Chapter 13 – Meeting the Protagonist

A week had passed.

During that time, Yato maintained constant surveillance over Dadan. His falcon stayed around the bandit hideout, watching for any sign that she was still fertile. But so far… nothing. No traces of blood, no clues.

He was beginning to wonder if he was wasting his time.

But then, on the eighth day of observation, something unexpected happened.

Right there, in the middle of the bandit hideout, sitting at a rough wooden table and devouring meat like a wild animal…

Luffy.

Yato watched carefully.

The boy wore an open red vest, jean shorts, and a straw hat. But what stood out the most was his appearance: he looked nearly 17 years old.

"So he's close to leaving for his journey?"

That changed things.

If Luffy was already this age, then Ace and Sabo had likely already left. Which meant there was no one left to protect him except the mountain bandits.

Not that it really mattered. Luffy was stronger than all of them combined.

He ate, laughed, and talked as if nothing in the world was a problem.

"He really doesn't seem like someone who'll become an emperor of the seas."

Still, Yato knew better than to underestimate this idiot. Fate seemed to protect certain people in this world, and Luffy was the prime example of that.

But while Dadan wasn't giving any clues about her fertility and Luffy wasn't doing anything interesting, Yato had to make use of his time.

It was time to train.

---

Yato knew that the most efficient training shown in the anime was punching something until you got stronger.

Simple. Direct. Brutally effective.

Garp used Marine battleships as punching bags, but since Yato had no access to massive ships, he found the next best alternative: a colossal boulder in the middle of the mountain forest.

It was tall, wide, and solid enough that punching it wasn't just an idea—it was a real challenge.

And so, his training began.

No techniques. No tricks. Just pure force and repetition.

Punch.

Another punch.

One more punch.

The impact made his fingers throb with pain. His skin started to crack, blood trickling down his knuckles. But he didn't stop.

"If I want to survive in this world, I need to get stronger. Fast."

With every hit, he felt his bones protest. The pain was unbearable, but he didn't care. If this was what it took to become stronger, then so be it.

He lost track of time.

Punch after punch, he ignored the exhaustion, ignored the blood on his hands, ignored everything except the goal of getting stronger.

But he knew the truth.

Even after all this… he still wouldn't be able to beat Luffy.

No matter how much he trained with his current resources, he simply wasn't on the same level.

At least, not yet.

But Yato wasn't stupid. He didn't need to fight head-on.

He had plans.

---

Besides his physical training, there was another kind of "training" he did every night.

In the comfort of a dimly lit bedroom, between tangled sheets and heated bodies, Makino received his full attention.

Since their first time, she had never refused him. On the contrary, she seemed eager, as if waiting for him to come to her.

And he never disappointed.

After all, every time he had her in his arms, there was a clear goal: to strengthen his hold over her.

Between soft gasps and whispered names, Yato made sure she lost herself completely in the pleasure, until the only thing that remained in her world… was him.

And when they finally collapsed from exhaustion, wrapped in the warmth of each other, Yato used the moment of vulnerability to talk.

---

On the eighth night, while Makino was nestled against him, still catching her breath, Yato made a casual remark.

"While I was training today, I saw a guy whose arms stretched… like rubber."

Makino, still breathless, let out a soft laugh. "Oh… that's Luffy."

"You say his name like you know him well," he said, his tone carrying a hint of jealousy.

Makino turned her head to look at him better, a small amused smile on her lips. "I've known him since he was little. He grew up here in the village, and he's always been a troublemaker. But he's a good kid."

"Good kid, huh…" Yato muttered, looking at the ceiling. "And how old is this 'good kid' now?"

Makino chuckled softly, sensing the insinuation in his voice. "Oh? Are you jealous?"

"I'm not jealous," he grumbled, squeezing her waist lightly. "I'm just curious."

She laughed a bit more before answering:

"He'll turn 17 in a month."

Yato froze for a moment.

"In a month?"

So he really was very close to leaving.

That meant if Yato wanted to do anything on this island, he had to act before Luffy set sail.

Time was running out.