Chiyu did not hesitate. He entrusted his three prized Devil Fruit items to his own men:
Funkfreed — the sword that has eaten the Elephant‑Elephant Fruit (Zoan), the Ox‑Ox Fruit, Model: Giraffe, and the Bubble‑Bubble Fruit.
The three Headquarters Lieutenants who had followed him from the start had all been promoted to the rank of Major when Chiyu himself became a Vice Admiral.
They are:
1. Blade – a master swordsman, who received the elephant sword and was overjoyed.
2. Box – a hand‑to‑hand‑combat specialist, who obtained the Ox‑Ox Fruit (Giraffe form).
3. Barbara – the only woman among the three Majors, who received the Bubble‑Bubble Fruit.
During the time they had served under him, each had proved unshakeable loyalty, so these rewards were only fitting.
All three soon grasped their new powers, giving Chiyu's unit another huge boost in strength.
They exchanged a glance and said solemnly:
"Vice Admiral, we have followed you to the ends of the earth and witnessed countless battles. Your brand of justice has already won our deepest respect!
No matter how Marine Headquarters deals with this incident, we will follow in your footsteps without question!"
This was their public declaration.
Everyone knew that Chiyu's actions could get him expelled from the Navy—or even hunted by the World Government—yet they resolved to follow him anyway.
Brigadier General Hina smiled faintly. "Hina feels the same."
Nami flashed a bright grin. "Nami too!"
Seeing this, Iceburg was suddenly moved.
"Vice Admiral, I… I have an impertinent request… may I…?"
"Speak."
"Please take Franky with you," Iceburg said.
Franky gaped. "Iceburg, what nonsense are you talking about!"
Iceburg answered gravely, "It is not nonsense.
"Franky, you and I both understand the situation. If you stay in Water 7, you'll only bring disaster on the city!"
Franky realized Iceburg was saying this deliberately to force him to leave—for his own protection. Franky's secret was still hidden, but the World Government would never let matters rest; if he stayed, they would eventually find him.
The only truly safe place left was aboard Vice Admiral Uchiha Chiyu's warship—a fact tonight's events had proven.
Iceburg had thought it through carefully.
Franky fell silent; he, too, knew the consequences of staying. Yet…
Everyone looked toward Chiyu.
Chiyu did not refuse. "Very well."
Franky was stunned—and inexplicably melancholy.
"Vice Admiral, I—"
Iceburg exhaled in relief and smiled. "Well? Hurry up and thank the Vice Admiral!"
Many things still could not be said aloud, even here. Chiyu had killed Spandam and the others, avenging their teacher Tom. To them, Chiyu was more than the hero who saved Water 7; he was also their benefactor in vengeance—a debt they could never repay.
Franky dropped to his knees with a thud.
"Thank you, Vice Admiral! From this day on, I, Franky, swear to follow you unto death!"
With that vow, Franky's future was sealed.
As for Franky's own workers and followers…
Iceburg smiled. "Don't worry, Franky. I'll take good care of your brothers and sisters here."
Though saddened by Franky's departure, they brightened at Iceburg's words and broke into smiles.
"New boss!"
"Boss Iceburg, looking good!"
Franky: "…Hey, hey!"
Laughter finally echoed across the ruins of Water 7.
…
At the same time — Marineford, Marine Headquarters
Fleet Admiral Sengoku convened an emergency meeting to discuss the unauthorized Buster Call and the matter of Uchiha Chiyu.
Vice Admiral Tsuru, Vice Admiral Garp, the three Admirals, and many other Vice Admirals attended.
Sengoku's face was grim.
"I assume you all know what happened.
CP9 has been wiped out, and the World Government wants an explanation.
Furthermore, the Buster Call was launched again—without any valid cause, and aimed solely at innocent civilians!
Most importantly… Uchiha Chiyu!
He killed every CP9 agent and stopped the Buster Call. Word of this cannot be contained; soon the whole world will know.
How are we to handle it?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru said sternly:
"Sengoku, if the Buster Call had no purpose and targeted innocents, isn't Chiyu's intervention a good thing? Have we forgotten what our Navy's justice is for?"
Sengoku replied:
"Perhaps—but the Buster Call is meant not only to destroy enemies; it exists to deter them. If it can be thwarted, its very meaning disappears.
I personally dislike using it, but it remains one of the Government's necessary deterrents."
Vice Admiral Garp laughed.
"Even so, once it's been stopped once, it can be stopped again—its deterrent power is finished!
Think of the Seven Warlords: if they can neither deter other pirates nor keep themselves from treason, their title is worthless!"
Sengoku sighed.
"What's terrifying is that one man did all this."
He looked at Admiral Akainu.
"Sakazuki, what do you think of Uchiha Chiyu now? Even you can't agree with his justice—after all, you've never spared civilians."
Akainu answered coolly:
"Indeed. Had I been there, I'd have ignored the so‑called civilians.
CP9 went to Water 7 to seek the blueprints of the ancient weapon Pluton, left by Tom, who once built Roger's ship.
If such a terror were to surface, I'd destroy all of Water 7 without hesitation for true justice."
Admiral Kizaru drawled mockingly, "Oh my, how heartless, Sakazuki…"
Akainu snorted.
"But this Buster Call wasn't authorized by me, was it, Aokiji?"
Admiral Aokiji, lounging with legs crossed and hands behind his head, replied lazily:
"Right. I gave CP9 the Golden Den‑Den Mushi, but I never ordered the launch.
It must have been that fool Spandam acting on his own."
Akainu sneered:
"Trying to dodge responsibility?
Your brand of justice never included butchering civilians. What—are you coming around to mine?"
The two Admirals traded barbs while the Vice Admirals held their breath.
Aokiji shook his head.
"It was an accident, not my intent."
Akainu shot back:
"Without Chiyu, Water 7's people would all be dead! Can you shrug that off as 'an accident'?"
Aokiji replied, "Ara ara… Sakazuki, since when do you care about civilians? That's not like you…"
Akainu growled, "Compared to you suddenly slaughtering civilians, my change is nothing!"
Sengoku cut in wearily:
"Enough, both of you.
The deed is done; what matters is how we deal with it."
Tsuru thought for a long moment.
"Sengoku, CP9 is the Government's secret agency. Even without Chiyu, failure on a mission like this usually means their members are erased."
Sengoku nodded.
"True, but dismissal and being killed by Marines are different."
Tsuru continued:
"How we judge Chiyu depends on our stance.
If we disapprove, he's broken countless laws—removal and even a bounty would be natural.
If we approve, he's merely another maverick Marine enforcing his own justice.
"So—does the Navy still need a man like Uchiha Chiyu?"
Sengoku pondered.
"Personally, I believe the Navy should tolerate differing views of justice—just as our three Admirals each pursue their own.
I therefore favor keeping Chiyu, though punishment is necessary."
He surveyed the room. "Opinions?"
Kizaru shrugged. "I neither support nor oppose…"
Surprisingly, Aokiji voted in favor:
"I support keeping Uchiha Chiyu."
Akainu voted against:
"Hmph. How hypocritical of you, Aokiji…
You caused this mess and now back our enemy to preserve your lazy justice?
I oppose letting Chiyu stay!"
Sengoku was taken aback.
"Sakazuki, Chiyu was always your brightest protégé!"
Akainu said icily:
"Precisely why his actions disappoint me!
To spare 'innocent civilians,' he fought CP9 and stopped the Buster Call—that is not the justice I want in the Marines!"
Their reversed stances left everyone stunned.
Sengoku turned to Garp and Tsuru.
Garp laughed. "I vote to keep him!"
Tsuru nodded. "So do I—but he must be punished, or neither Chiyu nor the Government will learn a lesson."
Sengoku summed up:
"Understood. I will bear the World Government's pressure.
Bury the CP9 and Buster Call incidents as best we can.
As for Uchiha Chiyu… demote him to Rear Admiral and issue an internal censure throughout the Navy!"
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"