"Kaito, are you a fairy?"
"No."
"Kaito, would you ever want to eat me?"
"That's… a bit criminal."
"Kaito, can you teach me that move from earlier? Once I learn it, I won't be afraid of Bell-mère's scolding anymore!"
On the way back, Nami chattered non-stop, clinging to Kaito. Nojiko walked beside them, shaking her head helplessly as she tried to pull Nami off his leg.
"When you're a bit older, and more ladylike like Nojiko, maybe then I'll teach you," Kaito said, flicking Nami on the forehead with a loud pop. He rubbed his fingers together, quite pleased with the feeling just now.
Nami clutched her head with both hands and glared at him, puffing out her cheeks as she pouted.
"You're so stingy! You only like Nojiko anyway! Hmph! You don't love me anymore??"
Her silly tantrum made Nojiko blush deeply. Annoyed, she lightly smacked Nami on the head and then snuck a shy glance at Kaito.
Of course, that little glance didn't escape Kaito's eyes.
After all, he carried the superior genes of the Uchiha clan, paired with a naturally aloof charm that seemed to captivate these slightly precocious girls. And those eyes of his… mysterious and dangerous, yet holding a fatal allure.
Sigh… these damned genes. This damned excellence!
Outwardly, Kaito remained composed and steady as a rock, but inwardly he shamelessly basked in self-admiration.
Bell-mère had silently followed behind them the entire way, her gaze fixed sharply on Kaito's back.
What was that power just now? Was it the ability of a Devil Fruit? But she'd seen him dive into the sea to catch fish before. Devil Fruit users are supposed to be unable to swim, right?
All these questions made the boy in front of her seem like a complete mystery. And she was desperate to unravel it.
...
When they returned to the village and reached a fork in the road, Bell-mère seemed to come to a decision. She told Nojiko and Nami to head home first—she had something to take care of. Though the girls looked confused, they obediently left.
With the two of them gone, only Bell-mère and Kaito remained at the crossroads. Kaito looked at her, already sensing she had something to ask.
"Bell-mère-nee, is something on your mind?"
Bell-mère took a deep breath and spoke cautiously.
"Kaito, this might sound a little forward, and I mean no offense. But... can I ask—who exactly are you? After all, someone with that kind of power staying hidden in a backwater place like the East Blue for ten years… it's really hard to wrap my head around.
"And those eyes of yours, they're not just a strange color, are they? Of course, if these questions make you uncomfortable, you don't have to answer. Please, don't take it the wrong way!"
She blurted out all her questions in a rush, then nervously clasped her fingers together, waiting for Kaito's reply.
Kaito looked at her deeply, then smiled. As someone who had seen the anime, he had always admired Bell-mère.
Though she wasn't particularly strong, the way she smiled and faced death to protect Nami and Nojiko had truly moved him. He knew she was a good person. So he didn't feel annoyed or upset at her questions.
After a moment of thought, Kaito spoke seriously.
"It's okay. Just know that I'm not a bad person. These eyes… you can think of them as a natural gift from my clan. They're called the Rinnegan—the eyes of a sage. That move from earlier was something I can use thanks to them—just one of my abilities. As for what I am… you could say I come from the lineage of sages. The Uchiha clan."
Sage… Uchiha… Rinnegan… one of his abilities…
Hearing those words sent shockwaves through Bell-mère's mind. She hadn't heard of the Uchiha clan before, but from Kaito's strength and demeanor, it must be an incredibly powerful bloodline.
Seeing her still frozen in shock, Kaito continued.
"Something happened to me. I've lost parts of my memory. But I do remember this—I'm the last of my clan in this world. As for why I've stayed on this island so long… well, think about it. When I first arrived in this village, I was only six years old. Where else could I have gone?"
"Ah… I guess that makes sense," Bell-mère said awkwardly, scratching her head. "So, what are you planning to do next? With powers like that, you're not planning to stay here forever, are you?"
"Hmm. I'm planning to join the Marines."
"…Huh??"