"These Hidden Mist guys really know how to pick their timing," Zian muttered, irritation clear in his voice.
On his way to the mission site, he had already run into a brief skirmish.
Although he managed to eliminate the ninja from the Land of Water, the boat he had been riding was destroyed in the process. With no other choice, he had to continue on foot.
Fortunately, as a hybrid of the Uchiha and Senju bloodlines, his chakra reserves were immense. Covering the rest of the distance like this was no real issue.
"Once I get through this fog, I should be close."
"Hm?"
Hearing a faint noise, Zian suddenly stopped and turned to look behind him.
The mist was too thick to see through. Nothing was visible, only… a strange sound.
"Why does that sound like a train?"
"And those two lights…"
Don't tell me there's actually a train running across the sea. That's impossible.
In the world he came from, technology hadn't developed to that level.
Still, just in case it was something dangerous, Zian stepped back, widening the distance to get a better look.
A gust of wind swept in, tearing through the fog and revealing what lay beyond.
With his Sharingan active, Zian finally saw it clearly.
"A train… running on the ocean?" he said, stunned. "Since when was that even possible?"
Rumble!
A massive sea train came charging forward, sending up towering sprays of water as it raced ahead at incredible speed.
"…Wait. Did I transmigrate again?!"
Hm?
Why did he say "again"?
…
"Chimney, are you okay?" Nami asked, worry written all over her face.
The little girl had been clinging to the outside of the sea train just moments ago, nearly thrown off to her death.
If she hadn't landed near the Franky Family, the outcome would have been unthinkable.
"I… I thought I was gonna die…" Chimney said, sticking out her tongue beside Luffy.
"Yeah…"
"You two, honestly…" Zoro sighed, at a loss for words.
Luffy was one thing. He practically chased danger for fun.
But this little girl?
Sneaking aboard was already reckless enough, and she even climbed onto the roof of the train?
"Forget it. What's done is done," Nami said, rubbing her forehead. "We can't get off now anyway."
All they could do now was keep her safe.
"Whatever. Let's eat first."
Luffy said it like it was nothing and immediately started eating again, leaving Paulie and the others speechless.
He had nearly died moments ago, and now he was eating like nothing happened.
Unbelievable.
"Well… he is Straw Hat Luffy…"
"Hm?"
"Wait…"
"Look outside. Isn't there someone running on the sea?!" Paulie suddenly stood up and pointed.
Zoro froze for a moment, then followed his gaze.
His pupils shrank.
"There really is someone!"
Instinctively, his hand went to the hilt of his sword.
He didn't know how someone could run on water, nor why that person was here.
But at a time like this, a stranger appearing out of nowhere was rarely a good sign.
"Where?"
"Where?!"
Luffy, still holding a chunk of meat, hurried over and looked out.
The moment he saw the figure sprinting across the ocean, his eyes lit up.
"That's awesome! He's running on water!"
"Could it be those people?" Nami said, her expression turning serious.
She remembered their previous enemies. If they could fly, then running on water wasn't impossible.
The figure was getting closer. They needed to identify him quickly.
Suddenly, the figure vanished.
As if he had never been there.
Nami's face instantly turned pale.
She wasn't afraid of people.
But disappearing like that?
Could it be… a ghost?
There had been fog outside earlier…
"Everyone, stay alert!"
Zoro's gaze sharpened, his muscles tensing.
At that moment, a man pushed open the window.
"Hey. How's it going?"
Everyone snapped their heads toward him.
Zoro immediately shifted into a fighting stance, ready to strike.
"Who are you?" he asked.
He looked the man over and frowned.
A green vest. A strange headband with a leaf symbol. A long blade at his waist.
What kind of outfit was that?
A swordsman?
"Me?" Zian jumped in through the window, rubbing his chin casually. "Just a passing ninja."
"Mind if I hitch a ride?"
As he spoke, his eyes swept across everyone in the room.
Luffy. Zoro. Nami. Chopper.
Even though he didn't recognize the others, this was enough.
He knew exactly where he was.
This was the world of One Piece.
"So I really did transmigrate again…"
He hadn't expected that at all.
And the worst part was, he had only watched up to the point where they were heading to Water 7 to repair the Going Merry.
He had no idea what happened afterward.
Thinking about it made him regret it.
If only he had watched more.
"You're a ninja?!" Luffy's eyes sparkled.
Even Chopper, who had been lying flat on the floor, immediately jumped up.
A ninja!
"Yeah. A ninja," Zian nodded.
He couldn't help but feel a little confused by their reaction.
Was it really that exciting?
"You were running on the sea just now because of that?" Paulie asked.
"Yeah. It's a ninja ability."
"Ninja…" Kokoro stepped out from the driver's cabin, studying him carefully. "I've heard stories about them."
Whether this oddly dressed young man matched those stories, she wasn't sure.
"You've heard of them?" Nami asked.
"Mm. In the New World, there's a place called Wano. I've heard there are ninjas there," Kokoro said, then hesitated. "Are you from Wano?"
Having lived in Water 7 for so long and known figures like Roger, it wasn't strange for her to know about such things.
"Not sure where that is, but no, I'm not from there," Zian said with a shrug.
He hadn't expected this world to have ninjas too.
Interesting.
Were they Devil Fruit users?
Or did this world have its own kind of power system?
After all, if something like Devil Fruits existed, anything was possible.
"Then can you use clone techniques?!" Luffy asked eagerly.
"And breathe fire?" Chopper added, waving his arms.
"And—"
"Alright, hold on," Zian raised a hand. "I can do all that. But in a place like this, aside from clones, the rest isn't safe to show."
"Too cramped."
If he used fire techniques here, everyone would be in trouble.
Fire was not harmless.
He had taken plenty of lives with it during the Second Great Ninja War.
"Then show us the clone!" Luffy said, eyes shining.
"Clone!"
"Clone!"
"Wait," Zoro suddenly interrupted.
"What is it?"
Zian paused and looked at him.
Zoro ignored him and turned to Luffy.
"Hey. Don't you think this is suspicious? A guy shows up out of nowhere at a time like this."
"We don't even know his name."
Compared to flashy techniques, that mattered more.
Luffy blinked, then turned to Zian.
"What's your name?"
"Zian."
"Will you hurt us?"
"No."
Luffy nodded, then turned to Zoro and grinned.
As if to say: See? No problem.
Zoro fell silent.
Wasn't that a bit too casual?
"Alright, go ahead!" Luffy said.
"Fine."
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof!
A burst of white smoke appeared, and an identical copy of Zian stood beside him.
"…That's real?" Nami stared in disbelief.
"So those stories are actually true?"
"Well, the proof's right here."
"Then I guess they are."
"It's really a clone!" Chopper ran up and poked Zian's leg, discovering both bodies were solid. He was thrilled.
Unaware that this made Zoro even more cautious.
"Relax. I'm not your enemy," Zian said calmly. "If I wanted to attack, you wouldn't even see it coming."
Zoro didn't believe that at all.
Who was he underestimating?
Zian didn't mind. There would be chances to prove it later.
"That's amazing!"
Luffy stuffed the rest of his meat into his mouth and rushed over, poking and grabbing at him.
Startled, Zian immediately dispelled the clone.
Poof!
The clone vanished, and Zian took a step back.
"What are you doing?"
"Why'd it disappear?" Luffy scratched his head. "Oh well."
Then he grinned.
"Zian, join my crew!"
A ninja was just too cool.
"Huh?!"
"Hey, no one just agrees to something like—"
"Sure."
"…You actually agreed?!"