The Queen's Grace sailed smoothly under a sky painted in soft pinks and oranges, as if the sea itself was leading them to their next destination.
Orange Town.
Kaito stood at the helm, the salty breeze brushing against his skin as his crew moved effortlessly around him.
They had grown together—not just as sailors, but as people who understood each other's rhythms.
Their journey was steady, never rushed.
And now, they were approaching a place already destined for another story.
Orange Town.
The place where Luffy would meet Nami.
The place where the Straw Hats would topple Buggy the Clown.
The place where Kaito's path would once again touch the original timeline.
But this time, he planned to linger in the edges, to observe—not to interfere.
His goal was not to steal what belonged to Luffy.
His goal was to enjoy the voyage, to forge his own bonds, and to see how his presence would ripple quietly through the sea.
"Land ahead," Nojiko called from the bow, shading her eyes as the town came into view.
The shoreline was peaceful. A small port, few ships, no Marine presence.
Kaito steered the Queen's Grace toward an empty dock, careful not to attract attention.
He didn't want to change the story.
Not yet.
Orange Town was quaint, its streets lined with simple shops and quiet vendors.
The townspeople, however, carried a certain tension.
Their gazes flickered nervously toward the central square, where a few buildings bore signs of recent damage.
Buggy's reign was clearly beginning to cause trouble.
Kaito's crew disembarked, splitting into their usual pairs.
"I want to explore the local spice shops," Carmen said, already wandering toward the market.
"I'll check the shipyard," Nojiko added, always attentive to the ship's maintenance.
Kuina, naturally drawn to any sign of conflict, chose to tail Kaito as he moved toward the town center.
Kaya accompanied them quietly, always close but never intrusive.
They didn't wear the mark of pirates. Their ship didn't fly a flag that would draw attention.
For all the world, they were just another crew passing through.
But Kaito knew what was unfolding behind the scenes.
The Straw Hats were here.
Buggy was here.
And somewhere among them… Nami.
As they wandered the town, Kuina caught sight of a commotion near a fruit stall.
A tall, thin man with bright orange hair was arguing with the vendor, his words loud, his gestures wild.
At his feet sat a familiar-looking small dog, barking in protest as a pair of Buggy's pirates loomed nearby.
"Is that… Chouchou?" Kaito asked quietly, recognition stirring.
Kuina smirked. "Looks like trouble."
Kaito's system confirmed it.
[Timeline Progress: Buggy's Pirates are beginning their rampage.]
[Key Event: Straw Hats' confrontation imminent.]
Kaito watched from a distance as the Straw Hats entered the scene—Luffy, Zoro, and Nami, standing as an unlikely trio.
Zoro's posture was relaxed but dangerous, Luffy's grin never wavered, and Nami's sharp eyes constantly scanned for opportunities.
It was surreal.
The story was alive right in front of him.
He resisted the urge to step closer.
"This is their moment," Kaito whispered.
Kuina raised an eyebrow. "You're really just going to watch?"
Kaito's smile was calm. "Yes. This is where their bond begins. Let's just make sure we don't draw attention."
But as fate would have it, Orange Town wasn't finished with surprises.
Carmen returned later that day, her arms full of rare spices and fresh bread, but her expression was unusually grim.
"Word's spreading fast," she reported as they gathered on the ship for dinner. "Buggy's pirates are tearing up the town, but it seems a weird rubber kid and a swordsman are fighting them."
Kaito stirred his soup thoughtfully. "So the story's unfolding properly."
"They say that swordsman's strong," Carmen added. "I'd love to test him one day."
Kuina smirked. "Careful. That's the one they call Pirate Hunter Zoro."
"I'd still like to try," Carmen shrugged.
Nojiko joined them, laying out freshly updated maps. "We should set sail soon. The town's becoming unstable."
Kaya looked up from her notes. "Are we really leaving without doing anything?"
Kaito hesitated.
He had told himself from the start: this was not his story to rewrite.
But still… they were here.
Could they really sail away while the townspeople suffered?
Could they really ignore it, just because it wasn't their 'timeline'?
Kuina sensed his conflict. "What's the call, Captain?"
Kaito let the silence stretch, then finally spoke.
"We'll help—quietly. From the shadows. We don't take their victory, but we'll ease the burden."
His decision felt right.
They would not disrupt the Straw Hats' growth.
But they could ensure no one else was unnecessarily caught in the crossfire.
"Understood," Nojiko said, already plotting routes for rapid escape if needed.
Carmen grinned. "I can make a few loud distractions."
Kaya's hands steadied. "And I'll be ready to treat anyone who's hurt."
Kuina simply rested her hand on her sword hilt. "Let's move."
The next day, as Luffy and his crew engaged Buggy's pirates in the heart of Orange Town, Kaito's crew slipped into action along the outskirts.
They sabotaged pirate supply lines, cut off escape routes, and quietly dismantled smaller patrols.
Kaito moved swiftly, knocking out groups of Buggy's men before they could join the main fight.
Kuina's blade flashed in silent arcs, never fatal, but always decisive.
Nojiko coordinated from a distance, ensuring their movements didn't interfere with Luffy's fight.
Carmen created diversions, setting small fires near pirate supply carts to scatter their forces.
And Kaya—brave and steady—treated wounded townspeople in hidden alleys, her hands quick and precise even as her heart pounded in her chest.
They weren't heroes.
They weren't saviors.
But they made a difference.
When the final explosion signaled the end of Buggy's reign, Kaito's crew had already vanished into the edges of the story.
Watching.
Learning.
Growing.
That evening, back aboard the Queen's Grace, they shared a quiet meal under the fading sky.
"Do you regret not stepping in directly?" Kuina asked as she sipped her tea.
Kaito shook his head. "No. Luffy's crew needs those battles. We need our own."
Carmen passed him a bowl of stew. "You're patient. Most people wouldn't hold back."
"It's not about rushing," Kaito said. "It's about sailing our own pace."
Kaya smiled, her confidence growing day by day. "I think we helped in the best way we could."
Nojiko leaned back, gazing at the stars. "And we'll cross paths again. The sea's funny that way."
Kaito looked at his crew—his family.
Each of them was growing, not just in skill, but in spirit.
They weren't chasing anyone else's dream.
They weren't pirates.
They weren't heroes.
They were sailors on their own journey.
And that was enough.
The Queen's Grace slipped away from Orange Town quietly, leaving no mark, no flag, no trace.
But their story would continue.
And the next meeting with the Straw Hats… would be one step closer.
[System Notification]
Side Mission Unlocked: The Sky Island's Sleeping Thunder.
Hint: Rumors speak of a dormant Thunder Fruit protected by an ancient spirit far to the east. Potential user compatibility: Kuina.
Kaito smiled.