"The reason, huh? Not everyone climbs the tower just to reach the moon," Smoker muttered, smoke curling from his mouth. His sharp eyes glared at Yar, who still wore that arrogant smirk.
"Vengeance? No," Smoker continued, his voice heavy with disdain. "You just want them to die."
He had heard the rumors about Yar long ago. If not for the man's powerful uncle, Admiral Akainu, Yar would never have become Momousagi's adjutant. He had the attitude of a soldier, but none of the discipline.
How can someone like Akainu have such a useless nephew? Smoker thought grimly.
"You—!" Yar's face flushed red, his voice cracking with anger.
"Smoker, you forget your place," Yar barked, puffing out his chest. "I'm Momousagi-sama's adjutant, a Marine Commodore! My rank is higher than yours. With Momousagi injured and away, I'm in command here. When I say shoot, you shoot!"
He turned sharply toward the troops. "Fire!"
"Stop it!" Smoker roared, stepping forward.
The surrounding Marines froze, glancing between the two officers. None dared to move.
"What are you waiting for?!" Yar's face turned livid. "I'm a Commodore! He's just a Colonel! You follow my orders!"
Smoker exhaled a cloud of smoke, his voice steady and cold. "I remember Momousagi-sama saying something to the entire crew when you joined as her aide… that you were responsible only for paperwork and logistics. You weren't to issue combat orders."
His piercing gaze locked onto Yar. "So technically, your command is invalid."
"You—!" Yar's face turned black with rage. His voice trembled, but no words came out.
He had begged Akainu to make him Momousagi's adjutant, believing it would give him authority and recognition. But Momousagi had publicly stripped him of combat authority from day one. He thought she was joking at the time—but Smoker just turned her words into a weapon.
Yar's hatred flared like fire. Damn him… damn them both!
Smoker ignored the venom in his stare. He adjusted his coat, his cigar glowing faintly. Loguetown was just a stepping stone for him—soon, he'd be elsewhere, climbing higher.
"Marines, fall back with me!" Smoker ordered.
This time, the troops didn't hesitate. They followed Smoker's command, rallying behind him and leaving Yar standing there, humiliated.
Far in the distance, Kaito stood on a ridge, arms folded. His heightened senses picked up every word of their exchange.
"So… you want to kill me?" he muttered with a faint smirk. "That's a death wish."
His body blurred—and then vanished completely.
Yar blinked. Before he could even react, a shadow appeared beside him.
"Wha—"
A strong hand wrapped around his throat. Kaito's eyes glowed faintly, cold and merciless.
"Pathetic."
With a sharp squeeze, a crack echoed through the air. Yar's neck snapped instantly, and his body went limp.
The light left his eyes before he even understood how he'd died.
Smoker turned at the sound. His cigar dropped from his lips as he saw Kaito standing there, holding Yar's lifeless body like a rag doll.
"This guy…" Smoker muttered under his breath, his heart pounding. I didn't even see him move…
Kaito tossed Yar's corpse aside as if it were trash, then glanced briefly at Smoker. For an instant, their eyes met—and Smoker froze.
That look. Calm. Unfazed. Predatory.
Kaito's form blurred once more and disappeared completely from sight.
Smoker finally exhaled, his shoulders loosening. Sweat dripped from his forehead, soaking through his shirt.
"Damn… that was terrifying," he breathed, lighting another cigar with shaky hands. "Note to self… never volunteer for a mission involving him."
Momousagi soon returned, limping slightly as she clutched her abdomen. Her pale face hardened as her gaze swept the area.
"Where's Kaito?" she demanded.
"He's gone," Smoker replied flatly.
"Gone…?" she murmured, scanning the ruined battlefield. Relief mixed with frustration in her tone. "Good. If he hadn't left, we might not be standing here."
Her eyes suddenly locked on a fallen body in the distance. "Wait—that's Yar!"
She rushed forward and knelt beside the corpse, her expression darkening. "Smoker, what happened?"
Smoker explained everything—the argument, Yar's arrogance, Kaito's sudden appearance, and the effortless execution.
When he finished, Momousagi rubbed her forehead tiredly. "So he overheard us… and acted."
Her expression turned grim. "This is bad."
After all, Yar wasn't just any Marine officer—he was Akainu's only nephew. The Admiral, known for his ruthless sense of justice, had no children of his own. He treated Yar like family, protecting and promoting him whenever possible.
If Akainu found out his nephew had been killed by a mysterious fighter under Marine watch…
"Trouble," she muttered under her breath.
Smoker nodded silently. He understood exactly what she meant.
"Forget it," Momousagi said finally, straightening up despite the pain. "Smoker, I'll leave the cleanup to you. I'm heading back to report."
"Yes, Momousagi-sama," Smoker replied with a salute.
She vanished in a burst of movement, leaving Smoker standing amid the wreckage.
That night, in a small, dimly lit room in Loguetown, Kaito reappeared.
He had rented this place days ago as a temporary hideout. Now, it was silent except for the faint hum of the night wind.
He sat on the bed, exhaling slowly before closing his eyes. His body rested—but his mind entered the familiar emptiness of the training space.
The bustling streets of Loguetown faded. The scene twisted and morphed until the city around him became a vast, green forest. Towering trees replaced the buildings, sunlight filtering softly through the leaves.
Kaito took a seat beneath a large oak, his thoughts already focused.
"First… Armament Haki," he murmured. "That comes first."
Armament Haki would reinforce his body and strikes, granting him strength beyond the limits of normal flesh. Even with his current power, mastering it to perfection would make him untouchable.
Observation Haki came next—its ability to sharpen the senses, perceive life, and, at higher mastery, glimpse into the future.
He already had other means to sense life through his Rinnegan and electromagnetic perception, but true Observation Haki could offer something more… intuition, foresight.
"It's worth the effort," he said quietly.
Then there was Conqueror's Haki—the power of a king. Rare, instinctive, and unteachable.
It could bend the will of others, crush weaker spirits, and at its peak, coat one's strikes in sheer willpower.
[Host, Conqueror's Haki training initialized.]
A faint glow surrounded him as countless shadow clones appeared, each assuming a training stance.
[Two thousand clones generated. Dividing focus: 90% Armament Haki, 10% Conqueror's Haki comprehension.]
"Good," Kaito said softly, eyes still closed. "Let's begin."
The forest around him trembled as his aura flared. Even here, within the silent world of his own creation, his power seemed limitless—like a storm waiting to be unleashed.