It wasn't until Kalifa left the Marine Headquarters that she realized sothing was off. The plaza outside was filled with confused Marines and civilians, all pointing toward the moon hanging high in the sky. The problem? It wasn't supposed to be night yet.
Clusters of people whispered and gestured, unsure what to make of it.
"Kalifa-san!"
A familiar voice called out. Yamato ca running, waving her hand energetically. She pointed upward, her eyes wide.
"It's so weird! The sun just disappeared out of nowhere! Did you see it?"
Kalifa shook her head slowly. At first, she had assud she'd just lost track of ti while working, but this… this was clearly not normal.
Monts later, Robin stepped out of the Headquarters, her calm eyes scanning the restless crowd before turning to the two won.
"Kalifa, the sa thing happened in other regions," Robin said softly.
Kalifa frowned. "Any word from Gion and Hancock?"
"Yes," Robin replied. "Dressrosa and Amazon Lily both reported the sa phenonon. Hancock is safe. Gion has already deployed forces to calm the public. So far, no riots."
Kalifa nodded approvingly. "Good. Have the other branches remain alert. If anything unusual happens, I want imdiate reports sent to Headquarters."
Robin smiled faintly. "Already taken care of."
Yamato, who had been watching the two won coordinate with sparkling admiration, raised her hand timidly. "Um… so, since everything's under control, can we eat? I'm starving!"
Kalifa chuckled, her earlier tension easing. She had always doted on Yamato, ever since they first t. "Alright, let's head ho. It'd be easier to talk things over there. Sigh… it would be great if Boss were here. He'd know what's going on for sure."
Yamato grinned. "He'll be back soon, don't worry!"
"Intuition?" Kalifa teased.
"Of course!" Yamato puffed her chest proudly.
Robin covered her mouth to hide her laugh. "Then let's get going. I just hope Nerona isn't panicking at ho—today's sky would scare anyone."
The three won hurried back, only to find l sprawled out on the floor near the entrance.
Kalifa froze. "What in the world happened here!?"
As they approached, they realized l had fainted, her head slightly bruised. Apparently, she'd been running headfirst into sothing invisible.
Robin sighed. "Just like her master…"
Yamato knelt down, shaking her shoulders. "Hey! Wake up!"
No response.
Yamato frowned, then resorted to the classic physical thod—one loud smack! later, l jolted awake.
Her eyes darted around wildly before landing on Yamato. "Yamato! Please, you have to save Master! She was crying out in pain just now!"
The words barely left her mouth before Yamato bolted toward the stairs—only to slam headfirst into sothing solid and unseen.
"Gah—!" she groaned, rubbing her forehead. "Why is there a wall here!?"
Nine ethereal fox tails unfurled behind Kalifa, forming a soft cushion to catch Yamato before she fell.
Robin raised a finger to her lips. "Shh. Listen."
Everyone went quiet. Then… soft, muffled sounds drifted down from upstairs.
Kalifa and Robin's faces both reddened slightly. Yamato's ears twitched, her expression turning awkward.
Only l still panicked. "See! It's that sound! She's being attacked!"
Yamato's face flushed deeper. "N-No, l… she's… uh, she's fine. Go… go handle sothing else, we've got this covered."
l blinked in confusion. "But—"
Kalifa quickly intervened. "Go prepare dinner, l. Nerona's… exercising. She'll be down soon."
Still dazed, l nodded and shuffled off, glancing back several tis before disappearing into the kitchen.
Robin giggled softly. "Yamato, your Observation Haki is improving. You predicted the future, didn't you?"
Yamato puffed her cheeks. "It's not like that!"
Kalifa exhaled and rubbed her temple. "Only one person could cause sothing like this…"
At that mont, Uchiha Chiga's voice echoed faintly from upstairs. The won exchanged knowing looks.
"Figures," Kalifa sighed. "He really did it again."
Only Chiga could change day into night just to suit his mood.
A few minutes later, Chiga and Nerona ca downstairs, both looking calm and composed—as if nothing unusual had happened at all.
Yamato imdiately bounded up to him, circling him with suspicion. She seed to be looking for sothing, muttering under her breath. "No marks, huh…"
Chiga raised an eyebrow. "Looking for sothing, Yamato?"
"Eh? Nothing!" she said quickly, stepping back with a guilty smile.
Kalifa crossed her arms, adjusting her glasses. "Boss, maybe next ti you warn us before pulling sothing like that? You just plunged the whole world into night! People thought it was the end of days."
Nerona crossed her arms and nodded. "Exactly! Totally inconsiderate!"
Chiga shot her a side glance. "Didn't you just complain it was too bright earlier? What now—regretting it already?"
"I'm wearing a skirt!" Nerona shot back, puffing her cheeks.
Robin couldn't hold back her laughter, gently pulling Nerona aside.
Yamato wasted no ti looping her arm through Chiga's. "Master, stay for a few more days this ti! Don't run off again!"
Chiga smiled faintly and patted her head. "Alright, alright. I'll stay. And when I leave again, I'll bring you all with ."
"Huh? Really!?" Yamato's eyes lit up instantly, and Kalifa and Robin both froze mid-step.
Chiga raised his hand, and space shimred before them. A massive portal appeared, swirling with radiant colors. Through it, they could see a vast, boundless realm glowing with divine energy.
"This," Chiga said calmly, "is the world I created—the Dragon God Realm. Once it's ready, all of you will live there. You'll be free to visit the worlds I've traveled through as well."
Before he could say more, Yamato—true to her nature—had already dashed straight into the portal.
Chiga chuckled softly. "Guess she's the first resident now."
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