“Zoro!” Luffy waved enthusiastically.
Lying on the ground, Zoro laboriously opened one eye.
Luffy was approaching with the blond curly-haired cook, Sanji, and Yosaku.
“What a sight…” Sanji took a drag from his cigarette as he surveyed the Fish-Men scattered across the ruins.
“So the Arlong Pirates were this weak?” “Arlong isn’t here.” Zoro forced himself into a sitting position.
The wound Mihawk had inflicted had reopened, staining his bandages red.
Nearby, Hatchan lay unconscious with two sword wounds across his chest.
“Is everyone here?” Nojiko appeared at the entrance, looking in surprise at the destruction before her.
“A beautiful lady!” Sanji immediately rushed over, putting on his gentlemanly act.
“So you’re all Nami’s friends?” “We are,” Luffy answered without hesitation.
“Even after she betrayed you?” “Nami is our navigator.” “She always has been.” Luffy remembered the smile on Nami’s face whenever she was aboard the Going Merry.
“I see…” Nojiko smiled with relief.
Nami really did find a place where she belongs.
“Do you know what happened to Nami?” she asked softly.
Then she began telling them everything.
Meanwhile…
A large group of Marines marched toward Nami’s house.
Nami glared at Genzo, who was leading them there.
“We’ve received information that you stole one hundred million Berries.” “As government property, it’ll all be confiscated.” Captain Nezumi smiled maliciously.
“My village has been terrorized by pirates for years.” “And instead of going after them…” “You’ve come to steal my money?” Nami’s face darkened.
Genzo’s expression was no better.
“Search the place!” “Yes, sir!” The Marines rushed forward.
“Don’t touch my treasure!” Nami swung her staff, driving them back.
“Those orange trees look suspicious.” Nezumi sneered.
“Search there too.” Outnumbered, Nami struggled desperately.
Genzo stepped in front of her, brandishing his weapon.
“This money…” “Nami earned every Berry by enduring that disgusting pirate crew so she could buy our village back.” “I won’t let you take it!” “Genzo…” “You knew?” Nami stared at him blankly.
“The whole village knew.” “We only pretended we didn’t.” “We didn’t want you carrying the weight of everyone’s hopes.” Unable to hide it any longer, Genzo finally confessed.
“How touching.” Nezumi watched coldly.
“Captain!” “We couldn’t find anything!” “What?!” Nezumi’s smug expression vanished.
His face twisted with anger.
“Where is it?!” “If you can’t find it, then get lost.” “You pirates’ lapdogs.” Nami pointed her weapon straight at him.
Just as Nezumi prepared to retaliate— The villagers arrived.
Every one of them carried a weapon.
At the rear, Dazai—already back in his normal appearance—quietly followed.
Nezumi’s expression turned ugly.
“Retreat.” “We’ll settle this with Arlong.” He left with the Marines in disgrace.
“Everyone…” Tears welled in Nami’s eyes.
“Nami.” Dazai stepped forward.
“It’s time to end this.” She nodded firmly.
“Let’s go.” “Nami!” “We’re coming too!” The villagers all volunteered to fight.
“No.” “Stay here.” “If we lose…” Nami tried to persuade them.
“We’re done letting a young girl carry this burden alone!” “Nami is the treasure of our village!” the villagers shouted.
Wiping away her tears, Nami smiled.
“Then…” “Let’s end this together.” “YEAH!!” “What happened here?!” Arlong returned with his officers, dragging Usopp along.
The moment he saw his headquarters in ruins, his face darkened.
“So…” “You did this?” he asked.
“No.” Luffy casually pointed at Zoro.
“He did.” “…Aren’t you all crewmates?” “Yep.” “So you’re here to challenge us?” “No.” Luffy adjusted his straw hat.
“I came to settle the score for our navigator.” “Navigator?” “Who?” “Nami.” “…Nami?” Arlong laughed loudly.
“Hahahaha!” “Nami isn’t your navigator.” “She’s my cartographer!” “Usopp!” Luffy smiled toward the pirate surrounded by Fish-Men.
Usopp shivered.
“H-Hey!” “Let me go!” “My underlings are here to rescue me!” The Fish-Men looked at each other before charging.
“Gum-Gum…” “Pinwheel!” Luffy twisted his body to its limit before spinning his stretched arms like giant windmill blades.
The surrounding Fish-Men were blasted away.
Within moments…
The battlefield was clear.
Nojiko stared in astonishment.
He’s this strong…?
A long-braided Fish-Man rushed forward.
Sanji intercepted him with a kick.
“Your opponent is me.” The Fish-Man smirked.
“I’ve mastered Fish-Man Karate!” Sanji rolled his ankle.
“Then I’ve mastered four hundred levels of kicking.” The two immediately clashed.
Nearby, Kuroobi tried to join the fight— A lead pellet struck the ground before him.
He turned.
Usopp stood there with trembling legs, aiming his slingshot.
“Two against one isn’t fair!” “I’m your opponent!” Kuroobi chased after him.
Usopp instantly turned and ran.
One officer successfully lured away.
Arlong cracked his neck.
“Humans can never compare to Fish-Men.” “You’re an inferior species.” “What are you talking about, old man?” Luffy tilted his head.
Then punched him.
“Perfect timing.” Dazai arrived with the villagers.
Seeing Fish-Men lying unconscious everywhere…
For the first time in eight years, the people of Cocoyasi Village finally believed they could be free.
Their breathing quickened as they watched the battle.
“Pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Dazai smiled at Nami.
Watching Luffy fight Arlong head-on…
She smiled too.
“Luffy!” “You can do it!” she shouted with all her strength.
“Yeah!” Luffy waved back.
BAM!
Arlong immediately sent him flying.
Nami sighed.
“Don’t lose focus!” He can’t stay serious for even a second…
“Nami-saaan!” Sanji’s eyes instantly turned into hearts.
He started running toward her.
“Don’t ignore me!” Kuroobi smashed him across the head, knocking him into the pool before diving in after him.
“You aren’t worried?” Arlong asked Luffy.
Luffy wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“I trust him.” Arlong lunged forward, trying to bite him with his massive shark teeth.
Luffy shattered them with one punch.
“Arlong’s teeth…” “They actually broke!” Genzo exclaimed in disbelief.
“They’ll grow back.” “That’s something we Fish-Men can do.” Arlong spat out the broken teeth.
In an instant— They regenerated.
He deliberately broke them again…
Only for another fresh set to grow.
Luffy watched with fascination.
Arlong pulled two freshly regrown teeth from his mouth to use as daggers while baring another set.
He attacked again.
Dodging became much harder.
Getting bitten would be disastrous.
“What a mess…” Dazai muttered.
Does everyone in this world just fight on instinct?
When his teeth failed…
Arlong attacked with his saw-like nose.
When that failed…
He drew a weapon.
Their battle continued moving until it reached the upper floors of the building.
Water exploded upward.
Sanji burst out of the pool, coughing violently.
“Is it over?” “Not yet.” “Only Luffy’s fight remains.” Zoro answered.
“What’s that?” “A desk?” A wooden desk crashed out of the upper floor.
Then countless maps and papers fluttered into the air.
Nami slowly covered her mouth.
That room…
The room where she’d spent years drawing maps for Arlong…
Painful memories flooded back.
She couldn’t stop the tears.
“Gum-Gum…” “Battle Axe!” The entire building collapsed.
Sanji grabbed Zoro and escaped just in time.
“Who won?” The villagers held their breath.
Then— Crash.
Luffy pushed aside the rubble covering him and stood.
The dark cloud that had hung over Cocoyasi Village for eight long years…
Finally disappeared.
“Let’s have a feast!” Just then, Usopp came running back.
“Everyone!” “I beat one of the officers!” Before he could finish boasting, the villagers lifted him high into the air.
Sunlight finally shone upon the village once more.
Everyone sang.
Everyone ate.
Everyone drank.
Everyone laughed.
The celebration continued late into the night.
“If you’d waited any longer…” “Even I couldn’t have saved this.” The village doctor grumbled while treating Zoro’s wounds.
After the operation, Zoro stepped outside for some fresh air.
Nami stopped him.
“I’d like you to cover this tattoo.” She rolled up her sleeve.
Dazai sat atop a cliff overlooking the sea, gently swinging his legs.
He slowly poured a cup of sake into the ocean.
“To you, my friend.” The next morning…
The Straw Hat Pirates set sail once more.
Using her exceptional thieving skills, Nami gave the village a farewell they would never forget before beginning the voyage she had always dreamed of.
Johnny and Yosaku parted ways with the crew at Cocoyasi Village.
Straw Hat Pirates: 6 Members