Chapter 55: Luffy Meets Law — Itachi vs. Law
By the time Tea Beard finished his story, Luffy and Usopp were in tears.
"Your master... he's amazing!"
"A truly kind person!"
Tea Beard had explained everything—how he and his crew weren't naturally centaurs. Their transformation was a gift from their master, Caesar.
But before discussing Caesar, Tea Beard had to explain the island's history.
Long ago, Punk Hazard had been a vibrant, living place. Then came the explosion—a catastrophic accident in the laboratory of the genius scientist Vegapunk. The island became a wasteland of poisonous gas, uninhabitable, forbidden.
Two years ago, Tea Beard's pirate crew had been defeated by the supernova "Magician" Hawkins. Tea Beard himself was severely injured and captured by the Marines. Instead of imprisonment, he was exiled to Punk Hazard—sent to die with countless other captured pirates.
The poison gas destroyed their lower bodies. They crawled through the ruins, dying by inches, until their master appeared like a savior.
Caesar cured them. Transplanted beast lower bodies onto their torsos. Gave them strength. Gave them purpose.
From that day, they became the island's guardians.
Luffy and Usopp were completely moved by this tale of salvation.
Robin's expression remained thoughtful.
"When I was with the Revolutionary Army, I heard about an explosion in Vegapunk's New World laboratory." Her voice carried weight. "But it wasn't Vegapunk's fault. It was caused by Caesar—the man they call the world's most evil scientist. He was conducting forbidden experiments."
Luffy and Usopp froze.
Tea Beard's face contorted with rage. "LIES! Our master would never—!"
Itachi listened from his perch on Tea Beard's head, mind working.
Transplanting lower bodies. Creating loyal followers. A hidden laboratory on a forbidden island.
A name rose from his memory.
Orochimaru.
The parallel was unmistakable. The same pattern—a charismatic scientist, forbidden experiments, followers who worshipped their savior without understanding the truth.
"I agree with Robin." Itachi's voice was calm. "Your master is hiding something."
Tea Beard sputtered. "How can you—"
"If his intentions were pure, why conduct experiments here? On an island no one can approach legally?"
Tea Beard had no answer.
Zoro interrupted. "This island's climate—fire and ice. Did your master cause that?"
Tea Beard shook his head, explaining the true cause: the duel between Akainu and Aokiji for the position of Fleet Admiral. Their ten-day battle had permanently transformed Punk Hazard's climate.
"WHAT?!" Usopp's eyes bulged. "TWO ADMIRALS FOUGHT HERE?!"
"Yeah. You didn't know that?" Tea Beard seemed genuinely surprised.
Usopp looked around frantically. "Are they STILL here?!"
Robin smiled—that smile that always made Usopp nervous. "Perhaps."
"TERRIBLE!" Usopp immediately latched onto Itachi's leg.
"Idiot." Zoro shook his head. "They wouldn't stay on this island."
Itachi filed away the information. These two names—Akainu, Aokiji—he'd heard them before. The admirals who'd fought for control of the Marines.
Tea Beard suddenly pointed ahead.
"There! The laboratory!"
A massive structure loomed before them, towers reaching toward the gray sky.
Luffy stood, squinting.
"Are Nami and the others in there?"
Then he saw someone.
A figure. A familiar hat. A long sword.
TRAFALGAR LAW.
"HEY! TRA-GUY!"
Luffy waved frantically, jumping up and down on Tea Beard's head.
Law turned. His calm eyes registered the approaching group—Luffy, Zoro, Robin, Usopp, and an unfamiliar man with strange eyes and tear troughs.
"Straw Hat-ya." Law's voice was flat. "You really are here."
He'd already encountered Nami and the others—fleeing through the laboratory with a group of oversized children.
Luffy jumped down, approaching with his usual lack of caution.
"TRA-GUY! Long time no see! I still owe you!"
During the Paramount War, Law had saved Luffy's life—submarining him away from certain death.
Robin's eyes narrowed. "So he IS the Warlord."
Zoro's attention snapped elsewhere. A woman in glasses, struggling nearby—Tashigi, and behind her, the massive form of Smoker.
"That woman..."
Tashigi, tears streaming down her face, lunged at Law.
"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO VICE ADMIRAL SMOKER?!"
Her sword, Shigure, extended toward Law.
Law raised a single finger.
"ROOM."
The sphere expanded. Law's sword moved.
Tashigi collapsed—not wounded, but transformed. Her body now housed Smoker's heart, and Smoker's body housed hers.
Luffy laughed. "The smoke guy and glasses lady! Are they sleeping?"
Itachi watched closely. That ability—he can manipulate bodies within that space.
He remembered Robin's explanation of the Ope Ope no Mi. This was it. The power to cut and rearrange anything within the operating room.
Usopp spotted the G-5 Marines in the distance, their uniforms unmistakable.
"LUFFY! Marines! We need to move!"
Luffy started, instinctive flight response kicking in. He turned to Law.
"TRA-GUY! Since you're here—I need to ask you something!"
Law pointed past the laboratory.
"Your crew fled in that direction."
Luffy grinned. "You're the best! I owe you another one!"
Law's expression didn't change.
"Don't mention it, Straw Hat-ya. We're both pirates."
He turned toward the laboratory.
"Go. We'll meet again."
Tea Beard, seeing Law, whispered desperately. "Law-dono! Help me!"
Luffy prepared to run—
Itachi stepped forward.
"Law. You can't leave."
Law stopped.
"And you are?"
"Hey, Tear-trough Itachi!" Luffy's eyes went wide. "What are you doing?!"
Itachi's Sharingan had already manifested.
"Instinct. This man is the key to understanding this island."
Law met those crimson eyes—
And the world shifted.
Blood red. Endless. Trapped.
Law's mind reeled. Genjutsu?! What is—
His Haki exploded outward. The red world shattered.
Law raised Kikoku immediately, sweat beading on his forehead despite the cold.
"What did you do to me?!"
Itachi's eyebrow rose slightly.
He broke Tsukuyomi. With Haki.
Interesting.
Wind Forest Fire slid from its sheath.
"Go find Nami. I'll hold him here."
Luffy's face scrunched in conflict. "Itachi! Tra-guy is kind of my friend! Do you have to fight him?"
Law's voice cut through. "Straw Hat-ya. It seems your crewmate doesn't want me to leave."
Robin touched Luffy's arm.
"Law's ability is extremely dangerous, Luffy. If Itachi wants to detain him..."
"I know." Itachi hadn't looked away from Law. "His fruit creates a field. Within that field, he can cut anything—including people—without killing them."
Everyone stared.
"He explained my ability perfectly after one use." Law's eyes narrowed. "You're dangerous."
"We could resolve this peacefully." Itachi's voice remained calm. "You're Luffy's friend. Come with us voluntarily, and there's no conflict."
Law's laugh was cold.
"Ridiculous."
Itachi nodded, accepting this.
"Luffy. Go to Nami. I'll find you, or you'll find me."
"But Itachi—"
"GO."
The command in that single word brooked no argument.
Zoro's lips curved upward.
"Leave it to him, Luffy. This should be interesting."
Luffy exhaled heavily, then nodded.
"We'll come back after we find Nami! BE CAREFUL, ITACHI!"
He ran. Zoro followed. Usopp scrambled after them, casting fearful glances back.
Robin paused, meeting Itachi's eyes.
"Be careful."
Then she was gone.
Itachi faced Law alone.
Law's finger rose.
"ROOM."
The spherical field expanded around them.
"I don't know who you are." Law's voice was cold. "But thinking you can stop me?"
His sword extended.
"That's delusional."
(End of Chapter)
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