Fists and Ain

"...Yes, sir."

Binz's shoulders sagged in dejection.

The corners of Naito's mouth twitched in the hint of a smile.

Teacher Zephyr was still too kind.

If the recruits were truly exposed to the darkness of Mary Geoise, how many of their ideals of justice would be shattered to pieces?

For one thing, the road moving forward beneath their feet was being pushed along by a group of slaves below them, working desperately.

Speaking of slaves, the last time Naito passed through, he had considered bringing some of them into the dream world to become his hidden agents in Mary Geoise.

But in the end, he abandoned the idea.

After all, what could a few slaves gain access to? Too many of them would also be liable to arouse suspicion.

He would add some hubs among the Celestial Dragons later.

The Reverie would be held next year. If he rose a little in rank, he should have a chance.

The area where Mary Geoise stood was probably one of the narrowest parts of the Red Line. Before long, the group had crossed it and boarded bubble ships again to return to the sea.

After descending through the thick clouds, the deep blue sea was right before them.

They could already see that fortress of justice on the sea not far away.

Well, Marineford was close to the Red Line. After all, one of its most important functions was to protect Mary Geoise.

The show would begin soon, then.

Chapter 5: Fists and Ain

The massive Marine warship had barely come to a stop in the crescent-shaped harbor when a squad of Marines who had been waiting on shore for some time eagerly boarded.

"Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Zephyr."

The man leading them was a Marine commodore who called Zephyr his teacher. "We'll take these two criminals from here."

"All right. Be careful."

Zephyr waved, letting the Marines who had boarded take Weevil and his mother away. He didn't forget to warn them, "That big fellow is extraordinarily strong. Don't give him a chance to break free of his shackles."

"Yes, sir!"

As the commodore, their senior, solemnly saluted Zephyr, Weevil and his mother were escorted off the ship.

Weevil was as dopey as ever, but Buckingham looked a little panicked.

Impel Down was more than just a prison.

Spikes, wild beasts, starvation, scorching heat, and bitter cold-ordinary pirates couldn't survive long in those conditions.

Naito stood by the railing and watched them being escorted onto another vessel alongside theirs—a prison ship.

Next, the prison ship would carry the pair through the enormous Gate of Justice and ride the great current straight to Impel Down.

Hopefully everything goes smoothly.

Well, honestly, it didn't matter if it didn't.

If the mother and son died, they died. It wouldn't be much of a loss; he'd picked them up for nothing in the first place.

"All right, kids."

Zephyr clapped his hands and turned to the recruits gathered on deck. "Back to the training camp."

"Hey, Teacher Zephyr."

An attention-seeker in the crowd immediately spoke up with a groan. "Do we still have to train even though we've graduated?"

Zephyr put on a stern face. "Don't be ridiculous! Justice doesn't take holidays!"

The recruits' faces visibly fell.

Then Zephyr suddenly broke into a smile. "But you'll officially receive your ranks and unit assignments the day after tomorrow, so you have a day to take care of your affairs. Assemble before lights-out tomorrow night."

The deck fell silent for a moment.

"Hurray!"

"Long live Teacher Zephyr!"

The recruits cheered and jumped for joy.

Binz had already thrown an arm around another recruit and squeezed his way over to Naito, his face animated. "Naito, how about we go to a bar in town for a few drinks to celebrate?"

There was a town in Marineford, just behind the towering headquarters building. It was where military families and senior officers gathered, and it was quite prosperous.

"Not interested."

Naito yawned. "I'm going back to sleep."

Binz frowned suspiciously and looked Naito over. "You'd better be going back to sleep."

The corners of Naito's mouth rose.

The Marine recruit training camp was a closed military compound on one side of Marineford, consisting of several buildings and a few spacious training grounds.

Long ago, before Zephyr became head instructor, it had been known as the Marine Academy.

After putting down their luggage, the recruits had left in groups of three or five. After that brief bustle, the training camp had fallen quiet again.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

Only a dull pounding came from one corner.

Naito stood before a massive iron block that looked like a small hill. His earlier laziness and sleepiness had completely vanished, replaced by total concentration. His features had sharpened, and only now did the young man truly show his bearing.

He made no unnecessary movements, simply pounding the iron block before him with punch after punch.

He used neither Haki nor the Six Powers, simply putting all his concentration into throwing punches.

Nor did Naito enter the dream world and control his body directly to train, escaping the pain.

Because this was training for his will.

Willpower was a real force in this world, and explosive bursts of strength triggered by surges of emotion were perfectly reasonable. Naito, who had mastered Life Return, knew that well.

No matter how powerful one's body and abilities were, without conviction and a sufficiently strong will, one would still be weak.

Naito had never met Garp or Aokiji, but that didn't stop him from imitating the way they threw punches.

There were no warships at the training camp, so Naito had asked Teacher Zephyr to get him this massive iron block.

Then he threw punches every single day without fail.

He concentrated on every punch, putting his conviction behind each one.

The hard iron block had already been battered full of deep fist marks.

These were fists filled with sincerity.

"Didn't you say you were going to sleep?"

A voice came from behind him.

Ain stood with her arms folded, quietly watching Naito's back, her tone teasing.

Naito didn't even turn around, acting as though he hadn't heard her.

Ain didn't mind. It wasn't the first time she'd watched Naito train. Her tone was somewhat hard to read as she said, "Hey, Naito, it'll be hard for us to see each other again after this, won't it?"

Even if they stayed at headquarters, they would be assigned to different officers, let alone the fact that Naito wanted to go to the New World.

"Hmm?"

Naito finally stopped punching and glanced back in surprise. His upright back and waist visibly relaxed, his brows softened, and his eyelids drooped.

"Ain, you're not planning some kind of graduation confession, are you? That would be a little too wishful of you."

"Idiot."

Ain was used to Naito's narcissism and merely rolled her eyes a little.

Then a smile spread across the face of this year's flower of the recruits, and a hint of heat appeared in her eyes. "It's been a long time since we sparred, hasn't it? Naito, show me just how big the gap between us is now!"

Ever since Naito had begun displaying strength far beyond everyone else's, Teacher Zephyr had never again arranged for him to spar with the other recruits.

The gap in strength was too great for there to be any point in sparring.

Zephyr generally had the other instructors at the training camp fight Naito. As graduation drew near, he had even stepped in personally.

After all, the instructors' strength was nothing special; officers with real strength were generally on the front lines.

Naito raised his drooping eyelids a little.

Was this woman supposed to be so battle-hungry?

A look of disdain appeared on the young man's handsome face. "Ain, since you can't be my lover, you want to be my archrival instead? I thought you knew your limits."

"Your mouth is as annoying as ever."

Ain's mouth twitched. "Didn't Teacher Zephyr say it? Set your sights on a goal, then just work hard."

She paused, looking into Naito's listless eyes. "I should at least find out where my goal stands, shouldn't I?"

"Oh, so you've made me your goal?"

Naito smiled and tilted his head. "How arrogant of you, Ain."

"Who's the arrogant one?"

Ain kept rolling her eyes, then grew serious again. "Well? What's your answer?"

Naito thought for a moment. "I'll give you one minute to show me what you've got."

"Don't look down on me!"

Ain moved in an instant. Two masses of peach-colored, flame-like material appeared in her hands, and with a flick of both arms, she sent the two masses of energy hurtling toward Naito, one behind the other.

Paramecia, the Return-Return Fruit!

Although Ain still couldn't turn someone back twelve years in one go as she could in the future, if Naito was hit by both attacks, he would be turned into a young child.

Naito raised his right hand and flicked his fingers twice in quick succession.

Swish, swish!

Two soft sounds cut through the air.

The two fireballs burst apart in an instant.

"Flying Finger Pistol?"

Ain wasn't surprised. Her slender legs suddenly surged with strength.

"Soru!"