The Sabaody Archipelago.
A place formed by 79 Yarukiman Mangroves, meaning it technically wasn't an island.
There were no log poses leading here, yet it was an unusual island where special soap bubbles would rise from the ground.
"H-Hey… look at that."
"That's Vice Admiral Yuji Tono…"
"Ah, everyone. My apologies for the disturbance the other day."
Despite its peculiar nature, Sabaody Archipelago still had plenty of inhabitants.
Most of them had witnessed the Summit War on large monitors just days prior. They had all seen his figure among the chaos.
"With Whitebeard dead, the seas nearby are bound to get rough. I'll have my subordinates on high alert, but be cautious."
"Ohh, we're grateful!"
"As expected of the strongest Vice Admiral!"
'Ugh… What a pain in the ass!! If you don't wanna die, just train harder.'
Yuji already knew that walking through the island right now would gather attention.
Plastering a fake smile on his face, he continued striding forward with Tashigi and the others in tow.
"I'm surprised, Yuji-san. You're even kind to civilians?"
"It's precisely because I don't give a shit about them that I can fake my way through it without getting tired."
"Ahh, I regret even thinking, for a second, that you were a decent person!!"
"Kehaha. I'm already a good superior for training other squads in Haki, ain't I?"
WOMEN! KILL!! REST!!! Tono Yuji only cared about those three things.
He despised unnecessary relationships.
Not once had he ever claimed to fight for justice, nor had he sworn to protect civilians. If anything, he leaned closer to Sakazuki's Absolute Justice.
"Now that I think about it… When did you become a Vice Admiral, Yuji-san?"
"Hah? Five years ago, so… when I was thirteen. Apparently, it's a record. Not that I give a shit."
"A-Ahahaha… W-When did you join the Navy then?"
"Got picked up from the island I was living on. By Sakazuki and Sengoku. I was about eight."
"Man, that takes me back…" Yuji muttered while Tashigi and the others broke into a cold sweat.
'He had lived on an island where both Sakazuki and Sengoku had personally landed.'
'If he turned out like this… just what kind of childhood did he have?'
"I got thrown into some government training facility after that, but the instructors were so damn weak I nearly killed a few of them."
"Ehh…?"
"So they throw me out into the Navy. At least there were pirates I could kill there."
Yuji said it so casually, yet Tashigi's heartbeat was pounding in her ears.
If it was a government training facility, there was only one thing Tashigi could think of—Cipher Pol.
Espionage agencies required intense combat skills.
Yet he was too strong for them and got thrown out?
"You know, the Navy's pretty great. As long as you follow the rules, you can do whatever the hell you want."
"That's how pirates think!!"
"Idiot. I want stability, comfort, and just enough thrill to keep things interesting."
His definition of stability—being a Vice Admiral.
His definition of comfort—women, obviously.
And his thrill—fighting strong pirates every now and then.
In other words, this was the perfect life.
"Kehahaha! Still, I wouldn't mind going up against someone who actually puts up a fight."
"Haa… Haff! Vice Admiral Yuji!"
"Hah? What is it?"
"A sighting of 'Tyrant' Bartholomew Kuma has been confirmed!"
"Oh? Which Grove?"
"Grove 17!"
After receiving the report from Marge, who had received transmissions from their subordinates scattered across Sabaody Archipelago, Yuji immediately changed course.
As he walked with a few dozen subordinates behind him, other than Tashigi, who was walking beside him, he was overflowing with charisma that was hard to imagine coming from the usual lecherous womanizer.
"Hey, Tashigi-chan! You know the secret to fighting strong opponents?"
"No, I don't…"
"Didn't think so. That dumbass Smoker would never teach his subordinates something like that… I'll tell you, then."
The main force led by Yuji was originally heading for GR number 10, located in the center of the island.
Although it was a lawless area, the peaceful atmosphere gradually became filled with noise.
"Kill without dying!! The one who shows even a sliver of weakness… loses."
"…Understood."
"Kehaha. Well, killing might be too much for you right away. Then just take them out before they take you out. That way, you can protect your allies too."
"Yes, sir!"
The chaos was getting louder.
Up ahead, they could already see Marines clashing with what was presumably the enemy.
"Oi, you lot. Make sure the nearby civilians don't get caught up in this mess."
"Yes, sir!"
At Yuji's command, several of his subordinates sprang into action. They were among the most skilled in "Rokushiki" within his unit—handpicked to suppress the collateral damage caused by his fight with Kuma.
"Alright then, good work, gentlemen."
"Vice Admiral Yuji...!"
"We're saved! Vice Admiral Yuji has arrived!"
"Holy shit… We're in deep now."
"...!"
A single figure stepped forward from the ranks, heading straight into the heart of the battle.
The moment Yuji advanced, the fighting came to a halt. Both allies and enemies alike turned their attention to him.
"D-Did he just say Yuji!?"
"No fucking way…! W-Why the hell is someone like him here!?"
"Felt like it. Consider it a pre-date workout."
The ragtag thugs, those who weren't Bartholomew Kuma, let out panicked shouts. And rightfully so—after all, they were up against him.
"But don't worry—I'm not some bloodthirsty maniac. I'll give you all a choice."
"A... A choice...?"
Yuji held up three fingers.
"First option—bring me fifty high-class women, alive and untouched. Second—surrender the Straw Hats' ship and let me wreck it. Third—die right here. So, what'll it be?"
"You smug son of a—!"
A burly man, easily the biggest among the thugs, clenched his teeth and stepped forward.
"We, the Flying Fish Riders, would never betray the Straw Hat Pirates! They're our saviors!"
"Oh...? That leaves two choices, then."
"Ugh...! A-And we sure as hell ain't gonna bring you fifty high-class women, you crazy bastard!"
"I see. In that case—"
Yuji's body disappeared, moving like a streak of light.
"Gahk—!"
"—You all die."
His Shigan, fingers hardened like steel, pierced straight into the Flying Fish Riders' leader, Duval clenching around his heart.
The bullet pierced Duval's chest, sending blood spurting out.
"Not on my watch."
"Tch."
Just as Yuji was about to crush Duval's heart in his grasp, the man was suddenly kicked away—forcing Yuji to retreat as well.
In the blink of an eye, Kuma appeared right where they had stood.
His massive right hand swung down with bone-crushing force.
"Head-o!"
"So you've got the damn Nikyu-Nikyu no Mi. What a pain in the ass."
"If you think that, then leave."
"Yeah, not happening."
Yuji ignored Duval, who had been launched several meters away with his heart nearly crushed, and instead kept his focus locked on Kuma.
The Nikyu-Nikyu no Mi granted Kuma the power to repel anything with his palms—matter, air, even concepts like pain or exhaustion.
"But honestly, I don't see myself losing here."
"...What?"
"You're just too damn big."
In an instant, Yuji disappeared from Kuma's sight.
"Tekkai… Rankyaku!"
His hardened leg swung like a blade, slamming directly into Kuma's spine.
Kuma might be fast when repelling himself with his powers, but his base speed was garbage.
"Guh...!"
"Sure, your Nikyu-Nikyu abilities make you fly fast as hell!! But you, yourself, are slow as shit."
To attack with the Nikyu-Nikyu no Mi, Kuma had to aim his palms at Yuji.
And dodging that was child's play for someone with Future Sight-level Observation Haki.
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