Chapter 361: The True Objective
Uchiha Dali remained completely unmoved when Fleet Admiral Sengoku ordered him to leave.
The Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki beside him was even less likely to care.
The two of them hovered in midair with half-smiles, watching everyone below.
On the Whitebeard Pirates' side, they had just heard Uchiha Dali's explanation, so they didn't act rashly.
Sengoku, ignored, felt embarrassed and his expression immediately grew grave.
So many Navy officers and soldiers were watching; these two gave no respect to the Fleet Admiral. They looked like troublemakers.
Just as the atmosphere on the scene became unbearably awkward, Uchiha Dali finally spoke.
"If we don't leave, what are you going to do?"
He folded his arms leisurely, appearing entirely unhurried.
Vice Admiral Tsuru's heart sank when she heard that; she hurriedly reminded, "Sengoku, let them be. Right now our priority is dealing with Whitebeard. There's no need for unnecessary complications."
"I think those two really have no intention of intervening in this war; otherwise they wouldn't have bothered to explain."
She was very worried that Uchiha Dali and Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki would be provoked.
If the pair felt challenged or insulted, the subsequent events could become unpredictable.
"All Navy personnel, listen up — capture everyone from the Whitebeard Pirates immediately!"
Sengoku agreed with Vice Admiral Tsuru's view.
He quickly refocused his attention on the enemies before him.
At his command, the Navy officers and soldiers on the scene turned their gazes back toward the Whitebeard Pirates.
But at this moment, nobody's mind could be fully concentrated on the battle.
Speculation about the identities of the two uninvited guests in the sky lingered in everyone's heads.
"Marco."
Whitebeard withdrew his gaze from observing Uchiha Dali and the others and looked to Marco.
Marco in the air immediately descended.
Whitebeard grabbed his great bisento, leapt from the ship onto the shore, and shouted, "Boys! Charge with me! Take Ace back!!"
Whitebeard yelled and led the way, swinging his bisento and charging fiercely, quickly hacking a path of blood for his crew — a blood-streaked route straight to the execution platform.
Seeing Whitebeard personally strike and slaughter through the ranks as if unopposed, the three Admirals below the execution platform acted at once.
Admiral Sakazuki, Akainu, slipped away from his seat and moved to a secluded corner of the battlefield.
This scene was watched clearly by Uchiha Dali and Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki in the sky.
"This fellow's strength is decent, but what is he doing?" Akainu muttered under his breath.
"Oh? Playing such a despicable trick?"
Even from a distance, Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki could hear what Sakazuki was saying.
At this moment, Sakazuki had easily defeated the leading charge by "Maelstrom Spider" Squard.
He then began to brainwash Squard, telling him that this war was actually a conspiracy jointly arranged by Whitebeard and the Navy.
"Are you still foolishly acting as cannon fodder? Whitebeard never considered you his own."
"He's already made a secret deal with us, the Navy. This time, the Navy will hand Ace over to Whitebeard, and the ones who will be sacrificed are only you forty-three members of the pirate crew."
"In other words, Whitebeard is using you to exchange for the safety of everyone on his main ship."
Sakazuki was a Navy Admiral, immensely powerful.
Although there were quite a few holes in what he said, facing death Squard's mind could no longer calmly think things through.
After Sakazuki's words, he immediately chose to believe.
"D—damn… Father, Whitebeard actually dares treat us as sacrifices?"
"This is utterly despicable!"
Anger clouded his thoughts.
Squard turned and drew his sword, advancing toward Whitebeard on the battlefield.
"This guy is really stupid…"
Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki couldn't help but sneer.
"Still, that fellow's strength is pretty good; he should be able to dodge, right?"
He laughed and turned his head toward Whitebeard's direction.
Uchiha Dali remained silent the whole time, truly looking like a spectator enjoying the show.
His behavior puzzled Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki.
"Are you really not going to help either side?"
"Why should I help them?"
Uchiha Dali asked back, puzzled.
"I still can't read your thoughts. I just assumed you wouldn't come here for no reason."
Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki shook his head.
At those words, a slow smile spread across Uchiha Dali's mouth.
Watching Squard steadily approach Whitebeard, he finally responded, "I'm looking for a suitable candidate."
"Oh?"
"A suitable candidate for what?"
Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki grew curious.
These lower beings had no chakra in their bodies; even if they were absorbed by the Divine Tree, the energy they could contribute would be very limited.
He really couldn't imagine what other value they might possess.
"The barrier is gone, and the shinobi world still needs to maintain peace."
"We can either lead the shinobi world across the seas to wage war on every island and conquer them, or I can personally come and solve all the troubles."
"So I need a suitable proxy — someone to govern this region on our behalf."
When Uchiha Dali said this, Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki understood.
He nodded, then shook his head.
"You really are too merciful. If it were me, I'd simply wipe these lower beings out. That would settle all disputes once and for all."
"Killing them all would naturally end the wars."
As they spoke, Squard had already reached Whitebeard's back and, just as Uchiha Dali knew he would, attempted a sneak attack — a backstab.
In an instant, Whitebeard suffered a heavy wound, shocking everyone.
Uchiha Dali and Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki, who had already expected this to happen, showed no particular reaction.
"This guy couldn't dodge—did he do it on purpose?"
Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki was a little surprised to see Whitebeard successfully backstabbed, and he couldn't help but use mind-reading to peek into Whitebeard's thoughts.
"He's not suitable to be the ruler of this world."
Uchiha Dali said calmly.
"Hmm, too idealistic."
"Treating all criminals as family — ridiculous. If it were me, I'd slaughter them all."
Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki nodded in agreement.
Down on the battlefield, the fighting continued.
Sure enough, the two of them had no intention of intervening.
Seeing that they truly were only watching the spectacle, both the Navy and the pirates gradually let themselves fight more freely.
The skirmish on the battlefield intensified once again.