The village that had quietly housed Kaito's crew mere days ago now stirred under new visitors. Straw Hat Luffy, energetic as ever, stomped his way through the central path with his signature wide grin, oblivious to the cautious eyes trailing his crew's every move.
"Oi, Luffy, stop running off like that!" Nami shouted, exasperated as she jogged to catch up.
Zoro, sword at his waist, glanced around. "Feels like someone's been here before us. Tracks are fresh."
Sanji lit a cigarette, sharp-eyed. "Locals are tense, but no one's screaming 'pirate' yet. They're scared of something… or someone."
Usopp, nervously holding his slingshot, whispered, "Maybe… maybe a ghost crew came through here first?"
Robin's calm voice cut through the air. "Not ghosts. Pirates. And based on the stories I've gathered from the villagers, I have a good guess who."
Luffy's smile widened. "Kaito's crew?"
Robin nodded. "Yes. They've already stirred the pot. Some villagers said a swordswoman with thunder in her hands challenged the fortress guards. And someone matching the description of Khalifa infiltrated the coastal stronghold."
Zoro's brow twitched. "Thunder swordswoman… Kuina."
The name hung in the air, unspoken tension wrapping around the crew like a fog.
For Zoro, Kuina was more than a rival. She was a promise unfulfilled. And now, that promise had become the strongest obstacle on his path to the pinnacle.
Sanji exhaled a cloud of smoke. "And Carmen was probably nearby too. I bet she caused trouble with those local chefs."
Usopp's teeth chattered. "Wait, wait. So you're saying Kaito's crew already beat us here? They've already fought the Marines?"
Robin smiled softly. "Not just fought. They've already left."
Nami folded her arms, frustration brimming beneath her composed surface. "They're always one step ahead of us. How does Kaito keep finding these backdoors?"
Luffy simply laughed, punching his palm. "Good! That makes it more fun! We'll just have to catch up!"
Back on the Queen's Grace
The ship sailed calmly along Wano's eastern current, away from Marine patrols. Kaito leaned against the mast, watching Yamato and Kuina spar on the deck.
Yamato, wielding her kanabo with ease, swung it in wide arcs, her raw strength forcing Kuina to sidestep and parry instead of directly clashing.
Kuina's thunder blade crackled as she deflected Yamato's strikes with swift, controlled movements.
Carmen sat nearby, peeling an orange with her blade as she observed. "They're evenly matched in brute strength, but Kuina's speed is a monster now."
Khalifa, reviewing intelligence reports, added, "Yamato's not just strong—she knows how to hold back, to measure her opponents."
Kaito watched in silence, noting the fluidity in Kuina's footwork. Her mastery of the Thunder Fruit was growing rapidly, yet her control remained tight, never overextending.
"Good," he muttered to himself. "They'll need that edge soon."
Kuina's Thunder Awakens
As the sparring continued, Kuina focused her haki along her blade, merging it with the electrical pulse that now resided within her.
Her blade shimmered with condensed thunder, not the wild lightning of her earlier attempts, but refined energy—a sword wrapped in controlled storms.
With a burst of speed, she closed the gap, her blade grazing Yamato's kanabo, sending a jolt through the weapon and forcing Yamato's grip to tighten.
Yamato grinned. "You're holding back."
Kuina smirked. "So are you."
Their weapons clashed once more, the sound of thunder echoing across the deck, catching the attention of the entire crew.
Kaito stepped forward. "That's enough for today. Save it for when we need it."
Kuina lowered her blade, satisfied. Her control had improved. The once chaotic surges of electricity now bent to her will, channeled precisely where she wanted.
Meanwhile: The Marines Move
In a secure Marine base offshore, Rear Admiral Orlan finalized his strategy.
"They've taken Yamato. Cipher Pol reports minimal casualties, but their infiltration was precise."
A marine officer added, "Kaito's crew is moving along Wano's eastern edge. We've lost direct pursuit options."
Orlan folded his arms. "Deploy tracking ships. But we will not engage recklessly. They've embarrassed our forces twice now. We wait for the right battlefield."
The Cipher Pol agent adjusted his gloves. "And what of the Straw Hat Pirates? They've entered Wano through the southern gate."
Orlan's lips curled into a rare smile. "Let them progress. Let them clash with Kaito's crew again. The more these two factions entangle, the easier it will be to crush both when they're worn down."
He tapped on the bounty sheets displayed across the table.
"These new bounties… the world is watching them now."
Bounty Updates Released to the Underworld
Across the black markets and pirate dens, bounty posters fluttered, freshly stamped and distributed.
Kaito's Crew – Updated Bounties
Kaito – 900,000,000 Berries
Kuina – 720,000,000 Berries
Khalifa – 580,000,000 Berries
Carmen – 400,000,000 Berries
Nojiko – 360,000,000 Berries
Kaya – 280,000,000 Berries
Aisa – 300,000,000 Berries
Conis – 260,000,000 Berries
Yamato – 800,000,000 Berries (New addition)
Reason for Increase:
Direct assault on a Shogunate stronghold.
Successful liberation of Yamato.
Marine casualties during escape.
Cipher Pol infiltration confirmed.
Thunder Fruit awakening sighted.
The underworld buzzed with talk of the Kaito Pirates' rapid rise. Rumors whispered of their frequent brushes with the Straw Hat Pirates, of their uncanny ability to always be one step ahead.
Some speculated they were destined to collide in a final battle. Others believed they would one day join forces to overturn the world order.
Straw Hats Closing the Gap
In the coastal village, Luffy sat cross-legged in front of a group of locals, grinning as he devoured rice balls.
"So they left already, huh?" Luffy mumbled between bites.
Nami sighed. "Yes, Luffy. They left days ago. And we need to move if we want to keep pace."
Zoro stared into the distance. "If Kuina's really wielding a Thunder Blade now, our next duel won't be anything like before."
Sanji kicked a pebble, his eyes sharp. "And Carmen's cooking her way into trouble again. That woman's going to be a handful when I catch up."
Robin crossed her legs, amusement flickering in her eyes. "It seems both crews are fueling each other's growth."
Luffy stood, stretching his arms with excitement. "Good! We'll fight them again soon. I can't wait."
Usopp trembled, half in fear, half in excitement. "Why are you always happy about stronger enemies chasing us?"
"Because that's what makes sailing fun," Luffy declared, clenching his fist toward the horizon.
The Straw Hat Pirates resumed their journey, their path slowly converging once more with the Kaito Pirates.
On the Horizon
Back on the Queen's Grace, Nojiko adjusted their course toward the next destination—a quiet island on the edge of Marine territory, where reports of rare materials and strange weapons had surfaced.
As Kaito stood at the bow, the wind tugging at his coat, he glanced toward Kuina.
"Your Thunder Blade is nearly complete," he said. "But are you ready to face Zoro again?"
Kuina's grip tightened on her weapon. "I don't know if I can beat him yet."
Kaito smiled. "That's what makes it exciting. We grow, we push forward, we meet again."
The crew's laughter and chatter filled the deck as they sailed toward their next challenge, their hearts light, their bonds stronger than ever.
They weren't chasing thrones.
They weren't chasing glory.
They were chasing the sea—the life they chose—and the story they would etch into it.