Chapter 38: The Uchiha's Summoned Beast, Empty Chests.
"Who are you calling an idiot long-nose!!"
Hearing the highly insulting "long-nosed idiot," Usopp's blood pressure instantly spiked, and he shouted angrily at the sky.
"Caw caw! It's you!"
The black Crow circling in the sky let out an unpleasant laugh.
Its eyes, filled with a very human-like intelligence, scanned the group before it arrogantly began calling them out one by one.
"Straw Hat monkey! Green caterpillar! Moldy orange! And that smiling, sinister bastard!
"This is Lord Clay's territory. You crawling low-life organisms better get lost! Otherwise, don't blame Lord Clay for being unkind!"
"Huh?!"
Veins simultaneously popped on everyone's foreheads.
"Straw Hat... monkey?!" Luffy's fists clenched tight.
"Gre... green caterpillar?! I'm going to cut it!" Zoro's hand rested on his hilt, his gaze terrifying.
"Moldy... orange?!" A demonic silhouette seemed to emerge behind Nami.
"Smiling bastard?" Tatsuya narrowed his eyes, his smile becoming even more brilliant.
Usopp was originally angry, but looking back at his companions' expressions—which looked ready to destroy the world—he instantly retracted his anger and swallowed hard.
"This bird... picked the wrong people."
At that moment, Gaimon looked at the Crow and said through gritted teeth:
"It's him! A few years ago, this strange bird suddenly arrived on this island.
Taking advantage of its ability to fly, it occupied the top of the pillar and took the treasure I was guarding as its own!"
"So it's a thief bird."
Luffy pulled his hat down, obscuring his eyes, his tone becoming serious.
"Ah. Uncle Gaimon, don't worry. I'll help you deal with this thief and get the treasure back!"
With that, Luffy took a few steps back, his arms snapping backward as they stretched, grabbing the top of the towering stone pillar.
"Gum-Gum Rocket!!"
Whoosh!
Luffy launched himself like a stone from a slingshot, soaring straight into the sky.
In mid-air, a hint of surprise appeared in Clay's eyes. This monkey can fly?
"Hmph! Seeking death! Take a hit from Lord Clay!!"
Clay suddenly opened his sharp beak, took a deep breath, and let out an extremely piercing high-frequency scream at the flying Luffy.
"Caw—!!!"
Substantial sound waves, like ripples, exploded in the air.
"Ugh!"
Luffy, bearing the brunt of the attack, felt a sharp pain in his eardrums, and his body stalled in mid-air.
He was actually forced down by the powerful sound wave, crashing heavily back onto the ground.
"Ah! My ears! I'm going deaf!!"
The people below covered their ears, and Nami complained loudly, "This dead Crow is so noisy! Its voice is hideous!"
Tatsuya looked at the triumphant Crow in the sky, the interest in his eyes growing even stronger.
"This method of attack... not only can it talk, but it can also release sound wave attacks.
"Could this Crow have eaten a Devil Fruit?"
If that were true, the value of this bird would be immense.
Whew.
Tatsuya's leg muscles tensed as he caught Luffy the moment he landed, neutralizing the impact.
Then, without a moment's hesitation, he transformed into a bolt of black lightning, running rapidly up the vertical surface of the stone pillar.
With a few leaps, he precisely stepped on protruding rocks and climbed to the top of the pillar in the blink of an eye.
The space at the top wasn't large, and sure enough, five rusty treasure chests were neatly arranged there.
Next to the chests, however, was a large, messy bird's nest made of branches and feathers.
It seemed this Crow had truly made this place its home.
"Caw?!"
Clay, who was about to continue his mockery, widened his eyes. Seeing Tatsuya suddenly appear before him, his jaw nearly dropped.
"Why are you so fast?! Are you a transformed monkey?!"
After reacting, it immediately opened its mouth wide, preparing to release that sonic attack again.
"Body Flicker Technique."
Tatsuya gave a cold smile, naturally not giving it the chance to charge up.
With a flash, Tatsuya appeared directly in front of Clay, his hand like an iron vise firmly pinching the open beak, forcibly interrupting the move.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Then, Tatsuya applied force with his arm, dragging it out of the sky and slamming it hard onto the solid rock floor.
Bang!
"Caw—!"
Clay saw stars from the impact; it felt like every bone in its body was falling apart.
"It hurts... you damn crawler... this great one will..."
Thud!
A sharp Kunai, glinting coldly, embedded itself deep into the rock beside its head, only 0.01 centimeters away.
Clay's arrogant words instantly caught in its throat, and cold sweat poured down.
"G-Great Master! Great Master, spare my life!!"
Its attitude did a complete 180-degree turn.
Thud!
Another Kunai was driven into the rock right on the other side of its head, shaving off a few black feathers.
Clay was so scared its legs kicked out, and it lay flat on the ground trembling, crying out with teary eyes:
"Great Master! I was wrong! I was really wrong! I'll give this place to you!
"I'll get lost right now! Please spare my bird life, okay! I'm still young, I don't want to die!"
Tatsuya reached out, grabbed its neck, lifted it up, and turned its head toward the chests.
"Did you eat the things inside?"
Clay didn't dare lie and nodded like a chick pecking grain:
"Mm-hmm! Yes, Great Master! A few years ago I happened to pass by here and saw a strange-looking fruit. I was starving at the time so I ate it..."
"Great Master! Spare me! I'll never do it again!"
Just as suspected.
Zoan or Paramecia?
Tatsuya thought to himself, his smile becoming increasingly "kind."
"If you want to live, you can. Come with me, how about it?"
"Go? The Great Master means... leave this place?" Clay was stunned for a moment.
"Yes, set out to sea with me."
Clay's small, bean-like eyes spun rapidly.
This guy wants the great Lord Clay to be a pet?
Is this a joke!
It was the noble "Overlord of the Skies"; how could it submit to a human who could only crawl!
But this human was too strong. A wise bird doesn't fight when the odds are against it... Agree for now, then find a chance to slip away once they're at sea!
Thinking of this, Clay immediately put on a flattering face:
"Caw caw! Yes, Great Master! It is Clay's honor to follow a powerhouse like you!"
[Ding! Detected a special creature expressing its will to submit.]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining an exclusive Summoned Beast (no exchange required): Echo Crow.]
[Reward: 500 Ninja Points.]
Tatsuya let go, satisfied.
"Huff, huff..." Clay immediately collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily, feeling as though it had just walked through the gates of hell.
Just then, a rubber arm stretched up, and Luffy finally climbed up as well.
"Phew... Tatsuya, I'm here! Eh? Is the battle over?"
Luffy looked at the Crow lying on the ground, looking completely bewildered.
"What do you mean the battle is over? You Straw Hat monkey! You want to fight?!"
Seeing Luffy, Clay instantly regained its arrogant air.
"Ah, what an ugly Crow," Luffy commented honestly while picking his nose.
"Caw caw?!! Who are you calling ugly?!!"
Clay was instantly exasperated, flapping its wings as if to fly at Luffy and attack his Straw Hat.
"Luffy."
Tatsuya ignored the stupid bird and instead walked over to the five treasure chests, opening them one by one.
Empty.
He sighed, handed the five empty chests to Luffy, and said softly:
"The chests are empty."
Luffy paused, casually swatting away the charging Clay.
He took the light chests and looked into Tatsuya's eyes, silent for a few seconds.
"The chests are empty... then Uncle Gaimon..."
Luffy murmured to himself, then he looked up and gave Tatsuya a brilliant smile.
"Then let's'steal' them! Hee hee hee!"
Tatsuya saw that familiar smile and curled his lips as well.
The two came to the edge of the pillar.
Luffy took a deep breath and shouted with all his might to the expectant green-box uncle below:
"Uncle Gaimon!! Your treasure belongs to us now!!"
"If you want it, come and get it yourself! Wahahaha!!"
Below.
The group, which had been full of anticipation, was instantly petrified.
"Huh?! Luffy!! What kind of nonsense are you talking!!" Nami shouted in disbelief, "That's something Uncle Gaimon has guarded for twenty years!!"
"Exactly! That's too despicable, Luffy!" Usopp also accused him indignantly.
However, Gaimon did not get angry like them.
He looked up at the Straw Hat boy with clear eyes at the top of the pillar.
Naturally, he didn't believe that someone with such pure dreams would do something so treacherous.
If it wasn't for greed, then there was only one other possibility...
Gaimon's body began to tremble, and two streaks of hot tears flowed down his weathered face.
"Straw Hat... you're a good person!"
"Although... although I've had this hypothesis over the last twenty years, I didn't dare think about it.
"I could only frantically lie to myself that there must be treasure there, using that to support my will to live..."
"Straw Hat! It's empty, isn't it! Waaaah..."
With that, this old pirate who had stood guard for twenty years finally dropped all his defenses and wept like a child.
At the top of the pillar.
"Ah? Was I exposed?"
Luffy scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed, "It seems I'm not suited to play the villain."
"Let's go down, Luffy."
Tatsuya patted his shoulder, his gaze gentle.
...
The scene shifted.
Now, the sun was setting, and the sea was dyed in a brilliant crimson glow.
By the shore.
"Uncle, do you really want to stay here? Won't you come with us?"
Luffy sat on the ship's rail, looking at Gaimon on the shore.
Gaimon wiped his tears, an unprecedentedly relaxed smile appearing on his face.
"Yes, Straw Hat. Even though there's no treasure, I've found that I have other more important things to guard."
He turned his head and looked at the Rare Animals surrounding him, his gaze tender:
"I've waited for 20 years with these guys; we're already family. I can't leave them."
"After knowing there's no treasure, although I'm a bit disappointed, for the first time I feel true freedom.
"That heavy shackle has disappeared. From now on, I can live the life I want."
Hearing this, everyone on the ship smiled.
"Hahaha! Really? That's a shame! I wanted to invite you to be a companion!" Luffy said with a laugh.
"Are these Rare Animals the most important treasure?"
Tatsuya stood to the side, nodding slightly.
Perhaps for him, this was the best ending.
"By the way, this Usopp... no, this Crow, is a bit fat."
Nami stood beside Tatsuya and curiously reached out to touch Clay, who was currently perched obediently on Tatsuya's shoulder.
"Caw caw! What did you say! You moldy orange-head! This great one is buff! Buff!"
Although Clay didn't dare move his body, his mouth was still tough as he barked at Nami. "Believe it or not, this great one will peck you..."
"Hmm?" Tatsuya turned his head and shot a glance.
"Caw... I mean, this fat really needs to be trimmed!" Clay instantly cowered.
"Hahahaha!"
Looking at this bullying, mean-spirited bird, everyone let out a joyful laugh.
The Going Merry slowly set sail.
"Goodbye! Uncle Gaimon!!"
Luffy stood at the stern, waving his arm vigorously.
On the shore, Gaimon watched the sailing ship gradually move away, tears streaming down his face once more.
"Goodbye! Pirates! Goodbye! Straw Hat!"
"Keep moving forward with my dream! You will definitely find it! The legendary One Piece!!"
"Keep at it!! Straw Hat!!"
Under the setting sun, the shouts of the old and the young, the ship and the shore, seemed to become the most moving movement on this sea.