"This level of power... this is a strong person on the sea?"
Lucci, having withstood the residual force of the Conqueror's Haki, had bloodshot eyes.
'If I could just defeat this person, I could exchange it for more resources from the higher-ups and become stronger!!!'
His trembling finger broke through the barrier forged by the aura, aiming to assassinate the tyrant before him!
"Good courage, but with your current level, you are not enough to face me!"
Sakura also pointed with her index finger, gently tapping the tip of Lucci's Shigan.
The miracle of heat control, revered as a faith by the many residents of Vulcan Island, manifested here.
Drawing in all the light of the world, the biting frost that declared the stagnation of all things arrived with deathly silence.
Rob Lucci, fist raised, turned into an ice sculpture entirely, along with the street dozens of meters behind him, becoming snow-white.
"Eh, I didn't expect Sakura could change like this too?"
Robin examined Sakura, who had released Life Return and returned to her tall figure and long legs, clicking her tongue in wonder.
However, when her gaze touched the area with the not-so-obvious curvature, her intelligent face showed a hint of smugness.
'Heh, I win!'
"Hey! I'll hit you!"
Catching the thought of this scheming friend with Observation Haki, Sakura raised a fist and shook it at her.
"Don't be discouraged, there's still a chance to grow in the future!"
Robin smiled brightly, raising a hand to cover her mouth.
"Hmph, it's just two lumps of fat. I'll have you know, I can make my own!"
Sakura said, using Life Return to DIY a perfect curve for herself, hands on hips, chest out, displaying it to Robin.
"Not natural enough~"
Robin, chin in hand, gave her evaluation.
"What did you say!!!"
A vein bulged on Sakura's forehead, baring shark teeth as she roared at Robin.
As the two played around, dense footsteps came from outside the house. The grating sounds of firearms and cannons being loaded and readied gradually stopped their casual chat.
"The troublesome guys are here. Miss, may I invite you aboard my ship?"
Rudely downing Robin's cocktail in one gulp, Sakura rogueishly extended her hand to the girl before her.
"Hmph, so ungentlemanly."
Robin's lips twitched, placing her hand in Sakura's palm.
This pirate's hand was still just as warm, just like when it pulled her, as a child, out of the darkness of loneliness.
"The times have changed, little sister! Gentlemen aren't popular anymore, and girls outside all like the rogue type now!"
Sakura patted Leviathan's wing. The enlarged Night Sparrow swallowed both of them in one bite.
Then, within the darkened neighborhood, the giant bird, flapping its wings, cut through the storm and charged into the curtain of rain.
By the time the Marines of Abbott Island reacted, the tavern was already empty.
Further away, at the edge of the sea.
The storm gradually ceased, dawn had arrived, and the sky full of clouds was dyed with a red glow.
"So, our fearsome pirate captain Haruno Sakura, where do you plan to go next to burn, kill, and plunder?"
Having settled her luggage and quite unceremoniously taken over Sakura's large bed, Robin pushed open the cabin door and came onto the deck.
"Of course, to continue my tour of the Four Blues. I barely finished the North Blue last time."
"I had to stop temporarily because of a friend's request, but now I plan to continue the journey!"
Enjoying the cool sea breeze after the rain brushing through her hair, Sakura, wearing sunglasses and hugging Leviathan like a pillow, lay comfortably on the deck chair.
"My next stop is the East Blue! I hear the scenery there is beautiful!"
Nico Robin walked over, brought a deck chair, unfolded it next to Sakura, and lay down beside her.
"East Blue, huh? Perfect, I've been out for a while this time, it's about time I went back."
Robin reached into a special pouch and pulled out a piece of paper with a unique texture.
"This is?"
Sakura lifted her sunglasses, her gaze shifting to the piece of paper.
"Mom's Vivre Card. It can guide me to the moving Weatheria."
Placing the card on her palm and extending it towards Sakura, the card moved without wind, slowly floating towards the eastern direction.
"It happens to be in the direction of the East Blue too. Could this kind captain give me a ride?"
"Gyahahaha, young lady, do you know what happens to little girls like you who fall into the hands of pirates?"
A certain pirate laughed menacingly, but it became somewhat lazy due to the influence of Leviathan in her arms.
Robin smiled, raising her hand to tuck the stray hair behind her ear.
Not to mention the current laughable state of the person beside her, even if something beyond friendship happened, it's not certain who would be at a disadvantage!
"Then I'll look forward to 'Miss' Captain being able to create something out of nothing~"
Putting special emphasis on the word 'Miss', Robin smiled at Sakura.
"Damn you, evil Ohara brat, you've found my weakness!"
Sakura made an exaggerated gesture, clutching her chest, acting like a demon king being vanquished.
Amidst the laughter and joy, Leviathan carried them through the underwater currents beneath the Red Line, entering the most peaceful sea among the Four Blues… the East Blue!
Because Sakura's route crossed the Red Line in reverse, they didn't pass through the East Blue's entrance to the Grand Line, the Polestar Islands, when entering the sea. Instead, they were carried by the currents past the Organ Islands, and finally had to go ashore for supplies because the ship's salt ran out.
"Ah, I finally understand the difficulty of providing for a family. One more person means one more mouth to feed, the salt consumption is so fast."
In the market of the port town Orange Town, Sakura, with Leviathan on her shoulder, selected fresh sea salt while sighing deeply.
"It was clearly you who insisted on having a feast and grilling meat, using up all the salt! And you're blaming me!"
Robin didn't even look at Sakura, an arm extending from Sakura's shoulder to pinch her cheek.
"So grown up, yet less sensible than your ship when sailing the seas!"
Although she was scolding her, there was no reproach in Robin's eyes, only worry for Sakura drifting alone at sea.
"It's fine, I have Leviathan, right!"
Sakura took a candy from her pocket and offered it. The Night Sparrow on her shoulder took the candy, tilted its head back, and swallowed it.
"Hehe~, Robin, don't worry~, I'll take good care of Sakura~."
Bribed by the pirate's candy, Leviathan, sweetly flapping its wings, assured Robin.
"You!"
Robin released Sakura's cheek and helplessly tapped her forehead.
After finishing their shopping, the three toured Orange Town's unique architectural style. However, a gunshot shattered the town's peace.
Boom!
"Ahahahaha, men, from now on this city is our base! Let's make a splendid ruckus!"
"Whoa!"
To celebrate the formation of his pirate crew, and also to secure a territory for his crew's activities-
The great pirate captain Buggy decided to take this port city, far from naval supervision, as their future stronghold.
Countless pirates, faces ferocious, charged into the town with weapons.
The blue-haired young man, wearing a captain's coat and a captain's hat on his head, laughed triumphantly, hands on hips, entering the town to inspect his domain.
But his exceptional eyesight helped him spot a pink head among the crowd.
Instantly, memories of being bullied by her on the Oro Jackson were awakened, and his heart trembled violently.
'Oh no, it's that familiar feeling!'
"Buggy-!"
The girl, moving against the flow of fleeing people, wore a big smile on her face, raising her hand and waving constantly at him.
"No! The highlight of my life!"
Buggy covered his face in pain, pulling at his skin and rolling his eyes.
Who understands, folks? Just wanted to show off properly in front of his subordinates, but an old relative is mixed in the crowd, the kind who holds countless black histories about him and is ready to share them with his subordinates at any time!
"That person... is the Witch, Haruno Sakura!"
The pirates who were originally charging forward only found the girl familiar at first, but the hand clutching the bounty poster trembled incessantly, sweat soaking through the clothes on their backs.
"What, that great pirate with a 600 million Berry bounty!"
"Wait, she seems to know Captain Buggy?"
"Impossible, a pirate of that level, and here in the East Blue!"
After the first pirate's scream, the remaining members of the Buggy Pirates began discussing noisily.
As the commotion died down, a terrified pirate was pushed out, tentatively asking, "Miss, do you know our captain?"
"Ahahaha, we're good friends!"
Sakura laughed heartily, continuing to wave at the completely petrified Buggy in the distance.
"Captain Buggy is friends with such a powerful pirate!"
The crew members, after receiving Sakura's confirmation, turned their shocked gazes towards the red-nosed young man on the high platform, paying him their respects.
"Not only that, Buggy was amazing when he was little, he could even fight me to a draw!"
Sakura crossed her arms, adding more fuel to the already excited crowd.
"He could actually fight such a powerful pirate to a draw? How great Captain Buggy is!"
The pirates felt like Buggy was glowing all over, wiping the continuously flowing tears from their eyes with their elbows.
"Huh?... Huh? HuH?!"
Buggy went through a transformation from doubt, to confusion, to shock.
Finally, he saw the pink-haired girl in the distance giving him a discreet thumbs up.
'Once again, he experienced that familiar feeling again.'
Buggy pushed through the crowd and strode forward, firmly grabbing Sakura's hand.
His face was serious!
"Say no more, my good friend! Let's have a feast!"