Loguetown.

The town where legends are born—and where many end.

When Tachibana Kyūjō returned to the place where the Pirate King’s journey had once begun… he realized just how much had changed.

Nothing stayed the same forever.

There, standing near the harbor, was Smoker, the Vice-Captain of Loguetown’s Marine base and a known user of the Moku Moku no Mi. Twin cigars burned in his mouth as thick plumes of smoke curled around his sharp eyes.

He stood upright, calmly giving a full report to Vice Admiral Kyūjō about the current situation.

The highest-ranking officer, Captain Sark, had already departed the day before—joining Garp in pursuit of the Red-Haired Pirates. Now, the Marine HQ and Shanks’ crew were locked in a deadly chase across East Blue.

But Shanks wasn’t a fool.

The moment he noticed the Azure Dragon didn’t join the pursuit, he immediately understood the meaning behind it.

It was obvious—Kyūjō was waiting for him at Loguetown.

Unless the Red Force could fly over the island itself, they would be forced to pass through this checkpoint.

And that meant one thing.

They would have to face Vice Admiral Seiryu… no matter what.

— — —

As he looked at his old academy comrade—someone who, in another timeline, would’ve been a future key character in the original manga—Kyūjō decided to give him a few words of advice:

“Smoker, as you train with your Moku Moku no Mi, don’t forget to hone your Haki.”

“In the end, Haki is the foundation of all strength in this world. Even Devil Fruit powers rely on solid physical control.”

“If you feel your attacks aren’t doing enough damage, then focus on mastering your Busoshoku Haki first. Once you blend it with your smoke… that’s when your real strength will bloom.”

He turned to the side and gestured toward a pink-haired woman standing beside him.

“Look at Hina. Her Ori Ori no Mi ability works perfectly with her Haki. Honestly? With your current strength, I don’t think you could beat her.”

“If you’re open to it, I’ll help you train your Busoshoku and Kenbunshoku Haki while I’m stationed in Loguetown.”

Smoker’s jaw tightened. He didn’t like being looked down on.

Still, he nodded reluctantly.

“…I appreciate it, Vice Admiral Seiryu.”

For all his stubbornness, Smoker knew when to acknowledge overwhelming talent. And Kyūjō… had become something else entirely.

In just a few years, Kyūjō had earned a seat among the Admiral Candidates, his name now whispered even in the halls of Mary Geoise. His record was filled with classified operations and world-shaking missions.

Compared to that, Smoker felt like a grain of sand.

He didn’t even dare claim he stood on the same level as the Golden Lion’s toenail.

And yet…

“…Am I really that far behind Hina?”

His gaze flicked briefly to the pink-haired woman beside Kyūjō. A trace of doubt, even envy, glimmered in his eyes.

The gap between them… was growing.

— — —

One week later.

In the open training field behind Loguetown’s Marine base, Smoker was locked in another sparring match against Hina.

And once again—he was cornered.

Even when he transformed into smoke, he couldn’t escape the iron bars conjured by Hina’s Busoshoku-infused Devil Fruit technique.

It was like trying to phase through steel.

“Huff… Huff…” he panted, shoulders heaving. After a long struggle, he finally admitted defeat.

“I lose… again, Hina.”

Hina smiled gently, withdrawing the blackened bars around him with a flourish.

“I’m really proud of you, Smoker,” she said cheerfully. “You’ve improved so much. There’s barely any difference between us now.”

“But we’ve got to keep pushing! We can’t let ourselves fall behind that transfer student, right?”

Smoker gave a small smile, nodding slowly.

Then from the sideline—

“Oi, oi, oi! What do you mean transfer student?!” Kyūjō shouted, looking comically offended. “You two wouldn’t have even graduated early if it weren’t for me! You might still be chasing petty pirates!”

Hina rolled her eyes dramatically.

“Obviously, I’m talking about you, Kyūjō! And don’t act so proud! If it weren’t for you, we would’ve spent more time training under Zephyr-sensei! Maybe I’d be way stronger by now!”

Kyūjō laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head.

“Eh? You think so…?”

He knew the truth better than anyone.

Even ten years from now, Hina wouldn’t be able to reach the level he was at right now.

— — —

That evening.

After narrowly escaping Garp’s pursuit, the Red-Haired Pirates made their move.

They attempted to sneak through Loguetown, hiding among several merchant vessels heading toward Reverse Mountain.

But Kyūjō had already received the full report from Garp.

He was ready.

Standing high in the sky, supported by Geppo, Kyūjō appeared above the harbor like a guardian spirit. His cloak flapped violently in the wind, his black blade sheathed at his side.

He didn’t want to fight the Red-Haired Pirates.

But to maintain the “storyline,” he had to act.

With a thunderous voice, he addressed the one person responsible for this mess—Shanks.

“Red-Haired Shanks! Return Luffy to us!”

“As Vice Admiral Seiryu, I promise no harm will come to your crew. In fact, I’ll even let you leave East Blue safely.”

“But if you refuse…”

“Then not a single ship—not a single soul—will pass through Loguetown today.”

“Anyone who dares to challenge me…”

He gripped the hilt of his sword—

“…will face this slash!”

A flash of light streaked across the sky.

He drew Rairyūken, the thunder-forged black blade, and unleashed a single horizontal slash with breathtaking speed.

BOOOOM!

Thunder erupted overhead.

By the time the sound caught up, his sword was already back in its sheath.

In front of the Red Force—

A colossal canyon had been carved through the sea itself.

It stretched for kilometers, nearly a hundred meters wide and plunging deep into the ocean… almost as if it reached all the way down to Ryugu Palace.

Every ship in the area fell into complete silence.

Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

That slash… wasn’t just a display of swordsmanship.

It was a message from the heavens.

Several merchant ships turned around instantly, sails trembling as they fled the harbor in terror.

If that slash had hit them instead…

Would their bodies even be found?

Would anything remain?

— — —

Was this… the power of the World’s Strongest Swordsman?

Forget the average pirates of East Blue—even Shanks was stunned into silence.

“…Tch.”

That attack…

Could even rival Roger’s Divine Departure.

For the first time, Shanks found himself thinking something he’d never dared consider.

“…Since when… was Mihawk considered Kyūjō’s equal?”

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

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