Kozuki Momonosuke had entered the public view, though few outside of Wano truly understood the weight his family name carried. The isolated nation's closed borders meant that even wandering samurai rarely spoke of their homeland, leaving most of the world ignorant of the Kozuki legacy and the tragedy that had befallen them.
-Broadcast-
"If I hadn't met Bullet," Momonosuke said quietly, his fingers unconsciously tracing old scars along his knuckles, "if I hadn't spent 5 years learning from his fists... I'd probably still be nothing more than a crying child." His voice carried genuine gratitude, tinged with the hard-earned wisdom that only brutal training could provide.
Luffy nodded thoughtfully from beside him, his usual carefree expression unusually serious. "That old man really does hit harder than Rayleigh. Every punch felt like it could crack mountains."
The two men sat together on the Thousand Sunny's grassy deck, surrounded by most of the Straw Hat Pirates. Sanji had disappeared into the galley to prepare an early dinner—the cook's way of processing the tension that hung in the air. Through the crow's nest windows, they could see Zoro's silhouette still moving through his training routine, the swordsman's dedication unwavering even in uncertain times.
Only Franky remained absent, and his tardiness was becoming concerning.
"This isn't like him at all," Nami muttered, checking her wrist compass for the third time in ten minutes. "Ever since his full cybernetic conversion, he's had an internal clock accurate to the second. Franky being late means something's wrong."
The original plan had been simple: complete their shopping, restock supplies, and depart Dressrosa by evening. But Admiral Gin's warning echoed in their minds—a favor that carried the weight of genuine concern. Whatever was coming, they needed to be ready.
Momonosuke's composure finally cracked entirely. Without warning, he threw himself forward, wrapping his arms around Luffy's waist in a gesture that abandoned all pretense of dignified nobility. "Luffy-senpai, please—you have to help me. I can't face Kaido alone, not again." His voice cracked with desperation. "Together, we might have a ten percent chance. Without you... there's no hope for Wano."
Luffy didn't push him away or show embarrassment at the display. Instead, he placed a steady hand on the young samurai's shoulder. In Luffy's world, friends helped friends—it was that simple. Character flaws, past mistakes, none of that mattered when someone needed help.
"If it's something I can do, I'll help," Luffy said with characteristic directness. "Besides, I want to see how much stronger I've gotten. Buggy-sensei always said I'd only improve by fighting stronger monsters." His grin was sharp with anticipation. "And I want to see what a Yonko is really capable of."
The memory of Whitebeard at Marineford still burned in his mind—that world-shaking power, the presence that commanded respect from Marine and pirate alike. To become Pirate King, he'd have to surpass beings like that. The thought excited rather than intimidated him.
Momonosuke lifted his head, wiping away tears with the back of his hand. When he spoke again, his voice carried the authority he'd been trained to wield. "Luffy-senpai, our goals aren't in conflict at all. If you want to conquer these seas and claim the title of Pirate King, you'll have to face the Yonko eventually. They possess something crucial—something that will lead you to the location of the Final Island."
Robin's eyes sharpened with scholarly interest. "The Poneglyphs?"
"Exactly, but not the ordinary ones you've encountered on your journey." Momonosuke's expression grew grave, the weight of eight centuries of family history settling on his young shoulders. "The Yonko possess Road Poneglyphs—four red stones that, when read together, reveal the true location of Raftel."
The revelation hit the crew like a physical blow. Robin's breath caught in her throat, her mind racing through implications that stretched far beyond their current situation.
The Sky Screen flickered to life across the world, broadcasting Momonosuke's words to every corner of the globe. In Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki's face darkened as he realized the significance of what had just been revealed. The World Government's most closely guarded secret—the true nature of the Road Poneglyphs—was now public knowledge.
Momonosuke continued. "There's something else you should know, Robin-san. Those indestructible stones weren't created by some lost civilization—they were carved by my ancestors, eight hundred years ago during the Void Century."
The archaeologist's composure shattered entirely. "Your family created the Poneglyphs?" The question came out as barely a whisper.
"The historical records hidden in Wano's vaults tell the whole story," Momonosuke confirmed. "My ancestors scattered them across the world intentionally, preserving the truth that the World Government tried to erase. Later, Pirate King Gol D. Roger connected the dots, following the trail we'd left behind. He even rearranged some of the ordinary Poneglyphs, placing them along the most common routes through the Grand Line to help future pirates save time in their quest."
The strategic brilliance of it took Robin's breath away. "A conspiracy spanning eight centuries, hidden in plain sight..."
"Right now, I can confirm the locations of three Road Poneglyphs," Momonosuke pressed on, his voice growing more urgent. "Charlotte Linlin possesses one. Another remains in Wano Country, though under Kaido's control now. The third..." His face darkened with fresh pain. "That one was originally on Zou Island, protected by the Mink Tribe. But three years ago, Kaido somehow gained the ability to communicate with Zunesha herself."
The implications were staggering. Chopper's medical knowledge kicked in as he processed what that meant. "Zunesha stopped wandering? But he's been walking the seas for a thousand years!"
"Kaido turned him into a weapon," Momonosuke confirmed bitterly. "Zunesha now remains near Onigashima, serving as his mobile fortress. The Road Poneglyph he protected became another of his trophies."
"What about the fourth?" Nami asked, though she dreaded the answer.
Momonosuke's expression grew uncertain. "According to Buggy-sensei's intelligence network, it was originally located in the Sea Forest on Fish-Man Island, alongside several ordinary Poneglyphs. But sometime in the past few years, someone moved it. Its current location is unknown."
Robin's eyes lit up with sudden understanding. "I remember seeing evidence of recent excavation when we were there. Moving something that massive from the deep ocean..." She turned to look at the small fishman among them. "It would require extraordinary strength, possibly aquatic assistance."
Marlin the fishman looked puzzled. "But Robin-san, didn't you say the remaining Poneglyph in the Sea Forest was an apology letter? Something about Joy Boy and the Mermaid Princess from eight hundred years ago?"
The name hit Momonosuke like a lightning bolt. His entire body went rigid, and before anyone could react, he lunged forward, grabbing Marlin by the shoulders with trembling hands. "What did you just say? Did you say Joy Boy?" His voice cracked with a mixture of rage and desperate hope.
"Hey! You're hurting me!" Marlin protested, struggling against the young samurai's grip.
Momonosuke immediately released him, his face flushing with shame at his loss of control. "Forgive me, I... that name..." He took a shuddering breath, trying to center himself. "Why would Joy Boy's name appear on Fish-Man Island? Please, this is more important than you can imagine."
Kin'emon stepped forward, his expression grave. "My lord's education was... interrupted during his childhood. The usurper Kurozumi Orochi made sure he couldn't receive the traditional knowledge passed down through the Kozuki line. But we've heard that name recently—too recently—during our imprisonment on Onigashima."
The weight of unspoken implications hung in the air. Whatever connection existed between Joy Boy and their current predicament, it clearly ran deeper than any of them had realized.
Across the world, the Sky Screen continued its broadcast, ensuring that the name Joy Boy—buried for eight centuries—would once again spread across the oceans, carried on the winds of revolution and change.