Grand Line — Tasman Island
Inside the tavern in the town square—
"What a windfall." Ren Kuro took a leisurely sip of wine. "There were well over a billion Berries' worth of treasures aboard that Heavenly Tribute ship. That means the next ten Devil Fruits are finally within reach."
"Ren Kuro, how much longer do you think it'll take?" Gin Ichimaru asked curiously.
"About three days." Ren Kuro smiled. "Three days from now, we'll make the trade on Polynesia Island. Before long, another companion will join us. Once that happens, even if a Marine Admiral shows up again, we won't have anything to fear."
Things had gone far more smoothly than he had expected.
Of course, the price for that success was obvious—
he had thoroughly offended the World Government.
Ren Kuro knew very well that the Marines would come after him again.
"Oh my… another Admiral is coming?" Gin narrowed his eyes, seeming to recall his clash with Kizaru. "I can't wait to fight one."
"Marine Admirals… are they the strongest people in this world?" Byakuya Kuchiki lifted his gaze and asked flatly.
"Not exactly the strongest," Ren Kuro replied with a faint smile. "But they're absolutely among the very top."
"I see."
Byakuya nodded thoughtfully.
"Captain Kuchiki, won't you have a drink?" Gin said with his usual smile, placing a cup of wine before him. "Tasman Island's liquor is famous far and wide."
The only reply he got was a cold, expressionless face.
"…Still ignoring me?" Gin gave a helpless shrug. "Captain Kuchiki, you're as cold as ever."
Ren Kuro glanced at Byakuya, who had already closed his eyes again as though resting.
"What a stubbornly aloof ice prince," he muttered under his breath.
Meanwhile, offshore from Tasman Island—
Five warships were cutting rapidly across the sea.
Dozens of cannons had already been lined up across their decks. The Marines were advancing in force, their target unmistakable.
Marine soldiers packed the decks shoulder to shoulder, and under the glare of the sun, the word Justice emblazoned across their backs was impossible to miss.
At the front of the fleet, on the lead warship, stood a stern man in a crimson suit.
He didn't smile.
His gaze was sharp and severe.
And every movement he made carried a terrifying aura of violence.
Admiral Akainu.
At that moment, Akainu stood with a spyglass in hand, surveying the island ahead. The instant he spotted the familiar little wooden boat moored at the harbor, his brows drew together tightly.
"So the intelligence was correct. Death and Poison Blade really are on this island."
He lowered the spyglass.
"Men!"
A Marine Captain hurried forward.
"Admiral Sakazuki! Your orders?"
"Pass it down." Akainu's voice was ice-cold. "Bombard Tasman Island."
The captain froze.
"What? Admiral Sakazuki, there are still innocent civilians on the island. If we do that, Headquarters may not—"
Akainu turned his head and glared at him.
"If we allow those two criminals to escape, the consequences will be even worse. In the face of justice, hesitation is unacceptable."
His voice rose like a blade.
"All sacrifice… is for the sake of justice!"
The moment the words fell—
the dozens of cannons on deck opened fire all at once.
BOOM—!
Dozens of cannonballs streaked through the air and smashed into Tasman Island.
One of them struck the old tower in the center of town—an historic structure that had stood there for more than a century—blowing it apart before the stunned eyes of the townspeople.
"Why are the Marines shelling us all of a sudden?!"
"The old tower's gone! That thing stood for a hundred years!"
"Even the Marines can't just do whatever they want!"
Panic spread through the town as the civilians ran in every direction.
These were people who had lived their lives in peace. They couldn't understand why the Marines had suddenly turned their guns on them.
But the only answer they received was fire—
and one collapsing building after another.
Under the merciless bombardment, Tasman Island was quickly reduced to ruin.
Inside the tavern—
Because of the shelling, the entire building shook violently. Dust and broken stone rained from the ceiling.
"…What the hell?"
Ren Kuro looked out through the window, his eyes narrowing.
"Marine bombardment… I think I already know who's here."
There was only one man in all of Marine Headquarters who would order an attack like this while ignoring civilian casualties entirely.
The Admiral who believed in Absolute Justice.
Akainu.
Akainu was rigid and uncompromising by nature, and his methods were utterly ruthless. He tolerated no trace of evil. To complete his mission, he would sacrifice comrades and civilians alike without hesitation.
Back during the Ohara incident, he had even ordered the destruction of an evacuation ship full of civilians.
That alone said everything about how merciless he was.
"Admiral Akainu…"
Ren Kuro stood and spoke in a serious tone.
"Gin Ichimaru. Byakuya Kuchiki. Don't lower your guard. That man's a fanatic."
"Oh my… a fanatic?" Gin narrowed his eyes. "An extremist, then. I can't say that sort of person interests me."
"Leave him to me," Byakuya said expressionlessly, his white captain's haori fluttering behind him. "My Zanpakutō will reflect the shape of his death."
"Let's move." Ren Kuro led the way toward the door. "We didn't have time to summon a third captain, but the three of us should still be enough to deal with Akainu."
Not long after—
At Tasman Island's harbor—
From the deck of the lead warship, Sakazuki watched coldly.
The moment he saw the three figures appear, his face changed at once.
"Death… Poison Blade…"
Sakazuki snarled the names through clenched teeth, murderous intent surging in his eyes.
The temperature around him spiked instantly.
Blazing magma began to flow over his arm.
His intent to kill was absolute.
◇ I'll drop one bonus chapter for every 10 reviews (leave a review/comment!)
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon: patreon.com/KageNaruto