After Sakazuki's words, a heavy silence filled the office.
Sengoku and Tsuru were still in shock from the news about North Blue.
But what shocked them even more was something else.
Sakazuki… had a disciple.
Sengoku slowly raised his gaze.
A man who was ready to sacrifice even innocent lives to eradicate pirates…
And now — a disciple?
He rubbed his eyes several times, as if hoping that the man standing before him was not Sakazuki, but some kind of cruel joke.
But no.
Sakazuki stood motionless.
Sengoku sharply opened the file.
The first page — a photograph of a teenage boy with a white blindfold over his eyes.
Below it:
Name: Kai
Status: Blind
Sengoku's face darkened instantly.
He slammed the file shut and stood up abruptly.
" Sakazuki! Are you mocking us?! Is this some kind of joke?! "
He struck the table with his palm.
" Did Kaido and Big Mom hit you so hard that you started thinking worse than Borsalino?! A blind boy — an Admiral?! "
Sakazuki clenched his fist.
" This is not a joke. He is my disciple. And I know his talent. "
" Shut up! He's blind! "
While they argued, Tsuru silently took the file.
She carefully looked at Kai's photograph… and continued reading.
The following pages changed her expression.
Year of birth — 1500, North Blue.
At eight years old, his island was attacked by pirates. His family was killed.
Sold into slavery by a mafia family.
Later discovered and freed by Vice Admiral Sakazuki.
Then — abilities.
Mastered all six Rokushiki techniques.
Skilled swordsman.
Learned to cut steel and release flying slashes.
Currently learning Rokuogan and Life Return.
And then —
Devil Fruit: Kira Kira no Mi (Logia — Mist).
Tsuru paused.
Mist?
She continued reading.
Due to severe eye injuries during slavery, he became completely blind.
However, the fruit enhanced his perception.
He can sense his surroundings in a full 360-degree radius.
Range unknown.
Comparable to Observation Haki.
Tsuru's eyes widened slightly.
Then came training reports.
Signed by:
Yamakaji.
Momonga.
Onigumo.
And Sakazuki himself.
When Tsuru closed the file, she already understood.
She cleared her throat.
" Sengoku. Read it to the end. "
Sengoku irritably took the file back.
As he continued reading, his anger slowly turned into shock.
When he finished, silence returned to the room.
" If he's that talented… why didn't you bring him to Marineford? " he asked.
Sakazuki remained silent.
Tsuru spoke calmly.
" You may leave. We will handle this. "
Sakazuki nodded and walked out.
When the door closed heavily behind him, silence filled the office again.
Sengoku looked at Tsuru with irritation.
" Tsuru-chan… why did you let that idiot go?
If he had brought Kai earlier, Zephyr could have trained him personally.
We would already have a powerful soldier.
He could have helped us in this war! "
Tsuru calmly took a sip of tea and waited for him to finish.
" Sengoku… you are right. I agree with you. "
He looked at her in surprise.
" But answer me this.
Who do you see as the future of the Navy? "
Sengoku wanted to answer immediately.
But he stopped.
He understood what she meant.
" In this war… the core strength of the Navy is you, Garp, Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan. "
Her voice remained calm, but each word struck precisely.
" You and Garp are no longer young. Yes, you are strong. But in three or four years, you won't be the same.
After you, Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan will remain. They can replace you. "
A pause.
" But who will replace them? "
Sengoku clenched his fist.
Tsuru continued.
" Since Kuzan, no one of Admiral level has appeared in the Navy.
Gion and Tokikake exist — but their limit is at best Admiral candidates.
Momonga, Onigumo, Doberman, Yamakaji, Strawberry — their ceiling is Vice Admiral. "
She placed her cup down.
" The younger generation? Smoker, Tashigi, Doll, Bastille…
Good officers.
But their limit is Rear Admiral or Vice Admiral. "
Silence.
Sengoku had always known this.
And it terrified him.
" I understand… " he said quietly. " But then why didn't Sakazuki bring him here? "
Tsuru looked directly at him.
" Because if Kai had come to Marineford… his life would have been in danger. "
Sengoku frowned.
" In danger? In Marineford? "
" You know how much the world fears Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan.
Pirates. Yonko. Even other powers. "
She paused.
" If it became known that the Navy had produced another young Logia user with Admiral-level potential…
a hunt would begin. "
Sengoku went pale.
He remembered the pirate traps he and Garp had fallen into in their youth.
The talented ones were always targeted first.
He exhaled heavily.
" I… didn't think of that. "
Tsuru smiled softly.
" You are the Fleet Admiral. Every decision you make costs lives. "
Sengoku straightened.
" Fine. What do we do next? "
Tsuru nodded.
" First — we resolve the problems in the New World.
Kuzan alone is not enough. "
She looked at him firmly.
" Send Gion.
Send Tokikake.
And make Garp go as well. "
Sengoku smirked.
" Good. "
He called his aide.
" Inform Gion and Tokikake — immediate deployment to the New World.
Garp as well. "
His smirk widened.
" And if that old bastard refuses — tell him I won't grant him any more leave to visit his grandchildren. "
The aide nodded and left.
Tsuru allowed herself a faint smile.
Sengoku truly knew how to handle Garp.
After the door closed, Sengoku asked:
" And North Blue? Should we send reinforcements? "
Tsuru shook her head.
" No. Yamakaji and Kai are enough. "
She looked at the report again.
" You saw what Sakazuki wrote.
If the enemy lacks strong Observation Haki — they are already dead. "
Sengoku remained silent.
" Appointing Yamakaji as his mentor was the correct decision.
Does it remind you of someone? "
Sengoku's face soured.
" Rob Lucci… "
Tsuru nodded.
" The agents of the World Government constantly boast about their genius. "
Sengoku remembered how much that used to irritate him.
They always claimed the Navy had no young talent of that caliber.
And now…
He understood.
Lucci's talent would be like an insect compared to Kai's potential.
Sengoku burst into loud laughter.
Tsuru cleared her throat.
" I am not finished yet. "
He immediately grew serious.
" Lastly.
No one besides us must know about Kai. "
Her voice was firm.
" Leave him in North Blue for another two or three years.
The seas must calm down.
He must grow. "
Sengoku slowly nodded.
Now he understood.
Kai was not a weapon for today's war.
He was the future.
And the future must remain hidden in the mist.