Inside the building where Moria resided, Jin walked leisurely down the corridor with both hands in his pockets, heading toward the freezer room in the distance.
He had followed the zombies carrying food all the way here—without being discovered by anyone.
When he reached the entrance, Jin froze in surprise as he looked at Oars.
It was his first time seeing a being so enormous.
"Now that's an absurd appetite…" he muttered.
The food piled on the ground looked like a small hill, yet under Oars' efforts, it was shrinking at a visible speed.
"So tasty!" Oars said happily.
As he spoke, he picked up the last massive slab of roasted meat, stuffed it into his mouth, and swallowed it whole.
Then he looked at Moria.
"Little Garlic Head, I don't know who you are, but thanks for the meal."
"Kyahahahaha~"
"No need to thank me," Moria replied with a grin.
It was just food, after all. If he liked it, he could eat as much as he wanted.
Once the memories belonging to Straw Hat fully faded from the shadow, everything would be settled.
"Ah~"
"I'm full," Oars said, patting his belly. "Being full feels great."
As he spoke, he began looking around, as if searching for something.
"Oars!" Moria said loudly.
"You were the infamous 'Country-Puller' five hundred years ago! I know how powerful you are!"
"From today onward, you're my subordinate!"
"Kyahahahaha~"
"…Subordinate?"
Oars glanced at Moria and shook his head.
"Nope. I don't want to be your subordinate."
"I've got dreams."
"…What?!"
The zombies stared in shock.
They hadn't expected Oars to actually disobey his master.
"You bastard! How dare you speak to Master like that?!"
"Just a specially made zombie—so arrogant!"
"…Hmm?"
With a single glance from Oars, the zombies instantly dropped to their knees, terrified he'd smash them flat with one punch.
Oars didn't care. He turned and looked at the wall.
"This place is too cramped. Let's go outside."
"Then I'll sail the seas and travel around the world!"
"Ahahahahaha!"
"Idiot, this wall is made of special materials—you can't possibly break—"
"Gomu Gomu no… Pistol!"
BOOM!!
A terrifying punch blasted straight through the wall.
The zombies were completely dumbfounded.
"He actually…!"
"What monstrous strength!!"
"Hahaha! Let's go!"
Oars leapt straight outside.
"Master… is it really okay to let him leave like that?" a zombie asked nervously.
"It's fine," Moria waved his hand.
"He'll behave sooner or later."
Right now, Oars was acting this way only because Straw Hat's memories in the shadow hadn't faded yet.
Once enough time passed, he'd obediently come back and call him "Master."
"…Rubber,"
Jin stroked his chin as he walked in.
"That personality's just like Luffy's. So this really is Luffy's shadow zombie, huh?"
"That's right—Straw Hat Luffy's—" Hogback nodded instinctively.
Then he realized something was wrong.
Why did that voice sound so familiar?
He turned around—
and saw Jin standing not far behind him.
His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"Y-you?!!"
"Huh?!"
The other zombies turned around in shock as well.
"There's a human behind us!"
"Who are you?!"
"Me?" Jin smiled lightly.
"I'm just a passing ninja."
"…Ninja."
The zombies repeated the word—then their faces went pale.
"You're that ninja who can breathe fire?!"
At those words, the surrounding zombies hurriedly backed away from Jin.
By now, nearly every zombie on the island knew about him.
This ninja was their natural nemesis.
"Yeah. That's me."
"W-why are you here…?" Hogback asked trembling.
If this man was here…
didn't that mean Ryuma had failed?!
That was the Dragon-Slaying Swordsman!
Terrifying…
"I ran into your guys on the way and followed them," Jin replied casually.
His relaxed attitude showed not the slightest fear—
even though a Warlord of the Sea stood right beside him.
"Moria-sama, it's him!"
"Yeah. I know."
Moria slowly turned around, his icy gaze locking onto Jin.
"Brat, you really dared to come here alone."
"You've got some nerve."
Jin's appearance stirred up painful memories.
Veins bulged on Moria's face, making his expression grotesque.
The zombies shuddered—they had never seen their master this furious.
"You look angry," Jin said curiously.
"Because I slaughtered your general zombies?"
"That's part of it."
"Part?"
Jin raised an eyebrow.
He doubted Moria cared that much about ordinary zombies—those things could be remade easily.
Moria didn't answer. Instead, he slowly calmed himself.
Before fighting, there were things he needed to confirm.
"Kid, answer me—are you from Wano?"
"Wano?" Jin frowned.
"Why does everyone keep asking that?"
That made Moria pause.
"What do you mean, everyone?"
"The Marines ask it. Pirates ask it too," Jin said flatly.
"What's so special about Wano anyway?"
"Why are you all obsessed with it?"
"It's just a closed-off country, isn't it?"
Jin was genuinely speechless.
Just because he was a ninja, did that automatically make him from Wano?
What kind of logic was that?
If someone ate a 'Ninja Devil Fruit,' would they suddenly become from Wano too?
Ridiculous.
"Wano is a closed-off—" Moria began, then snapped back to himself.
"That's not what I'm asking!"
"I asked if you're from Wano!"
"No. I'm not."
"Then why are you a ninja?!"
"Who said ninjas must come from Wano?" Jin shot back irritably.
"The sea's huge. New kinds of fighters appearing isn't strange at all."
Hogback blinked.
When he thought about it… that actually made sense.
Maybe this kid was a Devil Fruit user—
someone who ate the Ninja Fruit.
"…So you're not from Wano," Moria muttered.
Then his expression darkened.
"No. You're lying!"
"As one of Kaido's subordinates, of course you'd deny it!"
Jin frowned.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Kaido's not even worth being my boss."
"Kaido… isn't worth—?!"
Hogback stared in horror.
Did this kid even understand what that name meant?!
That was one of the Four Emperors!
Moria froze as well.
Then—slowly—he calmed down.
At this moment, he actually started believing Jin.
If this kid were really Kaido's subordinate, he'd never dare say something like that.
If those words reached Kaido's ears—death would be guaranteed.
Moria waved his hand.
"All of you, leave."
The zombies and Hogback withdrew immediately.
Against a fire-breathing ninja, they'd only be liabilities.
Jin didn't stop Hogback.
That man was meant for Chopper anyway—he wasn't about to steal the kill.
Once everyone left, Moria spoke again.
"You say you're not from Wano…"
"Then how did you become a ninja?"
"And why should I tell you?"
"Tch… arrogant brat," Moria said coldly.
"Do you think a mere four-hundred-million bounty lets you act tough in front of me?"
"Your captain's shadow has already been cut off!"
Jin didn't answer.
He glanced outside instead.
Honestly, he hadn't expected Luffy's shadow to be taken—but that could be dealt with later.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!"
Instead of replying, Jin asked calmly:
"Why do you care so much about me being a ninja?"
"And…"
"You really hate Kaido, don't you?"
Moria fell silent.
His expression drifted into memory.
Then suddenly, his emotions exploded.
"Kaido… KAIDO!!"
Jin narrowed his eyes.
"If I'm not mistaken—he defeated you before, didn't he?"
Just like Crocodile.
Defeated, broken, then hiding behind the title of Warlord.
The similarities were striking.
"So you lost your fighting spirit," Jin continued,
"and that's why you hide here playing with zombies."
Moria's fury surged.
"What would a brat like you know?!" he roared.
"Kaido's power is beyond your imagination!!"
Now he was completely certain—
this kid was not from Kaido's side.
Anyone who had truly seen Kaido would never speak so lightly.
"That monster stands at the very top of the world!"
"Maybe," Jin replied calmly.
"But someone who's lost their will… can never be truly strong again."
Without fighting spirit, a man was already finished.
"Willpower…" Moria murmured softly.
He reflected on his life.
"You don't understand how terrifying he is…"
"So you think," Jin said,
"that piling up enough zombies will let you defeat him?"
"Yes!" Moria shouted.
"With enough zombie soldiers, I can challenge Kaido again!"
"And even become Pirate King!"
Most importantly—
zombies didn't fear death.
Even if destroyed, they could be revived with shadows.
He… didn't want to feel the pain of losing comrades again.
"Pirate King…" Jin shook his head.
"You really dare to dream."
"That's not something you can reach with borrowed power."
Without personal strength, trying to reach Roger's level was nothing but fantasy.
To Jin, Moria looked like a failed man clinging to illusions.
Against true monsters—
zombies were meaningless.
His flames, or Aokiji's ice, would wipe them out effortlessly.
"Who says you can't rely on external power?!" Moria sneered.
"With enough powerful zombies, no enemy can defeat me!"
"If you yourself aren't strong enough," Jin said calmly,
"then numbers mean nothing."
He raised both hands.
"Alright. Chat's over."
"Time to put you down."
"Once you fall, the shadow problem ends."
Moria drew his massive scissors.
"Arrogant brat."
"You think you can defeat me?"
"I lost to Kaido—but that doesn't mean just anyone can look down on me!"
As he spoke, Moria's shadow behind him began to twist violently—
as if trying to stand up on its own.
"Then let's try it."
"Lightning Release — Ground Walk!"
Zzzzz—!!
"Lightning?!"
Moria's eyes widened in disbelief.
Fire was one thing—
now lightning too?!
How many elements did this ninja control?!
He tried to dodge—
but the lightning spread far faster than he could move.
"AAAAH!!"
Electricity tore through his body.
How long had it been since someone last hurt him?!
Rage exploded in his chest.
"Anger won't help you," Jin said coldly.
"It only destroys your judgment."
In the next instant, Jin appeared above him.
The Kusanagi sword in his hand gleamed, wrapped in wind chakra.
One slash—
and Moria would die.
"Shadow's Hold!"
Slash!!
Jin's blade cleaved straight down—
splitting "Moria's" head clean in two.
"…Hm?"
The body dissolved into pitch-black mass.
Jin instantly retreated.
"…A shadow?"
"So it can fight independently."
If it could mimic techniques like Shadow Possession…
that would be troublesome.
Being held even briefly would be fatal.
On the ground, the real Moria lay there, furious.
"D-damned… brat…"
If his shadow hadn't pinned him down at the last moment—
that slash would've taken his head clean off.
Without Armament Haki, he couldn't withstand that blade.
"So your will's gone, but your body's still solid," Jin muttered.
Even as a broken man, Moria's foundation remained.
That was why he'd become a Warlord in the first place.
At that moment, the split shadow twisted violently—
then reformed back into a humanoid shape.
It slid behind Moria and merged back into him.
In the next second—
Moria stood up again.
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