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Chapter 20 is out!!!! +40 advanced chapters monthly
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The only thing he could do was fight, grow stronger, fight, and grow stronger again.
The only thing he knew for certain was that this was the world of One Piece.
Now that he finally possessed the strength he needed, it was time to do something else. At the very least, as a human being, he couldn't keep living like a wild animal, drifting through life in a muddle-headed daze.
For five years, his diet had consisted of nothing but roasted meat and wild fruit. His stomach was beyond bored; he was desperate to see the world beyond these shores.
It wasn't that he hadn't thought about leaving before, but reality had taught him a harsh lesson: without strength, you simply don't survive out there. During his previous attempts to leave, he would have died several times over if not for a massive stroke of luck.
Lest he forget, he was a "dry lander"—a Devil Fruit user. Touching the seawater meant certain death.
Those brush-ups with mortality had completely killed any idea of setting sail before he was ready. That was the only reason he had stayed hunkered down here for five long years. In that time, if nothing else had grown, his appetite certainly had. At this point, he could put away a mountain of food and still have room for dessert.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
After a tense standoff with Shiro-Mizu (緋村夜 - Himura Night) that lasted over a minute, the giant ape finally let out a frustrated roar that echoed like rolling thunder. It beat its chest heavily a few times before turning to leave.
It was an admission of defeat. The Great Ape was yielding its title as the King of the Forest to Shiro-Mizu.
"Ha!"
"Ha!"
"Hahaha!"
"I won! The five-year term is complete! Haha!"
The moment the ape vanished, Shiro-Mizu flopped onto the ground, gasping for air and laughing hysterically, his face lit up with pure joy.
"This is the One Piece world, after all! If I don't go out and make a name for myself, I'll never forgive myself!"
"Luffy, Red-Haired Shanks, Garp, Whitebeard... there are so many interesting people out there. I have to meet them all!"
"Once I'm out there, should I join the Pirates or the Marines? Hmm, I haven't decided yet. Whatever, I'll figure it out later!"
"The primary mission is just getting to sea!"
"Beautiful ocean, here comes Izumi (Shiro-Mizu)!"
An hour later.
At the largest harbor of the central island in the Kululu Archipelago, Shiro-Mizu sat aboard a vessel roughly fifteen meters long and seven meters wide, ready to depart.
The boat was stocked with ten barrels of fresh water—his lifeline. He could go a long time without food, but water was non-negotiable. Out on the ocean, food was everywhere, but fresh water was a luxury.
His ship wasn't made of ordinary timber. It was constructed from "Hollow Ironwood," a local specialty of the archipelago. It was lightweight yet incredibly sturdy—the perfect material for a seafaring vessel. Though he had never seen the legendary Treasure Tree Adam, he doubted this Ironwood was much inferior.
"After so many days and nights of waiting, the day is finally here!" Shiro-Mizu stood at the bow, throwing his arms wide as if trying to embrace the entire world.
He bellowed at the top of his lungs: "Set sail!"
As the words left his lips, a burst of blinding white light erupted from the stern, providing a massive surge of propulsion. The ship shot forward, cutting through the waves at high speed.
ROAR!
The moment Shiro-Mizu vanished over the horizon, a chorus of joyful roars erupted across the Kululu Archipelago. It was as if the inhabitants were celebrating the departure of a Great Demon King. Even the islands themselves seemed to breathe a sigh of relief; the clouds parted, and for the first time in ages, the sun bathed the archipelago in brilliant, warm light.
"So this is what sailing feels like... the scent of freedom. Haha, this is the life!"
Shiro-Mizu squinted his eyes contentedly as he reclined on the deck, letting the salty sea breeze whip against his face.
Blue skies, white clouds, the deep blue sea, and a young man—accompanied by the unruly wind and the drifting gulls. Everything was perfect.
One Piece world, here I come! Naruto world... goodbye, Shiro-Mizu shouted in his heart.
The Winter Melon Pirates!
This was a rising crew in the East Blue with a total bounty in the tens of millions. They boasted hundreds of members and dozens of ships. They were powerful, ruthless, and had become a nightmare for the residents of the northern East Blue.
Along with the Arlong Pirates, the Black Cat Pirates, the Buggy Pirates, and the Krieg Armada, they were whispered to be one of the "Five Overlords" of the East Blue.
The Captain, nicknamed "Winter Melon" Uris, had a bounty of 13,000,000 Berries. He was a master of dual-wielding sabers, cruel and cunning, yet he possessed a face that looked strangely kind and benevolent. Nearly half of his enemies had been deceived by that gentle appearance, only to die by his hand.
Their flagship, the Meat Mountain, was a ten-ton vessel armed with five heavy cannons. Their Jolly Roger featured Uris's face—red and distorted with a terrifying grin—set against a black background with crossed swords.
On this day, the Winter Melon Pirates had dropped anchor at a small island called Kulu.
They were low on food and water. But for the villagers, the arrival of the pirates was like a bolt from the blue. The peaceful atmosphere was shattered instantly, replaced by sheer panic.
The cruelty of pirates was common knowledge. When they arrived, you ran—you ran as far and as fast as you could. Otherwise, only death awaited.
However, civilians gripped by terror were no match for these "warriors" of the sea. Before they could get more than a few steps, the entire island was surrounded. Under the threat of muskets and blades, the people were herded like cattle into the open town square.
"Kishishi! Why run? Think you can actually get away?"
Uris, his large belly protruding, stepped in front of the trembling crowd. His expression was a mix of malice and mocking pity.
"I don't think I need to tell you what happens next," Uris grinned wickedly.
"No!"
"Please, don't kill us!"
"We don't want to die!"
"Please, have mercy! We'll give you all our food, just let us live!"
The crowd erupted in a cacophony of desperate pleas. Some fell to their knees, clutching at the pirates' boots, weeping and begging for their lives. Even the elderly were among them.
"Haha! Fine. If you want a chance to live, you'll do exactly as you said: hand over every scrap of food and every drop of fresh water."
Uris flashed a sinister smile; he loved the feeling of being begged for mercy. "Otherwise... don't blame my blades for being blind!"
"Of course! Right away!" The villagers felt as if they had been granted a divine reprieve, bowing their heads in frantic gratitude.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Move!" Uris barked, his eyes widening with menace.
"Yes, yes!"
The villagers scrambled to get up, but just as they were about to obey, a crisp, clear voice rang out: "Don't listen to him, Grandpa!"
"He's a bad man! A big bully! Why would you ever believe a bad man's word?"
A young girl, barely more than a child, was tugging on an old man's hand, her face full of indignant defiance.
After speaking, the little girl even gave Uris a fierce glare. It was the perfect embodiment of "the newborn calf that does not fear the tiger."
By the time the old man realized what had happened, it was too late. The words were out.
The faces of everyone in the square turned pale. The sound of people simultaneously gulping in fear echoed like a macabre symphony.
"Hahaha!"
Uris burst into laughter, but his eyes glittered with a murderous light. He looked like a predator ready to pounce.
Near the harbor!
In a secluded spot that no one would notice, Shiro-Mizu pulled his small boat to a stop. He had run out of fresh water and intended to resupply here.
Because he had approached the island from the north while the Winter Melon Pirates had anchored in the south, he hadn't spotted their massive fleet. Had he seen them, he might have actually been interested.
"Dammit, thank god I've got a tough constitution. After drifting for so long, I finally found an island with supplies!"
He tied his somewhat battered boat to a dock piling and stepped onto the shore.
What struck him as odd, however, was that this was clearly an inhabited island, yet as he walked inland, he didn't see a soul. There were clear signs of daily life near the harbor, but the streets were empty.
"Weird. That old guy told me this was a prosperous town. Where is everyone?" Shiro-Mizu scratched his head in confusion.
"AAHHH!"
A sudden scream drew his attention. He looked up to see a young woman, her clothes torn and disheveled, sprinting toward him with a face full of terror.
Chasing behind her was a scruffy, bearded pirate wearing a lewd, predatory grin, a large saber hanging from his waist.
A faint scent of blood and "killing intent" reached Shiro-Mizu's nose.
"Looks like a professional," he muttered, narrowing his eyes.
The presence of that aura meant the man had killed before, and judging by his steady footwork, he had at least some combat experience.
"Help me! Please!"
Seeing Shiro-Mizu, the young woman looked like she had found a lifeline in a hopeless situation. She accelerated, crying out with desperate joy.
"Uh—"
Before Shiro-Mizu could react, he found his arms full of a soft, warm body. The scent of the girl's perfume clouded his mind, causing him to instinctively swallow hard.
Being a healthy young man, his body had a bit of an... involuntary reaction, and the awkward tension pressed right against her.
"Save me!"
The girl was sobbing, trembling like a frightened fawn. She clung to Shiro-Mizu tightly, refusing to let go, as if he were the only safe harbor in the world.
"Kid, I suggest you stay out of things that don't concern you. Leave now while you still can. It'd be a shame to lose your life at such a young age."
Perhaps noticing the dual pistols tucked into Shiro-Mizu's waist, or sensing the steady aura he projected, the pirate stopped about ten meters away, his threat laced with a hint of caution.
"No! Please, help!"
The girl shuddered at the pirate's voice, pressing herself even closer to Shiro-Mizu. This movement caused a very specific, awkward friction between them.
In an instant, both Shiro-Mizu and the girl felt as if they'd been hit by a bolt of electricity. A strange, jolting sensation surged through them, leaving them both breathless and flushing a deep, embarrassed red.