Burble, burble, burble…
As everyone stared in shock at Sakura, the Den Den Mushi beside Spandine rang. In a panic, he grabbed the receiver.
"Hello, Spandine, how's the situation?"
"Saint… Saint Satan!"
Spandine's face crumpled, but he still cradled the Den Den Mushi like it was priceless.
"We've secured evidence of the scholars' crimes."
"But, I'm so sorry—the Den Den Mushi for the Buster Call was stolen by a pirate!"
The man in the coat shot a bitter glance at Sakura standing in the distance, gritting his teeth as he reported to his superior.
"You idiot! How could you let this happen?!"
The Den Den Mushi's eyes widened, the crackling static betraying the fury of the authority on the other end.
After a long silence, a stern voice came through.
"We've already notified the Marines to activate the Buster Call. Leave the Den Den Mushi and get your men off that island!"
Spandine snapped to attention, saluted, dropped the Den Den Mushi, and fled with his team.
On the coast, armored warships roared to life, their cannons swiveling to aim at O'Hara.
BOOM!!!
The town shook violently, flames spreading in all directions, scorching the island inch by inch.
Several shells struck the Tree of Knowledge, fire surging into the ancient library.
"The library!"
Frantic scholars rushed toward the blaze, desperately hauling water from a nearby lake to douse the flames.
Sakura wanted to knock them out and drag them away, but an aged voice stopped her.
"You're the pirate who stole the Buster Call Den Den Mushi—Sakura Haruno, right?"
Sakura turned to see the Den Den Mushi faithfully relaying everything to the highest powers in the world.
"Former member of the Roger Pirates, nine years old, possibly from Wano. What are you trying to do by meddling in O'Hara's affairs?"
While the scholars faced the Buster Call, the five figures at the pinnacle of power were far more concerned.
At this critical moment, a former crewmate of the Pirate King was entangled in a case tied to the Void Century's secrets, making the authorities' hearts race with unease.
Those lawless pirates—every era, they're always such a headache.
"What am I trying to do?"
Sakura picked up the Den Den Mushi, her lips curling into a wide grin.
Standing amid the flames, the pink-haired girl spread her arms, her conqueror's will surging, dark lightning stirring the storm and tearing through the fire.
Her young but resolute voice declared to the five highest authorities on the other end of the line.
"Obviously, I want to stand at the top of this sea and see the world's most beautiful view!"
"And while I'm climbing to the top, I'd love to spread that kingdom's ideals across this sea, just to mess with you guys!"
The other end of the Den Den Mushi erupted in chaos.
A clatter of chairs and tables rang out, as if someone had stood up in shock.
The Den Den Mushi was knocked to the ground, emitting static.
When it was picked up again, the voice was thick with murderous intent.
"Shut up! Kid, you know too much…"
Click!
The Den Den Mushi went silent as Sakura kicked it into the fire.
Just then, Mud Sauro D. Headcar, using his massive body to barrel through the flames, reached the Tree of Knowledge.
"Sakura! Where's Robin? Where's Robin?"
"Sauro, perfect timing!"
Sakura led him through a hole in the Tree of Knowledge into the library, where the scholars had already passed out from her earlier burst of Conqueror's Haki.
"Take them and hijack a warship to get out of here!"
Sakura patted the giant's leg, frost spreading from her feet, instantly sealing the scholars' books at the lake's bottom in ice.
Sauro scooped up the scholars one by one, finally spotting Robin cradled in Nico Olvia's arms.
"She's safe!"
The giant's face lit up with joy, tears streaming down his cheeks at the sight of the young life preserved.
"Sakura, what about you?"
"I'll hold off the guests who are about to show up!"
Frost began to encase Sakura's body, her pink hair fluttering as she exhaled a cloud of white icy mist.
Sauro looked up, his Observation Haki catching a powerful presence approaching.
Only three monstrous rising stars in the entire Marine force carried such oppressive auras!
"No way, you're coming with us!"
"Someone's gotta stall them, Sauro. Trust me—I won't die!"
Sakura hoisted her massive ice sword onto her shoulder, her emerald eyes breathtakingly beautiful in the firelight.
Sauro's face twisted in anguish, hating his own powerlessness for the first time.
"Sakura, you have to—have to survive! Dereshishi, dereshishishishi!"
The giant forced a tear-streaked smile, then sprinted out of the fire.
"Arara, I can't just pretend I didn't see this!"
A tall man, also wreathed in frost, stepped out of the flames.
He crossed his arms, and spears of ice materialized in the air, hurtling toward Sauro amid rising cold mist.
"Ice Time: Two Thorn Spears!"
The ice spears sliced through the air, aimed straight at Sauro.
Clang!
Suddenly, a crimson glow arced into the sky, shattering the speeding spears in a burst of icy mist!
"Hey, you… Ryoma Hyogoro! Oh, sorry, my bad—you're doing pretty well, huh?"
Kuzan looked down at the girl grinning mischievously at him.
Memories he'd buried came rushing back, his ribs aching faintly from the day she'd punched through them.
"Rude little brat, I've got a name—it's Kuzan!"
The young man in the black coat slammed his hand to the ground, a metallic clang echoing as endless frost spread across the surface.
Holy crap, ice?
The chill reached Sakura's feet in an instant, forming an arc as jagged ice pillars shot upward, trapping her in a solid block of ice.
"I don't know what you did to piss off those five old geezers, but I'm still sending you to Impel Down!"
Despite the kill order, the young vice admiral, aspiring to emulate his idol Garp, didn't take the Five Elders' instructions too seriously.
Sss! Sss! Sss!
An odd sound echoed, and a red glint flashed in Kuzan's eyes.
"What the—?"
Crack!
In a split second, the ice shattered.
What emerged effortlessly broke through the flames, dark lightning flashing at her side, stirring a storm!
Before her, a steam-wreathed greatsword extended, slashing toward Kuzan.
They passed each other in a blur.
Splurch!
A grimace crossed Kuzan's face as a gash appeared on his chest, blood soaking his tattered uniform.
"Opposite attributes? Looks like you got your hands on a tricky fruit!"
Kuzan finally took Sakura seriously.
Back then, she had no Haki, no abilities, just her wits to defeat him.
Though he was reluctant to admit it, he hadn't taken her seriously, treating it like a game with a kid.
But now, while Sakura still lacked Haki, she'd mastered a way to counter his Logia powers.
He couldn't treat her like a playful kid anymore—or he might actually die!
"Now we're really enemies, pirate!"
Kuzan retracted his ability, raising his fists in a fighting stance.
Black Armament Haki coated his fists, muscles honed under the guidance of the Marine hero Garp rippling with fighting spirit.
"This is gonna be awesome!"
The pink-haired girl looked up, her grin radiating genuine excitement.
And then, amid wild laughter and shouts, their fists collided with a thunderous boom.
Shockwaves surged skyward, tearing through the surroundings with ferocious force.