Nyon

Three hours had passed since Hashirama stormed into Hancock's room.

Hashirama stood by the bed, getting dressed. First, he pulled on his black pants. Then, he put on the long-sleeved shirt. Finally, he slipped on his sandals, his eyes fixed on the bedridden Empress.

Hancock lay in bed, barely covered by a sheet clinging to her bruised body. The marks of Hashirama's fingers were still visible on her neck. Her cheeks, reddened from slaps, were streaked with tears that wouldn't stop flowing.

Hashirama observed her in silence for a moment, his face an unreadable mask. Then, he sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes locked on hers.

"Why do you do this?" Hancock whispered, her voice broken by sobs.

"You know why," Hashirama replied with deceptive gentleness. "You belong to me."

A new torrent of tears flowed from Hancock's eyes.

"But... it doesn't have to be this way," she sobbed, clinging to a last shred of hope.

Hashirama brushed a lock of hair from her face, his fingers grazing her skin with a tenderness that contrasted with the cruelty of his words.

"That's how things are, Hancock," he said with a sigh. "You can't fight fate."

"I hate you," Hancock whispered, her voice full of resentment.

Hashirama leaned in and placed a cold kiss on her forehead.

"You wouldn't want Amazon Lily to disappear from the map, would you?" he asked, his voice taking on a threatening tone.

Hancock turned away, hiding her face in the pillow. Her sobs intensified, filling the room with a heartbreaking sound.

Hashirama stood up, finishing buttoning his shirt. His gaze lingered for a moment on Hancock's trembling figure, but he showed no sign of remorse. He headed for the door but stopped abruptly.

[Ding]

A mechanical voice echoed in his mind.

[Congratulations…. Your behavior with Empress Hancock has been evaluated as consistent with the Homelander profile. You have been awarded an additional 2% of the Homelander template.]

A warm current ran through Hashirama's body, like he was immersing in a hot bath. But the sensation was fleeting. A moment later, he resumed his march and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Hancock, hearing the pause in Hashirama's footsteps, felt a spark of hope in her heart. Had he changed his mind? Was he coming to comfort her? But the hope quickly vanished when she heard the sound of the door closing.

Her sobs turned into inconsolable crying.

….

Seeing Hashirama disappear into the palace with Hancock in his arms, a laugh escaped Grandma Nyon's lips. "Hahaha! We're finally saved!" she exclaimed, reveling in her triumph.

The old woman felt euphoric. She knew that once the news of the alliance with Hashirama spread, no force in the world would dare challenge Amazon Lily. The island's future was secured, and that was all that mattered.

As for Hancock's fate, Nyon felt no remorse. She was convinced that, in time, the Empress would understand that this sacrifice was necessary for the good of all.

Catching her breath after her burst of enthusiasm, Nyon stood up, her eyes shining with renewed determination. "From now on, our island will fear no one!" she proclaimed in a clear, strong voice. "Let's celebrate this new beginning with a banquet!"

A chorus of cheers responded to her call. The warriors, who had once trembled with fear, now joined in the celebration, infected by their leader's optimism.

"It's time... to celebrate the new life of Nine Snake Island!"

The news of the banquet reached the ears of King and Morgans, who were on the ship's deck, observing the celebration on the island. King, always stoic, nodded slightly.

"A break won't do us any harm," he said in his deep voice. "We deserve to celebrate this alliance too."

Morgans, for his part, rubbed his hands together with enthusiasm.

"Excellent idea, King," he responded with a broad smile. "It's been a while since I've enjoyed a good feast. Besides, this is a unique opportunity to get firsthand information about the Amazons."

Vivi, who had been watching the scene with a mixture of curiosity and concern, approached them.

"I also want to go to the banquet," she said determinedly. "I want to wait for Hashirama."

King and Morgans exchanged a look of complicity.

"Of course, Princess," Morgans said with a gallant smile. "It will be a pleasure to accompany you."

At that moment, Wapol, who had been petrified, came to life upon hearing the word "banquet." His eyes widened, and a thread of drool escaped his mouth.

"Women and food!" he shouted excitedly. "Following Lord Hashirama is the best thing that has ever happened to me!"

Without waiting for an invitation, Wapol rushed towards the island, closely followed by Morgans, who didn't want to miss the chance to witness the spectacle. King, with a resigned sigh, followed them.

….

Hashirama slowly emerged from the palace. The celebration continued around him, but his silent presence halted the revelry like a spell. The eyes of the Kuja warriors fell on him, a mixture of fear and admiration reflected on their faces.

Vivi, who had been anxiously watching the palace entrance, ran towards him with a radiant smile.

With her arms extended towards him, and with an agile leap, she threw herself into his arms.

Hashirama, with a fluid movement, caught her in the air, his large hand encircling her waist as if she were a porcelain doll.

Vivi clung to him, her face buried in his chest, inhaling his scent deeply. Her eyes sparkled with joy at being near him, and a feeling of intoxication overwhelmed her.

(Image of Vivi on my Patreon)

"Hashirama-sama," she whispered, her voice full of adoration.

Hashirama looked at her with an enigmatic smile, Vivi's breath catching against his.

He held her in the air for a moment, savoring her closeness, while Vivi refused to let go, intoxicated by his smell.

At that moment, Grandma Nyon approached nervously, her gaze alternating between Hashirama and Vivi.

"L-Lord Hashirama," she stammered again, her voice barely a whisper, "back then, you... you gave our former Empress a protector."

Hashirama, with Vivi still clinging to his chest, looked at Nyon or rather, Gloriosa, with an inscrutable expression. The difference between the current Gloriosa, wrinkled and stooped by time, and the beautiful white-haired woman Hashirama remembered from his past, was abysmal. However, a glimmer of recognition shone in his eyes.

"A protector," Hashirama repeated slowly, his deep voice resonating in the air.

Nyon nodded, her gaze fixed on the ground. "Yes, sir. A protector. He was the most powerful of all the Kuja. But…"

She paused, swallowing before continuing. "But more than twenty years ago, he disappeared without a trace. No one knows what happened to him."

Hashirama remained silent, his gaze fixed on Nyon. The tension in the air was palpable as everyone present awaited his reaction. Vivi, unaware of the conversation, continued to cling to him, enjoying his warmth and scent.

After a moment of silence that seemed eternal, Hashirama spoke, his voice breaking the tension. "Yes, you're talking about the Wooden Dragon," he said, a shadow of amusement crossing his face, "his 'disappearance' is because he ran out of chakra reserves."

A gasp of astonishment rippled through the gathered Kuja warriors. The Wooden Dragon, the sacred guardian that had protected the island for decades, was nothing more than a creation of Hashirama.

Hashirama continued, his hand pinching Vivi's plump butt. "But since I'm in a good mood," he said, "I'll give you ten new protectors."

"K-,Kyaaa❤️!" Taken by surprise, Vivi squealed at the touch.

Ignoring this interaction, Nyon shuddered upon hearing those words. If a single protector had kept Amazon Lily safe for more than twenty years after Hashirama's fall, what would it mean to have ten? The island would become a paradise for them.

With a theatrical gesture, Hashirama clapped his hands. A rumble shook the ground, and before the astonished eyes of the Kuja warriors, the earth cracked and began to tremble.

"Wood Style: Wood Dragon Jutsu!" Hashirama proclaimed in a powerful voice.

Five gigantic sprouts emerged from the ground, growing at a vertiginous speed. Within seconds, they transformed into imposing oriental dragons.

The dragons rose to the sky, their sinuous bodies eclipsing the sun. Their roars echoed throughout the island, making everyone present tremble.

But the spectacle wasn't over. Hashirama clapped his hands again, and this time, his voice resonated with even greater force. "Wood Style: Wood Human Jutsu!"

From the ground, five giant trees grew, eventually forming five colossal figures. They were giant wooden ogres, their muscular bodies and menacing faces radiating a brute strength that made anyone who looked at them recoil.

Once the ten protectors were fully formed, they lifted their heads in unison and roared at the sky.

An aura of power emanated from them, dispersing the clouds and creating a vortex of energy over Amazon Lily.

Suddenly, an invisible shockwave expanded from the protectors, shaking the ocean around them.

The water churned violently, forming giant waves that crashed against the shore. The Kuja warriors clung to whatever they could, their faces pale with fear and admiration.

Hashirama smiled with satisfaction at his creation.

________

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