"…"
Little Luffy froze. "I-Is it… because of Grandpa?"
He might have been naïve and innocent, but he wasn't stupid.
"Of course — what else could it be? Just your cute little face?"
Nao laughed as he reached out and pinched Luffy's cheek — soft and squishy, it felt surprisingly nice. "Everyone in the village deeply respects Vice Admiral Garp. So as his grandson, even if you were ugly or the most mischievous brat around, they'd still treat you well."
"Hey, old man!"
Luffy smacked his hand away, frowning. "I'm not a kid anymore — stop pinching my face!"
Nao didn't mind. He calmly poured himself another cup of wine.
"I respect Mr. Garp too. He's been a Marine for over fifty years — starting from nothing, born poor, and climbing all the way up with his own two fists."
"In those fifty years, who knows how many vicious pirates he's taken down with his bare hands…"
"And who knows how many comrades — men who fought and bled beside him — died in battles against pirates."
"Now he's old, burdened with endless responsibilities at Headquarters, yet every year he humbles himself to take months off — traveling thousands of miles just to return to the East Blue — all for the sake of watching over his grandson, hoping you don't take the wrong path."
"If you were in his shoes, Luffy…"
Nao downed the rest of his drink, turned with a smile, and looked straight at the boy.
"How would you feel if your grandson kept shouting that he wanted to become the very thing you hated most — a pirate, with hands stained by the blood of your fallen comrades? If he wanted nothing more than to stay here enjoying the privileges that come from your name, living an easy, carefree life…?"
"Sir White Dragon."
Makino, who had been polishing a glass behind the bar, finally spoke up, frowning. "Aren't you being a bit harsh? Luffy's just a seven- or eight-year-old child."
"But isn't he always shouting that he's already grown up? That we should stop treating him like a kid?"
Nao chuckled and took another sip.
"…"
Makino had no response.
In fact, Luffy had just said that moments ago when his face got pinched.
"Remember this, Luffy."
Setting down his cup, Nao turned back to him. The boy was digging at his nose, frowning in thought.
"Rights and responsibilities always go hand in hand.
A man's sense of responsibility isn't just toward himself — it's toward his family, his friends, and everyone who cares about him."
"If a man can't even develop that basic sense of responsibility — if he spends his life lazy and careless — then he's not fit to be a Marine."
Luffy hung his head in shame, speechless.
After a long moment—
"I understand now, Uncle Nao…"
The little guy looked up, fists clenched.
"It was my fault for making Grandpa angry last time. Next time he comes to train me, I won't complain! I… I…"
He swung his tiny fist through the air, eyes blazing.
"I won't let Grandpa down again! No— I'll surpass him and become the world's greatest Marine!"
"No."
"Don't worry, Uncle Nao— huh?" Luffy blinked mid-sentence, staring blankly. "No?"
"No." Nao shook his head slightly. "You still haven't understood what I said, Luffy. I told you — you're far from qualified to be a Marine."
"What?! But I just said I'd take responsibility like a real man!"
Luffy shouted angrily, "Don't underestimate me, old man! There's a saying in the East Blue — 'A man's word can't be taken back, not even by four giant Sea Kings!' Once I've said it, I'll do it!"
…Bullshit.
Since when did the East Blue have a saying like that?
That was something Garp made up years ago while trying to impress Vice Admiral Tsuru — and somehow it actually caught on?
Nao grumbled inwardly but kept a straight face.
"Let's put aside whether you've really grasped the meaning of responsibility. I said you're not qualified to be a Marine because you lack three key things — responsibility is just one of them."
"Three?!"
Luffy stared, wide-eyed. "What are the other two?"
"Reason," Nao said with a smile, raising two fingers. "That's the second thing you're missing. Just look at yourself — I threw out a few provoking words, and you got all fired up, shouting about becoming the greatest Marine ever. That's acting on impulse, not reason."
"A true Marine must have courage and passion."
"But courage doesn't mean recklessness, and passion doesn't mean throwing your brain away."
He pointed at himself.
"Today, I say a few words and you get all fired up about justice and the Marines. Tomorrow, some pirate could plop an old straw hat on your head and suddenly you'll be shouting, 'I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!'"
"Huh? The Pirate King's a woman?"
"Don't interrupt."
Nao flicked Luffy's forehead in annoyance.
"The point is, if you want to be a good Marine, you can't just charge in without thinking."
"If you were a pirate, fine — at worst, a few crewmates would get dragged into your mess. Maybe you'd all be lucky and survive."
"But Marines are different. You'd have thousands of comrades beside you. One reckless impulse from you could mean countless brothers-in-arms dying for your mistake. If you step onto a battlefield without understanding that… the cruel reality will teach you."
Nao's gaze softened, but his tone remained firm — earnest and sincere.
Indeed — when he had still been just an ordinary young man, he had loved the story of One Piece:
he loved the Straw Hat crew's romantic pursuit of their dreams, and he had often been moved by Luffy's fearless defiance and burning passion.
But before he crossed into this world, he had only been a reader — a spectator.
After crossing over, he was now a Marine, a senior officer.
His position, his responsibilities, and his way of viewing things were inevitably different.
Even back when he was still just a reader, his feelings toward Luffy had changed — from admiration to gradual disappointment.
The Luffy from "two years ago" was naïve and innocent like a child.
He often acted on impulse and charged forward without thinking, yet he also possessed extraordinary strategic awareness and battle instinct.
He could truly be described as "wise beneath the foolishness."
Combined with his protagonist's luck and his status as Garp's grandson, those traits were what had allowed him to repeatedly escape disaster and continue his grand adventure with his crew.
But even in a hot-blooded shōnen story, a hero still has to grow up.
Because of his recklessness and weakness—
After striking a Celestial Dragon, he could only watch helplessly as Bartholomew Kuma sent his friends flying one by one, scattering the Straw Hats to the winds…
Because of his recklessness and weakness—
At Marineford, amidst titans and gods of battle, he was as insignificant as dust.
He could only watch as Ace died saving him — screaming to the heavens, powerless and broken.
After all of that—
Luffy secluded himself for two years of harsh training before setting sail again.
Nao had hoped that Luffy's growth would not only be in strength — but also in spirit.
Spiritual growth doesn't mean changing one's personality.
Luffy could still laugh and joke with his crewmates, still fall asleep standing up, still gawk at robots with Usopp and Chopper — eyes sparkling, body twisting like noodles in excitement…
To endure countless trials yet preserve a pure, childlike heart — that was admirable.
To grow from a boy into a man, becoming mature and reliable while remaining cheerful and sincere — that would have been ideal.
But unfortunately…
From the Whole Cake Island arc to the Wano arc, what Nao saw was still the same carefree Luffy — charging recklessly at powerful enemies without a second thought for his crew's safety.
He had achieved only half of what growth meant.
He hadn't become mature or dependable.
…
After saying all that, Nao refilled his glass again, but didn't continue.
"Um, Mr. White Dragon…"
Smoker, sitting at the nearby table, spoke up hesitantly.
"You said people shouldn't act impulsively, that blind hot-bloodedness is dangerous — but nine years ago, when you were still a recruit, didn't you go after the Warlord William and— ow!"
Smoker suddenly inhaled sharply, and Hina across from him withdrew her foot from under the table with an expressionless face.
"Oh, that incident."
Nao thought for a moment, then shrugged casually.
"I was confident I could beat him — and in the end, he did die by my hand… hmm? Is there a problem with that?"
"…"
Smoker froze, then shook his head like a rattle drum.
"No problem. None at all."
Yeah, better shut up.
After all, you were the only recruit who could beat a Warlord of the Sea.
So whether that counted as being "hot-headed" or "fully confident"…
Whatever you say, sir.
Smoker's gaze drifted toward Luffy again.
The little guy was scrunching up his face like a monkey, thinking hard, but after a while, he still looked completely lost.
"'Courage doesn't mean recklessness… and passion doesn't mean throwing your brain away…'"
"What does that even mean?"
"If you can't figure it out yet, don't worry about it."
Nao laughed and ruffled Luffy's hair. "You can think about it when you're older. Just remember the words."
There was no need to hammer the point in.
Luffy was still just a child — Nao never expected a seven-year-old to truly grasp those lessons now.
He only hoped that, if the boy really did become a Marine one day, before he ever acted recklessly, he would remember these words from this day — spoken here, in Windmill Village's little tavern.
"…Okay then."
Luffy nodded reluctantly, his face scrunched in frustration.
His mind was still tangled in what Nao had said, but he didn't resist when the man patted his head again.
"Then what about the third thing, Uncle? You said if I want to become an excellent Marine, I'm missing three things — what's the third?"
"The third, huh…"
Nao rubbed his chin, debating whether to tell him so soon — then suddenly frowned, as if sensing something, and turned to look toward the door.
"What is it, Uncle?"
Luffy stood up too and peeked outside, but saw nothing.
"What are you looking at?" he asked curiously.
"Nothing…"
Nao smiled and shook his head, lifting his glass for another sip.
Interesting.
So fate really had a sense of humor…
Even though he had arrived in Windmill Village at least half a year earlier than Red-Haired Shanks had in the original story, he still ended up running into that legendary man.
Was this a subtle shift in destiny's path — or were those guys just naturally active around these seas, dropping by from time to time anyway?
"Nothing?"
Luffy had the feeling that Nao was hiding something from him, but didn't press.
He just rolled the booger he'd just picked into a little ball, flicked it away, and eagerly went back to the earlier topic.
"Forget it."
Nao drained the rest of his drink, then smiled.
"As for the third thing… well, it's not really something kids should hear. When you've grown up — if you really become a Marine and meet me again — then I'll tell you."
"Not for kids?"
Luffy froze, then shouted in protest, "Hey, hey, hey! Uncle! What kind of reason is that? You can't just stop halfway through! If you don't tell me, I won't be able to sleep tonight!"
"Tell me, Uncle! Tell me!!"
He grabbed Nao's shoulders and shook them hard, but Nao remained completely unmoved, simply smiling and shaking his head.
"Even if I told you now, you wouldn't take it seriously. Better to wait until you're older."
Hmph!
What a mean old man!
Frustrated that his curiosity was left unsatisfied, Luffy puffed up his cheeks, crossed his arms, and sat back down.
Seeing this, Makino smiled and placed a cup in front of him—
A cup of fresh milk.
Luffy's eyes lit up immediately, drool forming at the corners of his mouth. He eagerly accepted it, but then, after a moment's hesitation, pushed the glass back.
"Eh? Luffy?" Makino blinked.
"This is for kids!"
Luffy tried hard not to look at the warm, fragrant milk, turning his head stubbornly.
"I'm not a kid anymore, Makino! I want to drink what they're drinking—"
He pointed dramatically at the nearby Marines.
"Give me a glass of booze!"
"Don't be ridiculous."
Makino flicked her finger against Luffy's forehead with a snap!
"Ow ow ow ow!" Luffy yelped, clutching his head while the Marines burst into laughter, enjoying the scene.
The tavern was filled with cheerful, lively air.
Makino glared at him, pretending to be stern.
"No alcohol until you're an adult! Besides, with so many guests here today, all the wine's already sold out. There isn't any—"
BOOM!
Before she could finish, a loud crash suddenly shook the tavern.
Makino jumped in fright and looked up toward the source of the sound.
—The tavern's swing doors had been kicked half off their hinges.
In the dim evening light outside, a dark, hulking crowd could be seen gathering.
"So these are the so-called Marines? Every one of them looks like a brainless fool."
A deep, rough voice spoke as a tall, broad-shouldered figure stepped over the broken doors, entering the tavern with slow, heavy steps.
Behind him, his men followed closely, one after another.
"Hey, that's—"
"Shh! Quiet!"
Many of the remaining customers went pale, cold sweat running down their faces.
Some even scooted their chairs backward until they were pressed against the wall in fear.
—Because the newcomers were unmistakably a gang of towering, vicious mountain bandits.
"Heh. Guess we've been recognized."
Their leader was dressed like a wandering swordsman, with a tattered kimono and a sheathed blade at his waist.
His eyes swept across the room, landing on the Marines—who had been laughing seconds ago but were now frozen in shock.
A smirk tugged at his lips, full of disdain. He didn't bother with them and headed straight toward the bar.
Only to be stopped—by something like a mountain.
"Huh?"
The bandit chief finally noticed Nao standing in his way.
Looking at the man's massive back, he frowned.
Where did this giant come from? How could someone be that tall?
Click.
A soft sound came from nearby—Smoker lighting another cigar.
Expressionless, he exhaled a cloud of smoke and glanced toward Nao, waiting for his signal.
The meaning was clear.
Nao just smiled and shook his head.
...
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