Wano Country – Onigashima
The headquarters of the Beasts Pirates.
Thick and heavy black clouds blanketed the sky.
Blinding flashes of lightning lit up the heavens.
A towering Torii gate stood tall above the sea-facing entrance.
Once upon a time, this was where the Shogun of Wano exiled criminals, watching over them.
Now, it had become the forward base of the Beasts Pirates, overseeing the four seas.
"Hmm? What's that?"
One of the lower-ranking Beasts Pirates squinted into the distance.
He vaguely caught a glimpse of a faint blue flash flickering across the horizon.
"There's nothing out there. Don't get paranoid. Come, come—keep drinking!"
Another pirate dismissed him casually.
"But seriously, I think I really saw something just now—"
"See what? This is the Beasts Pirates' stronghold! With Lord Kaido's might behind us, who would dare seek death by barging in here?"
"True, true. Let's keep drinking!"
These careless, carefree pirates who'd grown used to their lax lives couldn't have imagined—
Right now, three intruders had already infiltrated Onigashima without a sound.
---
Yamato turned to her right.
"Let me think... Two years ago, I should be around that area!"
"Alright, let's go—but let's try not to cause a commotion if possible," Marco advised.
But before he could finish, Luffy and Yamato had already dashed ahead into the distance.
"Heh… well, as long as Kaido isn't here, we'll be fine in the end."
Marco shook his head in resignation.
After spending time with this younger brother of Ace,
he had more or less figured out the kind of person Yamato was.
---
Eastern Shore of Onigashima
BOOM!
A tall figure wearing Yamato's signature robe and a Hannya mask smashed a massive boulder with her kanabo, Hassaikai.
Crack—! BOOM!
The ten-meter-tall rock cracked and exploded.
"Damn it! That bastard of a father! Where the hell did he hide the key to these shackles? He didn't really toss it into the sea to feed Sea Kings, did he?!"
Two-years-ago Yamato let out a low, grumbling voice filled with frustration.
She looked out at the churning ocean.
Behind her mask, her eyes gleamed with a longing light—
only to fade again into dimness.
Since being forced to wear these explosive shackles at age 18,
her life had been completely severed from the concept of freedom.
Trapped on this dark island, Onigashima,
her dreams of freedom were only ever just dreams.
She shook her head to snap out of her thoughts.
"What's wrong with me lately? Why have I been feeling so on edge these past few days? Could it be because that bastard Kaido is away? Or is something about to happen?"
Still confused, she decided to brush it off.
"No use thinking about it. Better continue my training."
But just then—
Clack clack clack!
Footsteps came rushing from behind.
Yamato immediately became alert.
Her instincts told her the person approaching had a strong aura…
And strangely, it felt familiar.
"Wait up! Two-years-ago me!"
Two-years-later Yamato waved excitedly, calling out.
After all, it was a rare chance to meet her past self.
The free-spirited Yamato couldn't contain her excitement.
The moment she heard the voice,
two-years-ago Yamato turned around—kanabo at the ready.
But—
"Ah~ That's me!"
She saw a beautiful, familiar face approaching.
And she froze.
Underneath the mask, her delicate features were overtaken by shock and disbelief.
Only when the other Yamato walked right up to her,
did she suddenly jolt in realization.
She thought back to 18 years ago…
to the old hag Kurozumi Higurashi, the Paramecia-type Clone Fruit user who had led to Kozuki Oden's downfall.
Though the old woman had long been killed by Kaido,
the Clone Fruit itself could have been reborn.
This person who looked exactly like her—could only be a clone fruit user!
"There's no doubt! She must be using the Clone Fruit!"
Two-years-ago Yamato convinced herself.
"You bastard! Who the hell are you?! Say your name! Why are you impersonating me?!"
She forced her voice to sound calm and neutral, but her grip on the kanabo tightened.
"No, no! I really am you! I'm Yamato—just two years in the future!"
Two-years-later Yamato raised her hands in a friendly gesture.
"Hah! Don't think I don't know! You're just a Paramecia-type impersonator!"
Two-years-ago Yamato shouted, still on high alert.
"Impersonator?! I'm telling the truth—I'm really you from two years later!"
Two-years-later Yamato tried to explain.
"Yeah right! What kind of idiot would believe such nonsense?"
Two-years-ago Yamato scoffed.
"Hey hey! That's rude! Are you calling yourself an idiot too?"
"…Wait what? That's not what I meant—Ugh, forget it! Take this!"
Embarrassed and angry, two-years-ago Yamato charged with her kanabo.
At the same time—
Two-years-later Yamato also drew her Hassaikai, preparing a full-power strike.
"See? Not just our faces—we even use the same weapon!"
"Pfft! That could be mimicked too! But there's one thing you can never copy—"
"That's the real difference between a fake like you and the real me!"
Two-years-ago Yamato grinned confidently.
Then—
"Haaa!"
She roared, and her long blue hair lengthened and turned vibrant.
Her pale skin was suddenly covered in snowy white fur.
Zoan-type Mythical Beast Fruit — Oguchi no Makami form, activated!
"How's that?! There's only one of each Devil Fruit in the world—you can't copy this!"
She stood proudly in her beast-human hybrid form.
Smack!
Two-years-later Yamato slapped her forehead.
"Oh, right! I totally forgot about that!"
"Hmph! Regretting it now, huh? Too late!"
"No, no—I mean, watch this! Once I transform, you'll believe me!"
And just like that—
Two-years-later Yamato transformed as well,
her form identical in every way to the one from two years ago.
Moments later—
There were now two Oguchi no Makami beast warriors standing face-to-face by the ocean.
The coast went completely silent.
CRASH!
Waves slammed into the rocks.
Two-years-ago Yamato bit her lip.
She stared at the person in front of her who was a mirror image of herself.
And finally—
She couldn't hold it in.
"Wait wait wait—you really ARE me from two years in the future?!!!"