"Eh?!"
All the women of Amazon Lily were stunned.
"Th-they're men?!"
"First time seeing one…"
They stared at Akemi and the others as if they were rare animals. In this country, men were practically mythical creatures.
"…"
The men of the Uchiha Clan — Akemi included — were speechless. What's so special about being men?
Kikyo's face darkened. "Men have come here — and so many of them! This is a disaster! Prepare to attack!!"
All the women raised their bows, aiming at the men. Though curious, they were warriors sworn to protect their nation. In their legends, men were greedy and dangerous creatures.
Akemi immediately raised his hand. "Wait!"
"I told you — we came here by accident. We don't want to fight."
Kikyo barked, "I don't believe your lies! This is the women's empire, Amazon Lily! 'No Men Allowed' has been our law for centuries! Never once has it been broken!!"
Akemi scratched his head helplessly.
He had fled all the way to the One Piece world — and still ended up in a fight.
"Seriously, I hate conflicts…"
"Fire!!"
Kikyo gave the order, and a rain of arrows flew toward them.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!!"
Among the crowd, the Uchiha clan ninjas had already finished weaving their hand signs. Before the enemy's arrows could even reach them, multiple earth walls rose up, surrounding the Uchiha and shielding them completely.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Amazon warriors' arrows struck the earthen barriers, creating small craters on the surface—but not one managed to pierce through.
"What is this?!"
The amazons were taken aback. Walls of earth rising from the ground to protect outsiders? Were these people using some sort of sorcery?
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Several figures leapt up from behind the walls.
"Loose!"
The Amazon warriors quickly fired another volley, but their arrows missed every target. In mere seconds, the Uchiha had closed the distance.
"Damn it! They're invaders! Kill them all!"
Kikyo's face darkened. The way they moved—with that speed and precision—these people were clearly hardened fighters. Could they be invaders sent by the World Government?
Suddenly, a cold voice came from behind her.
"You'd better not move."
At the same time, a sharp blade pressed against her neck, its chill biting into her skin.
Kikyo's expression froze. "When did you—?"
She hadn't even seen the attacker's movement. Looking around, she realized most of her comrades had already been subdued. Even Elder Nyon, the elder, had a silent blade pressed against her shoulder by Shisui.
Elder Nyon's face turned grim. The power these people displayed was overwhelming—especially the boy who had spoken. She could feel that if he wished, he could kill them all in an instant.
"Who are you people?" she demanded.
Though she had lived her later years on Amazon Lily, she had always kept an eye on the outside world. Yet she had never heard of such powerful individuals—especially a group where many possessed crimson, ominous eyes.
The young man smiled warmly. "Don't worry. We're the Uchiha clan. You can think of us as a reclusive family. We mean no harm. Our migration was… interrupted, and we accidentally ended up here. This place—the Calm Belt, right? Leaving safely won't be easy. We could use some assistance."
Elder Nyon pondered for a moment, then replied, "This is not a decision I can make. Only the Snake Princess can decide."
"That's fine. We'll wait for her return."
He sheathed his sword, and the others followed. The amazons were stunned—they hadn't expected their attackers to withdraw so easily.
"My apologies for the disturbance," the young man said, taking out a gold bar and handing it to her. "My clansmen are weary from the long journey. We'd appreciate a place to rest and eat."
Elder Nyon accepted the gold and nodded. "Very well. Please, come into the city."
The young man—Akemi—led his people back toward their group.
Kikyo frowned. "Wait! Elder Nyon, how can you allow them into the city? Especially with so many men—"
Cold sweat beaded on Elder Nyon's forehead. "And what would you have me do? Let them roam free? Didn't you see their expressions when they lowered their weapons? They weren't afraid of us at all. They didn't see us as a threat."
She paused, her tone deepening. "That means they're confident they could destroy us if they wished. If we fight them now, the island will suffer greatly. Until the Snake Princess returns, our only task is to keep them calm."
Kikyo fell silent. She understood. Those people hadn't shown a hint of fear—even the elderly and the children among them looked completely sure of themselves.
---
Soon, the Uchiha were escorted into the Amazon city.
The settlement lay in a valley at the center of the island, surrounded by cliffs adorned with elegant castle-like structures. The architecture reminded them of Konoha's old noble estates, but more refined—almost artistic.
Snake motifs were everywhere—on carvings, walls, and even coiled around people's arms. The totem of the serpent was clearly worshipped here.
The Uchiha were housed in one of the cliffside fortresses. Spacious enough for their three hundred members, it felt surprisingly comfortable.
"Apologies," said Elder Nyon. "We've never hosted outsiders before. There are no inns on Amazon Lily. Given your… circumstances, this is the best accommodation I can offer."
"This will do nicely. Thank you," Akemi replied.
"One more thing—please refrain from wandering. The girls here have never seen men before. If you go out, misunderstandings may arise."
"When will the Snake Princess return?"
"In about two days, perhaps. But with the sea, nothing is certain."
"Understood. I'll keep everyone in line."
Elder Nyon exhaled in relief. Despite Akemi's gentle demeanor, she felt an eerie pressure from him—like standing before a human-shaped monster.
Later, a banquet was arranged. The Uchiha easily detected that the food was poison-free and ate with confidence. After the meal, they rested—exhausted after their long escape from Konoha.
Inside the hall, the clan elders, elites, and clan head Fugaku gathered around Akemi.
"Akemi, this place is perfect for us," Fugaku said. "The Calm Belt is a natural barrier, and the city itself is defensible. If we seize it, our clan could thrive."
He wasn't wrong—this island was a paradise for the Uchiha to rebuild.
Akemi nodded. "I understand your thinking. But if we take this place by force, it'll only spark rebellion. The damage would ruin the island's ecosystem and turn this advantage into a curse."
Shisui suggested, "I could use Kotoamatsukami to control their Snake Princess."
"That would work, but it's too wasteful," Akemi replied. "Your ability's cooldown is too long. Cooperation would serve us better than conquest."
"Would they even cooperate with us? They're said to be extremely isolationist," another elder asked.
"Leave that to me," Akemi said with a faint smile. He had no intention of giving up on Amazon Lily.
Fugaku gave a knowing look. "So you already have a plan."
"Something like that. For now, everyone should rest. We'll be living in this world for quite some time."
Akemi stretched lazily, and the tension in the room eased. They had survived the coup attempt in Konoha without casualties. Now, a new world—and a new future—awaited the Uchiha.
---
Outside, Elder Nyon approached Kikyo.
"How are they behaving?"
"They've done nothing suspicious," Kikyo replied. "They ate, then rested."
"Keep watching them closely," Elder Nyon said sternly. "Do not let your guard down."
"Yes, ma'am. But… who are they really?"
"I don't know," Elder Nyon admitted. "Our island's isolation makes outside news scarce. But one thing's certain—they are terrifyingly strong. Without the Snake Princess here, we can't afford to provoke them."