Dawn broke cold and gray on the fourth day, mist rolling in from the sea like a warning. The crew had positioned themselves strategically throughout the village—each one covering a different approach route that Shiro's awareness had mapped out during the night.
Shiro stood on the highest rooftop near the mansion, his psychic net spread wider than it had ever been, covering the entire village and the coastline beyond. His eyes were half-closed, his breathing steady, his mind processing dozens of positions simultaneously.
There.
Three kilometers out. Ships approaching. Two of them. Crews of roughly twenty-five each.
Fifty pirates, just as Kuro had said.
Shiro's voice echoed through the telepathic link to the crew. They're coming. Two ships. Northern beach and eastern dock. Zoro, take the northern approach. Usopp, position yourself on the bell tower—you'll have clear sightlines to both locations. Nami, eastern dock. Stay mobile.
Zoro's mental response came back sharp and eager. Finally. He started moving south. Zoro move towards your opposite side, yeah that way. Shiro was exasperated by Zoro's lack of direction sense. He guided him to his post.
Usopp's was nervous but determined. I'm ready.
Nami's was steady. Understood.
Shiro paused, then added, Luffy's still asleep in the mansion. Don't wake him unless it's an emergency.
Zoro's voice carried dry amusement. Of course he is.
The ships drew closer.
The first wave of Black Cat Pirates hit the northern beach like a disorganized swarm—twenty-five men charging up the sand, weapons drawn, shouting threats and promises of violence.
Zoro stood alone at the top of the beach, three swords drawn, his posture relaxed but ready.
The pirates saw him and laughed.
"One guy?!" one of them shouted. "They sent ONE GUY?!"
Another pirate grinned. "This is gonna be easy!"
Zoro's smile was cold. "Yeah. For me."
They charged.
Zoro moved.
Three days of brutal training had sharpened him to a razor's edge. His footwork was faster. His cuts were cleaner. His awareness of his own body's limits had expanded.
"Oni Giri."
Three pirates fell before they even realized they'd been cut.
Zoro spun, his swords flashing in precise arcs. No wasted movement. No unnecessary flourishes. Just pure, efficient violence.
A pirate swung a club at his head—Zoro ducked under it, his blade cutting through the man's weapon and sending him sprawling with a shallow slash across his chest.
Another tried to flank him—Zoro's third sword blocked the attack without him even looking, his basic Observation Haki painting the battlefield in his mind.
"Tora Gari!"
Two more pirates collapsed, unconscious from the flat of his blade.
The remaining pirates began to hesitate, their confidence crumbling.
"He's a monster!" one of them yelled.
Zoro's grin widened. "You're just figuring that out now?"
He moved through them like a storm—unstoppable, inevitable, terrifying.
Within ten minutes, all twenty-five pirates lay scattered across the beach, groaning or unconscious.
Zoro sheathed his swords, breathing steadily. Not even winded.
Shiro's voice echoed in his mind. Clean work.
Zoro's mental response was smug. Told you I was ready.
The second wave approached the eastern dock more cautiously. They'd heard the commotion from the northern beach and knew something had gone wrong.
Nami stood at the end of the dock, staff in hand, her posture loose and ready.
Fifteen pirates approached in a loose formation, weapons ranging from swords to clubs to crude spears.
The leader—a scarred man with a jagged knife—grinned when he saw her. "A girl? They sent a girl to stop us?"
Nami's smile was sharp. "I volunteered."
The pirates laughed and charged.
Nami moved.
Three days of training with Shiro had transformed her. She didn't meet force with force. She danced.
The first pirate swung a club at her head—she ducked, pivoted, and slammed her staff into the back of his knee. He collapsed with a howl.
The second tried to grab her—she twisted away, using his momentum to send him stumbling into a third pirate. Both went down in a tangle of limbs.
A fourth pirate thrust a spear at her chest—Nami sidestepped, hooked her staff around the spear shaft, and yanked. The pirate stumbled forward, and Nami's staff cracked against his temple.
She didn't stop moving. Every attack flowed into the next. Dodge, deflect, counterattack. Strike joints, pressure points, anywhere that would disable without killing.
The pirates tried to surround her, but she used the dock's narrow space to her advantage, forcing them to come at her one or two at a time.
"She's too fast!" one of them yelled.
"Then SLOW HER DOWN!" the leader roared.
Four pirates rushed her at once from different angles.
Nami's eyes sharpened. She planted her staff and vaulted over the first attacker, her body spinning in midair, her staff sweeping out to crack against two skulls simultaneously.
She landed lightly, already moving, her staff a blur.
The remaining pirates hesitated, fear creeping into their expressions.
Nami stood in the center of eleven unconscious bodies, breathing hard but steady, her staff resting on her shoulder.
The last four pirates looked at each other, then dropped their weapons and ran.
Nami didn't chase them. She just smiled.
Shiro's voice was warm with approval. Beautifully done.
Nami's mental response was breathless but satisfied. I'm getting the hang of this.
Usopp crouched in the bell tower, his slingshot in hand, his goggles pulled down over his eyes. From this height, he could see both battlefields clearly.
His heart was pounding, but his hands were steady.
Shiro's voice echoed gently in his mind. Remember your training. Trust your instincts.
Usopp took a deep breath. I can do this. I can do this.
A group of ten pirates broke away from the main force, heading toward the village center where civilians were hiding.
Usopp's eyes narrowed. Not on my watch.
He reached into his pouch and pulled out a pellet—but not a normal one. This one was filled with crushed chili powder.
He loaded it, aimed, and fired.
The pellet struck the lead pirate square in the face. It exploded on impact, releasing a cloud of red dust.
The pirate screamed, clawing at his eyes. "IT BURNS! IT BURNS!"
The other pirates stopped, confused.
Usopp grinned. "That's right! I'm Captain Usopp! And you're in my sights!"
He loaded another pellet—this one filled with rotten eggs.
SPLAT.
It hit the second pirate in the mouth. The man gagged, vomiting immediately.
"WHAT IS THIS?!" another pirate yelled.
Usopp was already loading the next shot. This one was special. Really special.
He'd spent yesterday preparing these with the help of a very confused farmer who'd asked no questions when Usopp requested a bag of fresh manure.
The pellet flew true, striking the third pirate in the forehead.
It burst open, covering the man's entire head in... well.
The pirate froze, his brain trying to process what had just happened.
Then he screamed. "IS THAT—?! OH GOD, IT'S IN MY MOUTH!"
The remaining pirates stared in horror.
Usopp stood up in the bell tower, arms spread wide, his voice carrying across the village. "BEHOLD! THE GREAT CAPTAIN USOPP AND HIS EIGHT THOUSAND FOLLOWERS! YOU HAVE ENTERED OUR DOMAIN, AND NOW YOU SHALL FACE THE CONSEQUENCES!"
More pellets flew—chili, eggs, manure, glue mixed with feathers, a particularly nasty concoction involving vinegar and spoiled fish.
Every shot was a headshot.
Every shot was a nightmare.
The pirates broke and ran, screaming, covered in filth and shame.
Usopp collapsed back into the bell tower, laughing so hard tears streamed down his face. "I DID IT! I REALLY DID IT!"
Shiro's mental voice was amused. Unconventional. But effective.
Zoro's mental response was disgusted. Did he just throw shit at them?
Nami sounded somewhere between impressed and horrified. He absolutely did.
Usopp's laughter echoed through their minds. AND IT WORKED!
The remaining pirates—now down to about fifteen—regrouped near the village square. At their head stood a man in heart-shaped glasses and a strange outfit.
Jango the Hypnotist.
Beside him, two large figures emerged from the shadows—the Nyaban Brothers, twin fighters known for their cat-like agility and vicious claw weapons.
Jango's voice was smooth and unsettling. "So. The rumors were true. Kuro was defeated."
Shiro appeared on a nearby rooftop, his expression calm. "He's in Marine custody. Your plan failed. Surrender now, and we'll hand you over without further injury."
Jango adjusted his heart-shaped glasses. "Surrender? Oh no, my friend. We're just getting started."
He pulled out a pendulum and began swinging it. "One... two... Jango..."
His voice took on a strange, hypnotic quality.
Shiro's awareness spiked, but it was too late—the hypnotic suggestion was already spreading outward, not toward him, but toward—
Luffy.
Inside the mansion, Luffy—who'd been napping peacefully woke up for eating an enormous breakfast got caught in the hypnosis as he came out to check the crew — He leaned forward, his eyes blank and unfocused.
Shiro's jaw tightened. Troublesome.
Luffy walked out of the mansion like a puppet, his movements stiff and mechanical.
Jango grinned. "Perfect! Now, my mindless servant—attack your friends!"
Luffy's body moved.
"Gomu Gomu no—Pistol!"
His fist shot toward Zoro, who'd just arrived at the square.
Zoro barely had time to react before—
The air solidified.
Luffy's fist stopped mid-punch, frozen in place as if trapped in invisible amber. His entire body went rigid, unable to move even an inch.
Zoro's eyes widened. "What—?"
Shiro stood on the rooftop, one hand extended casually toward Luffy, his purple eyes glowing faintly. His expression was calm, almost bored.
"Telekinesis," Shiro said simply. "He's strong, but psychic force doesn't care about physical strength."
With his other hand, he made a pulling motion.
Jango's pendulum yanked out of the hypnotist's grip so violently it tore the chain, flying through the air in a silver arc before landing in Shiro's palm.
The entire sequence had taken less than three seconds.
Jango's jaw dropped. "What—?! How did you—?!"
Nami and Usopp arrived at that moment, both breathing hard from their respective fights, and stopped dead at the sight before them.
Luffy—their impossibly strong captain—was completely immobilized, floating an inch off the ground, unable to move a single muscle.
And Shiro stood there, holding him in place with one hand while crushing Jango's pendulum with the other, his expression as calm as if he were holding a cup of tea.
"He just... he just stopped Luffy," Usopp whispered, his voice filled with awe and a hint of terror. "Like it was nothing."
Nami's hands tightened on her staff, her eyes wide. She'd known Shiro was strong. But this—this was something else entirely.
He's suppressing Luffy. The same Luffy who just unlocked that Gear Second technique. And he's doing it with one hand while multitasking.
Zoro stared at Shiro, then at the immobilized Luffy, then back at Shiro. "You really weren't joking when you said you were the strongest."
Shiro's mouth curved into a small smile. "I don't joke about facts."
He crushed the pendulum completely, the mechanism shattering into pieces that fell like rain.
Without the pendulum's focus, the hypnotic suggestion shattered.
Luffy blinked, his eyes clearing. "Huh? What... what happened? Why can't I move?"
Shiro lowered his hand, and Luffy dropped gently to the ground, stumbling slightly as control of his body returned.
"You were hypnotized," Shiro said calmly. "I held you still so you wouldn't hurt anyone."
Luffy rubbed his head, confused. "You... you held me still? I couldn't even budge!"
Shiro's expression remained neutral. "Your strength is physical. Mine is mental. Different types of power."
Then his expression hardened slightly as he looked at Jango. "And the person responsible is right there."
Luffy's eyes locked onto the hypnotist, and his grin turned dangerous. "Oh. So YOU'RE the guy who messed with my head."
Jango's confidence crumbled. "W-wait, let's talk about this—"
"Gomu Gomu no—Pistol!"
The punch connected with Jango's jaw, and the hypnotist flew backward, crashing into a wall and slumping unconscious.
The Nyaban Brothers, seeing their leader fall and witnessing what Shiro had just done, tried to retreat.
But Zoro was faster.
"Oni Giri."
Both brothers collapsed, unconscious before they hit the ground.
The remaining pirates, seeing their strongest fighters defeated and having witnessed Shiro's overwhelming display of power, threw down their weapons and surrendered immediately.
Silence fell over the village square.
Usopp was the first to speak, his voice trembling slightly. "Shiro... you really are a monster."
Shiro glanced at him, and Usopp quickly added, "I-I mean that as a compliment!"
Nami studied Shiro carefully, her mind racing. He stopped Luffy—who can punch through stone—like it was nothing. And he didn't even break a sweat.
How strong is he really?
Zoro's expression was serious, his hand resting on his sword hilts. "I need to get stronger. A lot stronger."
Shiro's smile was knowing. "That's the right attitude."
Luffy stretched, yawning. "Man, being frozen like that was weird. Do it again!"
Everyone stared at him.
"What?" Luffy said innocently. "It felt funny!"
Shiro chuckled despite himself. "Maybe later, Captain."
What the crew didn't see was the subtle tension in Shiro's shoulders, the way his breathing had deepened just slightly. Suppressing Luffy's full strength—even hypnotized Luffy—had taken more focus and energy than he'd let show.
But that was fine.
The crew needed to see him as invincible. As the one who could handle anything.
Because if they believed it, they'd be confident. And confidence would keep them alive.
I can rest later, Shiro thought, his expression remaining perfectly calm. Right now, they need to see strength.
The Marines arrived shortly after to take custody of the prisoners. Jango and the Nyaban Brothers were worth a combined 15 million beli in bounties—a nice bonus for the crew's efforts.
And as they walked away from the battlefield, Usopp kept glancing at Shiro with a mix of admiration and healthy fear.
Nami was quieter than usual, her mind clearly processing what she'd witnessed.
And Zoro's jaw was set with renewed determination, his eyes burning with the need to grow stronger.
Luffy, of course, was already asking when they could eat.
Some things never changed.
Over the next two days, the crew continued training, refining what they'd learned. Zoro's cuts grew sharper, his endurance deeper. Usopp's accuracy became almost supernatural, his confidence solidifying. Nami's evasion techniques became second nature, her strikes more precise. And Luffy, after being scolded for sleeping through a battle, practiced his Observation Haki until he could sense attacks even while napping.
But more than the training, the crew bonded. Shared meals. Shared stories. Shared laughter.
They were becoming more than just a group of people traveling together.
They were becoming a crew.
The Going Merry
On the morning of the seventh day, Kaya and her butler—Merry, a kind man with lamb-like features—led the crew to the shipyard.
And there she was.
The Going Merry.
A beautiful caravel with a figurehead shaped like a ram's head, cheerful and proud. Her sails were pristine white, her wood polished to a warm golden-brown. She looked small, almost delicate, but there was something sturdy about her—something determined.
Luffy's eyes went wide. "WHOA! SHE'S AMAZING!"
He ran up the gangplank before anyone could stop him, his voice echoing from the deck. "THIS IS SO COOL! LOOK AT ALL THIS SPACE!"
Zoro followed more slowly, his hand running along the railing. "She's well-made. Solid craftsmanship."
Nami climbed aboard, her navigator's eye already assessing the ship's capabilities. "She's fast. Light. Perfect for long-distance travel." She smiled despite herself. "I can work with this."
Usopp stood at the base of the gangplank, tears streaming down his face. "She's... she's beautiful."
Merry smiled warmly. "She's yours now. Take care of her."
Shiro was the last to board. He walked slowly, his hand trailing along the ship's railing, his awareness spreading through every plank, every rope, every nail.
And he felt it.
The ship had a presence. Faint, almost imperceptible, but there. A warmth. A spirit.
Klabautermann.
Shiro's expression softened, and something heavy settled in his chest.
He remembered. In the story he'd seen in his previous life, this ship—this beautiful, cheerful ship—would be damaged. Even after being broken, would sacrifice itself for the crews safety and would perfectly reach the destination for its last voyage.
And the crew would weep when they said goodbye.
Not this time.
Shiro's jaw tightened, his eyes hardening with determination.
I won't let that happen. I don't care what destiny says. I don't care if canon demands it.
This ship will survive. I'll protect her. I'll keep her whole.
Even if I have to rewrite fate itself.
He placed his hand flat against the mast, feeling the wood hum beneath his palm.
I promise, he thought. You'll sail with us to the end.
Before they set sail, Shiro pulled out his camera again.
"Alright, everyone!" he called. "New ship, new photo!"
Luffy's eyes lit up. "PHOTO TIME!"
They gathered on the deck, the Going Merry's figurehead smiling behind them.
Luffy stood at the front, arms spread wide, his straw hat tilted back, his grin impossibly wide—pure joy and confidence radiating from every inch of him.
Zoro stood to his left, arms crossed, swords at his side. But this time, his expression was different. Not just stoic. There was something warmer in his eyes. A sense of belonging.
Usopp stood to Luffy's right, his slingshot held proudly, his chest puffed out, his grin nervous but genuine. He looked like someone who'd found his purpose.
Nami stood beside Usopp, her staff resting on her shoulder, her smile brighter than it had been before—more open, more real. She wasn't just tolerating these people anymore. She was starting to care.
And Shiro stood in the back, slightly to the side, his hand resting on the mast. His purple eyes were calm but intense, protective. A guardian watching over his crew.
The camera floated into position, controlled by Shiro's telekinesis.
"Everyone say 'Pirate King!'" Luffy shouted.
"PIRATE KING!" they all yelled.
Click.
The photograph captured them perfectly—a crew on the edge of something great, ready to sail into the unknown.
Shiro caught the camera and looked at the developing photo, comparing it to the one from Shells Town.
The difference was striking.
In the first photo, they'd been strangers testing the waters.
In this one, they were a crew.
Shiro tucked both photos carefully into his jacket, right over his heart.
These moments matter. I'll protect every single one of them.
The crew stood on the deck of the Going Merry as the ship pulled away from the dock. The villagers lined the shore, waving and cheering.
Kaya stood at the front, tears streaming down her face, but her smile was radiant. "Thank you! Thank you for everything!"
Usopp waved back, his own tears flowing freely. "I'LL BECOME A BRAVE WARRIOR OF THE SEA! I PROMISE!"
The three kids—Ninjin, Piiman, and Tamanegi—jumped and shouted. "CAPTAIN USOPP! WE'LL NEVER FORGET YOU!"
Luffy stood at the prow, his arms raised, his voice carrying across the water. "NEXT STOP: THE GRAND LINE!"
The crew echoed his shout, their voices blending together.
And the Going Merry sailed forward, her figurehead smiling, her sails full of wind, carrying five dreamers toward a future that would shake the world.
Shiro stood at the stern, watching Syrup Village shrink in the distance, his mind already planning the next steps.
A cook. We need a cook next.
Baratie.
He smiled faintly.
And a certain sous chef with a dream.
The sea stretched endlessly before them, full of danger and possibility.
But Shiro wasn't afraid.
He had a crew. He had a ship. And he had a purpose.
To protect them. To guide them. To ensure they survived long enough to achieve their dreams.
Even if it meant fighting destiny itself.