One Piece: The Shogun Chapter 2 The Retainers

[Date: 10/1/1493 → M/D/Y] 

The moon hung high above Ringo, and the only sound present was the hiss of wind threading through the cherry blossoms.

A second later, the calm was broken by the clacking of two pairs of sandals.

Shimotsuki Ushimaru and Hikaru Amatsuki. 

Master and student stood facing one another, hands on their respective hilts.

A single sakura petal broke free from a branch above, and it drifted lazily downward. 

Both pairs of eyes followed it—neither man moving, neither blinking—as it fluttered about once, twice… and landed gently between them. 

The instant it touched the stone—

Hikaru vanished, and steel rang. 

It was a harsh, grating crack of steel clashing, as sparks scattered where both blades met mid-swing. 

The force of the impact immediately rippled outward, rustling nearby trees and scaring any bird that had dared to perch.

Hikaru grit his teeth and pushed forward. The muscles in his arms tensed, and his armament haki flared along the length of his blade, coating it in a deep black. For a moment, the deadlock teetered in his favor, his blue-haired opponent being forced to lean back ever so slightly. 

In response, the Daimyo grunted, digging his feet deeper into the dirt as he pushed his blade forward.

And suddenly they were back in a deadlock. 

Then, simultaneously, both men twisted their wrists—one pushing, the other resisting—and the lock broke.

They were thrown apart in the same instant, each sliding back several paces across the stone as their sandals left deep lines in the courtyard floor. 

Hikaru stumbled back, but managed to steady his gait. Then, without a moment’s pause, he brought his blade down in a quick, downward arc, the steel cutting through the air in a crescent of purplish-pink light.

[Attack Image]

The slash was as beautiful as the moon above, but the whistle as it tore through the air spoke of its danger. 

Ushimaru’s eyes narrowed, partly in focus, and partly because of the blinding glow. He raised his own armament-covered blade and cut downward. The crescent split cleanly in two, dissolving into motes of light that scattered past his shoulders.

“Better,” the Daimyo said, hiding a smirk at his student’s dissatisfaction. “But predictable.”

“Tch.” Hikaru darted forward again. Their swords met once more, each strike ringing sharp and clear under the moon. Sparks of steel burst with every clash. 

In terms of just strength, Hikaru rivaled his master, perhaps even surpassed; however, in terms of pure skill, there was quite a way to go. Still, he refused to back down.

Just then, his Observation Haki pulsed faintly—behind. 

Hikaru instantly killed any distracting thoughts, barely managing to twist in time to parry a counterstrike aimed for his ribs. The force rattled his arms, but he managed to hold steady. 

The second warning came a fraction too late; Ushimaru’s foot swept beneath him, catching his leg. Hikaru leapt back, barely avoiding being thrown off balance, although he couldn’t avoid a slight stumble.

He knew his observation haki was lagging compared to his armament, but he didn’t think it was this bad. It was a neat thing, really. He really should have spent more time trying to push it to greater heights. 

Still, time and fights would give him ample opportunity to raise the depth of his sight, but for now, his focus would have to be on this fight.

Hikaru took a breath, steadying his stance, his blade angled low. “You’re using all your strength this time?”

Ushimaru scoffed. “I’m still missing a blade, and you’re here talking about all my strength.”

Hikaru: “...”

And then he was there.

Steel met steel again. Hikaru felt his knees bend under the weight, his master’s strike nearly splitting the ground beneath them. 

He quickly twisted aside, retaliating with a rising slash, the blade glowing with faint violet energy. The arc curved upward like a crescent moon, bright enough to illuminate both their faces.

Ushimaru stepped back, letting the attack carve a deep line through the air where he had stood a beat before. 

He smiled faintly. “You really are prodigious with a sword—it took me several years to get to your current level.”

“It’s not really that impressive, master,” Hikaru shot back, launching another attack—two, then three crescents following in quick succession, each one sharper and faster than the last.

Ushimaru paused, opening and closing his mouth, before settling for a snort. “So what does that say about my skills?” 

Hikaru chuckled sheepishly, internally berating himself for his blabbermouth. And true to his intuition, Ushimaru indeed put more force into his next slash as his armament-coated blade sliced through each crescent Hikaru sent effortlessly. 

The remnants of the moonlit slashes scattered behind him, cleaving through nearby trees, the trunks groaning before falling to the earth with a heavy thud.

Hikaru paid no mind to his failed attack, darting in low, dodging Ushimaru’s swing, and feinting left. Ushimaru didn’t bite, but he adjusted his stance slightly, positioning his blade to have an easier time intercepting the slash.

Steel clanged again, sparks flying dangerously close to their faces.

“You didn’t think a feint would trick my haki, did you?” Ushimaru grinned, pressing forward with more force.

Hikaru grunted, stepping back a step to disengage, but the Daimyo wasn’t so easy to fool—he instantly pivoted on his lead foot, dropping low beneath the returning swing. In a seamless motion, he slipped past the blade and drove the hilt of his sword into Hikaru’s abdomen, sending his student stumbling back.

But rather than retreat, Hikaru shifted his grip, his sword-wielding hand opening enough to allow the hilt to slip. The next instant, his other hand caught the falling blade mid-air, and he spun with the momentum, swinging from the opposite side.

Ushimaru’s eyes flickered to the blade in surprise. He twisted his torso, the blade whistling past his shoulder by a hair’s breadth—quite literally. A few strands of his blue hair drifted into the moonlight, severed cleanly by the edge of Hikaru’s sword.

They floated down and landed on the flat of Hikaru’s blade. 

Ushimaru straightened himself, maintaining a dignified expression befitting a Daimyo, but the faint twitch at his brow betrayed his annoyance.

Hikaru’s lips curled into a grin. “Well, who’s the one getting cocky now, Master?”

The blue-haired swordmaster stared at his pupil before exhaling.

Hikaru flicked his wrist, letting the hair float in the air before settling against the cold steel again. “You’re getting up there in age, old man; you should really watch your head.”

Ushimaru gritted his teeth, a clearly visible vein throbbing on his forehead. 

Not even a moment later, Hikaru shot back, creating distance, as his observation haki screamed at him—above!

He glanced up just in time to see a dark figure descending, his armament haki-coated blade glinting black under the moonlight. 

Hikaru raised his own blade hastily to block. 

BOOM

Steel met steel, and Hikaru’s arms felt limp. 

The sheer force of the clash had created a crater under Hikaru’s feet. The vibration of the collision ran from his wrist to his shoulders, down to his legs. 

“Tch—” Hikaru hissed through clenched teeth, pushing upward with all the force he could muster. 

Ushimaru grimaced but pushed further as well. 

Then, in a sudden shift, Hikaru dropped his stance. The abrupt loss of resistance caused Ushimaru’s sword to slice downward into empty air. Hikaru pivoted on his heel, twisting low, and swung upward in a rising arc, his blade carving a purplish-pink crescent across the moonlit courtyard.

For the second time that day, Ushimaru’s eyes flashed with surprise, but this time he was infinitely more ready. Instead of trying to meet the wave of sword energy head-on, he tilted his entire body, letting it whiz past him harmlessly, although not before ruffling his kimono. 

“Well, I’ll be damned, Hikaru. You’ve improved much more than I thought you had,” The Daimyo laughed, a genuine smile gracing his visage. “At least, your Ryou and Moonlit Sword Style certainly have. But, for all your swagger, your observation haki is still lacking.”

Hikaru exhaled, forcing himself to stand. “Yeah, isn’t that to be expected, old man? I haven’t faced enough serious fights trapped behind these walls. Oden and Hyougoro-sama are far too strong for me to fight a serious battle with, and, well, not to be rude, everyone else is too weak.”

With his piece said, he shifted his stance. His Observation Haki pulsed again—right, then left.

Ushimaru moved. Hikaru was already turning, meeting him head-on. Their blades collided again, once, twice, thrice—each strike faster than the last. Sparks erupted, wood cracked, and snow burst into the air.

Then Hikaru ducked low, twisting his wrist, and released a massive crescent slash point-blank. The purplish wave roared forth, lighting up the courtyard like a second moon.

Ushimaru raised his blade, armament haki coating it fully, and cut the crescent in half, but this time, he was pushed back.

It was enough for Hikaru to grin through the exhaustion. “Looks like I’m catching up.”

Ushimaru sheathed his sword, exhaling slowly. “Maybe. But you still have a long way to go.”

Hikaru straightened himself, running a pair of hands down his garb to smooth over any wrinkles. “For now, but give me a few more years, and I think you’ll be too afraid to fight me, master.”

The Daimyo threw his head back and laughed. “I’ll be waiting for that day. Maybe then you’ll finally take this place off my hands too.”

Hikaru nodded once, his sword lowering to his side. Sakura petals continued to fall around them, faintly glowing under the moonlight.

And in that quiet, he felt it again—the same bubbling feeling that had carried him this far. 

Resolve.

.

Next Day — Ringo Castle

‘Finally, they’re here.’

Hikaru’s senses caught the faint rhythm of footsteps approaching the sliding door. Three distinct presences he knew by heart. 

His retainers and, more importantly, his friends.

He sat cross-legged beside a low table, absently tracing the rim of his teacup while snowflakes drifted against the windowpane.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Come in,” he called.

The door slid open, and three familiar silhouettes stepped in. Two were unmistakably Minks, one dog, and one cat, and between them, the broad frame of a young Puffer Fishman.

Hikaru’s lips tugged into a small smile. Still kids, he thought, watching them try to stand tall. Although he wasn’t quite an adult yet, either, he supposed. 

“Sorry for the sudden call,” Hikaru said, gesturing for them to sit. “I know you three were training.”

Kawamatsu, the puffer-fish Fishman, straightened immediately. His fins twitched as he pressed both hands to his knees. “My lord, there’s nothing to apologize for,” he said firmly, trying to sound older than he looked. “We are your loyal retainers.”

The tone was so stiff, so painfully serious, that the silence only lasted half a second before the room broke.

[Kawamatsu > Image Here] 

Cat-Viper slapped his knee, his laughter loud and wild. “Retainers, he says! Goro-Goro-Goro!”

[A/N: They all have weird ass laughs.]

Dogstorm covered his face with one paw, trying—and failing—to stifle his own laughter. “Kawamatsu, you sound like an old samurai! Gao-Gao-Gao.”

Even Hikaru couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “Come on, Kawamatsu,” he said, shaking his head with a grin. “You don’t have to act like that around me. Try relaxing once in a while,” he gestured to Cat-Viper and Dogstorm, “take some notes from them—they certainly don’t have to be told.”

He pointed at the Minks, who immediately froze mid-laugh.

Cat-Viper’s ears twitched. “Notes from me? That’s a good idea!”

Dogstorm rolled his eyes. “He doesn’t mean it like that; he’s calling you an idiot.”

[Dogstorm > Image Here]

[Cat-Viper > Image Here] 

Hikaru leaned back slightly, watching the exchange unfold with quiet amusement. Same as always, he thought.

His mind wandered to when he first met them. The trio was about to be abducted by humans, and he had stepped in and saved them. After that, the three had practically become his shadow.

And he was extremely glad for it. Despite them being three years younger than him, they were some of the best friends he had in this world, and that was without mentioning their goofy ass laugh. Every time he heard it, he had to stifile his own laughter. 

Now, did he feel any sympathy for Oden…

Hell no.

To be honest, he really did not fuck with Oden. He was a reckless, selfish, ignorant man blinded by wanderlust. 

Apparently selfless enough to burn alive for his retainers, but selfish in all else. 

If anything, Hikaru pitied those who had followed him so blindly.

Still, he couldn’t deny Oden’s charisma. The man had surrounded himself with some of the most loyal and capable warriors Wano had ever produced—a large part of him envied it. All that power to change Wano, and he did jack shit.

Two Minks who were equal to Jack and stronger than him in their Sulong form. And a Fishman strong enough to make Kaido bleed. 

People like that were why Yonko crews dominated the Marines—save for the Admirals, of course—because most Vice Admirals were fodder compared to Yonko commanders. 

Of course, it wasn’t one-sided. Hikaru wasn’t their lord just in name—he’d bleed for them too. 

The laughter in the room softened as Kawamatsu’s voice cut through. “I never thanked you properly,” the Fishman said quietly. “If you hadn’t stepped in that day…”

“You don’t have to,” he interrupted, between them, thanks need not be said. “I didn’t do it for thanks.” He paused, the faintest smile pulling at the corner of his lips. “Besides, look at you now—three warriors who could put most adults to shame.”

Cat-Viper puffed out his chest with a proud grin. “Of course! I’ll be the strongest swordsman in Wano someday!”

Dogstorm barked a laugh. “Of course, after Lords Hikaru, Ushimaru, Hyogoro, Oden, myself, and Kawamatsu.”

[A/N: Get it, barked a laugh :) ]

Hikaru couldn’t help but laugh. The strongest swordsmen in Wano was quite the tall task, one even he didn’t feel comfortable about boasting in the short term. Although, seeing the two bicker never failed to bring him trace amounts of amusement. 

Dogstorm eventually turned back to him, ears flicking upright. “So, Lord Hikaru,” he said, tone settling. “This must be important if you called us away from training.”

By now, the three of them understood him almost too well. Both he and Ushimaru had trained them personally, raised them from scared strays into proud warriors. The bond between them wasn’t just lord and retainer, rather it was closer to that of an older brother guiding his younger siblings.

And in return, they had become his family.

Not Oden’s legacy.

His.

Hikaru looked at the three before him, all faces he’d come to trust, kids who’d grown sharper and stronger under Ushimaru and his guidance. He could see the questions already forming in their eyes.

“Yes,” he said at last, breaking the silence. “The time has come to venture into the outside world again. This time, I won’t be back for a while…at least a couple of years.”

His first voyage had been when he was just fourteen; it was barely a few months at sea, but enough to change his view on Wano. He’d seen the vastness of the world, the cruelty that lurked beyond Wano’s borders, and the power that dwarfed even its proudest samurai. He’d returned with far more strength than when he set out. 

For some time, he’d become arrogant and a bit drunk on his strength…until one hit had put him out. All under the guise of being too excited to meet a samurai.

He didn’t believe it in the slightest. The real reason was probably to flex. 

That event had been enough for him to stop resting on his laurels and get his ass back to training. 

Kaido’s shadow loomed closer with every passing year; he couldn’t afford to sit still.

He needed to grow. He needed to gather allies. He needed to prepare.

If he had to fight monsters, he thought, then he’d become one first. If things truly went to plan, perhaps he would have to thank Kaido and Orochi for his rise to power.

“What?!” Cat-Viper’s voice cracked through the silence, tail whacking back and forth. “You can’t be serious, Lord Hikaru!”

The laughter and warmth from earlier vanished. Kawamatsu’s jaw tightened, and Dogstorm’s ears flattened, cutting a pitiful sight. The three exchanged worried glances before all eyes turned back to him.

Hikaru leaned forward, exhaling softly. He’d expected this. They took his safety very seriously—in that regard, they were a bit too protective—and talking them down was always a challenge. It had been the same when he’d left at fourteen.

“I know it’s a lot,” he began. His tone was steady, calm, but beneath it ran that same unyielding resolve that had carried him this far. “But something’s happening out there. I saw it during my first voyage: the monsters that roam the sea are coming for Wano. I won’t wait for that day to arrive.”

He met their eyes one by one. “That’s why I have to go. To grow stronger, to prepare this country for what’s coming.”

Kawamatsu’s fins twitched as he straightened, trying to sound composed, though his voice carried worry. “My lord, we understand your reasons… but we can’t allow you to face such dangers alone. We owe you too much.”

Hikaru smiled faintly at that, the kind of smile that was half gratitude, half sadness. “I know. And that loyalty means more to me than you’ll ever realize. But this is something I must do myself. I’ve been preparing for it for years. The world beyond Wano is dangerous, yes, but it’s also where I’ll find the strength we’ll need to survive what’s coming. And besides, it’s not like I don’t have contingencies.”

Dogstorm scratched behind his ear, frowning. “We know you’re strong, Lord Hikaru. You came back safe when you were fourteen. But you said it yourself, you’ve already made enemies. Even with your power… not everything goes according to plan.”

“I’m aware,” Hikaru said, his voice resolute. “But doing nothing—staying here while knowing what’s coming—would be a fate worse than death.”

The room was silent for a while afterward.

Surprisingly, it was Kawamatsu who broke the silence first. He swallowed hard before speaking, his fins twitching slightly, something that happened only when he was nervous. “My lord… please allow me to make a selfish request.”

The sudden seriousness in his tone caught Hikaru’s attention. He tilted his head, curious. “Go on.”

“Please,” Kawamatsu said, his voice firm despite the tremor beneath it, “allow us to go with you.”

That drew an immediate reaction: Dogstorm’s ears immediately perked up, and Cat-Viper’s tail stilled.

Kawamatsu pressed on, his gaze unwavering. “I know we’re still young and far weaker than you. But both you and Master Ushimaru have trained us well. I’ve studied navigation every day since your first voyage just to be of help in your adventures. And these two…” He glanced toward the Minks beside him. “…They’ve trained just as hard, hoping to be of use to you one day.”

He lowered his head deeply, accompanied by the sound of his forehead hitting the tatami mat echoed through the room. “Please let our efforts mean something today.”

Cat-Viper and Dogstorm needed no further cue either, following suit instantly.

For a moment, Hikaru just stared. His chest tightened.

Damn it…

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration building. Why now?

They were only thirteen, too young to be dragged into the chaos beyond Wano’s borders. He’d planned to leave them here, to keep watch under Ushimaru’s protection, his eyes and ears while he was gone. 

Safe and secure.

But looking at them now—their three distinct heads bowed, eyes burning with conviction—Hikaru felt the weight of their loyalty pressing against his heart. 

There was no talking them out of this.

Besides, they wouldn’t be the youngest people he’d seen on the sea. As long as his strength was raised sufficiently, no harm would befall them.

He exhaled slowly, his voice softening. “When you show that much resolve… how can I say no?”

Their heads shot up instantly. Hikaru raised a hand before they could speak again. “Get up. No need to bow,” he said, exasperated. “You’ve already proven your loyalty a hundred times over.”

“Besides, if anything, I should be the one thanking you three for trusting me enough to want to fight beside me.”

The relief that washed over their faces made the decision a little easier to live with.

Well, he thought, it certainly wasn’t the worst idea he’d had. The experience would do them good. They were already miles ahead of what they were at this age in canon anyway.

Hikaru stood, brushing the dust from his robes. “Alright then. Since it’s settled, let’s get some lunch. I know for a fact none of you have eaten yet.”

Cat-Viper immediately perked up. “Does that mean we’re getting meat?”

Dogstorm sighed, already resigned. “You just had breakfast.”

“Breakfast isn’t meat!”

Hikaru chuckled, shaking his head as he walked toward the door. “Meat it is, then.”

Behind his calm expression, his mind was already racing ahead to ships, routes, and the future.

Devil fruits… maybe he’d find something worthwhile for the Minks. He smirked slightly at the thought. But not Kawamatsu. Wasting a Fishman’s potential on a fruit would be criminal.

Even in Wano, the country with some of the most powerful devil fruits just lying around, he didn’t find a single one worthy of them. But a pet had a fucking mythical zoan.

And that was all without mentioning how the people thought they were poisonous or some cursed omen, so they were always thrown away or avoided like the plague. 

So, unfortunately, until he had enough influence to educate people enough to get their help to search every corner of Wano, finding devil fruits would be next to impossible. Although he supposed, he always had that method. 

As they followed him out, laughing again, Hikaru allowed himself a moment of quiet pride.

They were young… but he didn’t doubt that they’d grow into monsters soon enough.

.

The aroma of grilled fish and steamed rice drifted through the dining hall. Outside, snow melted slowly off the eaves.

Hikaru sat cross-legged beside the low table with his three retainers on one side and Ushimaru opposite him, his tea steaming faintly in his hands.

Onimaru—the great komagitsune—lay sprawled across the tatami beside Hikaru, its flame-like mane flickering lazily. Every so often, its tail swished, scattering faint embers through the air.

“Oi,” Hikaru said, nudging the fox’s paw with his finger. “Don’t think I didn’t see that. That’s my fish.”

Onimaru didn’t even look ashamed. “You weren’t eating it fast enough.”

Cat-Viper chuckled into his bowl. “He’s got a point, boss.”

“Yeah,” Dogstorm added, tail wagging smugly. “That’s the law of the table—first come, first served.”

Hikaru groaned. “You three and this damn fox are going to eat me into poverty before I even leave the country.”

Ushimaru let out a quiet laugh, his deep voice carrying warmth. “That’s what you get for surrounding yourself with gluttons and strays.”

Onimaru raised his head proudly. “Stray? I’m a noble guardian fox, Master Ushimaru.”

“Who burned down my garden last month,” Ushimaru replied evenly.

“That was an experiment,” Onimaru protested.

Everyone laughed, even the usually stoic and composed Kawamatsu.

Hikaru shook his head, smiling despite himself. He’s impossible, he thought, glancing down at the fox’s flickering mane. And still the best accident that’s ever happened to me.

He remembered the day he’d found Onimaru years ago clearly. He was half-starved, guarding the graves of fallen samurai, loyal even in loneliness. 

Hikaru had tried to track down the Mythical Zoan fruit only to find out too late that the fox had already eaten it. He’d nearly cried from frustration, months of effort, gone in one bite.

But seeing Onimaru’s flames grow brighter, seeing him learn to talk even in his fox form, to fight, to live again… he couldn’t stay mad for long.

“Speaking of leaving,” Onimaru said suddenly, turning his sharp blue gaze toward Hikaru. “You agreed to take them along.” He gestured his nose toward the three teenagers. “What about me?”

The three retainers went still.

Hikaru blinked, feigning surprise. “You want to come too?”

The fox’s tail fanned out behind him, glowing faintly. “Of course. You’ll need someone responsible to make sure you don’t die doing something stupid.”

That earned a round of laughter from everyone at the table. Even Ushimaru couldn’t hide his grin.

“You’ve got guts talking to your master like that,” Hikaru said, pretending to glare.

Onimaru’s tone softened. “You trained me as much as you did them. You think I’d let my Master leave without me?”

That quiet sincerity caught Hikaru off guard. He looked at the fox for a moment, really looked. The flames that formed its mane reflected faintly in his purple eyes.

He sighed, though a smile tugged at his mouth. “Alright, alright. I was planning on saying yes anyway. Guess we’ll need a bigger ship.”

“Finally,” Onimaru said, satisfied, curling his tail around himself like a smug cat.

Ushimaru laughed outright this time. “You truly can’t say no to anyone, can you?”

Hikaru shrugged, a faint smirk forming. “Guess I inherited your soft spot for strays, Master.”

Ushimaru smiled at that, eyes crinkling. “You’ll make a fine Daimyo one day. Though perhaps…not a rich one.”

Laughter rippled around the table again. Kawamatsu set down his bowl, his grin playful. “Looks like everyone’s joining now. The ship’s going to need an extra deck just for Cat-Viper’s ego.”

“Hey!” Cat-Viper growled. “Jealous, Fishman? You can’t even eat a devil fruit!”

Dogstorm barked a laugh. “He’s got you there!”

Kawamatsu rolled his eyes, smirking. “And yet, I’ll be the one rescuing your fluffy hides when you inevitably fall overboard.”

“Enough,” Hikaru said, raising a hand but smiling nonetheless. “Don’t be jealous. We’ll find some devil fruits for you when we go out. If not—” his tone turned teasing, “—like I always say, haki transcends all.”

Ushimaru set down his cup, a faint smirk on his face. “Didn’t you once say you wanted sorcery too, Hikaru?”

“Sorcery?” Hikaru repeated, arching a brow.

The older man chuckled. “Ah, I meant a devil fruit. I always forget they have a proper name thanks to you.”

Hikaru laughed. “Right. Maybe I’ll find one that suits me.”  

That was a lie.

For now, hopefully forever, haki would transcend all. 

X

[Three Hours Later]

Hikaru sat on the edge of my futon and methodically packed. Outside, the castle creaked as the wind ran its fingers along the eaves; inside, the low room smelled of rice and spent tea. 

He split a Vivre Card in three and handed one piece to Ushimaru, his thumb lingering on the paper. He’d made it during his last voyage outside Wano.

Ushimaru accepted it without fuss, eyes steady. Hikaru then handed him a Den-Den Mushi as well and watched the old man’s hand close around it with satisfaction.

“Call this number if any pirate sets foot on Wano,” I said, voice low. “Call me immediately.”

Wano had its own snails, of course, but their range didn’t reach past the borders. This one would. 

The raven-haired teen waited until Ushimaru stepped out of the room before tossing his clothes into a leather satchel, packing ointments and extra bandages, and sliding three Log Pose onto his right wrist.

On his left, Hikaru strapped the Eternal Log Pose he’d fashioned myself, its tiny dial engraved with a route that always came back to Wano. 

He glanced at Ushimaru’s vivre card pinned inside his robe; he had it made just to be extra safe.

Everything felt arranged. He wasn’t missing anything. The only thing left was to call his friend.

At his desk, he picked up another Vivre Card—this one with a number scrawled across the back—and a Den-Den Mushi. His hand hovered for a moment, then dialed.

Purururu.

The snail’s eye widened, the shell’s face contorting until it showed the image of a kid his age with no eyebrows and a permanent scowl. The voice that barked through the speaker could have ruptured eardrums.

“About damn time you called. You bastard!”

Hikaru nearly moved the snail away from my ear. “Calm down. Sorry—I was busy,” he said, forcing a grin he didn’t quite feel. “How’ve you been? Destroy any countries lately?”

There was a pause as the other voice snorted. “After you saved and beat me, I swore I’d join you. Since you didn’t say you wanted to be a pirate, I only killed Gray and left the country.”

Although he clearly sounded irritated, it brought a smile to Hikaru’s face. “I told you to do what felt right. I’m glad you left the innocents alone.” Hikaru’s voice stayed light, but he continued watching the Den-Den Mushi all the same. 

“So what now?” he asked after a beat. This answer would shape everything. Would he want to sail? Become a marine? A pirate? A bounty hunter?

Truthfully, Hikaru had no plan of becoming a pirate at the moment. 

It would be a hassle dealing with the Marines and the World Government’s endless meddling. But that certainly didn’t mean he had any plans to become a Marine.

He just wasn’t built to take orders from bums like Sengoku, men who’d turn their eyes away while innocent islands burned for the amusement of the Celestial Dragons. I couldn’t stomach calling that justice.

[Sengoku Agenda]

“After I left,” he grumbled, “I became a bounty hunter to seek strong foes. For you, you son of a—”

Hikaru laughed despite himself. “Good. Then stay put, I’m coming. You can challenge me as much as you like. Just make sure you don’t wander off it shouldn’t take more than a month or two.”

There was a grunt of agreement. “Fine. Don’t make me wait.”

He hung up the snail and let the room breathe.

Outside, the snow tapped the roof like a distant drum. 

Inside, his hands, which were just steady moments ago, began to shake as he lifted a chest up from under his floorboards. 

He threw it into his satchel and grinned despite knowing what was coming. 

He wanted the challenge.

“Bring it on, Kaido.”

X

End of a long chapter, hope you guys liked it. Hope the fight was good. Also, I know haki isn’t supposed to be visible, but it’s cooler if it is, so anyone with obs haki will be able to see it. Let me know how you feel about this.

[Rumor man Image → The agenda never ends!]

All images can be found in the Discord, so join if you want to see them. 

https://discord.gg/XSRgbmWMTB 

And just remember: maintaining the agenda is our top priority.