POWAAAAAA
I NEED MORE POWAAAAA
God damn Imu, he just folded Zoro and Sanji like they were nothing.
Usopp is truly a professional rage baiter.
Attendance Please:
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Usopp was quiet.
The dirt path stretched ahead like a gray ribbon winding toward the edge of the village. Each step kicked up small puffs of dust that clung to his sandals, but he didn't bother brushing them off. His hands hung loosely at his sides, and his shoulders curled inward, as if he were trying to make himself smaller, trying to disappear into the afternoon light filtering through the trees.
He looked down. The corners of his mouth sagged, as if something heavy were pulling on them. Every time he blinked, he saw it again: Kaya's pale face, her trembling hands, and the way she had looked at him.
Behind him, Luffy stomped along with his hands shoved into his pockets, his jaw clenched so tightly that a muscle near his ear twitched. His knuckles were still raw, blood had dried in the creases, rust-colored and cracking every time he moved his fingers. Every few seconds, he muttered something: "Jerk." Mumble. "Stupid butler." Mumble mumble. "Should've hit him harder."
Zoro walked with his arms crossed, his eyes half-closed but alert. For once, his sense of direction kept him on the path.
Nami, however, was a storm barely held together.
Her arms were folded tightly across her chest, her nails digging into her sleeves. She had been counting backward from ten for the past three minutes, trying to cool the fire inside her. It wasn't working.
Finally, she snapped.
Her fist cracked against the back of Luffy's head. Usopp flinched up ahead.
"OWWW—" Luffy stumbled forward, nearly face-planting in the dirt, one hand flying to the fresh bump on his head. He spun around, eyes wide with genuine confusion. "Hey! Why did you hit me!?"
"YOU COMPLETE IDIOT!" Nami's voice rang through the trees, scattering birds from the branches. She jabbed a finger toward his chest, her other hand still clenched. "Don't you ever think before you do something?"
Luffy blinked, then blinked again. "Huh? What did I do?"
Nami's eye twitched. She sucked in a breath through her teeth, the kind that comes right before screaming or worse. "Aren't you the one who wants a proper ship!?" She threw her arms wide, gesturing back toward the mansion as if it were still in sight. "Now you've completely ruined our chance of getting one because you couldn't keep your fists in your pockets for five more minutes!"
Luffy huffed, pushing out his lower lip in that stubborn pout that made Nami want to hit him again. "Hmph. That stupid servant talked too much." His voice dropped, losing its childish whine and becoming harder. "He not only badmouthed Yasopp and the others, but he also said really hurtful things to our new friend, Usopp."
Usopp's feet came to a halt.
His back was still to them, but his shoulders stiffened. The word struck his chest like a stone dropped into still water, sending ripples outward.
Luffy continued, unaware of the impact he was having. "I couldn't just stand there, so I shut him up."
Usopp turned slowly, his eyes wide—wider than they had ever been, probably. His mouth opened, but no sound came out at first. He had to swallow twice before he could speak. "F-friend?" His voice cracked on the word. "But we just met an hour ago!?"
Luffy looked at him and then grinned, that wide, unstoppable grin that seemed to push back against darkness itself. "So what? You're Yasopp's son," he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "And he's part of Shanks's crew. And Shanks is my idol." He tilted his head, sunlight catching the straw of his hat. "By that standard, we're meant to be friends."
"That's not how things work!" Zoro muttered, though there was no heat in his voice. If anything, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Usopp began to shake.
It began in his hands, a subtle tremor that spread up his arms and into his chest until his entire body quivered like a leaf in a storm. His vision blurred, and he realized, faintly, that tears were streaming down his cheeks, hot, sudden, and unstoppable.
"You call me a friend?" His voice cracked again, splintering like old wood. "Even though I did nothing but ruin your chance to get a ship? Even though everyone sees me as nothing but a liar, a son of a pirate?" He was gasping now, the words tumbling out faster than he could control. "Even though we just met!?"
Luffy walked over to him.
Each step was slow and deliberate. The grass crunched softly beneath his sandals. When he reached Usopp, he didn't hesitate. His hand rose and settled on Usopp's shoulder, warm, solid, and grounding.
"Who cares what others say?" Luffy's voice was quiet now, but no less firm. It was the kind of quiet that comes from absolute certainty. "We are the ones who decide what we want to become. So when I say we're friends, it means we're friends." He squeezed once. "It's the simplest thing in the world."
Behind them, Nami's jaw dropped. She stared at Luffy's back as if seeing him for the first time. "Did he really say that?" she whispered to Zoro, shock bleeding into her voice. "Did that—did those words just come out of his mouth?"
Zoro didn't answer; he was watching Usopp.
The boy's face crumpled.
Then Usopp lunged forward and wrapped his arms around Luffy so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He buried his face in Luffy's shoulder and cried.
"WAAHHH…" The sound echoed across the clearing, raw, honest, and heartbreaking. "No one has ever said such kind words to me! Thank you, Luffy. Thank you."
Luffy patted his back steadily and rhythmically, not even flinching as Usopp's tears and nose dripped onto his vest. His expression was calm, almost peaceful, as if this was exactly where he was meant to be.
After a long moment, Usopp pulled back, sniffing loudly and wiping his nose with the back of his sleeve. His eyes were red and puffy, but there was something new in them, something that hadn't been there before.
Hope.
"I know what I must do now," he said, his voice still thick but steadier. He straightened his back, lifted his chin, and puffed out his chest in what was clearly meant to be a commanding pose. "I will join your crew, as your captain. Then we'll have our great adventure together!"
Luffy's grin stiffened.
"HELL NO."
Usopp jerked back as if he had been slapped. "Waahh—but I thought we were friends now! That would naturally make me the captain!"
"Yeah, we're friends." Luffy nodded, conceding that much. "But I'm the captain."
"B-but…" Usopp pointed at himself, desperate. "What about what I want!?"
"No. You can be anything else, but not the captain."
"Then can I be the first mate!?"
Luffy jerked his thumb over his shoulder toward Yuji, who had been standing so still and silent that he had practically become part of the scenery. "You need to beat that guy for that."
Usopp looked at Yuji.
Yuji looked back.
The man was tall, taller than Usopp had realized, with a face that revealed nothing. No smile, no frown, no hint of what lay behind those dark eyes. He stood there, arms relaxed at his sides, watching Usopp with the patience of someone who had all the time in the world.
Usopp shivered as a cold trickle of sweat ran down his spine.
"N-no," he said quickly, taking a small step backward. "I don't think I'll do that. No, thank you. Not interested."
Luffy shrugged, already losing interest in the conversation. "Well, we've got plenty of time to decide what your job will be, so relax."
Usopp deflated, his shoulders sagging. "Yeah, you're right."
"WHAT THE HELL!?"
Nami's shriek made everyone turn. She stood with her mouth hanging open so wide that Zoro quietly wondered if her jaw might actually unhinge. "Did that just really happen!?" she exclaimed, pointing between Luffy and Usopp, her finger trembling. "Don't they understand the situation we're in!? We just attacked a rich household's butler! The Marines could be here by sunset!"
Zoro yawned. "What are you even worried about? You're not the one doing the heavy lifting." He scratched his chest lazily. "Even if that rich girl calls the Marines on us, we can just take care of them and leave the island. It's as simple as that."
"Aaaa…" Nami's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. No words came out. She looked as if she were rethinking every life choice that had led her to this moment.
"I don't think Kaya will call the Marines on us…" Usopp said, his voice small. He glanced nervously at Luffy. "Right?"
Luffy simply shrugged.
"Why are you asking him that?" Zoro raised an eyebrow. "Isn't she your friend?"
Usopp deflated further, seeming to shrink into himself. His gaze dropped to the ground, where he began tracing patterns in the dirt with the toe of his sandal. "Yeah… but after what happened today…" His voice dropped to a barely audible whisper. "I don't think she'll ever want to see me again."
Something flickered across Luffy's face. He reached out and patted Usopp's back again, this time more gently. "There, there."
"If you guys are done chatting," Yuji said, and everyone startled slightly, they had genuinely forgotten he was there, so still had he been. "Then I've got a question for Usopp."
Usopp blinked and turned to face him. "Huh? What is it?"
"How long has that butler, Klahadore, been working in the mansion?"
The question hung in the air, unexpected. Usopp's brow furrowed. Beside him, Luffy tilted his head curiously, and even Nami paused mid-rant to look at Yuji with confusion.
"Uhh…" Usopp scratched his chin, thinking. "Three years, I think? Yeah, about three years."
Yuji hummed, a low, thoughtful sound that seemed to vibrate in his chest. He nodded slowly. "That guy's real name isn't Klahadore. In fact, he's not even a real butler." He paused, letting the words sink in. "His real name is Kuro, captain of the Black Cat Pirates."
Silence.
Complete, utter, and ringing silence.
Then—
"WHATTTTT!!!???"
The shout was so loud and simultaneous that birds exploded from every tree within a hundred meters. Even Zoro's eyes snapped wide open.
"B-but…" Nami sputtered, grabbing fistfuls of her own hair. "How is that even possible? Wasn't Kuro executed by Axe-Hand Morgan at Shells Town?"
Zoro's eyes narrowed. "What Nami said is right. That's the official report." He turned to look at Yuji, his expression calculating. "But we also can't ignore what Yuji just said. He's the brain of this crew," he said simply, without jealousy, just stating a fact. "Which means there must be a reason behind what he's saying."
Luffy nodded firmly, crossing his arms. "Yeah, Yuji is super smart, and he's always right."
The confidence in Luffy's voice was absolute and unshakable. He didn't speak as if trying to convince anyone; he stated it as plainly as saying the sky is blue or that meat is delicious.
Usopp swallowed hard, looking at Yuji with a new kind of nervousness. "H-hey, man. Are you really sure? That Klahadore is Kuro?"
"I am one hundred percent sure," Yuji said, his voice devoid of any boastfulness. "And there's an explanation for that too." He glanced at Luffy and Zoro. "Luffy, Zoro, and I have already seen what kind of man Morgan is—a man who built his reputation on lies and fear." His gaze swept across the group, finally resting on Usopp. "Morgan became a Marine captain after capturing and executing Kuro. So who's to say he didn't make some kind of deal with Kuro and fake the entire execution?"
He began to pace slowly, his hands clasped behind his back. "Then Kuro came to Syrup Village three years ago. And Kaya's parents died around the same time, didn't they?"
Usopp's blood ran cold. "Y-Yeah."
Yuji continued pacing. "Kuro's other nickname is 'Kuro of the Hundred Plans.' He's known for being careful, patient, and ruthless." He stopped and turned to face them. "Doesn't this all add up?"
"Damn," Nami breathed, pressing a hand to her forehead as she swayed slightly. "That… that does sound believable. Terrifyingly believable."
Usopp's knees buckled.
He dropped to the ground, his hands flying up to grip his hair, pulling at the roots. His breathing was fast and shallow, each inhale a ragged gasp. "Crap. Crap, crap, crap, crap." His voice cracked with every repetition. "This can't be happening. This can't be happening."
But it was.
"This bastard Kuro has been disguised as Kaya's butler for three years," Usopp said, the words tumbling out as his mind raced ahead of his mouth. "He killed her parents. Who knows what else he's planning—"
He stopped.
His eyes widened.
A new, terrible realization blossomed in his chest, like poison spreading through water.
"Wait a minute." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Kaya started getting sick after her parents died. Right after. She was fine before—healthy, happy, full of life. And then suddenly, she's pale, weak, and always in bed?" He looked up at Yuji, his eyes wild. "Does that mean that fake has been doing something to Kaya all this time? Drugging her? Poisoning her? Keeping her sick on purpose!?"
Yuji shrugged. "Probably."
"But why?"
"It's the inheritance," Nami said quietly.
Everyone turned to look at her. She stood very still, her face pale, arms wrapped around herself as if she were cold despite the warm afternoon sun.
"Kuro wants the money," she continued, her voice gaining strength as she spoke. "All of it—the inheritance, the mansion, everything. That's why he's keeping Kaya alive, for now. But he's slowly drugging her, making her sick, making her dependent on him." Her jaw tightened. "With Kaya weak and Kuro as the only person she can rely on, he can easily make her sign whatever papers he wants. And once she's signed everything over…" She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't need to.
Zoro hummed, his brow furrowed. "There's something not right here," he said thoughtfully, scratching his chin. "Why would a pirate like Kuro wait three years for all this? If he just wanted the money, why not kill everyone on day one and be done with it?"
Nami's expression flickered. "That's… also a good point."
Silence fell over the group.
And then, as if pulled by an invisible thread, all eyes turned to Yuji.
It happened naturally, without anyone consciously deciding it. Luffy looked at him with absolute trust. Zoro regarded him with analytical respect. Nami gazed at him with desperate hope. Usopp stared at him like a drowning man clinging to a lifeline.
Yuji met each of their gazes in turn, then nodded slowly.
"I think Kuro is doing all of this slowly and deliberately for one of two reasons." He held up a finger. "Either he's one of those people who likes to watch his victims suffer—who enjoys the slow unraveling, the helplessness, the fear. He's not just after money; he's after entertainment."
He held up his second finger.
"Or…" He paused, letting the weight of the word settle. "Or he's tired of being a pirate. He wants to start a new life with some extra security, a whole inheritance under his belt, while he spends the rest of his days in peace, never having to look over his shoulder again."
Everyone was silent, processing the information.
"Neither of those scenarios is good for Kaya or the villagers," Nami said quietly.
"Neither of them is a good scenario for anyone," Zoro agreed.
Usopp pulled at his hair again, this time harder. "Dammit. This is not good. This is really bad." He lurched to his feet, his body moving before his mind had fully caught up. "I need to warn Kaya and the villagers. They all need to know what's coming—"
"Then what?"
Zoro's voice cut through Usopp's panic like a blade through silk, cold, calm, and unforgiving.
Usopp froze mid-step.
"Do you really think they'll believe you?" Zoro asked. He hadn't moved from his spot or changed his posture, but somehow he seemed larger than before. "A liar's words? Or the words of a group of strangers who showed up an hour ago and immediately beat up the beloved family butler?"
Usopp stood there, trembling. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, and his breath came in short, sharp bursts. Every instinct screamed at him to run, to act, to do something—anything but stand there while Kaya was in danger.
But Zoro was right.
The truth settled over Usopp's shoulders like a cold weight. He sagged, the fight draining out of him. "But we need to do something," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We can't just stand here and let that bastard keep hurting Kaya."
Nami sighed, her anger from earlier softening into something gentler. "Usopp, you need to understand something." She walked over to him and stopped just in front of him. "Kuro has been doing this for three years. Three years. He's had time to build connections, establish a reputation, and make himself indispensable. Everyone in that village trusts him."
She reached out and placed a hand on his arm, a rare gesture of comfort from her. "Even though we know the truth now, we can't just march in there and demand that everyone believe us. The only way to prove who he really is would be to show his bounty poster…" She trailed off, her expression darkening.
"Which stopped being published three years ago," Usopp finished for her, "after his 'execution.'"
Nami nodded grimly. "We need to think carefully about this. Rushing in will only help him."
"But, Kaya—" Usopp started.
A hand landed on his shoulder.
Usopp looked up and saw Luffy standing beside him, his expression unusually serious. The straw hat cast a shadow over his eyes, but the visible parts of his face were set in hard lines.
"Don't worry, Usopp." Luffy's voice was quiet, but there was steel beneath it. "Now that we know who he really is, I promise you—we will defeat Kuro and save your friend."
He squeezed Usopp's shoulder.
"After all, you're part of my crew now. And anyone who tries to threaten my crewmate…" His lips curved into a sharp smile. "…has to deal with me—and the rest of us."
Usopp looked at Luffy, then at Yuji, who nodded once. Next, he glanced at Zoro, who gave him a small, reassuring smirk. Finally, he looked at Nami, whose hand remained on his arm, her expression soft.
"You guys…" Usopp's voice cracked. His eyes burned again, but this time he blinked back the tears. He was done crying for today. Probably.
"Relax." Zoro stretched his arms above his head, cracking his neck. "With the beating Luffy gave that fake butler, it'll take at least three or four days for him to get his head straight. That's plenty of time for us to come up with a plan to bust him for good."
"Hmm hmm." Luffy nodded vigorously. "Zoro's right. And with Yuji on our side…" His grin returned—wide, bright, and full of confidence. "…we don't need to worry about anything."
For the first time since leaving Kaya's mansion, Usopp felt a weight lift from his chest. The knot of fear, anger, and helplessness that had been tightening began to loosen.
He let out a long, shaky breath.
"Thanks," he said, looking at each of them in turn. "All of you. I really mean it." He wiped his nose with his sleeve again, not caring how it looked. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been here."
Luffy gave a cheerful nod. Zoro grunted in acknowledgment, which from him was practically a speech.
"It's good that everyone's on the same page," Nami said, pulling her hand back from Usopp's arm and crossing her arms again. "But we still have one problem left."
Yuji raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"
"Where are we going to stay?" Nami's eye twitched. "With the so-called 'nice butler' badly beaten by Luffy, I don't think anyone in the village will want to have anything to do with us. Which means…" She sighed heavily. "…no inn to spend the night."
"Uhh…" Usopp scratched the back of his head. "If you want, you guys can stay at my place."
Nami's head snapped toward him. "Wait, really? You don't mind?"
"Well…" Usopp shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. "With everything you all are doing for me, it's the least I can do."
"Yosh!" Luffy pumped his fist in the air. "Then it's decided! We'll stay at Usopp's house until the matter with Kuro is resolved!"
"I don't mind," Yuji said with a shrug.
"Fine by me," Zoro added.
"Please tell me you have more than one room in your house," Nami said, pointing a finger at Usopp's chest. "Because there's no way I'm sleeping all cramped up in one room with a bunch of smelly dudes."
Usopp laughed, "Oh, you don't need to worry about that. My house is big enough for all of us." He turned and began walking toward a path that led deeper into the woods. "Just follow me."
And so they did.
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The walk took approximately ten minutes.
The path wound through a small forest, the trees gradually thinning until they opened into a large clearing. Sunlight poured down like liquid gold, illuminating a scene that even made Nami stop in her tracks.
A decent-sized farm stretched out before them, the soil dark and rich, planted with neat rows of vegetables and herbs. Flowers bloomed in vibrant bursts of color along the edges—roses, daisies, and some that Nami didn't recognize, all healthy and well cared for. A wooden fence surrounded the property, painted white but peeling in places, giving it a charming, lived-in feel.
And at the center of it all stood a house.
It wasn't a mansion, not by any means, but it was solid and well-built, with a sloping roof, a wide porch, and windows that caught the sunlight and reflected it back in warm, golden glints. A weather vane shaped like a sniper rifle sat on the roof, spinning lazily in the breeze.
"Welcome to my home," Usopp said, spreading his arms wide. His voice was soft now, almost reverent.
Yuji nodded approvingly. "That's a nice-looking house you have here."
"How the hell do you even afford all this?" Zoro asked, raising an eyebrow as he took in the size of the property.
Usopp's expression flickered. "Well, my mom used to tell me that my dad built this house after they got married." He walked toward the porch, his hand trailing along the wooden railing as he passed. "He used to work on the farm and practice his sharpshooting out back. Mom loved this place." His voice dropped. "She told me that this house was a reminder of their love."
Nami pressed a hand to her chest. "That's so sweet," she said softly, looking around at the flowers, the neat rows, and the careful attention that had clearly been poured into every corner of the property.
"You noticed that didn't you?" Usopp asked with a smile. "I work in the field from time to time, growing some fruits and vegetables." He shrugged, as if it were nothing. "Eating the fruits of your own hard labor… it's something else, you know?"
Zoro smirked. "Heh. Looks like you're not just a liar after all."
"Hey!" Usopp protested, but there was no heat in his voice. "I'm a man of many talents, thank you very much." Then he rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly sheepish. "And when you live alone, you've got to put in the work, right?" He walked up the porch steps and pulled open the front door, gesturing for them to follow. "Now, come on in. Let's not stand around in the afternoon sun."
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See you in next chapter.....