The clash of steel and iron echoed across the cliffs behind Onigashima. The sea roared below, waves smashing against stone as if cheering for the two young warriors standing atop the ridge.
Kai and Yamato were nine now.
Yamato swung her kanabo with explosive force, aiming directly for Kai's head. He raised Akatsuki smoothly, blocking the blow with perfect timing.
"Getting stronger," he said calmly.
"Obviously!" Yamato shot back with a fierce grin.
She suddenly shifted, her body expanding and changing as white fur and divine markings appeared across her form. Horns gleamed sharper, and frost-like energy gathered around her limbs.
Her Mythical Zoan form.
Kaido had gone to extraordinary lengths to obtain that fruit. A treasure meant to strengthen his forces.
And Yamato had eaten it out of pure hunger.
When Kaido discovered what she had done, the island shook from his fury. He had beaten her brutally that day, roaring in disbelief.
Yet with the Seraph-Contract's regeneration layered atop her natural Zoan recovery, she healed at a terrifying speed.
Kaido had stared at her in shock.
He had almost felt proud.
Until she swung her kanabo at him and shouted, "You stinky bastard! It was you who didn't give me food! I was hungry and saw the fruit and ate it! If it was that important, you should have kept it on you!"
Kaido had nearly been in tears.
"Damn you! Damn daughter of mine!" he roared. "I placed that fruit in the fucking treasury! And watch your tone!"
Yamato didn't back down.
"And it was you who keeps shouting I wanna beat you up! I do! So why should I listen to you?!"
Kaido growled, veins bulging. "Why should I feed a girl who doesn't listen to her father?!"
"Shut up!" she had shouted back, charging forward.
Her kanabo struck his chest.
It didn't even tickle him.
But something else caught his attention.
When he struck her in return, there had been a faint layer of Armament Haki over her hands.
Kaido clicked his tongue.
"All that talent… wasted on a stubborn girl."
Yamato glared at him fiercely. "Just you wait! I'm gonna beat your ass one day!"
Without waiting for his reply, she stormed off.
Kaido stood there, fuming—yet beneath his anger simmered grudging respect.
That girl had the spirit of a conqueror.
With a Mythical Zoan and that willpower, it was only a matter of time before she mastered all three types of Haki.
"Wororororororo!" he laughed loudly.
Then he paused.
Her dream was to beat him.
His laughter died instantly.
"You damn kid! Unfilial daughter of mine! Come back here and apologize!"
Yamato didn't even turn around.
Kaido nearly went berserk.
King stepped forward calmly. "She is just a child, Kaido-sama."
Kaido huffed angrily and went back to drinking.
---
Now, back on the cliffs, Yamato's kanabo crashed against Akatsuki again.
"You're thinking about him," Kai observed mid-block.
"I'm always thinking about beating him," she replied, swinging harder.
Kai slid backward, boots scraping against stone.
"Don't let anger control your rhythm."
"I'm not angry!"
"You're very angry."
She snarled and launched forward in her hybrid form, frost swirling around her kanabo.
Kai vanished with Soru.
Yamato's eyes widened as she turned.
"Behind you," Kai said lightly.
She spun and blocked just in time.
Their weapons collided, shockwaves rippling outward.
"You're faster," she admitted.
"You're stronger," he replied.
"Then stop dodging!"
"Make me."
She lunged again, this time predicting his movement. Her kanabo clipped his shoulder.
Kai grinned. "Good."
"I told you!"
They fought for hours.
Yamato smashed cliffs with bare fists, training her durability. She struck trees until they splintered, honed her Observation Haki to sense Kai's movements, and practiced coating her weapon in Armament.
With her dual regeneration, injuries faded quickly.
After intense battles, she only needed food and rest to recover completely.
Her growth was frightening.
But Kai wasn't idle either.
He trained relentlessly in Wano—fighting samurai at night, refining his Haki control at dawn, pushing his body beyond exhaustion.
He searched tirelessly for Hiyori and Kawamatsu.
He took care of Toki.
And he met Yamato whenever he could.
Every time he saw her, his exhaustion melted away.
He loved being around her.
She wasn't just strength.
She was fire.
One evening after training, Yamato collapsed onto the grass, breathing heavily.
"Kai… show me that sky-step thing again."
"Moonwalk?"
"Yeah! That!"
Kai demonstrated, stepping into the air itself.
"It's about kicking the air fast enough to compress it," he explained. "Don't think of it as jumping. Think of it as pushing."
She tried immediately.
Her first attempt failed.
Her second attempt lifted her slightly.
Her third sent her stumbling midair before she fell.
She glared at the sky.
"Again."
Hours later—
She managed two steps.
"I did it!" she shouted.
Kai laughed proudly and hugged her, spinning her around.
"You're amazing!"
"I know!" she declared smugly.
Later, he brought supplies from Wano—salmon, rice, vegetables.
He cooked for her personally.
Sushi, grilled salmon, soup infused with sea herbs.
Yamato devoured everything happily.
"This is the best thing ever!"
"You say that every time."
"Because it's true!"
Kai watched her eat and felt something warm settle in his chest.
Moments like this made everything worth it.
One evening, after dinner, he grew serious.
"I'm going to the Grand Line for a few months."
Yamato froze.
"For how long?"
"Not sure. I have things to prepare."
She looked down, fists clenched.
He stepped closer, pressing his forehead gently against hers.
"I'll bring you delicious food. And gifts."
Her eyes shimmered slightly.
"You better."
"I always keep my promises."
Only then did she smile again.
---
But before leaving, Kai still needed to find Kawamatsu and Hiyori.
Toki hadn't woken up yet, though her body had fully recovered. Physically, she looked as if she were in her twenties again.
He didn't understand why.
But he couldn't leave her alone.
After reluctantly saying goodbye to Yamato, he returned to Wano and expanded his search.
This time—
He found them.
Without ceremony, Kai landed before them in his Oni Samurai attire.
Kawamatsu instantly stepped in front of Hiyori.
"Who are you?"
Kai looked at them calmly.
"Follow me. If you want to meet Toki."
"Liar!" Kawamatsu barked. "Lady Toki died in the castle fire!"
"You sure?" Kai asked quietly.
Kawamatsu faltered.
Kai unsheathed Akatsuki.
"Let's fight then."
Hiyori stood near the trees at a safe distance.
She was scared.
But she didn't run.
Her eyes held fear—and unyielding spirit.
Kai smiled under his mask.
Then he moved.
Kawamatsu lunged first, blade flashing.
Kai parried smoothly.
"You're strong," Kawamatsu grunted.
"So are you."
Steel clashed repeatedly.
Kawamatsu swung low.
Kai leaped and countered with a downward strike.
"You protect her well," Kai said mid-exchange.
"With my life!"
"Good."
Kai's tone shifted.
He grew serious.
He sent a flying slash forward.
Kawamatsu blocked, but the force pushed him back.
Kai vanished and reappeared at close range.
"Too slow."
He coated Akatsuki in Conqueror's infusion.
It wasn't strong enough to split the sky—but it was real.
"Kamushari."
The recreated technique exploded forward.
Kawamatsu didn't even have time to react.
He was sent flying, crashing into the forest unconscious.
Kai exhaled slowly.
He lifted Kawamatsu effortlessly.
Hiyori bit her lip, furious at her own weakness.
Kai appeared behind her in a blur.
"I'm not your enemy."
She didn't even have time to respond before he gently knocked her unconscious.
He carried both of them and took to the sky.
Golden wings spread wide as he flew back toward his hidden sanctuary.
The time for hiding was over.
The pieces were finally coming together.