One Piece: Fifth Emperor

In a run-down bar covered in cobwebs, with skeletons leaning against the walls, sat a woman with dark blue hair and dull red eyes. A shimmering blade rested at her side.

"Imai, after not seeing each other for three years, you don't say a word to me?" a man in his thirties asked.

"What is there to say, Uncle? Those three years were boring. Besides, I'm more interested in what's happening up there—there was quite a ruckus," Imai replied.

"Well, it seems a pirate group called the Straw Hat Crew has been terrorizing civilians," Uncle said as he served another cup of tea.

"Ah, Luffy, was it? Their captain," Imai said, to which Uncle nodded in reply. "He's the kid who lost his brother during the Marineford War, eh? Condolences to him."

With that, Imai raised her cup in the air and drank it all in one gulp.

"Hahaha! Are you interested in their crew, Imai? You should join them, y'know? They have a lot of potential."

Imai eyed Uncle and shook her head. "No thanks. I'm better off being alone. Even if I joined a pirate crew, I'd have to be the leader. No one is superior enough to command me."

Uncle chuckled. "I'll take your word for it then, Fifth Yonko."

"Don't call me that anymore," Imai said as she stared at a certain painting. "No one remembers who I was. I didn't even earn a single glance on my way here. I even changed my last name."

"You even changed your last name? What did you change it to?"

"It was Nobume; now it's Ryujin," Imai said. "I switched from my father's to my mother's."

"I see, I see. But I'm more surprised no one recognized you. Though that might be because of the drastic change in your hair color. It was so bright before."

"It was too bright, that's why I changed it. I guess the seclusion aged me a lot on the outside," Imai replied. "Though, I'm glad I'm not being chased."

Uncle laughed. "I imagined the moment you returned, countless officers would be tracking you already."

Imai laughed. "Thank goodness that didn't happen. The younger ones have been causing enough ruckus to cover my tracks."

"That is true, but I imagined you making a grand entrance, announcing that you're back or something."

Imai frowned. "Being hunted by the World Government is not fun, Uncle. If it were someone else who wasn't as strong as me, they'd be in Impel Down by now."

"Ah, I can't imagine how strong you are now after those three years. I remember some Warlords wouldn't even dare fight you," Uncle said with a nostalgic smile.

Imai hummed. "That was when I wanted to always fight. Now, I don't fight unless necessary. I matured quite a lot."

Uncle laughed. "I can see that. Well, enough of this small talk. It's about time you get going. There's entertainment for you up there."

Imai smiled and put her cup down. "Well then, I'll be leaving now."

"Don't come back until you reclaim your title!"

"Okay, okay."

Imai left the bar, only to be met with a terrified person screaming as they ran past her. A newspaper dropped, catching Imai's attention. She scanned through it with her dull red eyes and muttered, "Interesting."

Amidst the chaos, Luffy was trying his hardest not to cause trouble, as Hancock had told him to stay out of it. That was until the Pacifistas arrived and wreaked havoc. When Luffy was about to get away, one of the Pacifistas unfortunately spotted him and shot a beam at him, forcing him to reveal himself. The entire crowd in front of him was shocked, and the imposter's reactions were priceless.

The Pacifista shot three laser beams at Luffy, which he dodged with ease.

"That's slow," Luffy muttered. "Now then, it's time for me to go."

With that, Luffy took off and reunited with his crewmates.

"Luffy! Why are you always getting in trouble?"

"Oi! Luffy!"

"Sanji! Zoro! It's been a while!"

As the three were running towards each other, navy soldiers, Pacifistas, and a woman with a huge axe were chasing them. Suddenly, for a split second, fear gripped everyone. Soldiers began falling to their knees, their eyes rolling back.

"Conqueror's Haki!" Luffy yelled to Zoro and Sanji.

"Ah, I felt that," Zoro said, gripping the hilt of his katanas.

Everyone's eyes turned toward the source. Slowly, the dust faded, revealing a figure walking toward them. Her dark blue hair flowed in the air, her red eyes scanned the crowd, and one hand gripped the hilt of her katana.

"Who are you?!" Sentomaru demanded, pointing his axe at Imai, but received no reply. "Again! Who are you?!"

Imai turned to Sentomaru and pointed to herself. "You're talking to me? My name is Imai Ryujin. I'm just a wandering pirate."

"Lies!" Sentomaru yelled. "No wandering pirate is capable of using THAT Haki!"

Imai simply smiled and relaxed her shoulders. "Well, looks like you caught me there. So? What are you going to do about it? Arrest me while I've done nothing wrong?"

Sentomaru gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on his axe. "If you are a pirate, I have the right to arrest you."

Imai grinned before turning her attention elsewhere. "Mugiwara Luffy!" she yelled, gaining his attention. "Get out of here! I'll take care of them!"

"Really?" Luffy asked excitedly. "Then we'll go now! Thank you!"

"Oi, Luffy. Do you know her?" Zoro asked.

"Nope."

"Then why is she helping you?"

"I don't know, but let's get out of here! I wanna see the others!"

"Did you think it was that easy, Mugiwara?!" Sentomaru dashed toward Luffy with his axe.

But before Sentomaru's axe could interfere with Luffy's escape, a sharp, loud "clang" echoed through the air. Imai had blocked Sentomaru's full-strength attack with her blade using only one hand, leaving everyone at the scene shocked.

With a swipe, Imai pushed Sentomaru back.

"This shouldn't be bad for a warm-up," Imai said, grinning at Sentomaru, the two Pacifistas, and the army behind her.