Chapter 11: Ninjutsu MasterAfter hearing this, Shien thought, "Isn't this just being directionally challenged?" He then looked at Zoro with a smug expression in his eyes.Luffy was blunt: "What are you doing? So you were just lost!"Upon seeing Shien's look and hearing Luffy's words, Zoro immediately flushed red and retorted: "No... don't say that!"Then, he looked at Shien and asked why he had set out to sea."Shien, Luffy wants to become the Pirate King, and I have my own dream. What about you? Why did you set out to sea, and why did you agree to Luffy's request?"Hearing this, Shien began to ponder, "That's right, why did I come here, and why did I agree to Luffy's request?"Hearing this question, Luffy also sat up; he was very curious about Shien's dream as well.Suddenly, Shien remembered that inexplicable multiple-choice question and what that mysterious person had said to him.He then looked at Luffy and Zoro with a firm gaze."As for me, I want to fight against all kinds of enemies. No matter what they are, no matter who they are, I will use Ninjutsu to defeat them and prove my strength! Therefore, my dream is to challenge all the experts in the world and defeat them!"At this moment, the corners of Zoro's mouth curled into a smile. Only now did he feel that Shien had truly become one of them.Luffy also said happily: "Haha, challenging all the experts in the world? That's not an easy path, but that's what a partner of the Pirate King should be!"After clarifying his future path, Shien felt his mind clear up; clearly, his mental power had improved further.After confirming that Shien wouldn't leave, Zorobegan to tease Luffy: "Good grief, don't you also lack navigation skills? And you're a pirate on top of that—if others found out, they'd laugh themselves to death. Besides, the way we're going, we'll never find the 'Grand Line'! We need to find a navigator to join our crew as soon as possible!"Hearing this, Luffy immediately chimed in: "We also need to find a cook and a musician..."Zoro retorted: "Forget about that for now!"Seeing the topic end, Luffy, who had been fine just a moment ago, suddenly lay down on the bed, clutching his stomach and crying out in hunger."I'm starving... Shien, can't you really give me something to eat?""No, Luffy, we..."Before Shien could finish, Luffy interrupted: "Stingy, so stingy..."Just as Luffy was making a fuss, he saw a bird flying overhead. Thinking about eating that bird, he shut his mouth.Seeing that Luffy was no longer making a fuss, Shien focused on studying Ninjutsu knowledge. After all, he felt that a major battle would occur before long.He attributed this feeling to a sixth sense gained after his mental power had improved, so he didn't see Luffy's movements.Zoro was also lying to the side to conserve his energy."Gum-Gum... Rocket!"Luffy reached out and grabbed the mast, then released it, launching his entire body forward rapidly.Seeing this, Shien put away his scroll, and Zoroopened his eyes.They had originally thought Luffy could knock the bird down to get some food, but they never expected him to be carried away by it. And it was flying off into the distance.Seeing this situation, Zoro and Shien began to row faster; otherwise, if Luffy broke free from the bird's beak, he would fall into the sea and drown."Huh?""What's going on!"Both Zoro and Shien were speechless at this guy.So, Zoro began rowing with all his might, while Shien used Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu to speed up the boat's movement.At this moment, Luffy was yelling from the sky: "No! Help! Shien! Zoro! Save me!" Obviously, he also knew the consequences of falling.As for Zoro, with Shien using Ninjutsu to increase the boat's speed, he only needed to watch the direction from the front."What an idiot! What on earth is he doing! That guy Luffy!""Forget it, Zoro, don't you know his personality by now!"Seeing Shien say this, Zoro kept his eyes glued to Luffy, preventing him from leaving his sight."Hey, stop the boat!""Stop the boat in front!"Hearing the cries for help, Zoro was very shocked. He had originally intended to chase after Luffy, but he hadn't expected anyone to be calling for help here."Why did someone have to fall into the water at this exact moment!""Hey, this boat won't stop. If you want to get on, climb up yourselves." Shien said from the back of the boat; after all, he was only barely keeping up with Luffy by using Ninjutsu to accelerate. If he really stopped, Luffy would have disappeared long ago.The three people in the sea were also quite surprised; they hadn't expected the other party to say that."Huh? You've got to be kidding!"Seeing that Shien and the others had no intention of stopping, they knew it was for real. Helplessly, they had to obediently comply. The three of them used all their strength to finally climb onto the boat."Heh, you actually managed to climb up.""Not bad, it seems you have very good physiques to be able to catch up after soaking in the water for so long."Zoro was surprised by this; one had to know that this boat was moving very fast. It seemed that people had great energy when in life-or-death situations. Shien, for his part, was impressed by their physical strength."So you wanted us to die!"The three people who boarded the boat included one wearing a hat, one with a strange hairstyle, and a fat man on the edge. Clearly, Shien and Zoro's words made them realize that the previous comment was just talk—they hadn't really intended for them to get on."Huff, huff, what a rough bunch of people."These people lay beside Shien, panting; they were clearly recovering their strength.Seeing that their strength had recovered enough, they held knives to Shien's neck and shouted at Zoro."Hey! Stop the boat. We are subordinates of 'Buggy the Clown'! And if you don't stop, we'll kill this pretty boy!"Zoro looked at them and said indifferently: "Oh?!"The next second, the three of them were covered in bumps, rowing the boat to help."Hahaha, so you are the legendary 'Pirate Hunter' Mr. Zoro... We are sorry, we didn't recognize your greatness. We accidentally hit your partner's hand with our heads; it's our fault." The one wearing the hat in the middle said with a fawning smile.Shien came to the front of the boat and started eating food with Zoro. Because of the time spent beating those guys up, they had lost track of Luffy. Shien and Zoro decided to just let these three act as manual labor to row the boat, while they took the opportunity to eat something and recover their strength."You made us lose our friend! You keep rowing forward. If that kid sees land, he'll definitely fall down on his own!" After saying this, Zoro continued to eat his large piece of meat on the bone.Shien, on the other hand, was curious about why they were here. According to the information he had seen in the Marine Base earlier, Buggy the Clown's strength was considered top-tier in the East Blue. As his subordinates, although he didn't know how strong they were, ordinary people were definitely no match for them."Speak! Why did you pirates end up falling into the sea?"Seeing the pretty boy ask this, the one wearing the hat replied."Good question! Please listen to us! It's all because of that woman! That's right! It was that woman who harmed us! And she was very cute, too!"Seeing the three of them with lecherous expressions, Shien was speechless. He helplessly clenched his fists. Seeing that Shien's killing intent had risen, they put away their lecherous looks and continued their story."Oh, oh, the story goes like this... It happened after we successfully looted a merchant ship."Then, the three of them recounted their recent experience.Originally, the three of them were riding in a small boat, with a treasure chest full of riches on board."Hee hee hee hee! Now we're rich!"The three gathered around the treasure chest and took out the piles of jewelry inside to look at them."Who would have thought such a small merchant ship would have so many treasures. Captain Buggywill definitely reward us!"Suddenly, the pirate wearing the hat saw a lone boat drifting on the sea."Hmm? That boat is a bit strange."He observed carefully and discovered a person lying on the side of the boat, who had obviously passed out."There's someone collapsed inside."Seeing this, the three quickly steered their boat over and discovered that the person on the boat was a young girl with orange hair who looked very pretty. She was lying pale on the side of the boat, motionless."Huh? It's a woman!""Hey, what's wrong with you? Are you still alive?"Upon hearing the voice, the girl slowly raised her head and looked at them weakly."Ah... I'm not dreaming. To actually meet people in the middle of the ocean..."It looked like this girl had encountered a shipwreck or was fleeing.Then she continued: "No... no matter who you are, please... please give me a glass of water... water... if possible... please also give me... a piece of bread... I... I'm in distress... Money... I'll give you as much as you want... Please... please save me."The girl finished her request intermittently; it turned out she really had been in distress and drifted here.The three pirates' eyes widened even more when they saw the treasure chest; if they handed both chests over to Captain Buggy, wouldn't their status be able to rise even further?"Help you! No problem! But you have to let us see that treasure chest first!""Please... please take it, it's... it's all here. I... I want water!"Obviously, they weren't stupid enough not to check first, but unfortunately, their intelligence was limited, and all three of them went onto the girl's small boat."Hey, wait, we need to confirm the treasure chest first! Little girl!""That's right, anyway, we are the only ones who can save you!"Just as the three pirates were checking the treasure chest, the girl's voice came from behind them. But this time, unlike her previous weak tone, her voice was much more energetic and even carried a hint of playfulness."Hee hee, if you like it! That boat is yours too!"Only then did the three pirates realize they had been tricked. They turned back and discovered that their boat had already been sailed far away. Even more crucially, this treasure chest was empty!Just as the three pirates wanted to give chase, the girl stopped and began to observe the weather."There are black clouds hovering at low altitude in the southern sky, and cold air is appearing ahead. It will start pouring rain soon."After the girl finished speaking, a dark cloud really did appear above the three's boat.The girl wasn't finished: "And there's a gale coming, small boat please be careful, don't get blown over by the gale!"A few seconds later, a torrential rain began to fall from beneath the dark cloud, and a gale blew up, completely capsizing the three's boat."As I expected."Then she raised the sails and took advantage of the wind to quickly leave the area."I'll take the treasure, bye-bye!"The three, drenched like drowned rats, could only shout in place as they watched the sailboat sail away."You... you bastard! How dare you plot against us! You female thief, don't you dare run!"
