WebNovels

Chapter 17 - Chapter 17:Planting Seeds

While talking to Shanks, Kaito asked a question that had been on his mind. "Excuse my forwardness, but with your abilities, why come to the East Blue?"

Luffy looked at Kaito, confused by the question.

Shanks gave a vague smile. "To make final preparations before setting sail again. I also wanted to check on something."

Kaito sensed there was more to it but didn't press. "How long do you plan to stay?"

"Another week or two. I've been here long enough."

"Long? I heard you just arrived."

Shanks chuckled. "No, I've been here for seven months already."

Kaito was speechless. The information travel here is really slow. It seemed Shanks had not yet achieved the fame he would later command. "I have two juniors who would love to meet a swordsman of your caliber. I wonder if you could meet them in Shimotsuki Village."

Shanks's eyes widened. "You're from the East Blue?"

"Yes. They both wish to become the greatest swordsmaster. You'd be meeting potential future rivals."

Shanks laughed heartily. "The East Blue is full of mysteries!"

Luffy, overhearing, immediately declared, "They want to be the greatest swordsmaster? Yosh! I've decided! They will join my pirate crew!"

Kaito smiled down at the enthusiastic boy. "Luffy, they are much stronger than you are now. I doubt they would agree to join someone weaker."

"What? I'm very strong! My punches are like pistols!" Luffy protested, throwing a few mock punches.

Kaito shook his head gently. "They are on a different level. If you want them to join, you must become far more powerful. And they are older than you, so you'll have to train even harder to catch up."

"Yosh! Then I will become stronger and have them join me!" Luffy declared without a hint of doubt.

"Guys, what are you doing here?" Uta asked, walking over.

Kaito looked at her, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. So the movies are real here too. Huh.

As Luffy and Uta wandered off to play, Shanks turned his attention back to Kaito, his expression turning serious. "Are you truly considering joining Luffy?"

Kaito thought for a moment. "I'm looking for someone who can change this era. If Luffy proves to be that person, then why not?"

"How about you join me instead?" Shanks offered.

Kaito shook his head. "You don't seem eager to be Pirate King. I can feel it. Otherwise, you wouldn't have given Luffy that hat—the one you clearly treasure."

Shanks smiled, a look of quiet respect in his eyes. "How perceptive of you."

Kaito stood up. "Well, I'm leaving. It's been a pleasure to meet you. Right, do you have any seastone with you?"

Shanks looked confused but nodded.

"Good." Kaito turned and called Luffy back over.

"What is it?" Luffy asked, running up.

"I'm leaving. But before I go, I want you to train hard. I'm going to give you a tool to help you grow stronger faster." He looked at Shanks, who understood the unspoken request.

"You want me to give him the seastone?" Shanks asked.

"Yes. If his fruit is truly a Zoan type, then physical strength is paramount. You have to train hard, Luffy. I'll come back to check on your progress." With a final nod, Kaito vanished in a crackle of electricity, leaving Shanks to explain the new training regimen to a bewildered Luffy.

---

Kaito's next stop was Syrup Village. He found a small restaurant to eat but was interrupted by a child's yell from outside: "Pirates are coming!"

Kaito smiled, paid for his meal, and followed the sound. He found a long-nosed boy trying to cheer up a pale, sickly woman.

"You're doing it again, Usopp? I told you, I'm happy your father is following his dream. I support him. Even if I'm unwell, I will always support him," the woman said gently.

"Mom..." Usopp replied, visibly holding back tears.

"Oh, you are Yasopp's wife and son? Now that's interesting," Kaito said, stepping out of the shadows.

Usopp jumped. "Who are you?!"

"I heard someone say pirates were coming and came to see. But it seems you were just trying to cheer your mother."

Usopp immediately launched into a boast. "I have an army of a thousand men! And my father is a great pirate! You should be careful not to make me angry!"

"Relax. I know your father; he's an honorable man. I wouldn't do anything to his family. He talks about you two all the time—I feel like I already know you."

A glimmer of hope shone in the woman's—Banchina's—eyes. "Do you really know him? Does he talk about us?"

"Yes, Banchina and Usopp, right? It's nice to meet you. But what's wrong? You look very ill."

"It's just an old condition. I've always been weak, so don't worry."

Kaito frowned. "Considering Yasopp, I can't just leave like this. Wait a moment." He called Kuma on his Den Den Mushi and asked him to bring Law.

When they arrived, Kuma used his powers to push the illness out of Banchina, giving her immediate strength, while Law used his medical expertise to ensure a complete cure. To avoid frightening Usopp and Banchina with their strange abilities, Kaito had Usopp wait outside and temporarily obscured Banchina's vision.

After they left, Kaito brought Usopp back inside to find his mother looking healthier than she had in years.

"Mom! You look so much better!" Usopp exclaimed.

"Yes," Banchina said, her voice strong. "Thank you so much. I don't know how you did it, but I am forever grateful."

"You're welcome. It's a small favor for a man I shared a drink with." Kaito turned to Usopp. "Now that your mother is healthy, are you still going to yell 'pirates are coming'?"

"No," Usopp said, embarrassed. "There's no need anymore."

"Good. What do you plan to do in the future? Become a brave warrior of the sea like your father? Or something else?"

Usopp stood a little taller. "I will definitely become a brave warrior of the sea!"

"Hahaha, good! But your father is very strong. To surpass him, you'll need to train hard."

"Of course!"

"Good. Take this." Kaito handed Usopp scrolls detailing the basics of Observation Haki and the Rokushiki martial arts. "Your father is a master of this kind of power. He can snipe a bird from an island away."

"Really?!" Usopp's eyes went wide.

"Absolutely. You'll understand when you grasp this power." With that, Kaito left, a seed of potential planted in the young liar's heart.

---

Kaito's final destination was Cocoyasi Village. The atmosphere was peaceful until he heard a commotion.

"Hey, Nami! Get back here!"

A small, orange-haired girl was sprinting away, clutching some papers, with a frustrated shopkeeper in pursuit.

"We can't buy those right now! We'll pay for them later!" the girl yelled over her shoulder.

"Come back here! You can buy them when you have the money!" the man shouted.

"No! I want to draw the islands I saw in these books!"

Kaito appeared and gently caught the girl, holding her with one hand. The shopkeeper skidded to a halt, panicked. "Who are you? Let Nami go! What do you want with a child?"

After a moment, Kaito released the frightened girl, who ran back to the shopkeeper.

"Hey, girl. Your name is Nami?" Kaito asked. She didn't answer, hiding behind the man's leg. Kaito turned to the shopkeeper. "What's your name?"

"Yousef."

"Okay, Yousef. Here." Kaito tossed him a gold bar. "From now on, let her have as much paper as she wants."

Yousef's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Nami, her fear instantly replaced by avarice, stared with equal intensity.

"How much money is that worth?!" Nami demanded.

Kaito thought for a moment and produced another gold bar. "Here, take this one so you can buy more books."

Nami's eyes turned into Berry signs. Kaito, now hungry, asked, "I'm looking for a restaurant. Do you know one?"

They were both too stunned to answer, so Kaito left them and found a place to eat. An hour later, Bell-mère, Nojiko, and a very excited Nami found him.

"I'm very grateful for what you did, but we can't accept this money," Bell-mère said, placing the gold bar on the table.

Kaito looked her over. "You seem to have formal training. Were you a Marine?"

"...Yes, for a short time."

"I see. You feel guilty taking the gold, but you shouldn't. I stole it."

The three of them gasped. "What?!"

"Yes, I stole it. So you don't have to feel guilty, because I plan to steal a lot more in the future."

"Is it wise to tell me that, knowing I was a Marine?" Bell-mère asked, tense.

"Oh, are you going to report me? That would be stupid, because this village would be destroyed."

Bell-mère took a step back. "Are you going to destroy the village if I report you?"

"What? No. I mean the Marine Captain Nezumi is a greedy bastard. If you tell him, he'll tear the village apart looking for the rest of the gold he'll assume you're hiding."

"What are you talking about? A Marine wouldn't do that! And we aren't hiding any money!"

"I know that. But Nezumi wouldn't believe someone would be naive enough to report found wealth. If you don't believe me, report it and see."

Bell-mère, who knew the darker side of the Marines, fell silent.

Seeing her conflict, Kaito changed the subject. "What do you do to make money here?"

Nami answered immediately. "We sell oranges!"

"Oranges? Any other fruits?"

"No, just oranges."

"What a great coincidence. I need to buy oranges."

Bell-mère looked embarrassed. "You don't have to do this. Our entire harvest isn't worth a fraction of that gold bar."

"Well, that depends on the fruit." Kaito pulled out the Mera Mera no Mi. "See this one fruit? It's worth five billion berries, but I won't sell it because I don't need the money."

Nojiko and Nami yelled in unison. "What?! Five billion berries?!"

Bell-mère, however, recognized it. "This is... a Devil Fruit!"

"So, I'm a person who buys premium goods. Three days ago, I tried to buy another fruit for fifteen billion but failed. Tsk, a wasted trip."

Nami's eyes lit up. "Bell-mère! We should plant fruits like this! Then we'd be rich and could travel the world together!"

Kaito laughed. "Oh, Nami, you're so smart! Is that your dream? To be rich?"

"No," Nami said, her expression turning serious. "My dream is to travel the world and draw a complete map of it."

"That's a great dream. But how will you do it?"

"What do you mean?"

"To travel the world, you need freedom. The Marines won't give you that. Explorers might, but they can't fight off pirates. Your only real option is to join a powerful pirate crew. Otherwise, you won't be able to map islands controlled by strong pirates. It would be like a stranger asking to come inside your home to draw a floor plan—would you allow it?"

Nami shook her head. "No, but it's not the same!"

"For those pirates, it is. Your mother can confirm my words."

Bell-mère looked grim but nodded. "Yes. So perhaps it's better to stay here and not draw those dangerous islands."

"How can you say that?" Kaito chided gently. "You should encourage her! People with dreams are rare these days."

The conversation continued all the way to the tangerine farm. Looking at the vibrant trees, Kaito said, "Okay, Nami, let's see your drawing skills. I'm planning to join a pirate crew in the future. If your drawings are good, I might take you with me."

"You are not taking my daughter to become a pirate! Absolutely not!" Bell-mère interjected.

"Hey, I'm just trying to help her achieve her dream," Kaito said innocently, leaving Bell-mère speechless.

Nami returned with her sketches. Kaito examined them carefully. "You are truly talented. You must be an excellent navigator."

"Of course! I'm the most knowledgeable person on the island about the weather!"

"Yeah, here in the East Blue, the weather is predictable. But in the Grand Line, it's a chaotic mess."

"Really? You've been to the Grand Line?"

"Yes. The weather changes rapidly. There's no regular compass there, only a Log Pose. It records the magnetic field of the next island so you can sail to it."

Nami suddenly ran off and returned with a fresh sheet of paper and a pencil. "Continue!" she commanded, already writing.

Kaito laughed and spent the next few hours describing the Grand Line's insane weather patterns—how it could rain, snow, and be windy all within the same stretch of sea. By the time Bell-mère and Nojiko had finished harvesting a large batch of tangerines, Nami was utterly captivated.

"Well, Nami, if you want to know more, there are famous weather scientists on a sky island called Weatheria. They know far more than I do."

"Can you take me there to study?!"

"Of course. Wait until you're a bit older, and I will take you there."

"Great!" Nami was ecstatic.

"But you're still weak. Here are some training methods. Get stronger, because the world will stand in your way." He handed her scrolls similar to Usopp's.

"Okay!"

"Goodbye, then." Kaito took a bag of tangerines. "As for the rest, distribute them among the village."

With a final smile, Kaito disappeared in a flash of light, leaving behind three bewildered women and the seeds of future adventures scattered across the East Blue.

---

Of course! Here is the proofread and polished version of your chapter, focusing on improving grammar, clarity, and flow while preserving your story and characters.

Chapter: Forging the Future's Foundation

After setting things in motion for the young recruits across the East Blue, only one of the future Straw Hats remained on Kaito's list: Franky. He was a more complicated case than the others. It wasn't just about offering help or training; the cyborg-in-the-making held the blueprints to the ancient weapon Pluton.

Kaito pondered the situation. After some thought, he formulated a plan and called Kuma.

"Hey, I need a favor. I need you to send me to Karakuri Island. Afterwards, I might need you to send someone else there."

There was a pause on the other end. "Why?"

"It's complicated. So, what do you say?"

"...Okay. But I won't be able to do it for a while."

"Why?"

"....Ginny is pregnant."

"Then forget about it. It's a day's travel anyway; I'll handle it."

"...Thank you."

"No big deal. And congratulations! Try to name him Kaito if it's a boy."

"We will definitely consider it."

"Hahaha, good. I'm happy for you. Are you still returning to your kingdom?"

"...Yes, but I'm thinking of retiring because of Ginny."

"That's not a bad idea. Find someone else you trust to take over."

"Okay. I'm already thinking of someone."

"Good. See you later."

Kaito retrieved his flying device and set a course for Water 7 through the Calm Belt. He flew without rest, the journey taking nearly 29 exhausting hours. Upon arrival, he found a hotel and collapsed into sleep.

He woke well after midnight. Moving through the silent, flooded streets, he slipped into Iceburg's mansion. He expected to find the man asleep, but instead discovered him in his study, hunched over elaborate blueprints for a massive ship.

Isn't this the early concept for turning Water 7 itself into a ship? He's starting earlier than I thought.

"Oh, you're trying to convert the entire island into a ship," Kaito said, announcing his presence.

Iceburg jumped. "Who—?! ...You. Don't you knock?"

"I could, but you definitely wouldn't want me to. Am I right?"

"...What is it now?"

"Right to business. Do you know of Karakuri Island?"

"That's Vegapunk's birthplace."

"Yes. How about sending Franky there?"

"...Why?"

"I have information about the place. It holds very advanced technology. Franky could study there to better understand the Pluton blueprints—specifically, what kind of energy system it requires."

Iceburg stared at him. "...Why are you focused only on the weapon? Don't tell me—"

"Yeah, we've located Pluton and have a vague idea of how to activate it."

Iceburg shot to his feet, his face a mask of shock. "How sure are you?!"

"Very sure about the location. Less sure about the activation. I've convinced Nico Robin to join our cause. She was the one who translated the relevant Poneglyph in Alabasta. The activation conditions are vague, but we need to be prepared."

Iceburg was silent for a long moment. "Nico Robin?! You're asking me to help the 'Devil Child' awaken an ancient weapon?!"

Kaito sighed in exasperation. "...I see you're as misguided as she was. Let me tell you what I told her: man up. We're not trying to activate anything. We're preparing a defense in case the World Government has such a weapon. Franky is from your direct line of craftsmen. Only he can truly study the blueprints. I'm not telling you to build Pluton; I'm telling you to be ready in case we need it."

"What you're asking is the exact opposite of what my master and ancestors instructed!"

"No. I'm telling you that after 800 years, your craft may have weakened. If we need it and it fails, the downside is extinction. There is no downside to being prepared."

After a tense silence, Iceburg finally nodded. "Okay. I will contact him."

---

Half an hour later, in a hidden factory, Franky arrived. "Hey, Iceburg! You called me all of a sudden. What's up?"

"I want you to meet someone," Iceburg said gravely.

"Meet someone?" Franky asked, confused.

Kaito stepped out of the shadows. "Hello. Nice to meet you. Franky, or should I call you Cutty Flam?"

"Wha—? Who are you?!" Franky exclaimed, immediately on guard.

Iceburg then explained the situation. Franky listened, his shock growing with each revelation.

"So... you want me to go to this island so I can learn how to build or fix the weapons on Pluton?" Franky summarized.

"Yes," Kaito confirmed.

Franky looked at Iceburg incredulously. "Who are you? You can't be the real Iceburg!"

Kaito took a deep breath. "Franky, Pluton is in Wano Country. Do you know what that means?"

Franky just looked confused.

"Wano is one of the most formidable nations in the world. They've maintained a closed-border policy for 800 years, and the World Government has never been able to subjugate them. That's how difficult it is to invade. Right now, the country is under the control of the pirate Kaido, after a retainer betrayed its leader. Just imagine the difficulty of freeing Wano. Now, imagine we succeed. We free the country, and finally gain access to Pluton, only to find that after centuries, its weapons don't work, or it has no power. The whole world will look to the original builders for answers. And you'll have to say, 'I don't know, but if you give me a few years, I'll figure it out.' But the enemy, who already has their own ancient weapon active, do you think they'll wait? They'll slaughter everyone. The people will die to protect you, and by the time you figure out how to counter-attack, there will be no one left. You'll kill yourself in despair, and the enemy wins. All because you refused to study the blueprints in advance. And with your dying breath, you'll think, 'I wish I had studied it before.' The end."

Iceburg was dumbfounded by the grim scenario. Franky, however, fell silent, then dramatically pulled out a guitar and began to sob and sing about the tragedy.

"What a moving story! It really tugs at the heartstrings!" Franky wailed.

"Then you'll go?" Kaito asked.

"Absolutely!" Franky declared, striking a pose. "I never considered the consequences could be so... SUPER tragic!"

Iceburg sighed in resignation. "Whatever. As long as you do it. But Franky, you will be the only one who sees the blueprints."

"Ah, one more thing," Kaito interjected. "I said I'd take you, but I'm not staying. I'll show you the place with the advanced weapons and then leave. You'll be on your own."

"WHAT?!" both Franky and Iceburg exclaimed.

"Yeah, I'm a very busy person, and I can't risk being seen associated with you."

After further discussion, they finally agreed. Kaito acquired an Eternal Pose to Karakuri Island from the Revolutionary Army's network, and they set off.

Days later, they arrived. Kaito led Franky to the island's central heating system, warning him about the self-destruction button marked with a pirate logo. After some digging, they unearthed a cache of advanced blueprints left behind by Vegapunk.

As Franky immediately became engrossed in the technical documents, Kaito prepared to leave. "Franky, here's my Den Den Mushi number. If anything happens, call me."

"Okay, my mask-wearing companion!" Franky replied, not looking up from the schematics.

---

With Franky situated, Kaito decided to make one last stop: Drum Island. Chopper should be about five years old now, he thought. Still just a reindeer, but finding him and the Hito Hito no Mi should be easy.

Upon reaching the winter kingdom, he began his search for the unique fruit and a blue-nosed reindeer. He found Chopper first, watching from a distance as the young reindeer was ostracized and bullied by the rest of the herd. The sight confirmed his identity.

After several more hours of searching, Kaito found the Human-Human Fruit. He then approached the lonely reindeer, who looked at him warily. Kaito tossed the fruit toward him.

"This fruit will make you even more different from the others. So don't eat it if you want to fit in," Kaito said, his tone neutral.

Unfortunately, Chopper, driven by confusion and a desperate hope for change, ate the fruit without understanding the consequences. His body immediately transformed into his hybrid walk-point form.

"Oh, fascinating. Can you understand me now?" Kaito asked.

Chopper, terrified by the sudden transformation, began to panic.

"Calm down. You ate a Devil Fruit that transforms the user. You should be able to understand me. Nod if you do."

Chopper stared at him for a long moment, then gave a hesitant nod.

"Good. Come with me. I think you're interesting."

Chopper took one last look at the herd, who were staring at him as if he were a monster, and followed Kaito.

Kaito already knew the locations of both Doctors Hiriluk and Kureha. "Tell me, how do you feel?" he asked the small, bewildered creature.

"I... I... I'm not sure," Chopper stammered.

"That's normal. I saw you being rejected by your herd. Why?"

"Because I have a blue nose," Chopper said, his voice thick with shame.

"...What? I guess stupidity exists even among animals. Anyway, I'm busy and have to leave, but I can't leave you alone to face discrimination from humans. However, there are two or three people here who might understand you. One is a wacky but fun doctor. One is a genius doctor some call a witch. The last is a fighter in the army. Who do you want to stay with?"

"Can't I stay with you?" Chopper asked timidly.

"I'm sorry, little guy. The world I move in is too dangerous for someone your age. But I will introduce you to the doctors. What do you think?"

"Okay," Chopper agreed, his voice small and afraid of yet another rejection.

"Good. Put this coat on." Once Chopper was covered, they set off for Hiriluk's house first, as Kaito judged him the easier to convince.

Hiriluk was home. Kaito knocked, and after a moment, the eccentric doctor opened the door to find two figures, one completely covered by a coat and the other wearing a gold mask.

"Why are you covering up? Do you have an illness that makes you ugly or something?" Hiriluk boomed.

Kaito was momentarily speechless. "Can we come in?"

"Of course!"

Once inside, Kaito stated his purpose. "I want you to take care of this child. I have to leave and can't leave him alone."

"What? Why would I do that?"

"I've seen how you run away after your treatments fail. I think he'd make a great decoy for you to use."

Chopper gasped in shock under the coat, but before he could react, Kaito removed the covering, exposing him.

"He is a reindeer who ate a Devil Fruit—a Zoan-type, the Human-Human Fruit."

"Ah!" Hiriluk's eyes lit up with understanding.

"He was rejected by his herd even before eating the fruit, so he has an illness of the heart. I heard you were the specialist in that field here."

"Absolutely! Even if a person has a terminal illness, we can help treat their heart! That's my motto, from my days as a pirate!" Hiriluk declared proudly.

"Good. He'll live with you. Come on, I've found him another teacher for medicine."

"I can teach him medicine too!"

"...You're nicknamed the 'Quack Doctor' in the village."

"Eh? That's just people not understanding my SUPER innovative ways!"

"Well, you can teach him your way, but I want him to learn the standard way, too."

Their next stop was the home of Doctor Kureha. On the way, Hiriluk grew nervous. "Hey, are you nuts? That witch might eat him instead!"

"Don't worry. I know how to handle her."

Kaito knocked. Kureha opened the door and scowled at the sight of Hiriluk. "What do you want, old man?"

"Not me, you old hag! It's this young man!"

Kureha turned her sharp gaze to Kaito. "Who are you, and what do you want?"

"Can we come in first?"

"No."

Kaito sighed. "Come on, just for a few minutes."

"Fine. Get in."

Once inside, Kureha demanded, "So? What is it?"

"I want you to teach this kid medicine." Kaito removed Chopper's coat and explained his situation.

"Well, it is a very touching story..." Kureha began, her tone suggesting she was unmoved.

As she spoke, Kaito calmly placed two large gold bars on the table.

"...Of course, I know teaching is a very demanding process, so I can't let you suffer financially," Kaito finished.

Kureha's eyes gleamed. "—Just as I was saying, it is a very touching story that has moved my heart! So of course, I will teach him!"

"Hey! Why don't I get any money?" Hiriluk complained.

"Erm? She's the best doctor in the kingdom. I have to go the extra mile. But you... you'll be teaching him what, exactly? How to be funny?"

"Come on! I was a pirate too, you know! I want some treasure!"

"Fine," Kaito said, handing him one gold bar.

"Okay, one last thing," Kaito said, turning to the reindeer. "Your name will be Tony Tony Chopper. I expect great things from you."

"Tony Tony Chopper?" the reindeer repeated, tasting the name.

"Yeah. That's your name now."

Chopper's face broke into a happy smile. With his mission accomplished, Kaito said his goodbyes.

"Wait! What's your name?" Kureha called out.

"Not important. Good luck, everyone."

And with a final crackle of electricity, Kaito disappeared, leaving behind another seed of the future, now planted in the snow of Drum Island.

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