Chapter 57: Young Tsuru – It's Just a Task from My Superiors
The girl was Tsuru, whom Roy had met on the island. She was fifteen years old this year—raised and educated under the care of a base commander from the West Blue Navy branch.
In the future, this girl would become Vice Admiral Tsuru of Marineford. But right now, she was just a fifteen-year-old girl with solid hand-to-hand combat skills, sharp marksmanship, and the powers of the Wash-Wash Fruit—a Paramecia ability that let her cleanse evil thoughts and hang her enemies out to dry like laundry.
Still, young Tsuru was both pretty and determined. Years of life in the naval base had given her a disciplined, heroic air. Her figure was slender but athletic, with a charm unique to youth.
What a pity, Roy thought.
His eyes were set on the horizon—on the future. His dream was the sea itself. He couldn't stay for any girl, no matter how admirable. He chose Amatsuki Toki because her ability allowed her to travel through time. When Roy went to the future, Toki could follow him there.
Linlin and Tsuru, however, could not. By the time he reached the future, one would have grown crooked, the other old.
From the start, he never had "bad intentions" toward them.
"Alright, Sister Tsuru!" Roy said, raising his sword.
Tsuru nodded seriously, ignoring Toki, who watched from behind. She dropped into a combat stance, her blue ponytail swaying with the wind.
Purify his mind. Wash away the evil of pirates, she thought determinedly.
The Navy and CP had never given up on Roy. They'd changed their strategy—if Roy wanted to travel freely, they would wait. By building a friendship between Tsuru and Roy, they hoped her ability could wash away any pirate influence in his heart.
They believed that once Tsuru cleansed him, he would join their side of justice.
Unfortunately, Tsuru couldn't defeat Roy.
Her power worked well on ordinary pirates, but against Roy—whose Haki and strength far surpassed hers—she couldn't even activate her fruit's effect. Unless Roy allowed himself to be cleansed, her ability would never work.
She trained relentlessly, challenging him again and again, but each time ended the same way.
Even when she drew her gun, Roy would crush the bullet midair and press his sword gently against her neck.
"I lost again," Tsuru sighed. "I'll definitely defeat you tomorrow!"
Roy simply smiled and nodded, leaving her speechless.
"You're really something… so troublesome," she muttered.
"I'm very optimistic about you. Keep working hard," Roy teased, sitting down and accepting the milk Toki handed him.
"Tsk. You're already this old and still drinking that stuff?" Tsuru scoffed, plopping down beside him.
Roy blinked. Was this really the same gentle, calm Vice Admiral Tsuru from the future? Everyone changes, he supposed.
"Roy, I don't get it," Tsuru said suddenly. "You haven't done anything bad since going out to sea. You've even helped people. So why fly a pirate flag? Can't someone do good things as a Marine?"
She scooted closer, resting a hand on his shoulder.
"Why should I tell you that?" Roy asked calmly.
Toki glanced at the girl, a strange tension rising in her chest. For the first time, she felt uneasy.
"We're friends, aren't we?" Tsuru said with mock anger, trying to sound casual.
If Roy didn't have his Intimacy System, he might've believed her. But he knew better. Her intimacy score hadn't even reached 40.
She was pretending closeness, hoping to win his trust.
"Sister Tsuru," Roy asked quietly, "do you really believe in friendship between pirates and Marines?"
Tsuru froze. She understood instantly.
No matter how genuine she acted, false friendship could never earn true trust.
"I'm sorry," she said after a long silence, standing up. "I need to… think about it."
Then she turned and left.
For days, Roy continued training in the North Blue, focusing on breaking the last intimacy barrier with Toki—though it was difficult before growing up.
Tsuru didn't return. She'd requested to pause her mission, isolating herself in her room.
That night, the young girl sat alone in her dim bedroom, moonlight streaming through the window.
She looked up at the stars, lost in thought. Raised on ideals of justice, she'd been promised a future at Marineford's academy.
She was talented, righteous—and utterly confused.
What does it mean to make true friends?
Her mission was clear: recruit Harold Roy into the Navy. But if friendship was used as a weapon, was it still friendship at all?
"I guess my heart really is dirty," she murmured bitterly, pressing a hand to her chest. Then she activated her Wash-Wash Fruit, cleansing her own soul.
The next morning, Roy was jogging with Toki when a bright figure appeared from the distance—a girl with blue hair tied in a ponytail, smiling genuinely this time.
"Roy!" Tsuru shouted, running up to them. "Let's be friends! I used my fruit power to cleanse my soul!"
"???"
"!!!"
Roy blinked in confusion. Toki froze beside him, her expression tightening.
This… might be more dangerous than the Navy itself.
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