A litter carried by a bunch of fluffy white critters was hoisted right up to Sakura. Sprawled across it was a huge pure-white cat, wrapped head to toe in bandages, looking like it had been through hell.
"We strays are all counting on his powers to get by," one of the little animals squeaked. "So go easy on him, yeah?"
The cat had a pipe clamped in its jaws, body hunched and frail—like a stiff breeze could knock it over. But through her Observation Haki, Sakura could feel it: a blazing light of willpower pouring off him nonstop, steady and fierce despite everything time had thrown at it.
More than that, though—his eyes.
The second their gazes locked, Sakura knew. That cocky, rule-breaking, do-whatever-the-hell-I-want vibe? No doubt about it.
Same line of work.
"Long time no see, Witch of the Wilds, Lady Haruno Sakura," the white cat rasped, smoothing down his fur with a paw. "As for me—no need for fancy introductions. Just a nobody, as you can see. A washed-up weakling."
"Nobody with a fire like that burning inside?" Sakura shot back. "What do I call you?"
She plopped down cross-legged, hugging the rabbit tight so it couldn't bolt.
"Call me White Cat," he said. "Lost my real name the moment I turned into this."
"Turned into this?" Sakura leaned in. "What the heck happened on this island?"
Questions were piling up faster than she could count—this colorless island, the Revolutionary Army tailing her, the rescue target for this whole mission…
"That's a long story," White Cat said, glancing at the sky. "And we're almost out of time. If you make it out alive, we'll pick this up later."
The little animals suddenly stiffened like they'd sensed danger, hoisted the litter, and bolted, vanishing into the white haze.
"Hey—wait—!"
Sakura lunged to stop them, but her arms came up empty. The thing she'd been hugging was gone.
She looked down. A gaping hole had opened in her stomach. The rabbit—now in a tiny suit—was already crawling inside.
It glanced back once, then zip—slipped into the darkness.
The hole in her gut shrank with a wet shluck, sealing shut like it had never been there.
"That thing's fast," Sakura muttered. "What is up with the locals?!"
A quick chat with White Cat hadn't answered anything—it just made everything weirder.
Then the world dimmed. The blinding white faded, revealing a star-drenched night sky. Dark clouds rolled in, and from them descended figures with glowing wings—beautiful beyond sculpture, straight out of myth.
Angels.
Swords, axes, and spears gleamed in their hands. The moment they spotted Sakura, they raised their weapons high.
The darkness of the world seemed to bleed into the blades, coating them black.
"Armament Haki?!"
No time to wonder how inanimate things could use Haki—the angels dove in perfect formation.
Sakura stomped the ground, launching herself backward. Where she'd stood, weapons slammed down, carving deep gashes and craters like cannon fire.
"Bastards!"
She twisted mid-air, landing on a floating giant chess piece. Chakra surged under her feet, but the slick surface made her skid before she caught balance.
The angels closed in. With a flick of their wrists, their weapons flew back into their grips.
"You things are really pissing me off!"
Thunder cracked. Air exploded outward.
Willpower surged into her right arm, black Armament Haki spreading across her skin. Water-style chakra pooled in her palm, then blasted out with her punch.
Fish-Man Karate: Ocean Drum!
The Haki-charged shockwave roared like a storm tide, swallowing the sky and smashing through the oncoming angels. Those struck head-on froze up like rusted machines, then crashed to the ground in shattered chunks.
"Figures—Devil Fruit constructs," Sakura muttered, hopping down to the road. "Haki messes with the ability the second it makes contact."
She kicked through the wreckage. Just white clay left behind.
"Projecting Haki over distance… yeah, these are definitely someone's creations."
She crushed the clay in her fist and looked up.
"Like my toys?" a voice purked from the silence.
Sakura's Observation Haki hadn't pinged once. She tried to spin—body locked up.
Soft warmth pressed against her back. Slender fingers traced her cheek, tilting her chin. Feathers drifted down as a tall, blue-haired angel woman stepped into view—gorgeous, smirking, eyes half-lidded with delight.
"Hey there, new little plaything~"
"You—"
Sakura's whole body shook, but she couldn't move. Her willpower flared, Armament Haki surging to fight the hold.
Too slow. The woman's hand pierced straight through Sakura's chest.
Soul-deep cold froze her solid—the first chill she'd felt since eating the Heat-Heat Fruit.
"Armament Haki's cheating, little toy," the woman purred, hand still buried in Sakura's torso. "Finally found a cute human-shaped one. Gotta play till I'm satisfied~"
Her other hand slipped under Sakura's shirt, roughly groping her stomach.
The surrounding darkness peeled away. Sunlight poured down, illuminating Sakura's face.
The woman's pupils shrank.
"Oh my… this face…" She leaned in, golden eyes gleaming. "Aren't you the one the Five Elders personally ordered alive?"
Like a cat with a mouse, she tilted Sakura's chin, inspecting.
"Tell me, peasant—why do the Five Elders care about you?"
"You… filthy… BITCH!!!"
A black hole ripped open in Sakura's mind—pain, grief, rage, hatred—igniting.
A thunderous roar tore through the air. Conqueror's Haki exploded outward, dark lightning crackling, shaking the world silent.
The blue-haired woman's hair whipped upward. The shockwave slammed her into a distant chess piece.
"IRON REAVER!"
Sakura rolled up her sleeves. Twin storm-greatswords materialized, Armament Haki raging.
She was this close to unleashing a Conqueror's-infused slash when her collar got yanked again.
Observation Haki flared—Hundred Rabbits. The rabbit's face was humanly panicked, shaking its head like crazy.
"Rabbit, that's twice today you've cockblocked my fight," Sakura growled, grabbing its suit. "Give me one good reason, or you're getting it with her!"
The rabbit threw up its paws, then stomped the ground.
A pit wide enough for both of them yawned open beneath Sakura's feet. A vacuum sucked them down.
In the split-second of shock, Sakura was yanked into the void, her furious roar echoing behind:
"DAMN IT—STUPID RABBIT!!!"