Starting from One Piece with the Rinnegan

"Revolutionary Army?"

Ace looked at Kaito, confused. He hadn't really looked into this organization before and didn't understand why Kaito brought it up now.

Kaito didn't bother explaining what the Revolutionary Army was. Instead, he glanced at Luffy and said:

"Sabo was rescued by the leader of the Revolutionary Army. His name is Monkey D. Dragon—this guy's father."

"Luffy's father?!"

Ace turned to Luffy in shock, only to find Luffy looking just as dumbfounded. He had no idea who his father was. In the original story, he didn't find out until after he set sail and Garp casually mentioned it in passing.

Honestly, Luffy's brain worked in mysterious ways. He had grown up all this time without even being curious about who his father was. What a weirdo.

Ace didn't have time to dwell on Luffy's family matters. The only thing that truly mattered to him was the piece of news he had just received—Sabo was still alive.

He didn't doubt Kaito's words for a second. As far as he was concerned, someone as powerful as Kaito had no reason to lie to a couple of kids like him and Luffy.

Ace suddenly turned and threw his arms around Luffy, his face streaked with hot tears as he cried out:

"Luffy, did you hear that? Sabo's alive! He's not dead! He was saved by your father!"

Luffy was still stuck in a daze, but Ace's hug snapped him back to reality. The next second, snot and tears poured down his face as he hugged Ace back. The two of them sobbed like babies.

"Uwaaaah! My dad's actually a pretty cool guy!"

"..."

The two boys cried together for a while. Once their emotions settled down a bit, Ace wiped his tears, let go of Luffy, and walked up to Kaito. His voice was filled with heartfelt gratitude.

"Thank you. Sabo means everything to us. Nothing could make me happier than knowing he's still alive. Don't worry—I'm never gonna dream about being a pirate again. I'll stay in Foosha Village and live out my life in peace!"

Kaito waved his hand dismissively.

"No need for that. Your life isn't that cheap. Do what I just suggested—go check out the Revolutionary Army. Maybe you'll find your purpose there. But don't say I sent you. Got it?"

Ace quickly nodded to show he understood.

Kaito had his reasons for pointing Ace toward the Revolutionary Army. In the world of pirates, the Revolutionary Army was the number one enemy of the World Government. They were openly defiant.

That meant they didn't conflict with Kaito's interests—in fact, they could help distract the World Government while Kaito developed his plans.

Plus, if Ace joined the Revolutionary Army, with his strength and Sabo's support, it would be hard for the tragedy from the original story to repeat itself.

Surrounded by idealists, Ace would probably find the sense of belonging and purpose he'd been searching for.

Kaito let out a small breath. One problem child dealt with—now only Luffy remained.

He stared at Luffy until the boy started to shiver under the pressure. Then, and only then, did Kaito look away.

Shaking his head, Kaito thought, With Luffy's personality, unless I hit him with a Kotoamatsukami, there's just no helping him.

He'd already scared the kid half to death today—even pulled out the "cut you into pieces" threat—and yet the brat still managed to fall asleep in that state. How could anyone fix a mind that stubborn?

Might as well let him follow the path he was meant to walk. Stir up some trouble for Mary Geoise along the way. As for the Paramount War—that was still a must. It'd be the perfect opportunity to collect powerful Devil Fruits.

As for the Impel Down breakout? Heh. During the "riot suppression," accidentally killing off a few high-profile inmates would be perfectly justifiable, wouldn't it?

Kaito stretched his limbs, feeling a little worn out. Turns out educating brats was exhausting no matter who you were.

Ace stood nearby, gazing at the tall figure of Kaito. Suddenly, he realized he didn't even know the name of this mysterious Marine.

In less than a day, Kaito had left a deep, unforgettable mark on his heart. How could he not know the name of someone so important?

Thinking this, Ace quickly asked:

"I never got your name. Can you tell me what it is?"

"Uchiha Kaito."

Leaving only his name behind, Kaito vanished from sight right in front of Luffy and Ace—as if he had never been there. The surroundings quieted, with only the crackling firewood on the ground still making a sound.

Luffy had no idea what the name meant. He walked over to Ace and tugged on his sleeve.

"Ace, do you know who that guy is?"

Ace didn't answer. He just kept staring at the spot where Kaito had disappeared.

He knew that name.

Uchiha Kaito—Vice Admiral. A monster in terms of power. To Ace, those labels were the same ones he associated with Garp.

Yet Kaito didn't look much older than him, which made it all feel surreal—even for someone as proud as Ace.

A wild thought suddenly flashed through Ace's mind: Maybe joining the Marines under him wouldn't be such a bad idea?

But he quickly shook his head. Nah. Kaito had told him to check out the Revolutionary Army—there had to be a reason. He'd follow his advice. Sabo was there too, after all.

Luffy tugged at his sleeve again, breaking his train of thought.

"Ace, what's wrong? Why won't you talk to me?"

Snapped back to reality, Ace turned to Luffy and gave him a soft smile that made Luffy feel a little weird.

"I'm fine. But being Pirate King—that's your dream now. I've got to go find my own path."

"Eh?! Where are you going?"

"To find your father. I want to see what kind of man leads a group like the Revolutionary Army."

...

The next morning, Kaito returned to Makino's bar.

When she saw him, Makino greeted him with a bright smile that left the other customers stunned.

She trotted over, hands behind her back, and chirped sweetly:

"You're here! Come sit. What would you like to drink today?"

Seeing her like this put Kaito in a great mood. He smiled and said:

"Same as last time. Orange juice."

"Coming right up!"

A short while later, Makino placed a tall glass of orange juice in front of him. She leaned her cheek against her palm, watching him sip slowly.

After a while, she remembered Ace and Luffy and asked:

"How are Luffy and Ace doing?"

"They've moved past what happened. Ace, in particular, has changed a lot."

"Really!? You're amazing! I admire you more and more—even though you're so young!"

"You're amazing too. This orange juice is really good."

"Hehe, then make sure to come by more often!"

"I will. I didn't bring any money today, so take this instead. If you're ever in danger, don't hesitate—just call my name."

Kaito took a Flying Thunder God kunai from his cloak and handed it to Makino. He had a soft spot for this gentle bartender and wanted her to have a safeguard.

Makino naturally didn't want to take it. She didn't even want to accept his money—how could she accept a gift like this?

But after Kaito insisted again and again, she finally relented and tucked the kunai into her clothes.

Seeing that she accepted it, Kaito felt at ease. That was the last thing he needed to take care of in Foosha Village. Time to move on to more important matters.

As he stood up, Makino asked softly:

"You're leaving?"

"Yeah. I've already stayed too long. I have important business to take care of."

"Important? Is it dangerous?"

"It's nothing. Just catching an old man. You'll probably read about it in the papers over the next few days."

"Ooh, then I'll be keeping an eye on the papers!"

After finishing his juice, Kaito turned and walked out of the bar. He glanced up at the clear sky, then looked back at Makino, who was still watching him from the doorway.

"One more thing—it'll rain in the next few days. Don't forget to bring an umbrella."

And with that, Kaito's figure flickered—and disappeared from the bar entrance.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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