Chapter 176: Departure — To Big Mom's Territory
Whole Cake Island — The Throne Room
In the heart of the Big Mom Pirates' territory, deep within the palace that dominated Whole Cake Island's sugary skyline, the Queen Mama Chanter's mistress sat upon her throne. The massive chamber pulsed with the eerie singing of Homies—living furniture, singing cutlery, dancing flames that cast writhing shadows across the walls. Each one sang the same refrain.
"Ma~ma! Ma~ma!"
The fifth son of the Charlotte Family, Charlotte Oven, knelt before the immense shadow that loomed above him. His body radiated the intense heat of his Netsu-Netsu Fruit, but even that warmth couldn't stop the cold sweat from trailing down his forehead.
"Mama. We completed the mission. We brought back Vinsmoke Sanji, just as that old bastard requested."
The shadow shifted. The enormous form leaned forward, revealing a face that had haunted the nightmares of the New World for decades. Saliva mixed with stomach acid dripped from her chin and sizzled against the floor like droplets of magma. Charlotte Linlin—Big Mom—fixed her gaze on the kneeling figure below her. A massive hand, thick as a ship's mast, reached for the jewel-hilted dagger on the table beside her throne. She drove it through Sanji's bounty poster with a single, savage thrust.
"That's good."
"But..." Oven's voice faltered. "The one they now call 'Suzaku of the Gods'—formerly 'Hellfire'—Uchiha Itachi. We didn't encounter him. We couldn't... bring him back."
The admission hung in the air. Oven braced himself for the eruption.
"It doesn't matter."
Oven's head snapped up. "M-Mama?"
Big Mom waved a dismissive hand, the gesture sending ripples of wind through the throne room. The Homies shrieked with delight.
"That man fought an Admiral to a standstill. I never expected you to capture him. But as long as one of their crewmates is here... that's enough." Her lips stretched into a grin that was equal parts maternal and monstrous. "Once their captain comes crawling after him... that one will follow. They always do."
She threw her head back and laughed—a sound that shook the very foundations of the palace.
"MA~MA! MA~MA~MA!"
Zou — Edge of Town
Usopp stood before Nami with the reverence of an artist unveiling his masterpiece. "As you know, my previous work was celebrated for its perfection. But this time... this time I've created something even MORE perfect than perfection itself."
He flourished the brand-new Clima-Tact with a magician's grace.
"I installed every aerodynamic device from Weatheria that you brought back from the Sabaody Archipelago. Franky handled the surface treatment—reinforced the toughness, enhanced the flexibility. The weather manipulation capabilities have been expanded by at least forty percent. I'm not exaggerating when I say this is the single greatest technological achievement of the—"
Nami flicked her wrist.
The Clima-Tact extended. Retracted. Generated a small thundercloud. Dissolved it. Shifted through three configuration modes.
"Are you listening, Nami?!"
"I understand how it works now." Nami nodded with satisfaction, already having figured out the operational principles through hands-on testing.
From the sidelines, Raizo's enormous eyes had gone even wider than usual. "After the Honored Lord... is this yet another female ninja who wields high-level ninjutsu?!"
"Thank you, Usopp. This is wonderful." Nami tucked the Clima-Tact away.
"It's nothing! Even though my awesomeness makes it seem like a big deal, it was really—"
"Oh, right. The material costs." Usopp produced his notebook.
"Mirage Tempo."
Nami vanished into thin air.
"YOU ALWAYS DO THIS!"
Zou's Main Gate
The Sanji Retrieval Team had assembled. Seven figures stood at the edge of the island, the vast expanse of the New World stretching before them.
"Seven people, then." Itachi's voice was flat, his expression carefully neutral—which, for those who knew him, was the equivalent of openly weeping.
The current roster consisted of: Luffy, Itachi, Nami, Chopper, Brook, Pedro, and Pekoms—the last of whom was still tied to Luffy's backpack like a very unhappy turtle-shaped emergency ration.
As for Carrot... Pedro had taken one look at Itachi's expression when the rabbit mink had bounced up to join the group, and had immediately, wisely, and with great firmness removed her from the team. Carrot was currently sulking in the Whale Forest, her ears drooping with disappointment.
"Alright. I hope this goes smoothly." Itachi pressed his palm against his forehead.
"We will absolutely complete the mission! Shinobu! Shinobu!" Chopper hung from Itachi's shoulder, striking what he believed to be a ninja pose.
Wanda wrapped Nami in a tight embrace. "Be careful out there, Nami. I'll miss you. Karuqiu."
"I'll miss you too. Karuqiu."
The dog minks had surrounded Brook in a pack. "We wish we could come with you, Corpse Baron!"
"Ah. Perhaps that's not entirely necessary—"
"But we must bid you a final farewell! KARUQIU!"
"GYAAAH! NOT THE FEMUR! YOHOHOHO—!"
Nearby, Zoro was offering his own particular brand of farewell advice. "Prepare yourself mentally. That lecherous kappa might actually be enjoying this. Bride. Wedding. Women. Sounds exactly like something he'd be into."
"Don't SAY that!" Usopp protested. "Although... there is some truth to it..."
"It's fine! We'll figure it out when we get there!" Luffy laughed.
Law had pulled Itachi aside for a final exchange. "The original plan has expanded beyond all recognition and spiraled completely out of control. But still—bon voyage, Itachi-ya. I'll wait for you in Wano."
"Safe travels to you as well." Itachi extended his fist.
Law met it with his own. As their knuckles touched, Itachi leaned forward and murmured something too quiet for anyone else to hear. Law's eyes widened slightly. Then narrowed.
"You want me to find out... that?"
Itachi nodded.
"Understood. When we meet again, I'll have the information you need."
Robin stepped forward. "No matter what happens, please stay in contact, Itachi. And..." She paused. "Come back safely. All of you."
"We will." Itachi's voice softened, just fractionally. "All of us."
Zoro cracked his knuckles, a fierce grin spreading across his face. "Don't worry about Wano. I'll head there first and bring those samurai to heel."
"Aren't we supposed to be gathering intelligence?!" Usopp's voice pitched upward.
"We look forward to seeing you again, Luffy-dono." Kin'emon bowed deeply.
Kanjuro raised his brush with theatrical flair. "Then allow me to assist with your descent from the elephant! My art shall carry you to the sea in—"
"No need."
The interruption was immediate and absolute. Kanjuro's brush froze mid-stroke. "D-Do you still harbor resentment from before, Itachi-dono?! I swear, my earlier failure was merely—"
"It's not that." Law cut him off with a dismissive wave. "Itachi-ya's Black Fire Crow can make the descent in ten minutes. Your drawings, on the other hand... by the time your 'masterpiece' crawled down the elephant's leg, Black Leg-ya would be celebrating his fiftieth wedding anniversary."
"DO NOT DISPARAGE MY ART LIKE THIS!"
Kin'emon stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Law-dono raises a valid point."
"KIN'EMON!"
"Alright then!" Luffy adjusted his straw hat. "See you all later! Shishishi!"
Itachi raised his hand, fingers already forming the first seal for the Black Fire Crow—
A rubber arm wrapped around his torso.
"—?"
Before Itachi could complete the thought, Luffy's elastic limbs had shot out in every direction. Nami, Chopper, Brook, Pedro, and the still-tied Pekoms were swept together in a single rubbery embrace, compressed into a sphere of protesting crewmates with Itachi at the center.
"LEAVE SANJI TO ME!"
Luffy's grin was incandescent.
"LET'S MEET AGAIN IN WANO!"
He jumped.
The bundled mass of pirates plummeted over the edge of Zou, trailing screams and Luffy's laughter in equal measure. Only Itachi's face remained visible amid the tangle of limbs—an expression of such profound, existential resignation that it would be studied by philosophers for generations.
"I knew this would happen," Law murmured, shielding his eyes with one hand. "Bon voyage, Itachi-ya."
From the rapidly falling sphere, a long, weary sigh drifted upward. It might have been the wind. It was probably not the wind.
(End of Chapter)
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