A light sea breeze caressed Rodney's cheeks, filling him with a drowsy sweetness. The sun, playing on his face, involuntarily lulled him into a false sense of security. But Rodney's gaze was fixed on the screen, and he noticed a man emerging from the house. Unshaven, wearing a black suit with an unusual pattern, unique leather shoes, and neatly combed-back hair that glistened in the sun's rays. The man was smiling, and in that smile lurked an unsettling uncertainty.
"Miss Kaya, it's a beautiful day," Kuro said as he walked out the back door.
He was followed by a fair-skinned girl with short blond hair, dressed in a white robe, her face shining with joy.
"Yes, the weather is wonderful today!" she exclaimed.
The girl's smile was sweet, charming. Rodney, perched in the tree, found the situation extremely difficult. He didn't want the child to witness the violence that was about to unfold. Using his transformation abilities, he assumed the form of Locke and, with the grace of a predator, leaped down.
Kuro, who had been a pirate just a year ago, sensed danger and retreated instantly, holding Kaya tightly in his arms. With surprising agility, he was at the back door in an instant and, smiling, said:
"Miss Kaya, we have an unexpected guest today. Merry, please take care of her," he ordered the sheep-shorn servant.
"Got it," Merry nodded and hugged Kaya.
As he closed the door, Kuro nudged his glasses with his palm—a habit he'd retained from his piracy days. Turning his gaze to Rodney, he asked,
— Scarface Locke? What brings you here?
News from the village of Syrup had not reached these parts, and the news of Scarface Locke's death had not yet spread.
"Oh? I didn't expect the famous Kuro from the Hundred Planes to still be alive and working as a butler for a little girl. Tsk-tsk, what a fall from a height," Rodney whispered, not hiding his sarcasm.
Kuro smiled coldly. He hadn't expected to be recognized today. That day, he'd feigned death and come here with the intention of plundering Kaya's family property. According to his plan, Kaya couldn't die at this moment. They were still useful to him. If they died now, his plan to seize the family's wealth would fail.
"I've made my decision and I don't want to be a pirate anymore," Kuro declared. "I have nothing to do with you, and we're not at odds. Why are you here?" he asked, his tone tinged with curiosity.
Rodney smiled and replied:
"Once a pirate, always a pirate. You can't change who you are. I'm here to claim the lands of these two men. Today, I intend to destroy the Konoha Vortex!"
With astonishing speed, Rodney delivered a powerful kick to Kuro's head. Kuro, never one to idle, was a pirate himself and boasted a bounty of 16 million beli. He was also adept at speed. He swiftly retreated, dodging the attack with a few leaps. Rodney thought:
- Well, well... This guy is too quick, isn't he?
Suddenly, he heard hurried footsteps, and a group of bodyguards, armed with pistols and batons, rushed toward him. Rodney grinned, jumped onto the roof, and burst into hearty laughter.
"Kuro, I'll give you an hour. If you don't come out, I'll make sure your name rings out all over East Blue. Believe me, I have every opportunity to do so. The guys at the Eastern Post Office will be delighted to hear this sensational news," he declared. "I've even come up with a title for the newspaper: 'Shocked! Kuro's Fake Death and Resignation from a Hundred Plans... Haha! I'll wait for you in the northern forest. You only have an hour."
With these words, he descended from the roof and headed into the forest. In Kuro's room, his vision darkened at Rodney's words. He had worked hard to gain the trust of Kaya's parents, to become close to her, and to blend in with the villagers. Looking back, he considered these actions foolish. All of this had been done with one goal in mind: to seize Kaya's family property. He knew that being a pirate and stealing money was illegal, but being a rich man and doing the same was considered legal. So he had endured the humiliation and burdens, all for the sake of the family fortune. Now Rodney's unexpected appearance had disrupted his plans. He had to find a way to correct this deviation and get his plan back on track. He pulled a bag from under his bed, containing the weapon he was famous for—the Cat's Claw! Putting on the Cat's Claw, he gently wiggled his ten fingers, causing the sharp blades on each finger to gleam ominously. These blades could tear flesh and hair apart, refining his plan. Raising his glasses with a furry palm—a habit lingering from his days with the weapon—Kuro retained his alertness and fighting instinct even after years without using it. Throwing open the window and finding no one around, he immediately leaped out and ran at full speed toward the eastern forest. Recalling the information about Scarface Lock, he broke into a gallop. This pirate, with a bounty of 4.5 million, was skilled at cutting enemies in half with a hacksaw. He possessed immense strength and was known for his foul language. A hacksaw... a hacksaw?! He stopped abruptly. The Lock he had just encountered was unusual. Why hadn't he seen his weapon? And why had a pirate with a bounty of only 4.5 million threatened him instead of running away? He hadn't heard of Scarface Lock attacking enemies with his feet. Kuro had stumbled upon a lot of blind spots! "There are probably traps in the forest, but if I don't go..."
Rodney had set a trap for Kuro, and it was up to him to take the bait. Either way, the traps would undoubtedly be waiting for him. If he didn't show up, he'd have to deal with the arrival of the Marines. Kuro found himself being manipulated by another party for the sake of his own plan. The thought angered him. Who was he? He was the renowned Kuro, and he would never allow anyone to trick him. This indignation spurred his resolve. "Damn it, I have to kill that bastard. If only Jango were here… but unfortunately, he'll never show up because of my own orders." The eastern forest was just nearby. Kuro demonstrated his skill, moving silently and stealthily, like a cat on the hunt. From time to time, the forest echoed with birdsong, and sunlight filtered through gaps in the foliage, casting scattered reflections on the grass, creating a stunning spectacle. "Lock, I'm coming." Since no one was visible and the silence was eerie, Kuro decided to break it. "Just in time." Ding! Ding! A metallic clang echoed through the air, and Kuro spun around to avoid a shuriken flying at him. No, there were two sounds now.
A sudden pain shot through Kuro's back. Two shuriken, like angry bees, pierced his flesh, and a third lodged itself in the trunk of a nearby tree.
"Shurikenjutsu!" flashed through Kuro's mind as he caught the swift movement of the flying projectiles.
Ding! Ding! A metallic ringing cut through the silence. Kuro swung like a cobra, deflecting the flying shuriken with his Cat Claw. In the blink of an eye, he was at the tree and, with a force capable of splitting rock, he cleaved its trunk. A figure, lurking there like a predator in ambush, fluttered out from behind the canopy.
"Fire Release: Fireball Technique!" a hoarse voice rang out, and a fireball the size of a house appeared before Kuro, ready to engulf him whole.
Without wasting a second, Kuro leaped onto the trunk of a shattered tree and leaped back. A chakra-infused fireball crashed down on the tree, turning it into a blazing bonfire.
"This power... is truly terrifying. Could he really be a Devil Fruit user?" Kuro muttered, not taking his eyes off the fiery whirlwind.
Suddenly, Rodney fell out of the flames, confirming Kuro's fears.
"Silent step!" his voice rang out, coming from right behind Kuro.
Kuro took off like lightning. His speed was unimaginable. He found himself behind Rodney, Cat's Claw poised to deliver the killing blow.
"Substitution Technique!" Rodney shouted, and his body disintegrated, turning into a wooden stake that immediately shattered into splinters.
"What?!" Kuro, stunned, didn't have time to react to the sudden attack.
"Game over. Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique!" Rodney growled, and a hand emerged from the ground, grabbing Kuro's ankle tightly.
Rodney pulled Kuro forcefully into the ground, then emerged from the earth, shaking off the dirt. Kuro had vanished without a trace, and the ground around him was stained blood red.
"Unexpected," Rodney chuckled. "He was too fast, but I managed to lure him into a trap."
Rodney, having returned to his usual appearance, went to the village to tidy himself up and change his clothes.