Tashigi floated in midair, her body tightly bound by invisible spatial restraints.
Tears streamed down her face like beads from a broken string. Through blurred vision, she looked down at the man being trampled beneath a foot, a blade pressed coldly to his throat.
That was her superior officer.
Her swordsmanship instructor.
Colonel Smoker—the man who had protected her like an older brother.
Now, the once-arrogant White Hunter was being toyed with at will by the silver-haired demon, crushed like a dying dog.
Choose.
Tobirama's voice was colder than ice. The Sandai Kitetsu pressed down slightly, slicing a thin line of blood across Smoker's neck.
"Is it better to watch them all die, or…"
"Use your pitiful freedom in exchange for these hundreds of worthless lives."
The silence that followed felt endless.
At last, Tashigi broke.
In that moment, the innocent—almost naïve—female Marine's eyes filled with a resolute despair.
"I… I agree!!"
She screamed with everything she had, her voice hoarse and tearing:
"Just release Colonel Smoker! Release these soldiers!"
"I'll go with you! I'll agree to anything!"
"I'm willing to do anything!!"
The cry seemed to drain every last bit of strength from her body.
It was a betrayal of justice—
and also her final act of protection for her comrades.
"NO!!! TASHIGI!!"
Smoker's eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the girl suspended above him, roaring like a wounded beast.
"Shut up! Shut the hell up!"
"You're a Marine! You carry justice on your back! How can you bow to pirates?!"
"I'd rather die than live like this—begging for mercy! This is disgrace!"
"A disgrace to the Navy!!"
He struggled madly, trying to break free from the crushing pressure of Conqueror's Haki.
But his bones felt as if they were about to shatter. His Smoke-Smoke Fruit abilities were completely sealed, leaving him able only to pound the ground helplessly in rage.
"Disgrace?"
Tobirama's lips curled into a playful smile.
With a casual flick of his hand, he released the spatial restraints.
Thud.
Tashigi fell from the air. Her landing was clumsy, nearly sending her face-first into the ground, but she didn't care.
Tears streaming, she crawled forward and bowed deeply, her forehead striking the stone before the man who was both her teacher and her friend.
"I know this is shameful, Smoker… I know I'm not worthy to be a Marine."
"But… I can't watch you die!"
"Without you, this branch would have been destroyed long ago! Who would protect the civilians of Loguetown?"
"Your life is more important than any so-called honor!"
"You… idiot…"
Smoker clenched his teeth, his eyes burning red.
He hated it.
He hated his own weakness.
He hated that he couldn't protect even a single subordinate—and that his life had been bought by her sacrificing herself.
"Have you had enough of this melodramatic farce?"
Tobirama sheathed his sword with a crisp click.
Looking down at the master and apprentice separated by life and death, his gaze held no emotion—only the cold mockery of someone standing above them.
"Since the deal is done…"
"My word is as good as gold."
He slowly lifted his foot from Smoker's chest.
The crushing pressure vanished. Smoker gasped desperately, gulping in air as if reborn.
"Get lost."
Tobirama turned his back to him, utterly unconcerned about any sneak attack.
"Take your useless subordinates and crawl away."
"If I ever see you again…"
"It won't be this cheap."
Smoker dug his fingers into the stone slabs, his nails snapping and bleeding.
He wanted to charge forward.
To fight to the death.
But then he looked at Tashigi, crying beside him.
That chance to live had been bought with her freedom.
If he died now, her sacrifice would mean nothing.
"Uchiha… Tobirama!!"
He spat the name through clenched teeth, carving it into his soul.
"I'll settle this score with you someday!!"
"I'll be waiting."
Tobirama didn't even turn around. He merely waved his hand dismissively.
But in that brief motion—
A faint, almost imperceptible flash of black-and-white chakra flickered from his fingertips.
Yin–Yang Release: Life-Draining Seal!
The thread-thin dao light pierced Smoker's body instantly, sinking into his heart and the depths of his soul.
There was no pain.
Even Observation Haki detected nothing.
Smoker only felt a brief chill in his chest before it vanished.
What he didn't know—
was that his life's countdown had already begun.
With his back to everyone, Tobirama wore a cruel smile.
Smoker…
Did you really think I would show mercy?
As long as you live, that foolish woman—Tashigi—will never truly sever her ties to you or that so-called justice.
So…
Die.
The curse would slowly devour his life force, ensuring a natural death within a year—whether from old injuries or sudden illness.
The day Smoker died, Tashigi's final bond to this world would shatter.
Only then would she belong completely to him.
"Let's go, Tashigi."
Tobirama strode toward the port without another glance.
Tashigi took one last look at Smoker, wiped away her tears, picked up Shigure from the ground, and followed the silver-haired figure—turning back every few steps.
"DON'T LOOK BACK!!"
Smoker lay on the ground, letting out a heart-rending roar.
"TASHIGI! LIVE ON!! LIVE ON!!"
Her figure vanished at the end of the street.
---
Loguetown Port
The massive warship stolen from Akainu had been cleaned and now flew the fan-shaped flag of the Uchiha Empire, still radiating a ferocious aura.
"Welcome back, Your Majesty."
Bellemere, dressed in a standard maid outfit, stood on deck with Nami and Nojiko.
When she saw the tear-streaked Marine girl following behind Tobirama, Bellemere froze.
"That's… a Marine?"
Her expression turned incredulous.
Your Majesty… did you wipe out the Loguetown naval base—and kidnap a female officer on the way?
"Hmph! Another one!"
Hancock stepped out of the cabin in a red, high-slit cheongsam. The moment she saw Tashigi, the flames of jealousy reignited.
"No wonder you took so long—so you were picking up new people again!"
She moved close, efficiently removing Tobirama's Hokage cloak while glaring fiercely at Tashigi.
"What's so special about this clumsy girl?"
"She's a Marine—she must be a spy!"
"Why don't we just throw her into the sea and feed the sharks?"
Robin stood nearby with an ancient book in hand, adjusting a pair of sunglasses she'd acquired from somewhere, a sly smile on her lips.
"Oh? A swordsman."
"Kuina will be delighted—she finally has someone to spar with."
"Though… this young lady doesn't seem very sharp."
Surrounded by so many women, Tashigi shrank like a frightened quail.
She clutched her sword tightly, face flushed, head lowered, wishing she could vanish into the ground.
So this is the Emperor Uchiha's harem…
The pressure is terrifying…
"That's enough."
Tobirama stopped Hancock from saying more.
"Tashigi will be responsible for organizing the armory and cleaning the deck."
"As for the rest…"
He looked around at Hancock, Robin, Kaya, Bellemere, Nami, Nojiko, Kuina—and the newly added Tashigi.
This lineup would be top-tier in any world.
But—
Tobirama frowned.
"This ship is still missing one crucial role."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Food was essential—even for gods.
How could one conquer the world on such plain meals?
"Bellemere, your cooking is too rough."
Bellemere's lips twitched. "Sorry, Your Majesty… all I can make is marmalade…"
"Exactly."
Tobirama turned his gaze toward the vast ocean.
"Sail out of the harbor and wait for me."
"I'll be right back."
"I'll bring you a true master chef."