บท 21: New Mission

---

Akira couldn't help but laugh at the situation unfolding before him.

Hancock raised an eyebrow, suspicious. "What are you laughing at?"

"It's nothing, just happy for the family," Akira replied, trying to downplay his amusement.

Hancock rolled her eyes, obviously not buying it. She still couldn't quite figure him out. Although they had only met today, something about him irked her—perhaps it was the ease with which he defeated her. She had a sneaking suspicion that Akira always had something up his sleeve, constantly plotting his next move.

The Uchiha clan had always been misunderstood, their nature twisted by outsiders like the Second Hokage, who spread the belief that the Sharingan's power led its users to darkness. But Akira knew that the true villain wasn't the Uchiha's bloodline—it was Konoha, and their deeply entrenched system of mistrust. The village's treatment of the Uchiha had been the real cause of their downfall.

He thought back to the Uchiha coup that had been forced upon them by the manipulations of Konoha's leadership. The Uchiha were simply more emotional and deeply tied to their sense of justice, yet this was weaponized against them. As a result, they were ostracized. It was Konoha's Will of Fire, the doctrine that preached unity yet sowed suspicion, that had planted seeds of doubt in the minds of its people. And now, it was too late to uproot those doubts.

Akira had no such loyalty to Konoha. He wasn't like Shisui or Itachi, who placed the Hokage and village above all else. He was raised by his family and only cared for his clan. If it ever came down to choosing between Konoha or the Uchiha, his decision was clear: he would destroy the entire village if necessary.

For now, though, Akira had bigger concerns. The chaotic state of the ninja world was the reason he had led his clan away to this strange pirate world. The world was on the brink of conflict, and the Uchiha clan needed a safe haven to rebuild.

---

[Ding! Trigger a new mission: Population Crisis]

[Task Content: The population of the Uchiha clan has drastically declined, endangering the future of the family. To ensure the clan's survival, the population must increase to at least 500 members.]

[Current progress: 301/500.]

[Task Reward: Two Tomoe Sharingan.]

Hearing the new mission, Akira smirked. Another task. He had grown fond of the system's missions, which had brought him unexpected rewards. Although this particular prize wouldn't make a huge difference to him, every little bit helped. He had learned to appreciate the small gains, knowing they would eventually add up.

But the real question was: how to increase the population?

He couldn't just force people to have children. That would be ridiculous. But... encouraging marriages? That might work.

Back in Konoha, the Uchiha had faced discrimination, and no girl from the village wanted to marry into the clan. This had led to a decline in the number of births within the Uchiha family. But things were different here. This was Amazon Lily, a country of women, and plenty of them were already showing interest in the men from his clan.

Akira looked around, noticing how the women of the Amazon Lily Island were practically swarming the Uchiha men. Some were even bold enough to express their desire to have children with the men outright. The Uchiha men, completely out of their element, were blushing from all the attention. They had never experienced anything like this before.

Suddenly, Akira realized the mission might not be as hard as he originally thought.

---

In the grand palace of Kuja City, Marigold couldn't help but voice her concerns.

"Sister, is it too rash to allow these outsiders into Amazon Lily? We know nothing about them."

Sandersonia, her other sister, sighed. "Whether it's a blessing or a curse, we can't avoid it. From what I've seen, these men aren't hiding their power, and what they've shown us is only the tip of the iceberg."

She shuddered at the memory. "The boy I fought… I could feel something terrifying locked inside him. If that power were to be released, I wouldn't stand a chance."

Marigold's eyes widened in shock. Her sister's Observation Haki was second to none on the island, so if she sensed danger, it had to be real. "If that's true, then the strongest of them must be Akira, the one who fought Hancock. His strength seemed boundless."

Sandersonia nodded gravely. "Yes, his strength was overwhelming. He defeated Hancock with ease, and none of us even saw how he moved."

At that moment, Hancock, who had been silently listening, smirked. "You two are worrying too much. Have you forgotten who I am?"

Marigold and Sandersonia blinked in confusion.

"I am Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress. No man can resist my charm. Not even Akira."

Both sisters paused, then exchanged knowing glances. Of course. How could they forget? Their sister was famed for her beauty, and no man had ever been able to stand against it. Surely Akira would eventually fall under her spell.

"You're right, Sister," Marigold said with a grin. "If we give it time, Akira will be wrapped around your finger."

Sandersonia nodded in agreement. "And once he is, Amazon Lily will have gained not just an ally, but an army of powerful warriors."

They both looked at Hancock with admiration. Their sister had always been clever and farsighted, and it seemed this time was no different.

As the feast continued, Akira couldn't help but feel like something deeper was at play. But for now, he had his mission. The Uchiha clan would grow, and he would ensure their survival.

This was only the beginning.

...