Belle-Mère was certainly a wild tomboy. Ever since she came back to the village, her loud voice could be heard every day.
"Nojiko, help me get the diapers. Nami peed again!"
"Genzo, stop messing around. Nami just cries when she sees you, and I just finally got her to calm down!"
Life went on in this noisy way. Belle-Mère planted her tangerine grove, and Leno also helped out.
In the blink of an eye, three years passed quickly. Leno was now ten years old, and his height had reached over 1.8 meters. After years of training and fighting Sea Kings, Leno radiated a sharp aura. (T/N: yeah I see 1.8 meters ten years old kids everyday… <-<)
His pitch-black fist shattered the huge rock in front of him. He opened his panel:
**Leno:**
* **Armament Haki:** Intermediate
* **Observation Haki:** Intermediate
* **Conqueror's Haki:** Beginner
* **Intermediate Body Techniques**
* **Intermediate Swordsmanship**
* **Devil Fruit Abilities:**
**Rumble-Rumble Fruit (No Side Effects):** Consumed None None
* **Spatial Backpack:** Some Berries, some Sea King jerky, etc.
He let out a long sigh, looking at the panel and nodding in satisfaction. 'My Haki training is pretty good, and I've developed my Devil Fruit abilities quite a bit.'
Leno had an idea: to one day go to Sky Island and see if he could eat the second Rumble-Rumble Fruit. 'Would it directly awaken the power?'
Of course, he wasn't sure if there even was a second Rumble-Rumble Fruit on Sky Island, but he would find out soon. With his current strength, he could walk sideways across the East Blue. Plus, with his Devil Fruit ability, it would be a complete cakewalk.
"Leno, Leno! Belle-Mère wants me to call you over for dinner. She said it's to thank you for helping pick tangerines yesterday."
"Coming, coming!"
*Thump!* "Ow!"
"How many times have I told you? You need to call me 'Big Brother Leno'!"
"Hmph," Nami turned back, made a face, and scurried away.
"Wow, Belle-Mère, the food looks incredible!"
"Big Brother Leno, you're here. Come and sit down." Nojiko busily greeted Leno as Belle-Mère brought the last dish to the table.
"Mhm, Nojiko is so well-behaved, unlike a certain little troublemaker who was crying in a panic during the rain yesterday."
"Jerk, Leno! I'll get you for that!" Nami's face turned red as she pounced, flailing her arms. Leno held her back with just one finger on her forehead, and the little girl could only flail in place.
"Hahaha… Little Leno, don't tease her. She's getting all worked up. All right, all right, let's eat. This is the Sea King meat you brought us."
Leno released Nami and dug into the food ravenously. Not one to be left out, Nami joined the feeding frenzy.
After dinner, Leno and Nami, one big and one small, sat with two glasses of orange juice. *Gulp, gulp… ahhh…* x2
*Burp!* x2 The two slumped in their chairs, patting their stomachs. "So good," x2
"You two brats, that's enough! Go do the dishes!"
"Hahahaha…"
"Leno, look! These are the sea charts I drew! What do you think?" After the meal, Nami couldn't wait to show off her great works.
"Oh? Let me see. This… this is a full map of Cocoyasi Village! That's amazing, Nami. Did you do all of this yourself?"
"Of course! Well… Nojiko helped, too! But I did most of it!"
Leno was genuinely shocked. Nami was only a little over three years old now. While he knew she was talented, this was a bit ridiculous.
"Wow, Nami, you're incredible! You're a natural-born navigator."
"Hehe… My dream is to draw a map of the entire world."
"Mhmm, that's a wonderful dream. I'll support you. What about you, Nojiko? What's your dream?" Leno turned to look at Nojiko, who was sitting quietly nearby.
"Huh?! My dream? My dream is… to live a happy life forever with the person I love." Nojiko glanced shyly at Leno, then quickly lowered her head and mumbled.
'Ugh, I guess people in the pirate world mature quickly. She's only a little over five years old…'
"Mhm. That's a beautiful dream. You'll definitely achieve it. Go for it!"
"Oh, by the way, Belle-Mère, I'm going to go out to sea in a few days. I'll be back in a few months. Is there anything you need at home that I can bring back for you?"
"What?! You're going out to sea?!" The three of them were shocked.
"Little Leno, what is so important that you have to go out to sea? For months, even."
"Yeah, yeah, Leno, what is it?" x2
"To get back something that belongs to me. Don't worry, with my current strength, nobody in the entire East Blue is my match."
Belle-Mère knew a bit about Leno's situation and understood he needed to return home. In truth, Leno was heading to Skypiea to secure the Rumble-Rumble Fruit—and, of course, plenty of gold.
And so, with Leno's decision made, the three of them had no choice but to agree. But the two little ones pouted, their faces full of unhappiness.
Leno, feeling helpless, hugged Nojiko and ruffled Nami's little head. "Don't be sad. When I come back, I'll bring you some delicious food and pretty clothes. How does that sound?"
Two days later, Leno set off on his small boat. Before he left, Nojiko and Nami had tears in their eyes.
"Leno, come back safely!"
"Mhm, I will."
After sailing for a while, Leno was about to put away his boat and fly when his Observation Haki detected a pirate ship sailing toward him.
'This is going to be interesting.'