Two little stars gleamed in Luffy's eyes as he shook Rokuro by the shoulders.
"Ninjutsu!" he exclaimed.
"Wow… so awesome!!!" murmured Murkrow, dancing on Rokuro's head.
Luffy tightened his grip, eyes alight. "Become my crew member! Rokuro!!"
Rokuro gave Luffy a knowing smile. This was the moment he'd been waiting for. This was his chance.
He nodded emphatically. "That's exactly what I want, Captain Luffy! I'm a fisherman first and foremost—so here's my dream: to catch the rarest fish in the world! From now on, on this boat, fishing duties are mine!"
Luffy cocked his head in confusion. "Hey? Aren't you a ninja?"
Rokuro shrugged. "I'm a fisherman. I just know a little bit of ninjutsu!"
Luffy waved dismissively. "But I want a ninja, not a fisherman!"
Rokuro bit his lip, thought it over, then spoke with difficulty: "Then… consider me a ninja who knows a little about fishing. Please guide me as your ninja!"
Luffy burst into laughter. "Ninja! Ninja! Great! Saikan—you're my first crew member! I have ninjas on my ship!"
The two shared a proud, fist‑bump moment.
At that instant, a rugged, dark figure loomed in the doorway. It was Captain Alvida carrying her spiked iron mace. As she surveyed Luffy and Rokuro, suspicion flickered in her eyes.
"You two came to kill me? I thought it'd be Zoro!"
Canon note: Alvida is known as Iron Mace Alvida, a fearsome East Blue pirate captain wielding a heavy spiked mace that can fell opponents with a single blow—even before she ate the Sube Sube no Mi Devil Fruit supersoftening fruit .
She blinked, noting neither had green hair (a trait of Wano characters). Relief softened her tone. "So… you actually came to my ship, the one belonging to the most beautiful woman in the sea. Do you think I, Tiebang Alvida, eat salad?"
Alvida pointed to Coby. "Coby—tell these idiots who the most beautiful woman is!"
This was her catchphrase—her insecure demand for affirmation due to her vanity .
Coby's eyes widened. He froze, then managed: "It's… it's Captain Alvida!"
Standing next to him, Luffy picked his nose and asked casually, "Coby! Who's this wild lady?"
Silence. Then jaws dropped.
"Take that back! Luffy, she's the most…!" Coby stammered, grabbing Luffy's sleeve.
But Luffy's bold claim—his recent dream‑speech—echoed in Coby's head, piercing his cowardice.
Coby's eyes cleared. "The most barbaric and hateful aunt!! The ugliest old woman!"
He threw the words out, determined, tears in his eyes.
Alvida's veins bulged. Her fury flared, then settled into a deadly calm.
"You're all asking for death."
She turned to Rokuro. "And you—the bird‑head guy. Am I the most beautiful woman in the world?"
Rokuro, overwhelmed by her imposing presence (and her fearsome canon appearance), retched violently in front of the window.
Of course—Alvida's post‑Devil‑Fruit form is famously stunning: smooth skin that deflects attacks, caused by the Sube Sube no Mi . Rokuro couldn't handle it.
Without looking back, he stuttered: "Ms. Alvida is one of—one of the few beauties in the world. If—I'd like to…"
Σ_(°Д°」∠) Ugh!
He coughed and blurted: "In short—you are the most beautiful goddess in my mind!"
Alvida swung her iron mace in reply, drilling a huge hole in the deck. "Satisfied! But look at me while I'm talking!"
Rokuro shook his head frantically. "No—not now… maybe… next time!"
Alvida's expression twisted into shark‑toothed rage. "You lie! You won't even look at me! Turn around, you asshole!"
Rokuro trembled, trying to purge the image of her beauty—but it only burned brighter in his mind.
Suddenly, Alvida threw her head back and hissed with manic pleasure. "Haha! Haha! Good! Very good!"
She glared at the pirates. "You all go to hell!"
Her voice dropped to a chilling whisper. The three guys who insulted her would perish in her vengeance.
"Stay!" she ordered.
A moment later, Luffy suddenly took a blow from Alvida's mace—but bounced right off, unharmed.
He sighed. "I'm the rubber man—I ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi."
Rokuro glanced at Luffy, awed. Luffy's body—completely invulnerable to blunt force—was legendary. Rokuro thought: You didn't eat the fruit—you are a mythical being.
Luffy grinned. "Rubber Pistol!!"
He launched a stretchy punch that knocked Alvida backward like a missile.
As she flew off, Rokuro grabbed his Supreme Big Rod and shouted up at her mid-flight:
"Allida—don't care what others say or seek approval! Even now—you're still the most beautiful woman in my heart! Come on—!"
Σ_(°Д°‖∠) Ugh vomit
He doubled over in dry‑heaving again—it took all his guts to try saying that.
Alvida landed outside the boat, speechless.
Finally she responded, voice distant: "You… just wait…"
A ding sound echoed—then Alvida shimmered and vanished into the sky in a golden flash.
"Captain Alvida… is defeated!" The pirates on deck looked stunned beyond belief.
Luffy, looking pleased but puzzled, called out, "Give Coby one—for bravery?"
Rokuro, itching to test out his ninjutsu, stepped forward.
"Water Style: Water Cannonball!"
He formed a seal, then spat a massive water sphere from his mouth. The blast swept across the deck in a roaring wave.
The pirates flying through the air lost their bearings and dropped to the deck, stunned.
Rokuro realized: So this is my power level…
He purposely avoided using Fireball Technique—those forever‑burning flames would be trouble on a wooden ship. Better to keep it strategic.
Since I'm following your lead, use the spoils for my 'first batch of funds', he thought.
He gauged his chakra pool—only a bit drained—and his eyes flickered with the telltale Sharingan, splintered with the magatama pattern.
The bloodline limit awakened. His gaze locked onto a pirate struggling to rise.
With the Sharingan, he saw through every twitch and intent. Time felt slow to every moving enemy.
He sliced through them like a silent god of war. Foes crumpled before him.
Rokuro adjusted immediately to battle rhythm—thanks to the Itachi template and solid physical base.
"Watch behind you, Rokuro!" Coby's frantic warning came.
Rokuro spun, meeting the eyes of a pirate attacking from behind. He narrowed his Sharingan-laced eyes slightly.
"Want to dance?"
The pirate's body froze; fear glistened. Sword clattered to the deck. He surrendered instantly.
Others followed suit.
On the side, Coby watched in wide-eyed awe. Luffy, grinning, slapped his knee twice and exclaimed:
"I didn't expect to meet such a strong guy right after I set sail! What luck! With him on my crew, I'll definitely become Pirate King!"
Soon, firewood sparked alive in the deck's brazier. Plates, fish, meat, ale—plentiful aboard the rearmed Miss Love Duck.
"There's a party!" Luffy cheered. The three—Luffy, Coby, Rokuro—settled around the fire.
The pirates still conscious were locked away in the brig by Coby.
"Mute! Mute!"
"Mute! Mute!"
At the feast, Murkrow finally brightened. It pecked eagerly at fish scraps, perched on Rokuro's shoulder like a triumphant boss.
"Your pet is… unique," Coby said, wiping his forehead. He had been observing Murkrow, afraid it'd starve.
Rokuro looked at the round, warm droppings behind the bird. With a sigh of resignation, he picked it up and sat silent for a moment.
Then he whispered to himself:
"The hardest part of this pirate life… might just be… cleaning after your crow."