"What?! Your eight-year-old brother is going to enter the Marine Science Unit?!"
Marine Headquarters — Fleet Admiral's Office.
Sakazuki slammed his fist onto the desk, veins bulging across his forehead as he glared at Borsalino.
Inside the office sat Admiral Kuzan and Vice Admiral Garp. After hearing Kizaru's words, both revealed different expressions — one tired, one amused.
Borsalino's lazy attitude toward paperwork was one thing. He always completed missions efficiently, so Headquarters tolerated his casual demeanor.
But recommending an eight-year-old child to the Marine Science Unit — the research division directly overseen by Dr. Vegapunk — was another matter entirely.
That department was responsible for the Pacifista project, weaponized Sea Stone research, and cutting-edge military science. It was not a playground.
"Sakazuki," Kuzan sighed lazily, "even if the kid's your brother, Borsalino… that division isn't some clerical office. Vegapunk's labs deal with Bloodline Factors and classified military weapons."
Garp burst into laughter.
"An eight-year-old in Vegapunk's lab?! Hahaha! That brat better not blow up Marineford!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru pinched the bridge of her nose. With piracy rampant across the Grand Line and New World, this was the last thing Headquarters needed.
Borsalino scratched his cheek.
"Well… it's not like I'm forcing it~"
But internally—
Little brother, this is as far as I can take you. If you can't convince them yourself, even I can't help.
At that moment, the office doors opened.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku entered.
Beside him walked an eight-year-old child.
Small frame. Porcelain-like skin. Bright, calculating eyes far too sharp for his age.
This child was Natsume — Borsalino's younger brother.
"Hello, everyone," Natsume said politely. "Please don't blame my brother. I insisted on coming."
His voice was childish — but steady.
Vice Admiral Tsuru softened slightly. "The Marine Science Unit is not a place for children. Even brilliant scholars train for decades before assisting Dr. Vegapunk."
"I understand," Natsume replied calmly. "Which is why I brought proof."
The Truth About Natsume
Eight years ago, Natsume reincarnated into this world — into the body of Borsalino's younger brother.
He retained memories from his previous life.
More importantly—
He possessed the Infinite Technology System.
As long as funding was sufficient, any technological blueprint could be unlocked and constructed.
The cost?
Astronomical.
After eight years of secretly saving every allowance, every gift, every resource—
Yesterday, Natsume completed his first creation.
A weapon that should not yet exist in this era.
A Seraphim.
And unlike Vegapunk's official future Seraphim project (still in development under the SSG), Natsume completed one independently.
The Demonstration
"Come out," Natsume said calmly.
"Seraphim — S-Bear."
The office doors opened.
A child stepped in.
White hair.
Brown skin.
Black wings unfurled from his back.
A small flame burned steadily behind him.
Silence filled the room.
Sengoku's pupils shrank.
"That flame…"
Kuzan's usual laziness vanished.
"A Lunarian trait…?"
Indeed.
The black wings and perpetual flame were characteristics of the Lunarian race — the nearly extinct people once called "gods" atop the Red Line.
Vegapunk had used Lunarian Bloodline Factors in his Seraphim project.
But this child—
"Explain," Sengoku demanded.
Natsume spoke clearly.
"This unit is constructed using extracted Bloodline Factors. The genetic template combines:
– Bartholomew Kuma's lineage
– Lunarian genetic material
– Replicated laser weaponry based on Admiral Borsalino's light attacks."
The room froze.
Even Sakazuki did not interrupt.
Bloodline Factor research was Vegapunk's domain.
For an eight-year-old to even speak the term correctly—
That alone was monstrous.
Marine Training Grounds
They relocated immediately to a controlled testing zone.
"Begin," Natsume ordered.
S-Bear raised his palm.
A concentrated light beam fired.
It was not identical to Borsalino's Pika Pika no Mi lasers — those were true light generated from a Logia Devil Fruit.
This was a replicated laser system, similar in principle to Pacifista beams — but far denser in output.
The blast obliterated a reinforced steel test structure in one shot.
Sakazuki's jaw tightened.
"That output exceeds standard PX-model Pacifistas."
Before anyone could respond—
S-Bear vanished.
No.
Not teleportation.
High-speed movement.
Shave — one of the Six Powers techniques.
He reappeared dozens of meters away and struck with explosive force, crushing a steel wall.
Garp narrowed his eyes.
"He's using Soru… and that physical strength is beyond any Pacifista."
Then—
A test artillery round struck S-Bear directly.
Smoke cleared.
The flame behind him burned steadily.
No damage.
Tsuru whispered:
"When the Lunarian flame burns, durability increases…"
Exactly as later shown in canon with King of the Beasts Pirates.
Then Natsume gave a subtle command.
The flame extinguished.
S-Bear moved again—
This time, dramatically faster.
Kuzan exhaled slowly.
"So you've already deciphered the Lunarian defense-speed tradeoff…"
Finally—
S-Bear was cut deliberately during testing.
Blood emerged.
But within moments, the wound regenerated.
Not a Devil Fruit ability.
But enhanced biological regeneration engineered into the model.
A hybrid of Lunarian durability and advanced cellular stimulation.
Silence dominated the battlefield.
Reactions
Kizaru adjusted his sunglasses.
"That laser output… it's approaching mine~"
He wasn't exaggerating.
Though not true Logia light, its destructive yield rivaled it.
Garp folded his arms.
"This thing could dominate Paradise single-handedly."
Sakazuki's voice was low.
"If mass-produced… pirate casualties would skyrocket."
Sengoku stared at Natsume.
"Explain the full capabilities."
Natsume remained calm.
"This is only the base model."
He continued evenly:
"S-Bear possesses artificial combat programming allowing the use of Observation Haki and Armament Haki."
The officers stiffened.
Haki cannot normally be programmed.
But Seraphim in canon were shown to possess combat intelligence and instinctual battle adaptation. Artificial integration was theoretically plausible at the highest level.
"And," Natsume finished,
"It retains a replicated version of the Paw-Paw Fruit's abilities."
Total silence.
Sengoku's expression hardened.
"You replicated a Paramecia Devil Fruit?"
In canon, Devil Fruits are unique and cannot normally be duplicated — with the exception of certain artificial Zoans and lineage experiments.
Natsume clarified precisely:
"It is not a true Devil Fruit. It is an ability simulated through Bloodline Factor extraction and artificial organ integration — similar in concept to how lasers were replicated from Admiral Borsalino."
That explanation aligned with Vegapunk's demonstrated research principles.
Sengoku inhaled slowly.
An eight-year-old had independently achieved technology rivaling the Special Science Group.
After a long silence—