One Piece: Take the Uchiha Clan to the Grand Line

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"To be honest, I never expected to find myself in this position. It's like a giant pie falling from the sky and hitting me square on the head. It was luck, maybe!"

"But do you think I'd just walk away from that? Absolutely not!"

"I'm no saint, nor am I some charity worker. I have my clan, my company, and responsibilities. My decisions aren't just about me—they're about the future of my clan and my business."

"As the saying goes, 'Deal with internal threats first before dealing with external threats.'"

"I've called you all here today to address these issues. First, let me make one thing clear: I have no intention of becoming a pirate. My security company isn't a pirate crew, and my people aren't and won't be pirates."

Uchiha Kitaro's declaration stirred unrest among the gathered captains.

"What do you mean by that?!"

"Are you looking down on pirates?!"

Many reacted with frustration, their voices rising.

"Most of you came to Whitebeard out of admiration for the old man, hoping he'd become the Pirate King. But now that he's gone, the bonds that held you together have weakened."

"For those who wish to stay, I can offer you a place in the Uchiha Security Company. But there are rules you'll need to follow—rules that align with the company's vision. For those who don't want to stay, who still long for freedom, you're free to leave now."

As soon as Kitaro finished, one of the pirate captains stood up.

"Apologies, Uchiha Kitaro. I'm a pirate—always have been, always will be. I have no desire to become an employee of some company."

Kitaro nodded calmly. "Understood. All I ask is that you don't interfere with the interests of the Uchiha Security Company in the future. Cross that line, and I won't hold back."

Another stood and added, "You killed my captain but saved the rest of us. You also recovered Whitebeard's body. For that, I feel both hatred and gratitude. However, joining you would go against my principles and dishonor my captain's memory."

"I understand. Once you leave, what you choose to do—be it seeking revenge or something else—is entirely up to you. That's your freedom."

Despite his words, the departing captains harbored no thoughts of revenge. The image of Kitaro single-handedly decimating Marineford and taking on the combined might of the Admirals, Sengoku, and Garp was seared into their minds. Challenging him would be suicide.

One by one, the captains began to leave. By the end, none of the 43 allied crews under Whitebeard remained.

"Boss..." Marco hesitated to speak, his tone laced with concern. Losing so many experienced fighters felt like a wasted opportunity.

"I know what you're thinking," Kitaro said, cutting him off. "But a crew without its soul is nothing more than a scattered mob. I'm not Whitebeard. I'm not their 'Old Man.' In fact, I'm younger than most of them."

The room fell silent.

It was easy to forget that Kitaro was only 18—a mere teenager. Yet, here he stood as the strongest man in the world. His story felt like a miracle born from unimaginable hardship.

"At the age of one, I lost my parents to war. By six, I was already on the battlefield, and by eight, I was the Uchiha Clan's strongest warrior. I've never known a father's love, so how could I emulate it?"

The remaining crew members listened intently, shocked by the harshness of his upbringing.

"I was raised by my clan. Everything I do is to repay them and to secure my future. As for you, many of you joined Whitebeard for different reasons—admiration, pride, or even self-interest, like Blackbeard. Regardless of your motives, those ties have now dissolved. What remains is up to you."

"Stay if you wish. Leave if you prefer. I'll bear no grudges against those who depart."

His words sparked another wave of departures.

"Carlba? Lancy? You too?" Marco's voice trembled as more stood to leave.

(Aren't names from the anime.)

"Sorry, Marco," one replied. "I joined to see the Old Man become Pirate King. Now that dream is gone, I can't abandon my identity as a pirate."

"I feel the same. I'm a pirate to my core."

In the end, the once-mighty Whitebeard Pirates dwindled to a mere 300 members.

Marco couldn't hide his disappointment. What had once been a formidable fleet of over 5,000 now stood reduced to a fraction.

"300 people... more than I expected to stay," Kitaro said casually.

Marco and Jozu exchanged bewildered glances. 'More than expected?' they thought. For most leaders, such a small number would be a failure, yet Kitaro seemed unfazed.

"Well then, bring the sake!" Kitaro commanded.

A large barrel of sake was brought onto the ship. Kitaro pricked his finger, letting a single drop of blood fall into the barrel.

"This sake will bind us. From today onward, you are members of the Uchiha Security Company."

The remaining members raised their cups in unison, their voices resolute:

"We swear loyalty under your command! We pledge to serve you, Uchiha Kitaro, as both shield and spear!"

"Our will is our own! We willingly stake our lives and futures! With this drink, we seal our bond as sworn allies!"

"Cheers!"

It was the Oath of Loyalty.

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