One Piece: From Ninja To Pirates

"The Gates of Justice are gradually opening, which means the Buster Call is imminent..." Nico Robin said with a grave expression.

Departing from Marine Headquarters and entering the vicinity of Enies Lobby through the Gates of Justice was the shortest route.

"Perfect timing," Meiser chuckled. "I've been looking forward to this."

"Hmm?"

As if sensing something, Meiser looked up and immediately spotted two figures clashing mid-air.

It was Franky and Fukuro locked in aerial combat!

"You bastard, just drown in the sea already!!" Fukuro roared furiously.

Having taken several heavy punches from this jerk, Fukuro felt like his liver was about to rupture. He needed to throw this guy into the waterfall sooner rather than later.

"Dammit, I can't move!"

An enraged Franky tried to counterattack, but the force of the impact left him immobilized, helplessly plunging into the sea with his opponent.

"BOOM!!"

"Quite the intense battle," Meiser remarked.

"Are they okay...?"

Meiser didn't respond, instead focusing his Sharingan ahead—more precisely, on the two figures underwater.

Franky had already broken free from Fukuro and was struggling to swim upward.

Meanwhile, Fukuro was maneuvering through the water, apparently trying to stop Franki, though it didn't seem to be going well.

"They'll be fine for now," Meiser said.

Just then, Sanji burst out of the water and landed on the shore.

"I-I'm saved..."

That sensation of complete weakness had been unbearable; Sanji had genuinely thought he was going to die.

Fortunately, he'd run into Meiser.

"Seawater really does suppress Devil Fruit users effectively," Meiser mused, stroking his chin. "We could use it to neutralize their abilities."

"The sea is the natural enemy of all Devil Fruit users," Robin added.

Back when she'd planned to deal with Crocodile, her strategy had involved using seawater to disrupt his Elemental Transformation, giving her an opening to strike.

"Not all abilities can be countered that way, though," Sanji said, pulling out a cigarette from his pocket. His face fell when he realized both the cigarette and his lighter were soaked. "Damn, what a letdown."

"How so?"

"That Aokiji guy's power isn't something seawater can handle," Sanji explained. "He can freeze the entire ocean!"

Meiser: "..."

Oh, great. Of all the examples, you had to pick the most extreme one.

How exactly was seawater supposed to counter ice?

Where did Sanji even come up with that logic?

Realizing the flaw in his argument, Sanji cleared his throat awkwardly. "So, you guys took down this bull-headed guy?"

"Yeah, Meiser beat him."

"Oh, right—grab his key, quick!" Meiser immediately walked over and rummaged through Blueno's clothes, pulling out a key.

After testing it on Robin's cuffs to no avail, he sighed. "Not this one, apparently."

"What number key is it?"

"Number 2."

"Number 2!" Sanji exclaimed. "Hurry, take this key to Zoro! That idiot Usopp locked the two of them together, and they need Key No. 2 to get out."

Meiser: "???"

What kind of insane development is this? Why did Usopp lock the two of them together with Sea-stone Handcuffs? Was he planning to use this against Devil Fruit users?

But isn't the target reversed?

At that moment, Franky and Fukuro burst out of the water together, immediately catching Sanji's attention.

"Franky?!" Sanji exclaimed in disbelief. "Why is this guy in the ocean?"

"And a CP9 agent..."

Did they dive into the sea to fight? He hadn't noticed earlier—what kind of reckless move was this?

"They just fell from upstairs," Meiser said, handing Sanji the second key. "You go ahead. I'll handle things here."

If the opponent wasn't a woman, Meiser was confident Sanji wouldn't lose.

Sanji hesitated for a second before nodding. "Alright, got it."

Only Meiser could guarantee rescuing Franky in this situation—no one else had the ability to fly.

After Sanji left, Meiser turned his attention back to the sea, where Fukuro had just noticed him.

"Chaba-ba... So you took down Blueno."

Fukuro's gaze darkened as he glanced at Meiser, then at the unconscious Blueno.

As comrades who had survived the training camp together, they shared a strong bond. Seeing his partner defeated weighed heavily on Fukuro's heart.

"I'd advise you not to worry about us," Meiser said calmly.

"Hmph, don't get too cocky," Fukuro sneered. "Once I deal with this damn guy, you're next!"

"I'll avenge Blueno myself!"

Without waiting for Meiser's response, Fukuro plunged back into the water, clearly intent on finishing off Franky.

Unfortunately for him, even pushing Franky down the waterfall wasn't enough to defeat him. Instead, Fukuro found himself restrained, forced to use Moonwalk with one foot to slowly rise back up.

"This guy's resourceful," Meiser chuckled before calling out, "Need help, Franky?"

"No!" Franky shouted back.

Meiser nodded, not pressing further.

"BOOM!!"

Suddenly, a deafening explosion echoed from above, followed by a savage roar.

"ROAR!!!"

The abrupt disturbance immediately drew Meiser's attention.

"A beast's roar?" Meiser frowned. "That wolf, maybe."

"Possibly."

Nico Robin knew CP9 had two Devil Fruit users—Rob Lucci, who had the Leopard-Leopard Fruit, and the wolf Meiser mentioned.

"Hmm... There might be others too," Meiser mused. "After I blasted through the gate, two people ate Devil Fruits."

"Can't rule out someone having a Zoan-type."

The memory of those two scrambling to eat the fruits almost made him laugh. Were they that afraid he'd steal them?

"Freshly eaten Devil Fruits might not grant much power yet," Robin remarked.

Well, that was the optimistic view.

Meiser said nothing, merely nodding before shifting his gaze back to the two figures in the air.

At that moment, Franky was sitting atop Fukuro, raising both hands to aim at his head.

"1.5 Cola Power, Coup de Burst!"

"BOOM!!"

The terrifying impact force sent Fukuro crashing down from midair, the sheer power creating a massive crater in the ground!

Fukuro lay unconscious at the crater's center, eyes rolled back.

"Whoosh~"

"Tap~"

Landing safely, Franky sighed in relief. He retrieved the key from Fukuro's body and quickly ran to Meiser, saying, "Finally took care of this guy."

"Here, Ninja kid. Try this key on Nico Robin's handcuffs."

"Thanks."

Checking the key's numbered tag, Meiser saw it was marked "6."

After testing it, he found it didn't work.

"Seems this isn't the right one either."

"Then we'll have to wait until the others defeat their opponents and grab their keys," Franky said helplessly.

Just then, he noticed the slowly opening Gates of Justice and exclaimed, "Hey! Why's that thing almost fully open already?!"

Did ships need the entire massive Gates of Justice to pass through?

Wait... was this because of the Buster Call?!

"Time's running out," Meiser said, grabbing Blueno from the ground and dragging him along. "Let's regroup with the others first."

"Got it!"

"Wait... why are you bringing this guy along?"

"He'll be useful later."

"Understood." Franky nodded vaguely before glancing back at the Gates of Justice. "A Buster Call, huh..."

Perhaps today... they might just make history.