Tashigi looked up at Kizaru, who was standing on a tree, and shouted, "Admiral Kizaru, the Marines don't care about Celestial Dragons enslaving and killing civilians. Is this the justice of our Marines?!" Even now, Tashigi still thought of herself as a Marine.
Kizaru's expression immediately turned serious. "The Celestial Dragons are the descendants of the creators and the center of the World Government. They must be protected!"
Tashigi's eyes narrowed. "Even if they do things that go against the Marines' justice?"
"That's right! No matter what, my orders from Fleet Admiral Sengoku are to protect the Celestial Dragons!"
"Admiral Kizaru," Tashigi's tone softened, disappointment in her eyes. "I heard you were Admiral Zephyr's student. You didn't inherit his justice. Admiral Zephyr would never stand by and watch ordinary people live and die like this. You're not worthy of being his student!"
Kizaru was at a loss for words. Thinking of the man who had died in battle not long ago, he had no way to refute her. In the eyes of many, Admiral Zephyr's justice was the only true justice, and even many pirates believed that.
All the talk of "absolute justice" or "ambiguous justice" was just nonsense. Even Kizaru, for all his laziness, deeply respected Zephyr. So when Tashigi brought him up to scold him, Kizaru couldn't say a word in his own defense.
Still, a soldier's duty was to obey orders, and today, he had to protect the Celestial Dragons.
Just then, a group of bodyguards fled, looking at Kizaru as if he were their savior. "Admiral Kizaru! It's terrible! Straw Hat Luffy just killed Saint Charlos at the auction house!"
The bodyguard's words filled Kizaru with a sense of dread. He had hoped that as long as the Celestial Dragon here didn't die, he wouldn't have to fight the Straw Hats, but now, that seemed impossible.
"The Straw Hat crew has openly killed a Celestial Dragon," he announced to Zoro and Tashigi. "As a Marine Admiral, I will arrest you myself!"
Zoro and Tashigi were also surprised. They had not expected that Luffy would also run into a Celestial Dragon and kill one. It was no surprise, though; that man must have done something truly despicable. Now, they had to fight a Marine Admiral.
"Let's go!" Zoro yelled at Tashigi, immediately taking a stance with his three swords.
In the next moment, Kizaru appeared in front of Tashigi. "So, have you ever been kicked at the speed of light..." Before he could finish, a diagonal slash cut right through his kick, and Zoro grabbed Tashigi under his arm, running wildly into the distance.
"Roronoa Zoro, what a bold move!" Kizaru was a little surprised. This was the first time one of the Straw Hats had blocked his kick. This crew was too strong. He was an Admiral, and while he might be a little lazy, he was still an Admiral.
Not just anyone could block his kick. Luffy and Sanji had been able to before, but that was because Luffy was powerful and Sanji had the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. But this pirate hunter was just a swordsman. How could he have blocked that kick? Was Kizaru a joke?
"Yasakani no Magatama!" Kizaru created a large mirror of light in the air and instantly projected himself above Zoro's head, aiming a kick at him.
But Zoro suddenly turned his head. With his sword, Wado Ichimonji, he slashed at Kizaru's ankle with a blast of Haki, making Kizaru retract his leg in fright. For just a split second, Kizaru had felt a deep sense of danger.
"A black blade? You became one too soon, Roronoa!" Kizaru's face darkened. To be thwarted twice in a row was unacceptable. He pointed his index finger at Zoro's back, and a laser shot out instantly. It reached Zoro's back in a flash, and Zoro's pupils constricted as he focused on running.
"Slicing Time Rain!" Tashigi, who was still tucked under Zoro's arm, suddenly drew Shusui just in time to intercept the laser. She gritted her teeth, diverting the laser to the side. The laser hit a large tree, causing a huge explosion.
Tashigi's right hand was trembling from the effort, and her face was pale. It had taken all her strength to block that laser, and blood was already seeping from her palm.
Kizaru's face was completely dark. "Damn it! No way! Tashigi has awakened Haki?!" Kizaru was shocked. He had met Tashigi in Loguetown and later, when she went undercover with the Straw Hats, he had checked her information.
He was sure her strength was, at most, at the level of a Lieutenant Commander. But now, she had the strength of a Captain and had even awakened Armament Haki!
Could this little girl be a true genius? Or did the Straw Hats have good, making everyone who joined them stronger? The more he thought about it, the more Kizaru couldn't believe it. But he couldn't let them escape. He had to keep chasing.
Suddenly, a crackling sound reached his ears. Kizaru instinctively turned into light particles and then saw a black leather shoe pierce his chest.
"Blackfoot Sanji, you're here so fast!" Kizaru turned back into his human form, now facing Sanji. Although he still looked carefree, there was a hint of impatience in his eyes.
Sanji spat out his cigarette, his eyes filled with anger. "Damn you, Kizaru! How dare you chase after Tashigi-chan?! Do you know that because of you, my lovely Tashigi-chan is being held by that moss head?! This is my first time here, and you're the reason that algae-head is getting the upper hand!"
Zoro, who was still running, nearly fell. "You perverted cook! What are you thinking at a time like this, you idiot!" he growled.
"Please, be serious, Sanji!" Tashigi reprimanded, her face flushing. She hadn't thought anything of it before, but with Sanji's words, she suddenly felt very shy. She tried to struggle, but she didn't have the strength; she had used it all to block that laser.
"It's okay, Tashigi-chan. You and the moss-head go find Luffy and the others. I'll stop this Marine Admiral." Sanji waved to Tashigi with a heart in his eyes, then turned to face Kizaru with a serious expression. His sudden change in demeanor was so fast, Kizaru thought his light-speed couldn't keep up.
"Okay, I advise you to just stand still, Kizaru," Sanji said, lighting a new cigarette with a bolt of lightning.
"What a bold move, Blackfoot Sanji." Kizaru returned to his lazy demeanor, crossing his arms. "Yasakani no Magatama!" He was too lazy for any more nonsense and attacked directly.
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