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Chapter 5 - [5]: Preparations Before Departure

When Kane returned home, the first thing he did was reassure Grandma Lysa that he was safe. Then, he took out the large pouch of money he had stored over the years eighty million Berries and handed it to her.

That fortune had come from his occasional bounty hunts while at sea. Whenever he came across small-time pirate crews, he'd quietly take care of them and turn in their bounties. The East Blue didn't have many major pirate threats, so earning money this way wasn't easy. Still, after years of work, he had managed to save this much. For Grandma Lysa, who was already in her seventies, this sum would ensure she lived out the rest of her life comfortably.

The old woman stared at the pile of Berries in disbelief, her wrinkled hands trembling slightly. "Kane… what is all this? I can't take such a huge amount!"

Kane smiled faintly, his tone firm but respectful. "Please don't worry, Grandma. This money comes from clean, honest work. I've decided to join the Marines, and with me gone, I won't be able to take care of you anymore. So please, keep this. Spend it however you like. It's yours."

Lysa looked into his eyes and saw no hesitation there. After a moment of silence, she sighed softly and nodded. She had known this boy for a decade. Cold on the outside but soft at heart, Kane had always been the kind of person who quietly took care of others. He had never lied to her not once. She finally tucked the money into a small wooden chest behind her chair, her movements slow and deliberate.

Then, she turned to look at him. In her eyes, there was affection, pride, and sorrow all at once. To her, Kane wasn't just a boy she had raised he was the grandson she never had. Now that he was about to leave, her heart ached deeply, though she tried not to show it.

She forced a smile, reached out, and patted his waist affectionately. "Go, my boy. The world is vast, and you're meant for more than this little village. Grandma believes in you. Don't worry about me. The villagers are kind, and they'll look after me. Just follow your path, and don't look back."

Kane's heart tightened. He took a step forward and pulled her into a gentle hug. "I'll make you proud, Grandma. I promise. It won't be long before the whole sea knows my name. And no matter how far I go, I'll come back to visit you."

After saying his goodbyes, he packed up his few belongings and set out to visit Bellemere and her two daughters, Nami and Nojiko. They were the people he was closest to in the village his only real family besides Lysa.

When he arrived at Bellemere's home, he knocked on the wooden door. After a moment, it creaked open, revealing a familiar head of blue hair Nojiko's curious face peeking out.

Her eyes lit up the moment she saw him. "Kane!" she called out happily, her smile radiant. But then she noticed the small travel bag slung over his shoulder. Her expression faltered, and a shadow crossed her face. Still, she mustered her brightest smile and said softly, "Kane, you're leaving… aren't you?"

Kane nodded gently and reached out to pat her head, his voice warm. "I came to say goodbye."

Even though she had sensed this moment was coming, hearing it confirmed made her eyes water. She bit her lip and forced a small smile. "Wait here, I'll go call Bellemere and Nami. We'll come send you off."

"That's not necessary," Kane said quickly. "I was planning to leave quietly. You can just tell them I've gone. I don't want to "

Before he could finish, a familiar voice interrupted from inside the house.

"Oh, no you don't! You think you can live in this village for ten years and just disappear without saying goodbye?"

Bellemere stepped out, hands on her hips, her trademark smirk playing on her lips. Nami trailed behind her, pouting.

"Come on," Bellemere said with mock sternness. "We're coming with you. Let's go!"

Nojiko turned toward him, her eyes pleading and full of expectation.

Kane sighed softly, pretending to be annoyed. "You're all such trouble. Bonds like these are a real pain, you know that?"

"Hmph! You're such a tsundere!" Nami shot back, her small voice full of mischief. Her sharp eyes glinted with triumph she had completely seen through him.

Kane shot her a half-hearted glare before stepping forward and scooping up Nojiko, who was already sniffling.

"Eh?! K-Kane!" Nojiko gasped, her face flushing crimson. She squirmed awkwardly but didn't pull away.

"What's wrong? I'm leaving, and you won't even let me give you a proper hug?" he teased, his tone deliberately serious.

"O-of course you can…" she murmured, clutching his sleeve tightly, her small fists trembling.

"Unfair!" Nami huffed, puffing out her cheeks. "You're totally playing favorites!"

Kane ignored her and set Nojiko back down gently. He took a deep breath and looked at them all. "Alright. Let's go."

The group walked to the coastline together. The sea stretched endlessly before them, waves glinting under the afternoon sun. Kane stopped, turning to face them. "This is far enough. Thank you, everyone. We'll say goodbye here."

Bellemere frowned, glancing around the empty shore. "Here? There's nothing here."

"Exactly," Kane said with a faint smile.

Before anyone could respond, his body slowly began to rise from the ground. The air shimmered around him, and the others froze in disbelief.

After a long silence, Bellemere finally managed to speak. "So… you're really not human, are you?" she whispered. Nami and Nojiko both nodded vigorously beside her, wide-eyed and awestruck.

Kane didn't answer. Truthfully, she wasn't wrong his body had long since begun evolving beyond human limits.

Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a uniquely shaped kunai, its blade gleaming with strange markings. He handed it to Nojiko and said softly, "Keep this safe. If anything ever happens to the village, hold it in your hand and call my name in your heart. I'll come."

Nojiko clutched it tightly, nodding with determination. "I promise I'll remember."

Kane smiled and gently ruffled her hair. The kunai was no ordinary blade it was the Flying Thunder God kunai, a relic from another world. With his immense chakra and the Rinnegan's power, he could sense its signal from anywhere and teleport to its location instantly.

He had left another one with Grandma Lysa, just in case. He knew danger would one day come to this island perhaps in the form of the Fishman Pirates and he wasn't about to take chances.

With everything in place, Kane felt his heart settle. His body began to rise higher, the wind whipping around him.

"Well then," he said with a faint smile, "goodbye, everyone. Nojiko, Nami eat well, train hard. When I see you next, you'd better not still be little brats."

"I will! Just come back soon!" Nojiko cried, tears streaming down her cheeks as she waved up at him.

"Like I care!" Nami shouted, trying to hide her own tears. "Go already! It's not like I'll miss you or anything, stupid Kane!"

Bellemere cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, her voice echoing across the sea. "Go, Kane! I expect to see you as a Marine Admiral someday no, a Fleet Admiral!"

Kane took one last look at them their faces, the village, and the sea that had been his home for a decade. His gaze hardened with resolve.

Then, with a surge of energy, he shot upward and vanished into the sky, leaving behind only a shimmer of light and the distant roar of the waves.

"Marine Headquarters," he murmured to himself, the horizon glinting before him. "Here I come."

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