The mountain bandits were gone as were Shank's crew. It's been about a day since their encounter. Shanks told Uta to stay put in the tavern while they go get supplies before leaving.
Uta sighed while waiting in the tavern with Makino cleaning the bottles.
"It's soo boring. Luffy, are you sure you'll be– huh?!!" She looked to her right and saw that Luffy was gone!
"Hah!! Luffy is gone!" She abruptly stood up and looked around. "Grrgh! Where did he go ?! He was right here a few seconds ago!"
Makino sighed softly as a small smile formed on her face. "You know how Luffy is. Always so full of energy."
"I know that Makino, but he's also a big idiot! But... I'm worried about him." Her words peaked Makino's interest as she stopped doing her work and looked at the little girl.
"Shanks said Luffy will be hunted down and he doesn't even have to be a pirate for it. I don't want anything bad to happen to him!" Uta exclaimed in frustration and Makino also gained a look of worry.
"It's alright.... Luffy is strong and Shanks is there. He... He will be fine. You just have to trust in him a little more." Makino smiled, making Uta let out a massive sigh. She rubbed her face but she did smile regardless.
"I guess you're right...."
Suddenly the door slammed open, startling both of them. "Make way for us!"
The mountain bandits from yesterday had shown up to the tavern yet again. The leader looked around with a smirk on his face. "Those pirates aren't here this time huh ? Must've scared 'em off."
He sat down and slammed his foot on the table as the others followed suit and demanded drinks. "We were walking by again, so we thought we'd stop by."
Makino was quiet but she served them their drinks and waited for them to leave. Uta was seen glaring at these pathetic people with a massive frown on her face. Unfortunately for her, this was not left unnoticed.
"Huh ? Aren't you the kid from yesterday ?" The bandit leader smirked as he saw Uta. He then started looking around in confusion. "Didn't you have another little brat with you yesterday ? Where is he now ?"
Uta gritted her teeth and the bandit grinned. He got up and looked down at her. "You're that stupid beat that insulted me yesterday, aren't you ? Calling me a stupid ape huh ? You think we're stinky pigs do you ?"
He grabbed Uta by the back of her collar and lifted her off the ground to face him.
Uta struggled to make the guy let her go, but to no avail. He was simply too strong for her. "Ugh! Let go!!"
The bandits all laughed seeing the struggling child. The bandit leader smirked. "Or what ? You gonna cry ?"
Visibly angered by his words, Uta bit his hand, making him yell in pain and he let her go, making her fall down to the ground. Uta rubbed her back in pain and slowly got up, only to notice the bandit glaring at her like she was dirt.
"You little brat!!" He grabbed her and threw her out of the tavern. Makino noticing this, immediately called for help.
Uta tried to do something but the bandit leader stomped on her, his foot smashing her face into the dirt. Uta tried to pry his foot off, but he kept it firmly in place. He removed the cigarette from his mouth and smirked.
"We can sell her for good money." Uta's eyes widened at his words and the other bandits laughed while agreeing with their boss.
"Yeah, let's do it boss!"
"Tch! Scum!" Uta spat while still being pinned to the ground.
"Huh ? You have a problem with me beat ?" The bandit leader asked.
"As a matter of fact, I do! Now get your dirty foot off me you pig!" Her words made the bandit seeth in anger.
"Stop it!" Makino ran to the scene with the mayor of the town.
The mayor went on his hands and knees and bowed down to the bandits. "Stop it please! Let her go. I don't intend to fight you, I'll even pay you if you want!"
"Please, let her go! She's just a child! You can't treat her like that!" Makino also begged, slightly angered at their actions and desperate to help Uta.
"Too late for that." The bandit leader said. "She made me angry."
"I've changed my mind! This brat is too mouthy. We won't sell her, we'll just kill her instead!" He unsheathed his blade and pointed it at the child, making Makino yell. "Stop it!!"
"I was wondering why there wasn't anyone in the tavern...." Makino and the mayor gained a look of face as Shanks appeared behind her.
"So this is why... Oh, it's the mountain bandits." Shanks calmly stated and stared at the bandit forcing Uta into the ground. The sight made him feel like something was burning inside him. He was angry.
"Captain-san!" Makino exclaimed.
"Shanks!" Uta exclaimed.
"Uta. I told you not to mess with them didn't I ?!" Shanks scolded, making Uta grumble.
"Shut up! You wouldn't do anything, so I did!"
"Oh look, it's the pirates." The bandit leader said while smirking. "Step any closer and he'll blow your head right off, you hear me wimp ?"
One of the bandits stepped forward and aimed his gun at him, but Shanks ignored him and simply stepped forward. "Didn't you hear him ? A step closer and I'll blow your head off!"
"Now that you've drawn your pistol out, put your life on the line." Shanks told him, making the bandit frown.
"What the hell are you talking about ?"
Shanks pointed at the gun being aimed at his head with a smile on his face. "I'm saying that these aren't for threatening people."
The very next second, a gun was out up to his head and-
*BANG!*
Everyone looked on in shock as the bandit fell down dead. A fat ma in a green shirt had shot him in the head with a shotgun, making him fall down dead.
"Now they've done it!"
"These bastards fight dirty!!"
"Dirty ? Cut that crap!" Benn said. "You think you're dealing with saints or something ?"
"You're looking at pirates!" Shanks finished his sentence.
"Shut up!" One of the bandits yelled. "You've got nothing to do with this!"
This only made Shanks raise an eyebrow. "Nothing to do with this ? Listen here bandit. Whether I'm splattered by alcohol or food, I'll just laugh and forget it."
"But hurting my friend is unforgivable. Especially so when you mess with my daughter!!" Shanks expressed, anger taking over his expressions.
"Shanks...."
"Daughter ?" The bandit leader questioned and looked at the little girl. "This one ? Even better! She's the daughter of a pirate, so nobody will care if she does anyways!"
"Lousy pirates! Kill them!" Many bandits charged at them, but Benn strapped forward.
"I'll handle this. Should be easy enough." Benn quickly pulled out his cigarette and pressed it against a bandit's forehead, making him fall over. He then grabbed their guns with his hands and swung his weapon, knocking them all down and scattering their weapons.
"Don't get cocky bandit." The leader grimaced while watching his bandits fall one by one. A few other bandits were left but they looked fearful.
They all stepped back a little bit drew out their blades to charge at them. Unfortunately, they never left their spot as something was heard faintly from the distance.
Doom-dut-da-da~
Doom-dut-da-da~
They heard what sounded like drums beating down over and over again in a rythmic pattern.
This sudden sound made them look around in confusion.
"Gomu Gomu no.... Pistol!!" A voice was heard from the air, making them all look up.
Suddenly, a long rubber-like arm was launched at the bandits and slammed onto the floor, making it bend like it was soft and knocking out all the bandits. This sudden attack surprised everyone including the pirates, who looked up and couldn't believe their eyes.
Doom-dut-da-da~
"Is that...?" Makino widened her eyes.
"Luffy?!" Shanks exclaimed as Luffy's silhouette was seen in the sun.
"Hahahahaha! Uhahaha! This is fun!! Really fun!" He then spun in the air and the air around his solidified and appeared to be stretching.
He then used it as leverage to send him flying at the bandit. "Gomu Gomu no Dawn Rocket!!"
He then crashed straight into the bandit, sending them both crashing in down. The villagers, pirates and Uta all stared in shock as Luffy began to laugh while swinging the bandit around like he was a toy.
"Hahahahaha! This is fun!! Hahahaha!" He completely ignored the fact that he might have just killed the bandit leader and his squad.
Uta sweatdropped at him while seeing this and Shanks just laughed. "oh Luffy. That over-energetic little boy."
Doom-dut-da-da~ Doom-dut-da-da~
"Boss, we have to do something about him. He ate the Gomu Gomu No Mi and he even awakened it." Shanks also went deep in thought about this and decided to walk over to Luffy.
Luffy grinned and threw the bandit away and made his way over to Uta. "Are you alright Uta ?"
Uta smiled and hugged Luffy, making him laugh even more. "See! I told you I'm strong!"
He then saw Shanks and got excited. "You see that Shanks! I can take care of myself! I didn't lie when I said my punches hit like pistols!"
Luffy was happily jumping around, but then his hair turned back and began to droop as he let out a massive sigh of exhaustion. His skin began to droop down as well and he fell on his knees, too tired to do anything else. Uta saw this and quickly grabbed Luffy and held him close to her.
The Drums of Liberation then stopped.
"Luffy?! Are you okay?!" She asked out of worry, making him grin.
"Hihi! I feel amazing! But I'm sooo tired!!" Then his stomach growled.
"I'm hungry!!! I want meat!" He whined while holding his stomach, making Uta giggle realising that despite the transformation and power increase, he's still the same Luffy she's always known.
"Luffy." Shanks called out to him, making him look at him.
Shanks smiled and kneeled down. "Luffy, do you want me to train you ?"
When he said that, Luffy's eyes sparkled as he gained stars in his eyes. "Will you really train me! Does that mean you'll take me with you in your voyage?!"
Shanks chuckled. "Yes I will Luffy."
"Yosha!!" Luffy cheered happily and Uta was smiled on hearing Shank's words.
Shanks was going to train him. The world government would be after Luffy and he isn't just going to sit down at let that happen. He would teach Luffy how to fight and use haki.
"But wait... I'll have to ask Gramps though...." He looked a little downcast.
"It's alright, I'll talk to him. Who is your grampa anyway ?" Shanks asked, curious about his family.
"His name is Monkey D Garp! He's a marine, and he wants me to also become a marine. But I want to be a pirate! No, I want to be King of the Pirates!!" Luffy exclaimed.
Makino looked at Shanks and saw that he was pale. He had cold sweat dripping down his face as even his crew were frozen in shock and fear.
'What am I going to do to tell him ? Garp will kill me when he finds out his grandson will be hunted by the world government because I was careless and he ate the devil fruit.' Those were the thoughts running through Shank's mind right now.
"Garp-san is Luffy's grandfather?!!!"
Shanks looked like his soul just left his body and was about to collapse. 'I'm going to die....'