Actually, I Have a Dream Too

That left only one issue—the question of who would take the lead.

Even like-minded people could hold different opinions when facing the same problem.

"You... want to become the leader of the Revolutionary Army?"

"Oh...? Are you stepping down to make way for someone more worthy?"

"I believe your ideals are broader than mine. Only with you leading can the Revolutionary Army develop better along the right path."

Dragon removed his hood and said seriously:

"However, I don't believe my own ideals are wrong either. So let's fight. Whoever wins will decide the future."

"Ha ha ha... Fine!"

When two different forces joined together, they indeed needed to determine who stood above whom.

Their Conqueror's Haki erupted at the same time and collided.

However, Dragon's Conqueror's Haki was clearly a notch weaker.

Still, Conqueror's Haki did not represent the difference in strength.

Dragon withdrew his Conqueror's Haki. A gale propelled him from behind as his fist, coated in Armament Haki, smashed forward.

Shirou extended his right index finger and lightly stopped Dragon's fist. With a casual flick, Dragon was sent flying.

How could the gap be this huge?

Using Geppo, Dragon steadied himself in midair. Behind him, wind and rain raged as lightning flashed and thunder roared.

For the next ten-odd minutes, Dragon attacked nonstop, using every technique he had.

Yet Shirou's expression did not change. Whether it was fists, lightning, or violent winds, he easily blocked them all with a single finger, floating in the air without retreating even an inch.

"How is this possible?"

Dragon roared, turning his body into a cannonball as he charged forward at gale-like speed.

Yet before that finger, he was still effortlessly sent flying.

This time, he did not continue. Hovering several meters away, he said in a daze:

"Who exactly are you? With strength like this, even those two monsters, Whitebeard and Kaido, probably couldn't take a single punch from you, could they?"

"Do you admit defeat?"

"Yeah... I lost."

Dragon readily admitted defeat, then laughed.

"With someone at your level as a companion, I truly believe that future can now be realized."

"But I still have one question. How do you plan to win over the Navy? Transform and replace the Navy Marshal?"

"No, there's no need to make things so troublesome." Shirou turned to look into the distance and shouted, "Come out, Mr. Borsalino!"

Actually, I Have a Dream Too

A flash of golden light streaked past, and Borsalino appeared beside the two of them, saying in an exaggerated tone:

"Oh my... How frightening. To think I was discovered. I never expected a Celestial Dragon to collude with the Revolutionary Army."

"My identity, status, and what I intend to do have nothing to do with each other."

Shirou shook his head slightly, took four pebbles from his pocket, and tossed them in four directions.

The next instant, the four pebbles simultaneously reverted to human form, positioning themselves in four different directions.

Four Red Yang Formation!

This was a barrier ninjutsu Mizukage Shirou had learned from the Scroll of Seals not long ago. Cast by four of Shirou's avatars, no one alive could escape from it.

"Mr. Borsalino, checkmate!"

"Oh...? Does this mean you intend to stop me from leaving?"

Borsalino looked around, then lightly tapped the barrier with his finger. Golden light suddenly burst forth and struck the barrier wall, but it had no effect whatsoever.

"I see. This truly isn't a barrier that can be broken in a hurry."

"Mr. Borsalino, if you had run from the start, perhaps we really would have had no way to stop you. But now, why not have a proper talk?" Shirou suggested with a smile.

"Saint Saragni, as a Celestial Dragon standing at the top of the world, why would you do something so thankless and exhausting as overthrowing the World Government?"

"Indeed. As a Celestial Dragon, I can easily obtain anything I want—power, status, wealth. I had all of those things from the moment I was born."

"Then... why?"

"Because I have a dream. I want to see the world of my dreams with my own eyes. I want to share that world with more people."

"A dream? That truly is an answer no one can refute. Still, I don't intend to surrender without a fight."

Borsalino looked up at the sky and pondered:

"Below is the sea, forbidden ground for Devil Fruit users. But it seems there's no barrier overhead?"

The moment he finished speaking, his vision went dark, and an extremely oppressive aura came from beside him.

He cautiously turned his head and saw a black giant dragon, radiating terrifying killing intent from head to toe.

In that instant, every hair on Borsalino's body stood on end. Every strand warned him:

He would die! He would definitely die!

"I see. Looks like the negotiations have broken down."

Shirou transformed into the Black Dragon and looked Borsalino up and down before saying in a deep voice:

"Sorry, Mr. Borsalino. If you must blame someone, blame yourself for knowing too much."

"This is far too absurd. I can't even muster the will to fight."

Borsalino looked grim. Though he held the rank of Vice Admiral in the Navy, he considered his strength no weaker than a Navy Admiral's. Even against Whitebeard, known as the world's strongest, he could hold his own.

As for the Black Dragon before him, no wonder Dragon had been completely unable to fight back just now. It had been like watching a child being toyed with.

"Who are you? Saint Saragni seems to be only eight years old. It's absolutely impossible for him to possess this kind of strength."

"Who I am, does it matter? As a dead man, there's no need for you to concern yourself with such things."

Dragon looked back and forth between the two, gradually coming to an understanding.

According to intelligence sent by the Revolutionary Army, a Celestial Dragon child had recently come to East Blue on a trip, with a Vice Admiral guarding the ship. It should have been these two.

Though he possessed abilities such as transformation and avatars, a powerhouse like this had no need to lie. Moreover, judging by his tone, attitude, and personality, his true body should indeed be an eight-year-old Celestial Dragon child.

At the age of eight, he possessed the strength to defeat Dragon with ease. That could never be the result of talent and training.

Then there was only one conclusion: a god who had come to the human world to experience life?

"Borsalino, you should have heard the plan just now. Join us."

"Oh...? You want to invite me to join the revolution? Dragon, you still love indulging in fantasies."

"You think we can't win?"

"No. With Saint Saragni's strength, plus your support, the odds of victory are at least ninety percent."

"Then why are you hesitating?"

"I have justice of my own that I refuse to abandon."

"Then have a safe journey."

Dragon put his hood back on and lowered his head slightly.

Seeing this, Shirou raised his front claw. Countless abilities instantly layered over it, causing one ray of light after another to flare.

Sealing technique, Dark Dragon Slayer Magic, Demon King's Fatal Blow, Armament Haki, Extreme Cold Air, Conqueror's Haki infusion...

Before the dragon claw reached him, Borsalino suddenly discovered that he had not only lost the ability to use Elementalization, but his body also seemed to have lost all sensation. He could only remain motionless in the air.

The next instant, he blurted out:

"Wait!"

"Oh...? Do you have any last words to say?" Shirou asked in a deep voice.

"Actually, I have a dream too!"

"Uh... Ha ha ha... I like people who can see their own hearts clearly. Then tell me, what is your dream?"

"I also want to witness the new era the two of you spoke of. That is my dream."

Dragon looked at him speechlessly and thought:

What happened to the justice you refuse to abandon? It's weeping over your inconsistent words and actions, hey!

But thoughts were thoughts. He did not hesitate in the slightest:

"Welcome to the Revolutionary Army, Borsalino."

With a Vice Admiral joining them, perhaps winning over the Navy truly could be done.

Moreover, the position of Navy Admiral was currently vacant. With Borsalino's strength, and with the Celestial Dragons backing him, there was a strong chance he could become a Navy Admiral.

In the future, if he could go even further and become Navy Marshal...

Thinking of such a future, Dragon could not help revealing a faint smile.

On the island, inside a dojo, a young girl continuously swung her sword.

From childhood to adulthood, she had done the same things every day, rain or shine. Even when she fell ill, she had never stopped.

Among the dojo's many disciples, her strength was undoubtedly the greatest. Even youths around fifteen years old were no match for her.

However, the youngest disciple in the dojo had progressed at astonishing speed, going from a complete novice to a decent swordsman. It gradually made her realize the limitations she faced as a woman.

"Can women really not become the World's Greatest Swordsman?"

Rumble!!

The sudden thunder and lightning outside startled her. She hurriedly grabbed her bamboo sword and ran out.

The moment she opened the door, a sharp white flash streaked across the sky, carving a long, narrow canyon into the island.

"What was that? A swordsman's slash?"

Realizing that someone was fighting within the distant storm, the girl became wildly excited.

Just a tiny aftershock could cause such devastation. Could one of those fighting be the World's Greatest Swordsman?

Though somewhat afraid, she did not hesitate at all and immediately ran toward the storm.

Though it was only a small island, by the time she reached the shore, the storm had already subsided, and the sea had returned to calm.

"Was I too late?"

Leaving a Letter and Running Away

"Who are you looking for?" Shirou, in Slime King Form, descended from the sky and asked curiously.

"I... Are you a swordsman?"

Looking at the blue-haired "beautiful girl" in the distance, the girl fell into deep thought.

This person had actually descended from the sky. Could she have been one of the two people fighting just now?

But she looked like a child, only a few years older than me at most. Can girls really be this powerful?

Shirou looked her over and quickly realized:

That blue hair, that longing for swordsmanship... So she's Zoro's childhood friend, Kuina.

"I've used a sword before, but I wouldn't call myself a swordsman."

Whether it was the Demon King himself or the Water Shadow himself, both had used swords.