Leaving the cloud sea behind, Kaito began his rapid descent toward the Blue Sea. He had specifically requested no gliding aids from the Skypieans, wanting to control his plummet. After free-falling through the atmosphere, he saw the expanse of blue rushing toward him. At the last moment, he activated his electromagnetic powers, arresting his fall and floating effortlessly above the waves, his waver of gold hovering beside him.
Spotting a pirate ship on the horizon, he fashioned a simple mask from a piece of gold and flew toward it. The crew was weak, their spirits dull and unimpressive. A single, non-lethal shock from Kaito was enough to subdue them and get the information he needed: the direction of Gaya Island.
His first act upon reaching the island's periphery was to call home.
"Kaito! Why didn't you call us for so long? You promised!" His mother's voice was thick with worry once she was assured of his safety.
"I'm sorry, Mother. I was somewhere... out of range for a long time," he replied, the understatement vast.
After he had soothed her, his father, Menma, came on the line. "I was preparing to come looking for you. You worried us terribly."
Kaito gave him a truncated version of events—training on a sky island, acquiring a powerful Devil Fruit, obtaining gold—omitting the most dangerous details like his meeting with Dragon and Kuma's involvement. He was sure Koshiro would fill in his father on what was necessary.
"Anyway, it's good you called. Master Koshiro wants to speak with you," Menma said.
Kaito knew why. Dragon had undoubtedly been in touch. After promising his parents more frequent contact, he ended the call and dialed the dojo.
"Master, how are you?"
"I am well," Koshiro's calm voice replied. "I didn't expect you to journey to the sky islands. I hope it was productive."
"Oh, more than you can imagine. I even found some of the legendary city of gold."
"Good. I wish to speak of our... mutual friends. They seemed quite shaken after your meeting. I had thought you might join their cause."
"I considered it," Kaito admitted. "But I believe they are still underestimating the scale of the enemy they face."
"I see. So have you decided on your own path?"
"An idea is forming," Kaito said after a moment of silence. "But I need to see more of the world first. For now, I need a favor. Can you ask our 'transport friend' to meet me on Gaya?"
"I understand," Koshiro said, the coded message clear. Their calls were likely monitored.
Kaito didn't have to wait long. Soon, his enhanced Observation Haki, now subtly amplified by his electrical senses, detected a presence moving toward the island at incredible speed. He flew out to meet it.
Kuma landed on the periphery, as was his habit. His usually placid expression faltered for a fraction of a second when he saw Kaito crackle through the air.
"You continue to surprise me, Kaito-kun," the Warlord said, his voice a low rumble. "If the world knew you possessed that fruit, there would be a frenzy."
"Just a fortunate find," Kaito replied with a dismissive wave, though a hint of pride was undeniable.
"You requested my assistance?"
"First, a question. Do you know the whereabouts of Nico Robin?"
Kuma shook his large head. "Her location is unknown. She is a ghost, always running. We have been unable to find her."
"A shame. I found the city of gold but lacked an archaeologist to access its deepest secrets." Kaito gestured to the pile of gold beside him. "Is there any notable news?"
Kuma relayed the recent events of the seas. "...and a new pirate crew is making waves in the West Blue. Their captain is a man named Shanks. He is considered one of the most promising rookies."
Kaito couldn't help an amused smile. The future Emperor, a "promising rookie."
"Fascinating. Now, for the task. I need this portion of gold sent to Master Koshiro for the dojo's use." He indicated a large stack. "And I need a ride to Sabaody Archipelago. I hear there's an information broker there."
"Very well," Kuma agreed.
They arrived at the lawless Archipelago, and Kaito immediately pushed his Observation Haki to its limits, the electrical nature of his fruit allowing him to passively process thousands of conversations at once. Within minutes, he pinpointed a commotion on Grove 13: a group of pirates being thrown out of a bar.
He and Kuma arrived to see the tail end of the scuffle. As Kaito stepped inside, a sharp, focused gaze immediately locked onto him. An older man with a fierce intensity and silver hair looked up from his drink.
"You shouldn't cast your Observation Haki around so carelessly on the Grand Line, kid," the man said, his voice carrying the weight of experience.
Kaito offered a slight, respectful bow. "My apologies for the disturbance, Dark King Rayleigh. I was searching for an information broker and believed caution was warranted, given the company I might find."
The woman behind the bar—Shakky—smiled. "King Kuma. A rare visitor. Come in. What can I get you to drink?"
Kuma was visibly stunned. He and Dragon had just begun their search for Roger's former crewmates, and he had stumbled upon the right hand of the Pirate King himself.
They paid attention to Shanks because Dragon knew that he was one of the crewmates of Gold Roger.
Rayleigh noticed Kuma's stare. "Is there something I can help you with, King Kuma?"
Kuma collected himself. "There is. I would like to arrange a meeting for you with someone, if you are willing."
"Who would that be?"
"A commander of the Revolutionary Army."
Rayleigh and Shakky's eyes widened almost imperceptibly. The world believed Kuma to be a government loyalist who despised revolutionaries.
Rayleigh let out a hearty laugh. "You've fooled the entire world, haven't you? Interesting. Sure. I'm usually right here. He knows where to find me."
"Thank you," Kuma said, relief evident in his posture.
"Actually," Kaito interjected, "I came to ask if you knew anything about reaching Egghead Island undete—"
His enhanced senses flared. At the edge of his perception, a powerful, determined presence was scaling the Red Line.
"If you'll excuse me for a moment, I've just seen something truly interesting that requires my immediate attention."
In a burst of lightning, he vanished from the bar and reappeared at the base of the colossal cliff. A large fish-man was hauling himself up the stone face.
"Hey there," Kaito said, floating beside him. "What are you doing?"
The fish-man—Fisher Tiger—jerked in surprise, nearly losing his grip. He eyed the masked stranger with deep suspicion.
"Who are you?" he growled.
"Someone with no ill will. I'm just curious. You do know what's at the top of this wall, don't you? A fish-man going to Mary Geoise is like a gift wrapped for them."
Fisher Tiger's distrust was palpable. Kaito decided to prove his point. In a flash, he was inches from the fish-man, a hand hovering over his heart.
"If I wanted you dead, it would already be done. So, can I ask again: what are you doing?"
Seeing the sheer speed and power, Fisher Tiger knew that if he wanted to harm him, he would do so.
"I am going to free my people from slavery."
Kaito looked surprised and asked while acting confused. "You're with the Revolutionary Army?"
"The what?"
"So, let me get this straight. You alone are going to Mary Geoise to free your people without anyone supporting you?"
Seeing him nod, Kaito laughed out loud. "It seems you're determined to see this through, even if it kills you."
"Yes."
"What's your name?"
"Fisher Tiger."
"Okay, I can't allow such a crazy person like you to die. Also, there aren't only fish-man slaves up there but humans too, so let me call the leader of the crazy humans like you that I know."
Fisher seemed to be in a daze and kept silent.
"Good. I'm going to call for reinforcements. Do you want to storm the holy land alone, or would you like to wait for them?"
Fisher Tiger stared at the masked man, weighing his options. The display of power suggested this was no trick.
Kaito took his silence as assent. "I'll be right back."
Fisher stood there, unable to process what was happening.
He flashed back to the bar. "Kuma! Call Dragon. Now. Tell him a fish-man named Fisher Tiger is scaling the Red Line to free every slave in Mary Geoise. I think he'll be very interested."
Kuma was shocked but immediately complied. Dragon's response was instant: he would mobilize every available ship and requested immediate extraction.
Kuma also disappeared to bring Dragon here.
Rayleigh looked on, stunned. "Are you all insane? This isn't a raid; it's a declaration of war on the World Government!"
Kaito's masked face turned to him, a faint smile in his voice. "Isn't it exciting?"
Within the hour, Kuma returned with Dragon and another revolutionary—Inazuma, the user of the Scissors-Scissors Fruit.
Dragon approached Fisher Tiger. "It's an honor to meet a man of such courage. Doing this alone is admirable, but with our help, your chances of success—and survival—increase dramatically."
Fisher Tiger searched Dragon's face. "You... do not despise fish-men?"
Dragon looked genuinely perplexed. "Why would I? The beings atop this wall are not 'humans.' They are devils, parasites, and many other names, but 'human' is too generous a term for them."
Fisher Tiger gave a single, decisive nod. "Then let us begin."
It was then that Kuma spoke, his voice uncharacteristically strained. "Wait. I... can provide the layout. I know where they keep the slaves."
A heavy silence fell. Everyone understood the horrific source of that knowledge. No one questioned him.
After Kuma detailed the holding areas, Dragon laid out the plan. "Kuma, you will send us up and then wait. Do not engage, even if we are in danger. Your position is too valuable. Your kingdom needs its king. So find what you are looking for and then retreat immediately."
"Actually, Kuma, it would be better if you waited until I scout the area for you to avoid you meeting someone else, and if I could secure her with the slaves, I would do so," Kaito said while looking at him.
Kuma kept silent, then finally nodded grimly and raised his paw. The four of them—Dragon, Kaito, Inazuma, and Fisher Tiger—vanished and reappeared on the roof of the world.
He knew with his big build, sneaking wasn't his strongest suit. So he decided to trust Kaito.
The operation was executed with terrifying efficiency.
· Kaito moved like lightning, a silent, invisible storm that left patrolling guards unconscious before they could even register a threat.
· Fisher Tiger, guided by Kuma's directions, located the keys and began freeing cells, his knowledge of the slaves' plight driving him forward.
· Inazuma used his powers to quickly and quietly cut through any obstacles, creating clear escape paths.
· Dragon used his own abilities to shroud their movements in a thick, concealing fog, shepherding the thousands of dazed, hopeful slaves toward the edge.
Meanwhile, Ivankov coordinated from below, arranging the revolutionary fleet and preparing coated ships for an underwater escape.
The coating was done fast because they only needed it near the sea surface and not to travel deep.
Kaito finished knocking out the people very fast, left them, and went to the Celestial Dragon house where Ginny was held.
Entering the mansion stealthily, he noticed that there were two presences, one from a child and the other an adult, that could be felt inside a somewhat remote house away from the main mansion.
The house also had two guards standing outside.
He could feel the negative emotion radiating from the adult person but also the love and care for the child even when she was sleeping.
Knowing that he had found his target, he immediately knocked down the guards and entered the house.
Upon entering, he saw Ginny holding Bonney in her arms. Bonney, however, was awake, which surprised Kaito.
Knowing that Bonney might cry if she saw a stranger suddenly appearing, he knew he had to act quickly.
"Ginny, wake up."
Ginny immediately woke up, holding Bonney and looking around.
"Please, calm down. I'm a friend of Kuma and Dragon. I came to take you away."
Ginny looked at Kaito, who was wearing a golden mask, and said, "I can't. I have contracted a disease. It prevents me from appearing in the sun."
Kaito kept silent and said, "I know about this disease. It's called Sapphire Scale disease. But there's no cure for it."
"No, there is. They have found a cure for it, and I'm trying to get them to treat my daughter, who will get this disease as it's genetic."
Kaito spoke with a cold voice. "Do they need something from you in return for this?"
"They don't. They just refuse because it's expensive and we aren't worth it, but I can't just give up." Ginny seemed to begin to break.
"Okay, calm down. I will take you away first, as I'm sure staying here in hope those devils will grow a conscience someday and treat you is the epitome of foolishness. And don't refuse because if I return and told Kuma, he would march directly here regardless of the consequences."
Ginny finally understood that staying here would be the wrong choice, and hearing Kuma's name made her make her decision.
So she held a coat that covered herself and Bonney and said, "Okay, let's go."
"Let's go."
Taking her out was as easy as sneaking in, with no one noticing anything.
Finally, he took her to Fisher and told him to take her with them.
As dawn began to tinge the horizon, Inazuma activated his power fully, creating a massive, silent staircase of cut earth and stone down the face of the Red Line. The last of the slaves were ushered down.
Fisher Tiger watched, awestruck. The suicide mission he had envisioned, a glorious last stand drenched in blood and fire, had become a flawless, silent extraction.
The coated ships submerged immediately, escorted away from prying eyes by fish summoned by Fisher Tiger, vanishing into the deep blue.
"It is unbelievable," Fisher Tiger whispered, watching Mary Geoise shrink above them.
Dragon, overseeing the final transports, nodded in agreement. He had doubted the plan's audacity, but Kaito's ruthless logic had won out: "No one will believe someone is arrogant enough to invade the holy land just to free slaves. Our greatest weapon is their incredulity."
It was then that Dragon realized someone was missing. "Where is the man in the gold mask?" he asked Fisher Tiger, Inazuma, and Ginny, who was standing by his side.
Inazuma shook his head. Fisher Tiger looked grim. "After finishing his mission with Kuma, he returned and said he had one last thing to find. He told me not to say anything until we reached the sea."
Ginny then spoke: "When he was escorting us, he asked about the location of the bombs and the science and defense building."
Dragon's head snapped upward, his eyes fixed on the distant peak of the Red Line.
---
Kaito had already reached his target. He had knocked out a guard and taken his armor, moving with purpose toward the heart of the Science and Defense facility.
Seeing the guards standing at the door, he used electricity to knock them out but supported them against the wall behind them to make it look like they were standing.
Entering the building, he sensed several people in it, but none of them seemed to be strong, so he moved towards them and immediately knocked down all of the researchers except for one who seemed to be the leader.
"What are you do— zzz"
"Shush, keep your voice down. I want to know about something if you don't mind me asking. Where do you keep the research results of the building? As you can see, I don't like killing, but as I'm in a hurry, I will have to motivate you. So I will make an exception for you if you lie, but if you don't, I will knock you out too, and no one will know who told where it is."
The guy told him how to enter. Kaito knocked him out and went in.
Using the logbooks, he located what he sought: research on the Sapphire Scale disease. He also quickly scanned recent reports on Vegapunk's projects and Devil Fruit awakenings, and after stealing different things to mask his target, he went outside.
Time was short. He had already secured the vital research and turned to leave.
A figure stood in the doorway, blocking his exit. He was an elderly man with a stern face and a distinctive five-pointed tattoo on his chin. Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, Warrior God of Science and Defense.
The Gorosei had arrived.
"Who are you?" Saturn's voice was cold, devoid of emotion.
Kaito remained silent for a beat, his mind racing. "Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, I presume? The sun has not yet risen. Don't you ever sleep?"
Saturn moved. His speed was not natural, a blur that defied his age. But Kaito's fruit did not rely on sight; it read the electrical impulses in the air. He reacted on instinct, transforming into lightning and flashing backward into the open air.
"There's no point in hiding now," Kaito muttered to himself. He hovered high above, looking down at the Elder. "You'll have to excuse me. I have another appointment, and I sense your colleagues are on their way. Seeing as you're about to have company, I'll take my leave. We can continue this another time. Oh, but I left you a gift for you all to celebrate this occasion, as it's our first meeting after all."
Before Saturn could respond, Kaito became a streak of light, vanishing over the horizon.
He knew the stakes had just been raised astronomically. He had revealed his power to one of the five most powerful men in the world.
But as he flew and the sun was rising , the sound of bomb explosions echoed , and fire and destruction broke out in almost every corner of Mary Geoise.
He laughed for a while seeing this , but then the stolen research felt heavy in his grasp. For the chance to give that big bear a happy ending, it was a price he was willing to pay.