Foundations and Farewells
The return journey to Foosha Village was a study in contrast. The sea was calm, but the air aboard their small vessel was filled with Luffy's relentless, whining pleas to be sent to the "food island" with Usopp. Kaito, having built up an impressive immunity to his captain's nagging over the years, simply tuned him out, much to Luffy's frustration.
Their arrival in Foosha Village, however, brought a surprise that silenced even Luffy, if only for a moment.
"You're joining Ace's crew?" Kaito and Zoro exclaimed in unison.
Luffy puffed out his cheeks. "Not fair! I invited you first!"
Kuina stood beside Ace, a calm smile on her face. "I've thought about it, and yes. I've decided to join him."
Zoro's initial shock melted into a competitive grin. "So that means we'll be rivals, Kuina."
"Weren't we always?" she replied, her own grin sharp and ready.
Kaito, however, felt a knot of worry in his stomach. He looked at Ace, not bothering to soften his words. "Kuina, are you sure? I've known Ace since he was a kid. He has a good heart, but he's rash, impulsive, and lacks common sense. That polite exterior is just a mask for a mountain of flaws. He's not exactly captain material."
Ace's triumphant smile vanished, replaced by a scowl. "Hey!"
Kuina glanced at Ace, a playful glint in her eye. "Mmm? Is that true? That sounds rather dangerous."
Ace's face paled. "Of course not! Don't listen to him, Kuina!"
She let out a soft laugh. "Hahaha, don't worry, I'm just kidding. But for your concerns, Kaito, I think I can handle him."
Kaito held her gaze for a long moment before releasing a helpless sigh. "Fine. Do as you like."
As they prepared to depart, Ace nodded to Kuina. "Then, I'll see you in a year."
"Understood, Captain Ace," she replied.
Once they were sailing towards Shimotsuki Village, the quiet of the sea felt heavy. Kaito finally broke it, his voice gentle. "Kuina, what happened? What led you to this decision?"
Kuina was silent for a while, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "In the Goa Kingdom," she began, her voice low, "I saw the cruelty you always warned us about. The arrogance, the inhumanity... it was sickening. I saw a young slave girl fleeing, and I helped her. I cut her bonds and delayed her pursuers. But what I found when I caught up to her later..." Her voice hitched. "She had killed herself. She returned home only to find her mother and brother executed because the noble who took her discovered they were protesting for her freedom."
A wave of Conqueror's Haki, raw and unfiltered, burst from her, making the air crackle.
"The dagger she used... it was the one I gave her after cutting her ropes. I was so angry, so confused. I gave her a weapon to defend her freedom, and she used it to end her life because that freedom was already gone." She took a shaky breath. "I left Goa, disgusted. I met Ace outside the city and told him of my confusion. How can I dedicate my life to the sword, to creating weapons of sharpness that could one day be used to enable such monsters? He listened, and he didn't offer easy answers. He just said... to join his crew. He's also sailing to find answers about his father. It felt like a common purpose."
Kaito placed a hand on her shoulder. "I understand. You've found a path that makes sense to you. But the world is more complicated than right and wrong. Promise me you'll be safe."
A determined smile finally returned to her face. "Don't worry. I will."
---
A year passed in the rhythm of training and routine at Shimotsuki Village. When the time came for Kuina and Usopp to depart, Kaito and Zoro accompanied her to Foosha for one last goodbye.
Standing on the dock with Ace, Kaito produced a familiar, swirling-patterned fruit—the Mera Mera no Mi.
"To be honest, I was hesitant to give you this," Kaito said, his tone serious. "Its power is destructive, but it has glaring weaknesses against the truly powerful, especially without advanced Haki. When the world learns you are Roger's son, the Marines will send their best. Three Admirals directly counter you: magma, ice, and light."
He detailed the threats, saving his most grave warning for the magma user, Akainu. "He is a fundamentalist. A dogmatic, ruthless weapon who believes the end justifies any means. He will try to provoke you, to insult everything you hold dear—your father, your crew, your mother, even Garp—to make you fight on his terms. If you take the bait, he's already won. Your only choices are to stay calm, or to run and live to fight another day. Do you understand?"
Ace met his gaze, his expression grim. "I understand. Even if you hadn't said anything, I'd die before I let my crew be harmed."
"That's a stupid thing to say," Kaito retorted, his voice sharp. "As pirates, death is a constant companion. Losing someone to circumstance is one thing. Losing them because of your own reckless pride is another." His voice dropped, and a palpable wave of Conqueror's Haki washed over them, carrying the weight of his absolute sincerity. "Ace, Kuina is my sister. If she sacrifices herself for you because of a stupid, rash decision you make, I won't care about our history or even Luffy. I will hunt you down, I will find you, and I will kill you. That is a promise."
The air was thick with the threat. They all felt he meant every word.
After a moment, the pressure vanished, and Kaito's face softened into a kind smile. "But, other than that... good luck on your journey."
The whiplash from deadly intent to warm well-wishes left them all momentarily speechless.
As they finally boarded their boat, Kaito called out, "Oh, one more thing! If you ever see a Devil Fruit that looks like this," he said, handing Ace a sketch of the Yami Yami no Mi, "inform me immediately. It's the Dark-Dark Fruit. It can nullify other Devil Fruits and is one of the most powerful in the world. Handle that information carefully."
With final goodbyes, Ace and Kuina set sail, their journey beginning.
---
Kaito, Luffy, and Zoro's next stop was Syrup Village. They found Usopp waiting, flanked by the Usopp Pirates. He looked more solid, his frame filled out by a year of brutal Rokushiki training, though his knees still knocked together faintly.
"Usopp! You look stronger!" Luffy cheered.
"Hahaha! Of course! I, the great Captain Usopp, have trained immensely!" he declared, his voice confident even if his body betrayed a lingering fear. Kaito smiled; he had checked in often, pushing Usopp through Observation Haki drills with random projectile rooms and weighted vests. The sniper had endured, driven by a promise he was too proud to break.
"Hey, Usopp," Kaito said, his tone shifting. "I sense someone with decent strength on the island. Do you know him?"
After a quick scan, Luffy confirmed it. "Yeah, but he's weak."
"For us, yes. For this village, he could be a disaster," Kaito replied.
Their Haki led them to the mansion of the richest family in the village. Kaito knocked politely, and the door was opened by a man with glasses and a perfectly servile posture—Kuro.
The interaction was a masterclass in subtle tension. Kaito, playing the part of a potential ship buyer, deliberately needled the "butler," pointing out his breach of protocol. As Kuro turned away, a thick killing intent bloomed from him.
"Why didn't you just grab him?" Usopp whispered.
"Because we need to understand what a pirate like 'Captain' Kuro is doing here," Kaito murmured back.
When the master of the house, Horan, arrived with his family, Kaito bluntly stated their intent to be pirates, causing the man to recoil. "We don't have any ships to sell! Please leave!"
Kaito feigned confusion. "Why the hostility? I'd think you'd be used to pirates, considering you hired one as your butler."
The revelation of Kuro's identity sparked chaos. As Kuro began his trademark villainous laugh, "Hahah—", Kaito suddenly moved, punching him squarely in the head and cutting him off.
"Hey! I wanted to fight him!" Luffy complained.
"You don't understand," Kaito said, his voice dropping into an exaggerated, solemn whisper. "He was about to activate a very dangerous power: Villain Syndrome."
The three stared at him. "Villain Syndrome?"
"Yes! It starts with an evil laugh, then a long, tedious monologue about his master plan. If we let him finish, we'd be seen as heroes for stopping him, not as pirates claiming a prize! We must avoid this at all costs!"
Luffy and Zoro shuddered in mock horror. "What a terrifying power!"
Usopp just stared, utterly dumbfounded by their logic.
Under Kaito's "persuasion," Kuro quickly summarized his plan to murder the family and inherit their wealth. Disgusted, Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp dragged him outside for a swift and one-sided spar.
In the aftermath, a grateful Horan not only gifted them the newly built Going Merry but promised to keep it safe until they were ready to sail in three years.
As they left, the family watched them go, marveling that such powerful, strange individuals didn't seem like pirates at all.
Soon after, Kuma arrived and sent a nervously determined Usopp to the Boin Archipelago, his trial by flora and fear finally beginning.
---
A year and a half later, a Den Den Mushi call from Zeff signaled the next phase. Sanji was back from the Kamabakka Kingdom, Nami was returning from Weatheria , and Usopp had completed his training in Boin Archipelago. It was time for the East Blue crew to finally meet.
They gathered at the Baratie. The atmosphere was tense even before a blonde man wreathed in flames burst onto the deck.
"Hehehehe... You dare come here and ask me to cook for you?" Sanji snarled, his eyes locked on Kaito. "I'm going to kill you, roast you, and slice you! I've dreamt of this for three years!"
"Oh, Sanji! You look energetic!" Kaito said cheerfully. "I see you benefited from the 'ladies'."
With a roar, Sanji vanished, appearing in front of Kaito with a kick that was met by a palm. The impact sent a shockwave through the restaurant.
"You're still too weak for your revenge," Kaito taunted.
"Transformation!" Sanji yelled, activating his Germa Raid Suit.
"I thought you hated using their tech," Kaito remarked, deftly dodging a flurry of kicks.
"Shut up! The hell they put me through was heaven compared to what you did!" Sanji launched a flying slash, then turned invisible.
"You know that doesn't work on me," Kaito said, drawing his sword and parrying a kick from his blind spot.
"Ifrit Jambe!"Sanji yelled again.
The fight intensified until Zeff's roar cut through the chaos. "SANJI! Are you trying to scare away all our customers, you bastard!"
Reluctantly, Sanji disengaged, shooting a final, hateful look at Kaito before stomping back inside.
Kaito landed lightly beside Luffy. "So, what do you think? He's the cook I told you about."
Luffy's eyes were shining stars. "Transformation! A robot! Amazing!"
Usopp was similarly enthralled. "He's living the dream!"
Zoro simply grunted, impressed despite himself.
Nami, however, was silent, overwhelmed by the display of power. She had trained hard, mastering the basics of Rokushiki and Observation Haki, but this was another level entirely. Seeking reassurance, she turned to Zoro who she misunderstood his silence .
"Hey, that guy is incredibly strong, right?"
Zoro glanced at her, unimpressed. "So-so. If he joined, he'd be number four or five."
Sanji, overhearing this as he returned, immediately forgot his rage at the sight of Nami. His eyes morphed into hearts, but Zoro's comment needled him. He deliberately bumped into the swordsman's shoulder as he passed.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" Zoro growled.
Sanji ignored him, sweeping into a deep bow before Nami. "Aaaah, what a beautiful angel! You must have descended from heaven to heal the scars deep in my heart! What is your name, my dear?"
Nami was taken back by the sudden change of the guy that seemed like a demon seconds ago.
Just as she was about to answer, Zoro pulled his sword and put it on his throat as he said.
"Do you want to lose your head, Ero- Cook.? How dare you bumb into me then ignore?."
Sanji let out a frustrated "Haaah..." as he turned to face Zoro, the air crackling with impending violence.
He was about to launch himself at the swordsman when Zeff's voice, sharp and commanding, cut through the tension. "Sanji."
Sanji shot his mentor a look of pure exasperation. "Damn old man. Tsk." He reluctantly stood down, though his glare at Zoro promised future retribution.
Luffy, finally snapping out of his robot -induced daydream, beamed at the blonde cook. "Hey! I'm Luffy, the man who's gonna be the Pirate King! Join my crew!"
Sanji was about to dismiss him with a scoff, but then he felt it—the raw, potent strength radiating from the rubber boy. This guy is strong. His eyes then flicked to Kaito, who was smiling benignly behind his captain. A look of pure confusion crossed Sanji's face.
"You're in his crew?"
"Yep," Kaito said cheerfully. "I told him I knew a master chef and brought him here to meet you."
Sanji was silent for a moment, then shook his head firmly. "I'm not leaving. And I'm never traveling with you. Who knows what kind of hell you'd trick me into next?"
"Don't worry," Kaito replied, his smile never wavering. "I wouldn't do anything like that unless the captain ordered it."
"Hmph, I said no," Sanji stated, crossing his arms.
Kaito simply shrugged. "Well, we also came to eat your food. You wouldn't send us away hungry, would you?"
"Hmph, fine. I'll cook for you only because of the beautiful angel you brought. Not for the rest of you scum."
"I'll take it," Kaito said, and then proceeded to order a staggering, mountainous variety of dishes. The list was so extensive that Sanji, Zeff, and every other chef in earshot was stunned into silence.
Sanji's eye twitched. "Hey! How are you going to eat all that? Are you trying to waste food?"
"Just bring it," Kaito said with a mysterious smile. "You're about to witness something special. I just wonder if your kitchen can keep up."
Zeff studied Kaito for a long moment before grunting. "Do it, Sanji. If they don't eat every last bite, you have my permission to kill him. I won't stop you even if you destroy the restaurant in the process."
Sanji glared. "Fine."
What followed was a spectacle of culinary speed and bottomless appetite. Sanji, arguably the fastest cook in the East Blue and Paradise, found himself in a race against time. Dishes were carried out and then vanished from the platters before they could even properly touch the table.
Zeff watched, dumbfounded, as Luffy inhaled food as if he had a black hole for a stomach. Zoro, Usopp, and Nami were similarly stunned into inactivity.
"Oooh, this is amazing! It's even better than Makino's food!" Luffy cheered between mouthfuls. (Thanks to a specialized diet plan from Ivankov and Law, provided via Ace, Luffy's metabolism was now a force of nature).
"Guys," Kaito said, eating at a rapid but controlled pace, "if you don't start now, there won't be anything left for you."
That snapped the other three out of their daze, and a frantic feeding frenzy ensued.
Finally, after half an hour, the kitchen could produce no more. Sanji emerged, wiping his hands on a towel, unable to believe the reports until he saw the stack of clean plates with his own eyes.
"Huff... I'm full. So full," Luffy said, patting his distended belly contentedly.
Kaito shook his head with a feigned sigh. "Yeah. It's a real shame such a talented cook won't be joining us."
"Well, whatever. We can find someone else," Zoro said, though he himself had scarfed down an impressive amount.
"But the food is incredible! I can feel my body buzzing with energy!" Usopp exclaimed.
"The taste is truly divine," Nami added.
Sanji's eyes immediately morphed into hearts. "Did you enjoy it, Nami-san? I could cook for you for eternity if you wished!"
"Really? That's great! Then you'll join us!" Luffy declared.
"I was talking only to Nami-swan!" Sanji snapped, his smile instantly replaced by a scowl directed at Luffy.
Kaito chuckled. "Hahaha, come on, Sanji, you haven't achieved your goal to find the All—" He suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his body tensing. His Observation Haki had brushed against a familiar, monstrously powerful presence approaching on a Marine ship.
He immediately stood, his voice dropping to a urgent whisper. "Everyone, run. If you want to live, run now. Luffy, it's your grandfather. I can't be seen with you yet. Good luck... I hope you guys survive." And with that, Kaito vanished in a blur.
Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp froze for a split second, the color draining from their faces. They then bolted for the Going Merry, which they had taken for a trial run.
"Wha— Hey!" Nami yelped as Luffy's rubbery arm snagged her and Sanji, yanking them aboard before they could protest.
"Set sail! Now!" Luffy said urgently as they scrambled onto the deck.
"What is going on? Why are we running?!" Nami demanded, bewildered.
"Luffy's grandpa is coming! If he catches us, we're done for!" Usopp yelled, peering through a telescope at the Marine ship closing in fast, a man in a dog-hooded cape visible on its prow.
"Wait, your grandfather is a Marine?" Nami asked, horrified.
"Not just any Marine! He's the Hero of the Marines, Vice Admiral Garp!" Usopp clarified.
Nami and Sanji's jaws dropped. "GARP?!"
"Yeah! Damn it, he's catching up! Our ship is too slow!" Usopp cried.
Luffy gritted his teeth. "Head for the nearest island!"
They made for a nearby landmass, and Luffy and Zoro used Moonwalk to propel themselves to the shore ahead of the ship.
"Guys, sail away ! We'll hold him off!" Luffy instructed.
Usopp and Nami didn't need telling twice. "Okay!" they yelled in unison, sailing further and further away like their lives depended on it.
Sanji, however, landed beside them, smoking furiously. "Hey, you bastard! Why did you drag me into this?!"
"Huh? Because you're my cook! I was afraid he'd catch you too!" Luffy answered, utterly sincere.
"You bastard! Who said I'm your cook?! I told you, I can't leave the restaurant!" Sanji shot back.
Zoro interrupted, his hand on his swords. "Save it for later. He's here."
They turned to see a figure leap from the Marine ship, soaring through the air and landing on the beach with a ground-shaking THUD. The dust cleared to reveal Monkey D. Garp.
"Hahaha! Luffy! So you really did leave the village!" Garp boomed. "I sensed a strong Haki clash and came to investigate, thinking it might be you. But I see you've found other strong kids to lead astray!"
"Grandpa! I was just recruiting the cook for my future pirate crew!" Luffy shouted back.
"Pirate?! Looks like you're still spouting that nonsense! And you've started recruiting, have you?" Garp's jovial tone hardened. "Then I'll just have to educate these youngsters and correct their ways. Since I failed with Ace, I'll have to try harder with you!"
Garp vanished and reappeared in the air above them, his fist drawn back. "Galaxy Impact!"
Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji looked up at the incoming fist, which felt less like a punch and more like a falling meteor. Their faces paled.
Knowing Garp was serious, Luffy didn't hold back. "Gear Second!" His skin flushed red, and he launched himself skyward, his fist meeting Garp's. At the last second, he enlarged it and coated it in advanced Armament Haki.
BOOM!
The clash of their Conqueror's Haki split the sky, black lightning crackling around them.
"Looks like you've mastered internal destruction!" Garp laughed, impressed but undaunted. "But the power is still too weak to shake my Fist of Love!" His own Haki intensified, a palpable force that began to overwhelm Luffy's, pushing him back toward the ground.
Zoro saw his captain faltering and launched himself into the fray. "Three-Sword Style:..."
"Hahaha! What a promising youngster! You'd be a fine Marine!" Garp declared, shoving Luffy away and meeting Zoro's empowered slash with his bare, Haki-hardened fist. The force was unimaginable. Zoro's blades screeched, and he was hurled backward, slamming into the ground and carving a trench through the earth.
Garp then turned his gaze to Sanji, who was watching in a mixture of horror and awe. "You, kid! I felt your Haki in that fight earlier. Who were you brawling with?"
"Ehm... I'm not with them but I can't tell you that," Sanji replied cautiously.
"Then you're with them," Garp concluded, and shot toward him like a cannonball.
Sanji's eyes widened. "I told you I'm not with them!"
Seeing words were useless, Sanji's leg ignited. "Diable Jambe!" He met Garp's fist with a spinning kick. The result was the same as Zoro's. The impact was devastating, and Sanji was sent flying, crashing through a large boulder.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING TO MY CREW?!" Luffy roared, his body swelling and turning tattooed. "GEAR FOUR: KING KONG GUN!"
The colossal fist connected squarely with Garp, sending the Vice Admiral flying backward through the air.
"Hahaha! So you're hitting your grandpa now?!" Garp's voice echoed, more amused than injured. "Then I guess my education has failed! Time for a refresher course!"
What followed was a short, brutal, and utterly one-sided beatdown. Within minutes, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji were lying in craters, their bodies aching, large bumps swelling on their heads. Garp stood over them, sporting only a few minor scratches.
He reached down and hauled a semi-conscious Luffy up by the collar. "I'm taking my grandson back for some remedial education. You two better learn your lesson and forget this pirate nonsense!"
With that, the Hero of the Marines leaped back to his ship, his captured grandson in tow.
Zoro and Sanji lay in the wreckage, groaning in pain.
"What a monster..." Sanji wheezed, staring at the sky. "He was holding back... he could have killed us without breaking a sweat."
Zoro sighed, the sound full of frustration. His future captain had been captured by the Marines before their journey had even begun.
"Hey, Marimo," Sanji grunted. "Why did that bastard Kaito run away?"
"Who are you calling Marimo, Ero-Cook? Kaito attacked Mary Geoise. He's got a billion-berry bounty on his head. Garp can overlook his grandson wanting to be a pirate, but he's duty-bound to apprehend a wanted criminal like Kaito. If he'd stayed, we'd all be accomplices."
"Aaah... that old man is really something else," Sanji conceded, wincing as he tried to sit up. "I can't believe that kid grew up with a grandfather like that. My whole body feels broken."
"Hahaha! Good fight, guys! Looks like you're all alive and well!" Kaito's voice chirped as he suddenly reappeared, looking fresh and completely unharmed.
Zoro didn't even bother to look. "As expected. You were watching the whole time."
Sanji, however, found the strength to yell. "YOU BASTARD! How dare you run away and let your friends and your captain get captured?!"
"Because I'm not an idiot," Kaito replied calmly, kneeling beside them. "Without me, this was a family matter—a grandfather disciplining his grandson and his troublesome friends. The Marines on that ship will report it as such. But if I, a known criminal with an official bounty on my head, had gotten involved, it would have become 'Vice Admiral Garp apprehending the notorious Viled Tempest and his accomplices.' You'd all have bounties on your heads by dawn."
"But that old man... he didn't seem the type to care about that," Sanji argued, thinking of how Garp had clearly pulled his punches.
"Sanji, Garp is a rare breed in the Marines, and he truly tries to uphold his own code of justice. The problem is, there are forces above him. If Fleet Admiral Sengoku personally questioned the soldiers on Garp's ship, they couldn't lie. But even if Sengoku found out, his hands are tied. You haven't raised a pirate flag or committed any crimes. You are just talking about becoming pirates.
Officially, you're just wayward kids. If he moved against you or Luffy now, he'd make an enemy of Garp, and believe me, even the World Government doesn't want Garp as an enemy."
Sanji frowned. "Even though he's a monster, I don't think he can take on the entire World Government by himself."
Kaito gave a sly smile. "Hehehe, no, he can't. But there are two problems. First, Garp's popularity and influence within the Marines is second to none. If he turned, it would fracture the Marines' strength and image irreparably. Second... is Luffy's father."
Zoro and Sanji frowned. "Luffy's father?"
"Yeah. He's the Revolutionary Army leader, Monkey D. Dragon. So you can imagine the catastrophic consequences for the World Government if they pushed Garp and his son into a formal alliance."
Zoro and Sanji's eyes widened in shock. "DRAGON?!"
"Exactly. So until Luffy officially raises a Jolly Roger, he's practically untouchable. Well, by anyone except Garp, that is."
"What a fucked-up family," Sanji breathed out, the sheer scale of it all dawning on him.
"Well, they're still better than yours," Kaito said lightly, then quickly grew serious as he examined Sanji. "I noticed your body is stronger, but your heart is still the same. It looks like you'll be the only one of the Vinsmokes to turn out perfectly human."
"Don't fucking mention that name," Sanji growled, a shadow of worry crossing his face.
"Sanji, don't let it trouble you. You will always be human, no matter what your body is made of. You just have to carve your own path with your own hands and feet. Don't let the past define you."
Sanji looked at Kaito, then took a deep breath, the tension leaving his shoulders. "Yeah. No matter what, I'll never be an inhuman monster like them."
"Good. Now, let's go to the ship. Nami and Usopp are probably worried sick," Kaito said, turning to leave.
"Wait, Kaito," Zoro called out, his voice uncharacteristically strained.
Kaito looked back. "What is it?"
Zoro looked away, embarrassed. "...Can you carry me back?"
Kaito blinked twice. "Oh. Right. Sorry about that." He walked over and easily hoisted the injured swordsman onto his back.
"Hey, you bastard!" Sanji yelled from his crater. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?!"
Kaito looked at him, feigning innocence. "What is it now?"
Sanji's face flushed red with a mixture of pain and humiliation. "Pick me up too, you bastard!"
"Hehehe, no need to be so proud. We're going to be nakama, after all," Kaito said, easily hoisting the injured cook into a fireman's carry alongside Zoro.
Sanji was silent for a long moment as Kaito began to move. "I can't leave with you," he finally muttered, his voice low and thick with something more than pain. "You chose the wrong cook."
Kaito didn't break his stride. "Sanji, sometimes you are the thickest-headed person I know. Do you remember what the old man said to me that day? After I found you both on that rock, when I asked him why he didn't just eat you instead of his own leg?"
The memory surfaced, vivid and painful—the desolate rock, the relentless hunger, and the old geezer's unwavering, stubborn will.
Sanji's voice was barely a whisper. "He said... we had the same dream."
"Exactly," Kaito said, his voice softening but losing none of its intensity. "So if you truly feel indebted to him, then stay. Stay trapped in that restaurant until the day he dies, watching his dream—your dream—wither and die with him. Because he didn't just save your life that day, Sanji. He was saving his dream, and he entrusted it to you."
The words hung in the air, heavier than any blow Garp had landed.
"You have a year and a half before Luffy turns seventeen and we set sail," Kaito continued, his tone shifting from challenging to matter-of-fact. "Do what you need to do. Settle your debts, say your goodbyes. But when the time comes, be prepared. Your dream isn't in that kitchen. It's out there."
Sanji didn't reply. No argument, no angry retort. He simply fell into a deep, contemplative silence, the weight of Kaito's words settling in his chest, each one a key turning in a lock he had long thought was sealed shut.