The Queen's Grace descended through the final wisps of cloud and splashed smoothly onto the endless Blue Sea. The shift from the thin, silvery air of the sky to the familiar salt breeze of the ocean was almost jarring, yet invigorating. For Kaito's crew, this moment marked the end of one journey and the dawn of another. They had unlocked sky paths, claimed hard‑won thunder powers, and bested ancient guardians. Now the Grand Line's relentless tide beckoned once more.
Kaito guided the ship into deeper waters, where familiar waves lapped against the hull. Nojiko stood at the rear, tending the Log Pose and resetting it for the next island. Khalifa moved through the deck, checking gear and securing weapons. Carmen clattered pots and pans, already planning meals that did not float away at every gust. Kaya inventoried medical supplies, ensuring every bandage and salve was accounted for. Conis sat quietly, her harp resting across her lap, a soft melody drifting through the morning air. Aisa perched beside her, observation haki twitching as she scanned every ripple in the sea. Kuina, the newly awakened Thunder Logia, stood at the bow, letting the wind carry her hair back as she breathed in the scent of the deep.
"Where to now?" Kaito asked, breaking the comfortable silence.
Nojiko tapped her Log Pose, watching the needle settle. "The next mark is on a map we recovered from the Sky Ruins. It points toward an island called Wano. According to the temple's carvings, it lies off the southern current—past a series of small isles that shouldn't exist on most charts."
Khalifa stepped forward. "Wano. A closed country. We'll need to slip in quietly. The Marines there maintain strict control. Outsiders usually don't leave."
Carmen cracked a grin. "Then we'll have to prove our hospitality."
Kuina's lightning crackled softly around her fists. "I'm ready for another storm."
Laughter rippled through the crew at her pun, though the tension of entering a potentially hostile land remained. Kaito nodded. "Set a course. Let's proceed carefully."
Nojiko adjusted the sails and steered the Queen's Grace into the southern current. As the ship regained speed, each crew member settled into their tasks. The open ocean seemed endless, but the map's faint symbols promised the land that would shape their next trials.
Aboard Marine Intelligence Headquarters
Far to the north, in a stark fortress carved from white stone and steel, Marine Intelligence convened its senior officers. The room was long and narrow; at one end sat Vice Admiral Tsuru, her ever‑composed gaze fixed on a holoprojector that displayed the latest bounties and sea routes. Around her, a dozen captains and admirals murmured quietly, pouring over documents.
"This is unprecedented," Admiral Tsuru began, her voice calm but firm. "Two rookie crews, Monkey D. Luffy's and this new Kaito's crew, advancing in power at a rate we cannot ignore."
She tapped a button. Above the table, holo‑images of bounties glowed:
Monkey D. Luffy – 450,000,000 Berries
Roronoa Zoro – 320,000,000 Berries
Kaito – 350,000,000 Berries
Kuina – 400,000,000 Berries
Khalifa – 220,000,000 Berries
A low murmur ran through the room.
Captain Onimaru frowned. "Vice Admiral, these figures—especially Kuina's—are beyond any rookie we've tracked. A Devil Fruit user, Logia class, plus the sky warrior's spear. She's a threat comparable to Vice Admirals commanding entire fleets."
A reporter from Cipher Pol 5 interjected, "Khalifa's bounty is significant as well. Ex‑CP9 defection, Rokushiki mastery, plus the Soap‑Soap Fruit. She's capable of infiltration and sabotage that could cripple operations."
"Exactly," Tsuru said. "Their combined skill sets present complex challenges. We cannot treat them as independent cases. Their rivalry only accelerates their growth."
A Marine analyst named Lieutenant Ura rose. "Our logs show that both crews have clashed repeatedly, each encounter raising their power levels. Luffy's mastery of Gear Second and Third has reached new heights. Zoro's Haki is emerging stronger than before. Sanji, though overlooked, is developing mid‑air combat beyond typical Rear Admiral thresholds."
An admiral next to him nodded. "Their progression is fueled by their rivalry. Each confrontation forces them to level up. It's a feedback loop."
Admiral Tsuru folded her hands. "We must adjust our approach. Deployment of Vice Admirals and Admirals to intercept prematurely could lead to catastrophic engagements. Instead, we will monitor, isolate, and if possible, redirect these crews toward islands where we can contain them."
Captain Onimaru leaned forward. "Are you suggesting non‑interference for the time being? Allow them to clash with other pirate crews, perhaps even each other, until they deplete their resources?"
Tsuru's lips curved slightly. "Yes. We let them fight, gather intelligence, and exhaust themselves. Meanwhile, we tighten maritime patrols around strategic islands—Water 7, Wano, Marineford. We classify both crews as A‑class threats and allocate surveillance dreadnoughts accordingly."
A hush fell. Then, Admiral Shore barked, "What about the Wano Route? Intelligence indicates both crews are heading there next."
Tsuru tapped another button. A separate holo‑map flickered into view, showing sea currents linking the Sky Islands to the southern route of Wano.
"No direct intervention," she ordered. "Wano is a sovereign territory with its own defenses. We will coordinate with local forces. If either crew attempts landing without approval, we engage with Marine artillery from offshore. Let the shogunate handle first contact."
She paused, letting the weight of her decree settle. "Release updated bounties and black‑market alerts. Marshal D. Teach, Blackbeard, has also been spotted near Jaya. His presence complicates matters. We cannot let these rookie crews ally with him. Keep a close eye on all four parties."
Lieutenant Ura bowed. "Understood. We'll prepare encrypted comms to Wano's Marine liaison."
Tsuru dismissed the meeting with a final glance. "Maintain watch on these pirate crews. Report every engagement. We cannot predict where the tides will take them, but we can ensure we always know their position."
The officers dispersed, urgency in their movements. The holoprojector faded, leaving the silent room humming with the promise of coming storms on the high seas.
The Voyage Southward
Back on the Queen's Grace, the crew felt a subtle shift in the air as they broke from the southern sky currents into open sea. The temperatures rose; the water deepened to an intense blue.
Nojiko pointed toward the horizon. "Wano lies just beyond those islands. The coast should be visible within the day."
Aisa's haki flared as she scanned the clouds. "I can feel land ahead."
Conis leaned forward, her eyes catching sight of a faint pink haze above the horizon—like cherry blossom petals frozen in the sky.
"Is that… blossoms?" she whispered.
Kuina's thunder flickered as she joined them. "Wano's landscape is said to be lined with blossoms. We're close."
Khalifa consulted the marine registry on her tablet. "Wano restricts foreign ships. We must approach at dawn. The only safe harbor is a small inlet on the east coast. After that…it will depend on our reception."
Carmen cracked her knuckles. "Then we better make sure we're more than welcome."
Kaito studied the approaching coastline—a crescent bay ringed by jagged cliffs and distant towers. "We've faced storms, gods, and assassins. We can handle a closed country."
He turned to his crew. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, we set foot in Wano."
They nodded, each carrying their own thoughts: anticipation, strategy, a touch of apprehension. But beneath it all was the unbreakable bond that had carried them this far.
A Moment of Bonding before the Shore
As night fell, the crew gathered on deck for one last moment of camaraderie before the imminent challenge.
Nojiko laid out star maps, speculation of hidden routes filling the air.
Khalifa ran silent diagnostics on her gloves, preparing for urban infiltration if necessary.
Aisa and Conis quietly practiced target drills with sky slingshots.
Carmen cooked a simple stew of seaweed and fish in the galley, the aroma drifting through the open windows.
Kaya sat with a tray of herbal teas, distributing calming blends to steady any nerves.
Kuina meditated near her thunder spear, lightning minimal but under perfect control.
Kaito moved among them, offering quiet words of encouragement.
"This is more than a landing," he said. "It's another test. We step on Wano's soil not as conquerors, but as travelers seeking our place in this world."
Kuina opened her eyes. "And if they challenge us?"
"We answer with our strength," Kaito replied. "But remember—our bond is stronger than any blade or fruit power."
They shared a moment's silence, looking out at the horizon where the first light of dawn hinted at the shape of Wano's cliffs.
In the distance, a single lantern flickered from a lone tower—perhaps a beacon, perhaps a warning.
Kaito gripped his sword hilt. "Rest well. Tomorrow, history awaits."
As the crew dispersed, each carried the weight of that promise. They had crossed skies, conquered storms, earned thunder powers—and now they would face the gates of Wano, where samurai swords and ancient codes awaited their arrival.
The tides of destiny were turning. The Grand Line's greatest trials still lay ahead.