At the sandy shores of Sphinx Island, under the warm sun and gentle sea breeze, Naru and Ace stood side by side, preparing to bid their farewells. The moment was bittersweet, as Naru was about to embark on her journey back home, leaving her brother and the Whitebeard Pirates behind, at least for the time being.
"You sure you don't want to come with us and stay in Uzu for a while?" Naru asked yet again for the second time that day as she looked at her brother, then to Marco who stood next to him.
Whitebeard's funeral had taken place just a couple of days prior. It had been a solemn, emotional event, drawing tears even from the fiercest of pirates. Shanks, who had come to pay their respects, had already departed the island yesterday, leaving behind only Naru, her group, and the remaining members of the Whitebeard Pirates. Now that the funeral rites were completed, the wounded had been treated and were on the mend, and with her brother alive and well once more, there remained little reason for Naru and her companions to linger any longer on Sphinx Island.
The time to return home had finally arrived.
"Maybe next time," Ace replied, flashing her a small, apologetic grin that couldn't quite mask the weight he carried on his shoulders. "Now that Oyaji is gone, there's a mountain of things that still need to be done. Marco's strong, but he's only one man. He won't be able to handle everything on his own. This guy needs me." He jerked a thumb toward Marco with familiar teasing, trying to lighten the weight in his own chest.
"Ace is right, yoi," Marco chimed in, his tone light but resolute. "Once we get our situation under control and stabilize things around here, we'll be sure to drop by Uzu for a visit. You have my word, yoi."
Naru said nothing for a moment, but her sharp mind was already racing. She thought of the countless territories that had once flourished proudly under the protection of Whitebeard's flag, the territories that would now undoubtedly become targets for the greedy souls. The political tides would shift, alliances would tremble, and enemies would crawl from the shadows. There would be hardships ahead, unavoidable and cruel. Yet, she kept those thoughts to herself, choosing instead to respect their determination without weighing them down with unnecessary warnings.
Although she had a friendship with Whitebeard, and not to mention that she was also a part of the reason as to why Ace ended up joining the Yonko's crew, she was still after all, an outsider that had no business nor authority to intervene with the crew's internal affairs.
But Ace? Ace was not some crew member. Ace was her brother, her only family. His well-being would always be her concern, no matter what boundaries or titles others attempted to draw. If that had not been the case, she would never have stormed into Marineford's battlefield with absolute disregard for logic, consequence, or her own safety. Whether she was an official member of Whitebeard's crew or not, her bond with Marco and the others had been clear and undeniable for the entire world to witness during the Summit War.
Naru finally nodded at Marco's statement, a small yet genuine smile lifting the corners of her lips. "Well then," she said warmly, "if there is anything you need from me, absolutely anything at all, you know how to reach me."
Marco did not hesitate to answer. "Absolutely, yoi. We'll keep that in mind," he answered, his voice carrying the easy confidence of someone who knew promises with Naru were never made lightly.
Turning her attention back to Ace, Naru's smile shifted into something more mischievous. "As for you, little brother, I expect a call from you every now and then. And if too much time passes and I do not hear a single word from you…" She let her voice trail off in a dramatic, threatening lilt as her eyes gleamed with mock severity. "…then I will come hunt you down myself."
Ace gave a dry laugh, the sound tinged with affection and resignation. He was many things, but he was certainly not naive enough to doubt her. If Naru came looking for him, she would bring more than a simple visit. She would bring a lecture, a scolding, and possibly a smack to the head, depending on how much trouble he had gotten himself into.
In the end, her words were simple but heavy with meaning. "Alright. Take care of yourself. If something happens, anything at all, do not hesitate to contact me. Understand?"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Ace replied, waving a hand to brush off the seriousness, though the fondness in his expression betrayed how deeply he valued her concern.
"Good. Then we will be heading out first."
They shared one final hug, long and unyielding. It was the kind of embrace that spoke in a language older than words, filled with trust, love, and the promise of future reunions.
With their farewell sealed, Naru led her companions toward the modest caravel ship she had summoned earlier from her storage seal. One by one, they boarded. Barlow, the most experienced sailor among them, took the helm with practiced ease, while Yuzu positioned herself at the prow, eyes sharp and steady as the navigator.
Standing at the shoreline, Ace lingered for one last moment. He watched the caravel drift farther into the blue horizon, his thoughts swirling with both uncertainty and resolve. At last, he turned around and headed toward Marco to discuss their crew's future.
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As the image of Sphinx Island grew smaller and smaller in the distance, disappearing into the vast horizon, Nikolas could not help himself and finally broke the silence.
"I heard some of them are planning to leave the crew. Apparently, since the captain is dead, they think it would be better to disband and split the treasure among themselves."
The memory of the moment he had overheard a group of those ungrateful bastards whispering in secret made Nikolas's blood boil all over again. They had just buried their captain, for goodness sake, and yet they were already scheming over his belongings like vultures.
"Tch! Selfish bastards, that's what they are!" he spat, his fists clenching at his sides as the anger simmered just beneath the surface.
Unlike Nikolas, Naru did not have anything much to say about the affairs of the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Marco is their captain now," she said simply, her voice calm. Whether the rest of the Whitebeard Pirates accepted it or not, Whitebeard had made that decision himself. It was not something that could be challenged or rewritten, no matter how chaotic their emotions were.
Still, an unspoken question hovered in the salty breeze. Without Whitebeard at the helm, could they truly still call themselves the Whitebeard Pirates? Would the men who had once followed their captain so faithfully be willing to pledge themselves to someone who was not the legendary man they had lost?
"It does not matter what path they choose to take," Naru continued thoughtfully, her gaze fixed on the open sea. "Whether they stay together or drift apart, that is their decision. But for those we can protect, those who still hold loyalty and dignity in their hearts, we will protect them no matter what."
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Whirlpool Island was a mysterious and formidable island located deep within the New World. . True to its name, the island was encircled by countless whirlpools of varying sizes, some small enough to be mistaken for harmless spirals while others were colossal maelstroms capable of swallowing entire ships whole. These swirling death traps churned endlessly, forming a natural barricade that mercilessly crushed any vessel foolish or unlucky enough to drift too close. Many ships and their unfortunate crews had met their end in those unforgiving currents.
However, the infamous whirlpools were not the only formidable obstacles that kept adventurers at bay.
Those who somehow managed to navigate the twisting seas would soon discover a second threat lurking in the depths. Beneath the deceptively glittering surface prowled creatures of legend, beasts that sailors only dared to mention after several drinks. Enormous shadowy figures roamed the waters, waiting patiently for the slightest chance to lunge upward with snapping jaws or crushing tentacles. For most adventurers, this was more than enough reason to turn back.
Geographically, Whirlpool Island rested disturbingly close to the Calm Belt, that still and eerie ocean that bordered the second half of the Grand Line from the North Blue. The island's proximity to such a region meant that encounters with monstrous Sea Kings were not rare, but rather a grimly frequent occurrence.
Therefore, even if a traveler managed to cross the turbulent barrier of whirlpools, they would still need iron nerves and sharp reflexes to survive the lurking titans swimming beneath the waves.
However, for Naru and her companions, neither the chaos of the whirlpools nor the terror of the Sea Kings posed any real danger.
Other than Yuzu and Barlow, everyone else in the group could simply soar above the ocean, allowing them to bypass both whirlpools and sea monsters with casual ease. And if they chose not to fly, they still had Barlow, a highly skilled helmsman who navigated treacherous waters with strong resolve and confidence.
With Yuzu guiding them as navigator and Barlow expertly steering the vessel, the five of them maneuvered through the whirlpool labyrinth with surprising smoothness, their little caravel gliding as if the waves themselves wished to clear a path for them.
As for the Sea Kings lurking underneath them, the humongous underwater creatures had long recognized the familiar superior presence of a certain human whom they had acknowledged to be the owner of this territory. Therefore, when they felt that one's presence on that tiny little ship above them, they simply let it pass.
Above the shimmering waters, Naru leaned casually against the railing. Her eyes sparkled with amusement whenever she caught glimpses of the sea beasts gently rising to greet her. One particularly young Sea King, its body marked with streaks of blue and soft white, swam toward the ship with an almost puppy-like enthusiasm. It was tiny by Sea King standards, barely half the size of their vessel.
With a gentle smile, Naru extended her hand, brushing the creature's smooth head with a tender familiarity, as if she were greeting an old friend.
The youngling released a series of cheerful chirping noises. It then dove back down in a graceful arc, disappearing beneath the waves where its gigantic mother waited silently.
While Barlow remained steadfast at the helm, the rest of the group gathered on deck, watching the scenes around them unfold.
Yuzu's keen eyes swept across the horizon. She soon noticed several ships approaching the island, vessels that had somehow survived the deadly entrance of the whirlpools and now drifted hesitantly toward Uzu's shores.
"It appears the number of visitors coming to our island has increased," she observed in her usual cool voice, pointing toward the growing cluster of ships edging their way through the calmer waters.
"After what happened at Marineford, we probably should have expected this," Nikolas said dryly, his sharp eyes narrowing as he kept a vigilant watch on a ship that was drawing closer a few miles ahead of them.
Whether it was because the Sea Kings sensed Naru's presence or simply because fate was feeling generous today, none of the ocean's usual guardians surfaced to threaten or intimidate the newcomers.
Instead, Nikolas and the others soon spotted several aquatic figures cutting swiftly through the water toward the ships. The glimmering silhouettes approached in pairs, making their way toward each vessel with practiced precision. Two of them swam directly toward Naru's ship.
Moments later, two mermen surfaced beside the caravel. Both were armed with long, sharp spears and exuded an aura of duty and authority. One raised his voice firmly and declared, "State your identity and your purpose for approaching this land!"
"It's us," Naru called out, her voice warm and amused, as she smiled at the familiar faces.
The stern expressions on the mermen instantly shattered. Their eyes widened, filled with recognition and joy. The transformation in their demeanor was almost comical.
"Naru-sama! You have returned!"
"Welcome home, Naru-sama!"
Their excitement radiated like sunlight on calm waters. They even angled their spears downward respectfully and grinned at the others.
"It is an honor to see you again as well, Sir Nikolas, Miss Yuzu, and Miss Yue!"
Nikolas gave a rare chuckle. "It is good to be home," he admitted. Yuzu and Yue offered polite nods in quiet acknowledgment.
Turning her attention toward the ship leading the cluster of newcomers, Naru asked casually, "It looks like more people are coming than usual. Is everything still under control?"
One of the mermen straightened with pride. "Yes! After the end of the Summit War a week ago, the number of visitors has increased significantly. However, there is no need to worry, Naru-sama. We warriors are maintaining strict vigilance. With the Sea Kings guarding the waters and the Giant Eagles patrolling the skies, no one has dared to cause trouble. All is well under our watch!"
Since Uzu had opened its figurative gates to the outside world, the Warriors of Uzu had stepped up their responsibilities, guarding the seas with unwavering resolve. The assistance of the Sea Kings and Sea Beasts that Naru had befriended made their task immensely easier. These titanic creatures had once ruled the waters unchallenged, but now served as guardians under Naru's command.
Of course, the Uzu Warriors could not rely solely on the Sea Kings and Beasts. Thus, squads of fish-men and merfolk patrolled the seas, acting as a first line of defense. They intercepted visitors, screened them, and directed them to the proper ports.
Naru felt genuine pride swelling in her chest. "You have all done wonderfully," she praised them with heartfelt sincerity.
The mermen looked practically giddy at her compliment.
"N-No! It is our honor and duty to protect our home, Naru-sama!"
"Naru-sama, please allow us the privilege of escorting you to the island!"
Although she hardly needed an escort with the island already in plain sight, their eagerness was so sincere that she agreed with a warm smile.
Coming in from the southern side, once they passed through the final belt of whirlpools, the bustling sight of the port town came into view.
Initially, only the two mermen accompanied them. But as word of Naru's arrival spread like a spark through dry tinder, more fish-men, mermen warriors, and even several lively mermaids appeared, swimming up to join the welcoming procession. Their enthusiasm was infectious.
Before long, the entire port was brimming with anticipation.
When Naru and her group finally reached the docks, a huge crowd awaited them. Most were citizens of Uzu, though plenty of outsiders were present as well, having arrived around the same time.
"Naru-sama!"
"Welcome home, Naru-sama!"
"Sir Nikolas! Over here! Oh goodness, he smiled at me!"
"Yue-san! Welcome back!"
The bustling port town was called Gentle Breeze Town, named by Yue herself. She had fallen in love with the sensation of the soft wind brushing against her skin during her flights above the island. In her honor, the town was christened with that poetic name.
But Gentle Breeze Town was not their final stop.