The bustling streets of the Chambord Islands were alive with the hum of life, a stark contrast to the disciplined and structured environment of the Navy Headquarters. For Satoru, this was a breath of fresh air.
Holding a marshmallow in one hand and a bag of assorted snacks in the other, he strolled along the lively thoroughfare, the cotton candy melting sweetly in his mouth.
*"This is what life should be,"* he thought, a contented smile spreading across his face.
However, his peaceful moment was interrupted by a desperate cry for help.
"Help! Someone save me!"
Satoru's sharp senses directed him to a dimly lit alley where a young girl was struggling against three sinister-looking men. The bustling crowd nearby chose to ignore the scene, their eyes avoiding the commotion.
*"Cowards,"* Satoru muttered under his breath. The sight disgusted him. Despite his young age, he couldn't ignore such injustice.
He stepped into the alley, his voice cutting through the tense air like a blade.
"Ahem, heroes, isn't it a bit too bold to kidnap someone in broad daylight?"
The men froze momentarily, startled by the sudden voice. They turned to find a silver-haired boy standing confidently, seemingly unfazed.
"Who's this brat?" one of them sneered, recovering quickly.
The girl, her tear-streaked face lighting up momentarily with hope, quickly despaired again when she realized it was just a child.
"Little boy," another thug mocked, "you're brave, but you've got no idea what you're walking into. Why don't you take her place instead? We'll even share some sweets with you."
Satoru sighed, his disappointment palpable. "You really are irredeemable, aren't you?"
With a subtle motion of his fingers, the air around the alley seemed to ripple. The three men were suddenly yanked off their feet, their bodies flung violently against the walls.
"AHHH!"
The sound of bones crunching and heads hitting brick echoed in the confined space. They slammed into the walls repeatedly, their cries of pain growing weaker with each collision. Within seconds, they were unconscious, bleeding and broken, their menacing bravado replaced with pitiful whimpers.
Satoru turned to the girl, her wide eyes frozen between fear and awe.
"Go home," he said gently. "This isn't the kind of place you should be wandering around."
She nodded quickly, sparing one last glance at her unconscious assailants before disappearing into the bustling crowd.
As for Satoru, he dusted off his hands, his attention already back to his snacks.
*"Didn't Chris say something before we left the ship? Something about not causing trouble?"* He paused, trying to remember.
When the thought refused to surface, he shrugged. *"If I can't remember it, it probably wasn't important."*
Satoru continued his exploration, blending back into the lively streets, oblivious to the growing storm brewing behind him.
---
In the shadows, the three thugs groaned as they slowly regained consciousness.
"Damn it," one rasped, spitting out blood. "That little brat... Who the hell is he? He's got some kind of Devil Fruit power!"
The leader growled, his face twisted with fury. "No way we're letting this go. That kid's worth a fortune—looks rare, has powers, and humiliated us. We're reporting this to the higher-ups. He's going to pay for this."
Unaware of the danger targeting him, Satoru wandered on, happily munching on a fresh batch of pastries. Whatever plans the traffickers had, he wasn't concerned. He welcomed any challenge that dared come his way.
*"Let them try,"* he thought, his silver hair gleaming under the sunlight. *"I'll deal with them just like I did those three."*