Double-transformation: I, Sakura Haruno! Will crush the pirates!

The phoenix, burning with blue flames, cried out loudly, its wings folding back into a streak of light, its yellow claws hurtling straight at Sakura Haruno.

"Don't get too... cocky!"

The iridescent light of Observation Haki filled Sakura's emerald eyes, and she clenched her fists for what seemed like the umpteenth time.

The rocky ground was crushed by the girl's forward stomp, and spiderweb-like cracks spread haphazardly across it.

An overwhelming, unstoppable force roared violently, and a violent gust of wind from the fist shattered forward in a ring.

"I've always been very serious, you bastard!"

Even without strong Armament Haki, under this surging force...

The blue flames were like wax being cut by a hot knife, being destroyed inch by inch by Sakura Haruno's fists.

The ever-flowing blue flames dissipated, and Marco screamed as he was sent flying backward, embedding himself in the soil.

'Is this little girl... a monster?'

The pirates fighting all around witnessed this scene, their cold sweat mingling with the rain and seawater debris, which they then wiped away with their own hands.

The battle continued, and so the fourth day arrived.

The dark clouds in the sky finally dispersed, and the warm sunlight shone again on the Jackson and Moby Dick.

The members of the two pirate crews exchanged supplies in twos and threes, and the main combatants also gathered together to drink.

Sakura Haruno, carrying bandages and medicine powder prepared by Uncle Crocus, went around treating the wounded.

An unprovoked tremor suddenly descended upon the entire island, stirring up towering waves beyond its borders.

"come yet?"

Looking at the shattered atmosphere and sky, Sakura Haruno knew that the Kozuki family was about to board the ship.

As expected, after parting ways with the Whitebeard Pirates, the Orl Jackson had six more crew members.

"Shanks and Buggy, that guy's on board, give me two hundred Berries each!"

Sakura grinned mischievously and waved her little hand in front of the two boys.

"Why!"

Bucky was clearly unconvinced, but he was willing to accept defeat and reached into his pocket with trembling hands to pull out his wallet.

This isn't just gambling money, it's practically Bucky's life!

Compared to the stingy Bucky, Shanks is much more generous when it comes to giving money.

But after paying, the boy still asked Sakura Haruno out of curiosity, "How did you know they were going to board the ship?"

"Of course I heard it using Observation Haki."

Sakura Haruno blinked her left eye and stuck out her tongue, looking pure and innocent.

"Cheating! You cheated!!!"

Buggy's face turned bright red after Sakura took 200 Berries from him, and steam kept billowing from his forehead.

Sakura patted Buggy on the shoulder and gave him a playful smile: "That's called anticipating the enemy's moves."

"Damn it!" "Hahahaha!"

Shanks, bursting into laughter, pulled the shouting Buggy away.

That night, a banquet was held on the ship to welcome Oden.

After a satisfying meal, Sakura Haruno sat alone on the mast at the stern of the Orleans Jackson, enjoying the cool sea breeze.

"Ah, found it!"

Sakura turned around and looked in the direction the sound came from.

A man with a plate-shaped hairstyle on his head and strange eyeliner painted on his face with bizarre oil paint climbed up.

"Mo, is my oden really that bad? I heard from Roger that you have a big appetite."

"No, it's just that seeing these dishes makes me a little homesick."

Sakura Haruno braced herself against the mast with both hands, her lower legs dangling in the air and swaying.

She had been in this world for almost a year, and suddenly she missed the peaceful time she spent in the ninja world.

Sakura's parents may be ordinary, but they gave their daughter plenty of love.

Sakura Haruno, who had never experienced this feeling in her previous life, cherished their warmth deeply.

However, Captain Roger was nearing the end of his life, and in order to repay his kindness and the care of the Roger Pirates, he decided to seek help from them.

Sakura Haruno then stayed on the USS Al Jackson and sailed with them.

Perhaps... after Captain Roger has achieved his goal, it will be time for me to return to the ninja world.

After all, the ninja world also has wondrous ninjutsu, which can also become resources for one's growth, right?

"So you really are one too..."

Seeing the full moon reflected in the girl's emerald eyes, Kozuki Oden's expression brightened.

"No, Mr. Oden, I don't know how Captain Roger told you, but I am not from Wano Country!"

Sakura Haruno decisively raised her hand, interrupting Oden Kozuki's terrible fantasy.

"Oh, I see. I thought I had met a fellow traveler from my hometown."

Oden's brows were raised, and the eyeliner at the corners of his eyes drooped down.

After a while, having regained his energy, he asked Sakura Haruno, "But since you're a ninja, you'll accept the request, right?"

"If it's related to the Daimyo or Wano Country, please forgive me for refusing."

Sakura Haruno shook her head, her long pink hair fluttering in the breeze.

"Why? Don't ninjas all need a lord?"

Oden leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees. His smile faded, and he tilted his head towards Sakura Haruno.

In his world, or rather in his traditional view, ninjas are such beings.

The sword and blade in the hands of the daimyo are tools for whom one would dedicate one's life and loyalty, but Sakura Haruno, a ninja, rejected him, which surprised him greatly.

At that moment, an undeniable aura emanated from the girl, and dark thunder rumbled endlessly in the sky.

Its rampant domineering aura proclaims the will of a new king.

"Light Moon, Frost Moon, Rain Moon, Wind Moon... Samurai families have hereditary titles, closed off and backward."

"You, representing the Kogetsu family, made a request to me, but in the end, isn't it still about maintaining the rule of the samurai?"

"Do you think I, who have already chosen to become a free pirate, would willingly serve such a despicable creature?"

"Furthermore! If a ninja must be loyal to a lord—I am my king!"

Kozuki Oden was taken aback by Sakura's blunt and sharp words, and his clasped hands froze in mid-air.

It wasn't just because of the Conqueror's Haki roaring before him, but also because the man keenly sensed...

Something enormous, beyond description, was being revealed to him through the girl before him.

Aversion to rule, criticism of decay, and rebellion against tradition!

—Right, rebellion!!!

"I see, I see!"

Kozuki Oden shouted excitedly, his face beaming with pure, ecstatic joy, as if he had discovered a treasure.

He lifted Sakura Haruno high and spun her around on the slender mast.

"What are you doing? Put me down! It's dangerous!"

Ignoring Sakura Haruno's screams, Kozuki Oden jumped off the mast and ran with her towards the banquet area on the deck.

"Roger, Roger, I've found what I've been looking for!"

Kozuki Oden ran to Roger and lifted Haruno Sakura in front of him.

Slightly tipsy, Roger squinted at Sakura Haruno, whose pink hair was disheveled and whose little face was puffed up with anger, and replied to Oden earnestly: "Brother Oden, I know Sakura is very cute, but your son may not be able to beat her."

"No, you idiot!"

With his eyes turning white and revealing his shark teeth, Kozuki Oden patted Roger on the shoulder with a 'smack' sound.

"Hahahaha!"

Roger, completely unconcerned, picked up his glass, took a big gulp, and then burst into laughter.

"I'm serious, Roger. This kid will definitely achieve my dream of founding a nation!"

Oden became somewhat anxious after putting Sakura Haruno down, as if the future was within his grasp.

But Roger, who was sitting in front of him, slammed his glass to the ground, unleashing his domineering aura for the first time in a warning tone.

"Oden, don't shackle the children's future!"

Chapter 8 Journey and Ruins

Wano Country?

"Where is that?" Sakura Haruno asked, indicating that she was unfamiliar with the area.

Ever since Captain Roger spoke that day, Oden had never mentioned that matter to him again.

Perhaps it was because they considered it too shameful to place their hopes for founding the nation on a child.

Therefore, Oden took good care of him during his later journey and even taught him some swordsmanship from time to time.

In Sakura's eyes.

As a comrade-in-arms, Kozuki Oden was someone you could entrust your back to.

But as a monarch, or rather as a politician.

The foolishness, naivety, and recklessness he possesses will one day become the sharp blade that pierces his heart.

Sakura did try to persuade Oden to focus on being a pirate, or to return to Wano Country and become a chivalrous hero.

But every time this topic was discussed, it always ended with Oden's long silence.

This is perhaps the ideological imprint that Oden, as a member of the samurai class in Wano Country, could not escape.

The sea breeze carried the pirates' joyful songs, and the waves rolled up to create one magnificent scene after another on this vast sea.

Upside-down Mountain, Sky Island, Water Seven, Bridge Country, Sabaody Archipelago, Mermaid Island...

The journey, a tapestry brimming with countless fantasies, unfolds before Sakura Haruno.

"The world is so big! I really hope to sail my own ship and explore those unknown places!"

Sakura's emerald eyes gazed at the island ahead, and her childhood longing for the world stirred within her.

The waves swallowed the trembling of dreams, the sky laughed loudly in the downpour, and the girl laughed along with them.

"Isn't that obvious?"

Roger's voice sounded behind Sakura Haruno as he ruffled her neatly styled hair.

"This world is vast, so dream as much as you want."

"As long as you are willing to take a step toward your dreams, the will to be free will never be defeated!"

Roger's aura continued to rise, and his belief in becoming a hegemon almost materialized, covering everything and dominating all things.

Despite his critically ill body, he was completely dependent on Uncle Crocus's medication for even walking and sitting.

Yet, it was precisely this kind of Roger who possessed an aura of dominance that was as powerful as an insurmountable barrier.

Dark lightning tore through the clouds, clearing the storm from the path of the Orleans Jackson.

Finally, they arrived at an island that, according to intelligence, might contain the Poneglyphs.

—The New World: “Furnace and Icebox”—Vulcan Island

According to information gathered by intelligence officer Uncle Spencer from the surrounding area, this place was once a winter island.

Later, it seems that a meteorite falling from the sky activated the underground volcano, eventually creating the unique landscape of glaciers surrounding the volcano.