The aftermath of the Drum Island incident had rippled through the highest echelons of Marine Headquarters and World Government leadership with uncomfortable questions that demanded careful answers.
Admiral Kizaru's mission had been straightforward in its objectives—recruit Tony Tony Chopper for Marine service and demonstrate the organization's commitment to securing valuable assets before they could fall into enemy hands.
The reality of his return had proven far more complicated.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's debriefing session had lasted nearly six hours, with Kizaru providing his characteristically unhurried account of events while the Five Elders participated via secure Den Den Mushi connection. The Admiral's report painted a picture of coordinated criminal activity that had required immediate intervention to prevent international diplomatic incidents.
"So let me understand this correctly," one of the Five Elders had said during the lengthy interrogation, his voice carrying the weight of someone accustomed to having his questions answered without evasion. "You encountered an unauthorized alliance between Shichibukai Crocodile and the Blackbeard Pirates engaged in what appeared to be an assassination attempt against Princess Nefertari Vivi?"
"That's correct," Kizaru had replied with his usual drawling tone, somehow managing to sound both respectful and slightly bored despite the gravity of the accusations. "Quite scary, really. I felt compelled to intervene when I witnessed what appeared to be the attempted murder of a World Government member nation's heir."
The political implications were staggering. If a sitting Shichibukai had indeed been caught attempting to assassinate royalty from an allied kingdom, it would represent a violation of their agreement with the World Government serious enough to warrant immediate termination of their protected status.
"And the reindeer?" another Elder had inquired. "What of the recruitment mission?"
"Unfortunately compromised by the ongoing combat situation," Kizaru had explained with obviously feigned regret. "By the time I had secured the area and neutralized the immediate threats, the Straw Hat Pirates had already departed with their new crew member with the help of Fire Fist Ace, Whitebeard 2nd Division Commander, they had taken the Princess hostage as I was dealing with the threat"
The explanation was both technically accurate and strategically crafted to deflect criticism. Kizaru had indeed prioritized the diplomatic crisis over his recruitment mission, but framing it as a choice between competing responsibilities made his decision appear reasonable rather than negligent.
In the end, the Admiral's punishment had amounted to little more than administrative inconvenience. A formal reprimand was entered into his service record, along with strongly worded instructions to prioritize mission objectives more effectively in future assignments. His salary remained untouched—partly due to personnel shortages that made alienating experienced Admirals impractical, but mostly due to concerns that financial penalties might further reduce his already questionable work ethic.
"Consider this a learning experience," Fleet Admiral Sengoku had concluded with the weary tone of someone who had conducted this exact conversation multiple times before. "Your decisions during the crisis were sound, but your planning requires improvement."
Kizaru had accepted this mild censure with characteristic grace, though privately he reflected that the mission had accomplished far more than anyone realized. The Blackbeard Pirates had been scattered and weakened, Crocodile's unauthorized activities had been documented for future reference, and most importantly, the Straw Hat Pirates and Princess Vivi of Arabasta now owed their continued existence to Marine intervention—a debt that might prove useful in future negotiations.
---
Meanwhile, in the World Government's most secure conference chambers, the Five Elders wrestled with strategic implications that extended far beyond simple recruitment failures. The Sky Screen's preview of future events had revealed Tony Tony Chopper's eventual development of medical techniques so advanced they bordered on miraculous, including Panacea that could theoretically grant immortality.
"The reindeer's current capabilities remain rudimentary," Saint Jaygarcia Saturn observed while reviewing intelligence reports from their most trusted sources. "Our medical specialists have examined the available data, and their assessment is unanimous—whatever techniques he develops in the future are years, possibly decades away from practical application."
Saint Marcus Mars nodded in agreement, his attention focused on a comprehensive analysis of Chopper's known medical knowledge. "The transformation from ship's doctor to legendary healer will require experiences and hardship with the Strawhats. Forcing premature recruitment would likely prevent the very developments we hope to exploit."
The strategic calculation was coldly pragmatic. If Chopper's future medical breakthroughs were genuinely achievable, then attempting to capture him now might paradoxically prevent those innovations from ever occurring. The butterfly effects of removing him from his destined path could eliminate the very capabilities that made him valuable.
"Consider the parallel with Pluton's blueprints," Saint Topman Warcury added, gesturing toward classified files that contained decades of intelligence gathering on Water 7's shipbuilding community. "We have known of their existence for years, yet made no move to secure them because the current craftsmen lack the resources and infrastructure necessary to construct such a weapon."
The comparison was apt. Tom the Fishman had possessed the complete plans for one of the three Ancient Weapons, yet the World Government had allowed him to continue his work on the sea train project rather than immediately seizing the blueprints. The practical reality was that building Pluton would require resources, facilities, and expertise that simply didn't exist in the current era.
"If someone actually attempted to construct a new Pluton," Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro continued the analysis, "the scale of such an undertaking would make concealment impossible. Our intelligence networks would detect the project within months of its initiation."
The lesson was clear: theoretical knowledge posed minimal immediate threat compared to the practical capabilities required for implementation. Chopper's future medical techniques fell into the same category—impressive in concept, but requiring years of development that would provide ample opportunities for intervention if necessary.
"Spandam's reports regarding the Pluton blueprints serve as an excellent example of misplaced priorities," Saint Jaygarcia Saturn observed with mild irritation. "He submits intelligence updates regarding theoretical threats while failing to address genuine security concerns within his own organization."
The CP9 director's obsession with capturing ancient weapon plans had become something of a running joke among the Five Elders, though they tolerated his fixation because it kept him busy with relatively harmless activities. If Pluton's blueprints ever represented a genuine threat, more direct measures would be implemented immediately.
---
As the appointed time for the Sky Screen's next broadcast approached, the Five Elders found themselves confronting a far more immediate concern than theoretical future weapons or medical breakthroughs. The preview had explicitly identified Dressrosa as the setting for the upcoming drama, and Dressrosa's current ruler represented one of their most delicate political challenges.
Donquixote Doflamingo was a living reminder of the World Government's capacity for both mercy and compromise—though whether his current status represented either virtue remained a matter of considerable debate among the highest levels of leadership.
"The situation with the Donquixote family remains... complicated," Saint Marcus Mars acknowledged with obvious reluctance to discuss the subject in detail. "His knowledge of Celestial Dragon secrets makes him potentially dangerous, but his lineage makes direct action against him politically problematic."
The former Celestial Dragon's fall from grace had been dramatic and public, his father's idealistic rejection of their privileged status resulting in the family's exile from the Holy Land. Young Doflamingo's subsequent experiences in the outside world had transformed him from a naive child into a hardened criminal whose understanding of Celestial Dragon vulnerabilities was comprehensive and personal.
"His attempt to regain admission to the Holy Land was... memorable," Saint Topman Warcury recalled with distaste. "Presenting his father's severed head as proof of his loyalty demonstrated both his ruthlessness and his fundamental misunderstanding of our values."
The incident had crystallized the impossible nature of Doflamingo's situation. His birth granted him knowledge that made him dangerous to leave unchecked, but his exile made him ineligible for the protections that knowledge would normally warrant. The compromise solution—granting him Shichibukai status in exchange for his silence—had satisfied no one while creating ongoing complications.
"The broader family considerations cannot be ignored," Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro added, highlighting the political calculations that had ultimately stayed their hand. "Eliminating one branch of the Celestial Dragon bloodline would set a precedent that could justify future actions against other families."
The concern was practical rather than sentimental. If the Five Elders demonstrated willingness to eliminate Celestial Dragon descendants who became inconvenient, it would create a climate of fear among the World Nobles that could destabilize their entire power structure. Better to contain the threat through political maneuvering than risk triggering broader panic among their support base.
"Besides," Saint Jaygarcia Saturn concluded with cold pragmatism, "Doflamingo has proven useful in maintaining stability within the underground criminal networks. His operations provide valuable intelligence while keeping more dangerous elements occupied with profit rather than revolution."
---
The Sky Screen's activation interrupted their strategic discussion with the familiar shimmer of supernatural light that had become the signal for worldwide attention. Across the globe, millions of people paused their activities to focus on whatever revelation would next reshape their understanding of future events.
Bold red text materialized across the luminous surface, its message carrying implications that made government officials around the world reach for secure communication devices:
[This broadcast will demonstrate the evolved capabilities of the Straw Hat Pirates 5 years in the future. Through this evidence, viewers will understand the true scope of the Dressrosa incident's significance.]
The announcement format was different from previous broadcasts—more formal, more analytical, suggesting that this presentation would focus on systematic evaluation rather than pure entertainment. The Sky Screen had apparently decided that its audience required additional context to properly appreciate the coming drama.
[The following events occur in Sea Circle Calendar Year 1525—5 years after the current timeline.]
The temporal notation appeared in the upper corner of the display, providing the first explicit chronological reference point the Sky Screen had ever offered. The precision suggested that future broadcasts might include similar markers, allowing viewers to construct a more comprehensive understanding of how events would unfold over time.
The scene that materialized showed a pirate ship unlike any currently sailing the seas—larger, more sophisticated, bearing design elements that suggested significant technological advancement. The ship's figurehead was carved in the shape of a miniature sun, its cheerful expression contrasting sharply with the ominous skull-and-crossbones flag that bore a familiar straw hat motif.
[Ship Designation: Thousand Sunny. Constructed to serve as the Straw Hat Pirates' primary ship following the destruction of their previous ship, the Going Merry. The name reflects their captain's philosophy of maintaining optimism and joy even while traversing the ocean's most dangerous waters.]
The annotation provided context that raised immediate questions among viewers familiar with the crew's current circumstances. What had happened to their beloved first ship? What events had necessitated this upgrade? The implications suggested trials and growth that had fundamentally transformed the crew's capabilities.
As the camera perspective shifted from wide establishing shots to focused character studies, the extent of those changes became dramatically apparent.
---
Monkey D. Luffy sat in his characteristic position on the ship's figurehead, arms spread wide to catch the ocean breeze with infectious enthusiasm. 5 years of adventure had left their mark—his frame appeared more muscular, his posture carried greater confidence, and most notably, a distinctive X-shaped scar stretched across his chest like a badge of honor earned through tremendous struggle.
[Monkey D. Luffy - Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. Paramecia-type Gomu Gomu no Mi user. Current bounty: 400,000,000 berries.]
The bounty figure alone was staggering. In just 5 years, Luffy's perceived threat level had increased eightfold—a rate of growth that suggested encounters with increasingly powerful opponents and involvement in events significant enough to warrant massive government attention.
"Luffy!" a familiar voice called from within the ship's interior. "Sanji has finished preparing lunch! Everyone's waiting for you!"
Tony Tony Chopper's appearance had changed remarkably little over the 5 years span, his reindeer physiology apparently aging at a different rate than his human companions. However, his demeanor carried new confidence and maturity that spoke to expanded medical knowledge and hard-won experience.
[Tony Tony Chopper - Ship's Doctor. Zoan-type Hito Hito no Mi user. Current bounty: 50 berries.]
The persistently low bounty had become something of a running joke among Sky Screen viewers, though those with more analytical minds recognized that underestimating opponents based on official valuations could prove fatally shortsighted.
"Sanji's being slow today," Luffy complained with characteristic impatience, his attention focused on what appeared to be an ordinary pair of wooden sandals. "We're both starving down here!"
The casual comment seemed unremarkable until the sandals themselves responded to their owner's words. Eyes opened along their surfaces, accompanied by small tongues that licked the air with obvious hunger. The footwear expanded into cloud-like forms that began floating toward the ship's galley under their own power.
[Kensei - Paramecia-type Chikara Chikara no Mi (Strength-Strength Fruit) users. Luffy's most trusted weapons and constant companions.]
The annotation sparked worldwide debate among Devil Fruit scholars. The concept of inanimate objects consuming Devil Fruits had been theoretical until Dr. Vegapunk's recent breakthroughs, yet here was evidence that such techniques would become not only possible but practical within 5 years.
Following Luffy's path into the ship's interior revealed the full scope of the Straw Hat Pirates' evolution. The galley had been expanded to accommodate a crew whose diversity defied easy categorization.
The human members showed the most obvious signs of growth and change. Nami's beauty had matured into something almost ethereal, her orange hair complementing a figure that drew appreciative glances from male viewers worldwide. Beside her sat a black-haired woman of equal stunning beauty, though her identity remained unclear to those unfamiliar with future events.
Roronoa Zoro's transformation was perhaps the most dramatic among the recognizable faces. The swordsman's left eye had been replaced by a prominent scar that spoke to a battle of legendary proportions, while his muscular frame suggested training that had pushed human physical limits to their breaking point.
Usopp's evolution was equally striking—his lanky frame had filled out with genuine muscle, his cowardly demeanor replaced by the confident bearing of someone who had faced genuine danger and emerged victorious. The sniper who had once fled from every confrontation now radiated the quiet competence of a seasoned warrior.
Most shocking of all was Sanji's appearance. The chef they remembered as the epitome of masculine charm had undergone a transformation that defied explanation—his form now carried distinctly feminine characteristics while retaining his culinary expertise and combat skills.
[Note: Individual crew member analyses will be provided during combat sequences to preserve dramatic impact.]
The non-human crew members presented an even more fascinating study in diversity. Besides the familiar Chopper, the galley contained a blue-skinned fishman of similar height, a walking skeleton dressed in formal wear, and a massive humanoid robot whose metallic construction suggested advanced engineering capabilities.
[Current Straw Hat Pirates roster: 10 active members representing multiple species and technological classifications. This represents the most diverse pirate crew in recorded maritime history.]
The biological and technological variety was unprecedented. No other pirate crew had ever assembled such a range of capabilities, suggesting that future recruitment had focused on specialized expertise rather than simple combat power.
As the Sky Screen's introduction continued, government officials around the world began making urgent calculations about resource allocation and threat assessment protocols. If this represented the Straw Hat Pirates' capabilities 5 years hence, then current containment strategies were laughably inadequate.
The Dressrosa incident, whatever its nature, would involve adversaries whose individual members could potentially challenge entire Marine divisions. The implications for global stability were staggering.
In the Holy Land, the Five Elders watched with growing concern as their carefully maintained world order faced its greatest challenge yet—a group of pirates whose very existence seemed to mock the concept of governmental control over the seas.
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