Night, Cocoyasi Village.
In the village square, a huge bonfire was lit.
Around the bonfire, people laughed and sang, danced, and raised their cups in celebration, a lively scene.
The entire village was liberated, so many villagers gained their freedom, the Arlong Empire was shattered, and Colonel Roux was taken down.
With so many things to celebrate, a feast was, of course, in order.
On a high platform, Uta sang happily at the top of her voice.
Below, the villagers, flushed from drinking, giggled incessantly, clearly intoxicated.
Usopp blended in, holding two chopsticks, one inserted into each nostril, pressing against his lower lip, making a comical face.
He made the villagers roar with laughter.
Zoro lay to the side, drinking wine in large gulps, occasionally letting out a contented "Ah."
Sanji, with heart-shaped eyes, raised his hands high, dancing happily with the village girls in a swaying, seaweed-like dance.
Luffy was still doing his favorite thing: eating meat, large mouthfuls of it, his cheeks puffed out like a hamster with its pouches full.
"Nami, you're finally free!"
By the bonfire, Nojiko looked at the joyful scene, genuinely happy, and raised her cup to Nami.
Nami sat beside her, also with a happy smile on her face.
She had dreamed of this scene countless times.
Today, she finally saw it.
"Yes, finally free!"
Nami sighed in relief and happily drank with Nojiko.
"Nami, you've met a really good group of companions!"
Nojiko finished a sip of wine, her gaze fixed in a certain direction, on Luffy, who was feasting.
"That idiotic Captain… No, Mr. Luffy really did it, just like he said!"
Hearing Nojiko's voice, Nami followed her gaze to Luffy.
When she saw Luffy's frantic eating, she couldn't help but complain.
"That idiot, no one's even trying to snatch it from him, why is he eating so fast, honestly!"
Listening to Nami's huffy voice, Nojiko couldn't help but chuckle.
"Hehehehehe…"
After laughing, Nojiko took a deep breath and sighed.
"That's wonderful, Nami!"
Nami looked at Nojiko in confusion and asked,
"What?"
Nojiko looked up at the sky, her eyes shining like stars, filled with expectation, and a happy, joyful expression on her face, saying,
"It's truly wonderful that you met Mr. Luffy!"
"From now on, you can finally live for yourself and do what you love."
"Don't you dream of drawing a map of the entire world?"
"Now, you can go with Mr. Luffy and fulfill your dream."
Nami listened to Nojiko's words, staring at her blankly.
Nojiko had always silently supported her from behind, feeling happy for her joy and sad for her sorrow.
For a moment, looking at this person who had silently supported her since childhood, like a dear older sister.
Nami's reluctance surged forth, and she hugged Nojiko tightly.
"Hey! Nojiko! Come with me!"
"I'd be so happy if you were there."
"That way, you can experience the joy I feel, firsthand, with me."
Hearing Nami's words, Nojiko's eyes filled with longing.
If that were the case, she would surely feel happy every day!
But…
Nojiko's gaze dimmed slightly, and she gently patted Nami's back, saying,
"I can't, Nami!"
"I'm not like you, so talented in navigation."
"If I went with you, I would only cause trouble for Mr. Luffy."
"Besides…"
"I still need to stay and look after Belle-Mere's tangerine trees!"
"If those tangerine trees were left unattended, Belle-Mere would surely be very sad."
Listening to Nojiko's words, Nami could only sob reluctantly, her body trembling slightly.
"Nojiko, are you willing to join us and sail out to sea with us?"
Just then, a voice suddenly sounded beside the two of them.
They looked up and saw Luffy, holding a large piece of meat, who had unknowingly come to stand beside them.
Facing Luffy's question, Nojiko froze.
"Mr. Luffy…"
Then Luffy continued,
"Sailing with us is a lot of fun!"
"Haven't you heard about it from Nami?"
Nojiko still stared blankly at Luffy, saying with some uncertainty,
"But… but I can't do anything. Won't I just cause trouble for Mr. Luffy and everyone else if I go?!"
"And Belle-Mere's tangerine trees still need me to take care of them…"
As Nojiko spoke, her voice became softer and softer.
Of course, she really wanted to go out to sea with Luffy and Nami, but she felt that everyone on the ship had their own unique abilities, capable of standing on their own in a certain field, and she herself seemed to have nothing that could help everyone.
And Belle-Mere's tangerine trees couldn't be left unattended either…
Just as Nojiko was feeling down, she heard Luffy continue,
"Aren't you taking very good care of those tangerine trees?"
"I plan to move a few tangerine trees from that orchard onto the merry go."
"That way, both you and Nami will be very happy! And everyone can also eat fresh tangerines."
"Nojiko, why don't you join us and be responsible for taking care of those tangerine trees!"
"Be our ship's botanist, and I'll help you learn about botany."
"And you don't have to worry about causing us trouble; I'll train each of you to be very strong."
"As for the remaining tangerine trees in the orchard, I think that old man with the windmill is pretty good, so let's entrust them to him!"
"Also, don't you want to personally sail through the world map that Nami draws?"
...
After Luffy finished speaking, he had resolved all of Nojiko's worries.
Especially when she heard the last sentence, to personally sail through the map Nami drew.
That kind of thing would surely be very happy!
Nojiko's tears of excitement suddenly welled up.
"Luffy…"
Nami also looked at Nojiko with great excitement, her eyes sparkling.
"Nojiko, come with us… out to sea!"
Nojiko, tears streaming down her face, looked at Nami and Luffy respectively, then bit her lip and nodded heavily.
"Mmm!!!"
...
The next morning.
Cocoyasi Village, by the coast, on the going merry.
Luffy and the others stood on the deck, while below were the villagers who had come to bid them farewell.
They were all looking towards the upper part of the central street of the village, waiting for something.
"Nami and Nojiko are so slow! Haven't they arrived yet after all this time?"
Usopp looked towards the street, wondering aloud.
"Nami said she was going to remove the Arlong crew's tattoo from her arm, so she'll be a bit late!"
Uta replied, then looked at Luffy,
"Speaking of which, is Nojiko really coming with us too, Luffy?"
Uta's eyes held a pleasant surprise; this way, she would have another little sister.
"Yes! She promised me last night, and I've already moved Belle-Mere's tangerine trees onto our ship, so she definitely won't abandon those trees."
Luffy glanced at the few tangerine trees now planted on the ship's deck, replying.
"Oh?! Here they come."
Just then, Usopp suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
"Strange, why is it only Nojiko?"
Seeing only one figure appear, Usopp strangely added.
"That woman isn't not coming, is she?"
Zoro leaned against the outer wall of the cabin, saying leisurely.
"You moss-head, shut your Crow mouth. If Miss Nami doesn't come, I'll throw you overboard."
Sanji bared his teeth and roared at Zoro.
Zoro, hearing this, also lost his temper, his face full of anger.
"Hm? Want to fight?"
"Come on! Who's afraid of whom?"
In the blink of an eye, the two were baring their teeth at each other.
The others, accustomed to this scene, ignored them.
When Nojiko arrived near the merry go, Luffy curiously asked,
"Nojiko, where's Nami?"
Nojiko said, panting,
"Nami said to let me get on the ship first, and she'll come over later."
Upon hearing this, Luffy pulled Nojiko onto the ship.
Just then, people saw another figure appear on the distant street.
"You guys, set sail quickly!"
From far away, Nami shouted loudly to Luffy and the others.
After speaking, Nami adopted a running posture and quickly sprinted towards the merry go.
"What is she planning to do?"
Usopp looked confused.
"Well, let's just listen to Nami and set sail!"
Luffy had already thought of something; in the original story, Nami boarded the ship this way, stealing all the villagers' wallets.
Luffy looked at the villagers below, still worried and reluctant, and couldn't help but mourn for them in his heart.
"Is that girl planning to leave without letting us thank her?"
"You left all 100,000,000 Berries for us, at least take some!"
"Stop, Nami, at least let us thank you properly!"
Someone turned around and suddenly noticed that the merry go had already started to set sail.
"Ah! They've set sail! Wait for us, we still need to thank you properly!"
"That's right! Straw Hat! Don't leave without saying goodbye like this!"
But at that moment, Nami's figure had already appeared beside the villagers.
The villagers immediately raised their hands to block her, each with a serious expression, ready for battle.
"We won't let you pass, Nami."
However, a swift and agile figure, like a nimble kitten, rapidly weaved through the crowd, easily evading their interception, and leaped onto the merry go, which had already begun to sail.
The villagers felt sadness and reluctance in their hearts, their eyes filled with tears.
"Nami?! Why?"
"How awful, Nami! Leaving without saying goodbye to us. Waaah..."
Just as the villagers were crying sadly, they suddenly saw Nami standing on the deck, shaking her clothes.
The next second, countless wallets rained down like a shower.
Seeing this, all the villagers were immediately shocked.
They all started to feel their pockets.
Soon...
"Ah!! Huh? My wallet is gone!"
"Mine's gone too!"
"Mine as well!"
"Me too..."
At this moment, Nami tilted her head, picked up a banknote, and said with a smug smile,
"Everyone, take care! Hehe..."
The villagers' sadness had long vanished, replaced entirely by fury.
"That brat, how dare she."
"You little thief cat!"
"Come back, give me back my wallet."
As the merry go gradually sailed away, Nami and Nojiko both leaned over the ship's side, waving to the villagers on the shore.
"Everyone, goodbye!"
"Akin! I'm entrusting Belle-Mere's tangerine trees to you!"
"Everyone, we're off! (x2)"
On the shore, all the villagers cried collectively.
...
Clear skies, gentle breeze!
On the vast ocean, the merry go sailed slowly.
On the deck, Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp were desperately training with the [Extreme Body Forging Method] that Luffy had taught them, in order to catch up with Luffy's pace as soon as possible.
Nami, Uta, and Nojiko, the three girls, gathered together to plan and research various logistical matters on the ship.
Nami and Nojiko had naturally also been taught cultivation methods by Luffy, but because their physiques were inherently weaker than Zoro's, they could only train for a few hours each day before their bodies couldn't take it anymore and they had to rest and adjust.
And now, they had finished their training and were idle, researching other things.
In fact, Luffy didn't intend for them to become top powerhouses through physical combat.
Everyone's talent is different, and one cannot become stronger just by training desperately.
So Luffy's plan was that if a suitable opportunity arose in the future, he would find Devil Fruits suitable for them and let them develop their Fruit abilities.
As for Luffy himself, he would sometimes sit by the ship and fish, sometimes guide Zoro and the other two, and sometimes go over to Uta and the others to chat with them.
In short, his main style was a carefree, idle, and laid-back one.
Of course, he would still participate in any important matters or decisions on the ship.
"Caw!"
At this moment, a bird call suddenly came from above their heads.
Everyone looked up and saw the seagull with a newspaper backpack hanging around its neck.
"Ah! It's a News Seagull!"
Nami exclaimed in surprise, then quickly went to where the News Seagull landed and bought a newspaper from it.
"Why has the price gone up again?"
Seeing the price marked on the News Seagull's backpack, Nami couldn't help but complain angrily.
But she still took out 100 Berries and bought a newspaper.
"Let me see, what's the news today?"
Nami muttered to herself as she walked and sat down next to the chair where Luffy was lying, basking in the sun.
"Coup in Vira..."
"Why is it always this kind of news? There's really a lot of this kind of news in the world lately!"
Nami muttered as she unfolded the newspaper, preparing to look at the other side.
Suddenly, something flew out as she opened the newspaper and landed on the deck.
For a moment, everyone on the ship had their attention drawn to the sudden appearance of the object.
Following the direction it landed...
Immediately, everyone's pupils constricted.
On the ground lay a bounty poster, and the information on the bounty poster was:
Monkey D. Luffy, Bounty 60,000,000 Berries, Dead or Alive!
...
At the same time.
Marineford.
Inside an office.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat at his desk, his face grim, his expression furious and distorted.
In front of him lay a bounty poster, and the person in it was Luffy.
Beside his desk, on several chairs, sat Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru, each holding Luffy's bounty poster.
"How terrifying! This new rookie pirate! His first bounty is as high as 60,000,000 Berries, truly worthy of being called one of the Worst Generation!"
Kizaru looked at Luffy's grim expression on the bounty poster, feigning an exaggerated look of fear.
"Hmph! All pirates deserve to die! No matter what evil, I will eliminate them all."
Akainu's face was fierce, his tone firm, and his eyes held intense killing intent.
"Monkey D. Luffy, Mr. Garp's grandson?"
Aokiji murmured to himself.
Just then, a voice suddenly came from the doorway.
"Sengoku, I heard you were looking for me? What's up?"
As the voice fell, Garp walked in leisurely, holding a senbei.
Seeing who it was, Sengoku's eyes immediately flashed with ferocity.
Bang!
He slammed the table fiercely and said angrily,
"Garp, look at the grandson you've taught!!!"
"Luffy?"
Garp muttered, walked to Sengoku's desk, and immediately saw the bounty poster.
At the same time, Sengoku said angrily from the side,
"A first bounty as high as 60,000,000 Berries, you know what that means, don't you?!"
"And he killed a Navy Captain right in front of Marineford, provoking the Marine."
"Tell me, how did you teach this grandson?"