Gan Fall was left speechless by Kitaro's decration, stunned by the gravity of his words.

  "Since everyone is here, I'll make an announcement," Kitaro began, his voice echoing across the isnd. "From today forward, this isnd and the surrounding Sky Isnds are now under the domain of Amazon Lily and my Uchiha cn." He smirked, raising his chin. "I, Uchiha Kitaro, am the new god of Sky Isnd."

  As he spoke, an orange-yellow exoskeleton formed around him like sun. In a fsh, his fully-formed Susanoo appeared once more, its sheer presence casting a daunting shadow across the nd. With this, Kitaro rose into the air, towering over the awestruck onlookers.

  "He's flying!" someone whispered in awe.

  Skypieans and Shandians alike gaped at the sight. While they had harnessed shells and other methods to simute flight, seeing someone hover in the air through sheer power alone was beyond their comprehension.

  Kitaro raised the sword in his Susanoo's hand, slicing it through the sky with a casual swipe. The dense clouds parted instantly, creating a split that ran across the horizon as if the heavens themselves had been cleaved.

  "He... he split the sky in two!"

  The crowd trembled in silent awe, their minds clinging to a single, resounding thought: god. Compared to Enel, Kitaro's dispy of power felt like a true vision of divinity.

  The Shandians fell to their knees, despair heavy on their faces. In the presence of Kitaro's might, their years of rebellion felt as fragile as sand blown by the wind.

  Kitaro withdrew Susanoo and hovered above them. "From this day on, I will be the god of Sky Isnd. Unlike Enel, I have no desire to destroy this nd. A pce as unique as Sky Isnd deserves preservation," he decred, gncing down at the awestruck crowd. "In fact, if I wished, I could bring more isnds into the sky. But that's too troublesome. For now, this will remain the Upper Yard, Isnd of the Gods."

  He pointed at the Shandians and the Skypieans . "You two tribes will govern this pce. Fight if you wish; settle your conflicts as you like. I'm not here to interfere."

  Finally, he turned back to the altar. "I'll be taking all this gold. If you want it back, feel free to come to the surface and find me. By then, the world will know the name of Uchiha Kitaro."

  With those final words, Kitaro nded gracefully atop the Golden Bell's altar. The entire altar rose into the air, nding on Enel's golden ark, where the Kuja crew awaited. One by one, they boarded, and the ship began its ascent.

  Below, Gan Fall, Wyper, and the remaining Shandians watched, confused and dazed. Kitaro had defeated Enel, cimed the title of god, and yet... he was leaving. Taking Enel, the gold, and their grudges with him.

  Wyper clenched his fists, staring up as the ship disappeared. "Damn it! I swear, I'll take back the Golden Bell one day!"

  The Shandians were silent, their resolve shaken. They had fought four hundred years to recim their homend, sacrificing countless lives. And now, without resistance, they stood upon it once more, barely daring to believe it was theirs again. They realized, though Kitaro had taken the gold, he had left them something far more precious: their nd.

  Onboard, Hancock gnced at Kitaro, her curiosity piqued. "Why let them live?" She frowned, remembering her impulse to turn them to stone for their insolence.

  "Leaving them alive costs me nothing, and gratitude, even forced, can be useful. If I need them in the future, they'll be there. Sometimes, sparing someone pays off," he replied. "Besides, a live popution is worth more than gold."

  Hancock mulled over his answer, a smirk forming on her lips. She saw the wisdom behind his choice, but she wouldn't admit it out loud.

  As their ship drifted lower, skimming the clouds before plunging back to sea level, everyone seemed to rex. The sea brought a sense of stability after the surreal, floating Sky Isnd.

  When they reached the ocean, the crew's excitement grew as they eyed the hold full of gold. For the Kuja crew, even a single box of treasure was a valuable haul; this amount of gold could enrich their entire nation.

  "I'll need a Den Den Mushi for contact and an Eternal Pose for Amazon Lily," Kitaro said.

  "What for?" Hancock asked.

  "Just want to see more of this world and handle a few things," Kitaro replied, grinning. "Last time I was here, I barely had a chance to explore."

  Shisui stepped forward eagerly. "Can I come too?"

  Itachi remained silent, though the glint in his eyes showed he was keen to join them. At eleven and fourteen, the first half of the Grand Line was a vast pyground for the two young Uchiha.

  Kitaro gave orders to them. "Take the gold back first. It's too obvious a target and will definitely attract attention. Use a bck cloth to cover it, and travel through the Calm Belt straight to Amazon Lily. Once the gold is secure, you can come find me."

  Although Hancock also wanted to travel with him, she knew her duty y in escorting the gold back. She gave a frustrated huff, reluctantly handing him a Den Den Mushi and an Eternal Pose. Kitaro took them with a grin, tucking Enel into a burp sack before taking off, waving to the crew.

  "See you all soon!" he called out, flying just above the waves.

  "Vice-Captain, come back safe!" one of the crew shouted.

  "Yeah, bring us even more treasure!" another cheered.

  "Vice-Captain, I want to have your baby!" a third added, causing Kitaro to stumble mid-air in surprise before he caught himself, ughing along with the rest of the crew.

  As he flew toward his next adventure, Kitaro felt a surge of excitement. The sky, the sea, and the vast, uncharted world stretched before him, ripe for exploration. The Uchiha had taken to the skies—and nothing would ever be the same again.

  ...