"Why are you so stupid?"
Nami's voice trembled. Tears gathered in her eyes as she cradled Ha Shiro against her chest, refusing to let him go. She wiped at her face silently, stubbornly refusing to move even an inch.
Robin's expression was far more composed, but her tone carried a sharp edge."Just how much of your life did you overdraw? Half the island nearly blew apart just now. Don't lie to me, Ha Shiro."
"It's fine… it's only three years. Nothing serious. Don't worry—see? I'm still alive."Ha Shiro stroked Nami's hair gently, meeting Robin's gaze with a forced, unconcerned smile.
Of course, none of what he said was true.
Ha Shiro hadn't sacrificed any lifespan at all. As if he'd burn his life essence so casually. The "five minutes" he'd warned them about wasn't the time he'd remain alive—it was simply the limit of his current physical endurance. In four minutes his body would've given out completely, and the last minute had been spent on pure stubbornness.
The whole dramatic suffering, the trembling, the white hairs—all an act.A performance to keep them from worrying… and to make them feel how hard he fought for them.
Luffy often pushed himself to death's door, letting Zoro and the others shoulder his burdens.But Ha Shiro?He believed the opposite: sometimes letting others see your struggle mattered too.
Robin didn't speak again. Instead, she reached out and gently took Ha Shiro's hand. Her fingers laced tightly with his—ten interlocked fingers that refused to let go.
Nami hugged him even tighter from behind, as if afraid he might vanish if she released him for even a moment.
"Heh… not a bad outcome."Ha Shiro thought silently to himself."Anilu gave me the perfect chance to sell this act. Now the rest is up to Luffy. He'll become 'Nika Luffy' sooner or later."
But he didn't close his eyes to enjoy being held from both sides.
"Alright, that's enough rest. Let me up."He shifted, pretending to struggle. "If that guy comes back, it'll be bad."
"Don't move!" Nami snapped, hugging him fiercely again. "He's definitely injured. He won't return so soon!"
Robin agreed wordlessly, still holding his hand.
But before Ha Shiro could play along further…his instincts screamed.
A chilling surge of danger.
BOOOOM!
A monstrous thunderclap split the sky.A spear of lightning tore straight down toward Ha Shiro.
"No!!"
"Ha Shiro!!"
Ha Shiro shoved the two women away instantly and launched himself skyward. He took the full force of the lightning alone—funneling every volt into his own body.
"AAAAAAGH—DAMN IT!!"
This time, the lightning actually hit.His reaction was fast, but not fast enough.The blast shattered the hair armor on his body, ripping it apart in a flash.
"So this… is what getting struck by lightning really feels like?Damn… it hurts."
Ha Shiro plummeted from the sky, his entire body blackened with soot.
"Hahahahaha! Finally! The most troublesome one is down!"
Anilu—reinvigorated by the storm—laughed wildly.With Ha Shiro "defeated," he began indiscriminately blasting the remaining Shandian warriors and the Straw Hat crew with lightning bolts.
"Ha Shiro! Wake up! Wake up!! Please don't do this to me—Ha Shiro!"Nami sobbed uncontrollably, pressing her ear to his chest.
No heartbeat.
Robin covered her mouth, stunned and pale."Ha Shiro…"
Lying still, Ha Shiro felt like his entire body was frozen solid.His nerves were numb from the electricity, but his injuries were minor and rapidly healing.
But he couldn't move—not yet.If he stood up now, the entire performance would be ruined.
"Damn it… that guy Anilu doesn't know a thing about martial ethics," he grumbled internally. "Good thing my resistance is high or I'd be missing my skin."
He stayed limp, waiting…
Until—
"Cough—cough!!"
Ha Shiro spat out several mouthfuls of darkened blood.
"Ha Shiro!!"Nami cried out in relief, lifting him up."You're alive—thank goodness!"
"S-something's coming… cough. I'll send a clone… take it…"
He raised a trembling hand.
His hair surged outward, forming a humanoid figure—a Hair Doppelganger.An advanced version of the usual puppets, inspired by Doflamingo's clones but with around 50% of Ha Shiro's actual strength.
Its body was pitch black, like a living shadow.
"He'll protect you… cough…"
Ha Shiro collapsed again.
"Nami!"
Conis and her father arrived, towing the newly repaired Waver behind them.
"Conis! Please—help us!"Nami grabbed her hand desperately.
The two women carefully moved Ha Shiro into the cabin to treat him.
Of course, they didn't actually treat anything—a single universal bandage was slapped on, and that was the extent of the "medical care."
Nami and Robin Decide Their Next Move
"Robin… what do we do now?"Nami's voice shook.
"It's dangerous to stay here," Robin answered, thinking quickly. "Anilu may come back for us. We should head to the island interior."
"But the Waver only fits two people! What about this puppet?"Nami glanced at the Hair Doppelganger.
"He can keep up."Robin tugged experimentally at the clone's cheek—it didn't even blink.
The women boarded the Waver.The Hair Doppelganger followed silently.
Just then—something moved beneath the clouds.
The clone turned sharply.
A massive serpent burst out of the white sea, jaw wide open to swallow Nami and Robin.
The clone struck instantly, launching a fierce kick that sent the snake hurtling back into the sky.
"Nami—go!!"
Robin used her Hana Hana abilities to restrain the serpent further.
FWOOOSH—
The Waver shot forward at maximum speed, the clone flying alongside them like a guardian shadow.
Soon, they spotted Zoro locked in battle.
"Nami? Robin? What're you doing here?! And where's Ha Shiro?!"
Zoro immediately sensed something wrong—the clone was there, but Ha Shiro wasn't. That alone meant disaster.
"Ha Shiro… he was struck down by Anilu protecting us," Nami said, voice cracking. "This is all he left behind to keep us safe. We have to find the others and escape!"
Zoro clenched his jaw."I'm still in the middle of a fight. Go find the others first!"
He blocked another attack from the Shandian leader, Wiper.
"Robin—let's go. They should all be headed to the southern Golden City!"Nami shouted, dragging Robin along.
The moment they left, divine soldiers surrounded the area, attacking.
The Hair Doppelganger stepped forward, eliminating them instantly.
"Damn it… where the hell is Luffy?! Why isn't he beating Anilu already?!"Ha Shiro thought anxiously from the cabin."The clone can only tank three hits from Anilu. If they don't escape by then, I can't keep pretending!"
Sanji Found
They reached another ruined area.
"Sanji! Why are you the only one here?"
Sanji sat on the ground, covered in bruises, lighting a cigarette.A large unconscious priest lay at his feet.
"Nami! Robin!—Eh? Where's that Ha Shiro bastard?"
Sanji perked up instantly, ready to flirt, only to be blocked by the clone's arm.
Sanji froze.He immediately knew something was wrong.
Ha Shiro would never let two women wander around with just his clone—not unless he couldn't walk himself.
"Ha Shiro… he…"Nami's voice broke again.
"He's in terrible shape right now," Robin explained gently. "Sanji, have you seen Chopper?"
"Chopper? Nah. Probably wandering around. But he'll be fine—he's tough."Sanji waved dismissively.
"Robin, did you find anything?" Nami asked suddenly. "You were examining the writing earlier."
Robin looked toward the ancient carvings, her eyes narrowing.
"It seems… there's more here than we realized…"