Chapter 16: Reinforcements for Ryugu Palace
"Cafe. Ryugu Palace."
Itachi turned to Robin, his expression thoughtful. "I doubt Nami and Franky are the ones causing trouble in those places."
Robin's eyes narrowed into crescents as she smiled. "If someone's causing a commotion, it's definitely Luffy and Zoro."
"Then they've all made landfall." Itachi gazed toward the distant spires. "And it seems something unfortunate has occurred."
Robin's attention had returned to the bus stop sign. She'd noticed something—"Sea Forest" was listed as a destination.
The Sea Forest. She'd read rumors that a Poneglyph was hidden there, on Fishman Island.
"Itachi." She pointed upward.
Several massive sea beasts were soaring through Fishman Island's artificial sky. Among them, Itachi recognized the giraffe-like creature that had carried the fish-men who'd attacked them earlier.
"Luffy and the others may be in trouble." Itachi's gaze followed the creatures toward a magnificent castle encased in its own massive bubble—clearly Ryugu Palace.
Robin nodded. "Trouble is certainly coming."
"Should we support them?"
Robin shook her head. "Luffy and the others should be able to handle it." She paused. "I have something more important than fighting."
Itachi's eyes sharpened with understanding. "The Poneglyph of Fishman Island."
Robin blinked, surprised. "How did you know..."
"You told me that reaching the end of the Grand Line requires the Poneglyphs." Itachi's voice was calm, analytical. "If fighting clears the path forward, the Poneglyphs ARE the path. Something more important than fighting can only be that."
Robin regarded him with new appreciation. His mind worked with remarkable clarity.
Itachi crossed his arms, still watching the flying sea beasts. "If you believe they can manage alone, I'll accompany you to find the historical text first."
Robin covered her mouth, a soft laugh escaping. "I'm sorry, Itachi."
She rose. "But the more I think about it, the more I believe they need you more."
"Need me?"
"Yes." Her smile was warm. "The situation will go better with you there."
Itachi nodded without hesitation. "Then let's go."
Robin immediately began forming wings from her sprouted arms—a complex construction that would allow flight.
"Your ability can do this?" Itachi asked, genuinely interested.
"It's somewhat exhausting, but it should carry us both."
"Then use mine first."
Itachi's hands moved through seals.
Ryugu Palace—The Outer Wall
One of the human pirates Vander Decken had hurled at the palace had managed to open the bubble passage from within. Hody Jones, having already dispatched his troops to various locations across Fishman Island from his airborne command, led his main force to the palace gates—and found them wide open.
Vander Decken was ecstatic. Hody couldn't wait to attack.
Inside the throne room, Zoro and Brook had been dealing with the human pirates who'd crashed through. They'd just finished when Hody and his crew stormed in.
"What's this now?" Zoro drew his blades again. "We're guests here, not receptionists."
Hody paused, taking in the scene—and grinned with savage satisfaction.
King Neptune and his Ryugu forces were already subdued, bound in chains courtesy of Zoro and the others' earlier intervention.
"I don't understand what happened here," Hody laughed, "but this is a magnificent gift."
Neptune strained against his chains, helpless.
Vander Decken scanned the room frantically. "Where is she?! Where's Shirahoshi?!"
The princess he'd obsessed over for years was nowhere to be seen.
Hody grabbed an unconscious pirate. "Relax, Decken. The pirates you threw at Shirahoshi are all here—that means she's still in the palace. Neptune and the others are probably lying."
"SHIRAHOSHI!" Neptune roared, remembering the Left Minister's report of her disappearance. He thrashed wildly, desperate to break free.
What none of them knew was that Shirahoshi had already hidden inside Mekaro's mouth and was making her way to the Sea Forest with Luffy.
"Yes! Hody, you're right!"
Vander Decken burst from the palace, tore a massive chunk of coral from the seabed, and hurled himself after Shirahoshi, riding the coral like a ship.
"My princess! Wait for me!"
"Such enthusiasm." Hody chuckled, turning back to Neptune's immobilized forces.
"Neptune. You look pathetic."
"SHUT UP, Hody! You despicable traitor!" the Left Minister spat. "We received reports of unrest in Fishman District—we should have known it was you! You once served in Neptune's army!"
Hody's laughter echoed off the palace walls.
"Exactly right! And I thank you for it. In Neptune's army, I learned many useful fighting techniques."
His expression darkened. "Of course, that was back when I was still proud to serve. Before I realized your army's eyes only saw Ryugu Palace—never Fishman District."
Memories surfaced. As children in Fishman District, every time pirates landed on the island, they'd capture fish-men indiscriminately. But someone always stood up to protect them.
That someone was Arlong—the same Arlong who would later sail across the sea and establish his empire in the East Blue.
Nami had been watching silently. When she saw the dragon tattoo on Hody's body, her breath caught. The memories rushed back—painful, vivid, inescapable.
"What I live for now," Hody declared, "is to inherit the ambition of Arlong—the brother who once conquered the seas!"
Nami's hands clenched at her sides.
"ARLONG?!" Brook's voice rang out cheerfully. "I haven't met him yet!"
Usopp kicked him. "BROOK! Shut UP!"
Hody's smile was cold. "The Arlong Pirates I admired so much—the crew I dreamed of joining as Arlong's right hand—were destroyed by your Straw Hats."
His eyes gleamed. "What a wonderful twist of fate."
He turned and strode to the palace wall. "Enough talk."
His hands pressed against the massive structure. Cracks spidered across the surface.
"HODY-ANIKI! Is this the power WITHOUT steroids?!" his subordinates gasped.
Usopp's eyes bulged. "That grip strength is TERRIFYING!"
As the wall trembled, Nami approached Camie, the mermaid who'd accompanied them to the palace.
"Camie, I need to ask you something—"
CRASH.
The wall collapsed. Seawater surged into the throne room.
"THIS IS BAD!" Usopp and Brook shouted in unison.
Zoro's expression grew serious. "Troublesome."
Hody's laugh boomed through the flooding chamber. He scooped up a handful of seawater—and his own men scattered in terror.
"HE'S USING THAT MOVE! GET DOWN!"
Hody raised the water to his mouth and spat.
YATTAKO SHARK!
The single mouthful transformed into countless water bullets, each striking with the force of cannonballs. Neptune's bound soldiers couldn't dodge—the droplets pierced them like real bullets, dropping them instantly.
Neptune threw himself forward, trying to shield his remaining troops with his massive body.
"How noble! A king shielding his soldiers with his own body!" Hody mocked, spraying water bullets wildly.
Zoro stepped into the line of fire. His swords moved—not to cut, but to deflect. Each water bullet glanced off his blades harmlessly.
He advanced steadily, dodging between attacks, closing distance.
When he was close enough, he drew and swung in one motion.
ONE SWORD STYLE: 36 POUND PHOENIX!
The compressed air blast shot toward Hody—
Who grabbed a nearby fish-man subordinate and shoved him into the path.
The attack struck the subordinate, who crumpled.
"ZORO!" Usopp shouted.
Zoro didn't hesitate. "Usopp! Cut their bonds! Get everyone free!"
He glanced at the hostages. "Our negotiations with this country are over. We can't secure the hostages' safety like this."
Usopp hesitated only a moment before scrambling to obey.
Brook, floating on his back to avoid the seawater, could only pass the task to freed soldiers. "Miss Nami! Where are you?! Come help me! My old bones can't take this—I can barely move..."
The Neptune soldiers grabbed weapons.
"DON'T LET THEM!" Hody roared at his men.
Fish-men charged. Neptune's army met them.
Zoro sliced through Neptune's chains. "Big man. I need to ask you something."
He gestured with his chin toward the fleeing figures of Nami and Camie. "Let those two escape the city."
Neptune stared. "What about YOU?!"
Zoro pointed at Hody, already submerged in the rising water. "If that bastard chases them, no one gets away."
He took a deep breath and dove in.
Above Ryugu Palace
Itachi and Robin soared through the artificial sky, propelled by Itachi's technique.
"Several minutes," Itachi estimated. "I hope nothing goes wrong before then."
Below them, Ryugu Palace's walls had collapsed. Seawater poured in.
Itachi's eyes narrowed.
They were almost there.
(End of Chapter)
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