The early morning sun was just beginning to rise as Satoru continued his daily exercises. He felt someone watching him—not the casual glance of a curious passerby, but the focused gaze of someone studying his every move. Without turning his head, he smirked.
"Why don't you come out? Sneaking around like that isn't very pirate-like," Satoru called out, his voice calm but sharp.
From behind a tree in the distance, a figure stepped forward, the sunlight catching the unmistakable red hair and easy grin of Shanks, one of the Four Emperors of the Sea.
"I didn't expect you to notice me so quickly," Shanks said, sounding genuinely impressed. "I was keeping my presence pretty well-hidden. Is it because of those eyes of yours?"
"What do you want?" Satoru replied bluntly, ignoring the compliment. He didn't feel the need to be overly polite.
Shanks laughed, scratching the back of his head. "Nothing too serious. I was just curious about you. Uta hasn't stopped talking about you since yesterday."
Satoru's expression didn't change, but his tone grew more curt. "If that's all, you've satisfied your curiosity. You can leave now. Don't get in the way of my training."
Shanks raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the boy's confidence. "That's pretty cold. We've known each other for a bit now, haven't we? Shouldn't you be more welcoming?"
"Should I offer you milk and cookies while I'm at it?" Satoru retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Shanks burst out laughing, the sound booming through the clearing. "Ha! I like your style, kid. But enough joking around. You made my daughter cry yesterday. You've got to give me an explanation for that."
"Are you here to avenge her?" Satoru asked, his smirk widening. For some reason, the idea of fighting Shanks made his blood pump faster.
"Something like that," Shanks replied with a shrug. "But don't worry, I won't use my sword. Just fists. Gotta keep things fair."
Satoru's grin turned into a full-blown smile. "Fair? Against someone like you? Sure, let's call it that. But don't get cocky, old man. You might be surprised by what I can do."
Shanks chuckled again, stepping forward casually. "Alright then. Let's see what you've got, kid."
Without warning, Shanks closed the distance between them in a flash, his fist aiming directly for Satoru's stomach. The speed was overwhelming—enough to knock out most opponents before they even realized what had happened.
But the blow never landed.
A faint shimmer appeared in the air around Satoru, stopping Shanks' fist cold. The Yonko frowned, pulling back and examining the invisible barrier.
"Interesting," Shanks said, more to himself than to Satoru. "Is that some kind of Devil Fruit ability?"
"Nope," Satoru replied coolly. "Just a little trick of mine. You won't get through that so easily."
Shanks stepped back, his interest growing. "Haki, then. Let's see how your little trick holds up against this."
The air around Shanks grew heavy as his Conqueror's Haki surged, red lightning crackling through the atmosphere. Even the ground beneath them trembled under the weight of his presence.
Satoru's grin widened. For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt a true challenge—a chance to push himself to the limit.
"Bring it on," he said, his voice filled with excitement.
Shanks charged again, his fist now coated with the overwhelming force of Conqueror's Haki. The power behind the attack could shatter boulders, but as it collided with Satoru's barrier, it stopped dead in its tracks.
A shockwave rippled outward, flattening the grass and sending leaves flying. Shanks' Haki-infused punch couldn't even crack the invisible shield.
"Well, I'll be damned," Shanks muttered, pulling back once more. "That's one hell of a defense you've got there, kid."
"Is that all?" Satoru taunted, lowering his barrier with a casual flick of his wrist. "I thought a Yonko would hit harder."
Shanks laughed, genuinely amused. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But don't let it go to your head. You've got a long way to go before you can take someone like me seriously."
Satoru crossed his arms, his expression unchanging. "I'll get there soon enough. Don't worry."
Shanks turned to leave, waving over his shoulder. "We'll see about that. Keep training, kid. And don't be surprised if Uta drags you out to sea one day. She's not one to give up easily."
As Shanks disappeared into the distance, Satoru felt a spark of determination reignite within him. The encounter had shown him how far he still had to go—but it also reminded him of his potential.
"Next time, I'll make you take me seriously," Satoru murmured to himself, resuming his training with renewed vigor.