The wind that brushed across the deck of the Oro Jackson carried with it the faintest scent of smoke.
Ada stood near the bow of the Oro Jackson, the spray of salt mist kissing her face as the sun broke through thin clouds. Her eyes, however, were fixed on the horizon — steady, searching, sensing a change in the wind.
Below, the crew murmured among themselves as the den-den mushi crackled to life — Enel tuning into the signal that had come from an anonymous merchant ship fleeing the New World.
"Transmission stabilized," Enel said, his tone unusually serious. "It's coming from east of Kuri. They're talkin' about Wano."
Mihawk looked up from where he was sharpening Yoru. "Wano?"
Even he sounded intrigued. The country was sealed to outsiders — a place of blades and storms. "What's happening there?"
Ada didn't turn. "Play it."
Enel twisted a dial, letting the den-den mushi project the faint, trembling voice of a sailor.
"—fire everywhere—Kuri burned—Oden-sama's gone! Kaido—Kaido has taken everything!"
The voice dissolved into static.
The deck went silent.
Ada didn't move for a long while.
When she finally turned, her expression was unreadable — too calm for the chaos that name brought.
"Kaido…" she murmured. "So he's already moved."
Bullet's face hardened. "Kaido again."
Mihawk stopped mid-motion, his whetstone hovering over Yoru. "So the dragon finally moved."
Fisher Tiger frowned, crossing his arms. "You know of this Oden?"
Ada's eyes softened, just barely. "A great man. One who carried the dawn long before the world was ready for it."
The crew exchanged glances. They'd heard his name before — in stories Ada told on long nights.
The reckless daimyo of Wano who once laughed beside Roger on the deck of this very ship.
The man who danced through storms and sang with fire in his heart.
Ada finally turned toward them, her expression unreadable.
Ada raised a hand. "Enough."
Her tone wasn't sharp — just steady. The kind of calm that made storms hesitate.
"We're going," she said. "Set course for Wano."
The crew exchanged glances — no one argued. When Ada decided, the world itself bent to her will.
———————-
Days Later — Near the Shores of Wano
The Oro Jackson slid between jagged rocks and waterfalls, guided only by instinct and Ada's haki.
Above them, the sun struggled to pierce the haze — turning everything a dim, copper hue.
"Land ho!" Fisher Tiger called out, eyes narrowing as the first jagged peaks of Wano's cliffs came into view.
The sky was blood-red, the clouds swollen with ash.
Below, smoke rose from distant villages — faint, grey pillars twisting into the air.
Mihawk surveyed the horizon. "So this is Wano — the land that refuses the world."
Mihawk then surveyed the scene with quiet detachment. "For a closed nation, they seem to have forgotten how to keep peace."
Fisher Tiger's eyes narrowed. "Seems the world refused it back."
Enel closed his eyes, sensing the crackle of energy in the air. "There's something wrong here. The entire island hums with grief."
Ada said nothing. Her eyes traced the edges of the land — she could almost feel the life beneath it, struggling to breathe under Kaido's weight.
They anchored near a hidden inlet, slipping past patrols and waterfalls, guided by Ada's observation haki and Fisher Tiger's instincts.
——————
When they reached the forest of Kibi, the silence was almost oppressive.
Then — a scream broke through it.
A child's scream.
"Captain!" Enel's voice snapped her attention forward. "Up ahead — two signatures. Small. Surrounded."
Ada didn't hesitate.
"Let's move."
They found them near the ruins of a burned village — two girls, cornered by a group of armored men carrying Kaido's sigil.
One child — no older than eight — clutched a shamisen case to her chest. Tears streaked her soot-covered face.
The other, older, wielded a short sword despite trembling hands, standing between the child and the soldiers.
The soldiers sneered.
"Kaido-sama's orders — all Kozuki loyalists are to be captured. You'll fetch a good price alive."
"Come quietly," one of the men growled, "or we'll—"
Before Ada could even give the order, a flash of lightning tore through the clearing.
One soldier fell twitching, smoke curling from his armor.
Enel dropped from the trees, electricity crackling faintly in his palm. "You should've stayed home."
The rest barely had time to draw their weapons.
Mihawk's blade whispered — one clean motion.
When the wind settled, only silence remained.
Ada stepped forward, the smoke curling around her heels.
The forest fell silent again.
Ada stepped forward from the mist, her cloak dragging against the ash. The girls flinched back, but she raised a hand — gentle, calm.
The older girl tensed, raising her sword again. "Stay back!"
But Ada simply knelt — her eyes gentle, steady. "It's all right. You're safe now."
The little one hesitated. Her lip trembled. "Wh-who are you?"
Ada's voice was soft. "Someone who once sailed with a man named Kozuki Oden."
The older girl's eyes widened. "You… you knew Oden-sama?"
Ada smiled faintly. "He was a friend. A good man."
The little girl looked up, her small voice barely audible. "My name is Hiyori… Kozuki Hiyori."
Ada froze.
Then she spoke carefully, her tone shifting — almost reverent. "Hiyori… Oden's daughter?"
The girl nodded, clutching the shamisen case tighter.
Ada turned to the older one. "And you?"
"I'm Okiku. A retainer of the Kozuki family."
Ada's eyes darkened slightly. "Tell me what happened."
The words spilled out — Kaido's conquest, Oden's execution, the burning of Kuri.
Hiyori's tears fell silently as Okiku's voice shook.
When the story ended, Ada said nothing. The wind filled the silence between them.
Finally, she whispered, "And your mother? Lady Toki?"
Okiku's head lowered. "She… she used her power to send Lord Momonosuke and the others twenty years into the future. Then… she fell."
Ada closed her eyes.
So Toki was gone too.
When she looked up again, her expression had hardened — the calm steel of a storm contained.
"I see," she said quietly. "The Kozuki blood still flows, then. The flame isn't gone — only waiting."
—————
Later That Night
They had built a small fire under the twisted trees.
Hiyori slept against Okiku's lap, her small hands still clutching the shamisen case.
Fisher Tiger glanced toward Ada. "Captain, we can't leave them here. The island's crawling with Kaido's men."
Enel agreed, arms crossed. "They'll be hunted by dawn."
Ada's gaze lingered on the sleeping child. Her expression softened — then resolved.
"Then they're coming with us," she said. "Until they're strong enough to stand on their own."
Okiku looked up sharply. "We would only be a burden—"
"You're survivors," Ada interrupted gently. "And survivors are exactly what this world needs."
Bullet grinned faintly. "Hmph. Guess we're pickin' up strays now."
Ada ignored him, still watching the fire.
"I knew Oden," she murmured. "He wanted to open Wano to the world — to free it from the chains of its own pride. Maybe… one day, his daughter will finish what he started."
Mihawk tilted his head slightly. "And you won't interfere now?"
Ada shook her head. "No."
Her voice was calm, certain.
"This is Wano's wound to heal. If I take that from them, it'll never be their victory."
"Besides," she added, looking toward the distant mountains, "Kaido won't rule forever. The tide always changes — and when it does, Wano will rise again."
Fisher Tiger nodded slowly. "That's… mercy, in its own way."
"Not mercy," Ada corrected. "Respect."
She tossed a twig into the fire, watching it catch and burn.
"The time isn't right. Not yet."
Mihawk crossed his arms. "You sound almost… patient."
Ada smiled faintly. "Wisdom comes when the sea reminds you you're not invincible."
The flames danced in her eyes.
The fire crackled softly, illuminating her face — half shadow, half light.
————————
The Next Morning
When dawn came, the sky was painted gold and red, the scars of fire fading into morning haze.
Ada sat beside Hiyori, who had just woken. The girl rubbed her eyes, staring up at the stranger who'd saved her.
"Are you… going to stop Kaido?"
Ada smiled gently. "Someday, someone will. Maybe it'll even be you."
Hiyori blinked in confusion. "Me?"
"Why not?" Ada reached out, brushing the soot from the girl's cheek. "Your father carried the sun in his heart. You carry his light. The world always finds its dawn again."
Okiku bowed deeply beside her. "Thank you… for saving us."
Ada knelt before Hiyori as the girl rubbed her eyes. "We'll be leaving soon," Ada said gently. "You'll come with us, for now."
Hiyori blinked. "Will… will we see Father again?"
Ada smiled faintly. "Not yet. But someday, when the sun rises again over Wano, you'll feel him in every light that touches your land."
The child nodded slowly, trying to understand.
As they walked back toward the hidden cove, Ada asked softly, "Okiku — when do you think Wano will rise again?"
Okiku hesitated. "When the world needs it most, perhaps."
Ada's smile returned — wistful, knowing. "Then I'll make sure the world keeps turning until that day."
———————
Later — Aboard the Oro Jackson
The crew gathered as the ship pulled away from the misty shores of Wano.
Enel lounged against the mast, arms crossed. "You're really not gonna take that island, huh?"
Ada stood at the helm, wind catching her hair. "Not every sea needs conquering, Enel."
"Why not?" Bullet demanded. "Would've been easy."
Ada's eyes softened. "Because not everything strong needs to be claimed. Some places have to find their own strength — or they'll never break free."
Mihawk leaned against the railing. "Still… a curious restraint for you."
She chuckled quietly. "Restraint is power too, Mihawk. Sometimes."
They fell into a companionable silence as the ship cut through the waves.
Hiyori and Okiku watched the island fade into mist — her small hand gripping the railing beside Ada's.
Ada placed her palm gently atop hers. "Your father dreamed of a dawn that would reach even this sea. When the world's ready… we'll see that dawn together."
Mihawk adjusted his hat, watching the sea ahead. "So what now?"
Ada turned, the wind catching her hair, her eyes gleaming crimson.
"Now," she said, "we keep moving. The world's changing faster than ever — and we'll be there to meet it."