Chapter 19: Return and Fight
Pirate World
"I'm finally back!"
Stretching, Ayaan took a deep breath, feeling the atmosphere of the Pirate World. Unlike the Naruto world, which carried a sense of seriousness and discipline, this place radiated chaos and disorder—though laced with an undeniable sense of freedom.
He wasn't quite sure how he could tell, but maybe traveling between two vastly different worlds had sharpened his perception.
"There's only one day left in the seven-day limit, so I might as well explore this island," Ayaan thought. Realizing he hadn't properly checked out the area yet, he decided to take a stroll and maybe buy some essentials.
After concluding his transaction in the Naruto world, Ayaan had spent three full days practicing the ninjutsu he'd obtained.
Thanks to his current body in the Pirate World, his chakra reserves had exploded in volume. He could now be considered among the high-chakra elite ninja. Naturally, when it came to training ninjutsu, he no longer had to be so frugal with chakra. As a result, he had quickly mastered two basic Water-Style techniques.
He hadn't forgotten the Spade Pirates, nor the threat posed by the Vice Admiral still pursuing them. So, the first thing he focused on was Water-Style techniques—specifically to counter Devil Fruit users.
However, while browsing through the market just half an hour later, flames and black smoke suddenly erupted from the direction of the docks.
"Well, looks like vacation time is over. Is the fight already underway?"
Seeing a massive fireball erupt near the harbor, Ayaan instantly knew that Ace and the others were engaged in battle.
And since Ace had gone so far as to use the power of the Mera Mera no Mi, it was clear he wasn't fighting small fry. Even without seeing it firsthand, Ayaan could easily guess that a Navy battleship had arrived—likely carrying a Vice Admiral.
His guess was spot on. And it wasn't just one Vice Admiral this time.
When Ayaan arrived at the scene, he saw Ace getting beaten up.
"What the hell? Was there ever a scene like this in the original series?"
Ayaan was stunned. Ace was being overwhelmed by two Vice Admirals. He didn't recognize one of them, but the other was unmistakable—a Marine with the head of a Dalmatian.
That man was a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user: the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Dalmatian. Back when Ayaan first read the manga, he had thought this guy was wearing a dog hat. Only later did he realize that the man was the dog!
This guy was a perfect example of the saying: "There are no useless Devil Fruits—only useless users." The fact that this man had made it to Vice Admiral proved the point.
Both Vice Admirals were now attacking Ace with fists coated in Armament Haki. Clearly, Ace was not yet fully used to fighting opponents who could bypass his elemental body with Haki.
Fortunately, Ayaan had trained with Ace in Haki a while back. Ace had even started dabbling in Observation Haki. Otherwise, if Ace had been naïve enough to think he was invincible just because of his Logia body, he'd have been knocked out already.
As for the rest of the Spade Pirates, they couldn't even get close to the battlefield. Rushing in would only get them hurt—or worse.
Still, Ayaan could feel that Ace was changing. He was adapting quickly, reacting faster, and reading his opponents better.
"Is he about to awaken his Observation Haki?" Ayaan muttered.
Although Ayaan had already shared the method to train it, Ace had been too busy navigating and running the crew over the past month to really dedicate himself to the training. But in battle, especially desperate ones like this, Haki evolved fast.
With Ace's talent, it wouldn't be surprising if he awakened it right now.
While Ayaan was still deep in thought, Ace was suddenly knocked away and landed nearby with a loud thud.
"Need a hand, Captain?" Ayaan asked, tilting his head.
"Ugh… Nah, I'm good. Why would a ship's doctor jump into battle?" Ace groaned as he stood up, swaying slightly.
Ayaan chuckled. He finally understood why the Spade Pirates were struggling. A captain who was too reliable ended up shielding his crew so much that they never got the chance to grow stronger.
Of course, if they had faced the kind of crazy, life-threatening situations the Straw Hat Pirates had, they might not have survived at all.
For most people, a captain like Luffy would be a death sentence. Even non-combatants like doctors and navigators on the Thousand Sunny had faced mortal danger more than once.
But Ayaan was no ordinary crew member.
If Ace told him not to join the fight, would he just sit back?
Not a chance.
This was the best time to gain combat experience—before they entered the New World and had to face monsters like the Four Emperors.
He wasn't about to let himself be remembered as "some random guy who once sailed with Ace."
"Forget it, Captain. I don't think you can handle two Vice Admirals alone." Ayaan shook his head and stepped forward.
If this were the New World, and Ace had fully awakened both Armament and Observation Haki, the two Vice Admirals wouldn't stand a chance—unless they were Admiral candidates or Ace's own grandfather.
Right now, though, even pushing himself to the limit, Ace might only be able to take down one of them.
Ayaan didn't know if his presence had triggered a butterfly effect that led to two Vice Admirals being sent instead of one—but it didn't matter anymore.
He was a Spade Pirate now. Time to fight.
He locked eyes with the Dalmatian. "I'll take that one. Ace, you handle the other guy!"
"Wait, I said I didn't need—"
"It's settled. I'm going in!" Ayaan cut him off and hurled two kunai at the Dalmatian Vice Admiral.
"A new face? Another of Fire Fist Ace's recruits?" the Marine muttered, crushing the kunai easily with a Haki-coated hand. "You think you can stand in a fight like this with that level of strength? Let me teach you a lesson!"
He vanished in an instant.
"So fast!" Ayaan's pupils shrank. Thanks to his Observation Haki and his modified Eagle Eyes, he could just barely track the enemy's movement.
With no time to dodge, he raised his fist and countered.
As the two fists were about to clash—one wrapped in black Armament Haki—metallic bone spurs suddenly extended from Ayaan's knuckles. They glinted coldly, laced with dark-blue chakra.
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