Was the West Blue cold?
Nao didn't really know.
But what he did know for sure was that a mountain hot spring in early winter was very warm—and extremely comfortable.
Up on the mountain that night, mist drifted between dense trees. Lanterns flickered with a soft orange glow beneath the canopy, giving the whole place a peaceful charm.
Perhaps due to the sudden drop in temperature and the snow beginning to fall, there weren't many people around. Aside from a few scattered tourists, the only other visitors were a handful of Marines who'd come specifically to soak in the springs.
The First Branch base was less than ten kilometers away—close enough to walk. Super convenient.
"Come on, hurry up already!"
At the front of the group, Gion bounced and skipped up the stone steps like a real rabbit, turning back every so often to wave everyone along.
She'd wanted to visit these springs for ages. But with her schedule packed to the brim, and Nao away from the West Blue, she never had the motivation to come alone.
Tonight, she finally got her wish.
"Coming, coming!"
Nao followed close behind, and seeing how excited she was, he picked up his pace. Wrapping an arm around her, they stepped together through the traditional-style entrance of the bathhouse.
Farther down the trail—
Sadaharu padded up the steps in graceful, feline strides, while Rear Admiral Chaton, burdened with a pile of things on a pole, huffed and puffed as he tried to keep up—
The pole carried everything imaginable: sleds, changes of clothes, and more, easily weighing several hundred kilograms, piled several meters high.
Why the hell did I come along again?
Watching Nao and Gion disappear hand in hand into the bathhouse, Chaton bitterly questioned all his life choices.
Was I brain-dead? Couldn't say no when they invited me?
No, it wasn't that.
Chaton sighed sadly. He was scheduled to leave the West Blue tomorrow morning and return to Marineford. He didn't know when he would see Momousagi again.
So.
Perhaps the reason he agreed to come was to cherish this last bit of time with Gion.
He had long since buried his romantic feelings, but he still had to admit that having the opportunity to soak in an open-air bathhouse with Gion under the night sky—
Even if it was just watching from a distance, it was quite appealing to him…
"What a humble dream."
A voice chimed in behind him.
Chaton turned to see Marsha, Gion's red-haired aide, giving him a pitying look.
This damn woman. If she hadn't blocked him so many times back at HQ, he would've confessed successfully, and Nao wouldn't have had the chance to swoop in.
Grinding his teeth, Chaton snapped, "I didn't say anything, Captain Marsha! Don't go reading into other people's thoughts—especially your superior officer's, you bastard!"
"I never claimed to know what your dreams are," Marsha said coolly, shrugging as she passed him by. She pointed casually to the side of the trail. "But whatever they are, they're clearly smaller than that thing over there."
That thing?
Chaton looked—and his face turned dark.
There on the dirt, to the side of the steps, was a steaming black lump that looked disturbingly like melted ice cream.
Woof!
Sadaharu wagged his tail happily.
..
Inside the Bathhouse
Nao and Gion, having arrived first, were already in the changing room, warmly welcomed by the hot spring hostess. The interior layout was similarly ancient and charming.
There were folding screens, bamboo plants, and elegant black and white paintings hung on the walls
"Are you from Wano Country?"
Gion was utterly delighted by the environment and couldn't help but ask.
"Oh no, I'm from the Flower Capital," the hostess replied with a gentle smile. "Though it's a bit remote, it's still in the West Blue."
The Flower Capital is in the West Blue?
Nao blinked, surprised. He gave the hostess's attire a second look—it wasn't quite a Wano-style yukata. In fact, it gave off a stronger Tang dynasty vibe, something closer to old China.
Maybe that Flower Capital—rumored to be based on ancient Chinese culture—was more intricate than he'd imagined.
If he ever had the chance, he definitely wanted to see it for himself.
Women were strange creatures.
Before going out, they'd spend hours getting dressed, their partners waiting downstairs forever.
But when it came to hot springs—they were faster than anyone.
Nao had just finished pulling on his shorts when Gion, who'd already changed, grabbed him by the arm impatiently and practically dragged him down the pebbled path. Her wooden sandals nearly flew off.
The bath they'd chosen wasn't very big. Surrounded by tall bamboo, the space felt serene and private.
Instead of cloudy white, the hot spring water had a slight purplish-red tint, with flower petals floating on the surface.
The air carried a faint violet fragrance—probably from the flowers.
Gion clearly loved it. She let go of Nao's hand, wandered a lap around the pool, then sat down in a naturally curved section of stone that made for the perfect backrest.
Her long, toned legs slid gracefully into the water. Her slender waist and generous chest followed, fully submerged.
The steam thickened. Maybe it was too hot.
Because at some point, the white towel wrapping her delicate curves... loosened quietly, slipping beneath the surface without a trace.
Raising her head slightly, she looked at Nao—who stood frozen—and gave him a sly smile. She tapped the water beside her.
"Come on."
Her fingers rippled the surface gently.
Nao's pupils shrank. His face turned deadly serious.
Whoosh—!
A sonic boom. His figure vanished on the spot.
And thus, on that day—
Nao's Soru reached its peak, finally entering the realm of a land-dwelling deity....
...
Changing Room
"Phew…"
Chaton, who had finally settled his luggage, frantically changed into his yukata. Just as he lifted the curtain to enter, he was stopped by the smiling hot spring hostess..
"What do you mean only two people per bath?"
Chaton couldn't believe his ears. "I saw your sign outside! It clearly said over 500 square meters of open-air mixed baths, with room for over a hundred people—!"
"Ah yes, that's true," the hostess bowed politely. "But since we don't have many guests today, the large communal bath isn't open. We're offering the smaller private ones instead. Your two companions earlier chose one of these small baths that only allow two people…"
Seriously?!
So they shut down the big baths just because business was slow? What a stingy operation. No wonder they'd go bankrupt someday.
Frustrated, Chaton grumbled—then spotted Marsha, already changed into her yukata, calmly walking past.
Wait a sec.
He perked up. Okay, so his dream of soaking with Gion was dead. But Marsha wasn't a bad second choice.
Sure, she was cold as an iceberg and practically untouchable—but at least having her around was better than soaking all alone, right?
"Keep dreaming."
Marsha didn't even wait for him to speak. On the cobblestone path, she shot him down instantly. "I prefer bathing alone. Don't follow me."
"…So I really have to go alone?"
Chaton gave her the most pitiful look he could muster, hoping for a sliver of mercy.
Marsha blinked at him strangely. "Who said you're alone? You've got company."
Huh?
Chaton didn't understand—until he felt something hot directly above him.
He looked up—just in time to see a grinning, slobbering white dog's face lunge down.
The next moment, he was dragged like a sack of potatoes toward one of the small baths—then dropkicked into the steaming water by Sadaharu, who promptly jumped in after him.
Woof!
...
"Mm…"
When Nao opened his eyes, a scent like blooming jasmine filled his nose and settled softly in his chest.
It soothed his body, still drained from last night's intense… activity.
Sunlight streamed through the windows, a bit too bright. Gion was still asleep in his arms, curled up and breathing gently, looking like the picture of peace.
Nao couldn't help himself—he reached out, running his fingers slowly down her long, pale legs… the curve of her waist…
That silky-smooth texture—just like he remembered. Completely addictive.
Eventually, he retracted his hand and leaned back, staring up at the ceiling.
Weird… the ceiling felt farther away than usual.
He glanced down at the bed—none of the legs had survived. Not one.
Honestly, it was expected.
After all, last night…
He'd finally claimed the title of "King of the Pirates."
After soaking all night in the snowy mountain hot springs, they'd returned to base only to keep going—fighting until dawn in an all-out bedroom death match.
Nao rubbed his temples, exhausted.
This was a special case. They hadn't seen each other for over six months.
But moving forward… he'd definitely need to exercise more restraint.
He got up, washed up quickly, and checked the time.
11 AM.
No point preparing breakfast now. No matter how much effort he put in, his lovingly made dishes always ended up dumped into Sadaharu's bowl anyway.
Better take the dog for a walk, then wake up the little rabbit for lunch together.
Having decided that, he stepped outside and called to Sadaharu, who was napping peacefully in the courtyard.
The giant dog immediately perked up, tongue out, tail wagging, and bounded after him.
Only now, finally,
did Nao take a good look at his oft-neglected, semi-abandoned alien pet—rarely mentioned, always quietly doing his thing in the background.
Compared to the beginning of the year, Sadaharu was still cute as ever—but now enormous. Easily six or seven meters tall. Nearly ten meters long.
One dump from this beast weighed dozens of kilos—Nao had nearly passed out from the smell while playing poop-scooper earlier.
"You're way bigger than the one from the Yorozuya by now," Nao muttered, smacking Sadaharu's massive head. "And you're still not fully grown?! "How big will you be when you're fully grown? What house could possibly fit you?"
At this rate, it was inevitable.
The day would come when the strongest young Marine in the world, the mighty Admiral Nao, would be living in a house smaller than his dog's kennel.
And it'd make headline news.
Still, with Sadaharu's size came serious growth in power too. His stats were honestly terrifying now:
Name: Sadaharu
Species: Inugami
Strength: 20
Agility: 17
Stamina: 20
Intelligence: 8
Charm: 10
Skills:
Armament Haki (Beginner)
Observation Haki (Beginner)
Soru (Intermediate)
Geppo (Advanced)
Rapid Charge (Racial Trait)
Rending Strike (Racial Trait)
Explosive Defecation (Racial Trait)
"...Those base stats are enough to go toe-to-toe with a rear admiral," Nao groaned.
"And what the hell's with the Haki?! I get learning the Six Powers under Granny Chisio back at Headquarters—but self-taught Haki too?!"
This pet was going to ruin his dignity.
How was he supposed to explain this to pirates with 100 million bounties who still couldn't use Haki?
Or to Crocodile, who might start questioning his very existence?
"This growth rate is… outrageous," Nao muttered, ruffling the big fluffball's fur. "Guess you're destined to be the Marine's next official Sea Guardian Beast, huh…"
A weird image flashed through his head—
Eighteen years later, at the Summit War, sitting in the middle of the Three Admirals' positions below the execution platform, wasn't him, Natsuya Nao, but Sadaharu, wearing an oversized Marine hat and crossing its legs…
That's just too ridiculous!
Nao violently shook the image away and took Sadaharu for a few laps around the base.
When he returned home and opened the bedroom door, he found the bed empty—Gion was already gone.
Scratching his head, he went to the dining room. On the table was a note:
"A notice from Headquarters arrived. I'm waiting in the office."
"Tch… why now of all times?"
Nao frowned.
Today and tomorrow were supposed to be Gion's days off. He'd planned everything out—sweet alone time, her birthday celebration, even had a present ready.
And now, a damn official document had ruined the whole mood.
"…Hope it's nothing serious."
Still, duty came first.
Nao quickly changed, threw on his white justice cloak, and strode through the base under the awestruck stares of the younger Marines.
When he entered the office at the top of the fortress, he saw Gion seated behind her desk, a paper in hand, staring at it in a daze.
"What's wrong?"
Her expression was off. Nao's heart sank. He quickly shut the door and sat down.
"Did something happen at Headquarters? A major incident?"
"…A major incident?"
Gion blinked, coming back to herself. She bit her lip, then glanced at him strangely.
"Maybe. At least for you, it's kind of a huge deal."
…What was with her tone?
Why did it sound like she was… jealous?
"See for yourself."
She tossed the document across the desk.
Nao caught it.
He unfolded it—
And immediately froze.
The title was in bold, stamped official black:
"Final Approval: Promotion of Natsuya Nao to Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral"