It was almost inevitable that Naruto and Queen Otohime would become good friends.
Otohime was one of the few people in the One Piece world born with the innate ability to [Hear the Voices of the Heart], and Naruto was the same.
At that time, Naruto had just left Roger's protection and was searching for clues to return home on his own when he happened to pass through Fish-Man Island.
However, due to his former affiliation with the Roger Pirates, Naruto couldn't stay there for long.
They kept in touch occasionally afterward.
It wasn't until Naruto heard that Otohime had been assassinated by a human pirate during a speech that their connection came to an end.
And it was precisely this incident that solidified Naruto's resolve to 'never become a pirate'.
Coral Hill, a commercial street not far from Ryugu Palace.
"Man, living underwater is amazing-"
Naruto picked his teeth as he stepped out of a seafood barbecue restaurant.
At first glance, the idea of merfolk and fish-men eating sea creatures might sound a bit dark, but when you think about it, it makes perfect sense.
Big fish eat smaller fish, so it's not like one would expect the merfolk of the deep sea to survive on a vegetarian diet.
Besides, aside from the [Sunlight Tree Eve]], which provided light to Fish-Man Island, the only other plants around were some moss and algae.
Crispy fried oysters, grilled octopus skewers, seafood buckets eaten by hand… Naruto silently noted down all these delicious dishes in his mental notebook.
'Even after all these years away, the culinary scene here had only gotten better.'
Stopping in front of a cafe, Naruto paused.
[Mermaid Café]
The name didn't sound particularly unique, but it was a good place for some dessert after his meal.
Naruto had no worries about gaining weight… he ate whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. Or rather, he ate his way through every place he visited.
Pushing the door open, he was greeted by a group of lightly dressed mermaid waitresses.
Upon seeing Naruto's imposing figure, the mermaids froze for a moment.
Fortunately, Naruto's attitude was very friendly, and since he was also quite generous (thanks to the 'generous sponsorship' from the Celestial Dragons), the atmosphere quickly returned to normal.
"Customer, here's your chiffon cake."
The mermaid waitress holding the dessert tried to place it on the table but realized that Naruto's table was already completely covered with dishes. For a moment, she didn't know what to do.
"Oh, no problem, just hand it to me."
Naruto was always considerate… he simply took the plate of cake from her hands.
What required both hands for the mermaid to carry looked like a sample-sized snack in Naruto's grip.
'Mmm… sweet, with a hint of oceanic flavor. It probably had some dried seaweed mixed in.'
If you asked Naruto about cooking, he wasn't the best, but when it came to eating, he was an expert!
Just as Naruto was putting on another eating spectacle inside the cafe, in a room at the back of the Mermaid Cafe with a sign reading [SHYARLY].
Crack!
A crystal ball was unconsciously knocked off the table by a pair of hands, shattering on the floor.
Madam Shyarly, dressed in a deep V-neck top, looked dazed. The eye not covered by her black hair was filled with confusion and terror.
Just moments ago, she had performed a divination on a whim… something she rarely did.
Because she believed that some futures were better left unknown. A future foretold by prophecy could not be changed.
The images reflected in the crystal ball showed endless war.
The flames of war spread not only across the islands of the sea but also reached the depths of Fish-Man Island.
A shadowy figure seated on a throne and another figure floating in the sky, radiant like the incarnation of the sun, stood in opposition.
Their exact identities were unclear, but everything around them was annihilated in the aftermath of their battle.
It was a war capable of destroying the world.
The sound of the crystal ball shattering also startled the mermaids in the kitchen.
When they rushed into the room, they found Shyarly collapsed on the floor, her palm cut by the broken crystal ball, blood dripping freely… yet she seemed completely unaware.
"What happened?"
"Ah!"
"Quick, Madam is injured!"
"Hurry and help! Someone help me lift her!"
Most areas of Fish-Man Island were drained of water, and this Mermaid Café was no exception. Since mermaids lacked legs, they usually moved around using floating resin bubbles.
This was the first time the staff had ever seen their owner in such a state.
Normally, Shyarly would sit gracefully on the sofa, calmly revealing the fates of the guests who sought her out.
The commotion caused by Shyarly's collapse drew the attention of the other waitresses, their faces filled with concern.
After all, Shyarly had always treated them kindly and was lenient in her management, so the girls genuinely cared for her.
The lively chatter around Naruto instantly vanished as the mermaids rushed away.
He didn't mind, though.
'But it sounded like someone was hurt?'
"Move aside, move aside! I know medical techniques… I can help treat her."
Naruto's booming voice quickly calmed the chaotic scene, and the mermaid girls made way, revealing Shyarly.
Here's something worth mentioning:
Shyarly was a Great White Shark mermaid, standing at a full 5.2 meters tall.
That was why the ordinary mermaids had struggled so hard to lift her, as they simply didn't have the strength.
"Huh? Aren't you-?"
Naruto stared at her face, feeling a sense of familiarity.
But his hands didn't stop moving.
Though Shyarly's size far exceeded that of an average mermaid, for Naruto, it was just right.
And by 'just right', he meant that carrying her wouldn't let her tail drag on the floor.
After placing Madam Shyarly on the sofa, Naruto channeled green healing Chakra into his palms to treat her wounds while still trying to recall who she was.
'I seemed to have seen this woman before when I came to Fish-Man Island to learn Fish-Man Karate from Fisher and Jinbe.'
'Shyarly… Madam Shyarly… Oh!'
Now he remembered.
'Madam Shyarly… or rather, little Shyarly!'
'That girl who used to follow Jinbe and the others from Fish-Man District.'
'It's true that girls change a lot when they grow up… especially in size.'
But just as Naruto was about to speak, he froze.
Because he remembered something else.
Shyarly was Arlong's half-sister.
And by now, Arlong was already dead.
"...Is that you, Naruto? It's been a long time."
Feeling the warmth on her palm, Shyarly finally regained her senses and saw Naruto's face up close.
Over a decade had passed, but Naruto still looked like he was in his early twenties.
That made it easy for Shyarly to recognize him immediately.
"Ah, Shyarly-"
Naruto wasn't sure how to bring it up, but he wasn't one to shy away from difficult conversations. He quickly gathered his thoughts.
"About Arlong… do you know?"
"...Yes, I know."
"I see…"
In fact, even without direct contact, Shirley had learned of her brother's death from the Marines' news about the destruction of Arlong Park.
But truthfully… she wasn't all that sad.