Windmill Village — a quiet settlement near the Goa Kingdom — was a place untouched by the chaos of the seas. The villagers lived simple, contented lives, their hearts at peace. Thanks to Garp's presence, pirates rarely dared to approach. It was a serene corner of East Blue, a paradise standing apart from the world.
At the edge of the port, a dark figure approached swiftly across the water. Within moments, a small canoe cut through the waves and docked at the shore. From it stepped Kaito and Risa, their cloaks fluttering in the gentle sea breeze.
The Windmill Village wasn't large — everyone knew everyone. So when two unfamiliar faces arrived, word spread through the town almost instantly.
Just as Kaito and Risa made their way toward the Makino Bar, an old man wearing a straw hat stepped into their path.
"Are you outsiders? What business do you have with Makino?" The man's eyes were sharp but cautious. He was Slapp, the village chief.
"You must be Mr. Slapp," Kaito replied with a polite smile. "I want to speak with Miss Makino about something important."
In truth, he wanted to ensure Risa could live here peacefully. As her guardian, he needed to earn the villagers' trust and leave a good impression.
Slapp studied Kaito carefully. The man carried himself with calm strength, and the young girl beside him clung closely, her eyes wide and quiet. He remembered the wanted posters — a bounty over a hundred million berries. A pirate that dangerous couldn't be taken lightly. Yet something about this one… felt different.
After a moment, Slapp nodded. "Come with me."
Kaito gently patted Risa's head and followed.
Before long, they arrived before a building marked with a familiar beer emblem. Slapp pushed open the wooden door and called out.
"Makino! You here?"
"Chief? What's going on?" A soft voice came from within as Makino stepped out, her face calm and kind.
"Someone's here to see you." Slapp gestured toward Kaito, though his cautious gaze remained.
Sensing the tension, Makino smiled reassuringly. "It's all right, Chief. I'll handle it."
Her eyes shifted to Kaito and Risa. "You are… Kaito, right?"
"That's right." Kaito nodded. "I need a favor."
He explained his plan simply — he wanted Risa to stay here for a while.
Makino's gentle expression softened in surprise. "You're leaving her here… to seek revenge?"
Kaito gave a faint nod and ruffled Risa's hair. "The people who destroyed Turner Village… I won't forgive them."
Slapp sighed heavily beside them. Though wary, he could tell Kaito wasn't the kind of man who killed for pleasure.
Makino looked between the two of them before smiling again. "If Risa's willing, I'll take care of her."
"Thank you," Kaito said sincerely. He crouched and looked Risa in the eyes. "Risa, this is Makino. She's very kind. Will you stay here with her for a while?"
Risa's eyes turned misty as she shook her head. "No… I want to stay with you, Brother Kaito!"
"Silly girl," Kaito said softly, brushing a tear from her cheek. "I need to finish something important. For Grandpa Nalo, Grandma, and everyone you lost in Turner Village."
"I don't want to lose you too!" Risa cried, clutching his leg. "Please, don't go! Let's just stay here!"
Her voice trembled with fear and longing. Kaito's heart tightened, but he forced a small smile.
"Alright… I won't go. Not yet."
He decided to remain for a few days — just long enough for Risa to feel safe here. After that, he would continue his mission. After all, Doflamingo's base in Dressrosa wouldn't be hard to find.
A week passed quietly.
In the forest near Mt. Colubo, Kaito stood before a massive tree. The air around him was calm, his gaze sharp.
He clenched his fist, letting Armament Haki flow through his arm until it turned obsidian black. Then, with a slow exhale, he struck forward.
Boom.
The tree didn't shatter immediately — it trembled slightly, as though resisting. Kaito observed the faint cracks forming along its trunk, then nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad."
As he walked away, a tall, broad-shouldered woman emerged from behind a nearby rock. Her name was Dadan — a mountain bandit with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.
"Is that the pirate with the hundred-million bounty?" she muttered skeptically. "Hmph. Doesn't seem that strong. Can't even break a tree properly."
She placed a hand on the tree trunk to rest.
Crack!
Without warning, the entire tree exploded into countless splinters — so cleanly cut that every fragment looked measured and even.
Dadan froze. "I… what the hell…"
Her jaw dropped. A shiver ran down her spine as she stared at the pulverized remains.
"That guy… that was Haki, wasn't it?" she whispered, swallowing hard. "No wonder he's worth that much…"
She turned and hurried back toward the mountains, cold sweat dripping down her temple. She'd seen enough for one day.
That night, the moon hung high, silver light spilling through the tavern's windows.
Kaito stood silently in the hall.
Makino soon stepped out from behind the counter, her soft features bathed in moonlight. For a moment, she looked almost divine.
"You're leaving, aren't you?" she asked quietly.
Kaito nodded. "Risa's settled in. It's time I go."
Makino's voice trembled slightly. "Can't you let go of her revenge? You could stay here… live peacefully with her."
Kaito smiled faintly.
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