The next morning, the children only began to stir when the sun had already climbed high into the sky, its golden rays filtering through the trees and spilling into the house. Though none of them had bothered to set an alarm, their bodies had long since learned to rise with the rhythm of the island. As Naru and her brothers woke from their beds, Dadan and the rest of the household were already up, stretching and yawning as they greeted another day.
After washing up and brushing their teeth amid the usual morning chaos, Ace and Luffy dashed out the door in a blur of excitement, eager to meet their friend. Their laughter echoed through the woods as they vanished from sight, their energy as bright as the morning sun.
With the boys gone, Naru stepped outside into the yard alongside the others. The remnants of last night's bonfire still smoldered in the pit, thin wisps of smoke curling lazily into the air. The scent of charred wood lingered faintly.
After a brief look at the ashes, Naru turned toward Dadan and asked, "Do we still have enough food for lunch and dinner?"
Dadan shook her head. "Nah. We used up all the meat last night."
In other words, there was nothing left to eat for today.
Naru nodded, unfazed. "Then I'll head into the woods and see what I can get."
"Want us to come along? We haven't gone hunting together this week," one of the bandits offered.
The family had a long-standing routine of hunting together in the forest. Sometimes, when they wanted a change, they would head for the river or the coast to gather seafood instead.
"Let's save that for tomorrow," Naru replied with a small smile as she adjusted her gear. "I'll go alone today and bring back whatever I can before noon."
Since her word carried weight in the household, the others naturally agreed.
"I'm off!" she announced brightly as she started toward the forest.
"Alright, be careful!" came the reply.
And with that, Naru disappeared among the trees.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Ace and Luffy reached the enormous tree that stood tall above everything else. Its sprawling branches formed a vast green canopy that filtered the sunlight and gave the boys a sense of ownership, as if the forest itself acknowledged their claim.
They stood beneath it, cupped their hands around their mouths, and shouted in unison, "Sabo!"
Their voices echoed through the woods, scattering birds from their perches and sending startled animals fleeing into the underbrush.
"Sabo! You up there?!" Luffy hollered again, louder this time.
A voice drifted down, light and amused. "You're late!"
Sabo's familiar tone came from above, followed by the sound of shifting leaves. Moments later, he appeared among the branches, perched with the ease of someone completely at home in the trees. A wide grin spread across his face as he looked down at them.
"Oi, Sabo!" Luffy waved eagerly. "Come down!"
Ace crossed his arms with a smirk. "Quit lazing around already."
"Come down? Alright, alright," Sabo said playfully, his grin widening.
He caught hold of a hanging vine and swung down in one smooth arc, landing in front of them with an exaggerated pose, arms spread wide. "Ta-da!"
Luffy clapped like an overexcited audience. "That was so cool!"
Ace rolled his eyes but couldn't hide a faint grin. "Pfft, show-off."
"So, what's the plan for today?" Sabo asked as he brushed a few leaves from his clothes.
"We're not playing today," Ace replied, his tone more serious than usual. "Our sister came back last night."
"Sister?" Sabo blinked. "The one who went sailing? She's back already?"
"Yep!" Luffy said with a grin that nearly split his face in two.
Sabo had heard plenty of tales about Naru, the older sister that Ace and Luffy idolized. She had supposedly gone off on her own adventure at just ten years old, which he had always thought was impossible for a kid. The brothers' stories about her were wild—wrestling tigers, cracking boulders with her fists, and scaring off bandits without flinching. Sabo had always wondered how much of that was exaggerated, but he had to admit, the curiosity was strong.
"She wants to meet you," Ace said, pulling him out of his thoughts.
"Me?" Sabo's eyes widened. "Why me?"
"Because you're our friend!" Luffy grinned. "And you're helping us make lunch!"
"I am?" Sabo asked, half protesting.
"You are now!" Luffy laughed and grabbed his arm, dragging him along.
Sabo chuckled, amused but not resisting. He allowed himself to be pulled toward the Dadan Family's hideout, a place that had become familiar thanks to his frequent visits over the last few weeks. As they approached, the noise and laughter spilling from the clearing made it clear that Naru's return had energized everyone.
"Oi, Sabo!" one of the bandits called, hauling a bundle of firewood. "Back again?"
"Hehe, yeah! Here for the free food!" Sabo replied with a wink and wave.
Dadan, sitting on the porch with a cigar between her fingers, gave him a mock glare. "Tch. Can't get rid of you, huh?" Her tone softened as she tossed him an apple. "Here, brat. There's no such thing as a free lunch. Get to work!"
"Thanks, Dadan!" Sabo grinned and polished the apple on his shirt before taking a bite.
Before he could finish, movement from the treeline caught his attention. Naru emerged from the forest, arms laden with several hares and a wild boar slung across her shoulders as if it weighed nothing. Her confident stride and easy smile made it clear she was used to the hunt. Sabo could only stare.
"Whoa…" he breathed. "She caught all that by herself?"
"Told ya!" Ace said proudly. "Our sister's the best!"
Naru dropped her haul near the cooking area and turned toward Sabo, her sharp blue eyes curious. "So, you're Sabo?"
Sabo straightened immediately. "Yes! Nice to meet you!"
Naru's grin widened, her voice full of playful energy. "Nice to meet you too. Ace and Luffy have not stopped talking about their cool new friend."
Sabo took in her appearance.
The confident stance, the golden hair, and the spark of mischief in her gaze. She did not look much like Ace or Luffy, but there was no mistaking it. They did share the same smile.
"Did you really sail off by yourself?" he asked, still amazed.
"I sure did." Naru winked. "I've got plenty of stories to tell, but first, let's make lunch!"
Clapping her hands, she called out, "Since you're here, Sabo, you're helping too. Everyone, let's get started!"
The group sprang into action, each taking on a task. Luffy, of course, managed to get distracted within minutes, either sneaking bites of vegetables or tripping over roots. At one point, he tumbled face-first into the dirt, basket and all.
"Luffy!" Naru scolded, brushing him off. "How do you even trip over flat ground?"
"Shishishi! I'm okay, Nee-chan!" Luffy said with a grin, his face streaked with mud.
Meanwhile, Dadan's voice boomed across the clearing as she scolded Ace.
"If you've got time to play, you've got time to stack that wood properly!"
Sabo could not help laughing. The scene before him was loud, messy, and full of life. Watching the siblings bicker and tease each other stirred something warm in his chest. He had never experienced a family like this before.
By the time lunch was ready, the air was thick with the smell of grilled meat and stew. Everyone gathered around, eating with eager hands and loud chatter. There was more than enough food to feed them again for dinner.
"This is the best meal ever!" Luffy cheered through a mouthful of food.
"You say that every time," Ace said with a grin, shaking his head.
Dadan leaned back, clearly pleased. "Well, we've got enough to last the day. We'll restock tomorrow."
Naru wiped her hands and looked up. "Actually, why not go hunting again after lunch? We've still got daylight, and everyone's full of energy."
That suggestion sparked instant excitement. Ace grinned. "Yeah, that sounds way better! Let's do it!"
Dadan gave a dramatic sigh but nodded. "Fine, but no slacking! If we're hunting, I don't want any whining later."
Ace turned to Sabo, eyes gleaming. "You're coming too. Think you can keep up?"
Sabo's eyes widened, then he smiled. "Of course! I'm in!"
Luffy leapt to his feet, laughing. "Let's catch something even bigger than a boar this time! Shishishishi!"
As the family began preparing for the unexpected hunting expedition, Sabo felt a growing sense of belonging among them. They moved with a chaotic but unmistakable rhythm, teasing each other one moment and working together the next. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
For the first time in years, he felt like he was part of something real, and he hoped the feeling would never end.