The sea breeze brushed through the orange trees.
The air carried a refreshing citrus fragrance, yet it couldn't dispel the suffocating pressure that hung over the grove.
Bellemere stood frozen at the doorway, the water jug in her hands long since fallen to the ground. She stared at the silver-haired, red-eyed man before her.
That face was unforgettable.
On today's front page, this man had stepped on the heads of the Celestial Dragons, crippled Marine Admiral Aokiji single-handedly, and slammed Garp into the ground like trash.
Uchiha Tobirama.
A monster with a bounty exceeding a trillion. Public Enemy Number One.
"Y-you…"
Bellemere's voice was hoarse. She forced a stiff smile, even as cold sweat streamed down her temples.
"Why would someone as important as you come to a poor, remote place like this?"
She swallowed hard.
"You just said… you want to take my daughters away?"
Tobirama stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over her indifferently.
It had to be said—Bellemere wasn't a stunning beauty, but her cool, sharp aura carried a rough charm, reminiscent of Tsunade.
"I dislike repetition," Tobirama said calmly.
"Hand over Nami and Nojiko."
"This is an order, not a request."
Bellemere's pupils shrank.
She knew it was pointless to refuse a monster who dared challenge the World Government itself.
But—
She was a mother.
"…Alright."
She lowered her head, looking as though she had accepted her fate.
"Since this is Your Majesty's command, I have no choice."
"The girls are inside. I'll call them out so they can pack their things."
With that, she turned and walked into the house, her steps unsteady.
Tobirama watched her retreat, a faint, playful smile tugging at his lips.
He didn't stop her.
In his eyes, the act was clumsy—like a child trying to be clever.
Still, he didn't mind watching the lioness's final struggle.
…
Inside the house.
Bellemere slammed the door shut and leaned against it, gasping for breath.
Nami and Nojiko looked at their mother in confusion.
"Mom? Who's that handsome guy outside?"
Little Nami asked curiously, gripping a wooden stick.
Bellemere rushed forward and covered Nami's mouth, her eyes filled with urgency and resolve.
"Listen carefully! That's a demon! A man-eating monster!"
"You two—hide in the secret compartment behind the wardrobe immediately! No matter what you hear, absolutely do not come out!"
"But Mom—" Nojiko sensed something was wrong.
"Go! Now!!"
Tears welled up as Bellemere shoved her daughters into the hidden compartment.
"As long as you're alive… Mom will be fine."
She slammed the compartment shut.
Wiping her tears away, Bellemere pulled a long-forgotten box from beneath the bed.
She opened it.
Inside lay an old naval uniform—and a well-maintained, long-barreled musket.
Click.
She loaded the ammunition smoothly, her eyes sharpening.
Those were the eyes of a battlefield veteran.
"You want my daughters?"
"Then step over my dead body!!"
…
Outside, in the orange grove.
Tobirama plucked an orange, peeled it, and took a bite.
"Sweet."
"Too bad the one who grows them isn't very bright."
Bang!
The wooden door was kicked open.
Bellemere burst out like a furious leopard, musket raised.
"Die, pirate!!"
Without hesitation, she aimed and fired!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three specially made lead bullets shot out in a triangular formation, streaking toward Tobirama's forehead and heart.
"I'm Bellemere, former Marine petty officer!"
"This is my home! I won't let scum like you destroy it!!"
Her roar echoed through the grove.
At that moment, despite her weakness, Bellemere radiated astonishing resolve.
However—
Before absolute power, courage was cheap.
"Marine?"
Tobirama didn't even dodge.
He merely lifted his eyelids, disdain flashing in his Rinnegan.
"Does that identity make you think you can defy a god?"
Buzz.
The three bullets froze midair about a meter from him, spinning violently yet unable to advance an inch.
"W-what…?"
Bellemere stared in horror, her heart sinking.
This was power beyond even an admiral.
"Too slow. Too weak."
Tobirama extended a finger and tapped lightly.
Banshō Ten'in.
Boom!
An overwhelming suction erupted.
Bellemere felt an invisible force seize her and fling her forward. The musket flew from her hands and was crushed into scrap midair.
Snap!
In the next instant, her neck was locked in Tobirama's grip as he lifted her off the ground.
Her face flushed red as she clawed desperately at his wrist, unable to move it even slightly.
"L-let go…"
Tobirama looked at her coldly.
"I gave you a chance."
"You chose the stupidest path."
His gaze passed over her, landing on the small wooden house.
"And those two little mice playing hide-and-seek."
"Come out."
Boom!
With a wave of his hand, the roof was blown away.
The wardrobe exploded, revealing Nami and Nojiko trembling in the hidden compartment.
"Mom!!"
"Let go of our mom, you bad guy!"
Despite their fear, the two girls rushed out crying.
Nami swung her wooden stick at Tobirama's leg with her eyes squeezed shut, while Nojiko bit down on his arm.
"Commendable courage."
Tobirama glanced at the two children, barely reaching his waist, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
The future thief cat—right now, just a scruffy little kitten.
"But you're too noisy."
Smack! Smack!
He flicked his fingers.
Two crisp strikes landed squarely on their foreheads.
"Ouch!"
The girls clutched their heads and squatted down, tears welling up, their foreheads red as they fell silent.
"Stay put."
Tobirama tossed Bellemere aside.
"Cough—cough—!"
Bellemere crawled over and pulled her daughters into her arms, glaring at Tobirama like a hen protecting her chicks.
"Don't hurt them! Take me instead! I used to be a Marine—capturing me would be an achievement!"
"Marine?"
Tobirama stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at them with mocking indifference.
"Did that proud identity protect you just now?"
His words pierced straight through Bellemere's heart.
She fell silent.
One reason she'd retired was her inability to tolerate the Navy's corruption. For years, she'd been oppressed by Arlong without a shred of help.
"Admit it," Tobirama sneered.
"In this world, so-called justice is nothing but a lie the strong tell the weak."
"I'm not taking you away to destroy this place."
"On the contrary—I'm giving you the power to control your own destiny."
"Nami has extraordinary talent for navigation. Leaving her here to grow oranges would be a waste."
Bellemere bit her lip, emotions churning.
His words made sense—but he was still a wanted criminal. A ruthless killer.
How could she trust him?
"I don't believe you!" she shouted stubbornly.
"I don't believe a single word from a pirate!"
Tobirama shook his head.
Prejudice in this world was like a mountain.
It didn't matter.
He didn't need her belief—only her obedience.
Just as he prepared to take them by force—
Buzz.
Tobirama's Rinnegan suddenly sharpened.
He turned toward the distant horizon.
A massive, violent aura was rapidly approaching.
Behind it came more than a dozen powerful signatures—and thousands of faint ones.
Like a pack of mad dogs drawn by the scent of blood.
"Oh?"
A bloodthirsty smile spread across Tobirama's face.
"So they've finally arrived."
Bellemere felt a chill run down her spine as she followed his gaze.
On the distant sea, dark shapes filled the horizon.
Warships.
Massive, top-tier headquarters warships—ten of them.
On the flagship's bow stood a man in a dark red suit, justice cloak billowing behind him, black smoke and magma surging from his body.
Even kilometers away, the killing intent was suffocating.
"That's…"
Bellemere's voice trembled.
"A Buster Call?"
"And that's… Admiral Akainu?"
"To catch you, the Navy actually deployed a Buster Call…"
Tobirama watched the fleet approach and slowly flexed his wrist.
"Bellemere," he said calmly.
"Do you see it now?"
"The Navy you believe in is willing to erase your village just to kill me."
"And I—the Emperor—"
"I'll show you what it truly means to be invincible."