The New World, G–5 Marine Base.
Inside the branch chief's office, the air carried the acrid tang of sulfur and the heat of relentless authority.
Admiral Akainu sat behind his massive desk, his expression as cold and immovable as stone, sorting through intelligence reports streaming in from across the New World.
"Knock, knock!"
A sharp, urgent knock shattered the tense silence. The door burst open. A marine monitoring officer rushed in, saluting crisply.
"Admiral Akainu! Urgent intelligence! The Whitebeard Pirates… there's been a revolt!"
"Oh?" Akainu lifted his head slowly, his eyes narrowing. "Explain."
"We don't have precise details yet," the marine panted, his chest heaving. "Our observation ships couldn't get close. All we could see was chaos erupting aboard their flagship, the Moby Dick!"
Akainu's knuckles rapped against the desk, a deep, measured sound. "Any casualties?"
"None. As soon as signs of mutiny appeared, our monitoring ships retreated to safety per your highest orders."
Akainu nodded, signaling the soldier to leave. This was the Navy's new approach to the Emperors.
The entire Navy was in a crucial period of transformation. Direct confrontation with the Four Emperors would be unwise. Restraint now promised greater, decisive victories later.
His mind flickered across several familiar faces. Kuzan, reinvigorated, scouring the seas for the Navy's future. Borsalino, bursting with uncharacteristic enthusiasm for the massive bounty rewards. Sengoku, restored to the full aura of a "Buddha," preparing to confront the World Government's foes directly. And Renn Hawk, training in the New World, destined to inherit the mantle of Justice.
The dormant war machine of the Navy was being fueled anew. Once fully awakened, the Marines would personally strike at the Four Emperors.
Akainu lifted the phone reserved for direct contact with the Fleet Admiral. "Buru buru~ click."
Sengoku's voice came through, calm yet commanding. "This is Sakazuki."
"Sengoku, Whitebeard's side…" Akainu relayed the information succinctly, leaving no detail out.
A brief silence followed.
"Understood, Sakazuki," Sengoku replied. "Kuzan has completed the investment in Alabasta; the first gold shipments are being converted. Borsalino's blueprints are near completion. In three months at most, or even as soon as one month, our preparations will be complete. Ensure the Navy's deployments in the New World remain stable."
Akainu clenched his fist, the sound of cracking joints cutting through the tense room.
Without hesitation, he dialed another number. One that held his highest expectations.
Meanwhile, in the New World, aboard the flagship of the fleet returning to G–3 Base, Renn Hawk sat in the captain's cabin, eyes closed, resting.
"Buru buru~"
His Den Den Mushi rang. Hawk opened his eyes and answered.
Akainu's deep, gravelly voice came through. "Hawk… Whitebeard's crew has been shaken. I sense something major is about to occur. Be ready."
Hawk listened intently, weighing the information.
Whitebeard's crew shaken? He instinctively checked the captain's log. The top entry: Year 1520 in the New World Calendar.
Time had passed quietly, yet the story surged forward. Blackbeard must have already seized the Dark-Dark Fruit and begun his escape. Soon, Ace would pursue him.
The Great War on Marineford was now only two months away.
The gears of fate, unstoppable, were turning as they always had.
"I will be ready, Admiral," Hawk said firmly.
Akainu's voice disappeared, leaving the Den Den Mushi silent. Hawk rose and approached the window, gazing across the endless sea.
The wind teased his dark hair. "Two months. Only two months."
A sense of urgency settled in his chest.
Whitebeard. One of the Four Emperors. Sixteen divisions under his command, countless allied pirate crews. Millions of Justice points would be at stake. He had to participate.
Hawk assessed his own strength:
Physique: Top-class (Admiral level)
Armament Haki: Advanced (Vice Admiral level)
Observation Haki: Advanced (Vice Admiral level)
Combat Skill – Fist: Advanced (Vice Admiral level)
Conqueror's Haki: Advanced
Only his body reached Admiral level. The rest remained Vice Admiral caliber. On the battlefield of the Great War, this was enough for self-preservation but insufficient for amassing Justice points.
He needed to grow stronger, fast.
Routine pirate hunts could no longer satisfy his ambitions.
Hawk's eyes turned cold, a dark resolve igniting. "Time to activate the backup plan."
He lifted the Den Den Mushi again and dialed Sengoku's number without hesitation.
Far away, on a quiet dock, a small fishing boat rocked gently in the harbor. A straw-hat-wearing boy stood at the bow, grinning widely.
"Alright, I'm off!"
His voice echoed over the still waters.
The village chief shook his fists in frustration. "You fool! Being a pirate is no joke! You'll die at sea!"
Makino, the innkeeper, smiled softly. "Take care, Luffy."
"I know!" he called back, beaming.
Suddenly, a massive shadow shot up from beneath the calm sea, opening its monstrous jaws toward Luffy's tiny vessel.
"Ah! Luffy!" villagers screamed in terror.
"Gum-Gum!" Luffy's right arm stretched backward like elastic. His fist rocketed forward like a cannonball, slamming into the sea king's jaw.
The beast rolled its eyes and sank lifelessly into the depths.
Luffy retrieved his fist and set his straw hat straight. "Heh, bye-bye, everyone!"
The small boat carried his dreams steadily toward the endless ocean.
Nearby, another small vessel struggled against the waves. A pink-haired boy with round glasses scanned the map in his hands, anxiety etched on his face.
Coby, the Marine recruit, was neither pirate nor fisherman. He was an ordinary boy with a dream to become a Marine and protect the innocent.
"Should be this way to the branch…" he muttered, glancing at the sun to navigate.
He had spent all his savings to buy this boat, determined to reach the nearest Marine base.
Suddenly, a loud thump shook the boat.
Coby stumbled, sitting hard on the deck, eyes wide. A giant wooden barrel floated alongside.
"A barrel?"
He cautiously dragged it aboard, struggling with its weight.
"Too heavy…"
Raising the oar, he slammed it onto the lid with all his might.
A fist shot out.
"Ahhh what a deep sleep!"
Luffy sprang from the barrel, stretching luxuriously.
"Ahhh ghost!!!" Coby screamed, scrambling to the stern.
Luffy rubbed his eyes and smiled at the pink-haired boy.
"Who are you?"
"I-I'm Coby," he stammered. "Y-you… who are you? Why are you in a barrel?"
"I'm Luffy!" he said with a grin. "I'm going to become the Pirate King!"
"Pirate… King?!" Coby's eyes nearly popped. "You must be joking!"
"Now the East Blue has no pirates," he argued.
Luffy tilted his head, puzzled. "No pirates? Really?"
"Yes!" Coby stood, trembling with excitement. "The East Blue is at peace now!"
"Oh! Then I'll be the first!" Luffy declared, grinning proudly.
"Eh???" Coby was speechless. He gawked at Luffy, incredulous.
"Why become a pirate? Wouldn't it be better to join the Marines, be a hero?" he asked.
Luffy's answer was simple and resolute. "Marines aren't free. I want to gather ten companions, find the legendary treasure, and become the freest person on this sea!"
"That's the Pirate King!" Luffy's eyes shone with unshakable determination.
Coby trembled, drawing a small knife from his waist. The blade caught the sunlight, feeble yet pointed.
"Stop… I will capture you as a Marine recruit!"
Luffy tilted his head, utterly confused.
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