Chapter 16: The Secret of Substitution Jutsu and the Pirate's Wrath
Next to the ruins, the smell of gunpowder filled the air.
Nami looked at Chouchou, who was still barking angrily into the distance, her eyes becoming incredibly dim.
She crouched down and gently stroked Chouchou's trembling back, her voice low:
"Do you see... this is what pirates are."
Nami bit her lip, her eyes flashing with hatred for that group of people.
"So-called pirates are bastards who destroy the things others cherish and the treasures others desperately protect!"
Standing to the side, Zoro frowned slightly upon hearing this, but he didn't argue.
Luffy put away his usual grinning expression and spoke with a serious look.
"It's not like that, Nami. Tatsuya, Zoro, and I—we're different from those guys."
"How are you different?" Nami looked up sharply. "Aren't you all pirates too?!"
Luffy pressed down on his straw hat, his tone firm: "Ah, I said we're different. I became a pirate just to become the Pirate King and find the freest adventure."
"Sigh..."
Mayor Boodle let out a long sigh and gripped the spear in his hand.
"The young lady is right. Although I believe you are different, on this sea, there are indeed more pirates who enjoy destruction and plundering..."
Saying this, the Mayor was about to step forward to pick up Chouchou. "It's too dangerous, Chouchou. Come with me to the shelter quickly."
Just then, Tatsuya, who had been staring into the distance, suddenly narrowed his eyes. He immediately held back the Mayor who wanted to go forward.
"Another one?!"
In his vision, a heart-palpitating red light lit up again on the distant high ground.
That was the omen of a Buggy Ball being fired.
This time, the target was likely aimed straight at them!
"Nami! Get out of there!!"
Tatsuya roared.
Nami was startled by the roar and instinctively wanted to pick up Chouchou and run.
But this stubborn little dog seemed to know what was about to happen.
It clung tightly to the ground, refusing to leave this place full of memories no matter what.
"Let's go, Chouchou!!"
"There's no time to dawdle!"
The Chakra under Tatsuya's feet suddenly exploded, and he turned into an afterimage, rushing to the shop entrance.
He swept Nami up by the waist and then threw her backward without any tenderness: "Get to the side."
Nami cried out, and she was tossed, rolling to a safe area several meters away.
Then, Tatsuya forcefully scooped up Chouchou from the ground and turned to retreat.
"Awoo!! Woof!!"
Chouchou let out a shrill cry.
It didn't know where this person was taking it; it only knew that if it had to leave this shop, it would rather die.
It opened its mouth and bit down hard on Tatsuya's left arm, blood instantly staining his sleeve.
"Hiss—! You stupid dog!"
Tatsuya gasped in pain, his pace involuntarily slowing by half a beat.
"Tatsuya!! Forget the dog!" In the distance, Zoro's eyes nearly split as he roared loudly.
"Tatsuya! Run! Gum-Gum—" Luffy also shouted anxiously, about to rush forward to save him.
But he was too slow.
The Buggy Ball was too fast.
With that half-beat pause, the Shinigami arrived.
*Rumble—*
The massive red shell, carrying a whistle that could destroy everything, instantly enveloped the pet shop and Tatsuya standing at the door.
*BOOM—!!!*
A giant fireball bloomed on the earth.
The violent explosion instantly swallowed the small pet shop, along with Tatsuya's figure, vanishing into the sea of fire and dust that filled the sky.
A terrifying shockwave swept out, collapsing the entire row of several houses as well.
Everyone stared blankly at the rolling sea of fire ahead, their eyes wide and their minds blank.
"No..."
Luffy stopped in his tracks, staring blankly at the ruins, the shadow of his straw hat covering his eyes.
Mayor Boodle knelt on the ground in pain, tears streaming down his old face: "My boy... Chouchou..."
"It's a lie, right..." Nami covered her mouth, her eyes glistening. "Tatsuya... is dead?"
Even the usually calm Zoro was now gripping his hilt so hard his knuckles turned white, his mouth slightly agape as he stared blankly at the ruins ahead.
He couldn't believe that the always-smiling, mischievous Vice Captain had just disappeared like that.
"Damn Buggy!"
"Hey, hey, why is the atmosphere so heavy? It's like I'm actually dead."
A lazy voice suddenly came from the pile of ruins behind everyone.
Everyone shuddered and turned their heads sharply as if they had seen a ghost.
On a broken piece of wall, Tatsuya was sitting there, tightly holding the still-struggling Chouchou in his arms.
Although his clothes were charred in several places, his face wore that familiar, annoying grin.
And in the center of the recent explosion, a charred log slowly rolled out.
[Ding! Successfully rescued the dog Chouchou.]
[Obtained Ninja Points: 100.]
Tatsuya listened to the system prompt and felt relieved.
Fortunately, he was a man with the Substitution Jutsu.
If he hadn't happened to buy this life-saving skill from the system shop earlier, he wouldn't have been stupid enough to tank a cannonball with his bare body for a silly little dog.
"Hee hee hee!! That's great! Tatsuya!!"
Luffy froze for a second, then erupted in a shout of wild joy, his arms stretching as he rushed over to hug him.
"Tch."
Zoro let out a long breath, sheathed his sword, and turned his head away.
"I knew you were a tough one to kill... It's really a pity you didn't die, you bastard."
Nami wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Seeing the boy unharmed, she felt an inexplicable sense of relief, followed by a wave of lingering fear.
At that moment, Chouchou finally let go.
It broke free from Tatsuya's arms and ran forward like crazy.
However, what greeted it was only a pile of ruins still emitting black smoke.
The shop that held all the memories of it and its owner, the "treasure" it had guarded for three months, had completely turned to ash.
Chouchou stood before the ruins, staring blankly.
Then, it lowered its head and dug out a bag of dog food from the ashes, half of which had been burned.
"Awoo... Woof..."
It lay on the ruins, letting out a desolate whimper, its mournful howl echoing through the empty streets, heartbreaking to hear.
Watching this scene, the joy of surviving the disaster instantly vanished, and everyone fell into a deathly silence.
"Enough!!"
Mayor Boodle suddenly let out a roar.
He stood up abruptly from the ground and wiped the tears from his face.
He grabbed the spear in his hand, his body trembling yet his eyes determined.
"I am the mayor here! This is my town! The residents here are my family!"
The Mayor gritted his teeth, a flame of resolve burning in his eyes.
"Damn Buggy the Clown! Even if I have to risk this old life, I will represent everyone in town and take revenge on you!!"
After saying that, the man in his sixties charged towards the high ground where the Buggy Pirates were located, holding his spear without looking back.
"Mayor! Calm down!" Nami was shocked and hurriedly tried to stop him. "You'll only be going to your death!"
"I know!!"
The Mayor wept bitterly but shook off Nami's hand.
"I know I can't do anything! I know I'm weak!"
"But I can't just watch my town be destroyed! I have a reason I must fight!!"
Seeing the Mayor's stumbling but resolute back, Nami was stunned.
She turned her head and looked helplessly at the three men behind her.
"Hey... aren't you going to do something?"
No one answered her.
Zoro silently tied on his dark green bandana, his eyes becoming as fierce as a beast's.
Tatsuya tore a strip of cloth from his clothes and leisurely bandaged his left hand, which had been bitten by the dog, while the tomoe in his eyes slowly rotated.
"Luffy."
Zoro crossed his arms and said in a deep voice, "Since you're out of the cage, it's time we settle the score with that red-nose."
Luffy didn't speak.
He lowered the brim of his hat, hiding his eyes; only his tightly pursed lips were visible.
He slowly raised his head, his eyes terrifyingly calm, yet radiating a rage enough to overturn the entire island.
"Yeah, Zoro, Tatsuya."
Luffy clenched his fists, his knuckles making a crisp cracking sound.
"Let's go. I'm going to... send that Buggy flying!!"