The Queen's Grace cut through the morning mist like a phantom, its white sails low and quiet. The waters of the Grand Line shifted as if resisting their passage, the currents growing erratic the closer they came to Wano.
Wano was not like other islands. It did not beckon travelers with open ports or glowing cities. It hid behind high, unwelcoming cliffs, ancient stone gates, and the swirling whirlpools that guarded its coasts like dormant monsters. Few ships dared to approach. Fewer still returned.
And yet, Kaito's crew had no intention of turning away.
The ship moved deliberately, guided by Nojiko's steady hands and the Sky Map they had recovered from the Sky Ruins. The hidden eastern inlet, unnamed on Marine charts, appeared as nothing more than a crack in the rock wall to the untrained eye. Only the guardians of the Sky Islands had preserved its location—a secret known to only a handful of navigators.
"This is it," Nojiko said, steering carefully between jagged rocks. "This passage isn't visible unless you're right on top of it."
Khalifa stood nearby, cross-referencing maps with a sharp gaze. "Marine patrols won't monitor this entrance. They rely on the whirlpools and Wano's natural isolation to repel intruders. This is our only window."
Kaito leaned forward on the railing, his eyes tracing the narrow sea path that led into the inlet. The cliffs loomed on either side, the sea churning violently just beyond their reach.
"Let's slip in," he said. "Keep the sails low. We don't want to announce ourselves just yet."
Carmen tightened the ship's rigging with a smirk. "Stealth isn't usually my style, but for you? I'll make an exception."
Kuina remained at the bow, silent, her eyes locked on the growing silhouette of Wano's outer rim. She could feel the tension in the air—the weight of the land's history pressing against them like a silent guardian.
For Kuina, Wano was not merely another island. It was her birthplace. The land she had never set foot on, yet whose traditions were etched into her bones. The place where her sword would be recognized not just as a weapon, but as a calling.
As they slipped through the narrow passage, Aisa's haki pulsed faintly. "We're not alone," she whispered. "I can feel them watching."
"Scouts?" Kaito asked.
"No," Aisa said, frowning. "Something else. It's faint… but it's there."
Khalifa folded her arms. "Keep moving. Whoever's watching will have to find us first."
The Queen's Grace passed through the stone arch and entered the inlet, its waters calming as the narrow cliffs opened into a quiet bay. Unlike the chaotic outer seas, this hidden harbor was still, untouched by trade routes or Marine control. Cherry blossom trees lined the steep hills above them, their pink petals drifting lazily through the air.
"This… is beautiful," Kaya said softly, her eyes wide as she looked at the falling blossoms.
Carmen sniffed the air. "And it smells like fresh rice cakes. Is that someone cooking?"
Nojiko anchored the ship near a secluded grove. "We can hide here for now. According to the Sky Map, there's a small village nearby. Unregistered. They might help us get our bearings."
Kaito glanced toward the village's faint outline. Smoke from small cooking fires rose above the trees, peaceful and undisturbed.
"Let's go meet the locals," he said.
The crew disembarked, careful to blend in as they moved toward the village.
Marine Intelligence Headquarters – Continued Observation
At the Grand Line's northern observation base, Vice Admiral Tsuru's sharp gaze remained fixed on the slowly updating charts projected across the war room's walls.
"Confirmed sighting," a marine spotter reported. "Kaito's crew has not approached the primary harbors. Their vessel disappeared from standard routes."
A Cipher Pol agent adjusted his glasses. "That aligns with our worst-case projections. They must have found an unrecorded entrance. Wano's eastern inlet, perhaps?"
Another officer tapped into a den den mushi feed. "We've lost direct visual contact. No surface patrols cover that inlet."
Tsuru's voice remained calm but firm. "Their navigator is no amateur. And their maps surpass what the government currently holds. Let them proceed, but double surveillance on Luffy's crew. Their paths will eventually cross inside Wano."
A marine lieutenant hesitated. "Vice Admiral, if we allow both crews to remain active, they could trigger a major rebellion within Wano's borders."
Tsuru's fingers tapped rhythmically on the table. "Wano's internal politics are not our concern unless they threaten to spill into Marine territories. For now, we let these pirates entangle themselves with Wano's shogunate. Monitor. Record. Report."
The Cipher Pol agent raised another concern. "Our latest bounties were distributed to black-market brokers. If Kaito's crew lingers in Wano, bounty hunters may converge on their location."
"Let them come," Tsuru said. "The sea will test them. We simply wait for the tides to carry them back into our grasp."
She paused, her gaze flicking to a separate projection of Monkey D. Luffy's crew advancing from the southern route.
"These two captains are destined to clash. But whether they break each other or grow stronger… we shall see."
Return to Wano – The Village Beneath the Blossoms
The village was small, no more than a cluster of wooden houses nestled between rice paddies and ancient sakura groves. The people here were cautious but not hostile, their curiosity outweighing their fear.
Kaito's crew purchased supplies with minimal resistance, posing as traveling merchants. Carmen bartered for rice balls and fresh fish, while Kaya quietly treated a village child's injured ankle, earning the locals' trust.
Kuina lingered near the village's edge, her eyes fixed on a small shrine dedicated to an unknown swordsman. She traced the kanji carved into the worn stone.
"Does it feel familiar?" Kaito asked, joining her.
Kuina's expression softened. "I don't know this place, but… it feels like home. The way the sword is honored here. The simplicity of it."
She clenched her fist, a faint crackle of thunder echoing through her palm. "I need to test myself here. Against real Wano swordsmen. Against their traditions."
"You'll get your chance," Kaito said. "But remember—we're not here to conquer. We're here to see the world. To grow."
Kuina's lips curled into a rare smile. "And if they challenge us?"
"Then we show them what we've learned."
From the nearby path, Nojiko returned, a folded map in her hands. "The village elder pointed me toward a coastal stronghold. It's where the shogunate's scouts pass through. Yamato was reportedly seen there—under guard, possibly awaiting transport."
Khalifa's eyes narrowed. "If Yamato is Oden's child, that stronghold will be heavily monitored. Marines may already be coordinating from offshore."
"We move carefully," Kaito said. "We observe. Plan. Strike only when we have the advantage."
Carmen's grin widened. "Just tell me when I can swing."
Nightfall – Planning the Next Move
The crew set up camp near the edge of the village. Beneath the glowing lanterns, they poured over hand-drawn maps and whispered strategies. Kaya distributed fresh tea, soothing nerves as they anticipated what lay ahead.
Aisa sat near the fire, her observation haki flaring as she tracked distant presences moving along the coastal roads. "There's a lot of movement tonight. I can feel at least three patrols. One group has heavier steps—they might be armored."
Kuina polished her blades, her focus sharp. "If we want to reach Yamato, we'll have to bypass those patrols or face them directly."
Khalifa reviewed possible infiltration routes. "I can lead a silent advance. Carmen can create a diversion if we need one."
Kaito looked at his crew, their faces illuminated by the fire's glow. Each of them had grown since the day they set sail. Their skills had sharpened. Their bonds had solidified.
"This is the path we've chosen," he said quietly. "We sail not for titles, not for thrones—but to see how far we can go. To carve our story into the sea itself."
They nodded, a silent agreement passing among them.
Tomorrow, the gates of Wano would open for them. Whether they would be welcomed or hunted remained to be seen.
But they would walk forward, together.