(Years Later)
An 8-years-old Robin is Reading a book while sitting on a tree-trunk. It has become a habit for her to do that ever since her birthday years ago.
Suddenly, a bunch of kids arrived with a bunch of rocks.
"Start attacking!"
"Let's do it!"
"Fall, Monster!"
The kids threw their rocks at Robin, who remained there focused on her book. From the bushes near her, rocks were throw towards the other rocks, ricocheting against each other and striking the kids back.
"WAAAHH!"
"OUCH!"
"MOMMY!!"
The kids left in tears after the rocks made them bleed. From the bushes emerged Kaizo carrying a bunch of rocks and whistled as if nothing had happened.
"Those kids never learn. Should I break their arms next time?" Kaizo wonders as he juggles with the rocks.
"Don't. the professor will get mad again with you." Robin says as she reads her book.
"Whatever, we've danced this ball so many times that it's starting to get boring." Kaizo sat beside Robin and read alongside her.
"Maybe, but we'll just have to wait for a few more years and then we'll set sail, right?" Robin.
"Well, that's the plan. Still, why not catch the rocks beforehand? Your Devil-Fruit should allow you that." Kaizo asked a bit confused.
As on cue, from her elbow started to sprout two whole arms and she started juggling some rocks as well.
"It's just not worth the trouble. Besides, you're here to help me, aren't you?" Robin gave a mischievous smirk at Kaizo.
PAUSE.
At this point you might be thinking: "Gee, what other changes have there been with Kaizo here?" well, allow me to explain them in order.
First, he taught Robin some hand-to-hand basic combat, he also left the orphanage to live in the woods and gained money from selling candies. Kaizo also gained a notorious reputation for injuring the kids that bully Robin.
One time a parent went to "reprimand" him, but Kaizo kicked his ass and even took two teeth from the man to set an example.
That made many villagers marginalized him, not that he cared though. Around that time, Robin also left her "home" to live with Kaizo in the woods.
They both built a treehouse and had everything for them to live comfortably. They slept in a nice comfy bed made out of the fur of animals Kaizo hunted, they had fresh meat and veggies to eat thanks to Kaizo, they even had a small library with Robin's books.
Of course, some things remained unchanged, few months ago Robin found a strange fruit and wanted to share it with Kaizo. He confirmed that the fruit wasn't dangerous via books so they went to dig in.
The fruit was sliced and they used toothpicks to eat them, when the fruit was about to reach Kaizo's mouth, the toothpick broke and Robin claimed the first bite off the Flower-Flower Fruit.
It took some time for the little girl to accept her new self and for Kaizo to think in all the time they wasted in swimming practices, but all in all Robin got a power that Kaizo envied to some extent.
"Well, are you done with your book? It's time to check your test results." Kaizo tells Robin as the girl closes the book.
"I've already read this book I was just waiting for you." Robin closes the book and grabs Kaizo's hand.
The two skip happily across the town regardless of the insults they received along the road. Their destination? The Tree of Knowledge.
As to the why? Well, if you know Robin's backstory, I wouldn't need to say shit. Unfortunately I'm not doing flashbacks so I have to explain, Robin took an archeologist exam and with just her 8 years of life she's currently the youngest person to ever become an archeologist.
As to why Kaizo didn't take the exam as well, he didn't really see the point in that. He knows the stuff and that's all that matters. A piece of paper doesn't define what he can and cannot do.
Robin started to fidget her fingers as they closed in.
"Nervous?" Kaizo asked.
"Of course. What if I failed?" Robin.
"Well, nothing happens. You just steel up for the next exam and ace it." Kaizo.
"You're really easygoing." Robin said with a deadpan look.
"Almost 5 years living with me and you've just realized that?" Kaizo returns the deadpan look.
As they entered, they were received by the cheers from every archeologist inside the tree.
"Congratulations Robin-chan!"
"You possess the hereditary genius!"
"We've baked you a cake and everything!"
The archeologist test you took was a perfect score! You can now proudly call yourself an archeologist!" Dr. Clover cheered as Robin started to smile.
A party started it had food, drinks, and Dr. Clover making an unbearably large speech about knowledge that Kaizo ignored almost entirely.
As the party went on and Kaizo assaulted the food in the tables with a pace so fast he even took some food out of others. Until he heard something he was hoping he didn't.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!" Dr. Clover's voice rang throughout the whole tree.
The target of that phrase? The young Robin here.
"Why can't we study it?! As long as the World Government doesn't find out, we should be able of studying the Void Century." Robin.
Since in this Ohara is openly known that researching about the Void Century is illegal, Robin's curiosity stems from his stubbornness in rejecting the idea of "forbidden knowledge" and desires to learn about it.
"I've even learned about the Poneglyph in the basement." Robin.
At her words, everything went quiet and Kaizo facepalmed himself.
'I warned her.' Kaizo thought as he took a sac out of his pockets and started packing the food.
"You tell me, tell everyone how illegal studying the Poneglyph is. Yet you all study it at night in the basement!!!" Robin snapped.
"Robin... don't tell me that you've used your ability to find out?!" Clover.
"You never let me see even when I tried my best. That's why I wanted to become an archeologist here, to study this alongside all of you!!!" Robin.
There was a pause as many archeologists felt heartbroken at seeing the young girl be this agitated over the matter.
Kaizo however, was more disappointed at himself for not stopping Robin.
Truth to be told, Robin's plan to leave Ohara included bringing the archeologists so that they could study the Poneglyphs together, however, he also knew that said adults hold Robin in too high regard to ever endanger her with something like this.
"Robin..." Clover started talking as he knelt to Robin's stature.
"It's true that you possess a brilliant mind worthy of being called an archeologist... but YOU'RE STILL A CHILD!!" He yells that last part.
"If the World Government finds about this, we'll all die. We're all determined to die for this dream since over 800 years ago when the prohibition started, countless scholars died at hands of the World Government."
"This is a great chance to tell you this, we're neck deep into this situation, there's no turning back for us. But we at the very least won't drag you down with our quest. Because only "Ohara" can decipher the ancients writings!" Clover looked at Robin that had watery eyes.
"I swear upon this Tree of Knowledge, that if you ever take a step into the basement again, I'll revoke your tittle as an Archeologist and revoke your access to the Tree of Knowledge!!! Understood?!" Clover threatened Robin.
The girl was overwhelmed, she hoped that her friends would understand her wishes and allowed her to help, but she was reprimanded in return. Without saying a word she left running in tears.
As she left, Kaizo finished picking the food and also started to leave.
"You taught her how to use her fruit like that, didn't you?" Clover asked Kaizo.
"Yes, it wasn't difficult. I only taught her how to focus properly from her limbs to the other limbs, she figured the rest herself, given how smart she is." Kaizo admitted without looking back.
"You are aware of what you're doing?" Clover.
"Not really, I'm just aiding Robin achieve her dream. That's all." Kaizo.
The two remained without saying a word. When Kaizo was about to take step outside, Clover asked his final question.
"What will you do, if the World Government were to retaliate against Robin?" Clover asked.
Kaizo stopped his foot, before stomping the floor with more strength.
The floor planks broke under Kaizo's left foot so he took a step back, as he did, he looked at Clover in the eyes and raised his fist.
"I'll pummel the whole World Government to the ground." Kaizo.
"Never thought you two were that close." Clover.
Kaizo smirked.
"It's not that." Kaizo shrugged.
He then gave an even wider smirk.
"If I want to become the World's Strongest, the World Government is another obstacle in my way. I'm simply helping Robin as well." Kaizo.
Without bothering to hear them anymore, he left and went to find Robin.
The archeologists simply sighed in relief that this didn't ended in another "tantrum" that Kaizo performed last time. Clover looked at the broken floor and sighed.
'You carry a risk of a bigger magnitude that Robin.' Clover thought as the door to the Tree of Knowledge closed.
(Back with the kids)
Kaizo laughed heartly as Robin kept puffing her cheeks.
"Would you stop that?" Robin asked a bit pissed.
"Nope. As your friend is my right to bother you about the mistakes you make, regardless of the time." Kaizo brushed it off as he ate one of the candies he took.
"I'm really not in the mood Kaizo." Robin huffed.
Kaizo got the memo and offered her a donut, which the little girl accepted.
"I just don't get it. If we're careful everything should be alright." Robin started to talk.
"Adult stuff we're either too stupid or too in the dark to judge correctly." Kaizo kept eating the candies.
"I'm just so mad about that right now." Robin.
"Ghandi once said: Chillax dude, eat a painkiller and everything will be alright." Kaizo ate another doughnut.
"Stop misquoting, I don't know who that is but you shouldn't make stuff up." Robin gave Kaizo a deadpan look.
Kaizo didn't answered as he saw something in the horizon. Intrigued by his friend's change of view, Robin did the same and saw something, or rather someone on the distance.
The two kids rushed at the scene and found a ginormous person on the shore. His body was bigger than any house on the island and has orange hair that formed a mane with his beard.
Robin and Kaizo stared at the person with deadpan looks. None said anything but stare at the giant man.
'Whew! This is a giant? I knew they were tall but this is a but... underwhelming? Or is it because I watched that boss rush of "Shadow of the Colossus"? otherwise, the wow factor here is quite high.' Kaizo couldn't help but to think.
Just as he was about to think more about giants and titans, he saw the giant's fingers twitched and braced himself a little.
"GUGAAAAAAH!!!" The giant roared as he tried to scare both kids.
Robin and Kaizo just stared at him without flinching, the giant eventually collapsed due to exhaustion. Kaizo only huffed in disappointment.
"W----water..." The giant managed to mutter.
"Walter?" Robin asked confused.
"What? No. He asked for water Robin." Kaizo looked at her with a strange look.
"He sound groggy though." Robin.
Kaizo went towards a tree trunk, picks up a big stone and starts to chop down on the tree. Eventually, the trunk falls and Kaizo carries it.
He takes the trunk towards his treehouse and using his tools there hollows almost all of it, he then walks towards a lake and fills it with water before carefully carrying it towards the shore.
As he arrived, Robin stops the countdown on a pocket watch and frowns a little.
"Sorry Kaizo, you're off your best time of carrying a hollow tree trunk filled with water by 5 seconds." Robin says to the boy as Kaizo drops the trunk.
"I expected as much, I dropped the trunk on the way to the treehouse." Kaizo.
He then pushes the trunk towards the giant's mouth and lets the water do its magic to his de-hydrated face.
The giant opens his eyes wide as he tries to salvage as much water as he can.
"There's a lake in that direction." Kaizo pointed towards the lake's direction and the Giant immediately rushes towards there.
"I guess we're doing this today." Kaizo remarks.
"Beats that hardcore training of yours." Robin mutters as she follows the giant's trail.
The giant was drinking the water from the lake like a dog. He literally dipped his head and shoulders into the river as he drank all the water he could inhale.
"Look at him go..." Kaizo whistled at the giant's erratic drinking.
"He sure is thirsty." Robin.
*PLOP*
After drinking as much as his body could, the giant slumped against the ground as he grasped for air.
"Ya spared mu life...wonder if that person's safe too..." the giant muttered to himself.
Kaizo was a bit confused at his words but Robin didn't cared.
"Yeah, we saved you. You have some cash on ya?!" Kaizo asked and then got punched in the arm by Robin.
"Don't ask him that, he literally washed ashore!" Robin.
"I was kidding! Who in their right mind would still have cash after arriving in a wreck?!" Kaizo.
"Why did you yelled then?" Robin.
"For him to hear me." Kaizo.
"Dis land, does it have a town?" The giant asked.
"Yup." Robin.
"I see, I don't care where this is but I hoped it was somewhere uninhabited." The giant.
"Tough luck then." Kaizo answered as he offered the rest of the food to the giant.
"Thanks." The giant only opened the bag over his mouth and all the food fell like extremely small pills.
Robin and Kaizo kept staring, almost too intrigued about the new lifeform. They have read about giants before, but this was the first time they've ever seen one in person. They had a lot of questions circulating their young minds.
'If your hair connects with your beard, does it become a beard or does the whole hair is now known as head hair?' Robin
'How do breast measures work with giants? Do they change the measuring distance or do they have their own measuring system? Wow, no I'm stumped.' Kaizo.
Eventually, Kaizo decided to break the ice.
"So, what's a giant fancying himself here anyway?" Kaizo.
"I kinda shipwrecked and now hurt ma legs, once they're healed I'll build a raft and leave." The giant.
"Cool." Kaizo.
"Dis your first time seeing a giant?" The giant asked.
"Yes/No" Robin/Kaizo.
The little girl looked at Kaizo with a confused look.
"You don't know everything about me Chica." Kaizo.
"Well, lemme tell ya that for starters that I'm not one of those barbaric giants from Elbaf. I reckon you must've heard various tales about giants so, let's clear that from the get-go." The giant explains himself.
Apparently, there was a nasty powerful pirate group consisting only of giant warriors, they were unbeatable until one day their captains disappeared for some reason.
"I see." Robin.
"I'll ask ya, even if ya say nay, but... would'ja please not tell anybody about me." The giant.
"Okay/Sure." Robin/Kaizo.
"Ya answered too quickly, it's impossible..." The giant ignored them.
"We won't tell." Robin and Kaizo repeated but the giant seems to be a master at ignoring.
"There's no way a child could keep a secret." The giant sighed.
"No, I won't tell cause... I'm not interested in you." Robin said with a plain look on her face.
'HA! Classic Robin burn.' Kaizo snickered.
The giant looked surprised for a second before he started to laugh.
"HOOO! DERESHISHISHI!" The giant laughed.
"Kaizo, what is he doing?" Robin.
"I think he's laughing, don't know why he sounds like an old mattress with loose springs but, he's laughing." Kaizo.
"Hehehe HAHAHA! His laugh is funny." Robin started to laugh as well.
Kaizo didn't really get the joke of his laughter other than it being weird but he also started to laugh just cause.
"People been tellin' me I aint good at laughing it's just me. By the way, you look quite cute when you're laughing." The giant says as a compliment.
That sentence made Robin freeze and stopped laughing as her face reddened.
"*WHISTLES* And her ashamed face isn't bad either." Kaizo also comments.
"Stop messing with me, Kaizo!" Robin started to "punch" Kaizo.
"This giant dude is right; you should laugh and smile more Robin." Kaizo laughed as he endured Robin's "attacks".
"DERESHISHISHI! What a lively pair of kids. I'm Saul. Jaguar D Saul." Saul presents himself.
"D?" Robin and Kaizo both asked.
"I don't really know either but everyone in my family have it." Saul.
"Woah! That's weird, my name is Kazuto D Kaizo." Kaizo presents himself.
"Would ya look at that, a kid here also has a D in his name, what are the odds?" Saul snickered at the coincidence.
"Weird right? She's Robin by the way." Kaizo nonchalantly presents Robin.
"Kaizo, Robin... lemme be honest with ye two. Someone's after me right now, and if anyone finds me, I'd be in trouble." Saul.
"We said we won't tell." Robin.
'Someone's after him? Why do I feel that death is looming over this place?' Kaizo thought to himself.
After decades of fighting his body has grown accustomed to the feeling of being near death. That gave him some hindsight with his instinct about whenever bad things are about to happen.
'I better prepare our escape routes while I can.' Kaizo.
With that, the two kids kept living in the woods and would occasionally visit their giant friend from time to time.
Kaizo's instinct would be right, and he was about to face a life and death situation pretty soon.