East Blue, Loguetown, Central Square.
White smoke spread like a cage, sealing off every possible escape route.
Hundreds of Navy soldiers stood in formation, rifles raised, their muzzles all aimed at the silver-haired man standing calmly beside the fountain. The air was taut, like a drawn bowstring, ready to snap at any moment.
Yet amid this suffocating standoff, an utterly discordant voice suddenly rang out.
"Um… Colonel Smoker?"
Clutching the famous sword Shigure, Tashigi hurried over and hid behind Smoker's broad back. She pushed up her glasses, which were slipping down again, and stared at the elegant swordsman ahead with a conflicted, disbelieving expression.
"Could there be… some kind of mistake?"
She tugged on Smoker's sleeve and muttered urgently.
"This gentleman was just talking with me about sword maintenance! He even helped me buy Sandai Kitetsu and dealt with the pirate who attacked me earlier…"
"Look at his eyes—they're so clear. A bit cold, sure, but he doesn't look like a bad person at all!"
"The monster on the wanted poster is supposed to be a pervert who killed Celestial Dragons! How could someone like that be so polite?"
"Could they be… twins or something?"
The more Tashigi spoke, the more convinced she became that her reasoning made sense.
After all, what kind of great pirate would spend his time shopping with a Navy sergeant and even bend down to pick up her fallen glasses? That was completely illogical!
Smoker's forehead veins bulged. He nearly bit through the two cigars clenched between his teeth.
"Shut up, Tashigi!!"
He spun around, his face twisted with fury and frustration as he barked at her.
"You're a Navy officer, not here on a blind date!"
"Open your eyes and look carefully! Those red eyes! That gaze that treats people like dirt!"
"This is Uchiha Tobirama! The real thing!"
"You idiot! If you dare speak up for pirates again, I'll fire you on the spot!!"
Scolded so harshly, Tashigi shrank back, tears pooling in her eyes as she bit her lip and fell silent, looking utterly wronged.
"Ugh… You know what's going on—why do you have to be so scary…"
She didn't say it out loud, but deep down she still felt that the silver-haired man in front of her didn't match the terrifying legend at all.
"Oh?"
A soft chuckle broke the argument.
Tobirama stood where he was, idly playing with the hilt of Sandai Kitetsu. The purplish-red blade reflected his mocking gaze.
"What a lively performance."
"Smoker, your subordinates are far more interesting than you."
He lifted his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the trembling Navy soldiers before finally settling on the burly man shrouded in smoke.
"Still, with trash like this…"
"Who gave you the confidence? A miracle?"
Smoker did not explode in anger at the taunt. Instead, his expression grew heavier than ever.
As a Logia user, his instincts screamed danger. The pressure radiating from the man before him was even more terrifying than what he had felt during Roger's execution years ago.
This was not someone you could restrain with words alone.
Smoker exhaled a thick plume of smoke as his body began to turn half-elemental, half-solid. The Seastone jitte in his hand glinted with a cold, metallic sheen.
"Uchiha Tobirama."
"No matter how strong you are, and regardless of whether I can capture you or not…"
"Since you've appeared in Loguetown—my jurisdiction…"
"As a Navy officer, it is my duty to execute you here and now, to protect the civilians!"
"This is the bottom line of justice. Even if it costs me my life, I will not retreat a single step!"
His voice rang loud and firm.
The surrounding soldiers were instantly fired up, gripping their weapons even tighter.
"The colonel is right!"
"For justice! We'll fight him to the death!"
"Oh?"
Tobirama raised an eyebrow, a trace of surprise flickering in his eyes.
"Knowing it's certain death, yet still choosing it…"
"So this is what they call the Navy's backbone."
"What a pity."
He shook his head. The tomoe in his Rinnegan began to spin.
"Courage is admirable, but before absolute power…"
"This kind of stubbornness is nothing more than foolishness."
"Since you refuse to step back…"
"Then kneel."
Boom!!
There was no warning.
A vast, overwhelming force erupted outward from Tobirama, like the descent of an ancient god.
Buzz—
The air itself seemed to be wiped clean.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Hundreds of Navy soldiers collapsed in unison, not even managing a scream. Eyes rolled back, foam spilled from their mouths, and they fell across the square like harvested wheat.
One second.
The entire square was cleared.
Only two figures remained.
To be precise—one stood, and one knelt.
"Ghh…"
Smoker let out a stifled groan.
His smoky, elemental body was forcibly compressed back into solid form, crushed beneath the pressure of Haki. It felt as though a mountain weighing millions of tons had been slammed onto his shoulders.
Crack!
His knees smashed into the stone ground, carving out two deep craters. He barely managed to keep himself upright by gripping his jitte with both hands.
"I… can't move?!"
"This is… Conqueror's Haki?!"
Drenched in sweat, Smoker realized in horror that not only his body, but even the power of his Smoke-Smoke Fruit had been completely sealed.
Behind him, Tashigi was still standing. Most of the pressure had been blocked by Smoker, and Tobirama wasn't deliberately targeting her.
Even so, her legs trembled violently.
"Why… why did everyone collapse?"
She stared at her fallen comrades in disbelief.
"What happened? Were they poisoned?"
"Run… run!!"
Smoker struggled to lift his head and roared hoarsely.
"Tashigi!"
"That's Conqueror's Haki! This monster's Haki can suppress abilities!"
"Forget about me! Run to headquarters! Tell Fleet Admiral Sengoku to send an admiral!!"
Smoker knew he was finished.
But he could not let Tashigi die here too.
"An… admiral?"
Tashigi finally understood the situation.
She looked at the silver-haired man who hadn't taken a single step, who hadn't even changed his expression.
Fear finally swallowed her whole.
"Run… we have to run!"
She turned and bolted toward a nearby alley.
"Run?"
Tobirama watched her panicked figure with a faint, mocking smile.
"My tour guide, your job isn't finished yet."
"Who gave you permission to leave?"
He lifted his hand and gently clenched his fingers.
Buzz—
The surrounding space seemed to solidify instantly.
Tashigi froze mid-stride, one foot still raised, unable to bring it down.
She looked as though she had been trapped inside a painting.
"I—I can't move!"
"Let me go!!"
She screamed in terror, tears streaming down her face.
Tobirama ignored her cries and walked step by step toward Smoker.
Sandai Kitetsu slid free from its sheath, the blade resting against Smoker's throat. The icy touch sent chills racing up Smoker's spine.
"Smoke-Smoke Fruit."
Tobirama looked down at him, his tone detached, as if evaluating merchandise.
"Your offensive power is laughable, but turning into smoke is barely useful."
"Since you're so eager to play the hero…"
He tightened his wrist slightly. The blade bit into Smoker's skin, blood trickling down his neck.
"Then I'll grant your wish."
"Die here, and become a martyr of the Navy."
"No!!"
Suspended in midair, Tashigi broke down completely.
That was her superior—Colonel Smoker, who had always looked after her like an older brother.
If he hadn't been protecting her, he wouldn't have fallen so badly.
"Please! Don't kill him!!"
She sobbed uncontrollably, struggling in vain.
"Please spare Colonel Smoker! He's a good man!"
"The soldiers are innocent too! Please, show mercy!"
"Shut up, Tashigi!!"
Even with a blade at his throat, Smoker remained unyielding.
"Don't beg him! Begging doesn't exist in the Navy's dictionary!"
"If you want to kill me, then do it! I won't flinch!"
"To die at the hands of the strongest pirate—I have no regrets!!"
"But I don't want you to die!!" Tashigi cried.
Watching this desperate display of loyalty and camaraderie, Tobirama smiled.
A smile befitting a cold, ruthless overlord.
"How touching."
The blade did not fall. It stopped just short of Smoker's carotid artery.
Tobirama turned and looked at Tashigi, suspended in midair, her face streaked with tears.
"Since you're so desperate to save him…"
"I'm a benevolent ruler. I can give you a chance."
He stepped closer, lifting her chin gently so she had no choice but to meet his gaze.
Eyes identical to Kuina's when she was young—only softer, more fragile.
"The lives of everyone in this square."
"Including this Smoker."
"I can spare them."
"But…"
His deep voice echoed in her ears, irresistible and merciless.
"In exchange—"
"You come with me."
"You will never wear that Navy uniform again."
"So?"
"This deal…"
"Will you accept it… or not?"