Аmidst the heatеd disсussion (Sengоku's incessаnt сhаttеr аnd Uсhiha Mаdarа's oссasiоnal nоds)…
Мadаra simplу prорosеd thе frаmewоrk hе аnd Hashirаmа had dесidеd uроn in his past lifе in thе world оf Ninjа. He couldn't be bоthеred with thе rеst оf thе detаils, lеаving them аll tо bе filled in by аn аnimаtеd Sеngoku.
The Marines wоuld рrovidе thе preliminary sitе for Коnоha: the fоrmеr lосаtiоn of thе Marinе Неadquаrters nеw rесruit training grоunds.
As fоr persоnnel, Kоnoha's First Hоkаge, Uсhiha Маdаra, wоuld be free to select one person from each class of Marine recruits.
The Marines would provide no funding to Konoha. All of Konoha's future development funds were to be self-sustained. (Note: This included assassinating designated Pirates, with commissions set at a 20% markup on their bounty.)
Uchiha Madara abandoned the self-contained political structure of his past life's Konoha, opting instead for a development policy focused on quality over quantity.
Ultimately, Marine Fleet Admiral candidate Sengoku and the Marines' first partner organization, Konoha, represented by its Hokage Uchiha Madara, reached a mutually beneficial strategic agreement.
At the same time, Sengoku wrote out Konoha's first official commission on the spot: to assist Marine Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Zephyr in maintaining order during the execution of the Pirate King, Gold Roger (in reality, it was still a form of supervision by the two).
"Hahahahaha! Old Man Madara, welcome to the Marines! From now on, we're on the same side."
Garp started clapping Madara on the shoulder and laughing boisterously again. In his eyes, Madara had agreed to join the Marines; he was just being a little tsundere about it.
Everyone was in high spirits that evening. Madara had found a temporary purpose, and Sengoku was ecstatic that a powerhouse like Uchiha Madara had joined the great family of justice that was the Marines.
Late that night, the little rascal Gion tried to ask Sengoku out under the pretext of discussing battle plans, only to be righteously refused.
The little rascal stared in disbelief at the old coot Sengoku, who was now ready to abandon their plan for her apprenticeship. She looked utterly betrayed.
Sengoku's agreement with Gion had been to maintain a good relationship between Uchiha Madara and the Marines. Now that he was one of their own, what relationship was there to maintain? The matter of helping the little rascal succeed in her apprenticeship and get back at Uchiha Madara had long been tossed to the back of Sengoku's mind.
Garp and Zephyr were also roped in, and the four of them ended up talking all night before the fire.
The little rascal, who in an instant had experienced the sting of being deserted by all her allies, was so angry she couldn't sleep a wink. The next morning, she could only go on her mission with two huge dark circles under her eyes. What Sengoku didn't know was that under the little rascal's pillow were two full pages of a report tattling on him to Vice Admiral Tsuru.
Marine Calendar Year 1499, the eve of the execution of the Pirate King, Gold Roger.
Garp, Zephyr, and Madara were assigned to guard the perimeter of the execution square. Uchiha Madara expressed great interest in this so-called Pirate King, but unfortunately, their position only allowed them to see Roger's entrance, not the execution itself.
Crack. Uchiha Madara casually crushed the life out of a Pirate who had come to disrupt the execution. He turned to Garp and Zephyr.
"Do you two want to go watch Roger's execution?"
Garp, after sending an unknown small-time Pirate flying with a punch, picked his nose and said, "He's an old friend of mine. If you weren't here, I'd definitely find a hidden spot to see him off on his final journey."
Zephyr, on the other hand, was indifferent. He didn't have the same special feelings for Roger that Garp did. To him, Roger was just another Pirate.
"Two votes in favor, one abstention. Let's go have a look."
Uchiha Madara turned to head for the execution platform but was stopped by Garp.
"Abandoning our post is a serious crime! Sengoku will kill me."
The corner of Uchiha Madara's mouth lifted.
"Who said the three of us are abandoning our post?"
He then pulled the two of them into the shadows and formed a Hand Seal with one hand. Three clones appeared. One transformed into Garp and another into Zephyr, and he sent them back to their original positions. Garp watched, amazed, laughing as his wonder grew.
"Old Man Madara, this ability of yours is way too convenient! Hahahahahaha! Let's go, let's go! We'll come right back after we watch. Don't give Sengoku a chance to find out."
"Yo~ Master! That's three votes in favor, you know~"
Hearing that voice, Uchiha Madara had a bad feeling. He looked up to see Gion peeking at them from the second floor, and the pressure was suddenly immense.
"Hehehe~ Master, behold my Will of Fire!"
With a shout of "Will of Fire," Gion leaped through the air and landed squarely on Uchiha Madara's shoulders, piggyback style.
Uchiha Madara froze. He, Uchiha Madara, the Shura of the Shinobi World, the lifelong rival of the God of Shinobi, the mastermind behind the Fourth Shinobi World War, the most powerful and ambitious man in the shinobi world… what had he not experienced in his long life?
Well, he'd certainly never experienced this. As someone who couldn't even relieve himself if another person was standing behind him, having a brat ride on his neck was beyond the pale.
Uchiha Madara's entire body began to tremble visibly. A terrifying aura and killing intent erupted from him in a chaotic frenzy. Countless times he wanted to reach up and crush this little bug who dared to humiliate him so, and countless times he suppressed the impulse.
Madara chanted inwardly, I'm a man who's died several times already. Don't be rash, don't be rash. This little brat is half a benefactor. I can't kill her, I can't kill her.
Garp and Zephyr watched, their hearts pounding in their chests. If this monster goes berserk, the two of us probably can't stop him. You little hellion, how dare you!
Oblivious to the fact that she had been skipping rope at the gates of hell, Gion was still on Uchiha Madara's neck, swinging her little legs.
"Woohoo~ Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up! Let's go!"
Madara's body was rigid. Like a rusted machine, he jerked and stuttered as he lifted the little rascal off his neck and placed her on the ground. In a tone he himself couldn't quite comprehend, he said, "Walk on your own."
He then strode straight toward the execution platform, having completely forgotten to conceal his presence.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the venue, Sengoku revealed a gratified and cunning smile as he lowered the binoculars in his hands.
"Got him!"
Madara, Gion, and the others finally arrived at the execution platform. They found a relatively hidden corner and began to wait quietly for the Pirate King's arrival.
Little Gion, being short, couldn't see very well. Anxious, she once again scrambled onto Uchiha Madara's shoulders. His body stiffened again, but this time, he didn't pull her down.
The solemn sound of a horn echoed. From one side of the square, two rows of soldiers bearing the flag of the World Government marched out, their faces expressionless. Escorted between them was…
Uchiha Madara's pupils contracted. No, that wasn't right. It wasn't an escort of a prisoner. A man with such an imposing presence could never exude the air of a loser. As he stood there, the two rows of men beside him seemed more like an honor guard, as if he were the final victor of this war.
The aura emanating from this so-called Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, deeply captivated Madara. He murmured, "So this is a king among heroes?"
Roger wore shackles, but to Madara, the restraints binding him seemed more like jewelry of his own choosing. How could a king perform his final dance upon the stage without satisfactory adornments?
Roger slowly surveyed the entire square as if reviewing his subjects. Finally, his gaze fell upon the direction of Uchiha Madara and his group, his eyes calm as he watched them.
At first, Madara thought Roger was looking at his old friend Garp. But as the gaze lingered, Uchiha Madara saw the eyes that were fixed solely on him, and a smile that he found impossible to forget.
Madara didn't know how to describe Roger's smile. Presence? Ambition? Pride? This so-called Pirate possessed all the traits of a king!
Both were men who had reached the pinnacle. Madara's peak was that of a god who could blot out Heaven and Earth with a single hand, while Roger was more like a king who possessed the entire world.
Madara couldn't help but recall how people described the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.
"Wealth, fame, power… The man who had everything in this world, Gol D. Roger!"
A smile began to spread across Madara's lips, unconsciously. Unlike Roger's infectious, kingly aura, Madara's at this moment was more like that of a Shura looking down upon the mortal world—arrogant, belligerent, with an inadvertently revealed disdain. This was a clash between the pinnacles of two different worlds!
To be continued...