eyepatch and muttered enviously,
"Ara la la… the ladies of Fish-Man Island are certainly… affectionate."
Akainu crossed his arms and grunted,
"Don't get ideas. Their enthusiasm's reserved for Purple Kirin."
Kizaru tilted his head, eyes widening slightly.
"Oh~? Can he even breathe like that? Looks like he's having a hard time~."
Zephyr rolled his eyes and muttered,
"You idiots have no idea. You'll understand once you find a woman of your own."
Chiga endured his so-called "face wash service" with good humor before gently freeing himself from Shirahoshi's embrace. He smiled warmly and said,
"Shirahoshi, you've grown taller again—and even more beautiful."
Today marked Shirahoshi's official coming of age. After years of confinement, she had matured both in appearance and demeanor.
Hearing his compliment, her cheeks turned rosy.
"Really? I've always felt my height was troublesome. I'm far too tall—it's inconvenient sometimes…"
Well, genetics were inevitable. One could only inherit from their parents, after all.
At least she hadn't inherited Neptune's looks; her royal brothers already served as proof of what that might've looked like.
Chiga, however, didn't see her height as a problem. With his divine power, there is nothing in this world he couldn't change.
With a faint smile, he placed his hand on Shirahoshi's pink tail. Golden light bloomed, and before the astonished eyes of everyone present, her body began to shrink. Within seconds, she stood nearly eye-level with Chiga.
Blinking in disbelief, Shirahoshi looked around at the suddenly massive surroundings, then gasped and threw herself into Chiga's arms once more.
"Chiga-sama, this is amazing! I've really become smaller!"
Her voice trembled with joy. Her already delicate face now seemed even more enchanting, her wide blue eyes sparkling with innocence and charm that blended in a breathtaking way.
Thankfully, Chiga's willpower was formidable. He gently set her back on her feet and said softly,
"You're not a child anymore, Shirahoshi. You should learn to be more reserved—especially around men."
She nodded obediently, her face still flushed.
"Don't worry, Chiga-sama. I've learned a lot from Sister Shyarly about how to protect myself. But if it's you…"
She lowered her gaze shyly, unable to meet his eyes.
Chiga only chuckled and replied,
"That's good to hear. Oh, by the way, I've prepared a birthday gift for you. But let's make one thing clear first—you're not allowed to cry later."
_____
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