Robin's words plunged everyone into silence.
Arima looked at her and said firmly, "Robin, I could never sacrifice you just for a moment's peace.
Will you join us, become one of the crew of the Konoha Senju? For our family, we're willing to fight to the very last drop of blood."
Robin lifted her head, her eyes brimming with tears. Her voice trembled. "Is it really worth it… for someone like me, an outsider?"
Kushina stepped forward, gently taking Robin's hand. She spoke softly, almost coaxing.
"You're my sister Robin, aren't you?!"
"Can I really… stay on the Konoha Senju?"
Her gaze turned toward Captain Arima, her tone carrying both pleading and fragile hope.
"Of course. This is your home now, isn't it?!"
Arima smiled warmly and handed her a small charm etched with the Konoha insignia, motioning for her to wear it.
Robin looked around at everyone.
Their warmth and acceptance stung her heart. She could no longer hold back her emotions and broke down crying, pouring out years of suppressed bitterness.
For nearly ten years she had survived alone, hiding in shadows, navigating treachery and betrayal.
Never once had she dared to confide her pain to another.
She longed for peace, for a place to belong, but every sanctuary had crumbled, every "home" betrayed. Belonging felt forever out of reach.
Now that she had joined Konoha, Robin decided she would no longer conceal her past. After calming herself, she began recounting her years of flight and survival.
When she finished, Kushina was the first to explode with indignation.
"The World Government is despicable! Arima, when you head to Mary Geoise one day, you'd better take me with you! I need to vent Robin's anger for her!"
"Kushina, you really do have a sense of justice," Arima chuckled. "When we return to the Shinobi World, how about I appoint you as Konoha's Police?"
"Then thank you, Third Hokage! Heehee…"
Kushina agreed instantly, as if afraid he might retract his words.
"Robin, you don't need to worry about safety. Even if all four Emperors came at once, we'd still be fine. At worst, we'll just turn the world upside down!"
Tsunade pulled out a few soldier pills, chewing as she reassured Robin.
Arima added, "It'll give us a good chance to measure the top forces of this world. In the future, we may have to cross paths with them again."
He turned toward Mito. "Grandma, when the time comes, I'll need you to hold position on the Konoha Senju. We can't let anyone sneak aboard."
Mito laughed. "You don't need me to strike? The Nine-Tails is nearly fat enough to be a pet dog by now."
"No need for you to act directly. Just one Tailed Beast Bomb from you would be enough to overturn the entire sea.
This coming clash is just a contest of top powers anyway. Ordinary marines? They're not worth your effort."
With everything arranged, the Konoha Senju sailed on, awaiting the arrival of the three Admirals.
Robin carefully clasped the emblem charm around her neck. Joy welled inside her. For the first time, she felt she belonged somewhere, no longer drifting like a rootless weed.
Watching everyone's fierce spirit, she couldn't help asking Kushina.
"Aren't you even a little worried? The Admirals are all wielders of Logia fruits, the strongest abilities."
"Don't worry, Robin! You don't know, Arima's true strength hasn't even been shown one-tenth! At his peak… he was terrifying. He could easily suppress the entire Shinobi World!"
Kushina struggled to describe Arima's power, eventually resorting to a vague but heartfelt "terrifying."
Robin asked curiously, "The Shinobi World, what kind of place is that?"
Kushina giggled. "I thought you'd hold back from asking! But since you're family now, it's fine.
Someday, Arima will definitely bring you there. The Shinobi World… is a whole other world, infinitely far from the world of pirates!"
Robin was stunned. She never imagined her new family would be from another world entirely.
Suddenly, many of her questions were answered. At the same time, a spark of longing grew in her heart for this new world she might one day see.
But before that, she still carried her mission, to decipher the Poneglyphs, the legacy of Ohara.
On the deck of the Konoha Senju, Arima was helping Tsunade awaken the Conqueror's Haki.
To him, as the granddaughter of the First Hokage and princess of Konoha, Tsunade had every right to stand above others. She only needed the right trigger to unleash her potential.
First, Arima tried guiding her with his own Conqueror's Haki, but she always fell just short of breaking through.
Tsunade thought about the feeling she needed to trigger that power and muttered, "If only I could get furious enough…"
"Furious?"
Arima pondered how he could possibly make Tsunade truly angry.
Kushina, watching the two stand stiffly on deck muttering about "fury," suddenly got an idea.
She bounced up excitedly and told Tsunade, "Tsunade, what I'm about to do is just to make you furious, so don't hold it against me later!"
Tsunade waved dismissively. "Relax, Kushina. I always keep my word. At the gambling table, I've never gone back on a bet!"
A sly grin spread across Kushina's face. She turned to Arima. "Arima, I'm doing this for Tsunade-nee, so you better play along!"
Before Arima could respond, Kushina suddenly leapt straight into his arms.
Instinctively, Arima caught her, worried she might fall, even forgetting that Kushina was no longer the girl who once rode on his shoulders.
And then, everyone froze in shock.
Kushina wrapped her arms around Arima's neck and kissed him.
Tsunade was stunned. "Kushina, that brat actually kissed my Arima?"
A second later, fury surged up inside her. Her forehead veins bulged, her fists clenched so hard they cracked.
"Kushina, you dare provoke me to my face?"
Her body responded instinctively. Power burst out from within her, erupting into a wave of Conqueror's Haki that blasted straight toward Kushina.
The overwhelming aura froze Kushina in Arima's arms, trembling helplessly under the pressure.
"What the hell… Kushina, you little trickster!"
With a helpless sigh, Arima flared his own Conqueror's Haki, shielding the trembling girl in his embrace.
"Arima… you actually…?"
Seeing Arima protect Kushina, Tsunade's fury burned even hotter.
"Alright, alright! Kushina's method might've been inappropriate, but look, it worked! You've awakened your Conqueror's Haki already!"
Arima hurried to calm the raging lioness.
"Hmph! Kushina, I'll let it go this time. Do that again, and I won't forgive you…"
"Tsunade-nee, that's not fair! You said you wouldn't blame me afterward!"
Feeling safe in Arima's arms, Kushina dared to mutter back.
"Kushina, enough. Apologize to Tsunade, now!" Arima scolded, trying to smooth things over. Family on both sides, his hands were tied.
"Fine… Tsunade-nee, I was wrong. Next time I won't kiss Arima in front of you."
"Not behind my back either!"
Kushina grumbled under her breath.
Arima tapped her lightly on the head. "You little brat, taking liberties and then acting cheeky. What am I going to do with you? No more of this in the future."
"Alright, Arima!"
Kushina slipped out of his arms and retreated under Tsunade's gaze, moving to Mito's side.
"You reckless child," Mito chuckled, ruffling her hair. "But bold, I'll give you that. No doubt about it, you're of my Uzumaki bloodline."
"Grandma, why are you praising her?!" Tsunade puffed her cheeks, pouting in protest.
"Alright, alright. Grandma's not taking sides. You kids are just too hard to manage now that you're grown!… My little Arata and little Yuna are much easier, Grandma's precious treasures!"
Leaving the younger generation's tangled feelings behind, Mito happily turned to play with her great-grandchildren.
Kushina shot a mischievous glance toward Natsuka not far away, mouthing silently: 'Hehe, mission accomplished!'
Natsuka sighed helplessly, ignoring the wild girl and heading upstairs to read.
Robin, watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but admire Kushina's boldness. She herself had never dared dream of love. To her, it had always been a luxury beyond reach.
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