The surge of power within Kaito's body was overwhelming. He could clearly sense the three distinct currents flowing through him — one dark, one golden, and one translucent like air.
The dark current pulsed through his muscles, crackling like restrained lightning. That was his Armament Haki — the same power he had used earlier against Smoker.
The golden current radiated from his core like a storm ready to burst — unmistakably Conqueror's Haki.
The final, colorless flow drifted lightly through his mind and nerves. That was Observation Haki.
To confirm, Kaito focused on the golden current.
A low hum filled the air.
In an instant, a majestic aura erupted from his body. It was sharp and heavy, like the unseen pressure of a king's will descending upon the world. Within a radius of nearly a hundred meters, the atmosphere trembled. The air itself seemed to kneel.
But Kaito frowned. "Too weak."
The strength of his Conqueror's Haki was impressive, yet compared to monsters like Shanks, it was still shallow — raw potential, unrefined.
He sat back and closed his eyes. "Armament Haki can be trained. There are no shortcuts. Observation Haki, I already have other ways to sense my surroundings — my electromagnetic perception and Rinnegan are more than enough. But Conqueror's Haki… that will need to evolve with my will."
He crossed his arms thoughtfully. "Still, Armament comes first."
Meanwhile, far away at Marine Headquarters, tension filled the air.
Inside Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office, Sengoku sat with Vice Admiral Tsuru, Garp, and the ever-casual Kizaru.
"I called you all here because Momousagi just sent in her report," Sengoku began, his expression grim.
Tsuru leaned forward. "It failed, didn't it?"
Sengoku nodded. "She was completely overpowered. And according to her description, the target — Kaito — possesses a terrifying suction ability, strong enough to affect an entire battlefield. Even Momousagi couldn't resist it."
"That kind of power… sounds like someone at Admiral level," Tsuru murmured.
"Indeed," Sengoku replied. "To think someone of that caliber appeared in East Blue of all places."
Kizaru glanced lazily at his nails. "So, you called me here to deal with him? Should I go arrest this Ayanami Kaito and send him to Impel Down?"
Sengoku shook his head. "No. Despite everything, he hasn't committed any major crimes besides killing a corrupt base commander and a colonel. I plan to issue a bounty instead."
"A bounty?" Kizaru raised an eyebrow. "How much are we talking?"
"One hundred million Berries."
Kizaru paused, then gave a small frown. "Only a hundred million? For someone with Admiral-level strength? You realize that's practically an insult."
"Bounties are based on threat to the world, not strength," Sengoku reminded him.
Kizaru shrugged. "If you say so, Marshal."
But Tsuru's eyes had already narrowed. "You mentioned he killed a Marine. Who was it?"
Sengoku exhaled deeply. "Yar."
Silence filled the room.
"Oh dear…" Tsuru whispered. "Akainu's nephew."
Garp sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "This is going to be a headache."
Sengoku leaned back. "Yar's death was witnessed by multiple Marines. We can't hide it. And when Akainu returns…"
"He'll explode," Kizaru muttered.
Everyone in the room knew the truth — Akainu had raised Yar like his own son. It was the one thing that could truly shake the iron-willed Admiral's composure.
"What are you going to do then?" Tsuru asked quietly.
"What choice do I have?" Sengoku said with a heavy sigh. "We'll make it official. There's no covering it up."
Garp suddenly laughed. "Hahaha! So that's how it is, huh? A kid from East Blue strong enough to crush Momousagi and kill Sakazuki's nephew! I like him already!"
Sengoku shot him a glare. "You're not going anywhere near him yet, Garp. When Sakazuki returns, you'll go with him. If he goes alone, I doubt he'll stop until the entire island's gone."
Garp chuckled, standing up. "Fine, fine. I'll wait. But I'll be keeping an eye on this Kaito kid."
The next day, Ayanami Kaito's bounty poster spread across every corner of the seas, carried by News Coo pigeons.
Word of him reached the ears of pirates and Marines alike — whispers of a man who had defeated a Vice Admiral and killed Akainu's nephew spread like wildfire.
Kaito stood silently in his rented room in Logue Town, the bounty poster in hand.
His face was calm, unreadable.
"One hundred million Berries," he said softly. "You really underestimate me."
He placed the poster aside, his eyes closing as his aura surged once again.
"Then I'll give you a reason to raise it."
He re-entered his training space. Within moments, his Armament Haki spread over his entire body like liquid steel. His skin gleamed with a dark metallic sheen, and when he moved, it was like the clanging of armor — the perfect manifestation of Full-Body Armament Haki.
His progress was astonishing. In a single week outside — nearly a full year in his training field — his Haki mastery had reached a level comparable to the likes of Vergo and Charlotte Katakuri.
He was close to unlocking the next stage: Emission, the ability to strike enemies from within.
Just then, a knock echoed through the quiet room.
Kaito stood and opened the door.
Outside was a thin man with sharp features and a mischievous smile — one who looked strikingly similar to Borsalino.
_____
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