"A so-called Super Rookie dares to barge into my territory and provoke us?"
Shanks narrowed his eyes like a hawk, staring straight at the young man in front of him—Portgas D. Ace.
Even Ace, bold as he was, felt a chill under that piercing gaze. It was as if everything about him had been laid bare before this man—no secrets, no defenses.
Before this meeting, Ace had always wondered:
Why did Shanks place so much faith in Luffy? Why pass on the Straw Hat, the symbol of the Pirate King's will? Why sacrifice his arm for him?
But the moment he met Shanks face-to-face, Ace had a vague understanding. That look in Shanks' eyes—it wasn't just scrutiny. It was the overwhelming feeling of being completely seen.
"Shanks-san, there's a misunderstanding. I didn't come here to stir up trouble," Ace quickly explained, sensing the powerful Haki emanating from the Red-Haired Pirates around him.
"Luffy often talks about you. He said you were his savior. As his older brother, I felt it was only right to visit you now that I've arrived in the New World."
Ace opened the backpack slung over his shoulder, revealing a massive conch shell with the word "酒" ("sake") carved into it.
"This is Yunyun Sake from Sky Island—I brought it as a gift. I hope you like it."
Yunyun Sake was a specialty of Birka, one of the Sky Islands and the former hometown of Enel. Since Enel destroyed the island, the drink had essentially gone extinct. What Ace had managed to bring back was one of the few remaining portions.
"Oh? So you're Luffy's brother?"
The atmosphere instantly softened. Shanks and his crew looked at Ace with warm smiles.
"Luffy has an older brother? That's quite the surprise!"
Shanks stepped forward with a grin, slinging an arm around Ace's shoulders and handing him a full cup.
"If you're his brother, then you're family to us! Come on, drink up!"
"Luffy and I are sworn brothers," Ace smiled as he raised the cup and downed it in one gulp.
"We haven't seen that kid in a long time," Shanks said as he pulled Ace into the middle of the party.
"Come on, everyone! Let's hear some stories!"
"Oi! Ladies! The party's starting!"
Because of Luffy, Shanks and the Red-Haired Pirates treated Ace with genuine warmth. The evening turned into a festive banquet, with most of the conversation revolving around Luffy. Ace regaled them with stories from their childhood—their misadventures, fights, and dreams.
---
The next morning, Ace and Shanks sat on a cliff by the frozen shore, watching the sunrise.
Shanks held a newspaper that reported on Ace's journey from Sabaody Archipelago, including his miraculous escape from both Admiral Akainu and Admiral Kizaru.
"To think you escaped from those two monsters unscathed…" Shanks said with a small chuckle.
"Ace, you really are something."
"It wasn't just me," Ace waved his hands humbly.
"I'm not strong enough to take on a Marine Admiral yet. It was thanks to Rayleigh-sensei that I made it out safely."
"Rayleigh?" Shanks raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised. Then he chuckled again.
"If the Dark King took you under his wing, then you must be extraordinary."
He paused, then gave Ace a serious look.
"Now that the pleasantries are over, Ace… why did you really come to find me?"
Ace blinked in surprise. Then he gave a helpless laugh.
"Your perception is as sharp as ever, Shanks-san."
He took a breath.
"Do you know why Rayleigh-sensei accepted me as his disciple?"
Shanks looked at him carefully.
"Rayleigh has lived in seclusion for years. For him to take a disciple now… it must be because of something he couldn't ignore. Something personal."
"Exactly," Ace said solemnly.
"It's because of my bloodline. My father… is Gol D. Roger."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then Shanks' eyes widened.
"You're… the Captain's son?!"
Genuine surprise spread across Shanks' face.
"No wonder Rayleigh took you in. You're the Pirate King's bloodline…"
Ace silently observed Shanks, trying to gauge his reaction—trying to see if he truly hadn't known.
In the original timeline, when Shanks asked Whitebeard to call Ace back from chasing Blackbeard, Ace had assumed that Shanks must have known about his lineage. But seeing Shanks now… Ace was almost certain he hadn't known before today.
Which meant that back then, when Shanks warned Whitebeard, it wasn't because of Ace's identity—it was because he wanted to prevent the War of the Best from ever happening.
After all, Whitebeard's pride wouldn't allow him to abandon any of his "sons," regardless of their heritage. Shanks had clearly understood that.
Still, Ace remembered that, canonically, he had met Shanks before joining Whitebeard's crew. It was entirely possible that he had told Shanks the truth himself back then.
Originally, Ace had considered asking Shanks to be his ally—perhaps even before Whitebeard. But now, after this meeting… something felt off.
He couldn't pinpoint it. Was it Shanks' personality? His mysterious aura? Or the unsettling fact that this Yonko had met with the Five Elders in secret in Mary Geoise—something no pirate should be capable of?
There was something about Shanks that Ace couldn't quite trust.
So, instead of proposing an alliance, Ace chose a different path.
"Shanks-san, Rayleigh-sensei once said your Conqueror's Haki is the most powerful on the seas."
Ace clenched his fists slightly.
"I also have potential in Conqueror's Haki. So instead of alliances or favors… I came here to ask you—will you teach me?"
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