After autumn, Marian Island could be described as having a pleasant temperature.
The scorching sun that had been so hot it could kill people temporarily extinguished its fierce flames, and the light it cast seemed to have become cool and aloof.
Although the humidity in the air remained, the comfort of wine and meat might make one forget all the discomforts of drifting on the sea.
At this moment, the entire island was immersed in a festive atmosphere. Even the factory in the Upperworld briefly ceased operations for a few days. The wetware on the production lines... no, the prisoners, also got an afternoon tea.
"Hahahaha, you weakling, you arrogant bastard! With that little tolerance, you still want to compete with me in drinking?"
Inside the party hall, the swordswoman Kuina flicked her ponytail, which she had grown out in imitation of someone, hooked one arm around Enel's neck, and laughed uproariously.
The Goro Goro no Mi user she had caught was already flushed red from being force-fed. He wanted to use elementalization to escape but couldn't break free from Kuina's iron grip.
Who uses Armament Haki to grab someone just for a drinking game? Can we still have fun together in the future?!
"Brother Tiger, a drink?"
Thormud's giant body leaned down, holding up a cup that was six times taller than Tiger.
Smack!
After lightly clinking glasses with Tiger, Thormud tilted his head back and downed the wine, enough for Tiger to go swimming in, in one gulp. He sighed with satisfaction. "Thank you, fish-men, for lending us a hand when the village caught fire before."
"Haha, don't say that. We're all comrades." Tiger waved his hand, indicating he didn't need to be so polite. "And we'll be working together from now on. Your Seventh Squad is a cushy job. When we ask Sakura for our budget at the end of the year, how about we..."
The honest, simple ancient giant scratched his head, looking confused. "How about we what?"
"Sigh, mainly it's the recent relocation of guests from Fish-Man Island. The financial pressure is heavy." Tiger sighed. "Come here, let me tell you something."
He lowered his voice and leaned in, whispering to Thormud. Before long, the faces of the two seemingly honest and simple men showed knowing smiles.
Plan successful!
Things were also noisy over at Leviathan's side. The surrounding clan members looked curiously at the three figures causing a ruckus in the center of the venue.
"Hey~, Caesar, you're drinking so little. Are you looking down on my little Sakura?"
The small ship spirit used her ability chains to bind Caesar, grabbing a barrel of sake and pouring it into his mouth, her tongue rolling with a Kansai dialect.
"I don't... gurgle gurgle... my student... gurgle gurgle... save me!"
Force-fed until his mouth was full of foam, Caesar rolled his eyes back. His trembling hand kept reaching out toward Sato Sakura, his weak voice intermittently issuing a plea for help.
"Mm, Sensei likes having his mouth stuffed full!"
The giant, expressionless girl pulled out paper and pen to record this. The cool-dressed winged tribe young lady beside her brought her food and drink.
Taking in the noisy pirate crew, Sakura turned her gaze to the black-haired, freckled boy and the white-haired oni girl sitting beside her. "Ace, you're the only one among so many people who didn't receive an appointment. Do you feel any resentment?"
Ace, who was stuffing his face with fruit and meat, paused for a moment upon hearing this, then continued his actions. "I don't mind. Why would I care about that?"
"Liar! You were super disappointed when you went back to the Upperworld!" Yamato, sitting not far from him, stopped her binge drinking and looked at him with teasing eyes, exposing Ace's secret.
The black-haired boy, his shame turning to anger, grabbed a leg of meat and stuffed it into Yamato's mouth. "Shut up! Eat your food!"
"Hahahaha!"
Yamato playfully transformed into her half-beast form, chewing the food, bone and all, and swallowing it down.
No longer paying attention to Yamato, Ace turned his head and moved closer to Sakura. "I assume Sakura-nee has her reasons, right?"
Sakura had witnessed all of Ace's shy, awkward little movements. She found it a bit amusing and put down her wine glass. "I originally planned to establish the Fifth Squad and make you the Squad Captain, but I always felt that the Fifth Squad had bad feng shui."
After all, since records began, the successive captains of the Fifth Squad had a tradition of betrayal. So, taking into full account the experiences of her predecessors, Sakura had kept it on hold for now.
"You're saying strange things again!" Ace sighed, already somewhat accustomed to his teacher's and big sister's way of thinking. "So, what are you trying to come up with this time?"
Sakura looked at him for a long time, raised the wine glass Yamato had filled, and gave Ace a mysterious smile. "I'm planning to establish a secret squad for external activities, code-named Five. Are you interested in becoming its Squad Captain?"
"Isn't that still the Fifth Squad!"
Ace covered his forehead, his mouth twitching. He felt his blood pressure was about to spike.
'After going around in circles and deliberately not announcing it at the meeting, I had thought there was some earth-shattering secret. And all because of a name?'
'Wait... you don't want me to be your disposable... white glove, do you?'
Sakura pretended not to see Ace's expression. She raised her finger and pointed at him and Yamato.
"Well, anyway, if you're willing to take it, the squad is considered established. But for now, the only members are you and Yamato, two people!"
"Hmm? Yamato hasn't even..."
Ace frowned and looked at the white-haired girl beside him, who seemed completely carefree.
"Neither close nor distant, that's the special characteristic of this squad. After all, we can't demand that everyone must join our pirate crew, right?"
With a meaningful look, Sakura pulled out the cherry blossom-marked kunai that symbolized the captain's identity, decided at the meeting, and placed it before Ace. "When necessary, you have the authority to act first and report back later, using the pirate crew's name!"
"This trust is truly heavy!" Ace took a deep breath, grabbed the kunai, and put it in his chest. "Then, I'll gladly take on this captain's position!"
Seeing him accept the kunai, a smile curved Sakura's lips.
She raised her cup, downed the wine in one gulp, stood up, and walked toward the many companions reveling around the bonfire.
…
At night, the firelight flickered.
The members of the Higanbana Pirates were personally 'annihilated' by their captain. Their faces were flushed, and they lay sprawled in disarray on the ground, unconscious.
Sakura walked through the crowd to an open area on the outskirts. She found a high place to sit down and looked out over the prosperous island she had built.
'System! How many survival missions have accumulated?'
[Notification: Sea Circle calendar years 1517-1518, total 24 months. Completion of survival mission accumulation will grant 80 achievement points.]
'Fine, claim it. The training in Senjutsu is almost complete. It's time to go home.'
Sakura heated some water for herself to sober up. Looking at the steam rising from her cup, she thought of her faraway home in Konoha.
[Survival mission settlement complete. Achievement points gained. Current achievement point balance: 3090]
'Oh right, remember to bring Leviathan with me when I go back this time.'
[Teleportation function activated. Whether to teleport special individual 'Leviathan' and the items on the ship together.]
'Items on the ship? What precious decorations had that guy Leviathan added for herself again?'
Sakura glanced at the system panel and clicked agree without thinking much.
'Fine, start the teleportation.'
[Notification: Teleportation of special individual 'Leviathan' consumes 50 achievement points. Teleportation of special individual 'Sato Sakura' consumes 300 achievement points. Achievement points deducted. Teleportation begins!]
"Wait! Who did you say???"
Sakura's eyes widened in terror, but the fierce light of the system's teleportation had already begun to flicker.
Then, amidst a long, drawn-out scream, three people disappeared from Marian Island without anyone noticing.