CHAPTER 5 — THE NEW WIND
The dawn broke unevenly over Windmill Village, sunlight spilling over rooftops and the wooden docks in irregular, golden patterns. Birds cried. Waves licked the shore. The smell of salt, seaweed, and smoke hung in the air.
I was already moving.
Three swords hung at my sides, one in each
hand, my extra arm resting lightly against my back, ready to spring into motion. Training had never ceased. Not for hunger. Not for fatigue. Not for boredom. My body moved before thought could even consider the motion, each swing, each step, each strike perfectly aligned with Haki and reflex.
Ace and Sabo trailed me, laughing,
Shouting, and falling into predictable chaos behind my precision. They didn't complain; they had long since learned to accept the impossible standards I set without speaking.
THE STRANGE CHILD ARRIVES
A commotion erupted near the docks. A small boy, seemingly no older than us,
clambered along the boards with an energy that defied coordination or logic. Black hair, wide eyes, a grin that stretched across his face like he was daring the world itself to challenge him.
Ace turned first. "Who the hell is that?"
Sabo didn't answer. His eyes narrowed, observing.
I didn't look immediately. My Observation Haki flared slightly on its own, brushing outward to measure intent, strength, and instability.
The boy was chaotic. Reckless. Laughing even as he almost tripped over a barrel, catching himself on a rope with no hesitation.
I finally looked. Luffy.
FIRST INTERACTION
Luffy's grin did not falter as he noticed the three of us. "Hey! Are you guys pirates?" His voice was loud, almost obnoxiously so, c
Carrying a confidence no child should possess.
Ace snorted. "You got nerve for a kid your size."
Sabo's lips pressed into a thin line, eyebrows furrowed. Quiet, calculating, measuring.
I stepped forward. Three swords already in hand, but resting lightly at my sides. One glance, and the boy froze for a fraction of a second, sensing the energy I carried without knowing what it was.
He blinked. Then laughed. "Whoa! You're
strong! I like you!"
I did not respond.
Not out of malice. Not out of fear. Just… indifference. I had no need to entertain childish talk. Efficiency dictated my next move: observe, assess, learn.
Luffy'S CHAOS
Despite my silence, Luffy persisted. He bounded toward us, arms waving, legs kicking, energy unchecked. Ace grinned,
clearly entertained, and Sabo's eyes followed him, wary yet amused.
Observation Haki flared automatically. I noted his muscle tension, his foot placement, the slight twitch of his shoulders. Every motion predicted before it completed.
Armament Haki wrapped lightly around my swords, not for attack—yet. Just a reminder of presence, of readiness. Conqueror's Haki throbbed faintly in my chest, an instinctive
ripple at the energy of someone so unrestrained.
He was… not a threat. Not yet. But interesting.
TRAINING WITH CHAOS
Luffy did not leave.
We moved to the outskirts of the village, a small clearing near the forest's edge. Three swords in hand, I began a silent routine, cutting through empty air, striking precise
arcs, testing the Haki flow, perfecting the angles.
Ace and Sabo joined, falling into their own rhythms, predictable yet improving under observation.
Luffy, however, did not mimic. He leapt. He rolled. He swung sticks, rocks, even his fists
as if the world itself were training him. His Observation Haki—untrained, unshaped—spiked faintly, clashing unpredictably with mine. I felt the subtle pulse, but I did not react aggressively. Not yet.
Instead, I moved around him, blocking, redirecting, striking imaginary targets, letting
him crash against the flow without injury.
He laughed. "You're scary! But kinda fun!"
I didn't answer. My extra arm moved, swinging a sword with precise intent, while the other two followed perfectly. Every strike, every adjustment, honed speed, Haki, and coordination further. Luffy ran circles around the pattern, learning, testing, relentless.
BONDS IN SILENCE
The day passed. Sun rose high, burned hot, and began to dip again. Luffy never stopped. Ace and Sabo laughed, shouted, and fought alongside us. I trained. And I observed.
By nightfall, I was covered in minor cuts and bruises, sweat running down every arm, yet perfectly aware of every angle, every position, every shift in energy. My
Observation Haki had advanced further, reading intent almost perfectly. Armament Haki solidified across the swords. Conqueror's Haki pulsed faintly in reaction to Luffy's energy and Ace's reckless aggression.
Luffy sat down finally, panting, grinning from ear to ear. "That was awesome! You guys are amazing!"
Ace and Sabo nodded, tired but satisfied.
I sheathed my swords silently. My body hummed with tension and energy. Efficiency
satisfied. Will sharpened.
I did not speak.
But they knew.
I was not their friend yet.
I was not their rival.
I was something else entirely.
Something dangerous.
And tomorrow, I would train again.
struck.