After reaching their destination, Silk sat slightly apart, eyes fixed on her fingertips where faint winds swirled. Since eating the Kama Kama no Mi, practicing her ability had become routine. Devil Fruits rarely weaken their users—training only strengthens them. Kiri's words echoed in her mind, pushing her to hone her skills even during rest.
She was getting the hang of it, slowly. Kiri explained that her Paramecia-type fruit, which generated wind, resembled a Logia but didn't transform her body into wind or another element. It was unique, but training would make it stronger. She could create slicing gusts—kamaitachi—clear proof of her difference from ordinary humans.
Frowning at the weak wind curling around her finger, she muttered, "I'm getting better at fine control, but am I really stronger? Using it with a sword feels risky, and I can't tell…"
Pausing her practice, she sighed and gazed at the sea from a cliff overlooking the north coast. Trees surrounded her, the serene landscape bathed in sunlight. She pondered what her ability could truly achieve. Kiri suggested its surface power—kamaitachi—might hide deeper potential. What was the Kama Kama no Mi's true essence?
Luffy's cheerful voice interrupted her thoughts. He and Usopp, a few meters away, were shooting at a target with a slingshot, testing Usopp's marksmanship. Silk watched, amused.
"Amazing! Every shot hit!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Heh, child's play for me. I could hit three in a row," Usopp boasted.
"Really? Show me!" Luffy urged.
"Watch closely," Usopp said, loading three pellets and firing smoothly. Each hit the target's center.
Luffy gaped, thrilled, while Usopp grinned smugly. Their childlike joy made Silk chuckle, forgetting her worries.
"All three! Wow!" Luffy shouted.
"Naturally. I could hit it blindfolded," Usopp bragged.
"Let me try!" Luffy said.
"Fine. First, aim like this—" Usopp began, handing over the slingshot.
Watching them, Silk had a sudden idea. Usopp's precision was impressive. If she could focus her wind into a bullet-like projectile, it could be a powerful weapon. She knew her fruit let her generate and launch wind, like kamaitachi. If it could do more—beyond slicing gusts—it might mimic Logia traits with enough training.
Resuming her practice, she focused, driven to help her crew. Luffy, respecting her focus, left her alone, having seen her train before. He tried the slingshot, missing every shot. "Man, this is tough. You're amazing, Usopp," he said, disappointed.
"Haha, it takes practice. Keep at it, and you'll get better. But you can call me Captain for respecting me," Usopp teased.
"Nope. I'm the captain," Luffy retorted.
"Tch, picky, huh?" Usopp said, passing another pellet.
Luffy smiled. "I just remembered something."
"What, you've shot before?" Usopp asked.
"Nah. Someone taught me to shoot a pistol once. Makino said it was dangerous, but I was thrilled. Always wanted to be a pirate," Luffy said.
He fired again, missing. The slingshot differed from the pistol, but he grinned, unfazed. Usopp looked puzzled. "Your dad, Yasopp, taught me," Luffy continued. "He was a pirate based in my village. We hung out a lot."
Usopp froze, the pellet slipping from his hand. Luffy loaded another, oblivious. "Yasopp always talked about his kid—same age as me. Said leaving family was hard, but the pirate flag called him," Luffy said, firing. The pellet grazed the target.
Usopp stared, stunned. "He's a great guy, a real pirate. Still sailing with Red-Haired Shanks," Luffy added.
"Y-Yeah… yeah!" Usopp clenched his fist, nodding.
His father had left to become a pirate, a choice Usopp never resented but took pride in. Luffy's praise stirred his heart. He'd rarely shared his father's story, even with his friend or the Usopp Pirates. Someone understanding brightened his face.
"My dad's a real pirate. His blood runs in me—it's no lie!" Usopp said.
"Shishishi," Luffy laughed.
"I barely heard about him. Didn't know if he was alive. So, he's with Shanks—wait, Shanks?" Usopp paused, realizing.
"Eh!? Shanks!? The great pirate!?" he shouted.
"Yeah, Yasopp's on his ship," Luffy confirmed.
"For real? Why's my dad with a big shot like that?" Usopp asked.
"Haven't seen his wanted poster? He's a high-ranking officer. Pretty big bounty," Luffy said.
"Didn't know… really?" Usopp muttered.
"Yep, really," Luffy grinned.
Usopp laughed, overwhelmed. Questions swirled—why hadn't the village told him?—but his father was alive, a key figure under Shanks. It felt like a dream. "I've got pirate blood. So I can—" he began.
"Love pirates, right? Come with us to the Grand Line," Luffy urged.
"Yeah… Dad chased his dream. So can I—" Usopp muttered.
Silk, crouching at the cliff's edge, whispered for them to quiet down, beckoning. They crept over, lying flat to peer below. Two men stood beneath: one in flashy clothes and sunglasses, posing like a dancer; the other, a bespectacled man in neat attire, adjusting his glasses.
Usopp recognized the latter—Klahadore, his friend Kaya's butler. The other was a stranger. The secluded spot felt suspicious. Silk whispered, "They're plotting something. Said they'd assassinate the young lady."
"What!?" Usopp gasped.
"Shh. Don't get caught," Silk hissed, covering Luffy's mouth.
The men's voices carried faintly. "The plan's simple. Tomorrow morning, attack the village with your men, cause a ruckus. Meanwhile, hypnotize the lady into writing a will, leaving everything to her trusted butler, Klahadore," the bespectacled man said.
"Got it. Writing 'Captain Kuro' would be a flop, right?" the other, Jango, replied.
"Don't say that name! Captain Kuro's dead. I spent years on this," Klahadore snapped.
"I know, don't get mad. I follow orders," Jango said.
Usopp's blood ran cold. A pirate attack was planned, led by Klahadore—Captain Kuro, a supposedly executed pirate. Silk's face hardened. "Captain Kuro… I heard he was caught and killed years ago. Strong, but his sudden capture was odd," she whispered.
"If Klahadore's really Kuro, faking his death…" Usopp trailed off.
"He didn't die. It was staged," Silk finished.
A pirate had lurked in the village for years, plotting. If true, Syrup Village faced grave danger. "Why go through all this? Just raid for the inheritance," Jango said.
"Stop thinking like a brute. I'm done with pirates—short-sighted fools," Klahadore sneered.
"Harsh. Fine, we move for the reward," Jango said.
"I'll ensure your payment from the inheritance," Klahadore replied, his cold smile unrecognizable to Usopp.
"If the villagers resist?" Jango asked.
"Kill them," Klahadore said flatly.
Usopp gripped the grass, teeth clenched. Klahadore, who'd supported Kaya after her parents' death, was a fraud. His betrayal burned. Backing away, Usopp stood, face grim, and ran toward the village. Silk, unable to call out, and Luffy, still silenced, watched him vanish.
Racing through the forest, Usopp thought of Kaya. He'd met her, sneaking into her mansion to cheer her up with tall tales. They'd bonded over his stories, finding solace. Now, pirates threatened her and the village. He couldn't let it happen.
Reaching the village entrance, he saw scattered houses. Biting back tears, he vowed to protect them. Passing Kiri, Nami, and Zoro, he ignored their calls, shouting, "Pirates are coming!"
His daily ritual—yelling "Pirates!" to rouse the village—backfired. Villagers, used to his lies, chased him with brooms and pans, dismissing his warning. No one listened, even if it was true.
Desperate, Usopp ran to Kaya's mansion, scaling the wall to her window. She opened it, smiling. "Usopp-san, you're late. I was worried—"
"Kaya! No time! Run!" Usopp urged.
"What's wrong?" she asked, confused.
"Tomorrow morning, pirates are coming! Your butler, Klahadore, is a pirate who faked his death to steal your inheritance!" Usopp said.
"Wait, slow down—" Kaya stammered.
"Just run! He's targeting you!" Usopp grabbed her hand, trying to pull her out.
Kaya resisted weakly, scared. His shouts drew another butler, Merry, who saw Usopp's wild eyes. "Let her go!" Merry demanded, drawing a pistol.
"Merry, get Kaya out! This place isn't safe!" Usopp pleaded.
"Release her!" Merry shouted, panic rising.
"Merry, no!" Kaya cried as he fired.
The shot, poorly aimed, grazed Usopp's arm, drawing blood. He fell, clutching the wound. Kaya and Merry froze, guilt-stricken. Before they could apologize, Usopp muttered, "No one believes me…"
Villagers' voices approached, chasing him. He fled, scaling the wall, running from the village. He'd always known his lies made him untrustworthy. Now, his warning fell on deaf ears. Maybe it was part of the plan—his lies paving the way for the attack.
In the forest, his pace slowed, then stopped. Leaning against a tree, he clutched his head. No one believed him. They'd face the attack unprepared.
Three kids—Pepper, Carrot, Onion, his "Usopp Pirates"—ran up. "Captain, is it true? Pirates tomorrow?" they asked.
"We'll fight! The Usopp Pirates will protect the village!" they urged.
Usopp stood, hiding his wound, forcing a laugh. "Haha! Just a lie!"
"What?" they gasped.
"Clahadore's a jerk, always glaring. So I lied to mess with him. I'm satisfied," Usopp said.
"A lie? Lame…" they muttered, disappointed.
They turned away, dejected. "I thought you only told fun lies, Captain. Not mean ones," they said, leaving.
Usopp's smile faded, his face grim. As their voices receded, another called out. "Usopp."
He turned to see the crew—Luffy and Silk looking stern. "You saw?" Usopp asked.
"It's not a lie, is it?" Luffy said.
"No one would believe me anyway," Usopp said, showing his bloodied arm. "I was wrong to think they would."
"That's not true. We believe you," Luffy said.
"You heard it with me," Usopp replied.
"Even if we didn't, we'd trust you if you're serious," Luffy insisted.
Usopp sighed, touched but unconvinced. The village would sleep, unaware. Silk, concerned, asked, "What now? This can't go on."
"Yeah…" Usopp said, meeting their eyes.
Luffy, Silk, Kiri, Zoro, and Nami watched him, serious, ready to listen. Their trust stirred something in him. "Guys, can I ask a favor?" he said, his voice firm with resolve.
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