The Sled Sheep Cart screeched to a halt on the snowy ground of Cocoa Village, spraying a shower of snowflakes.
Giyu jumped down from the cart with Vivi and Usopp, his gaze immediately drawn to Zoro standing at the restaurant entrance.
He also spotted the tall figure standing before Zoro, and the conspicuous blue-nosed reindeer behind her.
"It's her, she's this country's only doctor - Dr. Kureha," Dalton said with certainty upon seeing Dr. Kureha in front of the restaurant, addressing Giyu and the other two.
The identified Dr. Kureha adjusted her sunglasses, her eyes sweeping over Dalton before settling on the large group beside him.
Her tone carried a hint of teasing: "Well, Dalton, what's all this? Such a grand procession, bringing a bunch of unfamiliar faces to see me."
Vivi immediately realized this was the doctor they had been searching for!
She hurried forward several steps, grasping the Witch Doctor's hands as she pleaded earnestly: "Are you Dr. Kureha? Please, my friend is very sick, it's serious. Please help her!"
Dr. Kureha raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, her gaze shifting between Vivi and Giyu who had just gotten off the cart: "Looks like you're all together, huh? Quite the lively bunch."
Before she finished speaking, the reindeer that had been curiously peeking seemed frightened by the sudden crowd and swiftly retreated behind Kureha's legs.
It only dared to peek out with half its head and those big eyes, cautiously observing these unfamiliar humans.
Especially that green-haired guy with three swords and that pale-faced black-haired man - they looked more like pirates.
However, in the next instant, Dr. Kureha's gaze locked firmly onto Giyu who had just steadied himself.
Her lazy expression vanished completely. Without waiting for Giyu to say anything, she dashed right up to him, moving with speed unbelievable for a woman rumored to be 140 years old.
One hand pressed directly against Giyu's forehead while the other unceremoniously pulled open his collar. Then she lowered her head and pressed her ear against Giyu's chest.
"!?"
Giyu hadn't expected such direct action from her. His body instinctively stiffened slightly, but sensing no malice in her movements, he forcibly suppressed the urge to retreat.
After just a few seconds, Kureha lifted her head, her expression turning unusually serious. Pointing at the simple sheep cart, she commanded Giyu:
"Kid, stop standing there dumbfounded, lie back down!"
Giyu could hear the certainty in her tone. She was this island's only doctor, combined with that underlying uncertainty about his own physical condition deep inside.
He didn't argue with the Witch Doctor's words, instead silently climbing onto the sheep cart and lying down.
This left Usopp and Vivi watching in stunned disbelief. "Huh? What's wrong with him?"
Dr. Kureha's actions remained completely unabashed as her hands swiftly moved over Giyu's chest, abdomen, and arms, pressing and probing.
As her examination progressed, her frown deepened, her expression growing increasingly grim.
"You kid..."
She murmured to herself, finally stopping her movements and looking at the gathered crowd, her tone somewhat heavy: "That orange-haired girl you mentioned earlier—I haven't seen her, so I don't know her condition. But..."
Her gaze returned to Giyu, and she said gravely: "But haven't you noticed how dangerous the condition of this guy beside you is?"
"What?!"
Vivi was startled, then looked incredulously at Giyu, who lay expressionless in the sheep cart:
"How could... Mr. Giyu... He just seems to have a slight fever now, his body should still be fine!"
Giyu immediately spoke up to refute, his voice still calm but carrying a barely noticeable breathlessness: "I'm fine, just a slight fever."
Dr. Kureha listened to his words as if hearing something ridiculous, shaking her head vigorously:
"Fever? Your current body temperature is ridiculously high, and that's just the surface issue!"
Her voice rose slightly as she pointed at Giyu's left shoulder and his severed right arm, then looked at his chest: "These injuries of yours—they haven't been long, have they? Each wound is severe. And all the old injuries throughout your body are showing signs of recurrence."
"Your body has truly endured much suffering. Kid... what have you been through?"
Old wounds... overexertion...
Giyu's pupils contracted slightly. Dr. Kureha's words acted like a key, instantly unlocking the door to his memories.
Fragmented images flashed through his mind: the excruciating pain when Muzan Kibutsuji severed his right arm while waiting for sunlight; the moment when he was sent flying like a ragdoll by a whip-like strike...
And the burning sensation that consumed his entire body when he forcibly activated the Mark back in Little Garden.
Giyu fell silent.
He offered no further rebuttal. Compared to mere wound pain, he understood better than anyone that weakness originating from his organs.
Zoro, holding his swords nearby, also grew solemn and looked at Giyu: "So doctor? In his current condition... can he still be saved?"
Hearing the question about saving him, Dr. Kureha lifted her chin with a wicked smile, her eyes behind sunglasses seeming to sparkle with confidence:
"If it were anyone else facing a body this thoroughly wrecked, there'd probably be no hope. But!"
She deliberately drew out her words, then pointed her thumb at herself.
"He's met me—a 139-year-old doctor who's still young! Of course I can help restore his body, at least prevent him from collapsing mysteriously right now!"
Hearing this confident declaration, Vivi was overjoyed, tightly grabbing Usopp's arm beside her as she exclaimed to Giyu:
"That's wonderful, Mr. Giyu!"
Usopp also let out a long sigh of relief, patting his chest with lingering fear: "You scared me... I never expected this, Giyu. You never complain about pain, but you've been hiding such severe injuries! It's terrifying! Why didn't you tell us?"
Lying in the cart, Giyu watched everyone's concerned expressions, feeling a warm sensation flicker in his heart, though he still felt uncomfortable being the center of attention.
He averted his gaze and spoke firmly again, steering the conversation back to the Straw Hat Pirates' original purpose for coming to this island:
"Thank you. But we have another crewmate named Nami. She's running a high fever and her condition is critical too. Can you save her as well?"
Dr. Kureha paused briefly, then her smile became more genuine: "Even in your own state, you're still thinking about your crewmates? No problem, doctors naturally treat illnesses. Where is she then?"
Dalton, standing nearby, pointed toward the direction they came from while looking at the mountain range and quickly added: "She and two other companions of theirs set out from Great Horn Village and headed straight for the castle."
"The castle?"
Dr. Kureha stroked her chin, thought for less than two seconds, then waved her hand decisively, "Starting from there, they'll encounter Lapahns, right? But if they're companions of these kids, it should be fine."
"Then let's just return to the castle and wait for them."
She jumped off the goat cart and shouted at the two patients she had just examined: "Let's go, boys! You,"
Then she pointed at Giyu, "The seriously ill one, you."
Next she pointed at Zoro, "The slightly ill one, you. Follow me back to the castle!"
Seeing only Zoro and Giyu being called, Usopp quickly pointed at himself and Vivi: "What about us? We want to help too!"
Without even turning her head, her voice came carried by the wind: "You two are perfectly healthy, why follow along? To cause trouble? Just wait quietly in the village for them to return."
Thinking that heading to the castle would let them directly encounter Luffy, Zoro shouted to the two staying behind: "Hey! You two go back to the Merry and wait! We'll bring Nami and Giyu back after Luffy and I get them cured!"
Though Vivi was still very worried about Giyu and Nami's conditions, she knew she wasn't a doctor and wouldn't be able to help even if she went.
She nodded vigorously and responded loudly: "Okay! We're counting on you! Please be careful!!"
Dr. Kureha had already started walking toward the castle, the blue-nosed reindeer following closely at her heels, occasionally turning back to curiously observe these pirates.
Giyu got off the goat cart, took a deep breath of the cold air, and followed. Behind him, Zoro carried his sword and brought up the rear.
Snow swirled across Drum Island as the three groups of the Straw Hat Pirates scattered in different directions.
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