Under the setting sun, the sea sparkled with shimmering light, and the boy and girl smiled at each other.
"Let's create a new era together!"
"Mhm."
The afterglow of the setting sun illuminated their clasped fists, freezing the boy and girl's dream in that moment.
It's beautiful, isn't it?
However, Orochimaru, whose collar was being simultaneously clutched by both of them, struggled forward with his body bent, yet could only tread in place.
"I'm telling you!!!! Doesn't anyone care about my feelings!!!! Don't just put me in a flashback without my permission!!!!"
Time flew by, and in a blink of an eye, it was the day the Red Hair Pirates were about to set sail. The sun was bright that day, and Luffy decided to secretly sneak onto Shanks's ship to embark on an adventure.
Luffy carefully snuck onto Shanks's ship, hiding in a corner, his heart filled with excitement and nervousness.
That is, if he hadn't been clutching Orochimaru's coattail tightly, while Orochimaru was desperately trying to climb out, muttering repeatedly: "Don't take me with you!!!"
Luffy quickly covered Orochimaru's mouth, whispering: "Shhh!!!! Shanks and his Crewmates will be back and we'll be discovered."
Orochimaru, with a face devoid of life, had his mouth covered and could only obediently squat with Luffy. ಥ ◡ ಥ
It seemed like there was also a pervert who dragged him to peep into the women's bathhouse back then... Why does everyone have to bring him along... And why do I have to follow?
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By the time Orochimaru came to his senses, he was already being held by Shanks, while Luffy was flailing in the other hand, a look of unwillingness on his face.
But the farewell still arrived.
The Red Hair Pirates' ship slowly sailed out of the harbor, heading towards the unknown sea... Orochimaru silently watched, not knowing what he was thinking, then turned and left... I'm leaving... (Ò ‸ Ó ||)
"Luffy... please release the collar that chokes the throat of my destiny."
"I won't... We'll wait for Shanks to come back together, and you have to call me Big Brother!"
"Alright, Luffy, I understand, Luffy. Is there a possibility that they just left, and we can come back in a few days?"
Some time later, as night was about to fall, the Red Hair Pirates returned to Foosha Village, everyone's faces grim.
Only Luffy was loudly calling out for Uta.
"Uta! Where's Uta... Shanks... Where's Uta... Did something happen to Uta?" Luffy's voice became choked with emotion as he spoke.
Shanks forced a smile, his palm resting on his head. "Don't worry, Luffy, Uta just disembarked to become a singer, that's all."
Luffy slapped Shanks's hand away. "You're lying, it's impossible. She likes Shanks the most, how could she disembark!!! Something must have happened."
"Answer me, Shanks," Luffy cried, tugging at Shanks's clothes, questioning him.
Orochimaru walked over, slapped Luffy on the head, hoisted him onto his shoulder, and used Shanks's outer coat to wipe the snot and tears from Luffy's face.
"Let's go, Luffy, it's getting dark and Makino will worry."
"But, Uta... Uta," Luffy was still shedding tears.
Orochimaru said nothing, but gave Red-Haired Shanks a deep look, speaking to him actively for the first time.
"My foolish brother has caused you trouble. Are you sure your choice is truly everyone else's choice too? If you truly don't care, why are your Companions also so pained? If you wish to protect love, hatred will inevitably extend from it. Your self-righteous kindness to her will surely bring her pain."
After saying that, he carried Luffy away, went back to clean Luffy up, and used a towel to dry his hair.
"Don't cry, Luffy, things don't always go as planned. Everyone has their own unspeakable secrets, just like you never ask about mine, right? Aren't you very fond of Red Hair? Then you must believe in his choice. As long as she's alive, there will be a time to meet again."
Later, Luffy didn't ask anything else, pestering Shanks to go to sea. To prove his manliness, he even used a small knife to carve a scar under his eye (･ □ ´ ･ ｷ）
"I'm not afraid of getting hurt!! I'm very strong! My fists are as powerful as pistols!"
"Oh~ Is that so (ᄑ _ ᄑ)," Red Hair mumbled while chewing on his fried rice.
"What do you mean by that tone!!!" Luffy roared with a shark face.
Shanks, chewing on fried rice, ate something that made his face turn red. "Water... water." A pale hand reached out a glass of seemingly clear drinking water. Shanks promptly drank it, then spat it out.
"So salty!!!" He turned his shark face towards the person wiping plates at the bar. "Orochimaru!! Don't spoil Luffy so much!"
"Oh~ Is that so (ᄑ _ ᄑ)"