Chapter 110: Madara's Back View!
[The Deck of the Pola - Midday]
"This..."
Suzaku stared at the thrashing Sea King on the deck, then at Ulquiorra's emotionless face. He felt his fishing philosophy—the noble art of patience and communion with nature—had been trampled upon like a bug.
With a pained expression, he instructed his subordinate.
"Ulquiorra! I've told you before! The joy of fishing lies in the process of battling the fish! It's a dance of wits! If you just yank it out directly with Armament Haki and brute force, you completely miss the essence of it! That's not fishing; that's harvesting!"
Ulquiorra heard him. He slowly turned his head, his emerald eyes blinking with a pure look of confusion.
"But... Lord Suzaku," Ulquiorra said in his monotone voice. "I remember you did it exactly that way last time in the East Blue. You used Haki to pull out the King of the Coast. I even thought that was the most efficient and correct method demonstrated by the Supreme Being."
"..."
Suzaku opened his mouth to retort, but no words came out. He froze.
He had indeed done that. He had boasted about his efficiency.
Damn it, Suzaku thought. My past self is my greatest enemy.
He had to own up to his own boast, even if it brought tears to his eyes.
"T-that was different!" Suzaku stammered, turning away. "That was... a speed run! Today is about art!"
He silently turned back to the ocean, no longer speaking. But the gaze he fixed on his float now held a hint of burning indignation.
I will not lose to a Hollow who doesn't even understand the thrill of the hunt!
Time slowly passed in this strange atmosphere.
One hour. Two hours. Three hours.
The sun beat down on the steel deck. The waves lapped gently against the hull.
Suzaku's and Uchiha Madara's faces had turned from black to ashen. Their patience was fraying like an old rope.
Their floats seemed to be welded to the surface of the sea. They remained perfectly still from beginning to end, mocking them with their inactivity.
Meanwhile, the sound of Ulquiorra lifting his rod continued rhythmically.
Swish. Plop. Thud.
Swish. Plop. Thud.
It was a torture session.
Finally, Rem walked over with a clipboard, looking apologetic but professional.
"Report," Rem said sweetly, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife.
"Including the Sea King just now... Lord Ulquiorra has caught one hundred and fifty-five fish. The cooler is full. Ram is complaining about lack of storage space."
Rem's voice was sweet yet cruel in its honesty.
"Lord Suzaku, Lord Madara... today's ingredients are already more than enough. We have enough to feed the Giants for a week. So how about we call it a d—"
"NO!"
"NO!"
Two determined roars erupted simultaneously.
Suzaku and Uchiha Madara glared at each other, sparks flying between their eyes. Then, both snorted coldly at the same time, turned their heads away, and continued to stubbornly stare at the water.
"I haven't even started yet," Madara growled.
"The big ones come out at noon," Suzaku lied through his teeth.
Watching these two powerful men sulk like children, Ulquiorra, who had been expressionless all this time, suddenly paused.
He looked at his hands. He looked at the pile of fish. Then he looked at the backs of his Captain and the Ninja God.
A sensation rose in his chest. It wasn't emptiness. It was... amusement? Satisfaction?
A visible, tiny smile touched the corners of his lips.
He paused, instinctively touching his mouth.
What is this?
I feel... superior.
So... this is "desire to win"? Ulquiorra realized. Emotions arising from a simple victory or defeat. The validation of capability against peers.
So, this was the true meaning behind the Captain sending me to fish. It wasn't about food. It was about the ego.
A piece of the puzzle called "Heart" was experienced by him and embedded into his hollow chest.
Ulquiorra silently put away his fishing rod. He dismantled it with practiced ease.
He stood up.
He looked at the two figures still struggling against the sea, their backs radiating frustration. In his usual calm tone, he dropped a highly damaging remark.
"I'm going back inside first," Ulquiorra said. "The sun is getting warm."
He walked past them.
"Good luck to you two, but... based on current data trends... I calculate a 99% probability that you won't be able to beat me today. Or ever."
With that, he turned and left, disappearing into the cabin.
CRACK.
Madara's fishing rod splintered slightly. Suzaku's float bobbed from the sheer force of his sigh.
Ulquiorra left them in disarray in the wind.
The atmospheric pressure around them dropped even further. Neither of them would reel in their rods first. It was a game of chicken now. Whoever moved first would be the one who lost more thoroughly. They would be... the last place!
[Later that Afternoon]
After Ulquiorra's figure disappeared, only two stubborn "fishing enthusiasts" remained on the deck, still battling the calm sea.
The atmosphere in the air was even more tense than when the three had been facing off earlier. It was suffocating.
Between Suzaku and Uchiha Madara, there was no verbal communication now. Only an undercurrent of silent competition.
He hasn't caught one yet, Madara thought. If I catch one... just one... I win the duel of patience.
He's still here, Suzaku thought. Stubborn old ghost. Go take a nap!
After a while longer, Uchiha Madara finally couldn't sit still.
He snorted coldly, stood up, and walked directly to the spot where Ulquiorra had been sitting earlier. He cast his rod again into the "lucky spot."
Suzaku glanced at him sideways, chuckling inwardly.
Changing seats? Do you think this is mahjong to change your luck? Does the Ghost of the Uchiha believe in superstition?
Our ship is moving at 20 knots, Madara! The "spot" is miles behind us! What's the use of changing seats!
However, reality was cruel to both of them.
Time passed minute by minute. Their floats still seemed welded to the sea surface. They were like two aloof Sea-Stabilizing Needles, remaining unmoving despite the sea breeze.
Uchiha Madara's face was as dark as a thundercloud. His Sharingan was spinning furiously, analyzing the water molecularly, trying to find a fish to genjutsu into biting.
The faint low pressure around him made Rem and Ram, who were peeking from nearby, instinctively take two steps back.
"Sister, sister," Rem whispered. "Lord Madara looks like he's going to kill the fish in the sea with his eyes. He's using Killing Intent."
"Rem, Rem," Ram replied softly. "Lord Madara's aura has already made the fish schools detour for ten kilometers. Nothing living will come near that rod."
Just as Suzaku was also about to lose patience, pondering what excuse to use for a dignified exit ("The sea is tired," perhaps?), the familiar System Panel suddenly popped up in front of him.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Lines of data flowed rapidly across the interface.
[Subordinate: Akame]
[Legendary Degree + 58]
[Legendary Degree + 72]
[Legendary Degree + 121]
[Legendary Degree + 500]
...The Legendary Degree was soaring at a visible speed. It quickly broke through ten thousand, then twenty thousand, finally settling steadily at just over thirty thousand.
Suzaku was startled at first, then realized what was happening.
"Oh? Akame's Legendary Degree is rising so fast?"
His mind raced, and he instantly understood the key.
"It seems Katakuri released the news... Well done, Katakuri! You're a man of your word."
"Drought" Jack. A major figure of the Beasts Pirates. One of the Three Calamities. A billion-berry bounty.
The explosive nature of the news that such a prominent figure was cut down by an unknown newcomer—a girl with a cursed sword—was unimaginable. It was the biggest news in the New World since Whitebeard took Fish-Man Island.
It was foreseeable that the entire New World—from Dressrosa to Wano—was probably now discussing the "Suzaku Pirates" and that mysterious female swordswoman!
Thinking of this, Suzaku's accumulated frustration from not catching fish immediately vanished. It was replaced by a fatherly sense of relief and pride.
Excellent, excellent! This wave of Legendary Degree was comfortably earned! Akame pulled her weight.
With his mood improved, everything looked much better to him. Even the empty ocean seemed full of promise.
Just then.
Bob.
Suzaku's peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of his "Sea-Stabilizing Needle" actually... moving!
The float dipped down!
It's here!
Suzaku's spirits lifted. Adrenaline rushed through him.
He flicked his wrist sharply, instantly reeling in the rod with the grace of a master swordsman sheathing his blade.
"HAHAHA!"
Suzaku laughed, his voice booming.
"Madara! Look! It seems my skill is superior after all!"
Accompanied by his hearty laughter, a shimmering silver "trophy" was pulled out of the sea. It arced weakly through the air, glistening in the sun.
Then... the air suddenly went silent.
Flop. Flop.
On the end of the fishing line, dangling pitifully, was a small fish fry.
It was the size of a palm. It was not even as thick as a chopstick. Its mouth opened and closed, seemingly expressing its bewilderment and innocence at being abducted by an Emperor.
Suzaku: "..."
Uchiha Madara: "..."
The silence stretched for an eternity.
Madara slowly turned his head. His oppressive, Sharingan-infused gaze shifted from the pitifully small fish to Suzaku's instantly stiff smile.
"Cough!"
Suzaku's face uncharacteristically reddened slightly.
He quickly removed the small fish from the hook. He held it in his palm with a profound expression, as if it were a rare jewel.
He forced an explanation, his voice grave.
"Though the fish is small... it is still a catch. It is life."
He looked at Madara.
"You wouldn't understand, Madara. A true angler fishes for a state of mind. A state of single-mindedness! Not the size of the catch. The size is vulgar. The act is divine."
"Having something is better than nothing. That is the philosophy."
Saying this, he turned his gaze to Uchiha Madara, a victorious and magnanimous smile on his face.
"So, Madara... this competition is won by me and Ulquiorra. The score is 2 to 1 to 0."
He pointed at Madara's empty bucket.
"You... lost!"
Before his words could even finish, he casually tossed the significant small fish back into the sea.
Splash.
"Be free, little one."
Then, Suzaku turned and walked away. His actions were seamless, fluid, giving Uchiha Madara no chance to retort. He walked with the stride of a winner, hiding his shame deep in his heart.
"I'm going to check the navigation! Good luck, Madara!"
He left.
Leaving only Uchiha Madara sitting in place.
The aura around the Ninja God became even more somber and terrifying. Blue chakra began to leak from his armor.
The sea breeze blew, stirring his long, spiky black hair.
Suzaku, walking away, looked back one last time.
He saw Madara's silhouette against the setting sun. Lonely. Powerful. Stubborn.
It reminded him of a phrase from a novel he once read.
"Turning his back on all beings, dominating the ages alone."
It was a cool image.
Until Madara threw his fishing rod into the ocean and blew up a wave with a fireball.
"DAMN IT!"
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