Tsuna was surprised when a large man called him to his attention. He had been doing paperwork as usual and was double-checking the slavery ending plans he created with Whitebeard's crew when Kurrma entered and said a Marine General called for his presence.
"So, how many I help you gentlemen?" Tsuna asked staring at tall, curly haired general.
"Hello, my name is Aokiji Kuzan, one of the Generals of the Marine Force. We have spotted the pirate crew, Whitebeard around this area and was wondering if you spotted them," the General answered.
Tsuna nodded. "I have."
"Then may we have knowledge where they are, so they may be-"
"Tell me, General, do you know who I am," Tsuna interrupted.
"Um, not exactly, no. I've just heard that you were the larger power here," Aokiji replied a bit surprised at the interruption. "We haven't had Marines here in years due to its lost of hope."
"Is that what you see here?"
Aokiji coughed. "No, sir. Going back to Whitebeard-"
"General, I am the current King of Nathioka Island and we have been growing in territory," Tsuna interrupted once more.
"K-King? Since when?" Aokiji narrowed his eyes. "I mean no offence, but you are too young and-"
Tsuna smiled as he crossed his legs in his chair and tilted his body to rest on his fist that was on the arm chair. "For two years-nearing three General, I have ruled and maintained this land-slowly rising its power. I have helped its poor and rescued its capture. Why is it that I have taken your job?"
"As I said, w-we lost hope," Aokiji stuttered out of character. Something about this boy...just screamed danger. "This nation was below what we could amend."
"And yet I, a nine year old boy, did so," Tsuna raised a brow. "I feel that you felt the trouble was not needed." He rose and stared intently at the General, wings now spread with seven colored flames orbiting around them. Scales forced on his right eye, arms, torso, and legs. "General Aokiji, what right do you have to intrude my lands and causing a riot to search for a pirate crew? You dare to disobey a dragon?"
Aokiji could only stand astounded.
"Yes, I am a Celestial Dragon-one beyond those that you serve. So I ask again, you dare to disobey a dragon?" Tsuna repeated.
"No, sir," Aokiji bowed. "I was thinking of only the sake of the people. Whitebeard is a threat to the government-!"
"That I do not follow," Tsuna, once again, interrupted. "This place is a sanctuary for both Marines and Pirates who wish to retire and no longer fight. Tell me, have you noticed the fisherman here were convicts as well as the blacksmiths here being ex-marine Captains? If I was to allow you to arrest a pirate group, I'd be going against my own word of allowing all people to co-exist here."
"I did not know," replied Aokiji.
"Yes, because you did not care," Tsuna responded. He narrowed his eyes to change to orange colored slits. "Leave. Tell your Admiral of this land if you so wish, however do not attack. You will have outright betrayed a Celestial Dragon and have many powerful men against you that had potential beyond what you could see."
Aokiji could only bow and direct his men to leave.
Tsuna sighed as he relaxed and return to his self. He jumped when he heard Kurrma exclaim compliments-forgetting he had been there the entire meeting.
"That was just magnificent Tsunayoshi-sama! You made a Marine General tremble in fear! No less could've been done by you," Kurrma exclaimed. "You are definitely a magnificent leader, never backing down on your word."
Tsuna smiled wearily. "Whitebeard, Marco, Thatch. You can all come out."
The three grinned as they came out of their hiding spots.
"So, defending us now Tsunayoshi?" Thatch smirked as he nudged Tsuna.
"Of course. I promised a sanctuary, and I shall give it. I will take advantage of my Devil Fruit and make sure the Government will not defy me. Otherwise, how else could I make sure none of those idiotic rascals decide to attack?" Tsuna scowled.
Marco laughed as he grabbed Tsuna into his arms. "As fierce as a dragon, little brother."
During the three weeks that the group stayed here, they grew closer to the young King-lowering some of the amount of work he did by aiding him in paperwork. They have grown to look upon Tsuna as family and many of their older crew members had decided to retire and continue living on the Nathioka Island. This placed was truly a sanctuary for people looking for acceptance. They had (secretly, though they had a feeling Tsuna knew what they did) looked through the files of the people and found past murderers, rapists, pirates, and marines.
"Tsuna, we are to set off soon," Whitebeard revealed.
Tsuna smiled sadly. "I know. I cannot keep a pirate on land for too long. However, will you stay long enough for the slave operations?"
Thatch ruffled his hair. "Of course we would. Why would we leave our littlest brother ambush a slave auction by himself?"
It was only three days later that they went to all the different slave auctions throughout the territory. It was an infiltration and ambush mission. All slavers were trialed by Tsuna himself (using his Intuition that he was glad he maintained) and slaves released with a new life with jobs given to them. They had even set up an entire part of the mansion for some of the ex-slaves to stay in, find family, and re-unite loved ones. The love for Tsuna within the Nathioka Island-well now Islands-grew and grew.
Never did these people regret allowing Tsuna to be their King-even if he made mistakes that cost the lives of some of their loved ones.
A week after the completion of ending slavery (and Whitebeard's crew leaving) it was nearing the three-year anniversary of Tsuna's ruling. They had decided to match this festival with Tsuna's birthday (January 1st). However, while Tsuna was planning in his office (things always happen in his office) that he received an...interesting guest.
His name was Rayleigh, a white haired man who claimed to have affiliation with the executed Pirate King, Gol D. Rogers.
"So, why are you here?" Tsuna asked as he continued his paperwork and working on the show he was going to perform (shh! It's a secret!).
"To tell you about your real identity," Rayleigh answered.
Tsuna paused in his writing and set his ink pen down. He looked up at Rayleigh and intertwined his fingers. "No need Rayleigh. I've read all of Uncle Ben's journals before leaving. I know everything and the reason why he went psycho."
"Oh yes. Ben kept muttering about and losing his precious nephew," Rayleigh responded. "He's dead now."
"I know," Tsuna replied. "He's within my territory, of course I would hear of his death."
A silence reigned between the two.
"So you know who your father truly was."
"Yup," Tsuna popped the 'p'. "Gol D. Rogers, executed right after the birth of my twin and I. Have you found Ace yet?"
Rayleigh nodded. "Yes. He didn't take it all too good."
Tsuna laughed. "He's a child. Of course he wouldn't."
"You forget, you are a child too."
Tsuna blinked and looked at Rayleigh with a coy and sad smile. "Do I truly seem to be a child?"