The morning sun burned gold over Foosha Village, turning the harbor into a sheet of liquid fire. Villagers gathered at the docks, murmuring and waving, their faces a mix of pride and quiet worry.
Shiro stood at the edge of the crowd, arms crossed, watching Luffy bounce like a rubber ball in the center of attention. The boy had found his boat—a ridiculous little dinghy with a goat-head prow that looked like it would sink under a stiff breeze.
Makino handed Luffy a basket packed with food, her smile warm but her eyes glistening. "Be careful out there."
Luffy grinned, hat casting a shadow over his face. "I will! I'm gonna be Pirate King!"
The village chief muttered with a sigh,"another reckless brat, one after another going to seas.," but even he couldn't hide the reluctant fondness.
Shiro caught Luffy's eye across the crowd. The boy waved wildly. "SHIRO! HURRY UP!"
Shiro walked forward at his usual pace, hands in pockets. No rush. The sea wasn't going anywhere.
As he reached the boat, Makino turned to him, her expression more serious. "You really don't have to go, Shiro. You've only been here for two years."
Shiro met her gaze evenly. "This two years made me realize somethings I have to do. Thank you for taking care of me during this time, Makino."
She studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Take care of him."
Shiro's mouth curved ever so slightly as he turned to board the boat. "I will. Someone has to be there to look after his restlessness."
He stepped into the dinghy, which dipped noticeably under his weight. Luffy was already at the prow, pointing dramatically at the horizon.
"A GRAND ADVENTURE AWAITS!" Luffy yelled.
Shiro sat at the back, grabbing an oar casually. "Lets explore East Blue first. There are lots of good places to visit. We have to make sure we don't sink before that."
Luffy gripped his hat, laughing."Shihehehe, You will take care of that."
Shiro rowed smoothly, the boat cutting through the water like it actually knew what it was doing. "But I can only do so much with psychic powers. We have to get a navigator. Can't always rely on my control over waves to escape the danger. For now we can go generally in the direction and see the stars and navigate around at night, learned a few tricks from village chief."
Luffy looked at the sky, which was bright with sun. "The stars are just dots."
Shiro smirked. "Useful dots."
The village shrank behind them, voices fading into wave-slap and gull cries. For the first time, Shiro let his awareness spread fully—no village walls, no trees to limit it.
The ocean answered.
Endless pressure gradients. Schools of fish pulsing like heartbeats. Distant shapes under the waves—curious, hungry, ancient.
His net caught something immediately: three kilometers northeast from their direction. A wooden ship, bigger than their boat. Crude intent with drunken silhouettes.
Shiro almost laughed, muttering somewhat excitedly. "Our first fight at sea."
Luffy perked up. "What?"
"Nothing." Shiro adjusted course slightly. "Row for a bit."
Luffy grabbed the other oar with enthusiasm that nearly capsized them. "Aye, Aye sir!"
The pirates—if you could call them that—waited in a shallow cove, their sloop anchored behind rocks. Fifteen men, poorly armed, reeking of cheap rum even from this distance. They'd spotted the dinghy an hour ago with telescope and assumed easy prey.
Shiro's awareness painted them perfectly: the captain at the prow (looking cocky with arrogant grin), the lookout (bored as if it was just another hunt), the three below deck (drunk), Men working on their weapons and a few resting and cleaning the vessel.
He slowed the boat deliberately, letting it drift into view.
Luffy noticed immediately. "Hey! Those guys look mean!"
Shiro nodded, voice casual. "They think we're easy prey."
Luffy grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Should I punch 'em?"
Shiro tilted his head, eyes scanning without moving. "Your call, Captain. But let's test something first."
Luffy blinked. "Test?"
Shiro closed his eyes. "Yeah. Test the results of your training. These small fries are good for your practice. Close your eyes, watch for their intent and aura and fight."
Luffy's face lit up. He slammed his eyes shut, fists ready. "Like this?!"
The pirates noticed the drifting boat. Shouts carried over the water.
"Easy pickings!" one yelled.
" Hand over your Food and Money!"
Their skiff launched, four men rowing hard, rusty cutlasses glinting.
Shiro didn't open his eyes. His net tracked every splash of oar, every shift of weight.
"Three," he said calmly. "Two. One."
Luffy tensed.
"Now."
The first pirate lunged from the skiff, blade high.
Luffy's eyes stayed shut. His head twitched—a fraction of a second before the strike.
His arm shot out. His Rubber fist stretched. Fist connected with jaw.
The pirate flew backward, skiff rocking wildly.
"WHOA!" Luffy yelled, eyes snapping open. "I felt it! The look like white stones!"
Shiro nodded, still eyes closed. "Good. Again."
Two more jumped aboard, roaring. Shiro looked at them—sloppy, predictable.
He lifted one finger and expanded his telekinesis.
The first man's cutlass froze mid-swing, then bent backward against his own grip. He yelped as its blunt end stuck his head knocking him unconscious.
Shiro flicked his wrist.
The man launched sideways, slamming into the second pirate. They tangled and splashed into the sea.
The skiff spun out of control.
Luffy laughed wildly and jumped on their ship to finish of the remaining pirates. "My turn! Gomu-Gomu no~ Gattling." Fist flew like rain on their bodies. They were smashed in his rubber fist and was sent flying to their deck, some lying unconscious, some falling into the sea.
Shiro opened his eyes. One pirate on their boat staring at the unconscious comrades, frozen.
Shiro stood slowly. "Your turn." He didn't touch him.
The pirate's feet left the deck. He floated—arms flailing, eyes bulging—then sailed backward in a perfect arc, landing on their sloop's deck with a thud.
Silence.
Luffy stared, Then started to jump excitedly, eyes sparkling. "THAT WAS SO COOL! Float me next!"
Shiro exhaled, feeling the familiar drain. Not heavy, but there. "Later. First— lets loot their supplies."
They boarded the sloop easily. Luffy bounded aboard like a monkey, Shiro following with measured steps.
The crew—soggy, terrified—huddled at the back. Their "captain" raised trembling hands.
"W-we surrender! Take what you want! Please let us leave."
Shiro scanned the hold with his awareness: barrels of fish, sacks of grain and meat, a chest of belli, crude weapons. "Pack the Food and belli. Leave the rest."
Luffy was already tearing into the food barrels. "MEAT!"
The pirates nodded frantically, tossing sacks onto their dinghy.
Shiro watched them work, then tilted his head. "Why bother attacking us? You wont get much from us for your crew anyway."
Captain swallowed. "S-small boat. Looked easy and every small gain counts."
Shiro's eyes narrowed slightly. "Next time, pick bigger fish."
The captain nodded like his life depended on it, which it did.
As they rowed away, stuffed with supplies, Luffy chewed happily. "That was fun! We make a good team!"
Shiro adjusted the sails they'd 'borrowed.' "We do."
Luffy looked at him, picking his nose, "Make me something good to eat. I am hungry after work."
Shiro smirked, feeling the wind fill the canvas. "Sure. Wait for sometime."
Shiro and Luffy started eating crudely made edible food, as they continued travelling.
Night fell clean and stars bright on the dark sky. The sloop rocked gently, Luffy snoring at the prow wrapped in blankets.
Shiro sat watch, awareness spread thin but steady.
He felt the power settling now. Two years of control in Foosha—pebbles to barrels, sensing to barriers.
This fight had been the first real test.
He thought. I now have a Defensive barrier, refined Telekinetic control, Spatial awareness which is expanding in range.
He tested it idly—lifting a coin from his pocket, spinning it midair, catching it without looking.
The limitations were clear ~ sustained use drained stamina. High-output bursts caused headaches, sometimes nosebleeds. Range capped at 200 meters so far.
But growth potential?
Endless.
Shiro looked at the sleeping Luffy, then the endless sea.
"Two years of preparation" he murmured. " And this is the beginning."
He closed his eyes, pushing his net outward.
Distant shapes stirred. Fish. Currents. A massive shadow far below—curious, not hungry.
Shiro smiled faintly. because ahead waiting for them is the future strongest swordsman~ Roronoa Zoro.
Next stop, Shells town.
He didn't say it aloud.
But he rowed toward it anyway. He skipped Alvida and Koby part because why bother helping a brat who is going to end up opposing them anyway.
Morning brought choppy waves and Luffy's endless energy.
"WHERE TO NEXT?" Luffy yelled over the wind.
Shiro pointed southeast, reading invisible air currents and waves. "We are going to Shells Town. There is your first crewmate other than me. Future Strongest Swordsman."
Luffy's eyes lit up with excitement. "Whoaa!!! Strong and uses sword. I want him in my crew."
Shiro nodded. "He is a Pirate hunter, But you can convince him anyway." Luffy didn't bother with that and he started eating and playing.
The sloop cut forward, East Blue unfolding like a map. Behind them, the pirates' sloop faded into the haze—empty holds, bruised pride, and a story they'd never tell.