The days passed quietly after the sake incident. Shanks and his crew stayed in Foosha a little longer — drinking, laughing, and occasionally teasing Luffy about his "rubber arms."
But that peace wouldn't last.
———————-
Party's Bar — Afternoon
The door burst open again, the same group of rough men swaggering in. Higuma, the mountain bandit leader, sneered as he saw Makino behind the counter.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite barmaid," he said, kicking over a stool. "Where's that red-haired fool and his little circus? Heard they ran off to sea again."
Makino stiffened. "Captain Shanks is out at the docks. Please don't cause trouble."
Higuma smirked. "Trouble? Oh, I'm just here for some sake — the kind he didn't spill this time."
His men laughed crudely. One of them kicked a barrel. Another swept an arm across the counter, sending plates clattering.
Luffy sat quietly in the corner, small fists clenched.
"Hey, boss!" one of the bandits jeered. "You think that pirate's still crying over his spilled drink?"
Higuma grinned. "If he shows his face again, maybe I'll spill his blood instead."
Luffy slammed his hands on the table. "Don't you dare talk about Shanks like that!"
The room went silent.
Higuma turned slowly. "Huh?"
Luffy's face was red with anger, but his voice didn't waver. "You don't know him! He's a real man — not a coward like you!"
The bandits laughed.
"Listen to this brat!"
"Got guts for a little worm, huh?"
"Hey boss, maybe we should teach him some manners."
Higuma crouched down until he was eye-level with Luffy. "You've got a big mouth for a kid. Maybe you think you're one of them pirates too?"
"I'm not scared of you!" Luffy yelled. "Shanks is ten times the man you'll ever be!"
Higuma's expression darkened. "Big words."
He snapped his fingers. Two of his men grabbed Luffy by the arms, lifting him off the ground as he kicked wildly.
"Let me go!" Luffy shouted.
"Maybe I should toss you out to sea," Higuma said. "See how long a Devil Fruit brat lasts before he sinks."
Makino cried out, "Stop it! He's just a boy!"
But Higuma ignored her. He turned toward the door, dragging Luffy outside toward the cliffside overlooking the docks.
—————
Outside — Moments Later
The wind howled. The sea crashed against the rocks.
Higuma dangled Luffy by his shirt, grinning. "Still think you can talk big, brat?"
Luffy's face twisted with fury. "I'm not scared of you!"
"Too bad," Higuma sneered. "You should be."
He raised his sword—
—when a voice called from behind him, calm but heavy as thunder.
"That's not a very fair fight, is it?"
Higuma turned. Shanks stood there, coat fluttering in the wind, his crew behind him — Benn Beckman loading his rifle, Lucky Roux chewing meat, Yasopp already aiming his gun.
Shanks smiled. "You're picking on my friend. I can't just let that go."
Higuma laughed. "Friend? He's just a kid! You pirates really are soft."
Shanks didn't move. "Put him down."
Higuma drew his sword, pressing it against Luffy's neck. "Or what? You'll spill more sake on me?"
Shanks' smile faded. The air changed. Even the waves seemed to hold their breath.
Beckman muttered, "Bad move."
The bandits then growled. One raised his pistol, pointing it at Shanks' head.
"Enough jokes. You think we're scared of some pirates?"
The air fell silent.
Shanks' smile didn't fade, but his eyes hardened — a sharp glint beneath the calm.
He leaned forward slightly. "Listen carefully. If you're going to point that gun at someone…" His voice dropped like a blade. "…you better be ready to die."
The bandit's hands trembled.
Then, in a blur of motion — BANG!
The man dropped instantly, smoke still curling from Lucky Roux's pistol. The fat man exhaled, tucking the gun back into his coat.
Higuma's eyes widened. "You— you shot him! In cold blood!"
Roux shrugged. "You pointed first."
Another bandit hissed, "You play dirty!"
From behind, Yasopp stepped forward, spinning his pistol lazily. "We're pirates," he said coolly. "Not saints."
The rest of the bandits froze, staring at the Red-Haired crew — every one of them grinning like wolves.
Yasopp fired next, knocking the sword clean out of Higuma's hand.
Higuma froze. Shanks walked forward, calm and steady, until he stood right in front of him.
"You can insult me all you want," Shanks said softly. "But no one hurts my friends."
Higuma snarled, realizing too late that he was completely outmatched. Smoke suddenly erupted around his feet — a small flash bomb he'd hidden in his cloak.
The area filled with choking gray fog.
"Cowards!" Beckman shouted, already raising his rifle.
When the smoke cleared, Higuma and Luffy were gone.
——————
Moments Later
Higuma's small boat drifted across the waves, a pale mist curling around it. He gripped Luffy by the shirt, holding him over the water.
"Thought you could humiliate me, brat?!" Higuma snarled. "I'll show you what happens to fools who cross me!"
Luffy struggled, kicking and yelling. "Let me go! You'll regret this!"
"Oh, I doubt that." Higuma drew his sword — but before he could strike, the ocean below them moved.
A massive shadow stirred. The water exploded upward as a Sea King burst from the depths, teeth like mountains, eyes burning red.
"Wha—?!" Higuma's scream was cut short as the beast's jaws came crashing down. The boat shattered like driftwood.
Luffy fell — screaming — toward the sea below.
——————-
The Shoreline — Moments Later
From the cliffs, Shanks saw it all. Without hesitation, he dove into the water.
"Captain!" Beckman shouted, but Shanks was already gone, slicing through the waves.
He reached Luffy just as the boy was sinking, wrapping an arm around him. The Sea King loomed again, roaring — its maw opening wide.
"Stay still," Shanks said softly.
The beast lunged — and Shanks turned, holding Luffy tight. A blur of motion, a snap of jaws — and blood spread through the water.
When the Sea King surfaced again, it stopped. Shanks' glare — calm, burning, full of killing intent — froze the monster in place. The creature shuddered, whimpered, then fled into the deep.
Shanks kicked back toward the surface, gasping as he pulled Luffy onto the rocks.
"Shanks!" Luffy screamed — and then froze.
He turned to Luffy, meeting his eyes. "You okay, kid?"
Luffy nodded shakily. "Yeah… but you lost your arm before because of me.
Where Shanks' left arm should've been, there was only torn fabric and blood washing away in the tide.
Shanks managed a weak smile. "It's just an arm. You're safe, aren't you?"
Luffy's lip quivered. "You… you saved me…"
Shanks brushed the boy's hair back gently. "Of course. You're my friend."
The boy burst into tears, clutching him tightly.
———————-
Foosha Village – The Next Morning
The sun rose gently over the docks, painting the sea in gold. The Red-Haired Pirates were making ready to set sail.
Luffy sat on a barrel near the shore, still thinking about yesterday — about the Sea King, about Shanks' missing arm. The ocean was calm again, but his chest still felt heavy.
He looked up as footsteps approached. Shanks stood there, smiling as always, his coat fluttering lightly in the sea breeze.
"So," Shanks said, crouching beside him, "still sulking?"
Luffy crossed his arms. "No! I'm not sulking!"
Shanks laughed. "That's good. You'd look terrible if you did."
Luffy glared. "You lost your arm because of me… and you're laughing!"
Shanks just grinned. "It's just an arm, Luffy. I can still hold my drink with the other one."
That earned a small laugh from the boy — shaky, but real.
"Besides," Shanks went on, "you're safe. That's all that matters."
The crew finished loading supplies. Beckman called out, "Captain, the tide's right. Time to go."
Shanks nodded and turned back to Luffy. "Looks like this is goodbye for now."
Luffy's eyes widened. "You're leaving already?!"
Shanks smiled. "Pirates don't stay in one place for long."
Luffy jumped to his feet, fists clenched. "Then I'll come with you! I'll join your crew!"
The pirates behind Shanks all burst out laughing.
"Join us? You can't even swim!" Yasopp teased.
"And you're still just a little shrimp," Lucky Roux added.
"I'm not a shrimp!" Luffy shouted. "I'm strong! I'll be stronger than all of you someday!"
Shanks chuckled. "You? Stronger than my crew?"
"I will be!" Luffy yelled. His voice trembled with fire. "I'm gonna be a pirate — not just any pirate! I'll be the Pirate King!"
The laughter stopped. Even the seagulls seemed to quiet down.
Shanks blinked — then slowly smiled. "The Pirate King, huh?"
Luffy nodded, eyes blazing. "Yeah! I'll find the One Piece! I'll sail the Grand Line! I'll be the freest person in the world!"
The crew exchanged glances — a few smirks, a few quiet chuckles — but there was something in the boy's tone, something that silenced any real mockery.
It was pure, burning conviction.
Shanks blinked, the words echoing deep inside him — Pirate King.
For a moment, he wasn't standing on that dock. He was back on the deck of the Oro Jackson, years ago, beneath a storming sky.
He saw Gol D. Roger, laughing through the thunder.
"Someday, someone out there will find it, Shanks! The one who carries the will of the sea!"
And beside him — standing near the railing, wind whipping through her dark hair — was Ada, eyes bright with that same untamed fire.
"Dreams are free, Captain," she had said to Roger, smiling. "And those who chase them… never really die."
Shanks exhaled slowly, pulled back to the present by the sound of Luffy's voice.
Shanks' chest tightened with something he couldn't name — pride, nostalgia, maybe both.
He took off his hat — his most prized possession, the old straw hat passed down from Roger himself — and placed it gently on Luffy's head.
The boy froze, eyes wide beneath the brim.
Shanks smiled. "This hat's precious to me. Don't lose it."
"Shanks…"
"When you've made a name for yourself," Shanks said softly, "when you've become a great pirate — come find me. Then we'll have that drink together."
Luffy's hands gripped the brim tightly, tears brimming in his eyes. "Yeah! I promise!"
Shanks straightened, grinning wide. "Good. I'm counting on you, future Pirate King."
The Red Force's sails unfurled, catching the wind. The crew began to board.
Luffy ran after them, yelling over the waves, "I'll do it, Shanks! You'll see! I'll be the greatest pirate ever!"
Shanks turned one last time on deck, watching the small boy on the pier — straw hat far too big for him, fists clenched, eyes burning with dreams.
He laughed — loud and full of life. "I know you will, Luffy!"
As the Red Force vanished into the horizon, Shanks looked up at the endless blue sky — and for a fleeting moment, he thought he could see Roger's grin and Ada's crimson eyes in the clouds.
He closed his eyes, smiling.
"Captain Roger… Ada… looks like the sea found your echo after all."
Down on the dock, Luffy clutched the hat tightly to his chest, tears streaming — but his smile wide, defiant, unbreakable.
He smiled through his tears, holding the hat tight.
"I'll be the Pirate King," he whispered to the sea.
And the waves carried his words far — across oceans, across years — toward every dreamer who dared to follow the sun.