The summit of Drum Mountain was covered in thick white snow.
A cold wind howled past the steep mountain cliffs, sweeping up snowflakes that danced in the air.
The weather was very cold, but the castle was lively.
With Wapol's death, the militiamen following Dalton also relaxed.
Bustling under the command of Dr. Kureha, they opened the castle's armory.
Many cannons were rolled out from the armory and placed in the open space in front of the castle gate, a scene of busy activity.
Dr. Kureha had long wanted to open the castle's armory, but had always lacked the key.
Wapol's arrival this time allowed her to successfully obtain the key from him.
She wanted to fulfill the wish of Chopper's adoptive father, Hiriluk, and also to see off Chopper, who was about to leave.
Just then, Chopper suddenly pushed the door open from outside and rushed in.
His footsteps were hurried, and his tone was urgent.
"Dr. Kureha! Dr. Kureha!"
Chopper's urgent tone made Dr. Kureha, who was in the middle of drinking from a bottle, turn her head.
"I have something to tell you." Chopper was covered in sweat, whether from anxiety or running, it was hard to tell.
"Chopper, where have you been? Come downstairs and help move the cannons!"
"Dr. Kureha, listen to me, I'm going to be a pirate and go on an adventure with them!"
"What did you say?"
"I'm going to sea, as their ship doctor and companion! To travel the world with them!"
"What nonsense are you talking about! Listen here, you're my only assistant, who taught you your medical skills? Are you not grateful at all?"
"That's not what I mean." Chopper spread his hands.
"I'm very grateful to Dr. Kureha, because I met Dr. Hiriluk and Dr. Kureha here, and I really like this place!"
"Hmph, then why don't you just stay! You won't find such a luxurious castle just anywhere!"
Dr. Kureha put her hands on her hips and warned Chopper:
"Being a pirate is very difficult! One wrong move and your life will be over!"
"That's fine too!"
"Don't be so willful with me! I've never heard of a Reindeer going to sea!"
"That's right, I'm a Reindeer, but I'm also a man!" Chopper shouted at Dr. Kureha in anger.
"Such bragging, but I still won't allow it!" Dr. Kureha was stunned for a moment by Chopper's declaration, but still refused.
"If you want to leave here, you'll have to defeat me first!"
"Dr. Kureha..." Chopper was startled, then saw a sharp giant axe swing past him.
It cut fiercely into the wall beside Chopper with a chilling whoosh.
Chopper shivered in fright and took a few steps back.
"You crybaby, calling yourself a man, don't make me laugh!"
Dr. Kureha, holding the giant axe, lunged at Chopper.
Chopper fled in terror, with Dr. Kureha chasing after him.
For a moment, the castle was in an uproar.
Until Chopper escaped the castle, he transformed into his four-legged Reindeer form.
He pulled the sled, shouting:
"I'm sorry, Dr. Kureha, I want to see this world properly!"
Behind him, Dr. Kureha chased out of the castle, shouting:
"Even if you go to sea, what then? Do you want to live in a fantasy like that quack doctor!"
"No, that's not a fantasy, the doctor's research is complete!" Chopper cried out in his heart.
At the edge of Drum Mountain.
Kai and the others were already waiting for Chopper at the Drum Mountain cable car entrance.
"Chopper's here!" Sanji saw Chopper pulling a sled and rushing towards them.
They all looked towards Chopper, and noticed that an enraged Dr. Kureha was following him.
"What's going on, he's being chased..." Nami said in surprise.
"Everyone jump on, we're leaving!" Chopper shouted at them.
They instantly jumped onto the sled, and Chopper pulled the sled onto the cable rope, rushing down the mountain.
Dr. Kureha stared blankly in the direction Chopper left, lost in thought.
"Is this how we part ways!" Dalton walked up behind Dr. Kureha and asked.
"He's just a pet I fostered, now someone else wants him, that's all. I hate weepy goodbyes the most!"
Dr. Kureha spoke defiantly, but tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
She slapped Dalton hard and walked towards the castle.
"Are you ready, boys! Fire into the sky!" Dr. Kureha stood before dozens of cannons and commanded the militiamen.
"Fire!" Instantly, dozens of cannons fired into the sky simultaneously.
Amidst the cannon fire, Dr. Kureha recalled Hiriluk's thirty years of research results that he had given her.
With Dr. Kureha's command to turn on the lights, all the citizens of Drum Island witnessed a sight they would never forget.
The cold winter night of the Drum Kingdom welcomed the most miraculous scene—pink cherry blossoms fluttering in the snowy white sky.
When Chopper, pulling the cable car, slowly stopped and looked towards Drum Mountain.
He saw pink cherry blossoms dancing like snow across the sky, the entire sky adorned with a gentle glow, dreamlike and illusory.
Those were not real cherry blossoms, but the dream of Dr. Hiriluk during his lifetime—a special medicine he had developed.
When heated and dispersed into the air, it would transform snowflakes into cherry blossoms, as if spring cherry blossoms were in full bloom.
At this moment, tears shimmered in Chopper's eyes, and Hiriluk's words echoed in his mind:
"When does a person die? Is it when they are shot? No... It's when they are forgotten by the world!"
And now, Hiriluk's spirit had not been forgotten; his dream had finally come true.
Transforming into cherry blossoms dancing across the sky, bringing a new beginning to this country that had once been plunged into darkness.
Chopper remembered scenes of Hiriluk's life, and tears streamed down his face.
"Doctor,..." Chopper opened his mouth and cried out loud.
In the distance, Drum Mountain now resembled a giant cherry tree, glowing with a dreamlike pink light.
On the going merry, Luffy introduced Chopper to Zoro and the others who were guarding the ship.
Everyone quietly watched the cherry blossoms slowly falling from the sky, exclaiming in wonder.
"Cherry blossoms!" Zoro, holding his sword, exclaimed at the wondrous sight.
Usopp saw Chopper staring blankly at the cherry blossoms in the sky beside him, and worried:
"Is Chopper okay!"
Nami sighed and said, "Let him have his moment now!"
"He's experiencing the moment of embarking on a journey as a man!"
Sanji, standing nearby, took a drag from his cigarette and said melancholically.
"He's never left the island since he was born, and now he's leaving!"
Nami also understood Chopper's feelings at this moment.
"Doctor, Dr. Kureha, I'm leaving!"
"It's finally begun, my adventure!"
Chopper murmured as he looked in the direction of Drum Island.
"The moon is out, and the cherry blossoms have bloomed..."
"Hey, hey, Chopper, how long are you going to keep staring blankly!"
"To celebrate our new crewmate, let's have a feast!!!"
Kai looked at the mischievous Luffy and smiled knowingly.
Usopp put his arm around Chopper and poured a large mug of beer into Chopper's mouth.
Chopper forgot his sorrow of leaving home and joined the revelry of the feast.
Suddenly, the going merry became lively.