Punching my way through One Piece

The aftermath of the chaos at the auction house still buzzed in the air as Noboru casually walked away, leaving behind the unconscious Celestial Dragon and the collapsing Marines. He had done what he intended: witnessed Luffy's defiance and stood as a silent spectator to the boy's growing legend. It was a brief encounter, but enough to confirm what he needed to know.

Luffy would shake the world soon. But first, he had to survive Sabaody.

Noboru moved with a steady pace, the vibrant archipelago around him losing its lively sheen in the wake of the incident. Pirates and civilians alike whispered nervously, retreating into the shadows of the mangrove groves, wary of the sudden surge of Marine activity. Most of them knew what was coming—an Admiral had already arrived, and if Kizaru was involved, things were about to get much worse.

Yet, Noboru wasn't concerned. His mind wandered to more pressing matters as he made his way through the streets, his next destination set in his mind: "Shakky's Rip-Off Bar".

He had heard about the place—a gathering spot for pirates who wanted information, who sought respite from the harshness of the Grand Line. But more importantly, it was run by Rayleigh's closest friend, Shakky. The Dark King himself might even be there.

As Noboru crossed one of the towering groves, something caught his attention. He could feel a presence behind him—subtle at first, but impossible to ignore. It was like a distant hum, growing louder as it got closer. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

Admiral Kizaru.

The man's presence was unmistakable—calm, lethargic even, yet carrying an overwhelming aura of power. Kizaru wasn't in a rush. He was simply strolling behind Noboru, as if following a leisurely path.

Noboru smirked to himself. He had expected the Admiral to pursue Luffy, or at least the Straw Hats as a whole, but it seemed Kizaru had taken an interest in him instead. The Admirals rarely moved without purpose, and Noboru wasn't foolish enough to dismiss Kizaru's relaxed demeanor as anything less than calculated.

Still, Noboru continued walking. He wasn't in the mood for a fight—not yet, at least.

As he walked through the winding streets of Sabaody, the atmosphere around him grew quieter, the crowds dispersing rapidly. People had caught wind of the Celestial Dragon being struck and knew what came next. No one wanted to be caught in the path of an Admiral.

Footsteps echoed behind him, slow and deliberate. Kizaru made no effort to conceal his presence, the light from his Pika Pika no Mi shimmering faintly in the distance as he lazily trailed after Noboru.

"Yohoho," Kizaru's voice called out, breaking the tense silence. "Quite the situation we've found ourselves in, don't you think?"

Noboru didn't respond immediately. His gaze remained forward, his path unwavering as he neared one of the central groves where Shakky's bar was located. He could sense the tension in Kizaru's voice, though it was hidden under layers of false boredom.

"Don't you have other business to attend to, Admiral?" Noboru asked calmly, his voice carrying through the empty street. "Like chasing down the pirates responsible for assaulting your precious Celestial Dragon?"

Kizaru chuckled, the sound light and disarming. "Oh, I suppose I could do that. But you see, something about you… piqued my interest." His footsteps quickened slightly, the faint shimmer of light from his fruit growing more intense. "You don't seem like the type to simply watch from the sidelines. And yet… here you are."

Noboru's smirk deepened, but he still didn't stop walking. "I'm not here for the same reasons as the Strawhat and his crew. I'm just… passing through."

"Passing through?" Kizaru's voice lingered with a hint of mockery. "It's rare to find someone who is proficient in haki like that, and yet you say you're just 'passing through.' Quite curious, isn't it?"

Noboru slowed his pace slightly but didn't turn around. Kizaru was testing him—pressing for a reaction, probing his intentions. But Noboru wasn't the type to be rattled by simple games.

"If you're looking for a fight," Noboru said, his voice low but firm, "you might find yourself disappointed."

Kizaru's steps stopped abruptly, the light around him dimming slightly. There was a moment of silence before he spoke again, his tone more serious this time. "Disappointed? Oh no, I'm sure I wouldn't be. But you're right, I'm not really here to fight. Not yet, anyway."

Noboru finally turned his head slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of Kizaru's lazy figure standing a few paces behind him, his yellow-striped coat billowing slightly in the breeze. The Admiral's expression was hard to read, but his gaze was sharp, focused.

"I don't make a habit of killing time with Marines," Noboru said, turning back toward the road ahead. "But if you want to follow me, that's your choice."

"I heard of someone on a rowboat annihilating a marine vessel, and that without any devil fruit. You wouldn't know how it was, would you. The informations say the person should be in this general area of the grnadline." Kizaru asked as bored as always, either as a way to make small talk or to ensure that Noboru was this very person.

"Nope, didn't notice anything strange, much less a person on a rowboat destroying a marine ship." Noboru casually answered and didn't give a shit if Kizaru changed his mind and wants to fight him.

Kizaru hummed thoughtfully but didn't pursue any further. He simply watched as Noboru resumed his walk, heading toward the bar. The Admiral wasn't in a rush. He never was. 

As Noboru approached the bar, he could sense a subtle shift in the atmosphere. Shakky's Rip-Off Bar was a place known for its quiet corners and calm patrons, but the energy here was different. Noboru pushed open the wooden door, stepping inside. The room was dimly lit, a few tables scattered around with pirates nursing drinks, exchanging whispers of the chaos unfolding outside.

Behind the bar stood Shakky herself, a lit cigarette between her lips, her eyes sharp and observant. She glanced up as Noboru entered, her gaze appraising him instantly.

"Well, well," Shakky said, exhaling a puff of smoke. "You've certainly brought some interesting company with you."

Noboru nodded, walking up to the bar and taking a seat. "Kizaru? He's just following out of curiosity."

Shakky raised an eyebrow. "Most people would be running the other way if an Admiral was on their tail."

Noboru smirked. "I'm not most people."

She chuckled at that, leaning back slightly. "You must be the man causing a stir in these parts. I've heard your name once or twice—Noboru, right?"

Noboru nodded again, accepting the glass of whiskey she slid across the bar to him. "I didn't expect to run into such high-profile Marines today. I was more interested in what's going on with the Strawhat and his crew."

Shakky's expression softened slightly at the mention of Luffy. "They've certainly made an impression, haven't they? Though punching a Celestial Dragon was… bold, to say the least."

"That's the Strawhat for you," Noboru replied, taking a sip from his glass. "He's got the will, but I'm not sure he's ready for what's coming."

Shakky's eyes flickered toward the door for a brief second, sensing something. "Speaking of what's coming…"

Before Noboru could respond, the door swung open again. This time, it wasn't Kizaru. Instead, an older man with a scruffy gray beard and an air of calm confidence strolled inside. His clothes were simple, but there was no mistaking the immense presence he carried.

It was Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King.

Rayleigh's eyes met Noboru's briefly, and he smiled. "Ah, so you're the one I've heard about.", though Noboru knows that Rayleigh had already noticed him at the auction.

Noboru didn't flinch under the man's gaze. Rayleigh's reputation preceded him, but Noboru wasn't easily intimidated. "I could say the same to you."

Rayleigh chuckled, pulling out a chair and sitting beside Noboru at the bar. "Looks like Sabaody's about to get a whole lot more interesting."

The two men exchanged knowing looks as the distant sound of approaching Marines echoed through the mangrove trees. Outside, Kizaru's light flickered faintly in the distance, a constant reminder of the storm brewing on the horizon.

Sabaody was a dangerous place, but for Noboru, it was just another step toward understanding the world—and his place in it.