Cocoyashi Village.
This was Nami's home. For years, she had wandered the seas, burdened with the task of gathering 100 million Berries, rarely able to return. Now that she was finally back, Ryūjin had no intention of rushing her away.
He stayed in Cocoyashi Village for three days before preparing to leave with her.
At the village entrance, the pier was crowded.
"Nami, come back often!"
"Lord Ryūjin, you're always welcome here!"
"Lord Ryūjin, you're leaving already?"
Not only the villagers of Cocoyashi, but people from nearby villages had gathered to see them off. Their gratitude was genuine and impossible to hide.
"Everyone, please head back," Nami called out, waving repeatedly. "I'll be fine with Lord Ryūjin, so don't worry!"
Ryūjin stood quietly beside her, a faint smile on his face.
"Let's go," Nami said after finishing her goodbyes.
Ryūjin nodded, about to step forward, when a voice called out.
"Lord Ryūjin, Nami, wait a moment."
Genzo approached with several young men carrying bundles and sacks filled with supplies.
"This is a small token of our gratitude," Genzo said sincerely. "Please accept it."
Because of Arlong's rule, the villagers had little to spare. The supplies were simple, food, water, daily necessities, but they came from what little the villagers had.
Ryūjin glanced at the items, then back at the people.
"Alright, I'll take it."
Relief and satisfaction spread across their faces.
"Move everything onto Lord Ryūjin's ship," Genzo instructed immediately.
"No need," Ryūjin said. "Just leave them here."
Though confused, they followed his instructions.
The next moment, Ryūjin activated Kamui. The supplies vanished instantly, pulled into another space.
The crowd froze.
Even Nami stared at him, clearly surprised.
Another ability.
Just how many did he have?
"I won't take your things for nothing," Ryūjin said lightly. "I'll leave something behind as well."
He pressed his hand against the ground.
The earth shifted.
Moments later, fine golden dust surfaced, spreading across the ground.
"This… this is gold!"
"He created gold?"
The villagers were stunned.
Nami's eyes lit up instantly.
"So much gold…"
She looked ready to dive into it without hesitation.
At that moment, she felt even more certain she had made the right decision sticking with him.
"Lord Ryūjin, we can't accept this," Genzo said firmly.
"We gave those things willingly."
"How could we take gold in return?"
Ryūjin let out a small laugh.
"This gold was already yours."
Everyone paused.
"Gold exists in the soil. I just extracted it. It belongs to this land, which means it belongs to you."
Hearing that, the resistance faded.
"Everyone, farewell."
Ryūjin grabbed Nami, and with a thought, the two of them lifted into the air and landed on the ship.
"Come back anytime, Lord Ryūjin!"
"Treat this place like your home!"
Their voices followed as the ship slowly set sail.
---
Three days later.
On the deck.
"Full house. Nami, your move."
"I've got this, I'll crush you!"
"Nami, are you serious? I'm your teammate."
"Oh… I thought my cards were better."
Ryūjin sat with Nami and two Wood Clones, playing cards to pass the time.
The sea was quiet. Too quiet.
Without something to do, the boredom would have been unbearable.
"Maybe I should get some crew," Ryūjin thought.
Not for strength, just for noise.
More people meant less silence.
He even found himself thinking about Sanji. At least the guy could cook properly, unlike Nami.
While they were playing, the sound of flapping wings approached.
A News Coo landed nearby.
Nami immediately grabbed the paper, after arguing over the price as usual.
Moments later, she froze.
"Ryūjin, you're in the news."
She handed the paper over.
Ryūjin glanced at the front page.
"Demonic Eye Uchiha Ryūjin, The Man Who Defeated Hawk-Eyes With One Sword Strike."
He stared at it for a second.
"Demonic Eye? What kind of nonsense is that?"
He skimmed through the article. It exaggerated things, but not completely off.
"Not bad," he muttered. "At least they didn't completely butcher it."
Nami looked at him, speechless.
The journey continued.
---
New World.
On the Moby Dick.
A News Coo landed on the deck.
Marco took the paper, scanning it casually as he walked.
Then he stopped.
"That guy Mihawk actually lost… Pops."
Whitebeard sat on his massive chair, drinking.
"Something interesting?" he asked.
"Mihawk was defeated. East Blue."
Whitebeard raised an eyebrow.
"That's unusual. Who did it?"
"Uchiha Ryūjin. They're calling him Demonic Eye."
Marco briefly explained what was written.
Whitebeard's expression shifted slightly.
"One strike?"
Now that caught his attention.
Around them, the commanders reacted with shock.
Even for them, Mihawk's strength was undeniable.
Defeating him in a single blow was not something ordinary.
"Is he a swordsman?" Vista asked, his focus sharper than the others.
Whitebeard said nothing more, but the interest remained.
---
Elsewhere, similar reactions spread.
Kaido.
Shanks.
Big Mom.
The name Uchiha Ryūjin reached all of them.
Surprising, but not enough to shake them.
---
Back in the East Blue.
The ship cut through the sea at high speed.
"Ryūjin, our ship has to be the fastest out here," Nami said excitedly.
"Not really," Ryūjin replied. "Once we reach the Grand Line, I'll grab a few proper Sea Kings. This is still slow."
Ahead of the ship, a large sea creature pulled them forward, acting as their engine.
The speed had increased drastically.
The boredom had not.
Days passed.
Then, finally, something appeared on the horizon.
A massive red mountain range.
Nami checked the map carefully.
"That's the Red Line."
Her voice carried excitement.
"We're almost there. The Grand Line is right past it."
Then she frowned.
"But how are we supposed to cross it?"
She studied the map again.
"There's supposed to be a canal going up the mountain… but that doesn't make sense. Ships can't climb mountains."
"It's the current," Ryūjin said.
Nami froze for a moment, then understood.
The four seas converged here. The currents forced water upward through the canal.
Ships could ride that current to the top.
But there was a problem.
The currents were violent.
The passage was narrow.
One mistake, and the ship would be smashed against the rocks.
Nami finally understood.
This was why so many never made it to the Grand Line.
Not because they couldn't find it.
Because they couldn't survive reaching it.