Raphael: <>
System: []
******
"But tell me something, Vice Admiral Tsuru... who really burned down my village?"
On the other end of the line, Tsuru froze, immediately picking up on the shift in how her student was addressing her. She exhaled slowly, her voice carefully measured as she responded, "Isuka, where is this coming from? It's been years since the tragedy at your village. Why dredge up old wounds now?"
"Thank you for your concern, Vice Admiral Tsuru," Isuka replied, her tone sharp, stripped of any real gratitude. "But recently, I stumbled across some information... something I never expected. That's why I'm asking you now. I need to hear the truth from you. I want to believe I can trust you."
There was a long pause before Tsuru answered, her age seeming to weigh heavily on her in that moment. "I see... so that's how it is," she murmured, her voice heavy with regret. "You've already pieced it together, haven't you?"
"So it's true..." Isuka's voice cracked slightly as she gripped the receiver of her Den Den Mushi with white-knuckled fingers. "It wasn't pirates who burned down my home... it was Vice Admiral Draw. And he just... walked away from it?"
"I understand your anger, Isuka," Tsuru said gently, though even she could hear the hollow ring to her own words. "But you have to see the bigger picture. That tragedy took your parents from you, yes... but it also forged you into the woman you are today. Strong. Capable. Someone who can protect others from facing the same horrors."
"That's not the point!" Isuka's voice rose sharply, emotion breaking through before she forced herself to reel it back in. She took a shaky breath and continued, her voice cold but steady, "I'm not asking for a silver lining. I'm asking why. Why was he never punished? How can we preach about justice to the world when we cover up crimes like his?"
"I'll be blunt with you. Yes, headquarters was fully aware of the truth behind the tragedy at your village," Tsuru said, dropping all pretense of kindness. Her voice was no longer that of a mentor or a friend—it was the cold, seasoned tone of a veteran and a superior officer. "However, Vice Admiral Draw succeeded in eliminating the pirates stationed there. Revealing his error, or punishing him for it, would have dealt a heavy blow to Marine morale and tarnished our reputation."
"If you're asking why, the answer is simple: in the Marines, we value soldiers who are effective and swift. Soldiers who don't hesitate in the face of duty," she paused just long enough for her words to sink in before continuing. "Vice Admiral Draw, for all his brutality and lack of finesse, has always delivered results. Then and now, he remains one of our highest-performing officers when it comes to mission success rates. That's why, even if I personally dislike his reckless, aggressive ways, I certainly do appreciate their effectiveness."
"That's why," Tsuru's voice hardened even further, a dangerous glint hidden behind her words. "Before you act on whatever emotions you're feeling right now, you need to stop and think. Think about the life you've built for yourself. Weigh it carefully in your heart—and decide if vengeance is really worth destroying everything you've worked so hard to achieve."
"I'll keep that in mind," Isuka said flatly. She didn't wait for a response. She simply ended the call.
As the line went dead, Isuka collapsed onto her bed, the Den Den Mushi slipping from her hand and landing with a soft thud on the floor. Pressing her face into her pillow, she let out silent, aching sobs, the kind that seemed to hollow her out from the inside. Everything she believed in—her mentors, her cause, her pride—felt like it was crumbling away, leaving her clutching at the shattered remains of a life that suddenly felt like a lie.
Meanwhile, back in her office, Tsuru stared silently at the Den Den Mushi for a long, heavy moment. Her shoulders sagged under a weight she rarely allowed herself to show. After what felt like an eternity, she reached out, dialed another number, and waited.
After a few rings, the other end picked up.
"Hello, my dear granddaughter. How are you?" Tsuru asked, forcing a small, warm smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. After a cheerful response, Tsuru's voice grew serious. "You're still in East Blue, right?" She nodded when she heard confirmation. "Good. Listen carefully. I need you to make your way immediately to the 16th Branch. I have a very important mission for you."
******
Two days later, every Marine stationed at the 16th Branch stood in rigid silence within the courtyard of their base. The air was heavy with unease, their heads bowed in shame or discomfort as they faced two Rear Admirals, answering questions about the recent raid that had rocked their branch, which had left both the base and their pride in disarray.
In front of them, Rear Admiral Kujaku stood tall, her posture relaxed—but the fire in her narrowed eyes betrayed the calm mask on her face. The bright sun beat down on the 16th Branch base, but it was the weight of Kujaku's piercing glare that made the Marines sweat more than the heat ever could. Her hands were folded neatly behind her back, gripping her coiled whip, and when she finally spoke, her cold voice cut through the courtyard like a blade.
"I was under the impression the Marine Academy taught you discipline. Tactics. Combat effectiveness," she said, her tone dangerously even. "But after hearing about what happened here... I have to ask: did you sleep through those classes and spend your time snoring in the barracks instead?"
Her words echoed sharply through the courtyard. No one dared to raise their head. Some shifted awkwardly in place, others stiffened further. The silence lingered like a blade hanging over their heads.
"You mean to tell me two intruders—just two—broke into your base, humiliated the lot of you, and walked out without so much as a bruise? You outnumbered them at least ten to one!" Her voice rose suddenly, cracking through the air like thunder. Several Marines flinched, some visibly swallowing down panic as the sting of her words hit harder than any blow. "And still, you got flattened like a bunch of fresh cadets on their first day of training!"
A trembling voice broke the silence. "M-Ma'am... with all due respect," said Jiro, his voice barely holding steady. "The 16th Branch doesn't usually see much action. It's a quiet post—we don't exactly have high-threat targets out here. We weren't… ready..."
He didn't get to finish. Kujaku's eyes gleamed with fury, and with a sharp flick of her wrist, her whip lashed the ground just inches from Jiro's boots. The crack of leather against stone made him yelp and stumble back, his face pale with fear.
"Not ready?" she echoed, curling the whip back into her hand with practiced ease. "Let me make something absolutely clear, Marine. Readiness isn't something you put on hold until it's convenient. It's not a suggestion. It is the bare minimum expected of you the moment you wear that uniform. If you're standing under this flag," she gestured sharply toward the ruined wall behind her, where the Marine standard lay torn and dirtied on the ground, "then you should be ready to protect it or die trying."
"Or would you rather wait for the next group of so-called 'nobodies' to stroll through your gates and turn this base into a playground again? You weren't defeated because you were caught off guard. You were defeated because you let yourselves grow weak. Because you got complacent. Because you convinced yourselves that this was some cushy backwater assignment where you could slack off and let your skills decay." Kujaku's voice dropped to a cold hiss. "Well, congratulations. Now the whole world knows just how many cowards and fools we've stacked into this command."
Kujaku stepped back and addressed the entire unit once more. "From now on, daily drills will be doubled. Tactical re-evaluations begin tomorrow. You'll be trained like you're going to war, because clearly, that's the only way to snap you out of this pathetic complacency. And until I see improvement…"
Then Kujaku turned her attention to the kitchen staff, taking slow, deliberate steps toward them. "I'll keep this short, because frankly, I'm not sure I can stomach the full story again without losing faith in the combined intelligence of you all," she said, her voice laced with disappointment and disgust. "One woman—wearing a clearly fake Captain's jacket two sizes too big and lipstick thick enough to stop a bullet—struts into your kitchen, bats her eyes, purrs something vaguely official, and not one of you thought to verify her identity?!"
She spun on her heel and pointed directly at the trembling cook who had led the kitchen crew that day. "And your response is to drop your pans and serve her whatever she wants!?"
"M-Ma'am, she said she was from G-2! That it was a random check!" the cook stammered, face flushing red as his fellow chefs nodded in desperate agreement. "She had the insignia and was wearing a proper, real uniform! And then she smiled and—well—"
"She smiled," Kujaku repeated flatly, cutting him off with pure disdain. "And that was enough to make half of you fall over yourselves like lovesick schoolboys? While the rest of her crew helped themselves to every ration, crate, and bottle not bolted to the floor?!"
She raised a hand and summoned a Seaman First Class who stepped forward, holding a clipboard. Kujaku snatched it, eyes skimming the inventory report. "Two months' worth of food. Gone. Forty crates of provisions. Gone. Six barrels of preserved meats—gone. Even the bloody spices—GONE!"
She slapped the clipboard against the cook's chest, hard enough to make him stagger. "Did it never occur to you geniuses that maybe a real Marine Captain wouldn't flirt her way into a kitchen like a pirate on shore leave?! Or that actual officers don't schedule surprise inspections by whispering 'Hey, cutie' while twirling a strand of hair?!"
No one dared answer. One of the younger kitchen assistants looked like he wanted to disappear into his apron.
Kujaku let the silence drag before turning her back to them. "You failed to protect a critical supply division of a Marine base because your hearts fluttered at the first sign of attention. Pathetic."
She took a few steps forward, then paused. Her voice dropped an octave, tone deadly calm.
"From this day forward, every member of the kitchen staff will attend deception recognition training. Twice a week. You'll be drilled on infiltration tactics, uniform verification procedures, and how not to get honey-trapped by the first pretty face that walks through your door. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Rear Admiral!" the kitchen staff shouted in unison, their voices hoarse but terrified.
"Good. Maybe next time someone flashes you a smile, you'll remember what division you serve under before handing them the pantry keys." Her eyes flicked coldly back to the head cook. "And next time, if someone's waistline doesn't match their rank, try using your upper head—before your lower one gets you court-martialed."
Then Kujaku turned her attention to the final—and most significant—target of her fury. This wasn't just another faceless Marine to lecture. No, this woman was different. Not only did she have the rank and skill to stop the intruders, but she was also someone Kujaku's own grandmother had specifically warned her to keep an eye on. And after everything Kujaku had learned upon arriving at the 16th Branch, her blood was already at a rolling boil.
"And finally... you," she said coldly, turning to face Isuka, who stood at the back with her arms folded and her expression unreadable. She hadn't said a word during the entire dressing-down, hadn't even flinched—but now Kujaku's gaze was squarely fixed on her. "I've been hearing some very interesting things about you from a variety of sources."
"I see..." Isuka responded, her voice even and cool, bordering on indifferent.
"That's all you have to say?!" Kujaku snapped, her composure cracking as she marched a step closer, her whip rattling at her side. "I've reviewed your file. Your assignments, your field reports, your combat record—everything! There's no way in hell someone with your experience couldn't have stopped a couple of intruders from the damn East Blue!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Isuka replied with a faint shrug, voice dry with amusement. "Well, that's unfortunate. I was busy doing my own thing while the base got looted."
"Doing what, exactly?" Kujaku demanded, the venom rising in her voice. "Conspiring with the raiders?!"
"That's right, ma'am! I saw her!" one of the younger Marines suddenly shouted, desperate to redirect attention from himself. "She was talking to one of the guys who hit the base—and I even heard her offer him Captain Nezumi's treasure!"
Kujaku's eyes narrowed as murmurs spread among the gathered Marines. Isuka, however, didn't even flinch.
"First of all, none of that treasure belonged to Nezumi. It belonged to the people of the islands under his jurisdiction—the same people he bled dry for years. So there's no reason for any of you to get bent out of shape over it, because let's be honest—none of you were ever going to see a single beli of it," Isuka said, glaring at the Marine who had tried to shift the blame before turning back to Kujaku without missing a beat. "And second, every last bit of that money went to a good cause. I don't regret a thing."
Kujaku's expression hardened. "Do you even hear yourself? You're saying you'd rather side with the outsiders who attacked this base than stand with your fellow Marines?"
"My fellow Marines?" Isuka repeated, her voice flat and laced with contempt. Then she scoffed and shook her head slowly. "If you seriously think I want to claim allegiance with the likes of Nezumi or Draw, then you're more naive than I gave you credit for, Rear Admiral," she added with a humorless chuckle, clearly enjoying Kujaku's irritation. "And honestly, even though I don't know him that well, I can say without hesitation that Luffy is twice the man either of them ever were. He's honorable, he's principled, and—unlike some of the people in uniform—he actually gives a damn about doing what's right."
"Wait! Did you say Luffy?" Koby, who had been lingering in the background, suddenly perked up and stepped forward, his eyes widening as he locked onto Isuka. "Are you sure it was him who attacked the base? Straw hat, everything?"
"Yes... that's right," Isuka replied, her voice tinged with mild confusion as she gave Koby a puzzled look. She hadn't expected him to react so strongly to the name.
"Not that damned boy again!" Kujaku groaned, slamming her foot into the ground in frustration. The sound echoed across the courtyard. "It's like we're always two steps behind him, chasing his damn shadow!"
"So why did you give Luffy Nezumi's treasure?" Koby asked, his curiosity piqued. "I doubt you were just feeling particularly charitable that day."
Letting out a long sigh, Isuka explained the situation to the two Rear Admirals—how Nezumi had kidnapped Nami from Cocoyasi Village three months ago and kept her locked in the dungeon with barely enough food to survive. She went on to explain that she had hired Luffy to return Nami safely to her village and had used Nezumi's stolen treasure as payment for the task.
A heavy silence hung in the air as the weight of her words sank in. Kujaku's face twisted in an ugly scowl, her jaw clenched tightly. She couldn't help but curse Marine Headquarters under her breath. This was the second corrupt Marine captain they'd uncovered in the East Blue in a matter of weeks. It was becoming glaringly clear that the region had been neglected, and she couldn't shake the feeling that the East Blue's reputation as a "safe" sea had caused the higher-ups to simply turn a blind eye.
But Kujaku kept those thoughts to herself. Speaking them aloud in front of these junior Marines wouldn't help anyone. If anything, it would only shake their faith in Marine leadership—and that was the last thing she needed right now.
"Whatever your reasons may be," Kujaku said, her voice hardening as she regained her composure, "it still doesn't excuse your actions. Your first duty is to the Marines. You should've apprehended those criminals who attacked this base, not stood by while they looted it." She took a step forward, her gaze sharpening. "From now on, you're under my watch until we drop you off at Marineford. The higher-ups will decide your punishment. Now go pack your things. We're leaving soon."
Isuka didn't respond. She gave Kujaku a long, unreadable look before turning and walking away without another word.
"What a hassle..." Kujaku sighed, running a hand through her hair in frustration. She dismissed the remaining Marines with a flick of her hand, signaling them to get back to their duties. Then, she turned toward Koby, who stood quietly, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I know what you're thinking," Kujaku said, her tone laced with understanding. "I guess our next destination is Cocoyasi Village, to intercept that kid before he leaves, right?"
Koby's eyes sparked with determination. "Of course," he replied, the fire in his gaze unmistakable. "After chasing him this long, we finally have a real lead. With our warships, we'll be there in no time. When we catch up with him, we'll see for ourselves what kind of man this kid really is—the one who's been causing us so much trouble for so long."
******
Meanwhile, the Going Merry was already approaching Cocoyasi Village, the island's familiar silhouette taking shape on the horizon as Luffy stood on the deck, binoculars raised to his eyes.
"We should be reaching Cocoyasi Village soon," he muttered to himself, lowering the binoculars and turning just in time to see Kaya walking towards him.
"Luffy, that girl—Nami—she's awake," Kaya said softly, her expression a mix of relief and lingering concern. "She understandably panicked at first, but I told her everything: how and where you found her, how she ended up on our ship. I tried to be as gentle as I could, and she did calm down eventually… but now she's just sitting there, staring at the wall. Like she's somewhere else entirely."
"I see…" Luffy replied, a frown settling on his face as he looked past Kaya, his mind clearly drifting toward the orange haired girl. "And her condition?"
"Physically, she's nearly back to her normal strength," Kaya explained. "My powers did everything they could—healed the injuries, stabilized her condition—but that's just the first step. What she needs now is real food, rest, and a bit of movement to rebuild her strength properly." Her voice grew quieter. "As for her mental state… I honestly don't know. She has gone through a terrible experience, and something like that doesn't just fade. It leaves a scar—a deep one. One that could last for years… maybe even forever."
"Yeah… just as I figured. Physical wounds heal fast enough, but it's the ones in your heart that take the longest—and they hurt the most," Luffy muttered, clicking his tongue in frustration and shaking his head. "Anyway, tell Zoro to keep watch for me. I'm going to check on her," he added, handing Kaya the binoculars before turning and making his way toward the girls' quarters.
Upon entering the room, Luffy saw Nami sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked healthier than before—her color had returned, and the trembling in her limbs had subsided—but her eyes were dull, unfocused, fixed on the wall in front of her as if lost in a world far away.
"Hey, Nami," Luffy said gently as he approached her, keeping his voice calm and kind. "I'm Luffy. It's nice to finally meet you."
At the sound of his voice, Nami flinched slightly, her head turning toward him. She blinked a few times, recognition flickering in her eyes—probably from the name Kaya had mentioned earlier. "Hello," she said softly. "Thank you… for saving me."
"It's okay," Luffy replied with a small smile, his tone warm but steady. "I just did what anyone decent should've done a long time ago. And honestly, if you ever meet Isuka, she's the one you should thank. If she hadn't told me about you, I wouldn't have known to come find you."
"Oh… okay…" Nami murmured before lapsing back into silence, her gaze drifting once more to the wall. She looked like she was still trapped somewhere in her mind, caught between the present and the memory of whatever was tormenting her.
Luffy felt the heavy silence in the room and searched for something to say, but quickly realized that his usual jokes or playful quips wouldn't be right for the moment. Looking at Nami, he could tell she wasn't in the right state of mind to appreciate either of them.
So instead, he let out a soft sigh and spoke plainly. "By the way… we'll be reaching Cocoyasi Village soon. You'll be home again, with your family."
Suddenly, Nami's eyes widened, and she stared at Luffy for a long moment before she burst out, "Home... Family... No! No! No! I can't go back! I can't go back!" Her voice cracked, and tears streamed down her face as she began sobbing uncontrollably. "Please don't take me back there! Please!"
Luffy was startled by her sudden outburst and panicked for a moment. He instinctively moved toward her to try to calm her down, but then froze, remembering that he didn't know the details of what she had endured in that hellish place. If he hugged her too suddenly, it might trigger painful memories and make her even worse.
So instead of rushing in for a hug, Luffy crouched in front of her and gently took her hand in his, testing the waters. He gave it a soft squeeze. "Nami, calm down…" he said as gently as he could. But her sobs didn't stop. "Okay, I won't force you to go back home, but… can you tell me why?"
After hearing that she wasn't being forced to go back, Nami finally began to calm down. She looked at Luffy with tear-filled eyes. "I can't go home... I just can't."
"That's what I'm asking you, Nami," Luffy said softly. "Why do you think you can't go back?" He paused, trying to understand. "I thought you'd be happy to go back, to see your family again after all this time. So why?"
Nami stared at him for a long moment before tears began to well up again, streaming down her face. "I can't go back... I failed them all!" she cried, her voice breaking. "I couldn't save my village from that damn Arlong! I failed Nojiko... I failed Bell-mère... I..." Her sobs grew louder as their faces flashed in her mind. Overcome with emotion, she collapsed back onto the bed, burying her face in the pillow, her sobs fading into quiet sniffling as she eventually drifted into a troubled sleep, her face still wet with tears.
Luffy glanced one last time at Nami's sleeping form, letting out a quiet sigh. He gently released her hand and stood up, walking out of the room. As he exited, he immediately spotted Uta standing nearby, her arms folded across her chest.
"So, are we changing course?" Uta asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because that girl didn't seem too eager about going home."
Luffy shook his head, his expression firm. "No, we're not changing course. We're still heading to Cocoyasi Village to drop her off. What happened to her is tragic, but we can't put our journey on hold for it."
"Good, for a second there, I thought you were going soft on me," Uta teased, a smirk playing on her lips.
"In your dreams," Luffy rolled his eyes, his expression quickly turning fierce. "That said, we're still going to take care of Arlong and his terrorizing of this village. And we're going after that bastard Nezumi too—he's going to pay for what he did to Nami. It's a matter of principle... and a promise I made to Isuka."
"You're such a softie," Uta rolled her eyes, shaking her head with a broad smile.
Just then, Zoro walked up to them, holding the binoculars out to Luffy. "There's some movement near the island. You might want to take a look."
"Movement near the island?" Luffy raised an eyebrow, taking the binoculars from Zoro. He scanned the island, a grin slowly spreading across his face as he spotted the Marine ship docked nearby.
A wicked grin spread across Luffy's face as his eyes gleamed with a dangerous fire. "No need to hunt down the rat... looks like he's come straight to his own execution."
To be continued...