Early in the morning, Shin slowly opened his eyes and looked at the woman beside him. With Kozuki Hiyori nestled against him, he suddenly realized how deeply he was drawn in.
He considered himself someone without a particularly magnetic personality. In terms of charm, Ace and Yamato would easily surpass his rational, straightforward nature. Hiyori's devotion to him was less an act of pure affection and more an expression of gratitude or obligation, perhaps even driven by strategic reasons.
But Shin wasn't one to dwell on morality concerning personal matters. Back in the Naruto world, he'd accepted Terumi Mei's dedication when he conquered the Village. His connection with Kozuki Hiyori felt much more genuine than that situation.
Besides, as both a noble figure and the de facto ruler of Wano, Hiyori possessed a sense of integrity that Shin admired, a quality that even surpassed the Mizukage of the Village. The people of the One Piece world expressed clear distinctions between love and hatred without the entanglements and complicated allegiances that often clouded the motives of those in the Naruto World.
Shin's thoughts drifted to his time in the other world and its endless wars fought in the name of "peace." The constant rhetoric about peace often masked violent intentions, leaving behind a sea of blood where mountains and rivers once stood. Ironically, fewer people clamoring for peace might have actually allowed peace to take root.
Just as Shin was contemplating a return to that world for unfinished business, he felt Hiyori stir awake beside him. Seeing her shy expression, Shin didn't need any reassurances. Whatever motives she might have harbored initially, Hiyori was sincere in her commitment to him.
Whether she wanted to elevate her status, unite people under his name, or find a strong protector for Wano, it didn't matter to Shin. These things posed no threat to him, nor would they cost him anything.
Since that night, their bond had only deepened. Over the next few months, Shin and Hiyori worked together to improve Wano, spending their days managing affairs and occasionally taking time to explore the mountains and rivers of the land.
Shin had cleansed Wano of its heavy pollution in the past. But now, with a greater level of care, he was restoring its natural environment, making it even more vibrant and abundant.
One morning in the Flower Capital, Shin was reminiscing about his sea voyages while Hiyori listened with rapt attention, her eyes squinting into delighted crescents as she took in each tale.
Finally, she looked at him and asked softly, "Shin, are you planning to return to the sea soon?"
Shin scratched his head, feeling slightly abashed. "Yes, I've stayed in Wano for quite a while now, and with the country on stable footing, my work here is mostly done."
He felt an unusual pang of guilt. Unlike his relationship with Terumi Mei, which was more transactional, his bond with Hiyori had grown into something deeper over time. Leaving her now felt more complicated than he'd expected, making him feel, for once, like a true rogue.
Hiyori, however, only smiled. She adjusted his collar with practiced ease, understanding his thoughts without a word. In this world, it was common for men to set sail, leaving loved ones behind, and Hiyori herself had a spirit as resilient as any man's. Were it not for her obligations to Wano, she might have joined him on his journey.
Before leaving, Shin made sure to boost Hiyori's potential. He didn't give her the capacity to consume multiple Devil Fruits, but he did enhance her body, elevating her potential to that of a sea emperor. With training, she could probably handle a marine admiral; with time, she might rival her father's strength, Kozuki Oden.
Much of the suffering on the seas stemmed from a lack of power. By ensuring Hiyori's strength, Shin sought to safeguard her future and protect Wano from potential threats.
Reflecting on his past interactions with Kaido, Shin felt a tinge of regret. If he'd realized sooner that he would be in a relationship with Hiyori, he might have approached Kaido's fate differently.
Shin had also contemplated many unconventional uses for devil fruits. For instance, with Orochi's Yamata-no-Orochi fruit and a few other unique fruits, he could theoretically explore concepts like resurrection and longevity. Extracting Orochi's fruit had already shown him some of these potentials. The possibilities were vast if he could use the fruit with specific jutsu like the Eight Gates.
Then, he considered another peculiar idea. What if he gave Kaido an artificial dragon fruit and fed him a dango from the Dango-Dango fruit? It would be ironic if he could tame a former sea emperor, forcing him into service under Hiyori's banner as the "Protector of Wano."
The thought made him chuckle darkly. Unfortunately, with Kaido having left Wano, hunting him down wasn't practical just yet. This plan, if it ever became feasible, would have to wait.
A few days later, Shin finally left Wano. While he'd arrived on Ace's flame-power ship, his departure was a more magnificent sight. Since Ace and Yamato left early to notify Whitebeard of the situation, Shin was left traveling alone. Shin took the form of a dragon and soared into the skies over Wano, his massive form shimmering as he cut through the clouds.
The dragon's power to control the clouds allowed him to glide seamlessly, even through the unpredictable climate of the New World, a fitting farewell to the land he'd come to cherish.
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