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On the deck of the Dream Chaser, Vivi's shocked cry hung in the air. Nami's expression shifted instantly from relief to sharp suspicion, and she instinctively put distance between herself and Ace.
"You… you're a pirate?!"
She looked at Ace with a mix of surprise and wary hostility. She glanced at the bewildered Satori, realizing he likely had no idea who he had been eating fish with just moments ago.
Ace took in the sudden change in atmosphere—the narrowed eyes, the tensed shoulders—and didn't bother with a lie. He adjusted his cowboy hat and spoke with calm pride. "That's right. I'm a pirate. I'm Portgas D. Ace, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates."
Vivi's face paled further as the name registered. "Ace?! You're Fire Fist Ace?!"
To Vivi, this wasn't just any name. Ace was a man whose reputation had once blazed across the Grand Line, famously defeating Hanafuda, one of the Seven Warlords (Shichibukai), leading to the pirate's removal from the government-sanctioned group. Since joining Whitebeard's crew, he had mostly stayed in the New World, fading into the status of a living legend.
"Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be in the New World?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Ace's friendly smile vanished, replaced by a cold, sharp focus. "Someone murdered my comrade. I'm tracking him down." A flash of killing intent sparked in his eyes—a silent vow to find Teach and avenge Thatch.
Nami, her hand tightening on her staff, pointed toward the railing. "Whoever you're looking for is your business. We don't welcome pirates on this ship. Please leave. Now."
Trust Beyond Titles
"Wait, Ace!" Satori called out before Ace could step off.
Satori turned to Nami, his expression unusually serious. "Nami, even though Ace is a pirate, he's not a bad guy."
Nami bit her lip. Normally, she would have shouted him down, but Satori wasn't speaking with his usual hunger-driven whimsy. He was looking at her with a clarity that demanded respect.
"Are you sure, Satori?" she asked.
Satori nodded without hesitation. "I'm sure. Ace is definitely a good person."
Through his time with Captain Nezumi and Arlong, Satori had learned a vital lesson: a title doesn't define a heart. He had seen "good" Marines who were monsters and "bad" pirates who acted with honor. He trusted his own intuition.
Nami stared at him for several seconds, searching his face. Finally, her shoulders slumped, and her gaze softened. "I understand, Satori. I trust your judgment. If you say he's okay, then he's okay." She turned to Ace with a small, apologetic shrug. "Sorry. I take back what I said earlier."
She walked toward the cabin, leaving a bewildered Satori behind. Vivi, still processing the situation, asked Satori for his reasoning. After he recounted the story of how they rescued the little girl on the passenger ship, Vivi's eyes widened with guilt.
"I'm so sorry," Vivi said to Ace. "I misjudged you." She then turned to Satori with a huff. "Why didn't you tell Nami that story first?! I'm going to go talk to her."
A Clash of Ambition
With the ladies inside, a heavy, expectant silence settled over the deck. Satori turned back to Ace and broke into a wide, toothy grin.
"Hey, Ace. You're really strong, aren't you? Fight me!"
Ace raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden challenge. He had watched Satori dismantle the Blood Wolf Pirates and was already curious about the boy's potential. He checked the horizon; his own heading and the Dream Chaser's path were similar for now. He had time.
"Alright," Ace smiled. "I'm curious about your strength, too."
Sanji, who had been leaning against the mast smoking a cigarette, didn't interfere. He simply stepped back to give them room. "Hey, just be careful. Don't break the ship or Nami will kill all of us."
"Don't worry, Sanji! I'll control my strength," Satori chirped. "We'll be careful," Ace added.
The two struck their respective fighting stances. A sudden sea breeze whipped across the deck, and in the next heartbeat, they moved.
Bang!!
Fist met fist in a collision that sent a shockwave through the wooden planks. Sanji's eyes narrowed. He knew the Whitebeard Pirates were the world's elite, and Ace, as a commander, was a titan among men.
Round 1: Probing strikes. Both fighters moved with blinding speed, their limbs stirring up gusts of wind.
Round 2: After a dozen exchanges, Satori backflipped away, a smirk on his lips. "You better be careful, Ace. I'm going to use a bit more power now."
Round 3: Ace adjusted his hat, a faint flame flickering at his fingertips. "Perfect. I was just about to do the same. Keep your eyes open, Satori."
The air between them seemed to crackle with static. The real battle was just beginning.