The subsequent descent was extremely calm, with no reckless sea beasts or Sea Kings attacking this small glowing boat.
Of course, this might also have something to do with that terrifying Conqueror's Haki intimidation.
It wasn't until a faint light appeared below that Naruto finally ended his half-reclined, meditative state and stood up again.
At that moment, a few figures suddenly appeared in front of Naruto's small boat.
They were fish-men with fish-like heads, and their auras were all quite powerful… completely different from Arlong's level back in Nami's hometown.
"Pirates? Or Marines?"
The leading fish-man was also seeing someone arrive at Fish-Man Island alone in a coated boat for the first time.
"Not a pirate. I'm just a traveler."
Naruto had always been very clear about his own identity.
Similarly, he also knew exactly whose subordinates these fish-men were.
"Step aside."
Sure enough, just as the leading fish-man was about to ask something else, another shark fish-man with a broad upper body, narrow lower body, and the number '8' tattooed on his neck swiftly swam over from a distance.
This person was also an old acquaintance of Naruto's..
Namur, the 8th Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
The reason they were responsible for the perimeter security of Fish-Man Island was because this place had already been claimed under Whitebeard's territory.
As everyone knew, mermaids had always been the most prized commodities for slave traders, so every year, many slave traders or pirates would sneak into Fish-Man Island, attempting to make a fortune by selling mermaids.
After Whitebeard declared his protection over Fish-Man Island, the number of people who dared to directly abduct mermaids decreased significantly.
However, as a result, those who still did such things usually had the confidence to back it up.
Either they were certain they wouldn't be caught, or they simply weren't afraid of Whitebeard's reputation.
This, in turn, led to a period where the abduction of mermaids became even more rampant in the outside world.
Soon, Whitebeard's side also took countermeasures.
He dispatched Namur, the only fish-man Division Commander in his crew, to be stationed near Fish-Man Island long-term to guard against suspicious individuals.
As for pirates who simply wanted to pass through Fish-Man Island to reach the New World, Whitebeard wouldn't block them.
"Namur, it's been a while."
It had been several years since Naruto last attended a banquet on Whitebeard's flagship, the Moby Dick… back then, Ace hadn't even joined yet.
This was also the first time Namur had seen Naruto in all these years.
Though Namur had a fierce appearance, a deep voice, and wasn't much of a talker, Naruto, who had shared drinks with him before, knew that this guy was actually cold on the outside but warm-hearted and gentle on the inside.
As he approached, a faint smile appeared on Namur's face… clearly, he was also somewhat pleasantly surprised by Naruto's arrival.
"Nice boat."
He was referring to the Gale Breaker. In Namur's memory, Uzumaki Naruto never seemed to have a fixed ship.
"Haha… right? I think so too."
Naruto scratched his head, gladly accepting the compliment.
He himself was also very satisfied with the Gale Breaker.
"Go on in."
When it came to Naruto's character, Namur had zero doubts, so he directly signaled his subordinates to make way, allowing Naruto to proceed to Fish-Man Island.
"How about heading to Fish-Man Island for a drink-"
Hearing the invitation, Namur didn't immediately agree but instead shook his head lightly.
"Maybe next time."
Hearing this, Naruto froze for a moment before realizing and then said in mock annoyance,
"Old man Whitebeard's idea again, right? That geezer-"
Namur wasn't like Ace, and he wasn't the type to get angry over such teasing remarks.
Of course, this was also because he knew about the friendly relationship between Naruto and his 'father'.
The two were more like drinking buddies who'd forgotten the years between them, often complaining about each other after a few drinks.
The Division Commanders on the ship were used to it.
"Fine, fine, I'll stop. See you next time, then."
Seeing Namur crack a smile, Naruto decided not to keep badmouthing his captain in front of him and waved before leaving.
The Whitebeard Pirates had deployed forces to protect Fish-Man Island, effectively holding absolute authority over it.
But Whitebeard's personality made him disdain the idea of stationing troops in another country and seizing control like an occupying force.
To avoid causing panic among Fish-Man Island's residents due to their pirate identity, even Namur and the dozens of other subordinate crews responsible for the island's security had been given strict orders:
No entering Fish-Man Island, and absolutely no interference in their internal affairs.
This was completely different from Big Mom and Kaido's methods.
And one had to admit… this was just how Whitebeard operated.
Maybe if Naruto were in his place, he'd make the same decision. But that didn't stop him from grumbling about Whitebeard ruining his chance to drink with an old friend.
The process of entering Fishman Island went smoothly, without any obstacles.
In fact, under the protection of Whitebeard's influence, Fish-Man Island didn't really need to put much effort into security.
After all, if even someone like Namur and his crew couldn't stop an intruder, then Fish-Man Island's guards wouldn't stand a chance either.
After entering Fish-Man Island, Naruto simply sealed the ship, along with its coating bubble, directly into his skin.
The resin coating on a ship has a limited durability and lifespan.
Most pirate ships, once coated, could resurface before the bubble burst as long as they didn't linger too long on Fish-Man Island.
Even if the bubble broke midway, Fish-Man Island could provide a temporary replacement.
But if the ship was stored in a sealing space, the bubble's duration would effectively be 'frozen', extending its lifespan.
This was something Naruto had discovered when experimenting with storing food.
Of course, sealing an entire ship left a large tattoo-like mark on his back.
But it didn't matter… his clothes covered it, so no one would see it anyway.
Walking through the bustling streets of Fish-Man Island, the place was lively and thriving.
Fishmen and merfolk were everywhere, while land-dwelling humans like Naruto were now the rare sight.
It was almost, just after a few years, the changes here were so drastic that Naruto could barely recognize the place.
Even Naruto had to admit that only under Whitebeard's protection could Fish-Man Island truly develop in peace.
Expecting the World Government to protect this member nation?
Yeah, right.
As Naruto walked, he took in the changes to Fish-Man Island while also being scrutinized by curious glances from passing fishmen and merfolk.
He didn't mind.
The top priority now was to grab some food.
Naruto had been looking forward to revisiting Fishman Island's unique cuisine for a long time.
After eating, he'd head to the Ryugu Palace to see an old friend.
While walking, he began scanning for restaurants, trying to see if the ones he'd visited years ago were still around.
'Hopefully, King Neptune's back pain had improved enough for another drinking session.'
'But even if it hadn't, it was fine… it just so happens that I learned some Medical Ninjutsu this time.'
'Oh no!'
Halfway there, Naruto suddenly smacked his forehead, realizing he'd forgotten something.
'Visiting an old friend, and I didn't even bring a gift!'
'By now, that little girl Shirahoshi should have grown into a fine young woman, right?'