For a long while after Morrow disappeared, no one spoke.
The sea had gone quiet again, but it was the kind of quiet that followed danger — not safety. The cold North Blue wind moved steadily across the deck, carrying the scent of salt and distant pine from unseen islands.
Aira stood at the helm, posture stiff but steady, guiding the ship along the route indicated by the Log Pose. The needle had finally stabilized, pointing deeper into North Blue territory.
Kenji sat cross-legged near the mast, slowly rewrapping a bandage around his forearm where the earlier fight and wave impacts had reopened old wounds. His movements were careful but unbothered, like someone used to patching himself together between battles.
Ryu leaned against the bow railing, eyes on the horizon.
Thinking.
After a while, Kenji broke the silence.
"…So," he said casually, tying the bandage with his teeth. "We almost got flattened by a guy who throws the ocean."
Aira didn't turn. "Don't remind me."
Kenji glanced at Ryu. "And you're smiling again."
Ryu blinked. "Am I?"
"Yes," Kenji said. "It's unsettling."
Aira snorted faintly. "He's been like this since Loguetown."
Ryu shrugged. "We survived. That's usually a good sign."
Kenji leaned back on his hands, staring up at the sky. "North Blue is insane."
"North Blue is honest," Ryu corrected quietly.
They both looked at him.
He gestured toward the open sea. "No pretending here. Strong or weak. Prepared or not. It doesn't care."
Aira exhaled slowly. "…I prefer East Blue."
Kenji grinned. "Too late. Navigator already committed us to this life."
Aira shot him a glare. "One wrong exit and I'll never hear the end of it."
Kenji immediately sat up straighter and cleared his throat dramatically.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced to no one, "welcome to the North Blue, courtesy of Captain Aira 'Wrong Turn' Navigator—"
A rope flew across the deck and smacked him in the face.
"SHUT UP."
Kenji collapsed sideways laughing.
Ryu covered his mouth, shoulders shaking slightly.
Aira pointed at both of them. "You're supposed to be professionals!"
Kenji wiped his eyes. "We are! Professional survivors."
Before Aira could respond, a distant cry echoed overhead.
A familiar one.
All three of them looked up.
A black shape descended from the clouds, wings cutting cleanly through the wind as it spiraled downward with practiced ease.
A News Coo.
Kenji raised a brow. "Already?"
The large seagull landed neatly on the railing near Ryu, holding out a small satchel with professional impatience.
"Coo!"
Ryu reached into a pouch and handed over a few coins automatically. The bird accepted payment with dignity before dropping a folded newspaper into his hand.
It lingered just long enough to be sure the transaction was complete.
Then it took off again.
Aira leaned forward eagerly. "What's happening in the world?"
Kenji scooted closer. "Check bounties first."
Ryu unfolded the paper carefully, scanning quickly.
The front page was dominated by a massive headline:
*WARBAND CLASH IN THE NEW WORLD — WHITEBEARD DEFEATS RIVAL*
Aira whistled softly. "Whitebeard again…"
Kenji leaned over his shoulder. "That old monster just keeps winning."
Ryu skimmed past it. "That's far from here."
He flipped the page.
Another headline caught his eye.
*MARINEFORD RESPONDS TO EAST BLUE INCIDENT — UNKNOWN HAKI USERS EMERGE**
Kenji leaned in immediately. "Oh?"
Aira's eyes widened. "That's us."
Ryu read quickly.
A brief report detailed:
* Shells Town destruction
* Marine casualties
* Unknown young fighters using haki
* Possible emerging threats in East Blue
* Increased Marine surveillance
Kenji scratched his cheek. "We're getting famous."
"Infamous," Aira corrected.
Ryu kept reading.
Then he paused.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Kenji noticed immediately. "What?"
Ryu turned the page fully and showed them.
There it was.
A small but prominent update in the Marine section.
*FORMER BOUNTY HUNTER CORVEN HALE REINSTATED INTO MARINE RANKS*
Aira blinked. "Hale…?"
Kenji leaned in closer, grin fading into interest.
Ryu read aloud quietly.
> *Following recent events, former Marine Headquarters Major Corven Hale has been officially reinstated into active service under special command authorization.*
> *Promoted directly to Rear Admiral rank due to exceptional combat capability and leadership potential, Hale has accepted Marine reintegration under Fleet Admiral Sengoku's recommendation.*
> *Sources indicate he will undergo elite training to master advanced Marine combat systems and fully develop his haki potential.*
Silence settled over the deck.
The sea wind passed quietly around them.
Kenji exhaled slowly. "…Rear Admiral."
Aira swallowed. "That's… fast."
Ryu folded the newspaper once, thoughtful.
Kenji leaned back, staring up at the sky again. "He woke up Conqueror's Hak useri… then got promoted."
Aira frowned. "And Sengoku personally convinced him to return?"
Ryu nodded once. "Makes sense."
Kenji glanced sideways. "You don't sound surprised."
"I'm not," Ryu replied calmly. "Hale was never meant to stay small."
Aira rested her arms on the helm, thoughtful. "So now he's a Marine again."
Kenji smirked faintly. "And he will be stronger than before soon."
Ryu looked out at the horizon.
"Good," he said quietly.
They both looked at him.
Kenji raised a brow. "Good?"
Ryu nodded. "Means when we meet again… it won't be unfinished."
Kenji grinned slowly. "Yeah."
Aira shook her head. "You two are insane."
Ryu folded the newspaper and tucked it under his arm.
The wind shifted slightly, carrying colder air from the north.
For a while, they sailed in silence.
Then Aira spoke again, quieter this time.
"…Ryu."
He glanced back. "Yeah?"
She hesitated.
"…Earlier… when that man attacked us. I could… feel it."
Kenji looked over immediately.
"Feel what?" he asked.
Aira frowned slightly, searching for the right words. "Before the water moved… before the pressure hit… I felt something. Like… intent. Direction."
Ryu's eyes sharpened.
Kenji leaned forward. "…You sensed the attack?"
Aira nodded slowly. "Not clearly. Just… a moment before it happened."
Silence followed.
Then Kenji grinned.
"Well, look at that."
Ryu smiled faintly.
"Observation," he said.
Aira blinked. "…Really?"
"Yeah," Ryu replied. "Early stage. But it's there."
Kenji stretched his arms behind his head. "Nice. Now we have two people who can sense incoming death."
Aira sighed. "That's not comforting."
Ryu turned back toward the sea, expression calm but focused.
"Good," he said quietly. "We'll need it."
The North Blue stretched endlessly ahead.
Stronger pirates.
Devil fruit monsters.
Underworld forces beginning to stir.
And somewhere out there—
A sniper who hunted pirates.
The next step in their journey was already waiting.
The wind shifted.
And the saga continued.
___