Captain Kuro, adjusting his glasses, surveyed the scene with cold precision. The Black Cat Pirates, stalled by a handful of teenagers, included a familiar face—Usopp, the boy who snuck into Kaya's mansion with tall tales. Kuro hadn't expected to meet him here.
"Usopp-kun, what are you doing here? Spreading rumors I'm a pirate?" Kuro asked.
"You… it's true, isn't it? Your plan's no lie," Usopp said.
"No point hiding it. You're right—I was a pirate," Kuro admitted, unfazed.
His gaze was icy, not the look of a familiar acquaintance but one of disdain, as if Usopp were vermin. It sent chills down Usopp's spine. They'd never been close, but Usopp thought they shared concern for Kaya. Now, Kuro's eyes revealed indifference, even toward her. His clawed gloves would kill without hesitation.
Usopp clenched his teeth, hating himself for not seeing through Kuro's facade. A butler's loyalty? A lie. A true pirate stood before him, hidden in the village for years unnoticed.
Kuro adjusted his glasses again. "That was three years ago. You wouldn't know. While I was here, I wasn't a pirate."
"Liar! Then why target Kaya? You could've lived peacefully!" Usopp shouted.
"True, no more Navy chases. It was calm," Kuro said.
"Then why—?"
"But I wanted true peace, not running around for a young lady. Understand?" Kuro replied, his face emotionless.
His callous words stunned Usopp. Kaya was to be killed for mere convenience. The butler who'd served her was a stranger, his loyalty a sham. Fury surged, but Usopp held back, needing to know if Kuro felt nothing for Kaya after three years.
"You'd kill her just for yourself?" Usopp asked.
"Yes," Kuro said.
"Why go that far!?"
"I'm tired of dealing with fools. I want quiet," Kuro said.
"Kaya trusted you!" Usopp yelled.
"Of course. I made sure of it," Kuro smirked.
"You supported her for three years and felt nothing? No pity, no second thoughts?" Usopp pressed.
"Not a thing. My plan is absolute," Kuro said.
Usopp gripped his slingshot, loading a pellet. Rage overwhelmed him—Kuro's shallow motive was unforgivable. "Kuro!" he roared, firing at his face.
The pellet could've hurt, but it missed. Kuro vanished instantly. Usopp froze as a voice came from behind. "This is why I'm fed up," Kuro said.
Turning, Usopp saw Kuro's claws raised. Death loomed. Time slowed, yet Usopp felt no fear, only fascination at facing a true pirate. He'd never contemplated death, but now it was real. Then, unexpectedly, Kuro grunted, blood dripping from a chest wound.
"What?" Usopp gasped, collapsing.
Kuro's shirt was torn, a shallow cut visible. No one was nearby. Usopp glanced back to see Silk, sword swung, dazed. She'd struck, though her blade couldn't have reached.
"Silk, did you… see him?" Kiri asked.
"No, it's weird. I just… felt it," Silk replied.
A faint breeze stirred. Silk, puzzled, stared at Kuro. "I sensed the wind move, fast, behind Usopp. I knew it was him," she said, eyeing her sword.
The Kama Kama no Mi, a Paramecia close to Logia, didn't change her body, but in this life-or-death fight, she felt the wind's every movement—natural breezes and those stirred by Kuro's speed. It was new, despite her training.
Excitement surged. "You said Devil Fruits have a core, right?" she asked Kiri.
"Yeah," he nodded.
"I think I get it now," Silk said, raising her sword. A fierce whirlwind spiraled around the blade. "It's not just kamaitachi. It's like a Logia, but different. I can control wind—to protect everyone."
A gentle breeze radiated from her, rustling leaves. Everyone felt it was hers. Usopp stared, awestruck; Kiri grinned, eyes gleaming at her rare Paramecia-Logia hybrid. Even the pirates, including Jango, fell silent, unnerved. Kuro, clutching his chest, seethed.
"Devil Fruit user, huh? Ruining my plan," he spat.
"You won't hurt Usopp. I'm your opponent," Silk declared.
"Damn brats! Jango, what are you doing!?" Kuro barked.
Jango and the pirates flinched. They knew Kuro's terror—his speed once crippled a Navy ship. His glare alone paralyzed them. "If this plan fails, my three years are wasted, and I lose this village. Then, you're all dead," Kuro warned.
"We get it! We're not defying you!" Jango stammered.
"Then go to the village! I'll kill this girl," Kuro ordered.
Silk tensed, facing Kuro. She knew he was strong but wanted to test her power alone. As Jango led the pirates forward, Silk's focus on Kuro left her blind to them. They saw a chance to cross her line.
A paper blade stabbed the ground near Jango's foot. Kiri smirked. "She said don't cross. Stay put," he warned.
"We'll die if we don't move," Jango said.
"True. Even your ex-ally thinks so," Kiri noted.
"He doesn't care about us. We act to survive," Jango said, turning to his crew. He swayed his chakram. "Look at this. My words will make you stronger, fearless. Kill these kids, storm the village, and kill the lady!"
The pirates' eyes glazed over. Jango shouted, "One, two, Jango!" Their bodies changed—muscles bulging, faces fierce. Roaring, they charged up the path.
Silk, locked on Kuro, couldn't react. Kiri moved, standing mid-path, pulling paper from his pocket. It formed a massive scythe. Spinning, he slashed, felling several pirates. Blood spilled, and the rest froze, hypnosis broken by fear.
"Stay put, unless you want to die," Kiri said.
"This kid…" a pirate muttered.
The path was blocked again. Jango, desperate, grabbed a crewmate, dragging him to the right cliff—unguarded by Zoro or Silk. "Help me up!" he ordered.
"What're you—" the pirate began.
"Throw me up! I'll go alone!" Jango said.
Lifted onto the cliff, Jango ran into the forest. No one stopped him in the chaos. Kiri hesitated—chasing would free the pirates, and Silk was tied up with Kuro.
Usopp, seeing Kuro distracted, sprinted across the path. "Kiri, I've got him!" he yelled.
"Usopp!" Kiri called.
"I'll stop him! Can't let you guys do everything!" Usopp said, chasing Jango into the forest.
His resolve was firm, his fear gone. Kiri smiled, shouting, "It's yours!"
"Got it!" Usopp replied, vanishing among the trees.
Usopp's speed rivaled Luffy's, navigating the familiar forest effortlessly. Unlike Jango, a newcomer, Usopp knew every inch of the island from childhood adventures and leading the Usopp Pirates. He had the advantage.
Spotting Jango, he shouted, "Stop, hypnotist! You're not reaching the village!"
"Tch, you again," Jango said, slowing to pull out his chakram. "Don't underestimate me. I'm a pirate. I'm no match for Kuro, but I'm not losing to a village kid."
"We'll see," Usopp smirked.
Jango stopped, turning. Usopp halted, readying his slingshot, twenty meters apart. "Think we didn't plan for you hitting the forest? Traps are set. Move, and you'll lose a leg," Usopp warned.
"What!?" Jango gasped.
"Guess where they are. Step carefully," Usopp taunted.
"Damn kid!" Jango cursed, scanning nervously.
"Haha! Pirates don't play fair!" Usopp laughed.
It was a lie, but Jango bought it, panicking. His earlier gullibility resurfaced. Usopp pressed on. "Poison snakes and spiders too. Watch your step, or you're dead."
"What!? Kuro didn't mention—" Jango began.
"Now! Hissatsu… Lead Star!" Usopp fired.
The pellet hit Jango's stomach, doubling him over. He stumbled, clutching his abdomen, but Usopp was gone when he looked up. "Where'd you go, brat!?" Jango growled.
The forest was silent. A rustle to his left drew Jango's attention. He threw his chakram, slicing through bushes, but no scream followed—just a thrown rock. Then, from behind: "Lead Star!"
Another pellet struck Jango's back, knocking him down. Furious, he stood, unable to spot Usopp. The boy was toying with him, a mere villager outsmarting a pirate. Jango's rage clouded his judgment.
"You lied before. No traps, no snakes, right?" Jango said.
"Gah, you got me!" Usopp yelped, popping up.
"There!" Jango charged, chakrams ready.
"Idiot! Falling for a lie like that!" Usopp shouted, fleeing.
Jango pursued, closing the gap to ten meters. As he landed a jump, Usopp grinned. Jango felt a sharp pain in his soles—caltrops. "What!?" he cried, hopping in agony.
"Just kidding," Usopp laughed.
The caltrops, real this time, crippled Jango. Usopp realized his weapons: lies, feints, and precision. Facing a real pirate, he felt confident. Loading a special pellet, he aimed at the hopping Jango. "Don't think you can beat me with lies, hypnotist!"
Jango threw his chakrams, their arcs deadly. But Usopp, calm, dodged with a sidestep, keeping his aim steady. The chakrams grazed his cheek and side, drawing blood, but he didn't flinch. "Hissatsu… Gunpowder Star!" he fired.
The explosive pellet hit Jango's face, a small blast knocking him out. Both fell, Usopp first, then Jango. The pirate's face was singed but alive, unconscious.
Panting, Usopp stared. "I… won?" he muttered, disbelieving. A real pirate lay defeated by him. Kneeling, he clenched his fists, trembling with joy. "Hell yeah! See that!? I'm a real pirate now! I did it!" he roared.
The thrill of a life-or-death fight overwhelmed him. Pain from his wounds faded. He'd become the pirate he'd dreamed of, his victory cry echoing with newfound pride.
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