Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
In a spacious office, a man in a yellow pinstriped suit sat with his legs crossed, carefully trimming his nails with a clipper.
In front of him was a cup of hot tea his aide had just brewed, wisps of steam rising from the surface.
Purupuru purupuru purupuru...
The Den Den Mushi on the desk rang. After about thirty seconds, the man leisurely raised his hand to answer the call.
"Moshi moshi, this is Borsalino~"
Holding the receiver and sipping his hot tea, Admiral Kizaru continued his slacker routine.
The Den Den Mushi's face gradually transformed into that of a man with a large beard, and a deep voice came through: "Kizaru, this is Mary Geoise!"
"My, my, what business does a high and mighty figure from the center have with me?"
Putting down his hot tea, a bit of Kizaru's nonchalance faded.
"There's a task for you. Go to an island in the West Blue and deal with a pirate, the captain of the Sun Pirates… Fisher Tiger!"
The Den Den Mushi simulated the other party's expression perfectly, its narrowed, sinister eyes staring at Kizaru.
"Hmm? But how do you esteemed gentlemen know they are heading to the West Blue?"
Probably because his laziness was acting up, Kizaru picked up the Den Den Mushi and comfortably sank his whole body into the soft leather chair.
"CP5 has contacted the residents of Foolshout Island. They've set a trap using the promise of erasing a slave's status as a trade. You go there as insurance!"
Facing the Marine's top combatant, the Five Elders in the Room of Authority weren't as cold as when giving orders, and they showed a certain level of respect.
"You should be aware of the connection between the Fish-Man Pirates and that person. Sending you is a precaution. Someone from CP0 will also be dispatched to cooperate with your action!"
"How terrifying... I'll accept the mission!"
Kizaru adjusted his sunglasses, thinking of the humiliation of being toyed with by that person even when leading a Buster Call, and agreed.
"By the way, do not alert Marine Headquarters about this matter! And leave no mission record!"
Before the Den Den Mushi hung up, the final instruction echoed in the office.
Kizaru sighed helplessly: "Sigh, so even the big shots know this kind of thing isn't honorable!"
Then, the user of the Pika Pika no Mi, whose body turned into particles, flashed away from his office.
In the glow of the setting sun, an inconspicuous Battleship quietly sailed out of Marine Headquarters.
…
Meanwhile, in the southwestern seas of the East Blue.
A large, white-painted speedboat cut through the waves, speeding towards the direction of the Red Line.
Chasing closely behind the ship was a dog-headed warship.
The actions of a certain pirate had become so severe that the World Government could no longer sit idly by, so they sent an urgent order to a certain hero on vacation to quickly drive her out of the East Blue.
"You damn brat, stop right there! Daring to ruin my vacation, I'll send you to Impel Down for a long stay today!"
An old man with upside-down hair and beard stood at the bow, hurling cannonballs as if they were free.
Cannonballs imbued with Haki fell from the sky, pouring cold fury and killing intent onto the speedboat ahead.
Unfortunately, the ship before them seemed alive, accurately avoiding every cannonball's impact point. However, this provocation only made the pursuing Garp even angrier.
"Hey, old man, is that necessary? It's just a little something we took from your branch~"
Lying leisurely on a deck chair on the deck, Sakura even had the mood to instruct Kuina in practicing the Rokushiki.
"Sakura-nee, I'm a swordsman. This stuff you're teaching is useless."
Kuina, wearing weights and trembling in her limbs, complained to the girl beside her.
Sakura smiled and tapped her forehead: "I won't allow you to say that about yourself!"
"Hmph, Sakura-nee, you're so mean!"
Realizing the joke, Kuina puffed out her cheeks in anger and deliberately flicked her sweat onto Sakura.
"Hey, you, don't do that, it's dirty!"
Forced to retreat continuously by Kuina, Sakura fell onto the deck while turning over.
Then, due to the ship's rocking from an exploding cannonball, she slid towards the bulwark.
"Good grief!"
Supporting herself on the railing to stand up, Sakura rubbed her head.
The Rokushiki was a martial art that surpassed the limits of human physical ability. Through strict training, practitioners could not only enhance their bodies but also temper their will.
Many of the techniques were developed with the subsequent training of Haki in mind.
It could be said to be a skill prepared by the World Government for the stable strengthening of its violent organization members.
However, Kuina was still too young to understand how much convenience the Rokushiki could bring her in combat and training.
Naturally, she felt this training was eating into her swordsmanship practice time, leading to resistance.
"Anyway, just practice it for now. Once we reach the West Blue, if you still think it's useless, we'll give it up, okay?"
"Just until we reach the West Blue? Promise? No going back on your word!"
"Deal!"
The harmonious atmosphere on the Leviathan was observed by Garp using Observation Haki, thoroughly enraging the hero who had cornered the Pirate King numerous times.
"You two, how long are you going to ignore me?!"
Dark thunder crackled. In the dimming space between sea and sky, a crimson light shone.
Garp raised his fist, a cold, sharp Armament Haki rising around him. His whole person fell like a burning meteor.
"Galaxy..."
A rainbow gleam passed through Sakura's emerald pupils. Sensing the danger, she drew her newly acquired weapon, Kumotsuna, from her waist.
Pressing the button, Iron Cloud spewed forth. Then, using the power of her Devil Fruit, she generated lightning and channeled it into the cloud, transforming it into a giant sword shimmering with thunder.
"Perfect timing! Just right to test my new weapon! Hahahaha!"
The girl laughed heartily as she leaped up, an overwhelming aura also rising from her body. Haki coiled around the blade, turning it black.
The tips of her toes stepped lightly in the air, as if walking amongst the lightning.
"-Impact!"
Countless tiny electric snakes scattered and slithered about. Garp punched the air itself, stirring the great sea, whipping up a hurricane. A burning shockwave erupted and overlapped from his fist, a fervent torrent rushing towards Sakura.
"Ikoku Sovereignty - Modified - Higanbana Blossom!"
An endless thunderstorm spilled from the sword. Lightning and metal intertwined and spewed forth, tearing through the mist lingering in the wind.
The shrieking, swirling shockwave roared viciously in the air, blooming with a dazzling, mesmerizing radiance.
Boom!
The two torrents collided violently in the air, forming a massive sphere releasing thunder and lightning.
Wherever it passed, the seawater evaporated before this brutal clash, creating vast amounts of mist and an ever-spiraling, expanding whirlpool.
"Tch, that old man really hits hard. Not playing with him anymore, let's bail, bail!"
Landing back on the Leviathan, Sakura shook her numb hand and urged Leviathan to make a run for it.
Taking advantage of the colossal waves stirred up by their collision, the ship spirit activated the coating module installed at the bottom.
A bubble instantly enveloped the ship's hull, carrying the entire speedboat rapidly downwards into the depths.
"Tch, that ship again? What a pain!"
Landing back on his warship, Garp released his Observation Haki, detecting that Sakura's ship was quickly moving out of his attack range, and let out a cold snort.
Anyway, his mission ended here. Those stupid officials in the government only told him to intercept her in the East Blue.
Now that she had submerged and was heading towards the West Blue, the rest wasn't his responsibility.
"Hey, Bogard, set course back!"
At Garp's command, the warship began heading towards Goa Kingdom.
Deep under the sea, Sakura looked back. Seeing no more cannonballs or iron balls coming, she also breathed a sigh of relief.
"Let's go, Crewmate Kuina, onwards to the West Blue!"
Sakura raised her fist enthusiastically, turning the ship's helm fully towards the Red Line.
"Whoa!"
Faced with the unknown seas and a brand new adventure, Kuina couldn't help but feel her heart surge with excitement.
The Leviathan carried them on the ocean currents, passing through the Red Line towards the West Blue.
The shark-headed speedboat surfaced, unexpectedly encountering a fish-headed pirate ship sailing on the sea!