In the silence of the night, under the vast canvas of stars, a gentle wind brushed through the Frost Moon Village cemetery. The moon shone like a silver spotlight on an old gravestone etched with a name that once held promise: Kuina. The air shimmered faintly—something ancient and powerful stirred.
Suddenly, a low hum pulsed from the earth. A warm light burst forth from the gravestone, glowing brighter with each second. A pulse echoed—a heartbeat.
Kuina's soul, long dormant in the underworld, stirred from an endless dream. In her vision, she stood atop the dojo, practicing katas. She remembered the sharp clack of wooden swords, the cold steps of the ladder she had climbed—and the fall. Then... darkness.
But now, her eyes fluttered open. A rush of cool air hit her skin. She blinked, looking up at the unfamiliar sky, filled with glittering stars that danced like fireflies. She sat up slowly, confusion flooding her thoughts.
"W-What... happened? Wasn't it just yesterday?" she whispered, her voice quivering. "I fell… and then…"
She froze. Her hands—larger. Her body—taller. Her limbs—stronger. She looked down and gasped. Her young body was no more. She had *grown*. She now had the form of a full-grown woman. Her chest had matured, and her limbs had the strength and tone of a seasoned swordswoman. She stumbled backward, holding herself, utterly stunned.
From nearby, a voice laughed in disbelief. "W-Woah… what just happened?"
Jessie, standing a few meters away, his cowboy hat tilted back in shock, was just as stunned by the transformation. The light from the resurrection had faded, and before him stood a striking woman—Kuina—but no longer a child.
The system spoke in Jessie's mind, calm and mechanical as always:
"For synchronization with this era, the revived individual has been aged appropriately. Adult form enabled. Compatibility: 100%."
Jessie chuckled in awe. "System, you sly genius... I freakin' love you!"
Kuina, still confused and now realizing she was completely exposed from the rapid growth, quickly turned her body away in embarrassment.
"D-Don't look at me!" she snapped, cheeks flaming red.
Jessie, regaining his senses, reached into his system space and tossed her a set of modest but well-designed women's clothing. "Here, put these on. I promise I wasn't peeking!"
Kuina hesitated, then quickly dressed. Once clothed, she turned toward Jessie, her glare still suspicious. "Who are you? Why am I alive? And where am I?"
Jessie grinned, tipping his hat. "Name is Jessie. I came here to bring you back. You're Kuina, right? The girl who vowed to become the world's strongest swordswoman. Well, I want you on my crew—the Voidreign Pirates. I believe in you."
"...What?" Kuina whispered.
Jessie stepped closer. "Let's not talk here. It's not safe." With a flash, he picked her up bridal-style.
"Wait, WHAT ARE YOU—?!" Kuina barely had time to react as Jessie launched into the air, soaring with incredible speed using a technique unknown to her.
In mere moments, they landed aboard the Voidreign Ship, anchored far from the village coastline. Lanterns glowed softly, and on the deck stood Uta, watching the scene unfold with a perplexed expression.
Jessie landed and gently put Kuina down.
Uta tilted her head, eyeing the stranger. "Who's she? Another girl you kidnapped?"
Jessie laughed heartily. "Nah! This is our new crewmate."
"I didn't agree to that yet!" Kuina snapped.
Uta approached, extending a hand. "Hi! I'm Uta. The World's Diva."
Kuina blinked, trying to process everything. "I'm... Kuina. Eleven years old."
Uta's brows furrowed. "Wait, eleven? But you look... grown-up."
"I don't know," Kuina muttered, confused. "I just woke up like this..."
Uta glanced at Jessie. "What did you *do*?"
Jessie shrugged with a grin. "She died eleven years ago. The power resurrection aged her to match the current timeline. Gotta say, it worked well."
Kuina gasped. "...Eleven years?"
Jessie nodded. "Yeah. A lot has happened since then. The world has changed."
He handed her a stack of papers—the latest bounties and reports from the World Economic Journal. Pictures of pirates, chaos in the New World, and headlines of legends.
Kuina sat on the deck, flipping through pages. Her hands trembled when she reached a certain name.
Roronoa Zoro – Bounty: 1.111 Billion Berries
Her eyes widened. "Zoro… You really kept going. You're close to being the best." She smiled, a strange mix of pride and challenge in her expression. "But unlucky for you… I'm back."
She looked up at Jessie, eyes blazing with new determination. "I'll join you. I'll become the world's strongest swordwoman. I'll surpass Zoro. I'll fulfill my dream."
Jessie grinned. "That's what I wanted to hear. Welcome aboard, Kuina."
Uta clapped her hands. "Then let's celebrate! Banquet time!"
---
Two Hours Later…
Laughter, food, and music filled the ship. Kuina sat near the edge of the deck, gazing at the moonlit waters, quietly sipping from a cup of tea. Jessie approached her.
"Everything okay?"
Kuina nodded. "Yeah… But before we leave, I want to see my father. Just once. Even from afar."
Jessie looked into the distance, then nodded. "Okay. But we shouldn't approach him directly. It might… overwhelm him. Seeing his daughter alive after eleven years."
"I understand."
They flew silently to a nearby hill, overlooking the **Isshin Dojo**. The lights were on. Children trained with wooden swords under the watchful eye of a calm, composed man—**Koshiro**.
Kuina's breath hitched. "...Father."
Tears welled in her eyes. She watched in silence, her heart aching and full at once. "I'm sorry… for leaving like that. But I promise, I'll make you proud. I'll fulfill everything I once dreamed."
Jessie gave her a moment of peace. Then, when she was ready, they flew back to the ship.
Unknown to them, Koshiro paused in the dojo. His Observation Haki flared slightly—he felt something, like a familiar presence. But nothing appeared.
He dismissed it as paranoia. "Strange… must be the wind," he muttered before continuing the lesson.
---
Back on the Voidreign Ship...
Uta greeted them eagerly. "Welcome back! Did you see him?"
Kuina nodded with a soft smile. "From afar. It's enough… for now."
Uta grabbed Kuina's hand. "Come on! Let me give you a tour of the ship. We've got a music room, library, sword collection, and Jessie even installed a fish aquarium. He's weird like that."
Kuina laughed gently for the first time. "Sounds like a strange but fun crew."
Jessie raised his voice. "Alright! Kuina is officially a member of the Voidreign Pirates!"
Everyone aboard cheered—well, mostly just Uta and Jessie—but the energy was infectious. A new chapter had begun.