...
The light screen continued: Franky took full charge of repairing the Thousand Sunny, the energetic clanging of hammers filling the air.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Straw Hat crew decided to take the initiative, setting out to gather intelligence about the mysterious enemy who had attacked them—"Z" (Zephyr).
Leaving Franky to guard the ship, Nami, Chopper, Usopp, and Nico Robin disguised themselves and headed to a nearby island called Saiken Island.
Saiken Island was a famous tourist destination in the New World, renowned for its geothermal hot springs and spectacular active volcanic landscapes. The island was dotted with hot spring inns and sightseers.
The four of them blended into the bustling crowds, trying to pick up clues from the casual chatter of locals and tourists.
Little Nami put her excellent social skills and talent for extracting information to work, Usopp handled cover and steering conversations, while Robin was responsible for drawing the attention of any drunk Marines.
Soon enough, they caught wind of some news: In pursuit of "Z," the Marines had already assembled a large force in these waters. Numerous warships were patrolling nearby, and the atmosphere was tense.
The garrison and intelligence personnel on Saiken Island had noticeably increased as well.
Just as Nami was on the verge of coaxing out deeper information about "Z's" possible targets or motives, a shrewd-looking Marine Lieutenant Commander seemed to grow suspicious.
He approached and began interrogating Nami and the others in detail about their identities, origins, purpose for coming to the island—his questions sharp and thorough.
"You four don't look like ordinary tourists…"
The Marine Lieutenant Commander's gaze lingered especially long on Robin, as if he found this calm, black-haired woman somewhat familiar.
Seeing their cover about to be blown, Robin used the powers of the Flower-Flower Fruit to restrain the Lieutenant Commander, and the group began fleeing through the back door.
The scene switched. In contrast to the tense and thrilling intelligence-gathering group, the side with Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Brook had a style that was exceptionally… leisurely, even a bit comical.
They had found a famous hot spring on Saiken Island.
Thus, four grown men and one skeleton comfortably soaked in the steaming waters.
"Ah… this feels amazing…"
Zoro closed his eyes, letting out a satisfied sigh, as if all the fatigue from battle was melting away in the hot spring.
"Yeah, this is exactly the kind of treat you deserve after a big fight, mosshead."
For once, Sanji didn't bicker with Zoro, contentedly blowing smoke rings.
"Yohohoho! Even though I don't have skin to feel the temperature, this atmosphere is truly relaxing!" Brook bobbed his head.
Though Luffy was soaking in the hot spring, his face remained serious when it came to Zephyr.
"It's great to see you're still so energetic~"
At that moment, this tranquility was soon shattered by an unexpected intruder.
From the mist at the other end of the hot spring, a tall figure slowly raised his head. As the steam parted slightly, revealing the person's face…
"Pffft!!!"
Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. They frantically tried to stand up or grab their weapons, only to slip and splash back into the water with loud plops, sending huge waves flying!
"A-Aokiji?!?" Luffy, butt-naked, stared at Kuzan, his tongue practically tied in knots.
"What are you doing here?!"
Zoro and Sanji tensed up as if facing a major enemy, muscles instantly taut. Though still in the water, they had already entered combat readiness.
Only Brook looked completely confused: "Aokiji? Who's that? Another guest here for the hot springs?"
"Yo, Straw Hat Kid, and you two—long time no see."
The newcomer was indeed Kuzan. He had arrived here long ago, waiting for Luffy and the others—so long that he'd been soaking until now.
His tone was relaxed, even carrying a hint of amusement, completely different from the grave seriousness he had shown at Enies Lobby and Marineford.
He looked… far more at ease.
As he spoke, Kuzan casually stood up—and at that moment, the full extent of his scars came into view…
When Luffy and the others' gazes fell on Kuzan, the initial shock was quickly replaced by another emotion: stunned disbelief.
Kuzan's bare upper body and parts of his legs were covered in horrific, large-scale burn scars. The skin was twisted and wrinkled, discolored darkly.
Even more shocking was that below his knees… his legs were completely gone!
"Your injuries…"
Luffy's eyes widened, his voice unconsciously dropping.
He knew Kuzan had fought Akainu in a duel for Fleet Admiral at Punk Hazard, and he had heard that Kuzan lost and left the Marines.
But seeing such devastating wounds with his own eyes still exceeded his imagination.
The severity of those injuries was enough to say he had walked straight through the gates of hell.
"Ah, you mean this?"
Kuzan looked down at his burns and the stumps of his legs, his tone still calm—even carrying a touch of self-deprecation.
"When I fought that guy Sakazuki… things might have gotten a little too heated."
He said it lightly, as if that earth-shaking, life-or-death duel that decided the future of the Marines had been nothing more than a slightly intense sparring match.
But deep in his eyes was a sense of release and resolve that Luffy and the others had never seen before—born from having undergone massive change.
Defeat, severe injury, leaving the Marines… this series of blows had not broken him. Instead, it had allowed him to shed certain burdens and find a new path of his own.
Steam rose gently from the hot spring. Two former enemies reunited in such an unexpected setting.
Kuzan's appearance undoubtedly brought new, unpredictable variables to the Straw Hats' mission to track down Zephyr.
The viewers in God Valley watched this scene with similarly complicated feelings.
Especially on the Marines' side—seeing a former Admiral in such a state left many sighing inwardly.
Garp fell silent. They already knew from the light screen how brutal that duel had been, but seeing Kuzan's current condition with their own eyes still weighed heavily on them.
And Kuzan's seemingly relaxed yet fundamentally changed mental state gave them a vague premonition: This former Admiral's future probably wouldn't intersect much with the Marines anymore.
...