Out in the open sea, under the clear morning sky, the Silent Orca glided smoothly across the waves. The mood on deck was bright—lighter than it had been in days. The crew was still buzzing from the emotional departure at Cocoyashi Village and, more importantly, from the return of one fiery navigator.
Sanji twirled with joy, practically dancing across the deck as he placed a tray of freshly brewed tea on the table. "Nami-chwan~ I'm *so* glad you're back!" he sang with hearts in his eyes.
Nami leaned casually on the railing, her expression smug. "I'm just worried you idiots would get lost without me. I couldn't bear the thought of finding you all stranded on some random island, begging a sea cow for directions."
The crew burst into laughter.
Alvida smirked and jabbed a thumb toward someone. "The only one you need to worry about getting lost is that guy."
All eyes turned to Zoro.
"Oi!" Zoro barked, clearly offended. "I have never lost!"
"More like you always lost," Usopp muttered.
"Shut it."
The laughter doubled. Even Kaya giggled behind her hand, and Gin cracked a grin.
Once the laughter died down, Sanji
asked, "So, Captain, where are we heading next?"
Zino had been leaning back near the helm, sipping tea and watching the horizon with a calm expression. At the question, he straightened slightly and looked forward.
"As we planned before," he said. "We're heading to Marine Branch 16, Nazawa Island. Time to drop off our... honored guests."
He nodded toward the lower deck, where Arlong, Don Krieg, Kuroobi, Chew, and Hatchan, remained tied and secured inside the makeshift prison bars.
Everyone nodded in agreement. It was time to finish what they started.
Just then, a breeze blew across the deck, rustling Nami's hair and slightly shifting her blouse—revealing the tattoo on her left shoulder.
The crew's eyes briefly caught sight of it, and in an instant, the mood shifted.
The old mark—a stylized shark symbolizing the Arlong Pirates—was no longer there.
In its place was a delicate new design: a small windmill wrapped in tangerine blossoms. A quiet homage to Bellemere's tangerine grove... and the windmill that once stood in front of her home.
No one said a word.
Not out of shock, but out of reverence.
They understood what that tattoo had meant all these years. The pain it carried. The chains it represented. And now—what its replacement symbolized: freedom, healing, and a new beginning.
Nami noticed the sudden silence and turned, catching their glances. She gave a small, almost shy smile.
"I asked Nojiko to change it last night," she said softly.
A quiet pause followed.
Then Zoro gave a small nod.
"Nojiko did a good job," Alvida said.
"Yeah," Zino added, his voice calm. "It suits you."
Nami looked down at her shoulder and traced the edge of the new tattoo gently.
"Yeah," she whispered. "It finally feels like it's mine."
The moment lingered, the crew silently honoring her transformation—not just the tattoo, but the person she was becoming.
And then, just like that, the wind picked up, the sails shifted, and the Silent Orca continued forward—toward the next chapter of their journey.
Zino, however, snapped his fingers as if remembering something. "Speaking of Nojiko…"
He stood up straight and addressed the crew. "Actually, there's someone I'd like you all to meet."
The crew turned to him, puzzled.
"Wait… meet?" Sanji asked. "On the ship?"
Zino grinned. "Just wait here."
He headed toward the lower deck without another word. The crew exchanged looks of confusion and curiosity.
"Did he bring a prisoner we forgot about?" Ussop muttered.
"Maybe it's another fighter," Zoro shrugged.
Alvida leaned on the railing. "Or someone he picked up while we were at Arlong Park?"
Moments later, Zino returned, followed by someone else. The moment everyone saw that person, all their eyes turned wide in shock.
Kaya gasped.
Ussop's jaw dropped.
Sanji's eyes gleamed.
Walking calmly beside Zino, her steps sure and composed, was none other than Nojiko.
She gave a small wave, her usual warm smile playing on her lips. "Nice to meet you all again," she said casually, as if this was just a morning stroll.
Nami's eyes widened. "Nojiko!?" she blurted out, completely taken aback. "What—how are you here?"
Zino stopped at the center of the deck, hands in his coat pockets. "This is our new crewmate," he announced. "Nojiko's joining us. Said she wanted to see the world... and maybe keep a close eye on her little sister."
Nojiko raised an eyebrow at Zino, turning toward the rest of the crew. "Said I wanted to come along, huh? That's funny. Last I checked, it was you who invited me to join your crew when I visited the ship last night."
Zino gave a sheepish grin. "Did I say that? Ha ha... must've slipped my mind."
The crew all narrowed their eyes suspiciously at Zino. That grin… that awkward laugh… they knew that face all too well.
Sanji leaned close to Ussop and whispered, "He's recruiting beauties again."
Ussop nodded in agreement, whispering back, "At this point, I'm surprised he hasn't written a manual for it."
Nami blinked her eyes, still a bit skeptical. "And you believed him?"
Nojiko sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I didn't."
"You did not?" Nami asked. "Then, why are you on this ship?"
"He...kidnapped me." Nojiko said, glancing at Zino, giving a strange smile.
"Kidnapped?" Everyone were stunned instantly, turning to look at Zino.
Sanji frowned. "Zino, you kidnapped her?"
Zino just whistled, looking aside with some sweat on his forehead. Last night, he actually acted as if he wanted to be alone because he want to do a few things.
One of them is to go find and recruit Nojiko. If she refuse, he will go and...kidnap or so he thought. Coincidentally, Nojiko came visiting him, wanted to talk and thank him for helping the village getting rid of Arlong.
So, he just offered her to join his crew. As expected, Nojiko refused. Then, he used a thug approach, to force Nojiko, trying to kidnap her. However, he was not used to such approach, and instead, looking like a cool thug trying to flirt on a girl.
Nojiko was a bit stunned at that moment, and felt that he looked handsome—forcing her on the wall, one hand clapped on her side, and eyes straight on her eyes—saying forcefully, "You have no choice, I will force you to join."
Nojiko, instead of afraid of his forceful approach, she said jokingly that as long as he agreed to be his boyfriend, she will join. Zino suddenly turned awkward and didn't gave any assurance. Then, Nojiko stayed inside the ship, wanting to surprise her sister.
Back at the moment, Zino sweated when he thought of his thug like approach was actually succeeded in earning him a crew... and a beauty, who seems to be pursuing him.
Nojiko chuckled when she saw him turning restless.
"Well," Nojiko added, folding her arms playfully, "I kind of want to see him at my side everyday. So, I didn't resist when he kidnapped me."
Everyone suddenly looked suspicious, glancing between the two—Zino and Nojiko.
"Hey hey. I didn't do anything." Zino sweated profusely at their sharp stares.
"So, you really kidnapped her?" Alvida squinted her eyes on Zino.
"Zino!! How dare you didn't something bad to Nojiko!" Sanji's thought already veered further bad, that he wanted to kick Zino.
Nojiko chuckled. "Alright alright. Jokes aside, I actually volunteered to join."
Everyone then turned happy when she admitted joining voluntarily.
Zino, wanted to remove the awkwardness, raised his hand for attention. "Let's not drag this out. Everyone—welcome our newest member!"
A chorus of cheers rang out across the deck.
"Welcome aboard, Nojiko!"
"Glad to have you!"
"Another beauty joins the crew!" Sanji swooned.
Nojiko smiled warmly, the wind catching her hair as she looked out over the ocean. "Thanks. I'm looking forward to this."
And just like that, the Silent Orca welcomed another member on board. As the sun rises higher, the ship continues to move along, bringing the misfits, heading towards their next stops.
...
The Silent Orca had been gliding smoothly across the open sea for over five hours. The sun hung high overhead, and the breeze was gentle, pushing the sails forward with a steady rhythm. Life aboard the ship had settled into a calm routine, but beneath the surface, a new kind of intensity was brewing.
On the upper deck, Zino stood beside Alvida, observing her with a sharp eye as she sprinted across the deck in a blur.
"Again," Zino ordered.
Alvida exhaled and shot forward once more, vanishing and reappearing a few meters ahead with a burst of speed. It wasn't perfect, but it was definitely Soru.
Zino nodded. "You've got the basics down. Still needs polish, but it's usable now."
Alvida grinned, wiping sweat from her brow. "Feels weird, but I'll get it."
While Alvida focused on refining her footwork, her movements sharp and determined, the rest of the crew watched with growing curiosity. Even Zoro, who had been busy practicing his sword slashes at the edge of the deck, found himself glancing over more than once.
To his surprise, Alvida was actually getting the hang of Soru. That made her the second person aboard the Silent Orca capable of using it—besides Zino himself.
Zoro clicked his tongue. "Tch... looks like I can't fall behind."
Nearby, Gin leaned against the railing, watching intently. "What technique is that exactly?" he asked.
"Soru," Zino replied calmly. "It's one of the six techniques that make up Rokushiki."
"There are six of them?" Alvida asked, pausing mid-step. Sweat beaded on her brow, but her expression was eager. "You only taught me Soru and Tekkai. I've seen you use Rankyaku, Geppo, and Shigan too. What's the sixth one?"
"Kami-e," Zino answered. "I didn't show it much because it's more situational... but yeah, that completes the set."
The rest of the crew, now fully intrigued, gathered around. Even Zoro had stepped closer, sword still in hand. It was rare to see Zino offer a lesson like this.
Zino took a moment, then said, "Alright. It's better you all understand these techniques. Whether you choose to train in them or not, knowing the basics can save your life in a pinch."
He turned to Ussop. "Go call Sanji. Everyone should hear this."
Ussop nodded and ran off. A minute later, Sanji emerged, wiping his hands on a towel, clearly in the middle of meal prep. "This better be good," he muttered, but joined the circle anyway when he saw the serious look on Zino's face.
Once everyone was gathered on deck, Zino stood before them.
"As I mentioned before, Rokushiki is a martial style developed by the World Government. It consists of six advanced combat techniques: *Soru*, *Geppo*, *Tekkai*, *Shigan*, *Rankyaku*, and *Kami-e*."
The crew listened closely, expressions focused, as their captain prepared to break down the secrets of a power once thought exclusive to the elites.
"Soru," Zino began, "also known as *Air Shave*, is a movement technique that allows the user to move at blinding speed. It's done by stepping rapidly—so fast, you seem to vanish from one spot and appear in another."
He took a step forward, his expression calm but focused. "Then there's Geppo—*Moon Walk*. It lets you kick the air itself to stay mid-air or even ascend. With enough control, you can practically fly for short distances."
The crew exchanged surprised glances. Even Ussop was leaning in, fully hooked.
"You can think of Soru and Geppo as the movement-based techniques of Rokushiki," Zino continued.
He paused for a breath before moving on. "Next are the defensive forms: Tekkai and Kami-e. Tekkai—*Iron Body*—allows you to harden your muscles to the point where your body becomes like steel. It can block blades, bullets, or even cannon fire if mastered."
Kaya blinked. "That sounds... painful."
"It requires immense control," Zino admitted with a half-smile. "But effective. Then there's Kami-e—*Paper Drawing*. It relaxes the body completely, making it so light and fluid that it bends with the wind. It's all about dodging with grace—letting attacks slide past you."
The crew nodded, visibly impressed.
"Now, for offense," Zino said, his tone sharpening. "Shigan—*Finger Gun*. A single high-speed thrust of the finger strong enough to pierce like a bullet. And then there's Rankyaku—*Tempest Kick*—a slicing air blade created from powerful kicks. Think of it as turning a kick into a flying sword slash."
Zino let the names settle in their minds.
"These are the six basic forms of Rokushiki," he concluded. "But... there's more."
Ussop's eyes widened. "More? But 'Roku' means six! Isn't that it?"
Zino chuckled. "That's true. The six are the foundation. But advanced users have found ways to combine them—to create hybrid or personalized techniques. They're not officially listed, but they exist."
He glanced at Nami and Nojiko. "For example, some masters have fused Tekkai's hardness, Kami-e's flexibility, and Shigan's precision... to weaponize something as unusual as hair. Turning it into a whip, or a shield, or even a piercing attack."
"So, it's about combining techniques," Nami concluded, arms crossed thoughtfully.
"Yes and no," Zino replied, raising a finger.
Nami blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Combination is just one path toward advancing Rokushiki," Zino explained. "Some practitioners find ways to blend two or three techniques into something new. But others—true geniuses—master a single technique so thoroughly that it evolves beyond its original limits. With enough control and refinement, that technique can rival or even surpass a combination of all six.