A sea fish weighing nearly a thousand jin was no great burden for Don.
Maintaining both Armament and Observation Haki, he stepped into Isshin dojo—only to run straight into Dragon's group as they were being seen off by Koushirou.
The moment they saw Don, all four—Dragon, Ivankov, and Koushirou included—froze in place.
Their eyes swept over him: from his dripping hair and soaked clothes, finally landing on the massive fish he carried.
"Don, did you buy that in the village? I didn't expect such fresh fish to be available this early in the morning."
Koushirou hesitated before speaking.
"Oh, no. I owed this gentleman a favor from yesterday, so I thought I'd dive into the sea at dawn and catch one myself as thanks. But… you're all heading out already?"
Don grinned as he replied.
Caught it himself?
Koushirou and Dragon exchanged a glance, doubt written in their eyes.
"You… can go into the sea?"
Ivankov stiffened in shock.
As a Devil Fruit user himself, he knew all too well—once submerged, an ability user's body turns to lead, their strength utterly drained. Even the strongest physique couldn't resist that crippling weakness.
But last night, both Dragon and Koushirou had confirmed that Don was a Devil Fruit user.
So what in the world was going on now?
Dragon too was unsettled.
When guiding Don's Armament Haki the night before, he had clearly felt the boy attempt to shift into an elemental form, only to stop midway—or perhaps, abandon it on purpose.
He had been nearly certain then: Don was a Devil Fruit user, most likely a Logia.
But this morning, the boy had walked out of the sea with a giant fish in his hands.
The three could only stare, dumbstruck.
"What a huge fish!"
Zoro's exclamation rang from outside the dojo.
Fresh from morning training, he returned to see Don carrying the catch and couldn't hold back his astonishment.
That shout jolted everyone back to themselves.
Don's existence was overturning everything they thought they knew.
"Well then, thank you, Don-kun. Just in time—I was feeling hungry," Dragon said at last, masking his suspicion with a smile.
He gestured for his men to leave them be, and soon only a few remained.
Koushirou personally handled the knife, while Zoro, Kuina, and Don helped on the side. Before long, the great fish was transformed into a lavish full-course feast.
"So… you're not a Devil Fruit user?"
As Zoro devoured his portion and the others ate in silence, Ivankov finally couldn't hold back, blurting the question aloud.
Don turned his gaze on him and smiled faintly.
"You mean a Devil Fruit? Who told you I was an ability user?"
The room stilled at his words. Only Zoro kept chewing, unfazed.
"Devil Fruit? You mean those treasures of the sea spoken of in legends?" Kuina asked in surprise. She actually knew of them.
"Yes. The treasures of the sea. Even the lowest-value Zoan-type can fetch over a hundred million Berries," Don explained.
Kuina's eyes went wide.
Dragon had been quietly studying Don all this time. At those words, his thoughts returned to the night before, and his brow furrowed slightly.
Could it be… a special race?
A race born with the power of fire?
As leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon knew well: countless unique races existed in the world.
If this boy was from a tribe with innate fire abilities, then—Lunarians? The "race of gods" from eight hundred years ago?
Dragon's mind raced.
If so, Don's subtle air of superiority, that unhidden distance in his gaze, all made sense.
But… Lunarians had vanished long ago, relentlessly hunted by the World Government.
And Don bore none of their legendary traits—no white hair, no wings on his back, no eternal flames trailing behind him.
Nothing.
Except for Zoro, still stuffing his mouth, everyone's eyes were now fixed squarely on Don.
"I'm no Devil Fruit user," Don said simply.
With a whoosh, flames burst from his raised hand, his entire right arm igniting like a blazing torch.
Not a Devil Fruit user?
Everyone froze, their jaws nearly dropping.
"Seems you've got quite a secret, Don-kun," Dragon finally murmured, nodding before lowering his head. He didn't press further.
"How… how is this possible? If you're not an ability user, how can you wield fire?" Ivankov's mind was reeling.
"Must all flames be born of Devil Fruits?" Don countered. "Travel the New World long enough, and you'll see many who can command fire without ever tasting a fruit."
"The New World?" Ivankov's eyes bulged.
Of course he knew it—the pirates' paradise.
"So cool!" Zoro suddenly shouted, mouth crammed with food, barely managing to voice his awe.
Kuina's eyes shone brightly.
"Speaking of Zoan fruits," Don continued, his gaze shifting to Koushirou, "their greatest strength is in enhancing the body itself."
Koushirou's expression flickered. He followed Don's eyes toward his daughter.
As expected, Kuina fell silent at those words, biting back whatever she'd almost said.
"That's true. But Devil Fruits are hard to come by," Koushirou admitted after a pause.
"If any word reaches me, I'll keep an eye out for you," Dragon added, clearly grasping what was left unspoken.
For now, neither Dragon, Ivankov, nor Koushirou pressed into the boy's secrets.
The ship set sail, pulling away from the harbor.
From the deck, Ivankov stared back at the figures on the pier. His eyes lingered long on Don's silhouette until it blurred from sight. Only then did he turn to Dragon.
"Chief… that boy, Don?"
"I don't know either," Dragon said, shaking his head. "His ability resembles that of a Devil Fruit—but the sea doesn't weaken him."
Impossible.
Even with an overwhelming physique, no one could ignore the sea's curse.
Last night, when helping guide Don's Armament, Dragon had tested his body. It was powerful—stronger than Dragon himself at the same age.
But not that strong.
And yet, the boy had not only resisted the sea… he had even maintained Haki throughout.
"That brat is… uncanny," Dragon muttered, turning back toward the cabin.
"This kid… can't be read."
Frost Moon Village.
On the way back to the dojo, Don walked in silence, lost in thought. His mind turned over Dragon's parting words, spoken privately to him alone.
Vice Admiral Garp had recently returned to East Blue. The reason? Reports of a pirate hunter—suspected to wield fire.
Was he… coming for me?