The year was Sea Circle Calendar 1522.
"East Blue… so I really ended up here." Kaito muttered under his breath. His gaze hardened. "If that's true, then it means the Pirate Era has begun. Luffy must have already set sail by now."
Turning back, he looked at the small girl who stood beside him. "Risa, would you mind showing me around your village? I'd like to get familiar with the place."
"Okay, okay!" The little girl's eyes lit up, and she quickly nodded. A bright smile bloomed across her face as she skipped happily ahead.
Turner Village was small, barely stretching five miles across, home to a little over thirty families. The people were simple, kind, and weary from hard lives. Yet there was a sense of warmth lingering in their unity.
As Risa led him along, her cheerful chatter filled the air like a songbird's melody.
"Kaito-san! How did you end up in our village?" she asked curiously, tilting her head.
"What's the matter? Can't I visit?" Kaito replied with a playful smile.
"You can! But… I heard from Grandpa Nalo, our village chief, that pirates have surrounded us. No one should've been able to get in!" Her small voice trembled at the last words, shadows crossing her bright eyes.
"Surrounded?" Kaito frowned. Trouble, it seemed, had found him the moment he arrived.
He crouched down and gently picked Risa up. "Little one, how about taking me to see your village chief?"
"Alright! Let's go!" Risa beamed, clinging to him. "You know, Kaito-san, Grandpa Nalo treats me really well. He always makes sure I have food to eat. He's the best!"
The village chief's home sat at the far eastern edge of the village, not far from Risa's own house.
The moment they approached, an elderly man with white hair stepped outside, a gentle smile on his face.
"You must be the outsider who entered the village," the man said, his tone welcoming.
"Yes, Chief," Kaito replied softly as he set Risa down.
Nalo studied him with sharp, weary eyes before motioning Risa closer. After a moment, he disappeared into his home and returned with a few large cakes in his hands.
"Risa," he said kindly, "it's noon. Take these to your grandmother so she doesn't go hungry."
"Okay, Grandpa Nalo!" The little girl took the cakes, then turned to Kaito and waved. "I'll be back soon, Kaito-san!"
Kaito smiled and waved her off. He knew the chief had sent her away so they could speak privately.
Once she was gone, Kaito got straight to the point. "Village chief, you wanted to talk to me alone?"
Nalo's smile faded into a bitter sigh. "First, tell me—how did you get through the blockade of those pirates?"
Kaito shook his head casually. "Don't worry about it. I managed somehow." His tone was light, but he didn't explain further.
"Managed… you mean you broke through?" Nalo's eyes widened, disbelief written all over his wrinkled face. "You… do you even realize who you're up against? The Fishmen Pirates. The most fearsome crew in all of East Blue!"
"FishmenPirates?" Kaito muttered, his expression hardening. "You mean Arlong's crew?"
Memories from the One Piece world filled his mind. Arlong, the tyrant of East Blue, who ruled villages through fear and extortion. If this was the same timeline, then Luffy hadn't yet defeated him.
"Better explain everything to me. I need the full picture," Kaito said, his voice firm.
Nalo motioned toward his home. "Come. We'll eat while I explain."
After sharing a simple meal, the situation became clear to Kaito.
Turner Village lay in the center of East Blue. It wasn't widely known, and many of the surrounding settlements were unfamiliar to him. But one stood out like a beacon—Cocoyasi Village, Nami's hometown.
The truth was grim. The Arlong Pirates had long exploited nearby villages, draining them of wealth. It was cruel, but survivable. At least the people could still scrape by.
But just a week ago, Hatchan—Arlong's lieutenant—arrived with a band of fish-men and declared that Turner Village itself was to be claimed. The villagers were ordered to abandon their home.
For the elderly who had lived their whole lives on this island, leaving was unthinkable. But with the village surrounded and food supplies dwindling, starvation loomed over them.
Kaito didn't bother asking why the villagers hadn't sought help from the Marines. He already knew. This area was under the "jurisdiction" of Marine Captain Nezumi, a corrupt officer who worked hand in hand with Arlong.
The only reason Arlong hadn't wiped entire villages off the map was because of Jinbei. Once, Arlong had been his subordinate. When Jinbei became a Warlord of the Sea, he secured Arlong's release into East Blue. The Marines turned a blind eye so long as Arlong didn't go too far.
Destroying a village outright would risk drawing the wrong kind of attention, especially with legends like Garp around. So instead, Arlong's crew strangled villages slowly, grinding them down until people left of their own accord.
Kaito pieced it together quickly. "So that's why he's forcing you out." But one question nagged at him. "Why this island specifically? What does he want here?"
Nalo shook his head, his expression weary and helpless. "I don't know. The only thing they said is that someone important has taken an interest in our land."
"A big shot, huh…" Kaito murmured. His eyes narrowed in thought.
Suddenly, Nalo leaned forward, gripping Kaito's hand tightly. His voice trembled with desperation. "Kaito-san, if nothing else, please… take Risa away from here. Bring her to a place far from conflict, where she can live in peace. That's all I ask of you."
Seeing the doubt in Kaito's eyes, the old man explained, "I've watched Risa grow up. Her grandmother is bedridden and won't live much longer. I have no children of my own, so I've long regarded her as my own granddaughter. But now… the young and able-bodied have already fled. Only the old remain, clinging to this place. For Risa, there is no future here."
Nalo's eyes glistened with both sorrow and hope as he looked at Kaito—the stranger who had walked into their desperate lives.
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Happy New month