The morning sun rose high above the Flower Capital, pouring liquid gold across tiled rooftops and lacquered balconies.
The city of Wano had not yet shed the euphoria of liberation. The silk banners rippled from wooden beams, lanterns still swayed gently in the breeze, and laughter drifted freely through streets that had once been subdued under fear.
The merchants reopened their stalls with renewed vigor, children chased each other across the stone paths, and musicians filled the air with bright shamisen melodies that seemed determined to make up for years of silence.
Yet within the courtyard of the temporary Marine encampment inside the Shogun Castle, the atmosphere could not have been more different.
Gion stood near the low perimeter wall, her posture elegant yet visibly tense, her eyes scanning the distant horizon beyond the rooftops. Every few moments, she adjusted the fold of her sleeve as if to occupy restless fingers.
Hina leaned against a wooden pillar nearby, one leg crossed over the other, her usual composure slightly frayed.
Ain stood close to her, hands clasped tightly before her waist, gaze shifting between the sea and the women beside her.
Kujaku, unable to remain still, paced across the courtyard stones, boots clicking sharply with each turn.
"He should have been back by now," Ain murmured, trying and failing to sound calm.
Hina exhaled slowly. "Hina agrees. It has been long enough to cause irritation."
Gion's lips pressed into a thin line. "He left yesterday. Even if he encountered resistance, it should not have taken this long."
Kujaku stopped pacing and turned sharply. "You are all assuming he behaved rationally."
Tokikage, who had been standing several steps away with Binz, stiffened slightly.
"Vice Admiral Luffy is rational in battle," He offered cautiously.
Kujaku arched a brow. "That is not the same thing as being rational in general."
Binz cleared his throat. "Perhaps we are worrying too much."
The four women turned toward him simultaneously.
The combined weight of their gazes nearly forced him to retreat a step.
Before the tension could escalate further, a lazy voice drifted from beneath the shade of a maple tree at the edge of the courtyard.
"You all look like you're waiting for a lover who missed a promise."
Kuzan stood there with his hands tucked inside his coat pockets, an amused smile tugging at his lips. The sunlight filtered through the leaves above him, casting shifting shadows across his relaxed figure.
Gion's eye twitched faintly. "Watch your words, Admiral Aokiji."
He lifted his hands in mock surrender. "I'm only saying that the kid isn't someone who would fall that easily. We confirmed Kaido left Onigashima to handle trouble in another territory. The worst Luffy could run into are scattered remnants."
Zoro, seated cross-legged on the stone pavement while methodically polishing Wado Ichimonji, did not even look up as he added, "If anything, we should be worried about the island."
Kuina, leaning casually against the maple trunk with arms folded, let out a soft laugh. "He does have a habit of leaving craters behind."
Issho sat calmly upon a low bench, cane resting across his lap, his blind eyes lifted slightly toward the breeze that carried the faint scent of salt from the distant sea.
"Luffy-san possesses remarkable strength," He said warmly. "Worrying will not alter the outcome."
Kujaku resumed pacing. "It is not about altering the outcome. It is about knowing what that outcome will look like."
Hina flicked away the remains of a cigarette she had long forgotten to smoke. "Hina suspects the outcome will involve paperwork."
Ain's shoulders slumped. "A lot of paperwork."
Gion inhaled sharply, forcing herself to speak evenly. "We are not worried about his safety. We know he is strong."
Kuzan's smile deepened slightly. "Of course you do."
"We are concerned," She continued, ignoring him, "that he will provoke unnecessary destruction inside Kaido's stronghold."
Zoro finally glanced up, a faint smirk touching his lips. "Unnecessary according to who?"
"According to the part of us that does not enjoy rebuilding cities," Hina replied dryly. "We've just freed the people... We don't want Kaido running here to destroy the capital."
A light breeze swept through the courtyard, stirring cloaks and hair alike.
Issho's head tilted ever so slightly, as if catching something the others could not yet perceive.
Moments later, Kuina straightened from the tree.
"There," She said softly.
All eyes turned toward the main entrance to the courtyard.
At first, there was no one there, but gradually, a familiar face appeared at the entrance
Gion stepped closer to the wall, shading her eyes with her hand. "You bastard... you're finally back."
Kujaku folded her arms tightly. "Looking at his wide smile... something exciting must have happened."
Ain leaned forward, squinting. "There is one more person with him."
Indeed, behind Luffy's unmistakable silhouette stood another figure. It was a tall, white-haired woman with horns curving from her head, her presence commanding and unrestrained. She stood beside Luffy, gaze sweeping across all of them with open curiosity.
Hina's expression shifted subtly. "Who is she?"
Kuzan's gaze softened almost imperceptibly. "Looks like he found something more important than a fight."
Luffy stepped into the courtyard, his coat fluttering behind him as he walked over to his friends.
Gion watched him closely, relief threading silently through her chest despite her best efforts to remain composed.
"And she is?" Gion stared at Yamato and asked Luffy.
Zoro's eye narrowed slightly, and he said. "She... is she Kaido's kid?"
Kuina's lips curved into an intrigued smile. "Yeah, you're right."
Luffy laughed and pointed at Yamato, replying with a smile. "Hey, guys, meet Yamato... she is my new friend, and she is also Kaido's daughter."
His words instantly dumbfounded all the people inside the courtyard as they stared at Yamato in horror.
"Kaido's daughter?!" Ain muttered in shock, her eyes widening in shock.
Kujaku's pacing ceased entirely. "He was gone just for one night."
Hina folded her arms. "Hina suddenly understands the anxiety."
Luffy laughed and said to his friends. "Shishishi... don't worry so much... She is cool.
He raised a hand high in greeting, waving with boyish enthusiasm that seemed to mock the tension that had consumed the courtyard only moments before.
Gion inhaled slowly, steadying herself. She took a deep breath and spoke in a slightly angry tone. "Is she the reason that you took so long to return?"
Luffy scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Hey, don't make it sound like that... I just got a little busy and lost my sense of time."
"With what?" Kujaku demanded, her voice rising slightly.
Luffy shrugged his shoulder and said to them. "Well, I can't help it. I found dozens of young little girls locked up in the cells in Onigashima... I figured I should send them home first. It's not easy to steer the boat alone."
The courtyard fell quiet.
The children whom he had brought peeked out from the entrance, their expressions timid yet hopeful.
Ain's hand rose to her mouth in surprise.
Hina's posture softened ever so slightly, and even Kujaku's stern expression wavered.
Gion exhaled, the tension in her shoulders finally releasing. "You could have sent word."
Luffy grinned. "Didn't think you'd worry for me."
Kuzan coughed lightly into his fist to hide a smile.
Before anyone could respond, Yamato stepped forward, her gaze sweeping boldly across the assembled Marines and swordsmen.
"So these are your friends," She said, voice carrying both curiosity and challenge.
The courtyard, moments ago merely anxious, now hummed with an entirely new tension.
Zoro rose smoothly to his feet.
Kuina pushed away from the tree, eyes sharp with interest.
Gion studied Yamato carefully, noting the strength in her stance and the unmistakable aura she carried.
Luffy placed his hands on his hips and laughed lightly. "Hey... don't be so excited... and no fighting with anyone."
The silence that followed was heavy, layered with surprise, calculation, and no small amount of disbelief.
Kujaku finally broke it. "You recruited Kaido's daughter overnight."
"Yeah." Luffy tilted his head and replied with a grin
Kuina laughed first, the sound bright and unrestrained. "Of course he did."
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