Punching my way through One Piece

The thick sea breeze swept through Sabaody Archipelago, carrying the salty scent of the ocean and the faint rustle of the mangrove trees. Noboru walked through the more secluded areas of the island, away from the bustling districts. Despite his rising bounty and the attention that came with it, there were places on Sabaody where even the most dangerous men could move in silence. And today, Noboru sought a meeting of profound importance—a conversation with the man called the "Strongest in the World."

Edward Newgate. Whitebeard.

Shakky's words echoed in Noboru's mind. Whitebeard was coming to Sabaody to coat his ship before plunging headfirst into the war that the Navy was orchestrating with Ace's execution as bait. Noboru had seen Whitebeard from afar during his travels, but never had he expected to cross paths with the legendary pirate himself.

Tonight, that would change.

The entrance to the bay was just ahead. The water was eerily calm, and under the dim light of the moon, the dark outline of the famed Moby Dick loomed large, docked in a hidden cove near the less-traveled mangrove groves. The massive whale-shaped ship looked more like a fortress than a vessel, even at rest. Noboru could feel the presence of Whitebeard's crew, their powerful auras faint but unmistakable, scattered around the ship. They were on alert, but no one dared challenge Noboru's approach.

As he stepped closer to the Moby Dick, a figure appeared at the gangplank. It was Marco, the first division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, with his signature pineapple-like hairstyle and a sharp gaze that seemed to assess Noboru instantly.

"You must be Noboru," Marco said calmly, his blue flames subtly flickering as he crossed his arms. "I heard you wanted to speak with Oyaji."

Noboru nodded, his expression unwavering. "If he's willing to have me."

Marco studied him for a moment longer, then gave a slight nod. "He's been expecting you. But before you meet him—know that Oyaji doesn't meet just anyone. If you think you're strong enough to stand in front of him, you'll have to prove it."

Noboru smirked, feeling the familiar tension rise in the air. He had expected this.

Marco motioned toward the deck, where a towering figure sat like a king upon his throne, a massive sake bottle in hand. Edward Newgate. Whitebeard. Even from this distance, Noboru could feel the weight of the man's presence. It wasn't just his physical size, which dwarfed everyone around him—it was his very essence, the power that radiated from him like the pressure of the sea itself.

Noboru took a deep breath and started walking toward Whitebeard. The closer he got, the more palpable the tension became. Every step felt heavier, as if the very air around the Moby Dick was thick with power. Finally, when he was just a few meters away, Noboru stopped, locking eyes with the man they called the Strongest in the World.

Whitebeard's sharp gaze met Noboru's, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still.

Then, without warning, Noboru felt it—a surge of Conqueror's Haki crashing into him like a tidal wave. Whitebeard's aura was overwhelming, a force so powerful it could bring entire armies to their knees. The air around them crackled with invisible energy, and the trees beyond the ship's deck creaked under the pressure. Noboru's instincts flared to life, but instead of backing down, he pushed forward.

His own Conqueror's Haki exploded outward, meeting Whitebeard's head-on.

The collision of their wills created a thunderous shockwave that reverberated across the ship and through the surrounding grove. The wood beneath their feet groaned as if under immense strain, and the air crackled with unseen lightning. The sea itself seemed to tremble in response, waves rippling out from the bay as the clash of Haki created ripples of raw energy.

Several of Whitebeard's men, including seasoned pirates who had faced countless battles, stumbled back under the sheer force of the collision. Marco stood firm, but even he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in surprise.

For a long moment, Noboru and Whitebeard stood locked in this silent battle, their auras pushing against each other, each refusing to yield an inch. Noboru's jaw tightened, but his stance remained firm. This was a test—a test of willpower, of spirit. And if Whitebeard wanted to see just how strong Noboru's resolve was, he would get his answer.

Whitebeard's grin widened as he felt Noboru's Haki pushing back against his own. "So you're not just some upstart with a big bounty," the old pirate rumbled, his voice filled with amusement. "I can feel it. You've got the spirit of a king in you."

Noboru smirked, though beads of sweat formed on his brow from the intensity of the clash. "I'm not here to prove myself, Whitebeard. I came to talk. But if you want to test me, I'm more than ready."

Whitebeard laughed, a deep, booming sound that echoed across the deck. With a deliberate motion, he reined in his Haki, letting the pressure ease. The air immediately felt lighter, and the oppressive force that had filled the space between them dissipated, though the tension remained palpable.

Noboru lowered his own Haki in response, the invisible storm between them coming to a sudden stop. The deck of the Moby Dick was silent for a moment, save for the creaking of the wood and the faint sound of the waves lapping against the ship's hull.

Whitebeard looked at Noboru, the smirk still on his face. "You've got guts, boy. I like that."

Noboru relaxed slightly, though he remained on guard. "I'm not here to waste your time, old man. But I needed to see what kind of man you were before we talked."

Whitebeard took a swig from the massive sake bottle in his hand, wiping his mouth with the back of his giant hand before tossing a second bottle toward Noboru. "Then sit. Drink with me. If we're going to talk about war, we might as well do it over some good sake."

Noboru caught the bottle with ease, the weight of the earlier clash still hanging in the air. He knew now, more than ever, why this man was called the strongest. It wasn't just his raw strength—it was his presence, his unshakable will. In that moment, Noboru understood that Whitebeard wasn't a legend just because of his power. He was a living force of nature.

As Noboru sat down across from Whitebeard, he took a long swig from the bottle. The sake was strong, burning on the way down, but it was exactly what he needed after the Haki clash. Whitebeard leaned back in his chair, a smile playing at the edges of his lips.

"You're a strange one," Whitebeard said after a moment, his voice booming but not hostile. "Most men who challenge my will either break or run. But here you are, sharing a drink with me like it's nothing."

Noboru chuckled, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "I've faced worse than a little Haki clash. Besides, I didn't come here to be your enemy."

Whitebeard regarded him carefully, his eyes narrowing as he studied Noboru. "You've got a good head on your shoulders. But I can tell you're not just some pirate looking to make a name for himself. You've got the eyes of a man with a purpose."

Noboru's gaze shifted toward the horizon, the distant lights of Sabaody Archipelago flickering in the distance. "I've seen enough of the world to know that it needs to change. And I know a war is coming. Ace's execution isn't just about drawing you into Marineford. It's about setting the stage for something bigger."

Whitebeard's expression darkened at the mention of Ace, his jaw tightening. He took another long drink from his bottle before speaking. "Ace is my son. And if the Marines think they can use him to bait me into a trap, they're sorely mistaken. I'll tear Marineford apart before I let them lay a hand on him."

Noboru nodded. "I know. And that's why I'm here. I wanted to understand the man behind the name. The man who's about to turn the world upside down."

Whitebeard chuckled again, though there was a somber tone to his laugh. "The world's been upside down for a long time, Noboru. This war… it's just going to shake it loose."

The two men sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their conversation settling over them. Noboru took another drink, feeling the warmth of the sake spread through his body. Despite the looming war, despite the chaos that was about to engulf the world, there was something oddly calming about this moment. Two men, both carrying the weight of their convictions, sharing a quiet drink under the moonlit sky.

"You know," Whitebeard said after a while, his tone more reflective now, "I've seen a lot of men with big dreams come and go. But you… you've got something different. You're not just fighting for yourself."

Noboru met Whitebeard's gaze, his expression serious. "I'm fighting for the future. For a world where people don't have to live under the thumb of the Celestial Dragons. Where freedom isn't just a dream."

Whitebeard nodded, his massive hand gripping the sake bottle tightly. "A man with a purpose is dangerous, Noboru. And right now, the world could use more men like that."

As the night wore on and the bottles of sake grew emptier, Noboru and Whitebeard continued their conversation, discussing the coming war, the Navy, and the fate of Ace. They both knew that when Whitebeard set sail for Marineford, there would be no turning back. The tides of war were coming, and both men were ready to face the storm head-on.

And in that quiet moment, under the stars and the weight of history, Noboru realized that he wasn't just a bystander in the events to come. He was a key player, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the strongest men in the world.