Chapter 63: Akainu's Conversation — The Pink Dragon Appears
Across the New World, the brief minute of Caesar's broadcast had been enough. Every screen, every receiver, every pair of eyes that had witnessed it were now engaged in furious discussion.
"The Straw Hats... they've reached the New World?"
"Trafalgar Law is on Punk Hazard!"
"And that weapon—what WAS that thing?!"
At the New Marine Headquarters (the former G-1 Branch), Fleet Admiral Sakazuki—"Akainu"—sat in his office, watching the recorded broadcast for the third time. His cigar smoldered between his fingers.
"What in hell are those pirates and that escaped scientist DOING?!"
His fist clenched, flesh transmuting to bubbling magma.
"Straw Hats! Always causing chaos!"
Smoke rose from his shoulders as his temper escalated.
"The headquarters JUST relocated to the New World! And NOW this?!"
His fist slammed through his desk.
CRASH.
The Transponder Snail on his desk corner rang.
He snatched it up.
"Who?!"
"Yo, Sakazuki. I imagine you've seen the broadcast."
Akainu's jaw tightened. He knew that voice.
"You're calling to gloat?"
"Not at all. I'm currently near Punk Hazard. Arrived just now, actually."
A pause.
"The G-5 branch here reports that Vice Admiral Smoker set out unauthorized to hunt pirates. And that the G-5 base chief, Vergo, abandoned his post to go to Dressrosa."
"Now THIS happens. Troubling, isn't it?"
Akainu's tone cooled slightly.
"You're there now?"
"Yes. About the pirates and that biological weapon... should I investigate?"
Akainu considered. Then:
"Investigate. Thoroughly."
His voice hardened.
"Whether that bastard scientist spoke truth or lies, that island contains extremely dangerous elements. Possibly extremely dangerous people."
"If you're going—capture the Straw Hats and that scientist!"
A thought occurred.
"Do you need headquarters support? If the island proves too troublesome, we can issue a Buster Call."
The voice on the other end considered.
"Unnecessary. The G-5 forces should suffice. They're... adequate."
"Then proceed. But be careful."
Akainu ended the call.
He stared out the window at the sea below, rage still simmering in his eyes.
"That cursed bloodline again. And now TWO of the D. clan in one place."
PUNK HAZARD — CAESAR'S LABORATORY
Itachi carried Chopper in a bag on his back, moving methodically through the laboratory's lower levels. They passed room after room—research stations, examination tables, empty cages.
Chopper consulted his notes.
"The materials are all collected! I should be able to develop an antidote for the children now!"
"Then we return?" Itachi gestured ahead. The corridor ended at an abandoned, sealed gate.
Chopper peered forward.
"Let's check a little further, Brother Itachi! There might be—"
SLASH.
The gate fell in pieces.
"—more information," Chopper finished weakly. "Ah. Okay then."
He settled onto Itachi's shoulder as they peered into the darkness beyond.
"It looks like it leads underground."
A pipeline descended into shadow.
Chopper gulped. "Can we even—"
Itachi stepped onto the vertical pipe as if it were flat ground, chakra coating his soles.
"—go down there," Chopper finished. "Apparently we can."
They descended.
Below, another abandoned laboratory—larger, older, filled with massive instruments and rusting pipelines. Chopper searched briefly.
"Nothing useful here. Just old equipment."
He sighed, checking his notes.
"It matches what I have anyway. We should—"
Itachi's hand shot up.
"Someone's here."
Chopper dove into the bag. Itachi melted into shadows, carrying them to a dark corner.
Footsteps approached.
Itachi moved—exploding from concealment, Wind Forest Fire at the stranger's throat.
His eyes narrowed.
"Not human?"
Before him stood a small pink dragon—no larger than a child, scales glistening, eyes wide with terror.
"URK?!"
Itachi's blade pressed against its chin.
"Make that sound again, and the blade goes through."
The pink dragon trembled violently.
Chopper popped out of the bag. "A dragon! A little one!"
"Wh-who are YOU?!" the dragon stammered.
"I ask the questions." Itachi's voice was ice. "What are you? Why are you here?"
"It—it can TALK?!" Chopper's eyes went wide.
"I... I won't tell you unless you—"
The blade pressed. Skin broke. A thin line of blood appeared.
"URK—!"
"I said, don't make that sound."
The pink dragon's eyes filled with tears. It tried to speak, saw the blade, and in its terror—
POOF.
Smoke erupted. When it cleared, a small child cowered where the dragon had been.
"DON'T KILL ME!"
The child—a boy, perhaps eight, in strange clothing—covered his head.
"My name is—is—I'm CADE! I'm a child who was kidnapped and sold here!"
Chopper's expression softened. "Another kidnapped child? Like the others?"
Itachi studied the boy.
This child is lying.
He could sense it—the wrongness in the story, the evasiveness in the eyes.
"He's lying, Chopper."
Chopper blinked. "What?! He is?!"
The boy's face went white.
"Your name is definitely not Cade."
"H-how did you know?!"
Itachi said nothing. He'd seen the samurai's head. The hairstyle on this child matched that severed head almost exactly. And the clothing—the style was unmistakable. He'd seen it often enough in his own world's historical texts.
"Samurai. You can't lie."
The boy froze.
"HOW DO YOU KNOW I'M A SAMURAI?!"
"Your name. Now."
The boy's jaw set stubbornly.
"I... I CAN'T SAY IT!"
Itachi nodded calmly.
He turned and began walking away, Chopper still on his back.
"Let's go. Nothing useful here."
Chopper looked back at the boy. "W-wait! What about him?!"
Itachi didn't slow.
"He'll probably die here. There are monsters in this laboratory."
The boy's legs gave out.
"WAIT! WAIT!"
He scrambled after them, tripping over his own feet, crying freely.
"I'LL TALK! I'LL TALK!"
Itachi stopped.
"My name is—is MOMONOSUKE!"
Sobs wracked his small frame.
"I really WAS kidnapped! Please—I haven't seen anyone for so long! You HAVE to take me with you!"
Chopper's eyes welled.
"Brother Itachi... he's so pitiful..."
Itachi sighed.
He reached down, grabbed the crying boy, and hurled him upward toward the pipe's exit.
(End of Chapter)
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