Chapter 279: Luffy: Naruto, Be My Nakama!
"So that's how it is. Nami, hurry up and pay them."
Luffy tilted his head and urged the orange-haired beauty, then turned and said, "You're a good person."
First time meeting, a total stranger, yet willing to help others.
Definitely a good person.
"Hahaha, I'm not that good. I just don't want someone to suffer a big loss over something so small."
Naruto scratched his head, a little embarrassed by such straightforward praise. Casually, he asked, "By the way, are you guys noble-class players?"
They weren't wearing any village insignias.
And the orange-haired girl and the scholarly woman with the book didn't look like ninjas, but they clearly weren't ordinary civilians either.
That only left one possibility—nobles.
"We're nothing like those noble jerks."
Luffy frowned immediately at the mention of nobility, reminded of the arrogant, cruel aristocrats of the pirate world who treated commoners like dirt.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. We're pirates and adventurers! I'm gonna become the Pirate Adventure King!"
Ever since freeing himself from the will of Nika—
Luffy had yearned for great adventures across countless worlds. He didn't just want to be the freest man in the pirate world—he wanted to be the Adventure King of all realms.
"Pirates? You guys are thieves?"
This time it was Naruto's turn to be surprised.
Even from this brief conversation, he could tell these people didn't seem like bad guys. But who on earth would admit so openly to being criminals?
There were pirates in the ninja world too—
They loitered around the seas near the Hidden Mist, mostly rogue ninjas and wandering samurai who preyed on civilians. They were outcasts, rejected and despised by all.
"Yep, we're pirates and adventurers."
Talking about his dream, Luffy threw an arm around Naruto's shoulder and laughed, "I'll become the Pirate Adventure King! Only the freest person in the world can earn that title."
"The freest pirate?"
Naruto's heart sank a bit.
Such ambition. To be the most unrestrained in robbing civilians? He couldn't allow something like that.
That was what he thought… but it was strange.
He didn't sense any evil aura from the Straw Hat Pirates or their companions.
"They're saying the most evil things…"
Naruto couldn't help but mentally grumble.
Even before becoming a Reincarnation Game player, he'd been able to sense the aura around people—whether good or evil.
It was faint at first,
But later, after unlocking Sage Mode and Nine-Tails Chakra Mode via the game, that sense expanded and sharpened significantly.
Eventually—
He bought an item called [Light of Baptism] from the game store and officially changed classes to a [Paladin], gaining mastery over holy energy—and maxing out his evil detection ability.
Through that perception—
The Straw Hat crew's hearts were even purer than his own. How could people like that possibly be pirates?
"If I'm not mistaken, you're not from our world, are you?"
Robin, the calmest and most insightful of them all, had noticed the disconnect in their conversation.
"In our pirate world," she explained, "while many pirates do commit evil deeds, some simply sail in pursuit of dreams. They're labeled pirates but are more accurately adventurers now."
In other words, the Straw Hats weren't part of the villain faction.
"Is that so!?"
Naruto fell silent for a moment, the last of his reservations melting away. His eyes lit up with stars as he slapped his chest and said, "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, a ninja. My favorite food is ramen!"
He paused—
Then raised his voice slightly, not wanting to be outdone by Luffy, and declared, "My dream is to become Hokage! The Hokage is the protector of the village—someone recognized and admired by all!"
"HAHAHAHA! That's an awesome dream!"
As fate would have it—
Luffy also had the ability to sense good and evil, much like Roger's "Voice of All Things."
Maybe it was just a hot-blooded shonen protagonist thing.
Though it was their first meeting,
Their eyes locked with instant understanding—like long-lost brothers reunited, the kind that would gladly stay up all night talking about life.
"Naruto, be my nakama!"
Luffy grinned ear to ear and said, "Come with us! Let's go on adventures in other worlds and hunt monsters together!"
The rest of the Straw Hat crew, already walking down the wide city streets, heard Luffy's shout and didn't even flinch.
They were used to it.
Luffy's dream wasn't just to be Pirate King—it was to gather all sorts of amazing comrades.
Now, faced with a mysterious ninja he'd never seen before—
Of course he'd want to invite him on board.
Naruto shook his head, declining, "Sorry. It sounds fun, but I want to protect my village."
Luffy wasn't upset by the rejection. Instead, he asked excitedly, "That's too bad! But hey—can you breathe fire?"
Naruto scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "I'm a Wind-Style ninja, but… I guess I can still do a basic fireball."
"Really?"
Chopper's eyes sparkled. "What about shuriken? Can you throw those too!?"
"That's basic ninja school stuff! I was the top of my class!"
Naruto started off a bit shy but got more and more into it as he spoke, even beginning to brag.
Suddenly—
A cold voice interrupted him from behind. "Is that so? You were top of the class? Then what does that make me—the dead last?"
Wearing all black, with a sword case strapped to his back, Sasuke had arrived.
"You were supposed to trade those monster remains for supplies. I didn't think you'd be slacking off."
"I wasn't slacking! I just made some new friends and… kinda forgot," Naruto said, face flushing red.
His bragging had been overheard by someone who knew the truth—utterly mortifying.
Quickly changing the subject, he turned to the Straw Hats. "This is Uchiha Sasuke, my comrade. We're both ninjas from Konoha."
"Hmph."
Sasuke shot Naruto a cold look, especially at the way he'd been arm-in-arm with Luffy. "Am I interrupting something?"
Social butterfly… even running errands turns into a chance to make new friends?
"No, you're just in time!"
Naruto, oblivious to Sasuke's tone, laughed and pulled him over. "This is Luffy. They're players from the pirate world. That's Zoro, Sanji…"
The moment Sasuke appeared—
Zoro's eyes were already locked on the sword strapped to his back—or more precisely, on the sword case.
If his guess was right—
That sword case was at least of purple-grade rarity.
And any blade protected by a case like that definitely wasn't ordinary.
Naruto's friend—this guy called Sasuke—must be a swordsman too.
"Uchiha Sasuke."
Sasuke introduced himself without prompting,
While simultaneously sizing up the green-haired man.
Three swords?
Each one of impressive quality. And the aura he gave off—it was the pure, honed edge of a true swordsman.
"Roronoa Zoro."
Zoro grinned, flashing his white teeth—
Like he'd just laid eyes on a worthy rival.
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