Dazed and listless, Orochimaru was carried away by Zoro, too weak to resist. He simply transformed into a snake and coiled around Zoro's neck, falling asleep. He awoke to unfamiliar voices and glanced through the window at the two men. Their faces seemed vaguely familiar.
'Wait a minute... aren't those the legendary Sword God Johnny and Sword Saint Yosaku?'
Orochimaru yawned and reverted to his human form, still clinging limply to Zoro.
Ignoring the human accessory draped over his shoulder, Zoro stepped out onto the deck, drawn by the sounds of fighting.
"Hey! Aren't you Johnny?" Zoro called out.
Johnny looked up at Zoro on the deck, his gaze falling on the figure leaning against him. 'Who the hell is that? Never mind.' "Boss Zoro! What are you doing on this pirate ship?"
"Where's Yosaku?" Zoro asked, puzzled.
Johnny hurriedly pulled Yosaku up onto the deck, bursting into tears. "Yosaku was fine just a few days ago, full of energy. Then suddenly he turned pale, started fainting repeatedly, and we had no idea why! His teeth started falling out, and he was spitting blood!"
Johnny's voice trembled with fury. "I took him to rest by the rocks... then a cannonball from this ship suddenly hit the cliff, sending shattered rocks crashing down!"
Johnny covered his face, sobbing uncontrollably. Luffy and Usopp stared in horror, their mouths agape, before bowing deeply in apology.
"I... I'm so sorry!" they stammered.
"If apologies were enough, we wouldn't need the Marines, right, Boss?" Johnny whimpered, wiping his tears in a panic. "Is he... is he gonna die?"
Zoro glanced at Joseph's condition, casually lifted Orochimaru—who was still leaning against him—and placed him next to the severely injured man. "Help him out. Thanks."
Orochimaru, still listless and preoccupied with his escaped experimental subjects, gave Joseph a perfunctory glance. Using Chakra, he healed the wounds caused by the cannonball blast. He then pulled a carton of orange juice from his backpack and shoved it into Joseph's mouth. Watching the man gulp down the liquid, Orochimaru wiped his hands and quietly retreated two meters, offering no explanation. Johnny's saliva-spraying antics were still fresh in his mind.
"He'll be fine with some rest," Orochimaru said.
Johnny bowed deeply in sincere gratitude.
Nami approached. "It's scurvy. If we treat it now, he'll recover in a few days."
"Really, Big Sis?!" Johnny's saliva sprayed across Nami's face, and Orochimaru silently took another step back.
Nami frowned and pushed Johnny away. "Don't call me that. Scurvy used to be a devastating disease for sailors. Ships couldn't carry fresh fruits and vegetables that would last, and that's what caused it."
Before long, Joseph bounced back to life, full of energy. He strutted around for a bit before collapsing from exhaustion.
The crew gathered somberly for a meeting.
"This is a wake-up call," Nami said.
"Yeah, who knew long sea voyages hid dangers like this?" Zoro agreed.
"So we need to plan for balanced nutrition with the limited supplies we have on board for these long trips?" Usopp asked.
Nami propped her chin on her hand, scribbling in her notebook. "Come to think of it, that's an essential skill for us."
Luffy munched on his bread. "Hmm... That means we need a ship's cook! Let's find one!"
"Right! Then we can eat delicious food on the ship!" Usopp exclaimed excitedly.
"We also need a ship's doctor," Orochimaru spoke up from his spot by the window.
"Huh? Why? Can't you handle it, Orochimaru?" Luffy asked, puzzled.
"I can treat injuries, not illnesses," Orochimaru replied. "I'm not skilled in treating maritime diseases. If it were up to me, I'd just replace the damaged parts." He paused, then added, "I suppose I should start cloning backup organs soon."
"Don't say such terrifying things so calmly!" the crew roared.
"Eh, let's find a cook first, then worry about a ship's doctor," Luffy mumbled nonchalantly, munching on his bread.
Johnny, still holding his stance, spoke up. "I know a place where there's a rumor that Hawkeye, the man Boss has been looking for, hangs out. Head northeast by north—we're going to the Baratie Restaurant."
The crew arrived at the Baratie. "Whoa! Look at that huge fish!" they exclaimed, gazing in awe at the floating restaurant.
*Toot-toot!* A Marine ship approached the Merry.
"Never seen this pirate ship before," a man in a suit with knuckle-duster gloves stepped out.
"We're Pirate Hunters!" Johnny and Joseph declared.
"Hah? I remember you two—small-time bounty hunters chasing petty targets. Did you finally get caught by pirates, you pathetic hunters?" Fullbody sneered, his lip curling disdainfully.
Furious, Johnny pulled out a stack of wanted posters and threw them at Fullbody. "How dare you say Pirate Hunters only go after small fry!"
Ignoring them, Fullbody wrapped an arm around the woman beside him. "I'm Lieutenant Fullbody of Marine Headquarters, 'Iron Fist' Fullbody. State your names, pirates!"
"I'm... Luffy... Our pirate flag is brand new..." Luffy trailed off, suddenly stopping as he watched Orochimaru, black smoke billowing from his body, drag Usopp away.
"Huh?! Iron Fist! Iron Fist!" Orochimaru, who had been glaring at Nami as she glared venomously at Arlong's wanted poster, suddenly bristled at the man's words. Orochimaru's arm transformed into a massive python, lashing out and clamping its jaws onto the so-called "Iron Fist's" shoulder. The snake hurled the man across the deck before its massive body slammed into his stomach, smashing through the Marine ship's hull with a thunderous boom.
"Attack! Now! Ship's doctor, retreat!" Panic erupted among the Marines. They scrambled back, firing cannons at the Merry as they retreated. Luffy threw himself in front of the cannonballs, getting blasted all the way to the Baratie along with them.
Orochimaru snapped out of his rage, pretending nothing had happened. "Ah... Luffy got blown away."
The others regained their composure and hurried toward the Baratie. When they learned Luffy would have to work there to pay for the damages, they chuckled gleefully and ordered a feast, relishing their temporary freedom.
The crew was in high spirits, laughing and roughhousing as they watched Zoro force Luffy to swallow the snot he'd flicked at him. Luffy writhed on the floor, screaming that he was going to die, while Usopp and Nami pounded the table, tears streaming down their faces from laughter. Orochimaru struggled to suppress his smirk, pretending to eat while tucking a strand of hair behind his ear, revealing his jade earring and the side of his neck.
Sanji's eyes widened at the sight. He shoved the wine bottle into a customer's hand, gesturing for them to pour it themselves.
"Ah, the sea! Thank you for this fateful encounter!" Sanji declared, kneeling dramatically and holding out a rose. "Love, mock me for being unable to endure this torment! With you, I'd become a pirate, even a demon—I'm prepared for anything!"
The crew froze, dumbfounded by Sanji's corny declaration. Their faces flushed as they struggled to suppress their laughter.
"But alas, how tragic!" Sanji cried, clenching his fist and gazing dramatically at the sky, his face twisted in melodramatic despair. "Such an insurmountable obstacle stands between us!"
Barely had Sanji finished his dramatic declaration when the crew burst into laughter. Luffy rolled on the floor, clutching his stomach and pounding the ground in hysterics.
"Hahaha... another one! Hahaha!"
Luffy grabbed Usopp's hand, his face instantly mimicking Sanji's lovesick expression.
"Ah, the sea! Thank you for this fateful encounter... Hahaha..."
Orochimaru's face darkened, a sinister aura radiating from his back.
Zeff stepped forward. "The obstacle you mentioned... you meant me, right, Sanji?" Sanji snapped out of his lovesick reverie.
Orochimaru stood abruptly, his chair clattering to the floor. His face twisted in a hideous expression, his voice hoarse and icy. "No... the obstacle isn't him... it's me." He turned away.
"Luffy... Zoro... Usopp... Nami... is this that amusing?"
Sensing danger, Luffy scrambled forward and wrapped his arms and legs around Orochimaru's waist, hugging him tightly.
"Gomen gomen... don't be mad~" Luffy nuzzled his cheek against Orochimaru's leg, trying to appease him with exaggerated affection.
To be continued...