C3 I will Scheme Against Smart People

The breeze, tinged with the scent of the ocean, gently caressed his face. The sunlight was perfect, casting a warmth that brought on a touch of drowsiness.

Rodney kept a vigilant eye on the scene below. Kuro moved with a silence that mirrored a cat's stealth.

A man with glasses emerged, his attire striking—a black suit adorned with a quirky towel pattern and distinctive round leather shoes. His hair slicked back, gleaming in the sunlight, he smiled with a gleam that hinted at danger.

"Miss Keya, we're blessed with beautiful weather today," Kuro said as he stepped out from the back door. Following him was a girl in a white dress, her short, light golden hair shimmering, her fair skin radiant. She beamed with joy, "Yes, the weather is indeed lovely today."

Her smile was sweet, radiating charm.

From his perch in the tree, Rodney found the situation bothersome. He couldn't allow the child to witness a scene of carnage.

He transformed his appearance to resemble Scar Face Locke and leapt down.

Kuro, who had been a pirate just a year prior, instantly recognized the danger. Without a moment's hesitation, he scooped up Keya and made a swift escape. Agile and quick, he reached the back door in no time, saying with a smile, "Miss Keya, it seems we have an unexpected visitor today. Merry, please look after her." He addressed the servant with the sheep-like hairstyle.

"Got it," Merry responded, taking Keya into her arms.

After closing the door, he pushed his glasses up with the heel of his hand, a gesture ingrained from his pirate days, a reminder that he was always ready for battle.

Turning to face Rodney, he asked, "Scar Face Locke? What brings you here?"

The news of Scar Face Locke's demise hadn't reached this secluded village yet.

"Oh? To think the notorious Kuro is still alive, and now playing butler to a young girl. Tsk, have you turned over a new leaf?"

Kuro let out a cold snort, surprised to be recognized. He had faked his death and come here with the intention of claiming the Keya family's fortune. According to his plan, Keya couldn't die yet; her parents were still alive. If she were to die now, his scheme to take over the family's wealth would fall apart.

"I've had a change of heart; I no longer wish to live the life of a pirate," Kuro declared. "You and I have no connections, no debts of gratitude or revenge. What is your purpose here?"

Why? To take you down, of course!

Rodney chuckled, "Once a pirate, always a pirate. You can't change your stripes, Kuro, plotting to seize the estate of those two. I'm here today to put an end to your schemes. Konoha Whirlwind!"

His kick, swift and powerful, aimed straight for Kuro's head.

Kuro was no pushover. Before his staged death, he was a pirate worth sixteen million Belle, known for his speed. With a quick step back, he vanished after a few agile leaps.

Rodney muttered to himself, "Damn, can he run..."

Soon after, he heard the rapid approach of footsteps. A squad of armed bodyguards was on the move, guns and clubs at the ready.

Rodney smirked, leaped to the rooftop, and cackled, "Kuro, I'm giving you one hour. If you don't show, I'll make sure your name is infamous across the entire East Sea. Trust me, I can do it. The East Sea News Agency will eat up this juicy story."

"I've even got the headline ready: 'Shock! Kuro's fake retirement was all for...' Haha, I'll be waiting for you in the northern forest. You've got just one hour."

With that, he left the rooftop and made his way to the forest.

Back in Kuro's room, he grimaced at Rodney's words. He had painstakingly earned the trust of Keya's parents, grown close to Keya, and ingratiated himself with the villagers—all for the foolish purpose of taking over Keya's family estate.

He was aware that stealing as a pirate was illegal, but as a wealthy man, it was perfectly legal.

So, he bore the indignity, all for the vast inheritance.

Rodney's arrival had thrown a wrench in his plans, and now he had to figure out how to eliminate this setback and get things back on track.

Pulling a bundle from under his bed, he revealed his notorious weapon—the Ten Blades: Cat Claw!

Slipping on the Ten Blades: Cat Claw, he flexed his fingers, the blades gleaming ominously. The razor-sharp edges, fine enough to slice through hair, were ready to shred his adversary and restore his plan to perfection.

He rubbed his eyes with his furry palm, a habit left over from his days wielding weapons. Despite having not engaged in combat for several years, he retained his alertness and fighting instincts.

Upon opening the window and seeing no one around, he leaped out and sprinted toward the eastern forest with all the speed he could muster.

Memories of Scar Face Locke filled his mind—a pirate with a bounty of four and a half million, notorious for using a steel saw to bisect his enemies, immensely strong, and with a penchant for foul language. Steel saw... Steel saw?

He halted abruptly. Something about Scar Face Locke didn't add up. Why hadn't he seen his weapon? And why would a pirate with a mere four and a half million bounty recognize him yet not flee, opting instead to issue threats? He had never heard of Scar Face Locke being adept at using his legs to attack.

Kuro realized there were numerous oversights.

"There's bound to be a trap in the forest, but if I don't go..."

Rodney had laid out a deliberate challenge for Kuro: attend or not, traps would be set regardless. If he didn't show, the navy would be waiting.

For the sake of his plan, Kuro was forced to play along, a realization that infuriated him. Who was he? The formidable Kuro, now manipulated and cornered!

He couldn't stomach the indignity.

"Damn it, I must kill that bastard. If only Zan Gao were here, it would be so much simpler..." His first mate, the hypnotist, would have been a great asset, but due to his own orders, he wouldn't be present.

The eastern forest was close by. Kuro employed his signature Silent Step, moving soundlessly across the ground, as stealthy as a hunting feline.

Bird calls occasionally pierced the forest's tranquility. Sunbeams filtered through the leaves, casting a dappled pattern on the grass, creating a serene atmosphere.

"Scar Face Locke, I've arrived." The silence was eerie in the deserted surroundings. Kuro decided it was time to shatter the stillness.

"You're right on time."

Ding! Ding!

The air was filled with the sound of metal clashing. Kuro caught a glimpse of a dark shadow and twisted his body to evade a shuriken!

No, there had been two distinct sounds!

Realizing something was amiss, a sharp pain struck his back. Two shurikens were embedded in his flesh, and another was lodged in the trunk of a tree.

The Uchiha's shuriken technique allowed them to alter the shurikens' flight path by making them collide mid-air, a highly practical skill.

Ding! Ding!

The noise echoed once more. Kuro swung his ten blades, deflecting the shurikens, then in a flash, he was beside a tree. With a swipe of his claw, he decapitated the treetop, and a figure was sent flying.

"Gougakyu - Fire Escape!"

A massive, scorching fireball materialized from thin air and charged at Kuro.

Kuro quickly stepped back onto the tree he had just trimmed and retreated as the fireball slammed into it, setting the tree ablaze. The intense heat from the chakra turned the tree to ash in moments.

"Such fearsome power. Could he be a Devil Fruit Ability User?" Kuro contemplated fleeing.

Rodney landed on the ground. As expected, neither Gougakyu nor Amaterasu had ever burned anyone to death.

"Silent Step!"

Spotting Rodney, Kuro decided to risk it all.

Kuro was swift, reappearing behind Rodney. His Ten Blades - Cat Claw targeted Rodney's neck, ready to sever his head with a single slash.

Substitute Technique!

"I've won!"

His claw tore through Rodney's body with ease, but in an instant, it transformed into a wooden log, shredded to pieces.

"What?!"

"Game over. Earth Escape - Heart Slash!" A hand burst from the soil, clamping onto Kuro's ankle.

With a yank, Kuro was dragged underground. Shortly after, Rodney emerged, shaking off the dust, yet still grimy.

The ground where Kuro had been pulled in was stained red with blood.

Caught off guard, Kuro was dragged beneath the earth, his prized speed rendered useless. He didn't even have the chance to use his signature move before meeting his untimely demise.

"Let's find somewhere to shower and change clothes," Rodney said, reverting to his former appearance as he made his way to the village.