"The Gate of Justice is opening… which means the Buster Call is almost here."
Nico Robin said with a solemn expression.
Coming from Marine Headquarters, passing through the Gate of Justice was the fastest route into Enies Lobby's waters.
"Isn't that perfect?" Jin smiled. "I've been looking forward to it."
"Hm?"
As if sensing something, Jin looked upward.
Two figures were locked in combat high in the air—
Franky and Fukurou.
"Damn it! Fall into the sea and drown already!!" Fukurou roared.
After taking several heavy punches from that bastard, Fukurou felt like his liver was aching.
It'd be better to just throw him straight into the waterfall and be done with it.
"Damn it… I can't move!"
Franky tried to counterattack, but the impact of Fukurou's strength made it impossible.
All he could do was be dragged along as the two of them plunged toward the sea.
Boom!!
"Looks like a fierce fight," Jin commented.
"…Is he okay?" Robin asked worriedly.
Jin didn't reply.
His Sharingan was already locked forward—more precisely, locked onto the two figures underwater.
Franky had separated from Fukurou and was struggling upward.
Meanwhile, Fukurou was moving beneath the surface, clearly trying to stop him—but not very successfully.
"No major problem for now," Jin said.
Just then, Sanji burst out of the water and landed on the shore.
"S-saved… I'm saved…"
That powerless sensation earlier had been unbearable.
For a moment, Sanji truly thought he was going to die.
Thankfully—Jin had been there.
"Looks like seawater really does suppress Devil Fruit abilities hard," Jin mused.
"You can basically use the sea to nullify them."
"The sea is their natural enemy," Robin nodded.
Back in Alabasta, she had used seawater against Crocodile for the same reason—to cancel his intangibility.
"Not every ability can be dealt with that way," Sanji said, pulling out a cigarette—only to realize both the cigarette and lighter were soaked.
"…Tch. What a buzzkill."
"How so?" Jin asked.
"Aokiji's power, for example," Sanji said.
"Seawater won't work on him. He can freeze the ocean itself."
Jin: "..."
Right.
You just had to pick the most abnormal example possible.
How exactly was seawater supposed to counter ice?
Even Sanji realized the flaw in his words and coughed awkwardly.
"Anyway… was that bull guy beaten by you?"
"Yeah," Robin said. "Jin took him down."
"Oh—right, the key!" Jin suddenly said, quickly checking Blueno's clothes and pulling one out.
He tried it on Robin's Sea-Stone cuffs.
Click.
Nothing happened.
"…Not this one."
"Which number?"
"Number Two."
"Number Two?!" Sanji's eyes widened.
"Quick—take that to Zoro! That idiot Usopp locked the two of them together! They need the No. 2 key!"
Jin: "???"
What kind of development was that?!
Why would Usopp lock them together with Sea-Stone cuffs?
Was he trying to restrain Devil Fruit users?
But wasn't the target completely wrong?!
Before Jin could process it, Franky and Fukurou burst out of the water together, instantly drawing Sanji's attention.
"Franky?!" Sanji stared.
"Why is this guy fighting in the sea?!"
"And there's another CP9 too…"
Did they seriously dive into the ocean to fight?
What kind of insane combat style was this?
"They fell down from above earlier," Jin said, handing the No. 2 key to Sanji.
"Go on. Leave this place to me."
If the opponent wasn't a woman, Jin trusted that Sanji wouldn't lose.
Sanji hesitated for only a second before nodding.
"Got it."
In this environment, only Jin could reliably save Franky.
The others didn't have any means of aerial movement.
After Sanji left, Jin turned his gaze back to the sea.
At that moment, Fukurou also noticed him.
"Chapapa… you really beat Blueno, huh."
Fukurou's eyes darkened as he looked from Jin to Blueno lying on the ground.
They had survived the same training camp together.
Their bond was real.
Seeing his companion taken down weighed heavily on him.
"I suggest you don't worry about us," Jin said calmly.
"Hmph. Don't get cocky," Fukurou snorted.
"Once I deal with this bastard, I'll come for you next!"
"Blueno's revenge will be mine!"
With that, Fukurou dove straight back into the water, clearly intent on finishing Franky off completely.
Unfortunately for him—
Even throwing Franky into the waterfall wasn't enough to defeat him.
Instead, Franky restrained Fukurou, forcing him to rely on one-legged Geppo, barely rising bit by bit.
"He's pretty resourceful," Jin chuckled.
Then he shouted, "Need help, Franky?"
"No need!" Franky yelled back.
Jin nodded, not pressing further.
BOOM!!
Suddenly, a thunderous explosion echoed from above—followed by a feral roar.
"ROOOOAR!!!"
Jin's eyes narrowed.
"A beast roar?"
"That wolf?"
"Probably," Robin said.
CP9 had two known Devil Fruit users—Rob Lucci with the Leopard Zoan, and the wolf Jin mentioned earlier.
"…Though there might be more," Jin added thoughtfully.
"When I smashed through the main gate earlier, two people ate Devil Fruits on the spot."
"So it's possible someone else is a Zoan."
Just remembering that scene made him want to laugh.
How terrified did they have to be—to eat Devil Fruits immediately out of fear he'd take them?
"Even so, someone who just ate a Devil Fruit won't be able to use its power properly yet," Robin said.
That was… the optimistic view.
Jin simply nodded and shifted his attention back to the sky.
Franky was now sitting on Fukurou's back, both arms raised and aimed at his head.
"One-point-five cola output—Coup de Vent!"
BOOM!!
The terrifying blast smashed Fukurou straight down from the air!
The ground exploded inward, forming a massive crater.
At its center, Fukurou lay unconscious, eyes rolled back.
"Whoosh—"
"Tap."
Franky landed, exhaling deeply.
He pulled a key from Fukurou's body and ran over.
"Finally dealt with that guy."
"Here, ninja bro. Try this one—see if it opens Robin's cuffs."
"Thanks."
Jin checked the number.
6.
He tried it.
Click.
No response.
"…Not this one either."
"Then we'll have to wait until the others beat their opponents and take the keys," Franky said helplessly.
Then he looked toward the Gate of Justice.
"Hey—why is that thing almost fully open?!"
For ships to pass through… did it really need to open that wide?
Wait—
"…Buster Call."
"Looks like time's running out," Jin said.
He grabbed Blueno by the collar and dragged him along.
"Come on. Let's go find the others."
"Oh—okay!"
"Wait… why are you bringing that guy?"
"He'll be useful later."
"…Got it."
Franky nodded, half-understanding.
Then he looked back once more at the slowly opening Gate of Justice.
"Buster Call, huh…"
Maybe today—
They would create history.
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