The meeting was tense. The golden Merry was a tiny haven in the vast, unforgiving sea. The Straw Hats were gathered on the deck, all staring at the mysterious man who had casually incapacitated a Logia user and vanished just as quickly.
"So," Nami began, her brow furrowed with suspicion, "You're telling me you just... walked away from a powerful Marine, followed us, and now you want a free ride to Alabasta? And you never even touched a Devil Fruit?"
Kenji leaned against the mast, unfazed by the scrutiny. He'd put on a simple black jacket and swapped his desert hat for a knit cap—blending in was not his style, but neither was drawing unnecessary attention.
"I need to get to Alabasta, and you need someone who can cut a path through anything Baroque Works throws at you," Kenji stated simply. "My name is Kenji. And no, Nami-san, I didn't eat a Devil Fruit. My power is... Duplication."
He focused on a nearby object: a simple metal bucket.
• Target: Metal Structure.
• Copying...
• Apex Enhancement Active...
• Resulting Ability:[Apex: Molecular Density Manipulation] Acquired.
He held out his hand and touched the bucket. Immediately, the humble metal container began to glow with a faint blue light, its structure changing. It became instantly, unnaturally heavy—like a bucket forged from pure Seastone—then, just as quickly, it became as light as a feather, before reverting.
Chopper gasped. "It changed its weight!"
"I can copy any ability, technique, or power I see," Kenji explained. "And the moment I copy it, I make it exponentially stronger. That smoke user's power? Now I can control any gas, and my smoke is heavy enough to crush a mountain."
Zoro, his hands resting on his swords, narrowed his eye. "Show-off. If you're so powerful, why join us?"
Kenji met Zoro's gaze with a hint of respect. "Because you are the future. And a true legend needs a reliable, awe-inspiring guardian. I also know where your little friend, Vivi, needs to go. I know about the Civil War. I know about Crocodile."
The crew went silent. Kenji had dropped the bombshell.
Luffy, surprisingly, was the first to speak, a huge, uninhibited grin on his face. "Shishishi! You're really strong! And you know all the cool secrets!" He pointed enthusiastically. "You're in! You can be the crew's Fixer! The guy who knows everything!"
Sanji sighed, pushing his blond hair back. "Seriously, Captain? Just like that?"
Luffy just laughed. "He saved us from Smokey! And he's got that cool, quiet vibe! It's settled!"
Kenji allowed a small, genuine smile. Luffy's simple trust was exactly what he needed.