Kaito didn't waste a glance on the minions. Stepping on the air, he hovered effortlessly above the waves. A single casual punch sent a white beam of light tearing through the ship, reducing it to splinters. Without slowing down, his figure flickered forward, moving swiftly through the sky.
After confirming that every pirate ship surrounding Turner Village had been destroyed, Kaito landed back on the island with a calm expression.
"Kaito!…!"
The village chief, Nalo, stood before him, stunned into silence.
"Grandpa Nalo, surprised?" Kaito smiled faintly.
"You, you can actually fly?" Nalo stammered. It took him a long moment to recover, and when he did, his eyes glimmered with hope. Perhaps Turner Village wasn't doomed after all.
"Yes. I killed every Arlong pirate ship near the village," Kaito replied, his tone even. "I came to ask for a map leading to Cocoyasi Village. I'll go directly and put an end to Arlong and his crew. That way they'll never trouble you again."
"You want to kill the Arlong Pirates?" Nalo's face paled.
His voice dropped into urgency. "Kaito, I know you mean well, and I see you have skill, but you must understand… the Arlong Pirates aren't ordinary. They came back from the Grand Line! Their strength is terrifying, and Arlong himself has a bounty of twenty million Berries. That's the highest bounty in all of East Blue. If you move against him, you'll die!"
He gripped Kaito's arm earnestly. "Take Risa and leave instead. You killed their men, Arlong will never forgive us. The rest of us are old, it doesn't matter if we die, but you… take Risa with you, grow stronger, and come back when you're ready to avenge us."
To him, Kaito was still a young man probably in his early twenties. Even with strange powers, how could a single man hope to defeat a monster like Arlong, who had dominated East Blue for years?
Kaito only smiled faintly. Ordinary eyes couldn't see it, but ever since he had sealed the power of the God Tree within himself, his body had become nigh-immortal. Decades could pass, yet he remained unchanged. He was no ordinary boy. He was the strongest.
"Don't worry," Kaito said. He didn't bother arguing further. Grandpa Nalo's heart was in the right place, but his knowledge of the world was limited.
After exchanging a few more words, Kaito went to speak with the elders of the village. The location of Cocoyasi was common knowledge among them, and soon he had precise directions.
It wasn't far. By ship, it would take a full day. For Kaito, Half an hour was enough.
After finding Nalo and bidding Risa a quiet farewell, he set out.
Cocoyasi Village lay to the south of Turner. After half an hour of flight, an island covered with orange groves appeared on the horizon.
As night fell, Kaito descended. He didn't rush to Arlong's base. Instead, he walked into the village. His stomach reminded him he hadn't eaten since morning.
The village was surprisingly wealthy, more like a prosperous town than a simple farming settlement. Yet the atmosphere felt heavy.
Kaito entered a restaurant. The place was nearly empty despite it being peak mealtime.
"Three plates of fried rice," Kaito ordered, seating himself at the bar.
"Of course, sir! Right away!" the young owner answered with forced cheer, his face still drawn with worry.
Kaito ate quickly, paid with the Berry he had collected from defeated pirates, and then checked into a hotel.
"Tomorrow," he murmured to himself, "I'll end this."
Meanwhile, inside Arlong Park, the mood was grim.
The fish-man cadres sat in silence, their faces twisted with fury. Moments earlier, Kuroobi's life card had disintegrated.
Those cards had been made for them by Jinbei himself. The meaning was undeniable: Kuroobi was dead.
The air grew heavy.
"Arlong-san, this can't stand!" Hatchan slammed a fist into the table. "Tomorrow, I'll take the crew to Turner Village. I'll drag out whoever dared to kill Kuroobi!"
"Of course," Arlong sneered, baring sharp teeth. "But first, we need to deal with that Straw Hat brat. That boy's been keeping Nami as his navigator. If she decides to turn against us, she'll go straight to him for help."
His fist clenched around a wine glass, cracking it in his grip. "Tomorrow, we'll kill the Straw Hat boy. Then, we'll march to Turner Village and make an example of the fool who dares to challenge me, Arlong!"
His voice was thick with rage. Kuroobi had been one of his strongest men. To lose him was intolerable.
Morning arrived. The first light of dawn crept across the horizon.
Kaito woke, ate a simple meal, and left the inn. His steps carried him unerringly toward Arlong Park, the tallest and most ostentatious building in Cocoyasi.
Halfway there, he froze.
A figure stood in the road.
It was Nami.
Her face was streaked with tears. Hatred burned in her eyes as she stared at the distant stronghold of the Arlong Pirates. In her hand was a dagger, and with desperate fury, she stabbed at the tattoo on her arm—the mark of Arlong's crew.
Blood streamed down her skin as she shouted his name with raw pain and rage.
Kaito's brow furrowed. This wasn't the first time he had seen her story. In the original world he remembered, she had carried the entire burden of her village alone, stealing and saving, sacrificing everything to gather the hundred million Berries Arlong demanded. All her efforts, crushed in an instant by his cruelty and betrayal.
Kaito stepped forward. His hand caught her wrist, halting the dagger mid-strike.
Nami gasped, startled, looking up at him through her tears.
"Hey," Kaito said quietly.