The confused group followed Leo's gaze toward the coast. Two figures were walking up the path toward the village.
The first wore a simple red vest and an ordinary-looking straw hat. At that moment, he was grinning from ear to ear, showing off a set of perfect white teeth, his entire being radiating a goofy, carefree energy.
The second had distinctly spiky green hair. The most striking feature, however, was the three swords tucked securely at his waist.
Three-sword style. Rare.
The two men were none other than the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, "Straw Hat" Luffy, and his swordsman, Roronoa Zoro.
Leo's eyes narrowed slightly. He had actually thought they might miss each other, but fate had decided otherwise.
Seeing Luffy, Makino's pupils constricted slightly, and her nerves instantly tightened. She remembered all too clearly the words Leo had spoken back in her bar. She subconsciously clenched her fists, praying silently that this wouldn't escalate into a conflict.
Luffy and Zoro were chatting and laughing as they walked. When they were just a few meters away, Luffy spotted Makino in the group.
"Makino!" he called out, sounding genuinely surprised. "What are you doing here?!"
Makino glanced quickly at Leo before offering Luffy a warm, if slightly strained, smile. "Luffy! It's been a while. I'm... I'm just like you now. I've gone out to sea."
Nani?!
Luffy tilted his head, his face a comical mask of confusion. "Makino... you became a pirate too?!" Even for someone as perpetually cheerful and oblivious as Luffy, this was shocking news. What was going on? He distinctly remembered Makino warning him about the dangers of the outside world and advising him against becoming a pirate. So why now...?
Makino simply nodded in confirmation, choosing not to elaborate.
"Makino, it's time we left," Leo stated, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. He began striding purposefully toward the village exit.
Nami and Kaya, who had no particular interest in Luffy or his crew, followed immediately behind him.
After giving Luffy one last look, Makino also quickened her pace to catch up. Knowing Luffy was safe and sound was enough; she didn't want to linger here.
Luffy scratched his head in bewilderment. Since when did Makino act so strangely? Driven by his innate need to get to the bottom of things, he moved in a blur, using his rubbery limbs to stretch and land directly in front of Makino, blocking her path.
"Makino, what's wrong?!" he pressed, his voice full of concern.
"Get lost!"
A cold, deeply impatient voice cut through the air like a whip.
Leo turned a frosty glare toward Luffy.
Luffy looked at Leo, a frown creasing his forehead. "Hey, what's your problem?! I just wanted to—"
HUM—
The air itself seemed to vibrate. A terrifying, oppressive pressure erupted from Leo's body, instantly engulfing Luffy. It felt like a mountain had been dropped onto his shoulders. Luffy's body buckled under the strain, his face contorting into a grimace of effort and pain.
"Luffy!!" Zoro's expression changed instantly. His hand flew to the hilts of his swords at his waist.
But before he could even draw them, the same invisible, crushing force slammed into him. Just like Luffy, Zoro's movements froze, every muscle in his body straining just to remain standing under the immense pressure.
HUM—
The conquering will intensified, the sheer force of it seeming to leach the color from the very sky.
Usopp, who had been watching the entire exchange, let out a terrified gasp and collapsed to the ground, his face as white as a sheet.
What... what just happened?! he thought, his mind reeling. I was right here! Did I miss a step?!
Both Luffy and Zoro's minds went blank under the onslaught, their heads ringing from the sheer force of the will crashing down on them.
Leo looked coldly at Luffy. While he disliked the rubber-man, he hadn't planned on engaging. But the idiot had insisted on sticking to them like a piece of gum. He'd asked for this.
His gaze then shifted to Zoro. More specifically, to the sword at the green-haired man's side—the high-grade blade, Wado Ichimonji.
He was currently in need of a decent weapon. While the Wado Ichimonji might not be his perfect fit, it was undoubtedly leagues better than the standard-issue cutlass he'd scavenged from a random pirate ship. The quality of his current blade was pathetic.
Just then, a surge of defiant energy erupted from both Luffy and Zoro. Particularly from Luffy; it felt as if some dormant, (formless power) was struggling to awaken within him.
"Hmm?" Leo glanced at Luffy. Awakening his potential right here, right now?!
He wouldn't give them the chance.
Leo's eyes sharpened. A long sword appeared in his hand. He didn't hesitate, simply swung it.
Swish! Swish!
Swish! Swish!
Several razor-sharp flying slashes shot through the air with a sound like tearing cloth, aimed directly at the two struggling figures.
Two deep,(criss-crossed) gashes appeared on Luffy and Zoro's chests. The force of the impact was tremendous, instantly blasting them backward off their feet. A trail of blood spattered across the ground.
Simultaneously, Leo's form vanished. He reappeared beside their flying bodies before they could hit the ground, delivering two precise, powerful chops to their necks.
Luffy and Zoro's eyes rolled back into their heads, and they fell into unconsciousness.
Leo looked down at the two defeated figures, his heart utterly calm. He felt no particular killing intent toward Zoro. As for sparing Luffy, it was entirely for Makino's sake. While he might now hold a higher place in her heart, she had still watched the boy grow up. Teaching him a lesson was one thing; killing him right in front of her would shatter her. That was not an outcome Leo desired.
Besides, Leo had never considered Luffy a real threat to begin with.
Injuries this severe would keep them grounded here, recovering, for a good while. It would be some time before their paths crossed again.
Makino let out a soft sigh and turned to Usopp, who was still trembling on the ground. "Could you please look after them for a while?" she asked gently.
"O-okay," Usopp stammered, agreeing on pure instinct.
Makino then slipped her arm through Leo's, her voice soft. "Let's go."
Leo smiled and nodded.
Nami and Kaya, hand in hand, quickly followed suit.
It was only after Leo and the others had left that Usopp slowly began to recover from his terror. He then smacked his own forehead hard.
Wait a minute! Why did I agree to that?! Their injuries are none of my business! Damn it!
Kaya was gone. His own request to join the crew had been rejected. And now he was stuck with two unconscious burdens.
Usopp's (inner conscience wrestled with practicality), but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to leave the injured Luffy and Zoro lying there. Grumbling under his breath, he hauled them both back to his home, resigning himself to the role of an unwilling nurse.
This story is rewritten version of a famous fanfic so if you find any similarities please dont mind . Thank you .
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T/N :
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