If one were to look down from the sky, a large section of the sea seemed to have been forcibly shaved away by something.
The tide rushed down along the sharp trench, and after clashing, it kicked up colossal waves in all directions.
The two massive battleships belonging to the World Government and the Marines had been ravaged, pierced, and trampled into fragments by that single move moments before.
Exhausted, Sakura's body swayed before she collapsed onto the icy surface.
"We won! We won, Sakura-chan!"
Saul was just about to raise his hands in celebration when a crack sounded from the ice beneath his feet. He stepped into empty air and plummeted into the seawater.
[Notice, Achievement unlocked: Anarchist. Reward: 50 Achievement Point. Current Achievement Point Balance: 150 points.]
"Sa...ul."
Having no energy to spare for the system's notification, Sakura was utterly exhausted. Burning her will to unleash such a terrifying attack had left the young girl unable to get up again.
So she could only watch helplessly as the oncoming waves swallowed both her and Saul.
A feeling of extreme weariness pressed down on Sakura. Her eyelids, heavy as lead, blocked her vision before she tilted her head and fell unconscious.
Boom!!!
The torrential rain in the sky grew even more violent. Lightning streaked across the dark clouds, sharply rubbing the air piercing into the sea.
In her dazed state, Sakura could feel the cold rain continuously stealing her body's warmth.
The waves washed over the few things she could cling to, and she drifted on the sea for a long time.
Until finally, the overcast rain in the sky receded, and the long-absent sunlight shone down upon her.
"Ah! Someone's there?"
A crisp, clear voice reached Sakura's ears.
Amidst the sound of footsteps on sandy soil, she felt herself being dragged up before finally being laid flat on the soft sensation of a beach.
"Hey, are you alive?"
"Ugh—!"
"What did you say?"
"Food!"
Sakura pushed herself up violently with both hands, her eyes straining wide open.
The girl beside her was startled. Though surprised, she showed no sign of fear, merely tilting her head as she looked at Sakura.
"I only have this on me, if you want it..."
The girl in the worn-out dress pulled out a small piece of bread from behind her, about to hand it over.
A pink blur flashed by, followed by the munching sound.
"So fast!"
The girl with slightly dark skin opened her mouth wide in astonishment.
"Ah, barely alive now!"
Sakura forcefully swallowed the bread, a loud gulp sounding in her throat, but the rumbling of her stomach continued.
Having regained a bit of strength, Sakura turned her head to look at the girl who had given her the food.
"Than..."
Sakura froze upon clearly seeing the face of the person before her, her outstretched hand stopping mid-air.
The girl before her exuded a quiet, scholarly aura. She was cute, with a pair of lively green eyes.
This combination of features belonged to someone Sakura recognized… the famous [Demon Child], Nico Robin.
"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
Robin clamped her book under her right arm and raised her left hand to wipe her face.
"Nothing. Thank you for saving me."
"My name is Haruno Sakura. What's yours?"
In that instant, the seagulls in the sky cawed hoarsely. The waves washing over the beach brought threads of coolness.
The sea breeze stirred the short pink hair of the girl before her, revealing a porcelain-doll-like face and a brilliant smile.
Robin just stared at her dumbfounded. Facing the hand extended towards her, she felt flustered and uneasy, momentarily unsure how to react.
"Oh! My name is..."
It took a long moment before Robin reacted as if jolted by an electric current, reaching out her hand to touch Sakura's.
Unfortunately, her reply was cut short as a burst of noisy clamor interrupted her.
"Ah, found her! Robin's over there!"
"Stinky monster, let's teach her a lesson!"
A red tomato was thrown, spinning through the air towards Robin.
Bang!
Sakura's hand brushed Robin aside, catching the thrown tomato mid-air. She opened her mouth and took a large bite.
Simultaneously, her retracting fingers formed the Ram hand seal.
As her Chakra was mobilized, the Hell Viewing Technique was activated.
The gigantic, scaly body of a monster crawled out from the sand, casting a menacing shadow over the group of kids before it.
Hot, sticky breath erupted from the monster's nostrils as it opened its massive maw in a silent roar towards them!
"Roar-!"
Instantly, the group of kids turned deathly pale, scrambling away in sheer terror, crawling and stumbling over themselves.
"Ah! The monster's friend is here!"
"M-monster! A real monster!"
"Waaah! Run, run away!"
Their cries and shouts faded into the distance, their figures shrinking to tiny dots before disappearing far away.
"So your name is Robin, huh? That's a really nice name."
Having dealt with the childish brats, Sakura placed her hands behind her back and turned around nimbly.
"Aren't you afraid of me? They call me a monster, you know!"
Robin hung her head low, her left hand gripping her right arm, her five fingers digging into her own skin.
"How could I be? I'll tell you a secret… I'm a Ninja!"
Sakura took hold of the hand clenched on Robin's arm, playfully winking her left eye.
The roughness of Robin's small hand made Sakura frown, 'We were around the same age...'
"Ni... Ninja?"
Robin looked at the girl who had comet-like crashed into her life with immense curiosity.
'She was so dazzling. Her smile was beautiful. And she didn't mind others calling me a monster.'
It was as if the god, sensing her gloomy life, had sent her a beam of light.
Unconsciously, Robin tightly clenched Sakura's small hand.
In the distance, the parents of the kids from earlier had gathered people and were closing in on the two of them.
"Here, let me show you!"
Sakura formed hand seals and activated the Mist Servant Technique.
Terrifying black phantoms emerged from the trees and rocks, charging menacingly towards the adults.
Amidst the chaotic uproar on the beach, Sakura took Robin's hand and slipped away unnoticed in the confusion.
They ran along a small path into the woods before Sakura finally let go of Robin's hand.
Leaning against a large tree, both catching their breath without a care for their appearance, they found themselves staring at each other after the thunderous rumble from Sakura's stomach.
"Hah... Hahahaha!"
The girls' innocent, carefree laughter echoed through the forest, startling many birds into flight.
The light of the setting sun pierced through the dappled shadows of the trees, falling upon them.
"Oh no, it's already this late!"
Robin jumped up from the ground, anxiously looking towards the distant setting sun.
"What's wrong, Robin?"
Sakura, who was comfortably enjoying the cool shade under the tree, glanced up at her.
"I need to go home. I have things to do tonight!" Robin walked over to Sakura and crouched down, "Um, tomorrow... can I see you again tomorrow?"
"Of course! I'll be staying around here for a while!"
"Well then, goodbye!"
Robin broke into a small run forward. Standing at the end of the path, she raised her hand, waving goodbye to Sakura.
After she left, Sakura, who had been on the ground, straightened up, a trail of crystal clear drool dripping from the corner of her mouth.
Her shining eyes were fixed intently on the sea creatures swimming happily in the distant water.
"Meat...!"
The girl's left foot stomped heavily on the ground, kicking up a large cloud of dust in the forest.
A straight line of cherry-blossom pink lightning tore through the dust. A thin film of Chakra allowed her to run on the sea as if on flat land. A several-meter-long ice harpoon materialized in her hands, thrusting out and instantly piercing through several sea creatures.
Her left hand applied intense heat, cooking them instantly, and she devoured them whole, skin and bones.
It tastes bad... but it was filling!
So, driven mad by hunger, Sakura repeated the process over and over, devouring one sea creature after another.
That day, the sea creatures along the western coast of Ohara fell victim to a mysterious assailant who plundered them all.