The Straw Hat Pirates had just arrived at Drum Island, a snowy, mountainous land known for its harsh winters and the legendary medical expertise of its inhabitants. The crew had come here seeking a doctor to join their ranks, and Luffy had his sights set on one particular individual: Tony Tony Chopper, the reindeer who had eaten the Hito Hito no Mi, granting him human-like intelligence and the ability to transform into various forms.
After a brief but intense encounter with the tyrannical King Wapol, who had been overthrown by the people of Drum Island, the crew found themselves in the care of Dr. Kureha, the eccentric and sharp-tongued doctor who had taken Chopper under her wing. Chopper, despite his incredible medical skills, was shy and insecure, often hiding behind Dr. Kureha whenever strangers approached.
Luffy, ever the straightforward and determined captain, wasted no time in making his intentions clear. As soon as the crew settled into the castle, Luffy approached Chopper with a wide grin.
"Hey, you! Reindeer guy! I want you to join my crew!" Luffy declared, pointing directly at Chopper.
Chopper's eyes widened in shock, and he immediately hid behind Dr. Kureha, peeking out nervously. "M-me? Join your crew? N-no way! I can't!"
Dr. Kureha, ever protective of her apprentice, stepped forward, her hands on her hips. "Hold on there, brat! You can't just waltz in here and demand that Chopper join your crew. He's not some prize to be won!"
Luffy tilted his head, his grin never faltering. "I know that. But I need a doctor, and he's the best one I've seen. Plus, he's cute!"
Chopper's face turned bright red at the compliment, but he remained hidden behind Dr. Kureha, his small frame trembling with anxiety.
Dr. Kureha narrowed her eyes at Luffy. "Listen here, kid. If you want Chopper to join your crew, you're going to have to convince me first. Chopper's not just some random reindeer—he's my apprentice, and I won't let him go without a good reason."
Luffy nodded, his expression serious for once. "Alright. Let's talk."
Dr. Kureha gestured for Luffy to follow her, and the two of them walked into a private room, leaving the rest of the crew behind. Nami, Sanji, Usopp, and Zoro exchanged curious glances but decided to stay out of it for now. Dalton, the former royal guard who had helped overthrow Wapol, stayed behind as well, as he had the task of executing the deposed king.
Once inside the room, Dr. Kureha closed the door and turned to face Luffy, her arms crossed. "Alright, kid. Spit it out. Why do you want Chopper in your crew?"
Luffy leaned against the wall, his straw hat tilted back as he met Dr. Kureha's gaze. "First, he's a doctor, and I need one. Second, I know he's from the Mink Tribe, and that makes him special. Third, I won't force him to join if he doesn't want to, but I think he'd be a great addition to my crew."
Dr. Kureha raised an eyebrow. "You know about the Mink Tribe? That's not common knowledge."
Luffy shrugged. "I know a lot of things. But that's not important. What's important is that Chopper gets to decide for himself. I just want to talk to him."
Dr. Kureha studied Luffy for a moment, her sharp eyes searching for any hint of deception. Finally, she sighed. "Alright. I'll let you talk to him. But if he says no, you leave him alone. Got it?"
Luffy nodded. "Got it."
Just as they were about to leave the room, they heard a commotion outside. The sound of Chopper's panicked shouts echoed through the castle, followed by the sound of footsteps running down the hallway. Dr. Kureha's eyes widened, and she quickly opened the door to see what was happening.
Outside, Chopper was running down the hallway, his small hooves clattering against the stone floor. Behind him, Sanji, Usopp, and Nami were chasing after him, their expressions a mix of amusement and curiosity.
"Wait, Chopper! We just want to talk!" Usopp called out, trying to catch up.
"Come on, little guy! We won't hurt you!" Sanji added, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
Chopper, however, was too scared to listen. He darted into the room where Luffy and Dr. Kureha were, slamming the door shut behind him. He leaned against the door, panting heavily, his eyes wide with fear.
Luffy, who had been watching the scene with amusement, turned to Chopper with a grin. "Hey, Chopper. You okay?"
Chopper's eyes darted around the room, finally landing on Luffy. He let out a small squeak and quickly hid behind a nearby chair, peeking out nervously.
Luffy chuckled and walked over to the chair, crouching down so he was at eye level with Chopper. "Hey, don't be scared. I just want to talk."
Chopper hesitated, his small frame trembling. "W-what do you want?"
Luffy's grin softened. "I want you to join my crew. You're a doctor, right? I need someone like you."
Chopper's eyes widened, and he shook his head vigorously. "N-no! I can't! Dr. Kureha needs me here! And... and when the full moon comes, I turn into a monster! You don't want a monster in your crew!"
Luffy laughed, his voice filled with genuine amusement. "A monster? Chopper, you're not the only monster in this world. If you're talking about monsters, then I'm one too!"
Chopper blinked in surprise, his fear momentarily replaced by curiosity. "Y-you're a monster too?"
Luffy nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah. I ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi, and now I'm a rubber man. Some people think that makes me a monster. But I don't care what they think. I'm proud of who I am, and you should be too."
Chopper stared at Luffy, his small eyes filled with a mix of awe and confusion. He had never met anyone who understood what it was like to be different, to be seen as a monster. Slowly, he stepped out from behind the chair, his hooves clicking softly against the floor.
Luffy continued, his voice gentle but firm. "I need a doctor in my crew, Chopper. And I know you're the best. Plus, you're cute too. I think you'd fit right in with us."
Chopper's face turned bright red at the compliment, and he started to fidget nervously. "B-but what about Dr. Kureha? I can't just leave her alone here!"
Luffy smiled. "Dr. Kureha is strong. She can take care of herself. And besides, you'll always have a home here if you ever want to come back."
Chopper's eyes filled with tears as he thought about Dr. Kureha and the life he had built on Drum Island. But deep down, he knew that Luffy was offering him something he had always dreamed of: a chance to explore the world and make a difference.
Just then, the door burst open, and Dr. Kureha stormed in, a broom in her hand. She had been chasing after Sanji and Usopp, who had been trying to catch Chopper, but now her attention was focused on Luffy.
"Alright, brat! What did you say to Chopper?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing.
Luffy stood up, his grin returning. "I just asked him to join my crew. He's thinking about it."
Dr. Kureha's expression softened as she looked at Chopper, who was still standing in the middle of the room, tears streaming down his face. She sighed and walked over to him, placing a hand on his head.
"Chopper, this is your decision. If you want to go with them, I won't stop you. But if you want to stay here, I'll understand."
Chopper looked up at Dr. Kureha, his small frame trembling. "Dr. Kureha... I... I don't know what to do."
Dr. Kureha smiled gently. "Follow your heart, Chopper. That's all anyone can do."