"Villagers, let me introduce you. This is Ryūjin!"
"He is the one who killed Arlong and the core members of the Arlong Pirates!"
"It was Lord Ryūjin who saved our village!"
…
Outside the Arlong Pirates' base, Nami stood before the gathered villagers and formally introduced Ryūjin.
In that moment, Ryūjin became the hero of Cocoyashi Village and the surrounding villages, earning the admiration and gratitude of everyone present.
To him, killing Arlong and his crew had been nothing more than a casual act. But for these villagers, it meant the end of years of suffering and the beginning of a new life.
After everything settled, Ryūjin followed Nami back to her hometown, the peaceful Cocoyashi Village.
He walked through the village alongside her, taking in the surroundings. Though it was not large, the scenery had its own quiet charm.
"Lord Ryūjin!"
"Lord Ryūjin!"
Everywhere they went, villagers greeted him warmly and respectfully. News had already spread, and everyone knew that this seemingly ordinary young man was the one who had saved them.
"Nami, Lord Ryūjin, lunch is ready!"
After some time, Nojiko ran toward them with a bright smile.
"Then I'll gladly try your cooking," Ryūjin replied, a faint smile on his face as he followed her.
Together with the two sisters, he enjoyed a hearty and simple meal.
---
Loguetown.
Marine Base.
Colonel's Office.
A man with short white hair sat behind a desk, two cigars in his mouth as he flipped through documents. Smoke curled lazily into the air.
This man was Smoker, the Marine Colonel stationed at Loguetown, a key location connecting the East Blue to the Grand Line.
With his strength, being stationed here was almost a waste. The East Blue had no pirates worth his attention.
Even the so called strongest crew in the East Blue, the Krieg Pirates, were nothing more than a joke in his eyes.
Buruburu…
The Den Den Mushi on his desk suddenly rang.
Smoker picked it up without much interest. "What is it?"
"Colonel Smoker, something big has happened in the East Blue!"
The voice on the other end was tense.
Smoker frowned slightly. "Relax. What could possibly happen here?"
"Hawkeye has appeared in the East Blue!"
Smoker immediately straightened, his lazy expression gone.
Mihawk, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and the world's strongest swordsman.
Why would someone like him come to the weakest sea?
If Mihawk caused trouble here, Smoker knew he would not be able to stop him.
"That is serious," Smoker said, his tone heavy.
But before he could ask more, the voice continued in a rush.
"That's not the main issue! Hawkeye was defeated by someone in the East Blue. He lost to a single sword strike!"
Smoker shot to his feet.
"What did you just say?"
He could not believe it.
Mihawk, a man who stood at the peak of the sea, someone who even clashed with Red-Haired Shanks, had been defeated. And not just defeated, but with a single strike.
"That's impossible."
"It's true, sir. I saw it myself at the Baratie. Everyone there saw it!"
Smoker fell silent.
If his subordinate reported it, then it had to be real.
He took a deep drag from his cigar, forcing himself to calm down.
"Tell me everything. Don't leave out a single detail."
"Yes, sir."
From Don Krieg's defeat to the clash with Mihawk, every detail was recounted.
When the report ended, Smoker stood frozen.
A single glance that reduced Krieg to ashes.
Walking on the sea as if it were solid ground.
A sword strike that split towering waves and carved the ocean itself.
"This is insane…"
After a few seconds, Smoker spoke again.
"What's his name?"
"Uchiha Ryūjin."
Smoker repeated the name in his mind.
"Keep watch on him. I want updates on everything he does. But listen carefully, do not provoke him. Do not get in his way."
"Yes, Colonel!"
After ending the call, Smoker paced the room.
Then he made a decision.
"This has to be reported."
---
Marineford.
Fleet Admiral's Office.
"Smoker, is this report accurate?"
Sengoku adjusted his glasses, his expression serious.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral. The information has been confirmed."
Sengoku paused before responding.
"Understood. Keep monitoring him, but do not alert him."
"Yes, sir."
After the call ended, Sengoku handed the Den Den Mushi back to Aokiji.
"Aokiji, have you heard of Uchiha Ryūjin?"
Aokiji shook his head. "Never."
A crunching sound echoed in the room.
Garp sat on a sofa nearby, casually eating doughnuts.
"Garp, what about you?"
"Huh? Sorry, I dozed off," Garp said, stuffing another doughnut into his mouth. "What happened?"
Sengoku sighed and explained everything again.
Garp's expression shifted slightly.
"Defeated Mihawk with one strike? That's not normal."
Even he had to admit it.
In terms of swordsmanship, Mihawk stood at the very top of the world.
"Never heard of him though," Garp added, already reaching for another doughnut.
Sengoku adjusted his glasses again.
"A man like this appearing out of nowhere without the Marines knowing is a failure on our part."
He turned to Aokiji.
"Investigate him. Gather information, but do not act recklessly."
"I understand."
---
New World.
On an unremarkable island, an unusual number of news birds gathered.
This was no ordinary place.
It was the base of Big News Morgans.
Inside his office, Morgans was reviewing documents when a news bird flew in.
After listening, his eyes widened.
"What? This is real?"
Mihawk had been defeated by a single strike.
This was explosive news.
Morgans became visibly excited.
He quickly gathered details, questioning the bird thoroughly.
Then he paused.
"Uchiha Ryūjin… that name needs impact."
He thought for a moment before his eyes lit up.
Every powerful figure had a title.
Kaido of the Beasts. Big Mom. Whitebeard. Red-Haired Shanks.
Ryūjin needed one too.
Soon, Morgans began writing.
"Demonic Eye Uchiha Ryūjin, The Man Who Defeated Hawk-Eyes With One Sword Strike."
He read it over, satisfied.
Then the presses began.
Newspapers spread across the seas.
And just like that, the world exploded with reactions.
"He defeated Hawk-Eyes in one strike?"
"That's impossible!"
"The strongest swordsman lost?"
"Demonic Eye Ryūjin…"
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