**Paras City – Hospital Ward, Mid-Morning**
Sunlight streamed through the half-open blinds in soft, golden ribbons, painting warm stripes across the crisp white sheets. The room smelled faintly of antiseptic and fresh fruit—Wano had brought a small basket of ripe mangoes and guavas from the recovering jungle, their sweet scent mingling with the clean, sterile air. Monitors beeped softly in steady rhythm, a quiet heartbeat filling the silence. Outside, the city was alive again—hammers rang in the distance, machinery growled, voices called orders. Paras City was breathing, slowly stitching itself back together.
Yuki sat propped against pillows—still pale, still fragile, but her crimson eye was brighter today, more focused. The IV line had been removed; a small bandage covered the spot on her arm. Her black hair fell loose across her shoulders, framing a face that looked too young for the shadows under her eye. She looked tired—deeply tired—but alive. Healing. Holding on.
Wano sat on the chair beside the bed—short green hair tied back in a loose braid, red flower tucked behind one ear like a quiet promise. She was peeling a mango with careful fingers, knife gliding smoothly, placing perfect slices on a small plate. The fruit glistened—bright orange against white porcelain.
Yuki watched her—voice soft, distant, almost lost.
"He hasn't come back…"
Wano paused—knife hovering—looked at Yuki with gentle sadness.
"He will… when he's ready."
Yuki gave a small, bitter laugh—barely a breath.
"Ready? He left me on a rock to die, Wano. I waited… days… maybe weeks. I didn't eat. Didn't sleep. I just sat there thinking… maybe if I stayed long enough, he'd feel it. He'd come back. He'd see how much I needed him."
Tears gathered at the edge of her crimson eye—shimmering, refusing to fall yet.
Wano set the knife down—reached over, squeezed Yuki's hand.
"You're not alone in missing him. But you're not alone at all."
Yuki managed a small smile—squeezed back, fingers trembling slightly.
"I know… Astra's been here every day. Blu checks in. You… you're always here. Thank you."
Wano—soft smile, eyes warm.
"It's what friends do."
She offered a mango slice—Yuki took it, nibbled slowly, tasting sweetness she barely felt.
Wano—hesitant, then gentle.
"You know… Astra is going to fight for the whole Japan."
Yuki froze—mango halfway to her mouth, eye widening.
"Fight? For Japan!? Why???"
Wano smiled—small, proud, but careful.
"Next week, there's a tournament. Powerful people from every country are coming and participating."
Yuki's breath caught—shock cutting through the haze like a cold wind.
"He will fight them!?"
Wano nodded—quiet.
"Yes…"
Yuki sat up suddenly—wincing as pain lanced through her ribs, blanket falling to her waist.
"But why!? And who agreed to this!!?"
Wano—calm, steady.
"President Blu agreed to it. You don't need to worry."
Yuki's voice rose—sharp, protective, almost frantic.
"Why don't I get worried!? He's a kid, Wano—just 10 years old! He might have trained with Blu, but he isn't that strong!!"
She lowered her head—voice cracking, hands clenching the sheet.
"Already Hono-kun is gone from me… I don't want this to happen to Astra. He has so many things left to do in his life… so many things I promised to show him. Zoos… movies… late-night snacks… growing up… I can't lose him too."
Tears slipped down her cheek—silent, unstoppable.
Wano—soft, reassuring.
"Don't be sad… We'll talk to President Blu about it."
Yuki—nodding, determined—reached for her phone with trembling fingers.
She dialed Blu.
**Blu's Office – Same Time**
Blu sat at his desk—papers stacked neatly, tablet glowing with reconstruction reports, city skyline visible through the tall windows. Half-rebuilt towers gleamed in the morning light—progress, slow but real. He was reviewing budget spreadsheets—tournament sponsorships, prize money, city development funds—when the phone buzzed.
He answered—voice calm, professional.
"Hello? Are you okay now?"
Yuki—voice tight, urgent, edged with fear.
"I feel better now… But I want to talk about Astra and the tournament… Please remove him from it."
Blu—pausing, serious.
"From the tournament? Once someone participates, he or she can't quit. They need to face it."
Yuki's breath hitched—slowing, shaky.
"Then… what's the rules?"
Blu—matter-of-fact, steady.
"Rules are simple. Killing isn't allowed, but breaking bones and hard fights are allowed."
Yuki—frustrated, shouting now, voice cracking.
"Then… then why haven't you taken my permission!"
Blu—calm, but firm.
"This has a big prize—we'll win a billion dollars."
Yuki—voice rising, trembling with anger and terror.
"I didn't ask for the prize! I'm asking who said you to participate him! What happens if he fails!? What will happen if he gets injured!?"
Wano—from nearby—soft, worried.
"Yuki… calm down… You're talking to the president."
Yuki—continuing, tears in her voice, shouting into the phone.
"Say it! You're his master!"
Blu—voice steady, but quieter now.
"I understand what you feel. But currently Paras City can't develop much because of money shortage. So as Astra is my student, I chose him. I believe in Astra—he is strong enough—"
Yuki—cutting in, shouting, voice breaking.
"You will let a kid fight for development!?? Are you serious!? What if he gets hurt too much? Then you will take the responsibility of it!?? Are you mad or something!? Cancel it or you fight instead of Astra! Don't… drag… my… Astra!"
Her voice cracked on his name—sobbing now.
Blu—quiet, final.
"I have an important meeting."
He cut the call.
Yuki—breathing heavily—held her face in her hands, tears falling fast, shoulders shaking violently.
She cried—harder now, raw and broken.
"Please… stop the tournament… I don't want him to get hurt. I raised him since he was a child… he's just 10 years old… he called me sister… he trusted me…"
Wano sat beside her—wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.
"Everything will be okay… Don't cry like that…"
Yuki—sobbing into Wano's shoulder.
"I can't lose him too… I already lost Hono-kun… I can't… I can't…"
Wano—soft, steady, stroking her hair.
"But this can't be stopped. Astra now must fight."
Yuki—tilting her head slightly, voice small, trembling.
"But what if he gets injured by it? What if he… doesn't come back?"
Wano placed a hand on Yuki's shoulder—looked into her crimson eye, firm but kind.
"Look at me… Astra won't lose. His teacher was Sai… now it's Blu. Blu must know that Astra has potential—that's why he made that decision. Otherwise he wouldn't let a kid fight for them. He believes in him. And so do I."
Yuki—sniffing, wiping tears with the back of her hand.
"I wish… he'll be okay."
Wano—gentle smile.
"He will. And you'll be there to watch him. To cheer for him. That's what sisters do."
Yuki—small nod, tears still falling.
"Yeah… that's what sisters do."
She looked out the window—toward the distant mountains.
"I just… want him safe."
Wano—quiet.
"He knows that. That's why he's fighting so hard."
**Blu's Mansion – Giant Garden Area, Same Afternoon**
The garden was quiet—wildflowers blooming in bright patches, butterflies drifting lazily from bloom to bloom. A small bench sat under a wide tree, dappled sunlight filtering through leaves like scattered gold coins.
Astra sat there—Nova curled in his lap, white fur soft, tail wiggling slowly. He scratched behind her ears—absent-minded, staring at the sky, silver eyes distant.
He was unaware of the hospital argument—unaware that his tournament fight had become a storm in Yuki's heart.
Astra—voice soft, bored.
"The tournament is after 7 days… it's too long and I'm bored… I want to impress sister."
He stood suddenly—smiling, eyes bright with sudden inspiration.
"Idea!"
He looked at Nova—grinning.
"Oi Nova… can you train me?"
Nova just sat—tilted her head like she was saying no.
Astra—pouting playfully.
"Uhm… then who will train me?"
Nova lowered her head—sorry, ears flat.
Suddenly—
A voice from behind—smooth, confident.
"Astra… I might can help you for the tournament."
Uraka—in her slime mode—rolled up, round body bouncing slightly, sat on the bench beside him.
Astra—surprised.
"You will train me?"
He blinked—confused.
"But you're just a slime… how do you train me?"
Uraka—pink aura glowing softly.
"Who said I'm just a slime? I can be human too."
She glowed—pink light swirling, gentle and bright.
Transformation.
Pink hair fluttered into existence, crimson eyes glowed sharply, body forming—arms crossed, confident smirk, tall and graceful.
Uraka—human now, voice smooth, teasing.
"How do I look?"
Astra backed off—instant blush, silver eyes wide, cheeks burning.
"You're… very beautiful."
Uraka—smirk widening, playful.
"I know."
Nova watched Astra—sweating, tiny paws covering her eyes as if embarrassed for him.
Astra—recovering, smiling shyly.
"Okay… let's start training?"
Uraka—nodding, stepping forward—hands glowing pink.
"First… I will teach you how to predict the opponent's attack and counter it in combat. It's almost like boxing."
Astra—serious, nodding.
"Okay."
Uraka—firm, encouraging.
"Good. Then bring it on."
Her hands glowed brighter—she moved left and right—faster than sight, blurring.
"Watch out."
She punched toward Astra's head—feint.
Astra didn't predict—crashed into the wall behind him.
Astra—rubbing his head, laughing despite pain.
"That was fast!"
Uraka—arms folded, smiling.
"It wasn't fast. It was just a trick to confuse the opponent."
Astra—nodding, determined.
"Hmm… this is interesting."
He got into fighting position—silver eyes sharp.
Astra—smiling.
"Alright… let's continue."
Uraka—smirking.
"Sure."
She moved faster—blurring into afterimages.
Astra—watching closely—predicted her every move.
Uraka attacked—Astra moved—countered with a silver-flame punch.
Uraka dodged—countered the counter with a pink energy kick.
Astra pushed backward—but blocked, impact absorbed, silver flames flaring.
Uraka—impressed, nodding.
"Nice move. You're learning faster than I expected."
Nova cheered—meowing excitedly, tail swishing.
Uraka—serious now.
"Let's go to extreme level."
Without warning—she teleported—punched.
Astra dodged—but Uraka teleported behind—kicked.
Astra dodged again—barely.
Wind blew empty—leaves swirling.
Uraka snapped her finger.
Reality itself shattered like glass—pink flaming bullets erupted from the cracks, streaking toward him.
Astra backed off—reflected all of them with his hands—silver flames flaring bright.
Astra—grinning, breathless.
"I did it… without taking any damage."
Uraka—smiling, proud.
"That's actually impressive. You dodged all my attacks without breaking a sweat."
She stepped back—hands on hips.
"Alright… I have nothing left now. You learned the basics."
Astra—bowing slightly, respectful.
"Thanks, Uraka."
Uraka—waving casually.
"Bye. Good luck in the tournament. Don't embarrass me."
She transformed back to slime—rolled away, bouncing slightly.
Astra sat on the bench—breathing hard, smiling.
Nova curled in his lap—fell asleep, purring softly.
Astra patted her slowly—whispering.
"Now I'm waiting for the tournament… I'm ready."
The garden was quiet—sun climbing higher, butterflies dancing.
And somewhere—far beneath the waves—Honokage paused.
Listening.
Feeling.
Still unsure.
But the world kept turning.
And Astra kept fighting.
For her.