Sea Calendar, Year 1502.
Across the waters of the New World, a brutal clash erupted between two colossal pirate forces as the Sunagakure Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates entered an all-out, unrestricted war.
Both factions' primary strongholds—Weatheria Base No. 3 and Whole Cake Island—had suffered devastating reciprocal strikes.
Whole Cake Island in particular had been flash-frozen solid by Shiraishi's sub-zero frost, leaving the island's surface looking like a massive, severed cake.
This was Shiraishi's personal gift to BIG MOM. Naturally, retaliatory skirmishes flared across the surrounding thirty-four islands, where the Sunagakure Pirates and BIG MOM's subordinate fleets engaged in ruthless attrition.
Although Kikyo had successfully repelled BIG MOM, she had sustained severe internal trauma. Even with the ambient energy of the Shikon Jewel constantly mending her body, full recovery would require a considerable period of rest.
This duel gave the world a terrifyingly comprehensive look into the true combat depth of the Sunagakure Pirates' shrine maiden.
Not only could she directly hard-counter BIG MOM's Soul-Soul Fruit, but she could also unleash destructive, Armament-infused arrows. Once again, the Sunagakure Pirates dominated global news headlines.
As for the Red Hair Pirates, they were warmly received by the Sunagakure Pirates. Shiraishi personally hosted Shanks and took him on a guided tour of the entire Sky Island realm.
Though Shanks had visited Sky Island years ago as part of Gol D. Roger's crew, the monumental transformations that had taken place since then left him thoroughly astonished. Marveling at the floating civilization, Shanks found Shiraishi increasingly impossible to see through.
Over the following days, despite fierce battles raging across various sectors of the New World between their subordinate fleets, Shiraishi hosted Shanks with unhurried hospitality before finally seeing off the future Emperor of the Sea.
"Shanks, how do you view this war between the two sea titans?" Ben Beckman asked as they sailed away.
"Although BIG MOM's defenses were broken, winning another encounter won't be nearly as simple," Shanks replied thoughtfully.
"Right now, the Sunagakure Pirates' main combat force is divided, but even with BIG MOM teaming up with the Lone Red, taking down the Sunagakure Pirates is extremely difficult.
After all, they can close the Sky Corridor at any moment and retreat behind an unassailable high-altitude defense."
Evidently, Shanks did not favor BIG MOM's chances...
The Sunagakure Pirates held an overwhelming geographical advantage. Utilizing Sky Island's natural defense, they were virtually unshakeable.
Over the years, the World Government had sent numerous sleeper agents to infiltrate the skies, but every attempt ended in failure—largely because Shiraishi relied heavily on the native Angels and Shandians to manage the domain.
By supporting the native populace, advancing local productivity, and improving public infrastructure, the entirety of Sky Island had been developed into a thriving, self-sustaining society.
Simultaneously, advanced weaponry engineered on Sky Island was deployed to equip the Sunagakure Pirates.
The integration of Laser Dials allowed the crew to field futuristic beam armaments. When Shiraishi's crew deployed onto the Blue Sea carrying sci-fi laser rifles, the visual intimidation alone was staggering.
BIG MOM had failed to capture Shiraishi's base, only to have Whole Cake Island cleaved in two and her most talented daughter, Charlotte Smoothie, executed by Shiraishi. It was an absolute loss of both life and treasure.
Yet as a veteran titan of the high seas, she recognized her tactical disadvantage. Retracting her main forces, she bunkered down inside Totto Land, waging a bitter war of attrition against the Sunagakure Pirates.
While their subordinate fleets clashed across the ocean, control of the conflict gradually shifted into Shiraishi's hands.
Having already conquered three of BIG MOM's peripheral islands, his vanguard was steadily closing in on her central domain.
"It's not time for the decisive battle just yet," Shiraishi remarked calmly. "BIG MOM's physical durability is far too thick. Taking her down completely will require careful planning and strategic setup."
Located within a recently completed floating pavilion sat Sky Island's grandest library. Ancient Poneglyphs and priceless manuscripts gathered from Ohara, the Blue Sea, Sky Island, and Upper Yard were stored within this massive archive.
Nico Olvia and the dozen-plus surviving scholars from Ohara had been settled here. Though initially unaccustomed to the high-altitude climate, the scholars had adapted well and thrown themselves whole-heartedly into their new academic work.
Although Shiraishi aimed to collect the Poneglyphs, he harbored little interest in the Ancient Weapons themselves. Over the years, he had gathered several historical tablets and deposited them inside the library for the Ohara scholars to decipher and study.
Experiencing such an ideal, serene academic environment, Olvia and the scholars—who had initially been nervous around a notorious pirate like Shiraishi—gradually relaxed and dedicated themselves entirely to their research.
As the vice-captain, Uchiha Madara raised an eyebrow upon learning that Weatheria Base No. 3 had been ambushed and Kikyo severely injured. He prepared to descend to the Blue Sea to handle the matter personally, but Shiraishi stopped him.
"According to Kikyo's description," Shiraishi noted, "a monster possessing the exact same face as you appeared among the Big Mom Pirates' ranks."
"Oh?"
"I suspect it's an outsider from our original world—possibly originating from the Final Island."
"Does it have anything to do with Menma Uzumaki?"
Menma Uzumaki's consciousness had not manifested since their arrival. Madara had communicated with the Dark Nine-Tails, but even the Tailed Beast had no idea where the boy's soul had gone.
"Our intelligence is still too limited," Shiraishi said gravely. "If you face him head-on, there's a strong chance you won't be able to unleash your full strength."
Put simply, the body Madara currently inhabited was not his original physical flesh. Given the bizarre circumstances surrounding Menma Uzumaki, Shiraishi worried their enemy might have planted a hidden failsafe to seize control of Madara's body from the inside.
"It seems you underestimate me far too much."
As Madara spoke, Observation Haki flooded his eyes, manifesting a pair of terrifying, three-tomoe Sharingan!
The Sharingan?!
Despite lacking Chakra, his spirit had evolved to manifest the Sharingan. Though currently capped at three tomoe, Shiraishi could distinctly feel the overwhelming mental energy radiating from Madara's form.
Indeed—while free from Chakra corruption, both his and Madara's physical constitutions had continuously approached that of an innate Sage Body native to their original world. As the power of the Divine Tree subtly exerted its influence over this world's laws, Madara had successfully awakened his ocular power.
"I didn't expect you to awaken your eye techniques here as well..."
As Shiraishi spoke, his own eyes reflected the silvery brilliance of the Tenseigan. As the two supreme ocular powers locked onto each other, Madara suddenly drove a heavy fist forward, the crushing wind carrying dominant physical power.
Executing a graceful side-step, Shiraishi caught Madara's palm, their hands locking in a brief, static test of strength.
"In this world, we are still comrades-in-arms, Madara."
"I look forward to the day of our true final duel," Madara replied coolly. "The Fourth Great Shinobi War isn't over yet."
After a brief standoff, both men stepped back, their eyes reverting to normal.
Awakening and using ocular techniques in this world without Chakra forced both Shiraishi and Madara to forcefully channel natural energy, placing an immense physical strain on their bodies.
Gazing at Shiraishi's receding back, Madara gripped his gunbai fan and staff-blade: "Have you finalized the preparations for the final campaign against BIG MOM?"
"Yes..." Shiraishi answered softly. "The Chomei is prepared for launch."
Named after the Seven-Tails, the Chomei was a fully fortress-class flying battleship. Armed to the teeth with advanced weaponry, it represented the true, unrevealed trump card of the Sunagakure Pirates.
Designed similarly to Enel's Ark Maxim from the original timeline, Shiraishi utilized specialized electrical control systems paired with Sky Island's Wind Dial engineering to allow the massive vessel to achieve sustained atmospheric flight.
Aboard the Nekomata, Ace—having settled his mother and his future self in the East Blue—wore his Flame Monkey mask, fully armed and ready. Meanwhile, the sword demon Yachiru Unohana remained behind to guard Sky Island.
For this campaign, the Sunagakure Pirates were deploying only three core combatants!
Shiraishi and Madara stepped into the command bridge of the colossal flying fortress. As the two took their positions, ranks of elite crew members and Laser-Dial-equipped priest guards snapped to attention, saluting in unison.
"Besides BIG MOM," Shiraishi murmured, adjusting his glasses, "it's time to settle things with Patrick Redfield as well."
Clad in his silver-white captain's coat, Shiraishi stepped forward with crisp composure, drawing his silver blade and pointing it downward toward the Blue Sea below:
"Aircraft Fort Chomei, launch! Target: The Big Mom Pirates!"