Chapter 34: The Grim Reaper
The murloc before Itachi stared in horror at the severed head of Hammond—their comrade, their officer, cut down like common fodder. Then his gaze met those crimson eyes.
Those blood-red Sharingan.
"AH—!"
His breath caught. Above his head, a blade gleamed—the Sword of Damocles, moments from falling.
It didn't fall.
"Another one who's lost the will to fight?"
The murloc's legs gave out. He collapsed, paralyzed.
Around him, murlocs retreated. Instinctively. Uncontrollably.
They were SOBER now. Terribly, terribly sober.
Even Hody—their CAPTAIN—had only RUN from this man. What chance did THEY have?
In the distance, Jeo's voice cracked with fury.
"YOU COWARDS! SCUM OF FISHMAN DISTRICT!"
He pointed at the retreating murlocs. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! CUT HIM DOWN! CUT HIM—"
Those blood-red eyes found him.
Jeo's throat closed.
He'd seen Hammond die. One stroke. A CADRE. STEROID-POWERED. DEAD.
He WANTED to move. Wanted to charge. Wanted to avenge—
He couldn't.
Those eyes held him frozen.
Then Itachi MOVED.
One step forward.
Jeo flinched.
Itachi reached Hammond's body. Bent. Lifted the head by its hair.
Black Fire Crow ignited beneath him. He rose.
"ALL MURLOCS—LISTEN."
Every eye in Gyoncorde Plaza turned upward.
Nami, knocked down by Koukorou's wind pressure, looked up. Sanji, mid-kick, paused. Franky lowered General Franky's sword. Usopp and Chopper stopped chasing Daruma. The Straw Hats. Jinbe. Every murloc soldier.
All saw Itachi, holding Hammond's severed head.
"HAMMOND-ANIKI!"
"THAT BASTARD!"
"Wait—THAT'S the fire guy!"
Recognition spread. Terror followed.
Itachi's voice carried across the square.
"Stop resisting. Further fighting is pointless. You will only lose more lives."
"Your numerical advantage means NOTHING."
A murloc found courage. "WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, YOU DAMN—"
"YEAH! COME DOWN HERE! I'LL CUT YOU—"
WHOOSH.
A Great Fireball detonated where they stood. A hundred murlocs vanished in flames.
Itachi's hands moved through seals.
FIRE RELEASE: GREAT FIRE STREAM!
Fireballs rained across the square—dozens of explosions, perfectly placed. Jeo and Muushi barely escaped.
When the smoke cleared, half the remaining murlocs were down.
"WHAT IS THIS GUY?!"
"WHO THE HELL IS HE?!"
Itachi's voice cut through the panic.
"Those who wish to surrender: drop your weapons and move to the southeast corner. Your safety is guaranteed."
"Those who don't—"
His Sharingan swept the crowd.
"—I cannot guarantee you'll survive the next minute."
Silence.
Robin smiled. "Magnificent."
Jinbe and Sanji both wiped cold sweat.
"Uchiha Itachi..." Jinbe spoke the name slowly, weighing it.
"Brilliant." Sanji exhaled. "Even if it doesn't break them completely, that's a MASSIVE psychological blow."
Nami's eyes sparkled—brighter than when she spotted treasure. If Itachi doesn't join after this, I'm putting him in a treasure chest and CARRYING him.
The human pirates moved first.
"EVERYONE! The black-san said MOVE! SOUTHEAST CORNER! NOW!"
They ran. Hundreds of them.
A murloc raised his sword to stop them—
A Phoenix Flower fireball took his head.
Itachi stood there, blade in one hand, two fingers at his lips maintaining the technique, those crimson eyes promising death to any who moved against the surrendering.
More ran. Human pirates. Then—murlocs. Individual fish-men, then groups, streaming toward the southeast corner.
"TRAITORS!" A massive shark-man raised his blade at fleeing murlocs—and froze.
Sweat poured down his face. He couldn't swing. Couldn't move. The memory of those flames—that death—paralyzed him.
He stood there, blade raised, as enemies streamed past.
A former pirate captain took charge of the surrender camp. "BLACK-SAN! We're keeping our weapons—for defense against attacks! That alright?!"
Itachi nodded.
The captain's face split in a grin. "WE'RE FREE! BLACK-SAN IS OUR GOD!"
"GOD! GOD! GOD!"
Zoro, still facing Ranzo, heard the chanting. A smile touched his lips.
Itachi... how DID you do that?
Jeo and Muushi watched in helpless fury.
"LITTLE ONES! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! KILL THE STRAW HATS! KILL THE HUMANS!"
Itachi's fire crow dove.
Straight at them.
Blade extended.
"You can try."
Flames trailed behind him like a demon's wings. The Grim Reaper had come to collect.
(End of Chapter)
✨If you're enjoying this story, consider supporting me on Patreon —
Patreon.com/TofuChan
Where you can read Extra Advance Chaters
Bonus Chapter For Every 100 Power Stones
Lets hit the goal of 300 Patreon Members now for 5 Extra Chapters 💕