Punching my way through One Piece

Noboru leaned back in his chair, the glass of whiskey untouched on the bar counter. The dim light inside Shakky's Rip-Off Bar cast shadows across the room, but the air felt thick with unspoken tension. After a few moments of silence, Shakky flicked her cigarette into the ashtray and leaned forward slightly, her sharp gaze focused entirely on Noboru.

"You don't strike me as someone who's just here for a drink," she said, her voice calm but probing. "What exactly are you looking for, Noboru?"

Noboru's eyes shifted toward her, his expression unreadable. He had no real reason to hide his intentions—not from her, at least. He knew that Shakky had her fingers in a lot of pies. If there was any place on Sabaody where information flowed as freely as the drinks, it was here.

"I've been looking into the Revolutionary Army," Noboru said quietly, his voice low enough to avoid catching the attention of the few other patrons in the bar. "I know they're making moves, and I want to know more about their leader, Dragon."

Shakky's expression didn't change, but her eyes glimmered with a spark of interest. The Revolutionary Army was no small topic, and the mere mention of Dragon's name was enough to put even the World Government on edge.

"Dragon, huh?" Shakky took a drag from her cigarette, exhaling slowly as she considered her response. "You're not the only one curious about him. The world's strongest powers are watching the revolutionaries, especially with how active they've been lately. But getting reliable information on Dragon is… difficult."

Noboru had expected as much. Dragon was a ghost—a shadow that even the World Government struggled to track. He had created the world's greatest force of resistance against the Celestial Dragons, but almost no one knew his true plans or how he intended to topple the oppressive regime.

Shakky glanced at Noboru, studying his expression. "What exactly do you want from the Revolutionaries? Are you looking to join them? Or perhaps something more personal?"

Noboru shook his head. "I'm not looking to join. I've crossed paths with a few of their agents before, but I'm not tied to their cause. I just need to understand what Dragon's endgame is—and whether it aligns with mine."

Shakky smiled knowingly. "You're not the only one who's crossed paths with them. The Revolutionaries have a habit of attracting people who are tired of the way things are. Dragon, though… he's not like the other revolutionaries. He's patient, careful. He knows that the world's balance of power isn't something that can be toppled overnight."

Noboru narrowed his eyes. "That's not much to go on."

Shakky shrugged, taking another puff of her cigarette. "It's all you're likely to get unless you dig deeper. Dragon's a mystery for a reason. But from what I've heard, he's biding his time, waiting for the right moment to strike. And when he does, the world's going to change."

Noboru absorbed the information in silence. Dragon was indeed a man of patience, but Noboru wondered just how long that patience would last. The world was already teetering on the edge of chaos, and it wouldn't take much to tip it over.

Just as Shakky finished her cigarette and reached for another, the ground beneath them trembled slightly, a subtle but unmistakable shift in the air.

Noboru's Observation Haki flared, sensing a powerful presence surging across Sabaody. He didn't need to reach out far to know that the source of the disturbance was the Straw Hat crew. Luffy and his friends were caught in something major—again.

Shakky's expression shifted, her easygoing demeanor replaced by one of concern. "It's happening."

Noboru frowned. "What's happening?"

Before she could answer, Rayleigh came back from the backrooms of the bar.

"They're here," Rayleigh said simply, his gaze flicking toward Noboru. "The Straw Hats are in trouble, and Kizaru's still lurking. Can this old man count on your help?" Rayleigh asked with a small smile.

Noboru stood up, his muscles tensing in anticipation for a hopefully fun fight. He could feel it—the immense power signatures clashing across the archipelago. The Marines were closing in, and Kizaru was already in the middle of it. But something else was happening, something that made the air feel electric with tension.

Shakky nodded to Rayleigh, already understanding the situation. "Kuma's there, too. He's been watching them."

Noboru's eyes narrowed. Bartholomew Kuma, one of the Warlords of the Sea. He had heard of the man's abilities, his power to "repel" anything, including people, with his strange Paw-Paw Fruit. But what was he doing here? Kuma's presence wasn't a good sign.

"They won't be able to handle both Kizaru and Kuma," Rayleigh said, his tone grim. "We need to move."

Though Noboru didn't really want to help the strawhats, having a favour from the Dark King may be something very usefull.

As the two of them left the bar, Noboru could feel the weight of what was happening. The island was already in disarray, with Marines flooding the streets and panicked civilians scattering to avoid the conflict. But the real battle was unfolding near the mangrove where the Straw Hats had last been seen.

---

When they arrived at the grove, the scene was far worse than Noboru had anticipated. The entire area was in chaos, with Luffy's crew desperately fighting off the Marines. But it was clear that they were struggling. Kizaru's figure shimmered through the air, moving at the speed of light as he delivered devastating blows with ease, his mocking tone echoing in the air.

"Straw Hat Luffy, your journey ends here," Kizaru said lazily, preparing to deliver a final blow to Zoro, who was already weakened and unable to move.

But before Kizaru could strike, a massive figure appeared between him and the Straw Hats. Kuma. His imposing form loomed over the battlefield, but there was something unsettling about the way he moved, as if he was acting under someone else's orders. 

Kuma's appearance gave Rayleigh enough time to close in on Kizaru and swat his glowing leg away. Using this opportunity, the strawhats try to flee.

But unfortunately Kuma raised his paw, his hand glowing with a strange energy. Without a word, he swatted Zoro into the air, and with a sudden burst of force, Zoro vanished—completely gone from sight.

Noboru's eyes widened slightly. Kuma was sending them away. One by one, the Straw Hats were being "repelled" into the distance, disappearing from the battlefield with a single touch.

"Interesting..." Noboru mumbled, but still didn't stop Kuma.

Luffy, seeing his crew vanish one by one, screamed in frustration. "No! Stop it! Bring them back!" He rushed toward Kuma, his fists clenched, but before he could reach him, Kuma tapped Luffy with his paw.

In an instant, Luffy was gone, sent flying across the world just like the rest of his crew.

As the dust settled, only Noboru, Rayleigh, and Kizaru remained standing in the clearing. Kuma had done his part and left without a word, vanishing just as quickly as he had appeared.

Kizaru, his expression still lazy, looked at the empty battlefield and sighed. "Well, that's disappointing. It looks like I missed my chance."

Rayleigh stepped forward, his stance calm but his Haki flaring in preparation. "You've done enough, Kizaru. It's time for you to leave."

Kizaru's eyes flickered toward Rayleigh, recognizing the challenge. "Oh? You think you can stop me, Dark King?"

Noboru stepped forward, his own Conqueror's Haki beginning to leak into the atmosphere, mixing with Rayleigh's. "You know you should show some respect to our elders."

Kizaru chuckled, the light around him growing more intense. "Well, this is certainly becoming more interesting. But you both know you can't keep me here forever."

With that, Kizaru moved, his light-speed form darting toward them with incredible speed. But Rayleigh was ready. His sword clashed with Kizaru's light attack, the force of their collision sending shockwaves through the air. At the same time, Noboru surged forward, using his Armament Haki to reinforce his fists as he aimed a punch at Kizaru's side.

The blow connected, sending Kizaru staggering backward for a brief moment. The Admiral's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but his smirk returned almost immediately. "Not bad," Kizaru said, regaining his balance. "But I'm not done yet."

Rayleigh and Noboru stood side by side, their combined Haki radiating powerfully through the battlefield. Together, they pushed back against Kizaru's relentless onslaught, matching his speed and strength blow for blow.

It was a clash of titans, but Noboru knew they couldn't hold out forever. Kizaru's ability to move at the speed of light made him nearly impossible to corner, and every second they fought only increased the chance of more Marines arriving.

"We need to end this," Rayleigh said through gritted teeth, his sword crackling with the force of his Haki as it clashed with Kizaru's glowing leg. The impact sent shockwaves through the grove, shaking the massive trees and throwing debris into the air. Rayleigh moved with the grace and speed of a legendary swordsman, but Noboru could see the toll the fight was taking on him. Despite his strength, Rayleigh wasn't at his prime anymore. Still Noboru wondered why Kizaru was still fighting with them instead of just going back to Marineford.

Noboru, on the other hand, was just getting warmed up.

The air around Noboru began to hum with power as his Conqueror's Haki surged, creating an invisible pressure that radiated out in all directions. Trees creaked and groaned under the strain, and the few remaining bystanders who hadn't fled the grove collapsed, unconscious, from the sheer force of his willpower. Even Rayleigh, hardened by decades of battle, glanced at Noboru with a raised eyebrow, impressed by the sheer magnitude of his Haki.

Kizaru's usual laid-back expression faltered for the first time. His eyes narrowed as he felt the oppressive weight of Noboru's presence. "You're quite the monster, aren't you?" he muttered, his voice less amused and more calculating now. "I'll have to take you a bit more seriously."

Noboru smirked, his fists tightening as he focused his Haki, coating his entire body in an impenetrable layer of advanced Armament. His skin gleamed with a faint metallic sheen, and the air around him vibrated with the sheer density of the power he was wielding. This wasn't just basic Armament Haki—this was something far more refined, far more dangerous. Noboru had mastered the technique of emitting Haki, allowing him to attack without even making direct contact.

"I suggest you do, Kizaru," Noboru said, his voice low and dangerous. "Because I'm not going to hold back anymore."

Kizaru blinked, his usual smirk returning. "Oh? Well, let's see how you handle light."

Without warning, Kizaru vanished in a flash, his body transforming into a beam of light as he launched himself at Noboru with the speed of a laser. His leg, glowing with blinding energy, came down in a vertical arc, aiming to split Noboru in half.

But Noboru didn't flinch. His Observation Haki flared, predicting the path of Kizaru's attack with pinpoint accuracy. In an instant, Noboru stepped to the side, his movements so fast and fluid that it seemed as if he had vanished entirely. Kizaru's leg slammed into the ground where Noboru had been standing, creating a massive crater that sent a shockwave through the mangrove.

Before Kizaru could even register the miss, Noboru was behind him. With a speed that rivaled even Kizaru's light, Noboru delivered a devastating punch to the Admiral's back, his fist glowing with an intense black aura of advanced Armament Haki. The force of the punch rippled through the air, distorting reality itself.

Kizaru's body exploded into particles of light, but even in his intangible form, he couldn't fully absorb the blow. He reappeared a few meters away, coughing and clutching his side, where Noboru's strike had actually made contact. For the first time in the battle, Kizaru looked genuinely rattled.

"That's impossible…" Kizaru muttered, glancing at his hand, which was still trembling slightly. "No one should be able to hit me while I'm light."

Noboru cracked his knuckles, his eyes cold and focused. "You're fast, Kizaru. But you're not untouchable."

Rayleigh, who had been holding his own against Kizaru up until now, smiled faintly. "Looks like you've pushed him past his comfort zone, Noboru."

Kizaru's eyes narrowed, the playful glint gone. His ego now damaged. He raised his hands, and beams of light began to form around him, dozens of glowing orbs that pulsed with deadly energy. "Then I suppose I'll have to raise the stakes."

With a flick of his fingers, Kizaru unleashed a barrage of light beams, each one aimed directly at Noboru. The beams moved faster than the eye could track, each one capable of obliterating anything in its path. But Noboru wasn't fazed.

With a burst of speed, Noboru dashed forward, weaving through the beams with fluid precision. His Observation Haki allowed him to sense each beam's trajectory before it even left Kizaru's hands, and his movements were almost too fast to follow. As he closed the distance, Noboru's body glowed with Armament Haki, deflecting any beams that got too close.

Kizaru's eyes widened as Noboru closed the gap in a flash. Before the Admiral could react, Noboru planted his feet and delivered a powerful punch directly to Kizaru's chest. The impact was catastrophic. A shockwave rippled through the air, and for a moment, it seemed as if the very atmosphere cracked under the pressure.

Kizaru's body was sent hurtling through the grove, crashing through several massive mangroves before he finally came to a stop, buried under a pile of rubble. The island shook from the force of the impact, and the mangroves swayed as if in the wake of a storm.

Noboru straightened, his breathing steady, his Haki still radiating powerfully. He could feel Kizaru's presence still lingering—injured but not down.

From the rubble, Kizaru slowly rose, his usual calm demeanor completely gone. His face was twisted in frustration, his once-pristine Marine coat now tattered and stained with blood. He coughed, clutching his side where Noboru had struck him. Even in his light form, Noboru's Haki had pierced through his defense.

"You're no ordinary pirate," Kizaru said, his voice strained but still dripping with sarcasm. "I didn't expect to face someone like you today."

Noboru shrugged. "You should've expected worse."

Before Kizaru could respond, Rayleigh stepped forward, his sword gleaming with Haki. "That's enough, Kizaru. You've overstayed your welcome."

Kizaru's eyes darted between Rayleigh and Noboru. He knew that continuing this fight would only wear him down further, especially against two opponents of their caliber. With a sigh, he raised his hands in mock surrender and his lazy attitude returned. "Well, it seems I'm outmatched today."

With a burst of light, Kizaru's body flickered and disappeared, retreating before more reinforcements could arrive.

As the island returned to a tense calm, Noboru relaxed his stance, his fists unclenching as the power of his Haki slowly faded. Rayleigh sheathed his sword, his expression thoughtful as he turned to Noboru.

"You handled him well," Rayleigh said, his tone respectful. "It's been a long time since I've seen someone push Kizaru like that."

Noboru, still watching the horizon where Kizaru had vanished, nodded. "He's tough, but speed alone isn't enough to win a fight."

Rayleigh smiled faintly, his eyes glinting with approval. 

Noboru crossed his arms, his mind already drifting toward the future. He had proven his strength today, but this battle was just a small part of a much larger storm brewing across the world. The Revolutionary Army, the World Government, and the mysterious forces lurking in the shadows… they were all moving toward something, and Luffy and his crew were at the center of it.

Noboru turned to Rayleigh. "What's next for the Straw Hats?"

Rayleigh's expression softened slightly. "Kuma scattered them across the world, but I have no doubt they'll reunite. Luffy has that rare quality—the kind of willpower that attracts others to his side. He'll make it to the New World, and when he does, he'll be ready."

Noboru nodded, his thoughts lingering on the young pirate. Luffy was strong, but more importantly, he had potential. He would be a key player in the battles to come.

As Noboru turned to leave the grove, Rayleigh called after him. "Where will you go, Noboru?"

Noboru glanced over his shoulder, his eyes burning with determination. "There's still much to be done. The Revolutionaries, the Marines, the Celestial Dragons—they all have their part to play. But when the time comes, I'll be there."

With that, Noboru disappeared into the shadows of Sabaody, his figure blending with the fading light as he set out on his next journey. The world was changing, and Noboru was ready to face whatever came next.