It wasn't until Kalifa left the Marine Headquarters that she realized something was off. The plaza outside was filled with confused Marines and civilians, all pointing toward the moon hanging high in the sky. The problem? It wasn't supposed to be night yet.
Clusters of people whispered and gestured, unsure what to make of it.
"Kalifa-san!"
A familiar voice called out. Yamato came running, waving her hand energetically. She pointed upward, her eyes wide.
"It's so weird! The sun just disappeared out of nowhere! Did you see it?"
Kalifa shook her head slowly. At first, she had assumed she'd just lost track of time while working, but this… this was clearly not normal.
Moments later, Robin stepped out of the Headquarters, her calm eyes scanning the restless crowd before turning to the two women.
"Kalifa, the same thing happened in other regions," Robin said softly.
Kalifa frowned. "Any word from Gion and Hancock?"
"Yes," Robin replied. "Dressrosa and Amazon Lily both reported the same phenomenon. Hancock is safe. Gion has already deployed forces to calm the public. So far, no riots."
Kalifa nodded approvingly. "Good. Have the other branches remain alert. If anything unusual happens, I want immediate reports sent to Headquarters."
Robin smiled faintly. "Already taken care of."
Yamato, who had been watching the two women coordinate with sparkling admiration, raised her hand timidly. "Um… so, since everything's under control, can we eat? I'm starving!"
Kalifa chuckled, her earlier tension easing. She had always doted on Yamato, ever since they first met. "Alright, let's head home. It'd be easier to talk things over there. Sigh… it would be great if Boss were here. He'd know what's going on for sure."
Yamato grinned. "He'll be back soon, don't worry!"
"Intuition?" Kalifa teased.
"Of course!" Yamato puffed her chest proudly.
Robin covered her mouth to hide her laugh. "Then let's get going. I just hope Nerona isn't panicking at home—today's sky would scare anyone."
The three women hurried back, only to find Mel sprawled out on the floor near the entrance.
Kalifa froze. "What in the world happened here!?"
As they approached, they realized Mel had fainted, her head slightly bruised. Apparently, she'd been running headfirst into something invisible.
Robin sighed. "Just like her master…"
Yamato knelt down, shaking her shoulders. "Hey! Wake up!"
No response.
Yamato frowned, then resorted to the classic physical method—one loud smack! later, Mel jolted awake.
Her eyes darted around wildly before landing on Yamato. "Yamato! Please, you have to save Master! She was crying out in pain just now!"
The words barely left her mouth before Yamato bolted toward the stairs—only to slam headfirst into something solid and unseen.
"Gah—!" she groaned, rubbing her forehead. "Why is there a wall here!?"
Nine ethereal fox tails unfurled behind Kalifa, forming a soft cushion to catch Yamato before she fell.
Robin raised a finger to her lips. "Shh. Listen."
Everyone went quiet. Then… soft, muffled sounds drifted down from upstairs.
Kalifa and Robin's faces both reddened slightly. Yamato's ears twitched, her expression turning awkward.
Only Mel still panicked. "See! It's that sound! She's being attacked!"
Yamato's face flushed deeper. "N-No, Mel… she's… uh, she's fine. Go… go handle something else, we've got this covered."
Mel blinked in confusion. "But—"
Kalifa quickly intervened. "Go prepare dinner, Mel. Nerona's… exercising. She'll be down soon."
Still dazed, Mel nodded and shuffled off, glancing back several times before disappearing into the kitchen.
Robin giggled softly. "Yamato, your Observation Haki is improving. You predicted the future, didn't you?"
Yamato puffed her cheeks. "It's not like that!"
Kalifa exhaled and rubbed her temple. "Only one person could cause something like this…"
At that moment, Uchiha Chiga's voice echoed faintly from upstairs. The women exchanged knowing looks.
"Figures," Kalifa sighed. "He really did it again."
Only Chiga could change day into night just to suit his mood.
A few minutes later, Chiga and Nerona came downstairs, both looking calm and composed—as if nothing unusual had happened at all.
Yamato immediately bounded up to him, circling him with suspicion. She seemed to be looking for something, muttering under her breath. "No marks, huh…"
Chiga raised an eyebrow. "Looking for something, Yamato?"
"Eh? Nothing!" she said quickly, stepping back with a guilty smile.
Kalifa crossed her arms, adjusting her glasses. "Boss, maybe next time you warn us before pulling something like that? You just plunged the whole world into night! People thought it was the end of days."
Nerona crossed her arms and nodded. "Exactly! Totally inconsiderate!"
Chiga shot her a side glance. "Didn't you just complain it was too bright earlier? What now—regretting it already?"
"I'm wearing a skirt!" Nerona shot back, puffing her cheeks.
Robin couldn't hold back her laughter, gently pulling Nerona aside.
Yamato wasted no time looping her arm through Chiga's. "Master, stay for a few more days this time! Don't run off again!"
Chiga smiled faintly and patted her head. "Alright, alright. I'll stay. And when I leave again, I'll bring you all with me."
"Huh? Really!?" Yamato's eyes lit up instantly, and Kalifa and Robin both froze mid-step.
Chiga raised his hand, and space shimmered before them. A massive portal appeared, swirling with radiant colors. Through it, they could see a vast, boundless realm glowing with divine energy.
"This," Chiga said calmly, "is the world I created—the Dragon God Realm. Once it's ready, all of you will live there. You'll be free to visit the worlds I've traveled through as well."
Before he could say more, Yamato—true to her nature—had already dashed straight into the portal.
Chiga chuckled softly. "Guess she's the first resident now."