On the vast, boundless azure sea, the sea breeze filled the brand-new sails.
The Going Merry moved like a graceful white sheep, cleaving through the waves with steady precision. Inside the cabin, Viktor lay on a comfortable bed, his consciousness submerged as he skillfully scrolled through the System Shop interface.
Glancing at the balance in the bottom right corner, Viktor's lips curled upward.
"2,400 Shinobi Points... now that's a fortune."
After the fierce battles in Syrup Village, he was wealthy once more. It was time for another spending spree. His eyes bypassed various dazzling ninjutsu:
[Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet] (B-Rank) – Cost: 1,200 Points.
[Chidori] (A-Rank) – Cost: 2,000 Points.
[Water Style: Water Prison] (C-Rank) – Cost: 600 Points.
Finally, his gaze settled on the option he had been eyeing for a long time.
"Exchange."
[Ding! Consumed 2,000 Shinobi Points. Exchanging for Sharingan Evolution: Two-Tomoe.]
Unlike purchasing ninjutsu, this process was far from painless. As the system light flashed, a searing, almost stinging energy flooded his eyes.
"Hiss..."
Viktor clutched his face, letting out a low groan of pain, his body arching slightly on the bed. It felt as if a white-hot branding iron was carving directly into his optic nerves.
Fortunately, the agony vanished as quickly as it had arrived. Moments later, the pain receded like a tide, replaced by an unprecedented sense of clarity and power.
Viktor slowly lowered his hands and opened his eyes. His originally dark pupils were now blood-red. Within that crimson iris, two black tomoe were linked tail-to-head, rotating slowly and emitting a heart-palpitating, eerie glow.
Two-Tomoe Sharingan: Awakened!
This meant a qualitative leap in both his Eye of Insight and Eye of Hypnotism.
"Still have some points left..."
In a good mood, Viktor picked through the shop again, eventually spending 400 points to redeem [Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique]. Phoenix Fire, with its controllable trajectories, would be much more effective for clearing out "small fry" than the massive but linear Great Fireball.
Just as he was planning his future ninjutsu path, a frantic pounding on the door interrupted his thoughts.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Hey! Viktor! Stop sleeping! How can you sleep this late?!"
It was Nami's voice. She sounded like she was in a hurry, practically trying to beat the door down. Viktor sighed, the red glow in his eyes fading as he opened the door with a tired expression.
"What is it, Miss Navigator? Disturbing a man's dreams is a serious crime."
"Save the chatter! Come with me!" Nami grabbed his arm without a word and dragged him out onto the deck.
As he stepped out, he was hit by a wave of "liveliness." Luffy was flat on the deck, excitedly scribbling on a black cloth, his face smeared with paint.
Zoro was slumped in a corner, hugging his swords and sleeping like the dead. Meanwhile, Usopp stood at the prow, waving a wooden sword and commanding a "Great War" that only he could see.
"All hands, listen up! Full port rudder! Engage the Sea Kings! I am the Great Captain Usopp!!"
Viktor looked at Nami's exasperated expression and finally understood why she had dragged him out—not a single person here was reliable.
"Here, look at this." Nami handed him a yellowed nautical chart, her finger pointing at a lonely island. Her eyes shimmered. "According to the map, there's a legendary 'Treasure Island' nearby! It's said to hide countless riches!"
"Treasure Island?"
Viktor glanced at the map and realized immediately. This must be the Island of Rare Animals from the original story—the island where Gaimon, the man stuck in a chest, lived. Recalling the bizarre creatures like the pig-lion hybrids, Viktor rubbed his chin, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.
"If it's not all treasure... I wonder how those rare beasts taste."
"Ah..." Viktor was about to respond to Nami's dream of getting rich when Luffy suddenly laughed and held up his masterpiece.
"Hey! Everyone, look!" Luffy looked proud, holding the messily painted black cloth over his head. "Now that Usopp has joined, there are five of us! It's time we had our own Pirate Flag! This is our mark!"
The group leaned in. On the black cloth was a... distorted creature wearing a straw hat? The skull was crooked, one eye socket larger than the other, looking like a melting candle or a screaming soul.
"Whoa..." Viktor's lip twitched before he offered a deadpan critique. "Luffy, you actually have quite the artistic talent."
It reminded him of the famous painting The Scream. The sense of twisted despair was perfectly captured.
"Shishishi! Right? It's good, isn't it!" Luffy laughed harder at the "praise."
"Huh?" Nami glanced at Viktor, then at the flag, and couldn't help but yell, "Whether it's the design or the skill, this can only be described as horrifying! If we hang this, people will think we're a ghost ship!"
A woken-up Zoro glanced over and sighed. "A pirate flag is a symbol of death and terror. People will just die laughing if they see this. Luffy, have mercy on that cloth."
"Hmph, looks like it's time for a professional to step in." Usopp stepped forward, pointing at himself with confidence. "How could you not consult me? I've studied painting for fifty years! In this regard, no one on the sea can surpass me!"
"So cool! Fifty years!!" Luffy's eyes turned into stars.
"Are you an idiot, Luffy?!" Nami punched his head. "He's only in his teens! Where did fifty years come from?!"
Usopp ignored her, snatched the brush and paint from Luffy, and got to work on the deck. Scritch, scratch, scritch! To be fair, Usopp did have a talent for art. Soon, the work was finished.
Luffy and Zoro held up the flag. Silence followed. The flag depicted a skull with a long nose, a bandana, and a slingshot.
"You just drew yourself..." Zoro muttered.
Viktor crossed his arms and smiled. "Usopp, if you draw me, I might consider voting for it based on the handsomeness factor."
"You bastard!" Luffy glared at Usopp and punched him squarely on the head. "Are you an idiot?! Who told you to draw your own flag! I'm the Captain!"
Rubbing the new lump on his head, Usopp grumbled but got back to work. This time, he didn't joke around. Soon, a perfect, clean design appeared: a classic skull wearing a straw hat with crossed bones behind it. Simple, yet vibrant with the spirit of adventure.
Viktor nodded, a trace of nostalgia in his eyes. This was the classic Straw Hat Jolly Roger.
"Not bad," Nami and Zoro agreed.
"YOSH!!" Luffy laughed, pointing at the mast. "Usopp! Paint this on our main sail too!"
Soon after, the massive main sail was raised. Looking at the Straw Hat skull fluttering in the wind, Luffy hugged Usopp excitedly. "Amazing! Usopp! Did you really paint for fifty years?!"
"I told you I'm a genius artist! Hahaha!" Usopp stood with his hands on his hips, boasting shamelessly.
However, at that moment, the clear sky suddenly turned dark. Clouds rolled in, and a strange mist filled the sea. In the dim light, the silhouette of a black island loomed ahead, giving off a heavy, oppressive feeling.
Nami looked at the sudden change in the weather and slapped her forehead. "Ah, I almost forgot!"
"That's the legendary Treasure Island. It's said that... anyone who approaches it will anger the gods and suffer divine punishment!"
"A-Anger the gods?!" The boasting Usopp froze, his teeth chattering instantly. "G-Gods and stuff... they're really scary!"
However, Luffy adjusted his straw hat, his grin reaching his ears, eyes sparkling. "Gods? Treasure? Rare animals?"
He slammed his fist into his palm and shouted:
"YOSH!! FULL SPEED TOWARD TREASURE ISLAND!"
"I JUST SAID WE'D OFFEND THE GODS!! DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND HUMAN SPEECH, YOU IDIOT!!" Usopp's frantic scream echoed across the dark, misty sea.
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