The Going Merry glided toward Syrup Village, sunlight scattering golden flecks across the gentle waves. Nami was at the helm, posture crisp and every movement precise, her eyes hawk-sharp as she scanned the coastline for reefs and the perfect docking spot. "Don't scratch the ship, Luffy!" she barked, as our captain leaned so far over the bow rail he looked moments from falling in. Luffy's straw hat was askew, his grin stretched from ear to ear as he pointed wildly at everything: "Look, Nami! That cloud looks like a giant steak! Zoro, do you see it?!"
Zoro, sprawled by the rail, swords resting across his knees, cracked one eye open. "If you fall in, I'm not hauling you out. Meat cloud or not," he grunted, shifting his head to keep the sun out of his face, but still taking in everything with that lazy alertness he never quite lost.
I stood nearby, letting the peaceful view soak in, knowing how quickly things could turn to chaos with these three.
The anchor splashed down and Luffy launched himself off the deck like a spring. "Land! Adventure! Meat!" he hollered, blasting up the path while Nami yelled, "Luffy! You can't just run off!"—but he was gone in a heartbeat. I followed, stretching my legs and savoring the brief calm, knowing it never lasted long with this crew.
Nami hurried after, clutching her purse and glaring at every shadow like she expected it to jump out and steal her money. Zoro came last, stretching and yawning, his eyes half-lidded but missing nothing, already scouting for trouble—or maybe just the nearest bar.
Before we could get our bearings, a voice bellowed down the road, loud and brimming with bravado: "Halt, evildoers! I am Captain Usopp, the most feared pirate in Syrup Village!" Three Jolly Roger flags flapped out from the bushes, clearly homemade. "If you try anything, know that my army of eighty million men is hidden all around you!"
A skinny kid with a nose you could use as a fishing pole leaped out, holding a battered slingshot like it was a legendary weapon. He struck a dramatic pose, scarf fluttering, eyes darting to check if we were buying it. He looked so earnest it was almost impossible not to smile.
Luffy's jaw dropped in awe. "Eighty million?!" he shouted, eyes sparkling. Of course, he believed it. The rest of us exchanged deadpan looks. Luffy falling for tall tales was nothing new, but this one was impressive even for him.
I shot Nami a look. She rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn't fall out. Zoro just grunted, folding his arms and looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.
"He's lying," Nami stated flatly, not even bothering to hide her skepticism as she sized Usopp up from head to toe.
"C-crap, she saw through it!" Usopp yelped, nearly dropping his slingshot. He tried to stand tall again, but his knees wobbled.
"Wait, so there aren't eighty million people on this island?" Luffy asked, blinking in confusion, as if the notion of exaggeration had never occurred to him.
I shot Luffy a blank stare before sighing, "I'm not even going to comment..." It was pointless to argue with Luffy's unbreakable optimism.
Usopp shifted his grip on the slingshot, trying not to fidget as he declared, "W-well, maybe not eighty million, but the ones I do have are super strong!" He puffed out his chest, eyes darting toward the bushes.
Zoro pointed lazily at the bushes. "You mean those three kids hiding over there?" The makeshift flags collapsed, and three little boys bolted, shrieking as they vanished down the street. Usopp wilted as his 'army' abandoned him.
"Hey! Don't bail on me!" Usopp yelled, waving his slingshot. He wilted as he turned to face us alone.
With the drama dying down, I spotted a small metal ball in the sand. I picked it up, rolling it in my palm. "Perfect size for a seal," I murmured, half to myself, half to the others.
Nami gave a glance. "I've never seen a pirate use a pachinko before..." she commented, her tone a mix of disbelief and amusement.
Luffy burst into laughter, "Hahaha! You're an interesting guy!" he beamed, already approving of any new oddity or talent.
"Don't make fun of me! I am a man of great pride!" Usopp scowled, drawing himself up to his full height as he brandished his slingshot. "Everyone calls me Usopp the Proud! My skills with this slingshot are greater than any pistol!" he declared, as if trying to will us into believing it.
"Hearing this, I glanced over at Luffy and caught the glint in his eyes. I couldn't help but smile, already anticipating what was about to unfold.
"Now that you've drawn your weapon... bet your life on it." Luffy's voice dropped an octave, his usual cheer replaced with a sudden seriousness as he lowered his hat over his eyes, casting them into shadow. Usopp began to sweat, the weight of Luffy's words and presence bearing down on him. "It's not a tool used to scare people," Luffy finished, his tone resolute.
Zoro slid a sword out with an easy, practiced flick, the steel flashing. He gave Usopp a grin full of teeth. "Real pirates don't bluff, kid. They fight."
I grinned, letting my chakra spill from me in an invisible wave, exerting pressure and showcasing the progress I'd made in my recent training. Sand swirled around our feet, and a gentle wind knocked against the nearby trees, causing leaves to rustle and the distant clinking of glasses to announce the intensity of my aura. Usopp's eyes widened, and he began to inch backward, shoulders visibly tense, the effects making him break out in a nervous sweat. "You're trembling, do you not have the guts to take us on?" I murmured, letting my aura roll over him like a rising tide.
Usopp was now visibly shaking, sweat pouring down his face as he barely managed to stammer, "A-as I thought... a real pirate is much more intimidating... incredible..."
The tension broke as we all burst out laughing, the mood instantly lightening. I reeled my chakra back in as Luffy started to explain, his smile returning. "I just repeated something that someone said—the pirate I deeply respect, Shanks," he said, grinning with admiration.
At the mention of Shanks, Usopp perked up, his fear forgotten. "Shanks? Did you say the great pirate Shanks? You know him?" he asked eagerly, stepping forward.
"Yeah! Your dad's Yassop, right?" Luffy replied, as if that explained everything. "He was always talking about you!"
"WHAAAT?! How do you know my dad?!" Usopp cried, jaw dropping. He looked about ready to faint from surprise.
Later, we found ourselves seated at a small restaurant near the village square, thanks to Usopp, who insisted on treating us as an apology for his earlier antics. Luffy, predictably, was absolutely jubilant at the prospect of food and wasted no time vacuuming down his servings at an alarming rate. Zoro ate with almost equal ferocity, while Nami and I took a more measured approach, enjoying the rare comfort of a proper meal on land.
"Yassop always talked about his son!" Luffy said, mouth full, orange juice dribbling down his chin. "I thought you looked familiar!"
Usopp puffed out his chest, pride and longing mixing in his voice. "My old man's with the Red-Haired Pirates… That's so cool. I wanna see that kind of adventure too…"Nami, ever practical, leaned forward. "That's great, but do you know where we can get a ship around here? Ours is barely holding together."
Usopp deflated, shaking his head. "No luck. This village is tiny—nobody has spare ships. Sorry."
Zoro suddenly scratched his head. "Didn't I see a big mansion on the hill? Maybe they have a boat."
"You can't go there!" Usopp blurted suddenly, startling all of us with his abrupt vehemence. The emotion in his voice made us sit up a little straighter, sensing there was more to the story than he let on.
He forced a shaky laugh. "Ehehehe. AH! I just remembered there's something I have to do!" Usopp stammered, quickly getting up and making a hasty exit before we could press him further.
Nami frowned after Usopp's retreating form. "What was up with that?" she wondered aloud, suspicion in her eyes.
I give an answer without going into detail, since I already know it. "He probably knows something about the mansion but is feeling protective, maybe there's someone or something up there he wants to keep safe." I paused, glancing at my friends and gauging their reactions. A cool breeze swept in from the sea, a subtle reminder of the unpredictability ahead. "Anyway, you guys go on ahead. I've got something I need to do." Before anyone could object, I slipped away into the shadows, the weight of Nami's exasperated sigh and her muttered, "Dramatic idiots," trailing after me.
Back at the boat, I quickly drew on my chakra and created five shadow clones in a practiced motion. "Get to work, boys," I instructed. Each clone sprang into action. One began inscribing intricate trap seals around the perimeter, another organized medical supplies, and a third started preparing a special scroll with an ejection seal alongside the storage one. My eyes drifted to the horizon, where the mansion loomed, bathed in an eerie light that seemed to pulse ominously. It was as if the very air vibrated with a warning of what lay ahead. It was methodical and precise, a testament to the training I'd pushed myself through since joining this crew. Every preparation, every seal, felt like another step toward ensuring the safety of my friends and our mission.