**Paras City – Central Battlefield Ruins, Deep Night**
The night was thick with smoke and silence, broken only by the low crackle of dying fires and the occasional groan of collapsing steel. Paras City lay wounded—its neon lights flickering like dying stars, its streets cracked open like old wounds. The air tasted of ash, blood, and something heavier: the weight of everything that had almost been lost.
Blu stood at the center of it all—arms folded, cape fluttering gently in the cold wind blowing from the north. His powder-blue skin caught the faint moonlight, making him look almost ghostly against the ruins. His glowing blue eyes were half-closed, calm, unreadable.
"Well…" he said quietly, voice carrying over the stillness like a blade sliding from its sheath, "both of you are fighting over the jungle?"
Wano struggled to her feet—body bruised, green dress torn, snake tail trembling as it coiled beneath her for support. Blood trickled from a cut on her lip. Her purple eyes—usually sharp and ancient—were dim with pain and desperation.
"Yes…" she whispered, voice raw. "And it's not just about the jungle. Aoi isn't just a normal wolf. She's ruthless. Prideful. She will kill every animal in the jungle without hesitation. I don't want them to get hurt… Please… save us."
Her tail curled tighter—almost childlike in its fear.
Blu exhaled slowly—small, measured.
"Wait then."
He dropped his cape.
It hit the ground with a soft thud—weighted fabric crumpling like a fallen banner.
In a flash of blue light—he was gone.
Sai watched the spot where Blu had stood—then smiled. A small, tired, knowing smile. He sat down cross-legged on a broken slab of concrete, sword resting across his knees.
Yuki—standing beside him—narrowed her eyes beneath her blindfold.
"Sensei… why are you smiling in this situation?"
Sai glanced at her—smile softening.
"Don't worry. I know Blu more than you do. He'll probably handle that wolf without breaking a sweat."
Yuki frowned—arms folded.
"Are you sure?"
Before Sai could answer—
Astra jumped from Yuki's arms.
He waddled forward—small steps like a penguin—straight toward Wano.
Wano blinked—purple eyes widening.
"Huh…?"
She knelt instinctively—scooping him up with gentle hands. Astra fit perfectly in her arms, silver eyes blinking up at her.
"You are so cuteeee!" Wano's voice cracked—exhausted but suddenly bright. Her tail wiggled faster—almost puppy-like.
Astra pointed one small finger at her—serious, determined.
"Oi."
A tiny silver spark gathered at his fingertip—pure, gentle light.
It shot forward—soft, warm.
The spark touched Wano's cheek.
Her wounds closed instantly—bruises fading, cuts sealing, exhaustion lifting like morning mist. Her purple eyes widened in shock.
"What's that…?"
Even Sai's smile vanished for a moment.
Yuki's blindfold slipped slightly—golden light leaking through.
"Is that… healing magic…?"
Sai's sword slipped from his fingers—clattering to the ground.
"Yes…" His voice was quiet, almost reverent. "Only super strong beings like Blu and Honokage know this. Even they struggle to perform it properly. And this gremlin…"
Astra—still in Wano's arms—threw his arms out like he was swimming through air, grinning proudly.
Wano stared at him—tears welling in her purple eyes.
"Thank you… little one."
---
**Paras City Forest Outskirts – Same Time**
Aoi stood atop a massive tree—gray hair whipping in the wind, wolf ears twitching, tail swaying slowly. She smirked down at the approaching figure.
Blu teleported in front of her—arms folded, cape fluttering without wind.
"So… is that you who's capturing the whole jungle?"
Aoi's smirk widened—sharp, defiant.
"Yes, sir. And the jungle is mine already."
Blu smiled—small, dangerous.
"Okay then… prove it."
He raised two fingers—snapped them once.
Aoi laughed—low, wild.
"Too easy…"
She dashed—gray blur, claws extended.
Blu dodged—effortless, almost bored.
"I am at least a thousand times stronger than you."
Aoi's eyes flashed.
"Oh really?"
Flash steps—kicks landing twice—fast as lightning.
Blu blocked both—with one finger.
Aoi shouted—frustrated.
"I'm not holding back anyway!"
She leaped skyward—striking down like a meteor.
Blu caught her leg mid-attack—grip iron.
"Is that all you've got?"
He threw her.
Aoi spun—crashed through the forest, buried in earth, then launched skyward again—still going backward.
She slammed into a restaurant in Paras City—noodles and chicken nuggets splattering across her head and face.
Aoi sputtered—furious.
"What's this thing!?"
Blu teleported behind her—arms folded.
The restaurant owner stared—wide-eyed.
"Since when does the President start destroying instead of cleaning…?"
Blu ignored him—voice low.
"You think you are the peak?"
Aoi spun—fist flying.
Blu dodged—leaned in close, whispering against her ear.
"I am the president."
He grabbed her wrist—threw her again.
She crashed through a wall—concrete exploding.
Before she could recover—
Blu appeared in front of her.
His aura charged—neon blue, massive, overwhelming.
The aura alone covered the entire restaurant—pushing tables, chairs, people, everything away from him like an invisible tide.
As he stepped forward—the aura intensified—breaking the whole building apart, glass shattering, walls crumbling.
Aoi was pinned against the wall—struggling to breathe, to move.
"Stop this! Stopppp this right nowwww!! I don't need the forest! Leave me alone!"
Blu landed a soft kick.
Aoi flew—crashing through two buildings and a parked car—metal screaming.
Before she could fall—
Someone caught her hands from behind.
"Wait… Blu, that's enough."
Sai—sword on his back—held her gently, pulling her up so she could stand.
Sai sighed—tired, almost fond.
"President… you went full warrior mode today."
Aoi turned—eyes glowing through the darkness.
Her gaze met Sai's.
She froze—speechless, staring.
Blu teleported back—slipping his cape on again, arms folded.
He twitched an eyebrow.
"So you'll teach me what to do now, Sai?"
Yuki arrived with Astra in her arms—teleport flash.
Wano dashed in behind them—limping but determined.
Sai looked directly at Aoi—voice calm, steady.
"Hey, wolf… you shouldn't hurt any animals in the jungle, okay? They feel pain the same way you do."
Aoi threw his hands off—shaking.
"I… I don't need any of your favor! I can live alone and rule alone! I won't rule there—but I'll rule in a different forest!"
She ran—then stopped, turning back.
Her eyes locked on Sai one last time.
"I will come back… and I will teach you who is the strongest!"
She transformed—gray wolf—leaping away into the night.
Wano bowed deeply to Blu—voice soft, grateful.
"Thank you, President of Paras. Because of you… the forest is safe."
Blu smiled—small, tired.
"Well… what about a deal?"
Sai sighed.
"Not now…"
Yuki muttered—half-amused.
"Why does he always talk about deals?"
Behind her—a scaled black dragon-like head appeared through shadows.
Honokage—grinning.
"Yo, Yuki? Let's go outside somewhere today?"
Yuki panicked—shoving him back into the portal.
"Baka—stop! Everyone is here right nowww!"
Astra pointed—eyes wide.
"Woah!? Ghost!!"
Wano tilted her head slightly.
"What deal?"
Blu sighed—then smiled wider.
"The deal is… we'll send workers to plant trees. Hunting animals will now be seen as a crime—same as tree cutting. We'll give the animals protection from natural disasters. But in return—you provide honey, flowers, expensive leaves, spices, mushrooms."
Wano's face lit up—purple eyes sparkling.
"Yes… sure. I approve this."
They shook hands—firm, respectful.
The symbol of Paras City and Wano's jungle bond—sealed under moonlight.
---
**Far East Side of Paras City – Different Jungle, Same Night**
Aoi transformed back—human form—stumbling into a hidden cave.
She collapsed—clutching her knees to her chest, head buried, crying endlessly.
Tears soaked her sweater.
"I was the strongest… My father used to say I was perfect for ruling. Why did this happen to me? Why do I feel weak!? Is this my fault…?"
Suddenly—a faint image flickered in her mind.
Sai—holding her hands gently, voice calm.
"You shouldn't hurt any animals… they feel pain the same way you do."
Aoi yanked her head up—cheeks burning red.
She scratched the rock wall with her claw—hard.
"No… that fool swordsman…"
Her voice cracked—half anger, half something softer.
---
**Paras City Streets – Dawn Breaking**
Wano said goodbye—tail swaying gently—disappearing back into her forest.
Blu teleported away—mansion lights flickering on in the distance.
Sai walked toward his dojo—sword sheathed, shoulders relaxed.
Only Yuki and Astra remained—walking home together.
Astra's hands were behind his head—small steps matching hers.
"Sista… it was a good adventure today."
Yuki patted his head—smiling softly.
"Well… it was."
The sun rose slowly—golden light spilling over the city.
Healing.
Quiet.
Beginning again.