The waves gently crashed against the cliffs of a small volcanic island, where a warm mist rose from the hot springs nestled in the rock.
The Thousand Sunny, anchored in a sheltered cove, rested after the brutal confrontation with the Neo Marine. The Straw Hat crew, still reeling from Zephyr's power and the threat of the Dyna Stones, sought refuge in these natural pools, seeking to soothe their sore bodies and restless minds.
Inside the hot springs, the atmosphere was a mix of relaxation and typical Mugiwaras chaos. Luffy, partially submerged, floated like a cork, his arms lazily stretched out, a blissful smile on his face. "Hehe, this place is great!" he chuckled, splashing water around him.
Zoro, a towel wrapped around his head, meditated in a corner, his swords within reach. His closed eyes betrayed no tension, but his posture remained alert. "Shut it, Luffy," he grumbled without moving.
Sanji, cigarette in his lips, cast amorous glances at Nami and Robin, elegantly soaking in a separate pool. "Oh, Nami-san, Robin-chan, your silhouettes in this steam are a poem!" he cooed, his eyes forming hearts.
Nami, annoyed, threw a bar of soap at him. "Stop ogling us, pervert!" Sanji dodged with a smile, unfazed.
Usopp and Chopper, laughing, splashed Franky, whose cybernetic body gleamed underwater. "SUPER! You want to play? Taste my Franky Splash!" he roared, sending a wave that soaked Usopp. "Stop, you're going to drown us!" Usopp cried, feigning panic.
Chopper, laughing tears, clung to a deer-shaped float. Brook, sitting on a rock, played a joyful tune on his violin, his bones clattering to the rhythm. "Yohohoho! Nothing like a hot spring to warm a skeleton! Although I have no skin to warm!" His joke made Chopper laugh, but Usopp rolled his eyes.
Robin, engrossed in a book, gave an enigmatic smile, her gaze lost in the steam.
The peaceful atmosphere was suddenly shattered by a deep and familiar voice. "Yo, Straw Hat. Looks like you're having fun."
The Straw Hats froze. Aokiji, the former admiral, stood in a corner of the pool, his body marked by burn scars.
Unperturbed, Luffy leaped out of the water, splashing everyone. "Hey, bike guy! What are you doing here?" he shouted, a big smile on his face.
Zoro opened an eye, his hand sliding towards his sword. "A former admiral here? Smells like trouble."
Sanji, squinting, "What's a guy like you want with us?" Nami, gripping her towel, whispered, "If he's here, it's not a good sign..."
Aokiji sat casually on a rock, ignoring their wary glances. "Relax. I'm no longer with the Marines," he said, his calm but heavy voice. "I left after a disagreement with Akainu. I'm here for Zephyr. You've crossed paths with him, haven't you?"
Luffy, crossing his arms, nodded. "Yeah, the old guy with the weird arm! He's super strong, but he's causing chaos with his explosions!"
Zoro, straightening up, added, "He talked about destroying the New World. Who is this guy?"
Aokiji sighed, a shadow of sadness crossing his eyes. "Zephyr... my former mentor. He was a respected admiral, but he lost his family to a pirate. Then his men, killed by another. It broke him. He left the Marines and formed the Neo Marine to eradicate all pirates. His Dyna Stones can annihilate entire islands."
Nami, pale, tightened her grip on her towel. "Weapons that destroy islands?! We have to leave here right away!"
Usopp, trembling, hid behind Franky. "Yeah, it's suicide! Why get involved?!" Chopper, wide-eyed, nodded. "It's too scary!"
Aokiji raised an eyebrow, amused by their determination. "You're still as loud. But be careful. Zephyr doesn't joke around." He got up, ready to leave, but suddenly paused, his gaze turning to a dark corner of the room. "By the way, what are you doing here, Gojo?"
A heavy silence fell. The Straw Hats turned in unison, their eyes widening. In a corner, leaning against the wall, Satoru Gojo observed them, his black sunglasses glinting, his sly smile exuding an almost insolent confidence. The steam parted slightly, as if his mere presence pushed the air away.
"WHAT?!" Usopp screamed, diving behind Franky, his legs trembling. "IT'S HIM! THE HEAVENLY DRAGON SLAYER! WE'RE GONNA DIE!"
Chopper, panicked, clung to the float, his eyes bulging. "He... he's going to shred us to pieces! He's a monster!"
Nami, squeezing her towel until her knuckles turned white, stammered, "Why is HE here?! We're doomed! The Marines will come after us because of him!"
Sanji, his cigarette falling into the water, growled, "This guy spells trouble from miles away. What does he want?" He squinted warily.
Zoro, placing his hand on his sword, fixed Gojo with a sharp gaze. "An emperor here? You better tell us what you're doing here." His voice was calm.
"Relax a bit," Gojo said, slowly raising his head, his smile widening. "Kuzan, still as icy, huh?" he said, his drawling voice tinged with amusement. "I'm here for Zephyr. This old man is causing too much commotion, and I don't like being upstaged."
He turned his gaze to Luffy, his piercing blue eyes visible through his sunglasses. "Two years since Marineford, Straw Hat. You've grown quite strong. Rayleigh trained you well, huh?"
Luffy, proud, puffed out his chest, splashing water around him. "Ahh, so you know old Rayleigh!" His tone was jovial, true to his nature.
Gojo chuckled, amused. "He's a friend of mine." His gaze shifted to Zoro, who eyed him warily. "You, the swordsman, Mihawk still talks about you. You have a long way to go to surpass him, but you're on the right path."
Zoro grunted, tightening his grip on his sword. "I'll take care of him. And of you, if you get in the way."
Finally, Gojo set his eyes on Sanji, a mischievous glint in his gaze. "By the way, Reiju has become quite a woman, hasn't she?" His voice, light but calculated, hit like a bomb.
Sanji, frozen, let his cigarette fall, extinguishing in the water with a small "plop." His face shifted from shock to fury in a fraction of a second. "Tssss?!" He clicked his tongue.
Annoyed, Aokiji sighed loudly. "Gojo, stop playing the fool. Zephyr is a serious threat. If you're here, do something useful."
Gojo shrugged, his smile unwavering. "Relax, Kuzan. I'll handle Zephyr my own way." Gojo said nonchalantly, "Zephyr won't get far."