Their journey down the mountain was smooth. Naru was surprised that Luffy, who was only three, displayed such impressive physical endurance at his age.
It must have been the result of the training with Garp and the many tough physical activities he had done with his family ever since he had learned to walk. It could also be because this was not their first time going down the mountain, following the usual path that Garp had shown them.
Whatever the reason, they reached the foot of the mountain faster than Naru had expected.
Passing by their grandfather's old house, which was currently unoccupied, they could have stopped in since Garp had entrusted Naru with the key. But that was not their destination today.
Once in the village, Naru led her brothers straight to the general store, their usual spot for buying household essentials like rice and wheat flour, items Magra often requested.
It was still an hour before noon, yet the village was already alive with activity. The main street bustled with familiar faces, and the villagers greeted them warmly.
"Garp's grandkids? Are you staying at your grandfather's house today?" a passing villager asked.
"We are here to buy rice and a flower!" Luffy declared confidently, his smile beaming.
As luck would have it, the villager was the owner of the local flower shop. "Oh? A flower, huh? I have everything from tulips to sunflowers!"
"It's flour, not flower," Ace corrected with a sigh, while Naru shook her head in quiet amusement.
"But that's what I said," Luffy replied earnestly, convinced he had spoken correctly. After all, did "flower" and "flour" not sound exactly the same?
Ace decided not to argue. Experience had taught him it was pointless.
Naru addressed the flower shop owner directly. "We need flour for baking bread."
After a few more lighthearted exchanges with the friendly locals, the trio continued to the general store. Upon arrival, the shopkeeper greeted them with an apologetic expression.
"Sorry, kids. We are out of rice and flour at the moment."
Foosha Village, nestled near the sea, was primarily a fishing village. Most goods revolved around seafood. Basic staples like rice and flour had to be imported from inland villages.
Dawn Island was not large, and there were only a few villages scattered across it. One was Okome Village, known for its lush paddy fields and serving as the main rice supplier. Kamiguko Village, nearby, produced wheat and flour. In other words, the general store's supply came directly from these two villages.
"According to the schedule, the next batch of supplies will arrive in three days," the shopkeeper explained.
"Then I suppose I have two options. We can either wait, or go get them myself," Naru responded thoughtfully.
"You could do that. Buying directly from the source might even earn you a discount. After all, five sacks of rice and five sacks of flour aren't exactly a small haul for a young girl like you."
"Thanks for the tip," Naru replied.
"Anytime, kiddo," he said with a smile.
As they stepped back into the sunlight, Naru considered whether to bring her brothers along. Her thoughts were interrupted when Luffy's stomach let out a loud growl. Both she and Ace turned to look at him.
Clutching his belly with a pout, Luffy said, "I'm hungry!"
Well, that decided it.
With a resigned smile, Naru said, "Alright, let's go to Makino's place."
The bar was a cozy establishment run by a family of three who had known the children for years, thanks to Garp's frequent visits. The couple had a daughter seven years older than Naru, and the bar had long been a safe haven for them.
At Partys Bar, Makino, the 15-year-old daughter, was wiping down a table while her parents worked in the kitchen. The bar was quiet, with few customers at this hour.
"Hey there, Naru-chan! What brings you here today?" Makino greeted warmly.
"I'm heading to the other villages to buy some supplies. Can you watch my brothers until I return?" Naru asked, with her brothers already taking a seat and making themselves comfortable.
"Of course!" Makino agreed immediately. No one questioned why an eight-year-old was setting off on such an errand alone. That was simply how things were in the village.
"Thanks, Makino." Naru then turned to her brothers. "If you want to play with the other kids, go ahead. But don't wander far. Ace, I am counting on you to watch over Luffy. Got it?"
"Understood," Ace said seriously.
"Good." Naru pulled out her coin purse, a bright red version of her old Gama-Chan wallet with orange spots. She had purchased it at a local stall on a previous trip. it was a pity that there was no green-coloured frog purse.
She handed a handful of Beri bills to Makino to cover the boys' meals and gave the rest to Ace for any items they might want to buy. Then she left.
She did not strictly need to go herself. When the shopkeeper mentioned the shortage and suggested traveling to neighboring villages, Naru had already intended to send her clones to handle the errands.
Once away from prying eyes, Naru summoned her clones and gave them their instructions. Then she made her way to the secluded beach where she often trained. The sound of the waves was comforting, the rhythm of the tide helping her focus. She found a soft patch of sand, set down her belongings, and took a deep breath, letting the fresh sea air fill her lungs.
Sitting cross-legged, she closed her eyes and focused on her chakra training. The energy flowing through her body was becoming increasingly familiar, easy to manipulate to enhance her senses, strength, and healing abilities. Today, however, she sensed a limitation.
Her power had grown since arriving in this world, but she knew it was not enough. Not nearly enough.
As she continued to meditate, her thoughts darkened. She recalled her conversation with Kurama earlier. The peace of the beach and the hum of the ocean were no longer enough to soothe her worry.
If her family background were revealed, how would Luffy and Ace react? They were young, innocent, and unaware of the dangers lurking beneath the surface. The thought of them caught in the crossfire of the World Government's conflict filled her with unease.
She could protect them, of course. With her chakra and skills, she could shield them from most threats. But for how long? What if the situation escalated beyond her control? What if a day came when even her powers were not enough to keep them safe? She pictured worst-case scenarios, which her enemies being too strong, too clever, too relentless, coming for her and her family.
She could hear their voices in her mind, asking why she had not done more.
No. She could not let that happen.
Her hands clenched into fists, the sand beneath her fingers feeling too soft, too fragile. She had grown comfortable in this world, but she could not afford complacency. She needed to grow stronger, not just for herself, but for Luffy and Ace.
Naru rose to her feet, standing tall on the edge of the sand. The wind tousled her hair, and a surge of determination filled her.
She needed more power, more control, more understanding of her future enemies. Most importantly, she needed a way to keep her family safe.
It was a dangerous world. She might have the strength to face the challenges ahead, but she was not naive enough to think she could do it alone, not with Ace and Luffy by her side.
Her resolve hardened like steel. Whatever it took, whatever sacrifices she had to make, she would do it. She would keep them safe.
With that thought, she closed her eyes again, focusing deeply on her chakra. Her mind sharpened with clarity of purpose. She was already strong, but now she would push herself to become greater, something capable of withstanding any storm that came her way.
The ocean whispered in the distance, its steady rhythm unchanged.
But within her, a storm was already gathering.
This time, she was not just protecting her future.
She was protecting everything.