East Blue — Syrup Village.
While Bai Ye flew with Zoro and Nami toward the village, it was no surprise that Luffy had already run into Usopp down on the island. Let's rewind the clock a little.
"That must be the pirate ship, right? Looks like Buggy's flagship."
Hidden in a patch of grass, Usopp crouched with his three little followers — Onion-Head, Carrot-Top, and Green Pepper-Head — watching the approaching ship with wide eyes.
"We can't see very clearly, but there really are only three people aboard... and I don't see Buggy." Usopp rubbed his chin, thinking.
"You're right, Captain," Onion-Head nodded beside him.
"So, Captain Usopp, when they step ashore, do we strike and take them out?" Carrot-Top whispered, eyes bright. The idea of defending the village and defeating pirates filled him with pride.
Usopp cast a glance at the hopeful faces of his crew. He loved to boast — but he also knew his limits. With his current skills, he wouldn't outfight most of the village, let alone actual pirates. Still, he remembered his dream of becoming a brave warrior of the sea, and thought of Kaya and these kids. He couldn't let them get hurt.
"All right, lads — follow me. We'll set some traps first."
Practicality won. Usopp led them to a steep slope the pirates would have to climb and began planting snares and pitfalls.
"Hey, Onion-Head — what are you looking at?" Usopp asked when he noticed Onion-Head staring up at the sky.
"Captain... someone's flying over us!!!" Onion-Head blurted, eyes wide with disbelief.
Before Usopp could finish his incredulous reply, a figure crashed down out of the sky and landed right on top of him — a puff of dust erupting around them.
"Captain Usopp!!!" his three followers cried in alarm.
When the dust settled, a boy wearing a straw hat stood up, arms raised triumphantly.
"Yo-shi! Smooth landing!!!" Luffy cheered. He then noticed the three kids staring at him.
"Uh? Who are you?" Luffy asked, cheerful and oblivious.
"You tell me who you are!!!" The three kids snarled like little wolves.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy — I'm going to become the Pirate King!!! I'm here to find a pirate ship that'll take me to the Grand Line." Luffy announced his life plan with total openness, as always.
"Pirate!!!" The three kids froze; when small children heard the word "pirate," their instincts screamed danger.
"Oh no, am I going to get killed?"
"If Captain Usopp were here, he'd save us — right?"
At that moment they realized Luffy was sitting atop someone — and suddenly everyone looked down.
"Huh? There's a person under me?" Luffy blinked, only then noticing he'd landed on someone. He thought the fellow was asleep. "Is he just napping down there? Won't he catch a cold?"
"No one naps here!!!" the kids shrieked again.
Usopp blinked awake, groggy. He twisted and glared up at the straw-hatted boy.
"Who the hell are you?!"
When Luffy saw Usopp's face, he yelped instinctively. "Wha—!? Your nose — I think I squashed your nose longer!!!" He hugged Usopp and started bawling, convinced he'd stretched the poor man's nose.
"Huh?" Usopp froze, then enraged: "You idiot — my nose is like this on purpose!!!" He punched Luffy square in the face.
"What? He's a pirate?" Usopp's eyes went wide as he pointed at Luffy. Onion-Head and the others dragged Usopp aside and explained — Luffy, by his own account, admitted he was a pirate.
"Yes! I'm a pirate," Luffy said, nodding earnestly.
Usopp couldn't believe it. Pirates in his head were fierce, fearsome figures — not this oddball. But the man admitted it, and the village and Kaya mattered more than pride.
"Listen — I have eight thousand men under my command! You'd better run!" Usopp bluffed, the classic ploy.
Normally, such blatant boasting gets no respect. This wasn't a normal person, however. Luffy's reaction was immediate: eyes glowing like a child's, he gasped in awe.
"Wha—!? You have eight thousand followers?! Amazing!!!" Luffy's excitement made Usopp's chest puff with fake importance.
"Ha! Scared now?" Usopp strutted, enjoying his lie going so well. "I'm feeling generous today — leave now and I'll spare you!"
"No!" Luffy grinned widely and refused, plain as day. That mockery stung.
"I still haven't got my pirate ship. I won't leave until I do." Luffy's face grew serious; he wasn't joking.
Something about Luffy's sincerity — the unwavering resolve behind the goofy smile — hit Usopp in the chest. He thought: That's exactly the kind of bravery I say I want to have. For the first time, Usopp felt the flicker of real conviction.
Before he could process it, Onion-Head shouted out nervously, "Captain Usopp — someone else's flying in again...!"
Usopp looked up, and saw a green figure descending from the sky above them.
"Wha—!?"
— and that's how fate rolled its dice.
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